by Griff Hosker
“Not to raid for it is too far away and besides it looks as though it would not yield much. I will take my boat and my Ulfheonar. We can see if there are miners there still. If I can I will bring back gold and stones.”
“But you need to go there in case your mother or her people ever lived there.”
She knew me well. I nodded. “The fort and the monastery were not built by Saxons and they were not Roman. I saw evidence of another people. When we fought the Saxons they had weapons and armour I have never seen before. They had enough to suggest that they were taken from the previous people.”
“So you think this may be where the people of Rheged lived?”
I replaced my seax in my sheath. “I think so for we found no evidence at the monastery called St.Asaph. That was Saxon. This place we found nestled beneath the mountain and it felt old. The land seemed to be part of the sea. The mountain rises from the waters with only a tiny strip of land separating them. The monastery and the fort are on that strip. It seems to be a bridge between their lands.”
“Then you must find your roots or you will never rest.” She rose. “And it will do the people good to have you back amongst us. They feel safer when Dragon Heart and his sword protect them.”
I suddenly remembered the rings. “And I have a present for you and for Kara when she grows.”
Her face lit up. She always appreciated presents. “Show me!”
I took the rings with the blue stones out and her mouth dropped open. That in itself was unusual but when she smiled and kissed me it was my Erika.
“Where did you find these?”
“In the monastery by Wyddfa. It is the same stone as in the wolf amulet. This is all wyrd.”
“It is my husband. I shall visit with the volva and find out if she knows any more. She is in touch with the spirits.”
I looked at the rings, “If my mother was here then we would know the answer.”
“Then the volva will have to speak with her for us.”
When I had rested I walked my settlement. I noticed that there were people I had not seen before. Those whom I did know came up to me and spoke. I took the time to answer all their questions. We were a new community and I needed to bond with my people. It was late afternoon when I reached Bjorn’s workshop and smith.
He gave a half bow and smiled, “You have sent much metal home Jarl.” He waved a hand at his smiths beavering away. “We have put it to good use.”
“And the quality?”
“We have had better but it serves for ploughs and smaller items. We have spare helmets and swords now. They are still not Frankish but they are getting there.”
I gestured for him to join me outside. “We encountered some men who had armour on their legs and they rode horses. Our arrows could not pierce their armour.”
He frowned, “I have never heard of such a thing.”
“And there is something else.” I took out my seax and drew in the soil. “They carried a club like this. It had a wooden shaft and a metal head with spikes upon it.”
This time he nodded, “I have heard of those. They are favoured by horsemen for they are less dangerous to their horses.”
“Would they be any good for a warrior on foot?”
He shook his head. “I would imagine that they could be swung whilst charging and that would make them more powerful.”
“Then how would we defend against them?”
“Stronger shields.”
“Already we have as much metal as we can carry.” My smith shrugged. “Then we will have to avoid them in the future.” I leaned in to speak confidentially to Bjorn. “I may have found a gold mine and a mine with the blue stones.”
His eyes lit up. “Then we can make precious jewellery. Is Aiden with you?”
I smiled, “Torin needs him?”
“He has great skills and small hands. Torin has neither the eyes nor the hands for the delicate work which women seek.”
“He will be here until the spring. I will send him along tomorrow.”
“Thank you Jarl.” He smiled. “This is a good place to live now. My father would have been happy here.”
“It is thanks to your father that we can be happy here. He will always be remembered but we see him every day.”
“Where?” He looked around as though he would see him walking in the village.
“When we look at you.”
I reached the warrior hall just before the evening meal time. The wounded warriors had been attended to. Snorri waved to me. He was now a warrior, albeit a young one. He was talking with another young man I did not recognise. The married warriors were at home and the hall was filled with the single men. Haaken and Cnut were the only family men there. They were the informal leaders of the Ulfheonar. They would return to their families but they were diligent and wanted to ensure that those without families were cared for.
As they approached me I noticed some new faces. “I see we have recruits?”
“Aye Dargh told us that many have arrived in the last few days. He has some up the hill.”
“We need them training. The Saxons on Anglesey look to be a more difficult proposition than the others we have encountered.”
“You are right. I like not these armoured horsemen.”
“And that armour was the finest I have ever seen. I was surprised that you managed to kill one.”
“I was lucky. When he fell the mail around his neck became detached else I would not have been able to stab him.”
“And we must get a mail coif such as you wear. It saved your life.”
“I know.” We left the hall and stood in the square outside. “So will you train my warriors for me and find me more Ulfheonar?”
“We will.”
“Haaken, if you would work with the young warriors; the untried ones they can learn much from you. Cnut, take those warriors who have joined us and see if they have the skills needed to be Ulfheonar.”
Haaken stroked his beard, “We will need an expedition to the mainland to hunt wolves.”
“I know. I think that we will send ‘Wolf’ back to Rolf in a month. If the warriors are ready then they can hunt the wolf around the sacred mountain. There should be such animals there.”
