by Griff Hosker
“Eighteen each side but for our first raid you would not need that number. She will be carrying the plunder.”
He rubbed his hands together. “Good. Well I had better get my men and then we will come and inspect my new vessel.” He tapped his wooden leg, “The carving should go well with the ship eh my lord?”
After he had gone Prince Butar said, “Well?”
“You are right, father, he is perfect.”
“Good. When do you leave?”
“Gói. They will be expecting us in Ein-mánuðr. We will go early.”
“Good for I wish to hold a feast for you and invite Jarl Rolf and your families. It will be in seven days’ time.”
We seemed to just run out of time as we hurried to prepare for what I knew would be a difficult raid. When Alf and his crew arrived they were not happy with the state of the ship and they hauled her out of the water to clean the weed and caulk her hull. I left them there while I went with the Ulfheonar to the feast. Erika insisted upon dressing the children in their finest and bringing Scanlan, Maewe and Seara. Macha and Deidra also came and looked very pleased with themselves.
The hall had been cleaned for the coming spring and the whole settlement of Duboglassio appeared to be involved in the feast one way or another. When I arrived I apologised to the prince. “I can only stay one night. We have much to prepare.”
“One night is all that we need.”
Prince Butar’s hall was the largest on the island. It was even bigger than the one we had left in Norway. It was over four hundred paces in length. When we entered the hall I saw that there was a long table laid out for us. Erika and Erik’s mother was there as was Rolf. Sweyn, who had also been made a jarl sat at one end smiling at me. The Ulfheonar had their own table along with the warriors who would be raiding with us. The rest of the settlement crowded into the other tables. Arturus was in his element and Erika struggled to control his boisterous nature. Prince Butar just patted Erika’s arm and said, “Boys will be boys.”
Eurwen was growing into a beautiful young woman and was so much like my mother that I had to remind myself that my mother was dead. She was besotted with Kara and took her from Seara to bounce her on her knee.
Prince Butar had outdone himself and the food and the ale were heaped upon each table. I ate well but drank sparingly. I would need my wits about me in the coming days. Finally Prince Butar stood. He gestured to the whole hall. “Friends, this feast serves two purposes: to mark the end of winter and to honour my son Jarl Dragon Heart. As you all know he will be away for some time raiding the Welsh and the Saxons.” There were cheers and roars from the warriors who would be on the raid. The Prince quietened them. “In front of all my people and the jarls of this land I hereby confirm that my heir when I die will be Jarl Garth the Dragon Heart.”
He had told me this before but it seemed so formal and final in this huge hall. The whole place erupted in cheers, applause and the banging of daggers on the tables.
He gestured to his steward who brought over a small chest. He took from it a chain and on the chain was a golden dragon. It was magnificent. It was the size of Kara’s small hand and there was a red jewel where the eye would be. He held it up and all cheered. Putting it around my neck he said, “Here is the symbol of your house. You are Dragon Heart and the Dragon is this land and the lands you are yet to conquer. You are the heart of this dragon.”
I did not know what to say. I sat down and saw a self satisfied smile on Erika’s face. “You knew.”
“Of course I did. Everyone but you knew. Aiden made the mould for the dragon and Torin cast the gold. They are both proud of the work.”
I looked down the table at the faces of the people, my people, even the nuns seemed happy. I had come a long way since I had been taken from the Dunum. I turned to Prince Butar. “Why now?”
“It was Olaf. He should have been here to see this. I delayed too long. Perhaps if I had waited until midsummer I would not be here either. Do not make my mistakes, my son. Do not put things off for you know not how long you have. I should have spent more time with your mother before she was taken. You can never undo the past but you can make the future the one you want.”
We left at the end of the second week of Gói. The winds had swung around to come from the west and our three ships sailed swiftly east to return to my roots and the home of my ancestors.
