by Griff Hosker
“Like your wolf, jarl.”
“Aye Aðils, like my wolf. The gods sent me to find it for a purpose. I know not what that purpose is yet but I am content that I followed my heart.”
Olaf Leather Neck spread his arm around us. “We are the last to follow the heart of the dragon, the wolf warrior. What will men say of us when we are gone?”
Haaken grinned, “They will sing my songs and the world will remember us.”
I shook my head, “No, Haaken. Your songs are not what we did. They are good songs but they tell of the glory. Much of what we did, and still do, is only remembered by us. We will be remembered because we tell the young of our family what we did.”
Olaf Leather Neck looked wistful, “And I am without children.” He laughed, “At least children who know me to be their father. I daresay there are wenches in ports like Dorestad who have an ugly and belligerent child and wonder where its father lies.” Although he joked I knew that Olaf would have made a good father. He had much to teach the young. Perhaps, when he was no longer a warrior he could help Karl One Leg train my young men to be warriors.
I listened as they spoke of those warriors who awaited us in Valhalla. To many it might have seemed morbid but to us, by talking about them we brought them back to life.
The storm abated. The rain gradually stopped and, although the skies were grey, the wind abated a little and we were a little more comfortable than we had been. We left the shelter of the awning and looked out to sea. We pulled in to the island off the coast of Gwynedd. Puffins and sea birds abounded and we did not bother the monks who lived there. They were not the kind who had gold. They were poor and eked out a living on the rock. They seemed to be more interested in their god than in goods. I did not understand them but, as they were neither a threat nor a temptation, we left them alone. I wondered what they thought of us. We always pulled in to this sanctuary in the middle of the sea. I had no doubt others would have used it but we had seen no evidence. It was as though this was part of our land.
I was anxious to speak with Gruffyd. I had noticed, sailing south, that he had, occasionally, veered off course. It was not a problem for we had no enemies close by. If, however, we had been in a battle then it would have been dangerous.
I saw him flush as I walked up to him. Einar Fair Face stood close by, protectively. My son faced up to me, “I know what you are going to say… I.”
I spread my arms, “You are a mind reader now! Aiden had better watch out. You will be casting spells next.”
He had the grace to laugh, “You know what I mean. I did not steer as well as I might.”
I nodded. “Yet you did not put any in danger but I am curious why you had such difficulties when your drekar is the smallest and most responsive of three.”
Einar said, “It was my fault. I distracted him and then sought to advise him.”
“There can be but one captain on a drekar. I do not tell Raibeart and Erik Short Toe how to sail. I tell them where I wish to go and leave the rest to them. When you steer a drekar you can only focus on the ship. All else must be driven from your mind. It is why I never steer. I concentrate on the raid. This has been good. I am pleased that you were not perfect.”
He looked confused by my words. “What? But…”
I held up my hand, “You now have to decide if you will steer or lead your warband. Which will it be? You cannot do both.”
He said, emphatically, “Lead the warband!”
“Then you need to find another who will steer. You have set yourself a task when you return to Whale Island.”
I saw the relief on his face. He had tried to do it all. Ragnar had my best captain, Erik Short Toe and I had Raibeart. “And I will.”
The biggest advantage of the island was that it was safe. We could just leave a watch of our ships’ boys. Men had a good night’s sleep. We had not had to row but who knew when the winds would change? Aiden and I sat with Ragnar. Gruffyd and Einar were busy adjusting the trim of ‘Crow’ . He had heeded my words. Until he found another to steer then he had two tasks to perform and making sure the trim on the drekar was perfect was one way to eliminate possible problems.
“We raid Pennsans first?”
“You would have made the same decision?”
“Of course.”
“I contemplated sending Gruffyd to capture the island.”
“That is what I might have done.”
“Except it would be a night landing and his steering and seamanship are not up to the task.”
Ragnar was right but I was pleased that my son was not close by to hear it. He would have been upset and angry. Neither emotion would have resulted in sensible decision making.
