by Griff Hosker
“Secure the steering board!”
I ran towards my grandson’s drekar. There were men before us. They turned to face me. I was not alone. Aðils Shape Shifter, Beorn the Scout and Rolf Horse Killer were behind me. None of us had bothered with shields. As I raced at the Saxons I used my left hand to pull the Saxon’s shield forward. He lunged at me with his sword. Ragnar’s Spirit flicked it up and then I headbutted him over the top of his shield. His nose erupted and he was sprayed by his own blood. With streaming eyes, he could not see me and I drew my sword across his throat. Aðils slew the warrior next to him. Using the two bodies I climbed up onto the sheerstrake.
Raising my sword and drawing Wolf’s Blood, I shouted, “Ragnar’s Spirit!” Aðils was next to me and we both threw ourselves at the backs of the Saxons. I am a big man and I was wearing mail. My weight knocked two men to the ground. I put my sword across the throat of one and leaned into it as I ground and wound my dagger into the guts of the second.
I felt a bump as ‘King’s Gift’ crashed into the other Saxon ship. There were more of my drekar arriving. The battle was over. It was just that the men of Wessex did not know it. I stood and using both dagger and sword hacked and slashed my way to my son’s beleaguered warriors. My shout and our sudden attack had given Ragnar and his men hope. We moved towards each other. Ragnar drove his sword up and into the last Saxon.
My grandson embraced me, “I knew that you would find me!”
“Aye! It is well now.”
I heard Olaf shout, “Strip the enemy and throw their bodies to feed the fishes. Then we will fire these ships!”
“Hold! We need these ships!”
Ragnar looked at me with disbelief in his eyes. When an enemy attacked us, we removed them from the face of the earth and I was showing clemency, “Why?”
I smiled, “When we lost you I thought the Norns were playing their tricks or Loki wished to be mischievous. Now that I see how many of your men have survived and how timely was our arrival I see that this was meant to be. We use these ships. I had wondered how to get inside the walls of Lundenburh. Now I know! We use these ships sent by the gods!”
While the men obeyed my orders and the wounded were being seen to Ragnar told me what had happened. “When the storm came we kept to the same course. We lost sight of you but I knew that you would be following. Then disaster struck the rudder withy sheared and we lost the rudder. By the time we had the sail down it was black as night and we could not see you. You might have sailed close to us and not seen us. We hung a light from the stern and then tried to make repairs. We had a spare rudder but the seas were too rough. We did not know it but we were being swept towards the coast. When dawn broke we spied the Saxons. The steering board was not repaired and so I ordered two shield walls and split my men between the bow and the stern.”
“That was the right thing to do.” I looked and saw that they had only lost eight men close to my son. I had no idea how many they had lost at the prow but it could not have been many. “We will repair your ship and then continue east.”
“And how do we use these ships?”
“These ships carry cargo. We put ten or twenty men in each one and sail up the river at dusk. You and the drekar can follow. We will get inside the gates of Lundenburh.”
“What of the garrison?”
“Have you forgotten our original plan? The threttanessa draw them north east. We raid close by Prittleuuella and Beamfleote. When we have drawn their garrison, we head west. Our ships can travel faster than men on foot. Especially men who had marched twenty miles from Lundenburh and Lundenwic.”
Ragnar laughed, “You still have a mind as sharp as any. We had better tell the others of our new plan.”
I went aboard the Saxon ship I had boarded. The captain’s body had been thrown overboard but his chest remained. I opened it. His clothes were within. That was handy. I saw some papers. From what I could discern the ship was the ‘Maid of Earhyth’ . I was not sure how that helped us save that the name meant muddy landing place. Then I discovered gold! It was a map. More than that, it was a map of the Temese. I saw the name Earhyth. It was on the south bank of the river. The ship would be known and would not arouse suspicion. What I had taken to be bad luck was the opposite. The storm had given us a way into the city.
