by Griff Hosker
When we showed the chest to Ebrel and Bronnen they recognised the bronze animals. They both looked tearful. “I know what these are.”
Gruffyd put his arm around his wife. “Then why are you sad? Are you not happy to be reunited with them?”
“Each of these was given to one of my father’s lords. They are the sign of their lands. If they are gathered together then the lords who wore them must be dead. My father’s lands are now Saxon. We are all that is left. That is why I am sad. This means we can never go home. We will care for these. They are a reminder of what Om Walum once was. It is now a Saxon desolation.”
Gruffyd and Einar fair face led their wives away. I wondered if it would have been better to leave the chest in the hut. Then I realised that I had been meant to find it. The women were sad but there was a purpose to it. It would be revealed in time.
Leaving my wife to stay with Ebrel and Astrid I returned to Cyninges-tūn with Aiden, Uhtric and Úlfarr. My wolf was pleased to see me. He had grown in the short time I had been away. Sámr and Ulla War Cry spoiled him with treats. It was good that they were bonding. Úlfarr would protect them. I was becoming convinced that I had saved him so that he could be as a protector for me and my family.
“What will you spend your gold on, jarl?”
I had not given it much thought. “I know not. Perhaps nothing. I may give it to my children and grandchildren. They have more need of it than I. What do I need that I do not have? I have my sword and my mail. My hall is strongly made. I am content.”
As much as I loved my wife when I had the hall to myself, without her slaves then I was happy. Uhtric knew what I liked to eat and when. My life became ordered. As Tvímánuður passed I took to riding and walking my land with Úlfarr. My people no longer saw him as a wolf. He was an extension of me. He ranged alongside me. He enjoyed swimming in the Water and then disappearing into the forests. Sometimes he came back with small animals in his mouth. I found it interesting that he showed them to me and waited for me to allow him to eat his own kill.
I saw the early crops being harvested and all seemed well. Then, one morning, I woke to the sound of wind and rain. When I looked out of my door I saw that the skies were as black as night. When Úlfarr began to whimper I knew that Thor was bringing his thunder. The storms raged for days. It seemed to me that the gods themselves were fighting. I heard, along with the thunder, avalanches as stones were dislodged and crashed down into the valley. The Water began to rise. We had made ditches around Cyninges-tūn to defend from enemies and now they served to keep my people dry for they took away the water which flooded the lower part of the valley. The storm raged for seven days and nights. The thunder went but the storms and the winds remained. Huge trees were brought down. Many moored fishing boats were torn from their moorings and wrecked.
When the rains stopped and I went abroad with Úlfarr I saw the devastation the rains had caused. I had thought that Cyninges-tūn had suffered but, compared with the rest of my land, we had been let off lightly. The rye had been harvested but the wheat crop had been ruined. Many sheep had been drowned. Even cattle had died. One had been taken by Thor. He had struck one with a lightning bolt. Other had been killed by falling rocks and trees. I wondered if this was a punishment from the gods. I did not know it at the time but we were luckier than most. The storms had lashed the Land of the Wolf, the land of the Vikings. That had affected us. The same storms had lashed the land from one end to the other. All suffered. There would be many empty bellies and hungry bairns when winter came. We were a resilient clan and all banded together to repair the damage. We had suffered but, thanks to our raids, we had enough to see us through the winter. It made the raids we would make on Wessex even more important. My depressing journey was brightened by my wolf. Úlfarr seemed to enjoy just running freely. Freed from the horror of the storm he relished life and ran as though his life depended upon it. He would bound up the fells chasing the Allfather knows what and then he would return with tongue hanging out and, what appeared to me, to be a joyful look.
I went to my son and grandson to see how they had fared. Two of our drekar had been damaged and houses washed away in the floods. Our folk had died. When a ship arrived from Dyflin we discovered that Thorghest the Lucky had suffered more than we had. His wars with the Hibernians had gone well and he had collected treasure but he would have to use the gold to try to buy cereals from others. Hibernia was a poor land. While I was there our battered knarr and Haaken One Eye returned. Despite the condition of the ship Haaken looked as though he had enjoyed himself. I knew, from his face that he had much to tell me!
