by Griff Hosker
With a mighty blow, he struck the beast
On Dragonheart’s flesh he would not feast
The blade struck true and the witch she fled
Ylva lay as though she were dead
The witch’s power could not match the blade
The Ulfheonar are not afraid
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
And now the sword will strike once more
Using all the Allfather’s power
Fear the wrath you Danish lost
You fight the wolf and pay the cost
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
The extra speed and the release of the tow made us leap forward like a hound which was hunting and spotted his prey. It also allowed me to see the enemy. They had five ships. They had secured the two ends of the barrier to stout trees and had them guarded. Ragnar had slowed his drekar down to allow us to catch him up. He waved for me to head to the south bank and he directed, ‘Wolf’ to the north bank. My grandson chose the hardest task for himself. He would take on the Saxon ships. Of course, our other two drekar would eventually arrive and they would add their warriors to Ragnar’s attack but, for a short time, he would be alone. I saw that he had donned mail! Fighting on water in mail was always risky.
“Erik, head for the south bank!” Donning my metal hood and helmet while grabbing my shield, I ran for the prow. I would be the first ashore.
“Aye jarl.”
I saw the Saxons there prepare for us as soon as they saw our intention. They had a few archers and slingers on the Saxon ships and, as soon as we were in range they began to send arrows and stones our way. Without mail they were a danger. I heard some stone clank off helmets and there were occasional cries as men were struck. Our ships’ boys returned arrows. It was, however, our speed which saved us. They could not adjust for a moving target.
“Steerboard, in oars!”
Erik Short Toe used the steering board to keep us straight. It meant that half of our crew were ready to leap ashore and deal with the Saxons. Using the forward stay I climbed on to the top sheerstrake. The Saxons hurled stones at me. I must have borne a charmed life for none struck me. The steerboard crew had armed themselves and they lined the side as Erik shouted, “In oars!” He put the tiller over and the bow angled towards the shore. We would be twenty paces from the Saxons when we struck the bank. As I leapt into the air and landed on the bank I noticed that none of the Saxons had mail. That was not a surprise. We had taken a great quantity of mail in our two battles with Aethelbald. They would not waste mailed warriors to guard a rope.
It was not the most elegant of landings but I was on my feet and, roaring a war cry, I ran at the Saxons, “Clan of the Wolf!”
I was not alone but I was, because of my leap, ahead of the others. There were thirty Saxons there. I heard one shout, “Shield wall!”
It was too little and too late. They should have had their shields locked when they had seen us land but they did not. I did not pause nor hesitate. With my shield before me I simply ran at the shields. I chose the point where two of them joined and I could see a gap between them. The two warriors had not locked them and, more importantly, they had not braced their legs. A shield wall needed one leg planted behind the warrior. These two were facing me and their feet were almost together. My shield split them and one fell to the ground. Ignoring the one on the ground I swung Ragnar’s Spirit into the spine of the other. Even as I tore the bloody sword from his back I was turning and as the other tried to rise I pinned him to the river bank with my blade.
I ran straight towards the rope and the tree. A single warrior was there. He had an axe which he held in two hands. He swung it at me. He made a number of mistakes. He swung too early and he swung at my head. I lowered my head and felt the axe swish over the top of my helmet. I rammed my sword into him and twisted it to eviscerate him. The axe fell from his lifeless hands. I sheathed my sword. I did not even turn to look at the battle behind me. My men would win. I picked up the axe which was mercifully sharp, and I hacked through the rope in one blow. It snaked and twisted away as the current took the, now unsecured, Saxon ships downstream. I turned to see how my men fared. They had butchered the Saxons. Only five who had escaped the slaughter raced away from my ferocious men. I looked to the river. Ragnar’s ship was being assailed on two sides. The barrier was broken and our ships could pass through but Ragnar was in danger.
“Back to the drekar!”
I was the last to clamber aboard. Already Haaken had the men at the oars. We powered through the water. I shouted, from the prow, “Ram him!”