It took most of the morning to repair the rudder and then select the two crews. I captained one with the Ulfheonar. Raibeart and his oathsworn took the other. His was called ‘St. Cuthbert’s Staff’ . There were enough spare clothes on the two ships for us to have effective disguises. Ragnar told the others of the changes. I could see that my son was less than happy. Instead of being free to raid the six small crews would have to raid only until the Saxons approached. Then they would have to sail and join the others at the Temese. Beorn the Scout and Aðils Shape Shifter joined them. I was happy that at least one of my oathsworn was watching over my son.
Sven Long Walking took charge of ‘Heart of the Dragon’ . With the losses in the battle and the two crews needed for the Saxon ships we no longer had double crews on all of the drekar. I did not think it would matter for we would be relying up our warriors’ swords and not the speed of our drekar. We used the threttanessa to surround and hide the two Saxons. As we had no crew for the oars then the whole fleet would have to travel at our speed. Once we split up, north of the Isle of Sheep we would have to follow as best we could. Ragnar intended to lie up in the swampy ground by the Isle of Grain. Gruffydd and my new men had a great deal of responsibility.
As we turned east we waved at the six lean drekar as they headed north. They were able to use their oars and race north towards Foulness. Ragnar and his drekar leapt away too leaving us to waddle as we tacked and turned to sail much more slowly. Haaken spat over the side as he was drenched, yet again, “I cannot believe that the Saxons have not yet learned to build a decent ship. This is like a fat cow.” Our two knarr were much more responsive.
I moved the steering board slightly, “Be thankful that they do make such poor ships. It makes our life easier.”
We soon lost sight of the rest of the ships as the sun began to slip below the horizon to the west. It did not matter. We knew where we were going. The island was largely uninhabited. Ragnar would find a quiet place where the trees would hide us. We would be on the south side of the estuary and when we did head to raid the Saxons we hoped to be completely unseen. Raibeart and his crew were having an easier time of it. They were better sailors. I saw Rollo look at his blistered hands. He was used to rowing but hauling on the ropes was a different action. Aiden’s salve would be in great demand. Aðils was acting as lookout and it was he who shouted, “Drekar ahead. Head further south, Jarl!”
That was easier said than done. As I turned the sails flapped a little and we lost way. By the time we had readjusted them Raibeart’s ship had come abeam of us. Olaf was not happy. He liked to be the best at everything he tried and for younger men to beat him made him like a bear woken from its sleep too early. One advantage was that I saw the trim of Raibeart’s ship and the last few thousand paces was less embarrassing, as we tied up next to ‘St. Cuthbert’s Staff’ which was tied next to ‘Heart of the Dragon’.
My men’s heads hung down. They were tired and they were unhappy. “It will be easier when we sail next. We do not have as far to go and we will follow Raibeart.”
We walked across the other ships in the longphort and found that Ragnar had lit a fire. I cocked a questioning eye at him. He shrugged, “Who is there to see us? The ships hide the fire from the sea and there are stumpy trees and bushes to the west and north of us. Besides it will keep away the flying insects. I have been bitten already.”
He was right and the hot food made us all feel better. The storm and the repairs had meant we had gone a day without food. The day we would rest at the isle of grain would be welcome. We had not planned it. Perhaps the Norns had.
Asbjorn asked, “Do we know if there is anything of value where we are to raid?”
; Ragnar shook his head, “Maybe not but it does not matter. We make nuisance of ourselves. We take animals and slaves and burn houses. We raid their churches. We want to draw the thegns and the fyrd away from the walls of Lundenburh. Aiden’s maps do not tell us enough about these places.” I held up the map I had found on board the ship. “This is much more useful. The roads, churches and settlements are all marked. The farms where they grow their crops can be seen. We just need to take their burh. Our escape will be by the sea. The storm we endured was sent by the gods. They sent a Viking storm and the Saxons will be the ones who feel its effect. We go when we are satiated. King Aethelwulf is in for a shock!”