“How goes the world, Haaken One Eye?”
“Have an ale brought for me and I will tell you. On our voyage north the gods thought to drown us! The ale was spoiled.”
One of Ragnar’s slaves brought over a horn of ale. Gruffyd joined us as Haaken One Eye told us of his voyage. “Ah that is better. Dorestad is a lively little place but I fear its days as a port are numbered. We slipped in easily but the entrance to the harbour is silting up. It was the talk of all the captains. They had storms which damaged the course of the river.” He shook his head. I fear we will need to find a better port. However, while there I met Ottkell, last of the Bears. He serves as a jarl under Hrolf the Horseman. He told of a raid young Hrolf made on Cantwareburh. It is the holiest of the Saxon churches and it lies south of the Isle of the Sheep in Cent. It seems your young warrior outdid you, jarl. King Egbert had left a great fortune in treasure there to buy the support of that church too and Hrolf the Horseman has it. It is said he is planning a raid on the Issicauna. He seeks ships to serve under him next year. There are many who are interested for he has carved out a fine land for himself.”
I smiled, “Who would have thought that a slave could have achieved so much?”
Haaken laughed, “I can think of another slave who has achieved more.”
I looked at my son and grandson, “Would you wish an adventure serving under Hrolf? He seems lucky.”
Both looked uncomfortable. They exchanged glances and then Ragnar said, “Perhaps it is arrogant of me but I will not serve under another save yourself, grandfather.”
“There will be great rewards. It seems that King Egbert’s ally, the King of France has a rebellion of his own to deal with. Hrolf’s land grows. It will soon be as big as the land of the Wolf. He takes advantage of the Frank’s problems.” They shook their heads. Haaken then looked directly at me, “You may have ended King Egbert’s life.”
“What?”
Haaken said, “We spoke with Saxon and Hibernian merchants. They said that he had not been seen since the battle at Pennsans. His son has been seen but not in Wessex. Ottkell told me that his son sailed to the land of Hrolf the Horseman but he did so alone. He went there to face Hrolf but he was unsuccessful and sailed back to Wintan-ceastre. It is said that King Egbert died of his wounds.”
“But they have not said that Aethelwulf is king.”
“No.”
“Then he is not dead. He may be hurt but if he was dead then Aethelwulf would be crowned.”
Haaken held his horn out to be refilled, “I would not be too sure. Wiser men than me suggested, when I told them of your battle, that they would not wish it known that the Dragonheart killed King Egbert. They will wait a suitable time until men have forgotten the fight and then announce his death so that it seems that their White Christ took him and not a barbarian.”
Ragnar looked to agree, “That makes sense to me too. It confirms that we are right to raid them when the new grass grows. They fear us and that makes them weak.”
Was this the end of the Saxon threat? I wondered. “And you brought back great quantities of coin?”
“We did and we also heard of many other warriors who wish to serve under you. The Saxons may have made little of the battle of Pennsans but Dane and Norse alike have heard and wish to serve the jarl who attacked an army with a handful of men.”
I looked at Ragnar, “But it was Ragn
ar who led the raid.”
“Aye, jarl but it was you who garnered the glory.”
Ragnar smiled, “Worry not, grandfather. I am not upset. I am of your blood. Whatever glory you receive is glory for me and our clan. There will be time enough for me to try to emulate you.”
Haaken returned home but I stayed. Babies began to arrive. First Astrid had a daughter. They named her Kara the Golden for she was born with the same hair as her mother. She came out not bald as most bairns but with a head of golden locks. Ragnar was pleased. He had two sons and now a daughter. She was the first girl to be born in a long time.
A week after Kara the Golden Bronnen gave Einar Fair Face a son. Einar Einarsson was the biggest baby I had ever seen. Poor Bronnen was in great pain and I saw Ebrel begin to look worried as her time approached. Her baby was overdue and I sent for Kara and Aiden. I thought she might need their skills.
