Viking Weregeld (Dragonheart Book 17)

by Hosker, Griff

  “I would avoid Alt Clut. That is where their king lives and the walls are high. You would lose many men.”

  He nodded, “I spoke with Ragnar and Raibeart before I left. They told me.” He pointed north east. “There is a place I have seen; Àird Rosain. It is a fishing port. The men there do not have a wall but there is an old church and the followers of the White Christ say that their saint, Patrick, visited there. That means there may be treasure in the church.” He looked at the sky. “We should reach it after dark.”

  “You would go in without scouting?”

  “As I said, Jarl Dragonheart, I have sailed this coast before. I did not raid but I stored in my head places which might yield that which we needed. I saw the stone church when we sailed south to raid before we were betrayed in Dyflin.”

  I smiled, “Forgive me. This is your raid. I am a guest.”

  Knut was going to be as good a sailor as his father. He had the ship’s boys trim the sails so that we slowed our approach as the coast loomed up out of the dark of the eastern sky. Erik was anxious. I could tell that. My presence did not help. “There is a beach, as I recall. It is half a Roman mile or so south of the beach which is close to the port. A headland hides it from view. We will land there. We will use the Ulfheonar trick of approaching silently.”

  One problem we would have would be the fact that with a small boat we had a small crew. There would be just Knut and four ship’s boys to watch the ship. It would have to do. Fortunately, one of them was Guthrum Arneson. He was very experienced and handy with a sword. The lookout whistled and Knut nodded and put the steering board over. Even in the dark the lighter patch of sand was visible. Knut showed his skill by using the wind and the sails to bring us to a halt just fifty feet from the shore. Gruffyd went to the prow and jumped in. The water came up to his chest. We were close enough. Knut had Guthrum throw out a sea anchor. While we were away they would turn the drekar so that ‘Crow’ pointed south. We were always prepared for a speedy departure. I let the younger warriors leap into the water first. I wore my old seal skin boots. They were comfortable and if they were ruined it would not matter. I had a newer pair at home. The water was an icy shock as I landed.

  I was the last one up the beach. “I will watch the rear for you, Erik Ironshirt.”

  “Thank you Jarl Dragonheart. My men will take comfort from that. Scouts out!”

  I saw that the scouts were Gruffyd and Einar. It showed the faith Erik Ironshirt had in my son. We clambered up the dunes and I saw that the land sloped down to the sea. It was a gentle land. I spied shapes higher up which I took to be sheep. The men of this land kept their cattle closely guarded at night; even from their neighbours.

  I realised that I needed this raid as much as Erik and his men. The raid on the Fal had been too easy. This long run through scrubland would prepare me for the harder battle to come in Wessex. The wind behind meant that we saw the port before we smelled it. Glows from fires showed us where the houses were. I reached the waiting warriors.

  Erik spoke quietly. “Gruffyd has spied the houses. There are no guards but they are awake. Some of the boats are not here. They must be out fishing. We know not how many men there are. I want Sven Thorirson, Gruffyd and Einar to go with Jarl Dragonheart and search the church. The rest of us, we slay the men and take the women. Leave the children we do not want them. Leave the mothers too.” We all nodded. “I will sound my horn three times when we leave. If you do not come at the third call then be ready for a short life in the land of Strathclyde for we wait for no man.”

  I knew that Erik had given me the task of searching the church for a reason. I had done so many times and, thanks to Aiden, I knew the secret places the priests used to hide treasure. It also meant that we would be in less danger. He did not want to return to the Land of the Wolf having lost the jarl on a raid. I saw a trail heading up the hill to the church. There was a light glowing from the church. Someone was inside.

  We had our swords out. Sven and the other two deferred to me. You did not take an Ulfheonar with you and not use their skill. I moved silently. I might be an older warrior but I still knew how to move without being heard. I smelled horses. I held up my hand to stop the others and I moved closer. The path wound up to the church. There was a dry-stone wall flanking it and, up ahead, I saw four men and horses. The door to the church briefly opened and I heard someone speak. In that instant I saw that they had helmets and mail armour. They were warriors.

