by Griff Hosker
I could see that his nose and mouth were still bleeding but the puddles on the ground came from the wound to the leg. I needed him even more tired and to lose even more blood. I feinted and stepped away. I moved quickly to the right as he swung his axe. I darted in with my blade and stabbed at his knee and he had to jump back. All the time the blood oozed from the first wound. I could see that he was desperate to finish this before he tired. I was tiring too but I did not have a bleeding wound to my leg. The strap would hold the shield in place despite my damaged arm.
He swung his axe again in a mighty arc. He aimed to split me in two. Instead of countering with my shield I swung my blade. I had fast hands and this time it paid off. I caught the haft half way down. Not only did it stop the axe from hitting me it also gouged a slice from the ash shaft. For the first time I saw fear in his face. He stepped back and I swung my sword in an arc towards his middle. He grinned as he stepped back I saw it in his eyes; he thought I had made a mistake and his axe came crashing down towards me. I could barely feel my arm and so I put my shoulder behind the shield. The axe head struck the shield but my shoulder with the sheepskin padding took the blow and not my arm. The weakened shaft shattered. The head dropped to the floor and I heard my supporters cheer. He grabbed his own sword. We were now on an equal footing. We both had swords and if he was a good swordsman he would have used that first.
He was moving much slower now but I could hardly hold up my shield. Each movement sent waves of pain through my left arm. He saw that and quickly swung overhand. I was not fast enough and the sword smashed down on to the rim of my shield and my shoulder. I heard the mail rings crack and break. I put that from my mind as I slashed sideways and struck his already injured leg just above the knee. He crumpled to one knee and I hacked down at his neck. He brought the shield up but not quite quickly enough and the edge went through his mail and into his left arm.
He limped backwards. He was now desperate to keep me away from his left side. I saw that and I feinted to his shield side and when he turned to meet the blow I spun all the way around and Ragnar’s Spirit sliced through his mail and into his spine. His lifeless body fell in a heap at my feet. Even with the cheers ringing around my ears I raced towards the gate. Tucsem’s companion and Jarl Harald were racing for the gate. “Stop them!”
Warriors went to grab weapons but the two men lifted the bar on the gate. Harald showed himself to be the coward that I knew. He raced out of the gate towards the rest of his warriors who were emerging from his ship. I took in that the harbour guards lay dead but that they had briefly halted Harald’s men. I stabbed down at Tucsem’s companion. He fell to the floor. “Bar the gate!”
Cnut and Olaf were right behind me and they managed to secure the gate as the warriors hurled themselves bodily at it. I heard Prince Butar shout, “To the walls!” Then he was at my side. “That was bravely done.”
I nodded, “There are two ships out there and I think that I saw Tadgh.”
He nodded, “And we have but forty warriors here.”
“We just need to hold out until Haaken returns. Then we can attack them.”
I heard a gurgle next to me and saw Cnut pulling his sword from the neck of Tucsem’s companion. “And that was too kind of me. I should have let him bleed out.”He looked at my mail. “You have split the rings.”
“Aye but your sheepskin protected me. I cannot feel this arm though.”
“You have fought enough. Let us do this now.”
I shook my head. “They need to see me on the walls.” If Tadgh and the others thought I was dead it would give them heart and we needed them to be delayed until help could reach us.
Cnut nodded, “You are right but I will guard your side until the others arrive.”
I could see Tadgh and Harald. They were both well to the rear and looked to be arguing. Their men were drawn up before the walls and I could see that there were almost a hundred of them. It was two drekar crews warriors and big ones at that. I could see their frustration. They must have counted on two things: defeating me and then opening the gates before those inside knew what was happening. It would have been a massacre for most of those watching were without armour. I could see that the guards at the harbour had killed some of the attackers but they had merely slowed them down.
I looked up at the sun as I tried to calculate how long it would take Haaken to reach us. I guessed that he would have reached Hrams-a by now and would be dividing the warriors between the fort and the ship. I wet my finger and held it up. The wind would be in his favour so we could expect him in an hour or perhaps two. Would we have an hour?