Chapter 7
The hurts of our wounded were tended the next day. The ships were all checked for storm damage. Ragnar’s experience was a warning. We sent men across the swampy island. They found some shepherds and their sheep. There was little point in killing them. We bound them and ate some of their sheep. Salt fed mutton was a treat. As darkness fell we sailed north. The shepherds would free themselves. We had damaged their boat. When daylight came I had no doubt that the alarm would be given but they would be looking for raiders on the south side of the estuary. We would be long gone by then.
Once again, the two Saxons waddled. Our knarr were travelling much faster. It gave me the chance to look towards the coast of Essex. It was all low lying. It explained the swampy nature and why the rivers twisted and turned so much. Features like churches stood out. They rose, like markers, above the land. I hoped that Gruffyd was safe. He was confident, perhaps over confident. We needed our raiders to be visible but to flee before they took too many casualties. Few of the men on the new drekar had helmets and even fewer had mail. The ones who had helmets and mail had taken them from the two Saxon ships. They were poor quality.
By the time we reached the beach the drekar had disgorged their crews and Ragnar had organized them into a longphort. As they would need to leave quicker than we I tied us astern of the drekar. The two knarr were astern of us. The ropes could be cut if they had to leave in a hurry. I waved for Knut and Arne Eriksson to come and be the watch on our four ships and we descended to the beach. We followed the other warriors as they clambered up the low dunes towards the distant huddle of huts. There was no palisade and no church. It looked a mean and pitiable place. Even as we approached we heard screams and cries. By the time we reached it the handful of men were dead and the women cowered, surrounded by Vikings.
Ketil shook his head, “I hope there is more than this, Jarl Dragonheart if not then we will find nothing of value!”
“It is Lundenwic which is the prize. This is just to get you warmed up.” I turned to Ragnar, “And now we put the second part into action.” My plan was for me to take a small number of men and raid closer to Lundenwic and Lundenburh. We wanted them to think they could trap and catch the mighty Dragonheart. If, as we suspected, I had been responsible for the death of King Egbert then the men of Wessex would like revenge.
“Are you sure?”
“My standard and my banner are known. If you wish every warrior in the land to head east then it must be me.”
“But Cnut?”
“We have to walk. There is no hurry and Cnut and my men know the risk. It is but seven miles that we have to travel. Just so long as you are ready if we rouse the wasps!”
I led fifty men and my Ulfheonar. We did not have Aðils and Beorn to scout; Rollo and Rolf did that. It was Sven Long Walking and his men who marched with the Ulfheonar and the men of Cyninges-tūn. We marched indaylight but the land was flat. It reminded me of Frisia. The track we trod was barely above water. The ditches which were adjacent to it were filled with estuary water, dark and salty. I saw sheep in the fields. Even as I watched I saw one jump one of the many drainage channels which crisscrossed the field. It gave me hope that our smaller drekar would reach further upriver than we had thought. We were not running but we used the fast pace which enabled us to cover distances quickly. Ten miles was the furthest we could march at such speed. Travelling over land which was as flat as this was no hardship. For Cnut it would be hard but he had insisted that he could cope with the forced march.
To our left lay the Temese. It was a wide river. The Issicauna, Rinaz and Liger were all wider but here, in the old province of Britannia there were few which could rival it. I had been here before. Ships could turn around for many miles beyond the old city of Lundenwic and the fort at Lundenburh. When we had raided it was before Wessex had wrested control of it from Mercia. It was known that King Egbert had endowed many churches and abbeys close by. It was what Christian kings did to ensure they went to heaven. Our way was cheaper and easier. You died with a sword in your hand!
I saw the smoke spiralling into the sky. The wind was behind us else I might have smelled it earlier. For once it did not matter if they saw us. We wished them to know that we were in their land. The smoke meant we were getting close to a settlement. Aiden’s map showed one and our knarr captain thought that they had seen one when they had traded. That had been some years since. The captains had been more concerned with the waters and obstacles rather than houses. The name we had heard was Beamfleote. Rollo and Rolf would return when they had spied the defences.
“How goes the leg, Cnut?”
“It is still attached to me, jarl, although it is wishing I had left it at home!”
Haaken said, “That is the advantage of losing an eye. It is gone and cannot complain.”