  I turned and went back to the others. I made the sign for warriors and held up four fingers. I led them forward. Suddenly the night was riven with the screams and shouts from the village as Erik and his men attacked. From up ahead I head the shout, “Raiders!”

  We moved quickly up the lane. The door of the church opened and I heard a high-pitched voice shout, “Get my lady to safety! Ride!”

  We were just ten paces from them when we were spotted. The light from the inside of the church lit us up. One of the warriors shouted, “Vikings!” I saw behind him a lady as she was helped on to a horse. Two men also mounted and one shouted something. The other four turned and rode at us.

  It was a mistake. The trail was narrow and we were so close that they had no chance to use their horses’ size. Sven and I swung our swords at the same time. Mine bit into the neck of the first horse. It reared and, in its death throes, crashed through the dry-stone wall trapping the rider beneath. I held my shield up as a war hammer smashed down on it. I thrust upwards, blindly with my sword and was rewarded by soft flesh. I pulled it out and it was bloody. I lowered my shield and saw the warrior raise his war hammer again. I swung my sword sideways and hacked through his thigh. He fell from the horse, his leg pumping his life blood away. Gruffyd and Einar had both attacked the four riders while Sven slew the third. Einar fell backwards, struck in the head by the warrior’s sword and Gruffyd ended the contest with his own sword. The woman and the two other warriors who had been in the church with her, had fled.

  “Sven, I want the first warrior for questioning. Gruffyd see to Einar.”

  I turned and ran into the church. A priest was bending over a trapdoor. He saw me and he ran out of the rear door of the church. I let him go. There would be little to be gained by capturing him. I had caught him secreting or trying to extract something. This was a church and I knew it would be valuable. I had been lucky to see him for I saw that the trapdoor had been hidden. Had he not been either closing or opening it I would not have found it. I laid my shield down and used my sword to lever the trapdoor open. Using one of the brands I held it in the hole. There were two chests. They were both about the same size. They were the length of a short sword and the height of a helmet. I also saw the clear area in the dust where a third chest had been. I pulled the two remaining ones out. Gruffyd came in supporting a dazed Einar.

  I pointed to a jug. “There will be wine in that. Use it to clean any wound he may have.”

  My son shook his head, “He was struck on the head. His helmet saved him and he is just dizzy.”

  “Guard the chests and see what else we can find. We will open the chests on the ship.”

  I took one of the torches which burned on the wall and hurried out. Sven was standing over the warrior. Sven shook his head, “His back was broken when his horse fell on him but he lives.”

  I leaned over him. I saw that he was a greybeard. “Your back is broken.”

  He tried to smile, “I know. Were it not then you would be dead Viking.”

  I shrugged, “The fortunes of battle. Who was that lady who fled and what was she doing here?”

  He said nothing.

  I took out Wolf’s Blood. “If you tell me then I will give you a warrior’s death, I swear.” A paroxysm of pain made his face contort. “Telling me cannot hurt the lady she is fled with your two men.”

  “And the others?”

  “Dead. We are warriors.”

  “Aye. That was the Queen, she is the wife of King Dumnagual of Strathclyde. She was fetching the crown jewel
s for the marriage of her son, Artgal. So, you are too late Viking. The jewels are gone.”

  “And what else is in the church?” He said nothing. “There are not many stone churches around here and if the crown jewels are here then there must be other things of value.”

  “I will tell you nothing, heathen. Do not give me the warrior’s death. I care not. This is a holy place and was visited by St. Patrick. It is holy. The Warlord of Britain visited here with his wizard Myrddyn so let me lie here and die. I will be in good company for these men were my kin. St Patrick and the Warlord brought peace to this land. Perhaps my soul will have peace now.”

  I shook my head, “No, my friend. You are a brave man and you answered my question. I only asked about the lady. Are you ready?”

  He said, “Place my dagger in my hand. It is like Christ’s cross.”

  Sven said, “It is a trick jarl! He will stab you.”