Chapter 14
I had rarely sailed with three ships especially as one of them, ‘Ran’, was such a large one. The leader of Prince Butar’s men, Carl Erikson, was a dour warrior who had many battle bands on his sword. He was chosen by Sweyn to lead the prince’s men and I trusted him implicitly. We were fully crewed and even had extra men on the oars. We had all of the Ulfheonar and the new warriors trained by Cnut and Haaken. We rode low in the water for we were laden with extra weapons and arrows. Beorn had developed an arrow which was very narrow and made from the hardest iron he could make. He had burned it in charcoal after making it in the hope that it would penetrate the armour of the Saxon horsemen. We had only seen three but they could have had more. We were prepared.
Jarl Erik looked relieved to see us. He clasped my arm, “Another week alone and we would have been beside ourselves. We are ready to war!”
“Thank you for the job you have done. Now come with me I have much to tell you.” I led him down the beach where I could explain about Rolf, Prince Butar’s feast, the translation of the inscription and the new weapons.
When I had finished he nodded, “You make things happen brother and I am happy to be part of your world. How will we proceed?”
“If we journey across the island then we will be seen. They will be warned and prepared. I know that no matter what we do they will be ready on the defended islet so I intend to land on the south western side. We will sweep across the land and capture everything and everybody. We will bring them back here and try to lure the Saxons on to these walls.”
“And if they do not take the bait?”
“Then we will sail again and land on the north eastern side and attack their stronghold.”
“It is a well thought out plan.”
“Haaken, Cnut and I have spent the winter discussing this. I will leave twenty of Prince Butar’s men to guard the fort along with Alf and his ship. That should be enough.”
As we walked back to the fort he noticed my scabbard. “That is a magnificent scabbard.”
I shrugged, “It seemed to me that the only people who saw Ragnar’s Spirit died and I thought I should impress the living too!”
We left in the middle of the night and we approached the beach well before dawn. We chose a spot where there were neither lights nor buildings. The Ulfheonar led the way and I followed. Once the men were all off the ships the crews rowed them back to the fort. They only had ten rowers on each boat but with the wind in their favour they had time to return to safety. Their role would be to form a defence at the straits. I had left Tostig, the Ulfheonar in command. We would be able to retire across the straits.
Haaken and Cnut split up and led their men in opposite directions. We now had enough men to strike at more than one place. The Ulfheonar would find the best targets and we would do the rest. This was about hurting the Saxons as much as we could and making them react and fight us on our ground. I was gambling that a raid now would create a problem for them. Many of their warriors would be needed to sow the seed for the food they needed for the winter. They would not be expecting an attack. I hoped that their real warriors, the ones we had fought when last we visited, would still be preparing. I gave half of Prince Butar’s men to Jarl Erik. I led the Ulfheonar and my warriors who had wintered in the mountain fort. Jarl Erik took his warband south and I headed north.
Beorn ranged ahead, this time with Snorri and Ragnar Siggison. They were the best scouts we had and they would find us our targets. When Snorri rose from the gorse bush he made even Haaken jump.
He grinned as he said, “We have found a settlement. It seems they have
learned from our raid for there is a ditch and a wooden wall.”
“Any guards?”
He nodded, “There are two men at the gate. Beorn and Ragnar have gone around the village to find the next target.” He smiled, boyishly, “He did not think we would have a problem taking this one.”
He was probably right in that. Two guards could be taken out by arrows and if there were no real warriors then our men would win. Haaken led the Ulfheonar around the far side of the village which we soon found perched upon a low ridge. I saw that the rock was close to the surface. Their ditch would not be deep. I glanced towards the mainland and saw a thin line of light. Dawn was not far off and the people would be waking. We should have come sooner. It would have been easier had they all been abed.
I nodded to the four archers. We were hidden amongst the gorse, our dark clothes making us invisible. The four arrows soared and each of the guards was struck. One tumbled on the ditch side and one crashed within. We heard the noise of his fall and I knew that the villagers would too. We rose and moved forward quickly and silently. Olaf and Harald were, as usual by my side. The gate looked to be a simple affair with a bar on the inside.