The warriors had hacked down the mast from “Ran”. They intended using that as a ram. If I had had the use of my left arm I could have used my bow but I would have to rely on the dozen or so bows which were within the walls. It was woefully inadequate. Their arrows bounced off mail, helmets and shields. These were not archers; they were warriors using bows. The renegade warriors made a wall with their shields. The mast was not heavy and they could easily manage both. One or two warriors pitched and fell as arrows struck them but it did not slow them down.
Jarl Eric saw the danger. “Oathsworn! To me!” With his twelve brothers in arms he descended to form a welcoming wall of warriors behind the gate. They would break it down. We knew that. Our task was to thin them out. The rest hurled rocks down on the men as they swung their improvised ram. I took one of the spears which were stacked by the gate and hurled it to strike a warrior between the shoulder and neck. He fell, spurting blood. I hit the next one in the arm and then they raised their shields. It meant they could not see before them but they knew what was there; a gate. I heard a crack as the bar holding the gate began to weaken.
“Come Cnut ,they know where I am now. Let us go and give aid to Jarl Eric.”
Prince Butar counselled, “Keep him to the rear Cnut. I can see that he is still injured.”
If I just watched and they were all killed then I would die anyway. I was injured but so long as I wielded my blade I would fight. I would have to rely on my sword skills and not my shield. Jarl Eric grinned when he saw me, “We are safe now boys, we have Dragon Heart with us. Take care, brother, I would not be the one to tell my sister that she is a widow.”
We stood so that I was on the extreme right of the line. My weaker shield arm would be protected somewhat by Cnut. We saw the bar crack a little more and the heavy gates flew open. The mast came through and the warriors at the front lost their balance and fell at the feet of Eric and his oathsworn. The first six died wriggling on the ground as they were skewered from above. As the others tried to clamber through the gap and over the dead they exposed themselves to our swords from underneath. It could not last for they outnumbered us but it delayed them until I heard someone shouting to remove the mast. The mast had been our ally; it was slippery with blood and made their footing hazardous. We stepped forwards into the gap which had been the gate. We just fitted from wall to wall.
When the warriors saw that I was in the front line they charged at me. Cnut and Sweyn Ulfsson, one of Eric’s oathsworn, hacked and chopped at the spears as they were thrust at my face and then they despatched the weaponless warriors. One spear actually made it to my helmet but the mail and the metal cowl defeated it. I sensed a movement below me and saw a warrior with a dagger trying to crawl closer to us. I knew not if he was wounded but he was dead when I impaled his head with my sword.
Someone on the opposing side began to use their head and I heard the order for a wedge. They would burst through our perilously thin line. Prince Butar must have heard the order too for he shouted for those within to bolster our line. I felt the reassuring presence of a shield behind me and a spear appeared between Cnut and me.
It was my brother in law, Jarl Eric, who would be the point of their attack for he was in the middle. The warrior who led them had a weapon like the one wielded by Tucsem. I hoped that Eric’s shield was sound. I knew the power of that weapon. The bodies before the gate pre
vented them from running at us which helped but the impact was still a shock. I saw the skeggox come overhand towards Eric’s head. I hoped he would get his shield up but the oathsworn next to Eric chopped across with his sword and severed the arm which threatened to end Eric’s life. Eric finished the warrior off and then I had no time to be a spectator. I angled my shield to protect both Cnut and myself and I braced myself against the gate post and the man behind. Holding Ragnar’s Spirit before me I watched as the first warrior ran straight at me. His sword was aimed at my head. I ducked slightly and twisted my head to one side but I never took my eye from him. He impaled himself on my sword. He hung there for the briefest of moments, his lifeless eyes staring accusingly at me before the weight of his body dragged it from my blade. An axe came towards Cnut and my arm could not lift the shield to protect him. I swung my sword overhand and I heard the bones crunch as it sliced through his arm. The warrior who stood next to him took advantage and stabbed at my middle with his spear. I felt it tear the links and then it became entangled in the leather and woollen garment I wore beneath it. I twisted my sword as I brought it back and it sliced across his unprotected throat.