As we waited I played with Sámr, Ulla War Cry and Úlfarr. It was good to see the wolf, now almost full grown, playing together with my great grandsons. We were on the turf close to the sea when we heard the lookout shout, “Drekar approaching. Two of them.”
I was close enough to be able to shout, “Do they bring war?”
The lookout peered out to sea and then shook his head, “No, Jarl Dragonheart. They do not have shields mounted.”
“Come boys, let us go and greet them.” With Úlfarr protectively circling us, much to the delight of the boys, we went to the quay to watch the two drekar head closer to us. I saw that they were slightly bigger than a threttanessa. One had a red dragon prow while the other had a dragon with a bird’s beak and wings. They looked to have seen better days and showed signs of storm damage. They appeared to be heavily laden too. I saw the flowing hair of a woman as she leaned over the side to look at us.
The only ship which was tied up was our knarr, ‘Weregeld’ . She was awaiting a cargo to take back to Dorestad. They tied up and I saw faces peering over the sides. There were women and children. It explained why they rode so low in the water. These were clans who were seeking new homes. I saw them looking fearfully at Úlfarr. I turned to Sámr, “Take your brother and Úlfarr back to your hall. Tell him that we have visitors.”
Pleased with the responsibility my great grandson said, “Aye jarl. Come brother, Úlfarr, follow!” The three of them ran off.
A warrior with a long wound down his cheek stepped off. He shook his head, “Had I not seen it I would not have believed it. You have trained a wolf?”
“The gods helped me.”
The warrior clutched his hammer of Thor and then said, “I am guessing that you would be Jarl Dragonheart.” A second warrior approached. He had left the other drekar. The rest of the people remained on board.
“I am.”
“I am Erik Blue Scar and this is my cousin Siggi Tryggvasson. We come from Orkneyjar. We seek land and a lord.”
“What is wrong with your land?”
Siggi spoke, “If you like eating seal meat and trading seal oil then nothing but the storms destroyed the few crops we had and wrecked our fishing ships. We had had enough. The storm was a sign that we should seek a more benign home. We had to repair the drekar before we could leave. My father told us to seek Jarl Dragonheart. The gods, he said, did not wish us to live where we were.”
“And where is your father?”
“He died. It was his time. He had lived on the island many years. He remembered you when you fought alongside Thorfinn Blue Scar. My cousin was named after that great warrior. My father had often spoken of your deeds in the shield wall and your sword. When he died we took it as a sign that he was right. We buried him and then we left.”
“Then you are welcome. There is land for farms. You may have to clear trees although there are abandoned farms to the east of the Water at a place called Grize’s Dale.”
“Thank you, jarl. And we would raid with you too.”
“My grandson, Ragnar, leads our raids now. Here he comes. He will speak with you.”
I introduced them and then left them. I was in pensive mood. I went to the shoreline to look out to sea. I had not known I had touched so many people. It had been many years since I had sailed north and fought for the old jarl. I suppose that when you throw a stone into a pond then the ripples keep travelling. If you do so at sea then who knows where the last ripple will end.
Sámr came running up, “Jarl, you had better hurry. Ebrel is close to her time.”
“Have Kara and Aiden arrived?”
“They have been seen. They are at the edge of the forest.”
I wondered if that was why the baby was coming. Was the arrival of such powerful healers the reason? I knew not but I saw the webs of the weird sisters.
By the time Aiden, Kara and Ylva had reached the hall Ebrel was screaming. The three of them went directly inside. I sat outside the birthing room with Gruffyd. He looked like a small child once more. He was afraid. “Why is the baby late and why does it cause Ebrel such pain?”
“I know not but with those three and your mother to help then I am certain she is in safe hands.” Just at that moment the screaming stopped. Gruffyd made to rise. I restrained him. “You can do nothing. If there is anything you need to know then they will tell you.”
The silence was almost harder to bear than the noise of screaming. “I would bear any pain in battle but I am not certain I could bring a screaming, mewling infant into this world. Women have more strength than we do.”