Our ships were solidly made. The single oak which had been used for the keel came from the forests close by Úlfarrston. Bolli’s blood was in the hull and the spirits of my people had made it strong. I would trust to it.
“Aye jarl.”
I knew Erik Short Toe. He would not strike it directly abeam. He would hit a glancing blow. The speed of our ship and the strength of her hull would spring the strakes. I crossed to the larboard prow. I hauled myself up in to the sheerstrake. Ragnar and his men had held off the Saxons and prevented them from boarding him but it could not last. I had a tight hold of the stay. It was fortunate that I did for there was a crack as Erik drove us at the side of the Saxon. I heard strakes splitting. They were Saxon strakes!
I leapt aboard. The gods were with me. I landed on a Saxon and heard his spine shatter as I hit him. I swept my sword to the side as a Saxon lunged at me with his spear. The spear head ripped across my kyrtle and opened my flesh. The Saxon died. I felt the blood seeping from my wound. It was superficial. It would not slow me down. I had a grandson to save! I heard the thud of seal skin boots as my men jumped aboard to follow me. I ran at the nearest Saxons. It did not matter which ones I attacked; it would make others turn and take the pressure off Ragnar. I hoped that Asbjorn was doing the same to the other Saxon.
Behind me I heard Erik Short Toe as he shouted, “Jarl, the Saxon is holed, she is beginning to sink. Get back!”
I saw Saxons trying to get at my grandson! He could not die while I watched. I ran towards the nearest Saxons. They did not have shields. I did. Using my shield to block their blows I swept my sword at thigh level. I tore through the flesh of three warriors. They fell screaming.
Haaken’s arm grabbed me, “Come back, jarl. Ragnar is safe or do you wish to go to the Otherworld! Back!”
Olaf Leather Neck grabbed my other arm and they pulled me back towards ‘Heart of the Dragon’ . They were right. I had been close to going berserk. We barely made it back before the Saxon’s thwarts slipped beneath the Temese. I saw a bloodied Ragnar raise his sword in salute. He was alive.
Atticus ran to me with vinegar and a bandage. “Jarl Dragonheart that was foolish! A man of your years should know better. Let these young warriors try to be heroes!”
For some reason that made me laugh. I was being chastised by a Greek slave. Haaken said, “He will live.”
We picked up the tow again and headed downstream. The men had to row until we had turned to pass by Dwfr. After the battle and the long row to the sea we let the wind take us. It had shifted to the south, which was not ideal for it threatened to land us on Wessex’s shore but we relied on the skills of our captains and the number of vessels in our fleet. We were a mighty fleet. It would take another such fleet to overcome us. We sailed west with the two Saxon ships in the middle. They were surrounded by our larger drekar and, further out, like scouts, were the threttanessa.
Atticus had had to sew the wound. He had delicate fingers and the stitches were small. He kept shaking his head, “What would I do if you were to die, jarl? You are civilised but some of these others… Think of me!”
“They are good people, Atticus. You will be safe. My son and grandson know that you are to be freed.”
He looked at me and gave me such a look as I had not had for many years. I
t was the kind of look my mother might have given me when I was a child. “Do not die! I have known you a short time but I know from your men that you are more than just a leader. You are the heart of your people; what do they call it? The clan! You need to be more responsible.” He handed me a horn. “Here drink this and yes it has a draught in it. You need to sleep and this will help!”
I complied. I felt tired and the pain from the wound was gnawing at me. I lay down. I would have had my wolf cloak but it was in tatters. Instead he laid two Saxon cloaks over me. It seemed right for I had worn one when we had landed at Lundenwic. It had helped us win.
When I woke it was pitch black. Atticus was seated close by me. He was sat up but he was asleep. Erik Short Toe shook his head, “He has not moved from your side all the time you have slept. He is like a puppy!”
“Where are we?”
“We have just passed Hæstingaceaster. We were seen. They lit the beacons. There will be Saxons wetting themselves now. They will expect a Viking raid.”