“There are, Jarl Garth. Did you not hear them howling when we were waiting to take the garrison?”
“I suppose I must have but I was listening that night for human sounds.” As they turned to leave I added, “Thorkell the Tall seemed to want to live across the water. Rolf’s family is here and I would prefer men to live there who wished to. Find out if any others wish to serve me by the mountain.”
“Are you certain? It would diminish the Ulfheonar.”
“I would not force a man to follow me when his heart was elsewhere. Besides I need good men there. The Ulfheonar are all leaders. We should use their skills. And we will need a captain and crew for ‘Serpent’. She may not be a fighting ship but she can carry supplies and she can trade for us.”
I returned to my hall. I now knew what we would be doing for the next year and that eased both my mind and my heart.
Chapter 9
I enjoyed being back at home. I was able to play with Arturus and to help strengthen his arms for the day he began his training as a warrior. He wanted to join the boys and young men being trained by Haaken. Haaken had Snorri assist him in the training of young warriors. He had been one of their numbers until quite recently and it made it easier for Haaken. They used the inside of the hill fort. Dargh and the guards were amused by it all but it also allowed them to make mistakes without others seeing them. I took to visiting them each morning after I had eaten. Often I just wrapped a cloak around me and watched from the ramparts. It happened so regularly that they would forget I was there and I was able to learn much about these young men who would soon be fighting for me.
Haaken and Snorri had insisted that each warrior make their own wooden sword and shield. They had learned that from me and I, in turn, had learned it from Ragnar. Althoug
h they complained at first I noticed, as I watched them, that they treated it as a real sword. They frowned and scowled at any damage it received and they kissed it when they won. It would help them immeasurably when they became warriors. If they valued a piece of wood then what price a Frankish blade?
There were ten of them and they ranged in age from young Carl who was ten summers old to Tostig who was thirteen summers. They ranged in size and age but they all had one thing in common, they wanted to be warriors who followed the Dragon Heart. I had had Beorn make ten identical seaxes. Aiden had made a small wolf’s head from iron and bronze. The wolf head was embedded in the hilt. It did not cost much but I knew that they looked impressive. I had them with me that day to give them as a sort of encouragement to the boys to work hard. I also knew that it would bind them to me and that was important.
I smiled as I watched them work. Haaken had them paired up. He watched three pairs while Snorri watched the four younger boys. He was a hard taskmaster.
“Olaf Olegson if you don’t keep up your shield then some warrior will have your head. Magnus The Fair put some effort into it. The jarl’s baby daughter could hit harder than you!”
Haaken was less harsh than Snorri. He now had a baby son of his own and I knew that he longed for the time when he would train his own son. He treated each boy as though he was his son. It was a good way to be and an even better way to teach.
“Good, Tostig. Next time, put your weight on your front but do not drop your shield when you do so. Your shield is your friend. Your shield can save your life. You should sleep with your shield and caress it as though it is a girl.” I saw one or two cast him a curious look. He shook his head, “Wait until you have fought in a battle and seen the hurt your shield takes for you then you will know what I mean.”
I could see that some of them, especially the younger ones were tiring a little. I descended the stairs and walked towards them. I hid my smile as they all increased their efforts as they tried to impress me. They were taking no prisoners and the blows from the wooden swords drew blood. It was fortunate they all wore leather padded helmets but I saw bruises and grazes on their legs and arms. It would stand them in good stead when they fought for real.
“You have done well boys. You may take a rest,” I glanced at Haaken, “with your permission, sword master.”
“Of course Jarl Garth.”
They stood, panting in a half circle. They bore their wounds with pride. None attempted to stem the bleeding and all stood erect trying to be like the warriors they saw around them guarding our hill fort.
“I have watched you for the past week and I have seen improvement. You will all be warriors one day. Whom would you fight for?”
“For Dragon Heart!” they roared, as though rehearsed.
“And whom do I fight for?”
That confused them. I looked at each face and they were desperate to read the answer on mine. I smiled, “I fight for the families of the people who live on our island of Man. Always remember that. There is little glory in going a-Viking if your family suffers whilst you are away.” I waved my hand at Dargh’s guards. “Without these doughty warriors I could not do what I do.” I saw Haaken smile as the guards all stood a little taller. It never hurt to praise a man and I meant every word of it.
“So if you are certain you wish to fight for me then you must be bound to me.” I saw the pleasure light up their faces and first one and then all of them dropped to one knee. I walked along to the eldest. “Take this token from me. It makes you my warrior until you swear an oath to another.”
I gave the first one to Tostig who touched it as though it was burning, “I will swear an oath to you now Jarl Garth!”
“No, for you are not yet a warrior and you may choose to serve another jarl. This seax is a gift; you keep it if you serve me or not.”
As I handed them out I felt a cheat for I knew that they would bind them to me. I also knew that, even without the gift it was unlikely they would wish to serve another. This was mainly because my band had the most success. I left them toying with their new weapons knowing that Haaken would get little work from them for a while longer.