  I answered quietly, “His back is broken and besides he will not.” I placed his dagger in the palm of his right hand and folded his fingers around it.

  “Thank you, Viking.”

  I took my knife and slit his throat. “Go to your god.”

  I stood. The warrior and the other had good mail and weapons. That made sense for they had been escorting the Queen. Turning to Sven I said, “Collect the mail and the weapons.”

  Just then Gunnar Longsword and two men hurried up the trail. “The jarl was worried.”

  “He has no need to be. Help Sven. I will go into the church.” I saw that, although Einar’s head was bleeding, he was able to move around. They had collected some candlesticks, candles, a Bible and an altar cloth. They were the good candles used in rich churches. I sheathed my sword and picked up my shield. I slung it around my back. “Einar, wrap the Bible, candlesticks and candles in the cloth. Gruffyd, you carry one box and I will carry the other.”

  By the time, we left the church the others had stripped the dead. “Come let us get back to the drekar.”

  The men of the village had put up a stiff resistance. I saw some of Erik’s crew with wounds but it had been men against boys and they were all dead. There were twenty weeping girls and young women. I pointed to the four who were the youngest. “Erik, if you take those four they cannot be used as the others. They are little more than children.”

  “I know, jarl. We take them to keep our hall clean and to cook for us. I swear that none of these will be taken against their will. It will be their choice.”

  I nodded, “Good.” Brigid, Kara and Elfrida would not approve of women, even slaves, being forced to lie with men. Inevitably they would all become the women of the Angry Cubs and they would be treated well. Despite what people thought of us Vikings could be gentle. I began to walk back to the drekar, “Einar, Gruffyd, Sven, come!”

  We were the first aboard the drekar. Gruffyd was desperate to open the chests but I shook my head. “Your jarl is Erik Ironshirt. He should be here when we open these boxes. They are his to use, keep or share.”

  “But you are Jarl Dragonheart.”

  “Yes, Einar, but I sail under Jarl Erik Ironshirt’s command.” I smiled, “Besides I have a good idea what is in one of them, at least.” I said no more but I took off my helmet and cloak. “Gruffyd, help me off with the mail.”

  It was a relief to be out of the mail. I put a bucket over the side and pulled up a pail of sea water. I doused my head within it. It cleansed the smell of blood which still filled my nostrils.

  The women were still weeping as they were brought aboard. It would take some time for them to adjust to their new circumstances. They would probably all be better off than if they stayed in their mean fishing village. When they married one of the Angry Cubs they would have a good home and their husbands would bring them clothes, jewels, pots and lace. Vikings were generous husbands. In return they would produce more warriors for the clan. It would not be a bad life.

  Erik looked at the sky. The moon had just risen. He turned to Knut, “The wind is still against us?”

  “Aye jarl.”

  “Then we sleep here. If we have to row then let us do it fresh. Gunnar, one man in two watches. Change over at moonset.” He came over to us, “What have we here?”

  “The candles and sticks are of good quality. The cloth is fine and the Bible can be sold. As for the chests… I have not opened them. The dying warrior said that the Queen of Strathclyde came to take the crown jewels for a marriage. One chest had been taken. They may have been the jewels. We shall see.”

  While Gruffyd held a light above me I used Wolf’s Blood to pick the lock. Aiden had taught me how. It saved damaging a valuable lock. Bagsecg could take it apart and make a new key for it. I heard the click and lifted the lid. The chest contained small crowns and torcs. There were rings and bracelets. They were mainly gold with some silver.

  “The crown jewels?”

  “No, I think these are for the princes and princesses. Either that or they have dwarves at the court of King Dumnagual! Still they are valuable. You have done well, jarl.” I pushed the box to him.

  “This is as much yours as it is mine, Jarl.”

  I shook my head, “For this voyage you are jarl and you decide how it is to be divided. Now for the second.”