Aiden was the diplomat. “It makes no difference. In my experience priests only flee if there is somewhere safer. The island would appear to be a citadel. I do not think they have boats and we can only attack at high tide and that means they cannot escape. They think that they are secure. They are wrong but then they have never been attacked by Vikings before now. This may change their mind.”
Ragnar looked at me. There was a question in his eyes. I smiled, “Speak and ask.”
“I know that you are normally the first over the side with the Ulfheonar but this time I would be the one to lead the men ashore.”
“It will be hard for us old men to watch others put themselves in danger but it is right. We will do as you ask. We do not clamber over the side as easily or as smoothly as we used to.”
We ate well. Sea birds, their eggs and shell fish were enough of a novelty to make the meal interesting. We finished off one barrel of the beer we had brought. The other, unless we found more in Om Walum, we would keep for the return voyage. The rain did not return and the wind aided us still. It swung around to come from an easterly direction. It was a test of my son’s skills. We could still use it but it took a good eye to choose a good course. He must have kept a closer watch on Ragnar’s ship for he did not deviate as much from our course.
While we were sailing with the wind we all took the opportunity to change into our war gear. I applied the red cochineal to my eyes. Others had different designs. Some liked to make their face completely black. They used charcoal for that. I was content to wear the red. It made my eyes look like a wolf. Others made their hands red or black. Some used stripes. It was a war face we adopted. Those who had raided before knew that the shock of a fierce Viking could be as effective as a sword. When we neared Lys Ardh we had to turn east and that meant rowing. Ragnar took us south of the deadly rocks before turning. We were not helped by the setting sun. We had to turn in to the darkening eastern sky.
As darkness descended the crew took to the oars. On our drekar Haaken had the crew singing an old song. I had not heard it for years. It was clever of him for the men had to concentrate on the words and that made them forget the danger of the rocks.
The wolf snake-crawled from the mountain side
Hiding the spell-wight in cave deep and wide
He swallowed him whole and Warlord too
Returned to pay the price that was due
There they stayed through years of man
Until the day Jarl Dragon Heart began
He climbed up Wyddfa filled with ghosts
With Arturus his son, he loved the most
The mouth was dark, hiding death
Dragon Heart stepped in and held his breath
He lit the torch so strong and bright
The wolf’s mouth snarled with red firelight
Fearlessly he walked and found his kin
The Warlord of Rheged buried deep within
Cloaked in mail with sharp bright blade
A thing of beauty by Thor made
And there lay too, his wizard friend,
Myrddyn protecting to the end
With wolf charm blue, they left the lair
Then Thor he spoke, he filled the air
The storm it raged, the rain it fell
Then the earth shook from deep in h
el
The rocks they crashed, they tumbled down
Burying the wizard and the Rheged crown.
Till world it ends the secret’s there
Buried beneath wolf warrior’s lair
The rocks they crashed, they tumbled down
Burying the wizard and the Rheged crown.
Till world it ends the secret’s there
Buried beneath wolf warrior’s lair
By the time we had sung it three or four times we had passed the worst of the rocks. I wondered how Gruffyd’s crew had coped. Aiden and I joined the ships’ boys on the landward side. We had to watch for the place where we would turn north and head to Pennsans. It was not easy and we all had to seek the tell-tale sign of the white foam. Gruffyd’s ship had disappeared into the dark and we dared not risk a light hung from the stern.
Aiden spied the point or perhaps his wizard’s mind knew where it was, and he shouted, “Raibeart, turn!”
As the drekar began to turn I shouted, “Cease singing!”
It was unlikely that those ashore would hear our voices but there was little point in taking chances. As soon as the voices stopped all that we could hear was the wind in the stays and the crack of the canvas while the sea rushed and hissed beneath our hull. It was up to the ships’ boys to spot the glimmer of light that would identify the settlement. Already I was getting the whiff of wood smoke but we needed the lights from doors which opened to reveal the fires within.