There was a slight respite as they pulled back to reorganise their ranks. I saw that three of Eric’s oathsworn were dead and the men who stood in their stead had no mail. We were about to be severely tested. The next attack would, in all likelihood, succeed and they would break through us.
Suddenly I heard a shout from the rear of their wedge and then Prince Butar shouted down, “It is ‘Wolf’, the Ulfheonar are here!”
I knew that Harald would know how few men we had but he would not know how many other warriors were aboard my threttanessa. When we heard the order to withdraw then we knew we had won. Jarl Eric’s blood was up; he had lost close friends. “Slaughter them!”
We lurched forwards after them. They were trying to turn and flee at the same time. It was almost impossible. Their tight formation worked against them and we found unprotected backs and fallen men to slaughter. It did, however, delay us and I could see the warriors pouring aboard the two drekar. They both dwarfed ‘Wolf’ ; Haaken would be able to do little about their escape. He did the next best thing; he placed his ship so that they had to pass by the length of his boat to escape. He had every warrior loosing arrows as the two ships tried to pass him and escape. They managed to do so but I knew that they would have had many casualties on board.
There was no cheering for we had lost too many good men. I left Eric and his men to despatch the wounded. I returned to the settlement. My arm was in agony. Cnut was close behind me and he helped me off with my shield. Pulling my byrnie off was excruciating and when that was done we saw that the arm was purple and angry. “That, my friend, is broken. Luckily it looks as though that man mountain did you a favour and gave you a clean break and no broken skin. I will get a splint for you. Sit over there and do not move it.”
I gave him a weak smile. “I couldn’t if I tried.”
Prince Butar sought me out. I could see the worried look on his face. When he saw my arm he just said, “Broken?” I nodded. “You were lucky. I am sorry about Jarl Harald. That was a misjudgement on my part. I was so desperate to have allies on the island that I never questioned what drove the man.” He shook his head. “I was blind.”
“Not so. It is only now that I can remember that he never led his men and always remained at the rear of any attack. Besides he may have just been a weak leader had he not met Tadgh. That is the sisters at work.”
“You are right.”
Cnut arrived with two clean pieces of timber. “I measured them against my arm.” He put a piece of wood between my teeth. “Hold his shoulders, Prince Butar; I will have to make sure the ends of the bone are together before I tie it.” He carefully and gently put four linen strips under my arm. I almost screamed when he did that but I knew that the next pain would be worse. I closed my eyes and prepared as he placed the two pieces of wood on top of the linen and next to my arm without actually touching the purple mess. I heard him say sadly, “This will hurt.” And before the words were out he gripped my arm and moved the ends of the broken bones slightly until they married. The pain was such as I have never borne before. If I hadn’t had the stick in my mouth I would have screamed loud enough to be heard in Hibernia.
I opened my eyes and saw that Haaken and the Ulfheonar were there watching. Cnut began to tie the linen and then snapped, “Don’t stand there like drips in a summer shower, tie the other strips tightly.” Haaken did as he was ordered. “Keep that still.” He took out another piece of linen which he tied around my neck and then slipped under the arm to support it. The sling made it easier. “You will have to avoid moving it and I would imagine that sleeping will be hard. But you are, at least, still alive.”
I reflected that I had emerged better than I might have hoped.
Haaken said, “Where will they go?”
Prince Butar stood and looked to the west. “I would imagine they will head for his settlement first.”
Jarl Eric had arrived, the blood still clinging to his armour and sword. “He cannot stay there.”
“No, but he will want to take as much as he can.”
“Then let us stop him. We can be over to the other side of the island in less than a couple of hours. We can stop him taking his animals for a start. I want to punish the treacherous bastard.”
The prince nodded. “Take your men and the Ulfheonar. You need speed.”