Cnut had the older warriors, all twelve of them, on the far side of the hill close to the Garlic River. They had sword skills and he needed to know what other skills they had. The variety of land in the valley afforded him the opportunity to find out. The valley had special significance to Haaken, Cnut and myself. It had been the place we had prevented a sneak attack by the Saxons on our village when we had been new to the island. It had created the legend of the Ulfheonar.
As I descended the hill I saw that Cnut was seeing how good they were at hiding. Not all warriors needed that skill but Ulfheonar did. Within another week he would have worked out if any of them had the potential to be an Ulfheonar. We could hide within breathing distance of an enemy and they would not know we were there. That was a skill you were born with. You could never really teach it.
I watched him as he strode along the valley with a long spear in his hand. He held it close to the blade and smacked the other end on the warriors he found. He was not gentle.
“Sweyn Knutson, you have an arse like a cow in labour. If I was a Saxon you would be pleasured by now!” He lashed out with the spear and it connected with the warrior’s rump. There was a grunt and the warrior stood. By the time I reached them he had found eleven of them.
He turned to look at me. “Just seeing how good they are at hiding.” He shook his head. “Not very good, obviously.”
I smiled; I had seen what he had not. One still remained in hiding. “Except for the one who is still hidden of course.”
He spun around and counted, “Thor’s hammer! You are right. Find Ragnar Siggison!”
The eleven of them leapt off beating the undergrowth with the flats of their swords. After what seemed like an age he could not be found. “I think, old friend that he has won. Call him in.”
Cnut shook his head, “Ragnar! You have won. Come out.”
I was intrigued and I was looking all around for him. I suspected he had moved out of range of the searchers but suddenly he rose, like Njoror from the river. He was dripping wet but grinning from ear to ear. I pointed to him. “I am just guessing but I think he would be a fine candidate for the Ulfheonar.”
“You are right and he has great skills with weapons. If he can track as well then we have our first recruit.”
I left Cnut feeling much happier. We had lost brave warriors but I could now see where their replacements would come from. Satisfied that all was going well Erika and I took our children for a visit to Duboglassio. It had been six months since I had seen my stepfather and Eurwen, my half sister. I had had messages from both him and Olaf the Toothless but I had missed him. We travelled by the hill ponies we now bred. They were hardy little creatures and they could carry a surprisingly heavy load.
He had obviously used his time wisely for, as we approached the town, we could see more buildings and homes than before. Although it had been some time since we had visited they all knew me and my wife. Erika was seen as the unofficial queen of the island and was popular with all.
I was shocked when Prince Butar greeted us. He had grown old. His hair was grey and wispy. He appeared to have shrunk a little too so that I now towered over him. He threw his arms around Erika and then tried to pick up Arturus. Arturus had grown and he settled for a cuddle instead.
“What a fine young warrior you will be! I can see we have a young Dragon Heart in the making.”
He could not have said anything better and my son beamed.
“Come, Olaf the Toothless will join us later.” He leaned in. “He has not been well you know.”
His steward took my family to our room and I went with the prince to his hall where a huge fire burned brightly. I noticed he sat close to the fire. For me it was too hot but I knew I would need to be close to him and I suffered the heat. It was another sign he was getting old; Ragnar had been the same and he had needed
the heat much more than I had. Prince Butar’s voice also appeared weaker than it had. I tried to work out how long it was since my mother had died. Then he had been a fine warrior still. Not the youngest of fighters but one who could handle himself. He had told me, after I had rescued him from Tadgh the traitor that he would never raid again. I now thought that what he had meant was that he would never leave his home again. I could not recall him leaving Duboglassio since that time. Perhaps that explained his deterioration. I knew that he and his men had been cruelly treated. Even Sweyn, his captain and a much younger man, had suffered.
His mind was still as sharp as ever. After we had been served two foaming horns of ale he said, “I may not get out much anymore but I have heard of your exploits. Two monasteries and two forts destroyed! You have defeated two Hibernian pirates and captured a ship. We have all been mesmerised and enthralled by the stories of your adventures.”
I nodded in what I hoped was a modest manner, “Whatever I have done I owe to you and your father.”
“My father more than me. He would have been prouder than any of your achievements.”
The door opened and Olaf the Toothless hobbled in. If the prince looked old then Olaf looked ancient. He had sunken cheeks and but three white hairs on his bald pate. He walked with a stick and looked as thin as one. His smile, however, was still the same.
“It does an old man’s eyes good to see you Dragon Heart. So long as you breathe then there is a warrior of whom we can all be proud. Ragnar would be proud.”
I embraced him but I did it gently. He looked as though he would crumble to dust if I squeezed too hard.
After Olaf had seated himself even closer to the fire they asked me to tell them of my travels. I did so. They listened to every word and felt every blow and death. Their eyes sparkled with the tales of battle. They chuckled when I told them how we had defeated the Hibernians.
“These horsemen, there were just three?”
I drank some beer for my mouth was dry. “There were and I killed one.”
“Was the armour mail or pieces of metal?”