Rather than shouting, which might carry across to the land, the ships’ boys whistled. I looked and saw Sven Ebberson. He was pointing to a dark lump which rose from the land. Distance was hard to estimate but I took it to be less than two thousand paces from us. Already Ragnar was heading in and Gruffyd was closely following him. My grandson would have the hardest task. He would have to find somewhere safe to land. I saw that he turned his drekar sharply.
Aiden said, “The gods are with us. Ragnar has found a beach.”
I saw the oars come inboard as it slid up onto the sandy beach. Raibeart hissed, “In oars,” and ours followed those of Ragnar. Gruffyd was a heartbeat later. It was another lesson for my son. He was marginally slow in giving the order. He had probably been too concerned with turning in to shore.
I grabbed my helmet and slipped my shield over my back. Old habits die hard. I might not be the first ashore but I would be ready. I would not be using a spear. Others liked the long weapon but I preferred Ragnar’s Spirit and my dagger, Wolf’s Blood. They were all that I needed. The ships’ boys had jumped into the sea and were pulling the ropes which would secure us to the shore. My Ulfheonar had not been advised by Ragnar. They did not know that he wished to be the first ashore. They jumped ashore before the rest of the warriors. That was their way and I would not chide them for it. I saw Aðils Shape Shifter as he disappeared like a black hare. By the time I had stepped ashore Ragnar had organised his men and sent his own scouts out. Gruffyd and his men were the last to join us. They were not as slick when it came to mooring. Another lesson would be learned.
Ragnar turned to me. I saw nothing of his face for, like me, he had a full-face helmet. His teeth showed white as he spoke. “The walls are just over the headland. Sven Long Walking, secure any ships that you find. See if there is one which is worth stealing. If we have many slaves and much treasure then it will make the voyage home easier.”
There was the slightest of pauses. Sven was waiting for me to say something. I did not and he said, “Ay, Ragnar.” Ragnar might be leading but he had yet to earn the title of jarl or war leader. My grandson would understand.
Aðils reappeared along with two of Ragnar’s scouts. Aðils gave his report to Ragnar. He was the youngest Ulfheonar and he understood my grandson’s predicament. “They have closed the gate on the burh. There is a ditch but it is without traps. They have just eight sentries walking the walls. Half of them are in the gatehouse.”
That was a criticism from Aðils. It meant that the other walls had too few sentries to keep a good watch. I saw him begin to string his Saami bow.
“Then let us go. I will assault the gatehouse. Raibeart and Dragonheart will take the west wall and Gruffyd, you have the youngest and fittest warriors. You can assault the north wall! May the Allfather be with us.”
If Gruffyd was unhappy he did not show it. He raised his sword and his men followed him silently. He was making up for his poor seamanship. I let Raibeart lead. The Ulfheonar formed a human shield around me. They were my oathsworn. We headed up the slope and over the sand into the grassy pasture which surrounded the walls. Sheep moved out of the way. They made noises as they did so but they were not the cries of distressed animals. They would not alarm anyone. They would end up on our ships! Salt pastured sheep were delicious! We moved like a shadow across the land. I had not seen Aðils since he had made his report but when we saw no sentries on the west wall I knew that my scout had disposed of any that were there. Raibeart’s men were already ascending the far side of the ditch and I saw pairs of them hold their shields to allow a third to climb the walls. It was all going well and then we heard, from the gatehouse a cry, “Vikings!” We were seen.
For the first time in a long time, I was not the first one over the wall. Boosted by Olaf and Rolf I grabbed the top of the wooden wall and pulled myself over. I reached down to help Haaken up and, after I had swung my shield around to my side I looked for foes. When I looked along the wall I saw Raibeart and his men, closely followed by his hearth weru, were racing down the fighting platform slaying Saxons. I did not need to hurry. I climbed down the ladder and found myself, alone, by the side of a large hall. The rest had headed for the gatehouse where my grandson was still trying to overcome the defenders. I shifted my shield around to the front. I was aware that the two warriors who had helped me up the wall, Rolf and Olaf, were now clambering up the wooden walls. I had support. Holding Ragnar’s Spirit before me I made my way through the narrow alleys between the houses.