I laughed, “We are in no condition to fight anyone now.”
“You are right jarl. The men are spent but it has been the most successful raid I can remember. I spoke to the Greek about Josephus’ son. I would like to have met him. I would not be the sailor I am now but for that old man.”
I nodded, “And it is wyrd . The Norns have long threads. Aiden will have much to ponder upon when we get home.”
“Aye and that is some way hence.” He pointed south. “Before dark I saw clouds thickening. We will have a storm before dawn.” He looked to the two Saxon ships. His sons were enjoying their first experience of commanding a ship without a father’s watchful eye. “We will soon find out if I am as good a teacher as Josephus.”
I nodded. I gently laid Atticus down and covered him with my cloaks. I was not cold but he might be; he was Greek. I made my way down the centre of the drekar. Most men were asleep but Haaken was awake. He was singing softly.
“Still awake old friend?”
“I am finishing off the song you would not let me finish earlier. It is a good one. Listen.”
He began to chant quietly so as not to disturb the other crew.
The Dragonheart looked old and grey.
He fought a champion that cold wet day.
A mountain of a man without a hair
Like a giant Norse snow bear
Knocked to the ground by Viking skill
The Saxon stood and struck a blow to kill
Old and grey and cunning yet,
The Dragonheart his sword did wet
With a mighty sweep of Ragnar’s Spirit
He drove his blade to slice and split
The Saxon fought but was over matched
The victory was from him snatched
The fort was won by seven brave men
The Ulfheonar and Jarl Dragonheart again
The Dragonheart took the faithless head
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
The Dragonheart took the faithless head
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
“I still do not like it!”
He laughed, “You never do! The men will enjoy singing it and I will enjoy watching you cringe when they do!”
It was dawn when we neared the Lys Ardh. We knew that we would have to stop but we did not wish to risk the south coast of Wessex. The captains and the ships’ boys had rested during our stay in Lundenburh, a night without rest would not hurt them. Erik was also concerned with the direction of the wind. It was still from the south and east but it had begun to shift. The gods were moving their wind. If it shifted to the north and east then the passage of the Lys Ardh would be very dangerous. We were using the wind while we could.
As we passed the island we had raided and Pennsans I thought of the connections we had with Om Walum and this land to the west of the Saxon stronghold. King Egbert might have conquered the land but he had not shifted the people. They were still the old ones. They still had the connection to the ones whom the Warlord had led. Gruffyd and Ebrel had the same blood in their veins. The silver fruit knife I had found was another connection. I did not believe that it had come into our hands by accident. There were no accidents. The Norns spun and the gods sent gifts. Which was this?
We had timed the passage of the Lys Ardh well. The men were all awake and refreshed. They were able to help the ships’ boys as they adjusted the sail and hauled on ropes. The Saxon ships did not cope as well as our drekar. ‘St. Cuthbert’s Staff’ suddenly lurched into the side of ‘Storm Bird’ . We were too far away to see the damage but the crack as they came together could be heard above the sea. It was the only mishap as we turned to sail north but it was a worrying one.
Erik shook his head. “It is good that we do not have far to travel. I am anxious to see the damage to the two ships.”
We sailed along the coast and I saw the citadel where we had rescued Ebrel’s father. We then turned and made our way north and east towards the beach we would use. We passed the woods which stretched away inland and then found the cliffs which rose and protected our site for the night. We reached the beach that we had used before in the middle of the afternoon. The two damaged ships were beached while the rest of us made a longphort. Erik Blue Scar was angry and he stormed over to Knut Eriksson as Erik’s sons examined the hull of their ship. I had anticipated such a confrontation. Ragnar was still aboard his drekar but I leapt into the water as soon as we moored.
“You useless little worm! You should have kept that scow out of my way.”
Knut and Arne were good sailors but this was the first time that they had captained. They hung their heads. It was not their fault. I grabbed Erik’s arm as he raised it, “Hold! Touch these men and I will punish you.”