“The three of us will become a battering ram eh?”
I heard Olaf chuckle, “Aye my lord.”
We made a wall with our shields and we ran at the gate. I heard the sounds of alarm within the village. They had found the dead sentry. We struck the gate with the force of three large warriors each encased in mail and metal. I heard the crack as the bar began to give.
“One more time.” We backed up a few steps and as we did so a spear was hurled from within. I held up my shield and it caught. I had no time to remove it and we ran at the gate. As luck would have it the spear shaft went through the gap and then we struck the gate. This time it cracked, broke and the gates flew open. I heard a shout from behind as my men rushed to join us.
I halted, protected by Olaf and Harald, and I removed the spear. It gave me the chance to assess the opposition. They were armed farmers. They had helmets, a couple of shields, swords and spears. My warriors fell amongst them like wolves. They would spare any who surrendered but so long as they fought they would die.
Even as dawn broke they dropped to their knees and surrendered. We were too many for them. The wounded were despatched and sent to their god and the rest herded together in the middle of the village. I took off my helmet.
“Where is the headman?”
An older man holding a wounded arm stood. “I am Aethelward. I am the headman.” I noticed that his Saxon was accented and I wondered if he had some of the blood of the Cymri in him.
“I am Jarl Dragon Heart of Man. I give you a choice headman. You can swear allegiance to me and you and your people will live or you can remain loyal to the King of Northumbria and become slaves.”
I had not spoken of this to my men but when I saw how many people had surrendered to us it seemed a good idea. This way we could still harvest the village and we would not have to raid.
The headman looked at the others. One woman, a proud looking flame haired matriarch nodded. “We swear allegiance.”
“Good.”
“But what happens when Eorl Eardgarth returns?”
“He is the warrior in the fort?”
“Aye, St.Cybi. He is the king’s cousin.”
“You are now my people and I will protect you. Your fealty means you will give me a tenth of all you produce. I will collect it at harvest time.” I held up the golden dragon. “This is my sign.” I pointed to the mountain. “I know that you worship the White Christ but some may remember that a dragon sleeps beneath Wyddfa. I have been in that mountain.” I paused for I could see that I had their attention. “I have been in the tomb of Myrddyn the wizard. This is now your sign; the sign of the dragon.”
The headman nodded and I noticed that only one or two of the others crossed themselves and they were mainly women. That was interesting.
“I will leave four men here. They are not guarding you but protecting you until I have met this Eardgarth. Give them a hut of their own.” My men had not understood my words and I said. “These are now our allies. Return them their weapons and treat them fairly. Carl Torinson, choose three warriors. You are to guard them. If a large number of Saxons come then flee to our fort and let me know.”
“Aye, my lord.”
We moved swiftly on and met Haaken and Cnut. I told them of my decision. They nodded. I was Jarl; it was mine to make. Beorn and Ragnar met us. “There is another settlement and it is protected. It is two miles to the north.”
“Are there any farms between?”
“Aye my lord.”
“Then we take those first. Beorn, take the Ulfheonar to this village and we will mop up these farms.” I paused, “Those warriors we met last time are led by the king’s cousin. He will not take kindly to our actions. I think he has a tenuous hold over these people. They are not true Saxons. They have been conquered and many of them would still use the old ways. We can use that.”
We found eight farms and families. All of them swore allegiance to me. I told them of Myrddyn and that seemed to reassure them. I needed to find out more about this wizard. From his body he had been dead a long time and yet all of these people still remembered him.
We reached the settlement at noon and we could see that the workers were tilling the fields. It looked to be prosperous. The walls, too, were not new. They looked to have been there for some time. This was an ancient place and the people had been farming for a long period. The Saxon was the incomer.