Gruffyd stood, “It is not fair, Astrid and Bronnen had easy times with their babies. Why is Ebrel in such pain?”
I doubted that Astrid and Bronnen would have agreed with my son but I did not dispute it. “Who knows why such things happen. You will need to be strong for her when this is over. You will see a different side to your wife. The baby will be more important than you.”
He nodded, “Einar and Ragnar told me. Will my son have a claim to the throne of Om Walum?”
“You are so confident that it will be a boy?”
He laughed, “I feel it in my water. Will he?”
“Perhaps but would he want it? I have been told that I am heir to the lands of the Warlord. Would I wish to rule the land from Wyddfa to the Sabrina? It is in my blood but that does not mean I seek it. Would it be worth the effort to claim the land? I am happy here in the Land of the Wolf. This is where my bones will lie. Besides I do not think your wife wishes to return to Om Walum. The bronze animals seemed to close that part of her life.”
“Perhaps you are right. I have seen little of Om Walum that I desire but I would like to punish the Saxons. They destroyed so much. Your people, the old ones, are almost all gone. Raibeart and those who live at Úlfarrston are the only ones who remain.”
“Not true, my son. You have my half blood and all of your mother’s blood. You are more of the old people than I am. Think on that.”
I had done what I had intended and distracted him. When Aiden came out with a smile on his face then I knew that it was well. “You have a son. Your wife could not give birth the way other women do. Kara had to cut her to take out the baby. Both are well. Kara is stitching her and Ylva cleans up your son. Does he have a name?”
He nodded. He was pale. Aiden’s words had disturbed him, “Aye, Mordaf. We thought to name him after Ebrel’s father. It will keep the name going. Mordaf Gruffydson.”
“It is a good name. It hearkens back to your heritage. This will be well.”
The problems Ebrel had had to endure meant we were still in my grandson’s hall at Samhain. More drekar appeared in our waters. Like the others they came in peace and there were four of them. They were large ships and they were Danish. When Ragnar and I greeted them, we were wary and Ragnar had archers on the fighting platform. We had been deceived by Danes before.
I did not like the Dane as soon as I laid eyes on him. Molti Regnisson had a sly look to him. He was squat and powerful. Úlfarr did not like him either. My wolf growled and the hackles on the bac of his neck rose. I took ex
ception to the Dane’s tone when he spoke. There was no respect. “I am Molti Regnisson. You are Jarl Dragonheart?”
“I am and this is my son, Ragnar. He leads the Clan of the Wolf now.”
Ignoring Ragnar, he spoke with me, “We are here to invite you to sail with us. We have heard that there will be a gathering of ships close by the land of the Franks. There is a warrior there would attack the Franks.”
“We have heard. Hrolf the Horseman is his name.”
The Dane nodded, “We would go there. If you came with us then we could lead the raid! Your name would bring more ships under my banner.”
“But it is Hrolf the Horseman’s raid.”
The Dane dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “Who has heard of him? No one but your name and your sword is known throughout the world of the Viking. You may be old but your name and sword are worth three or four drekar.”
My grandson said, “We have heard enough. Do not insult us nor our friend.”
“Your friend?”
“Aye, Hrolf the Horseman served with my grandfather. We have heard of him but you?”
“Do not make an enemy of me.”
Ragnar laughed, “You think I am afraid of a sallow faced dwarf? Erik!” He raised his hand and twenty bows appeared on the walls just forty paces from us. “If I drop my hand then you and your jarls will die. Then we will slaughter your men! Do not come to the Land of the Wolf, insult our jarl and threaten us. If you do so then you would unleash a storm the like of which you have never witnessed.”
I had never heard Ragnar speak with such authority. Every day he grew more and more into the leader I had hoped his father would be.
The Danes turned and stormed back to their drekar. I saw the anger on their faces and wondered what it might mean for us. As we watched them sail away I wondered about sending a message to Hrolf. I did not and that proved to be a mistake. What we did do was to send a message to Erik and her husband Thorghest telling them of the new additions to the family.