A Saxon, wearing a byrnie and wielding a sword, stepped out of a house. He looked surprised to see me. He had quick hands and he swung his sword, swiftly, at my middle. If I had not had my shield ready then I might have been struck. As it was I blocked the blow with my shield and brought Ragnar’s Spirit diagonally across his bare neck. My sword had a good edge and it bit through to his chest. He slumped to the ground. I stepped into the house. There were three women. I was about to leave when I saw that the oldest one clutched a small chest. I walked up to her and said, in Saxon, “Give me that or the three of you will die!” The use of Saxon and my red eyes burning in the firelight, worked and she pushed the chest over. I nodded and took it in my left hand, holding it behind my shield. I re-entered the passageway.
Two of Raibeart’s men appeared, “Jarl! You are alone?”
I grinned, “Arne, I am still an Ulfheonar!”
We headed towards the sound of battle. It was bizarre for we were almost alone. Pennsans was bigger than I had expected. Perhaps they had a bigger garrison? We burst out into an open area. I saw Vikings and I saw Saxons. It was a confused battle. That suited us. Saxons fought best when they were in rigid lines. We fought best when it was warrior against warrior. I brought my sword down onto the back of a Saxon’s head. I split his helmet and his skull. It was one of Ragnar’s men he was fighting and he raised his sword in salute. Raibeart’s men were aware that they were the only protection for the Dragonheart and they flanked me as I stabbed forward at the spine of the Saxon before me. I felt it grate off the backbone. He arched and then slumped at my feet. This was not glorious but it was necessary.
I realised that the confusion needed to be ended. I raised my sword and yelled, “Shield wall!”
My voice had commanded often enough and most of the warriors knew me. Suddenly shields sprouted around me and, on the other side of the Saxons I heard the crack of shields as they came together. More men appeared from the alley behind me and where there had been three there were now ten and three shields were pressed into my back.
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“Punch and slash!”
I hit the Saxon before me with my shield and then ripped my sword upwards. The Saxon was dying, even as he fell backwards. As more of Raibeart’s men joined me we began to rhythmically slice and hack through the Saxons. It was not pretty but we had practised this since we were children. I saw dead and dying Vikings. They were the ones without mail. They were the younger ones. The burghers of Pennsans could go nowhere for Ragnar’s men, having taken their gate had closed their only escape. The Saxons fought until the end. They did not attempt to surrender. Having made a shield wall against them their defence did not last long. As the last one fell I raised my sword and shouted, “Ragnar! Ragnar!” Men looked at me before raising their own swords and acclaiming my grandson too. It was important for the clan that he was acknowledged as the victor. This would be the beginning of the building of his name. A powerful name was almost as good as a good sword in a battle. If an enemy feared your name then he was already half beaten. The enemy feared Dragonheart and now they needed to fear Ragnar.
We had no time to lose for we had a richer island to take. Ragnar showed me that he had thought all of this through. “Gruffyd send your men to the priory and fetch any riches you find there.”
“And priests?”
“If there are any but I fear they may have fled.”
“Aye, we will do so! Men of the ‘Crow’ , follow me!”
“Erik Ironshirt, take charge here. Strip the dead of weapons and prepare our men for the journey home.” He turned to me. “Take the Ulfheonar and join Sven Long Walking. Raibeart and I will take our men and bring the drekar around.”
“You did well, grandson. Your father would have been proud.”
He shook his head, “No, grandfather for I made too many mistakes. I should have sent men to secure the priory first. The priests will have fled and we may have a battle yet. And I should have ordered the shield wall. You save us from disaster.” He turned and followed his men out of the gate and down towards the beach.