We spread out in a long line. There were almost sixty warriors with me. Only a third had mail shirts but all were well armed. I could not see this village providing opposition. When we set off we did so swiftly and silently. We were racing to reach the gates before they closed them. We got to within forty paces before we were seen.
One of the workers shouted something. I did not understand it and it must have been in the language of the Cymri. They all ran. One or two of those fleeing were caught by my men but the rest made it within the gates which slammed shut as we approached.
A shower of arrows was sent our way but our shields were too well made to be troubled. I waved the men back.
“What now, my lord?”
“Now I try to negotiate.” I walked forward leaving my sword in its scabbard. Olaf and Harald flanked me. Against all the rules of war they sent arrows in our direction. When two struck my helmet and bounced off they stopped. I halted thirty paces from the walls. I did not want to risk a spear or an axe. My helmet would not, so easily, deflect those weapons.
“I am Jarl Garth the Dragon Heart of Man. I will speak with your headman. “
A mailed warrior raised his sword, “I am Aelle son of Morgan and I rule here in the name of Eorl Eardgarth.”
“Then you are a warrior?” He nodded, “Tell me, Aelle son of Morgan, why did you loose arrows at me when you saw I came to talk?”
“You are a Viking and that is how we treat all such raiders. We do not negotiate with wolves!”
“Then hear my words. I speak to all the people of this town. If you surrender and swear allegiance to me then you will be spared and you shall live. If I am forced to take this by arms then you will all be enslaved and all the warriors slain.”
Aelle laughed, “We have god on our side and Eorl Eardgarth will soon come and sweep you away!”
“That is your decision?” The answer came with a throwing axe which thudded into my shield. I lowered my shield and removed the axe. “Thank you for your answer and you shall have this back, Aelle son of Morgan. That I promise you.” We walked backwards to our men until we were out of range.
I gathered the Ulfheonar around me. “I have a feeling that this Eorl Eardgarth may come this way.”
“Has this wizard given you second sight?”
I laughed, “No it was something Aelle said. I think they may have sent a messenger for help. Take the Ulfheonar and the long spears and prepare an amb
ush.” I pointed to the north west. “Their citadel, St.Cybi is in that direction. I suspect the Roman Road we saw at the straits will come this way. They will know the island therefore they will use the fast route. You just delay them.”
“And what of you, Jarl Dragon Heart? You will be assaulting the settlement without your best warriors.”
I felt Olaf and Harald bristle next to me. “Cnut means no offence. He just cannot control his mouth.” I saw a contrite look on my friend’s face. “I have good warriors here or did you and Haaken not train them well enough?”
“Sorry Olaf and Harald but we have fought alongside Dragon Heart since we were boys.”
Olaf stroked his greybeard and spat some phlegm into the field, “Some would say you are still a boy!”
“Enough!” They all bowed their heads in submission. “Go and let me plan my assault.”
The Ulfheonar trotted off leaving me with thirty five warriors. Only four of us were mailed but I knew we all had good shields. There were six good archers and I gathered those around me. “I am going to take a wedge of fifteen men forward. I want you to follow us and pick off any of their archers that you see. They cannot have many and we all know that a good archer is like gold dust eh?” They smiled at the praise. “When they are down then choose you targets and husband your arrows.”
I then went along the line of warriors and chose my wedge. Three were obvious; they were the ones with mail. For the rest I chose the biggest and oldest warriors.
“Cnut Whitebeard, you command the rest. When we break in then bring the rest up.”
He nodded. I took it as a sign of their faith in me that they did not question that we would succeed. I put the throwing axe Aelle had aimed at me in my left hand. It was a good weapon and I think they had been foolish to waste such a well made axe. I would return it with interest.
I formed up the wedge. “My lord, let me go first.”
“No, Olaf.” I tapped my wolf emblem and my helmet. “I want them to fear me. There will be survivors and when they flee I want them to spread the word about the wolf warrior with the red eyes who breaks down doors.”