The warrior turned to stare at me, “They have sprung my strakes, jarl Dragonheart! We are leaking!”
I pointed at the Saxon ships. “Have you ever tried to sail one of those?” He seemed to see the Saxon ships for the first time. He shook his head. “I have and it is like trying to ride the back of an ox. The beasts are stupid. They are not a drekar. They do not turn. They seem to need time to think and decide if they wish to turn. Do not blame these two for they made a better attempt at sailing than I did. Our treasure is in those ships. You should apologize to these two. If you had given them sea room instead of trying to impress others with the trim of your ship we would not have to repair their ship.”
I had not raised my voice but I could see that Blue Scar was contrite. He nodded, “You are right Dragonheart. I am sorry. But the fact remains that my ship needs to be repaired.”
“Aye as does theirs. We have sheepskins do we not?”
“We do but how will we make them watertight?”
“Leave that to me.” Erik Short Toe had seen the confrontation and made his way over. Belatedly Ragnar had too. They looked at the three reddened faces and then at me. I smiled, “It is well. There were hot words and stormy views but I have calmed them.”
Ragnar chewed his lip, a sure sign that he was disturbed. He knew that he should have dealt with the problem. “Can the damage be repaired?”
Erik Short Toe waded into the water and walked along the hull. He had worked with Bolli and knew ships from the construction to the sailing. As he did so the other captains joined us as men came ashore to make a camp. When he had examined the hulls, Erik came to us. “The strakes are not cracked. The collision has just made a gap between them. We could tease sheep’s wool and pack it in the gap.”
I shook my head. “We have too far to sail. We need to make the two hulls watertight once more.”
“I know but we have no pine tar.”
I pointed south. “There are forests there. I am certain that I saw some pine trees.”
Ragnar said, “They do not grow pine trees around here.”
I smiled, “An
d yet I know that there are some.”
“How? Are you galdramenn?”
I turned to Gruffyd, “Your wife told me! There is a stand of them north of Tintaieol. They were planted by our ancestors, Ragnar and Gruffyd and that gives us a chance. The past has come to the aid of our future. It is wyrd . We can only hope that some have been felled.” They clutched their amulets. “Erik Short Toe do you know how to make the kiln that we need?”
“I have seen Bolli’s and we have stone aplenty here.”
“Good then I will take some men and we will seek the pine.”
Olaf Leather Neck said, “This is work for men who know how to use axes. Come Rolf let us find some wood axes.”
“And you will need scouts, Beorn and I will come with you.”
“There is a tale here, Jarl Dragonheart! Haaken One Eye will enjoy a walk in Om Walum.” I had five of my Ulfheonar with me.
Gruffyd said, “I will bring two of my men.” Ragnar cocked an eye at my son. Gruffyd grinned, “Surely you can see that I was meant to go. My wife told my father of these trees.”
“Be careful then.”
We took salted meat and ale skins. I knew that we would find water and the nine of us left. We also took mattocks and shovels. Every ship carried them. Sometimes we had to dig holes to put in mooring posts and when we had animals on board a shovel was the easiest way to shift their waste. We walked down the beach until Aðils Shape Shifter spotted the path which ascended the cliff. As we climbed Haaken gasped, “Well young Gruffyd, as you have six old men with you it will be you and your two oathsworn who carry back the pine stumps!”
He laughed, “Do not worry old man, we have strong backs and we can carry you too, if needs be!”
To Gruffyd this was an adventure. I wondered. Had the Norns planted the seed in my head all those months ago before Gruffyd’s son had been born? Were the threads reaching back to the time of the Romans?
Once we reached the top I saw, further down the coast, but a long way away, Tintaieol and there, just two miles from us lay the forest. If Mordaf ap Hopkin had walked to a forest when he was a young boy this would have been the forest. Aðils pointed to the sun which was setting in the west, “We will have to find somewhere to camp and seek the pines on the morrow.”