  This lock was harder to pick for there was rust upon it and it had not been opened for some time. When it eventually gave, the lid opened with a creak. Inside were some calfskin parchments. I handed them to Gruffyd. Aiden would decipher those. Beneath them was a lambskin. Around it was tied a cord threaded with jet. I had never seen the like. I carefully untied the cord and handed that to Erik. I unrolled the lambskin. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was a dagger. There was some pitting and some rust but it was still whole. There was a rune etched on the blade. It was a wolf. But what drew my eye to it was the blue pommel stone.

  Gruffyd gasped, “Father, it is like the old sword you found in the cave. The one which hangs in your hall.”

  “Aye, the sword of the Warlord. The dying warrior said that he had visited here with Myrddyn.” I looked at Erik, “I thought I came here to please my wife. I see that that it is not so. I was meant to come here and find this. It is wyrd .”

  “What is the significance of the jet?” Erik rolled it in his hands. The jet had been carved as smooth as I had ever seen a stone carved.

  I took it from Erik. “In the old days, this was supposed to have magical powers. The witches of the Skulltakers wore such devices. This must have been placed here by Myrddyn to keep it safe. It must have worked for the blade is in better condition than the other we found.”

  “Then you are meant to have it.”

  I nodded, “I am guessing so. I know not the reason but the wolf on the blade is a link to me. I will have to speak to Aiden about this.”

  I tried to sleep but could not. My mind was filled with troublesome thoughts. Was this a coincidence? We were about to go to war with King Egbert and his palace was not far from the land where the Warlord had ruled. I needed my daughter and her husband’s counsel more than ever.

  The next day the men woke and we rowed. The talk in the drekar was of the chests and, in particular, the dagger. All eyes were on me and it did not surprise me that the song they sang to help them row was about me.

  From mountain high in the land of snow

  Garth the slave began to grow

  He changed with Ragnar when they lived alone

  Warrior skills did Ragnar hone

  The Dragonheart was born of cold

  Fighting wolves a warrior bold

  The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave

  A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave

  When Vikings came he held the wall

  He feared no foe however tall

  Back to back with brave

  A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave

  When the battle was done

  They stood alone

  With their vanquished foes

  Lying at their toes

  The Dragonheart a
nd Haaken Brave

  A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave

  The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave

  A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave

  When I saw Whale Island ahead I knew that I would have to leave as soon as I could. My discovery might make a difference to our involvement in the raid on Egbert. Could it be that the Dragonheart had to break his word?

  Chapter 5

  Brigid was overjoyed when she saw that Gruffyd was unharmed. She did not even frown at the sight of Christian slaves. I guarded the chest with the weapon and calfskin jealously. I took it with me when I went to speak with Ragnar. I would have spoken with Haaken but he was not there. He was in his home enjoying peace.

  “It is an omen, Ragnar.”

  “I can see that but for good or ill?”

  “You know the way the Norns work. Their webs are complicated with many strands. I cannot unpick it.” I opened the chest and showed the dagger to Ragnar. The wolf etched on the blade was even clearer now. It had an eye which was out of proportion to the head of the wolf. It looked to be deliberate rather than poor carving.

  Ragnar took out Ragnar’s Spirit from my scabbard and laid them down side by side. I gasped and clutched at the dragon around my neck. “I think that you will need to speak with Bagsecg too, grandfather. Your sword is a larger version of the dagger and yet our smith cannot have seen the dagger, can he?”

  “You are right Ragnar. I should have seen this myself.” I kissed my sword and sheathed it. Ragnar wrapped the dagger in the lambskin and tied it with the jet fastening.

  “You were meant to go on the raid then?” I nodded. “I did wonder why you went.”

  “I confess that I did so that Brigid would not worry that Gruffyd might come to harm. She would have worried had I not been there.”

  “And would he?”

  I thought back. Erik would still have sent my son and Sven to the church. It would be the easier and least risky of the choices. He could not have foreseen the Queen of Strathclyde and six mailed men. Would they have been able to do as the four of us had done? It was possible and then I remembered Einar’s wound. Perhaps I had been there to help my son. I could not be there all of the time.