After they had gone the prince said. “And you can get to bed. You need rest.” I shook my head. “I need to be with my wife and my family.”
“I can understand that but a journey on a pony would kill you. If you insist upon going then you will go in a fishing boat. The journey will be easier.”
I did not argue. He disappeared and when he returned he nodded. “You are a fool but I can understand why you need to see your family.”
The prince led me to the harbour where four of his men waited. They were fishermen and not warriors. “I will send your armour by cart. I assume you will want your sword?”
I nodded and gave a weak smile, “I may not need it but I will feel safer with it close to hand.” The men were amazingly gentle as they helped me aboard. Even so every jar and knock sent waves of pain coursing through my body. My stepfather was right. It was gentler, so gentle in fact that I fell asleep. I was awoken by Erica kissing me, “Now you will stay here until you are fully healed. Your warrior days are over until you are fit once more.”
Chapter 15
I was restricted to my bed and Scanlan stood guard to make sure that I did not move. Cnut was right; the pain at night stopped me sleeping for the first four nights. It took draughts of a distilled liquor which Seara made to help me to sleep.
The Ulfheonar returned after two days. They were in high spirits. Haaken and Cnut sat and told me of their journey to Harald’s lair. They had caught some of his people driving his animals west. Those settlers had swiftly changed allegiance. The families had not managed to evacuate all of their goods and belongings. Harald had been so confident that his plan would succeed, he had failed to think of the consequences of failure. They would be able to start a new life but it would be without the bare necessities of life. Jarl Eric took over the settlement and immediately began to fortify it. We were learning that the greatest danger to us came not from Saxons or Hibernians but our own people.
Once I found that I could sleep my life became tolerable again. I persuaded Erica to allow me to walk around Hrams-a and to speak with people. There was a buzz about the place. I had defeated a giant. His stature grew with the telling of the story. I knew who to blame for that, Cnut. He had told Haaken who had written a saga which made me sound like Thor himself. No matter how much I protested they merely thought I was being modest. It made them feel better about the treachery. We had emerged with honour and the goods which Harald Two Face, as he was now known, had left behind.
Bjorn was repairing my armour while Snorri and
Scanlan repaired my shield. As autumn approached it was obvious that I would not be raiding again this year. They all had plenty of time to make them not only good but better than they had been. I had planned a raid to recover the rest of the jewels of Rheged but I knew that would have to wait. I could not inflict a one armed leader on my men. We were too few to carry passengers. Instead we traded. We had much metal from the battle and much treasure from Harald’s lair. Haaken and Cnut went with Olaf to Frankia to buy more sword blanks. They returned with Rolf, Eric Redhead and Ham the Silent. The count had returned to Cologne and their services were no longer required. They were three new men who stepped from my drekar. They were clean, well armed and each had a short byrnie. They were nothing like the vagabonds we had met in the alehouse in Cologne.
When he saw me nodding in approval Rolf gave a half bow, “Sigismund was most appreciative of our efforts and rewarded us well.”
“Did you not wish to stay?”
“We are warriors and not nursemaids; besides we heard stories of you when we walked Sigurd to the shops and back. You are the champion all wish to defeat. You have slain giants even when fighting with one arm. Even when you fight dishonourable treacherous men you win. We would serve you.” He looked worried, “You did offer to take us did you not?”
“Of course.” I pointed to the warrior hall, “There is your new home.”
I knew that they would, eventually, become Ulfheonar but I also knew that we needed warriors. The Ulfheonar had special skills but we needed warriors who could protect our homes and help us to raid. Jarl Eric had raided the Saxons again to steal their grain. Although he had been successful he had lost more men than we could afford to lose. Warriors, especially good ones, were at a premium.
When winter finally came we were comfortable with plenty of food and security behind our newly refurbished walls. We had lost men but we had stocked up with what we needed to survive the winter. The winter would be a time of building, training and planning. Scanlan and Snorri were almost ready to become warriors. We were assimilating the new warriors and I had planned how I would recover the rest of the treasure of Rheged.