Olaf snorted, “Haaken One Eye, you would have Cnut lose his leg? Then he would be even slower!”
“Hmm, I have never heard of a warrior with a wooden leg. Perhaps it might be a good thing. There would be one less limb for an enemy to strike!”
“I think, Haaken, that your mind has gone!”
I knew why Haaken was jesting. It would calm those who were not Ulfheonar and take their mind off our task. My warriors were not worried about the defences of Beamfleote. Less experienced warriors might be. If they heard my warriors joking and listened to the banter it took their mind off the dangers. Worry and apprehension killed as many men as swords and spears.
Rolf appeared. His seal skin boots dripped and the mail on his byrnie was wet. He had been in the ditches. He was running towards us. Behind him I saw the top of what looked like the wooden tower of a church for there was a cross. “Beamfleote lies just five hundred paces yonder. Jarl the huts are on a small piece of ground which rises above these swamps. It is like an island. They have no dug ditch but water flows around their wooden walls.”
“It is a Burh?”
“No, Jarl Dragonheart. The palisade is to keep out animals and the waters. Sven Long Walking could step over it.”
Men behind me laughed. I swung my shield around and drew my sword. “Then let us enter this place and show the men of Wessex that the Clan of the Wolf is here. Cnut, keep the standard high. We want them to see the wolf!”
We ran and followed Rolf. I saw, two hundred paces from us, Rollo crouching in a drainage ditch. As he saw us he rose. The water in the ditch was not deep. It had come only to his thigh. If the ditch around Beamfleote was the same then it would not be a threat. Even as we ran towards it I saw those who had been working in the nearby fields flee towards the gate and a horn sounded. Just before it closed a horseman on a pony galloped out, whipped the head of his horse around and headed west towards Lundenburh. Usually that meant we had failed but this time it meant that we were drawing the Saxons to us. My plan could still work.
Cnut ran next to me. I saw the pain on his face. We had marched further than he had travelled since his wound. Carrying the standard and wearing mail was taking its toll but it was vital that he was next to me when we approached. The rider would have seen the standard and my shield. When we left the survivors would confirm that the Dragonheart had returned. Although we had not raided this far east before now, my son’s abduction of Elfrida and my battles with King Egbert had made me a name to be feared. Aiden said that he had heard of Saxons who told ta
les of the Dragonheart to terrify children.
A few hunting arrows flew from the walls. Our raised shields prevented hurt. Even had they struck our mail they would not have penetrated. They were barbed arrows. The path was wide enough for six men. My Ulfheonar flanked us. As we neared the gate Rolf and Olaf slipped their shields around the backs and, holding their axes with two hands ran towards the gate. The Saxons had removed the wooden bridge but the water filled ditch was just a minor obstacle. The two jumped in. I saw an arrow ping off Olaf’s helmet. The Saxons would regret that. Olaf would have to have the dent removed. He would be annoyed and an annoyed Leather Neck was not a pleasant prospect.
Their axes smashed into the wooden gates. Shards and splinters of wood sprayed the ground around them. Haaken and Rolf raised their shields to protect the two men. They were close enough now for an accurate hunting arrow to find flesh. Sven Long Walking had the archers from Cyninges-tūn send our own arrows to fell their archers. Our arrows could hurt especially as the men behind the walls wore no mail.
I raised my sword and shouted, “Men of Essex, Jarl Dragonheart and the Clan of the Wolf are come to take your town!” My men all cheered. The cry brought spears as a response. They struck shields and they struck the ditch but none hit us. I saw my men picking them up. They would be returned to their owners!
The crack and crash of the axes on the gate reached a crescendo and then the last blows broke the bar which barred our way. The two axe men stood aside and I ran in flanked by Haaken and Rollo. A thegn in a mail byrnie awaited us. He had ten warriors around him. Some had helmets and some had mail. It mattered not. Behind them were the rest of the men. They had a variety of weapons. Rolf and Olaf ran to join us and guard our flanks while Sven Long Walking brought his hearth weru to make a second rank. Cnut Cnutson was between us waving the standard.