by Griff Hosker
It was noon when we saw the island ahead of us. We could see no sign of inhabitants or settlements but that meant nothing. We cast the two boats with the cargo for the fishing boats to tow and we headed in to what looked like a suitable landing site. There was a small river which tumbled from the wooded hills into the sea. It would provide us with both water and materials to build. As we neared the beach we could see the land to the west was flat and rose to the south and the east but there was still no sign of any people. With so many rowers we were able to have six men ready to leap from the ship and defend us as we beached. Haaken and Cnut were two of those chosen. They jumped and landed waist deep in the water. They surged up the sand to take up a defensive semi circle while Sweyn and I took the two mooring ropes. I found a large rock and I tied it around securely. I drew my sword and joined Haaken and Cnut.
We waited until most of the men were landed and Butar joined us. “Olaf, secure the landing site and get the cargo unloaded.” He pointed up the hill, “Haaken, take Cnut and Dragon Heart; find a good place to build our homes up there.” He pointed to the hill which rose ahead of us. “I will take the rest and sweep around the headland to see if I can spy any settlements.”
As Haaken led us up the hill I wished that I had my bow with me but it was still on the ‘Ran’. My sword would only be useful if I was face to face with someone whereas my bow could kill from a distance. The ridge was only eight hundred paces from the beach. We approached it in a line with Haaken in the middle. The time on the boat had taken it out of us and, by the time we reached the top we were all out of breath. This was the steeper side of the valley and would make a good defensive position. We could live by the water but here would be our sanctuary in case we were attacked. We spread out to spy out the island. I could see that the island was not large although it was bigger than Hrolf’s. “There Haaken.” I pointed south to where a tendril of smoke rose in the sky. There were people there. I turned and saw Butar and his men approaching up the slope from the north. They too were out of breath.
“Jarl Butar, there is a settlement south of here but we thought this would make a good place to build.” Haaken was aware of the new responsibility. “The ridge to the east is lower and we are only eight hundred paces from the beach. In case of danger we could easily reach here.”
“Good. We will build here. Sweyn and Bjorn guard this place. Let us go down to the river and walk back to the beach that way.”
When we reached the river we noticed that the banks were lined with bushes and trees and there was a strong smell of garlic. We all sniffed until Cnut pointed at the ground. There were bunches of wild garlic. That was an excellent sign that we were meant to be here. Garlic was used in our cooking and to protect us from wolves. Butar nodded. “We will call our new home Hrams-a, the wild garlic river.”
Mother changed the moment she stepped ashore. Her face filled with a smile which looked like sunshine on a summer’s morning. She giggled as she picked the children up and swung them around. Butar said, with a smile on his face, “Have you the spring madness even though it is autumn?”
“No my love. I am happy for I am home.”
“I thought we came from Cymri.”
“This was part of our lands until the Saxons took it. We will make this our home.” She set to with a passion and organised the women and the men. She wanted shelters up before dark and she had plans for the houses too.
“But we need to build the walls on the hill for defence.”
Mother put her hands on her hips. “You can have half the men. We need the rest.”
The men all stared at Butar. Would he be willing to take this loss of face? They did not know him as I did. He shrugged. “Come on then. You fifteen come with me. The rest stay here and help my wife.”
He took much less than half of the men and this showed what he thought of his wife, my mother. We took the mattocks, axes and spades. There were many trees growing on the valley sides and Olaf and four of the men began hewing trees. The rest of us began to dig the ditch and the holes for the posts. Luckily it was autumn and the ground was damp. It made turning the soil easier. Sweyn still watched the distant settlement and the hillside for the sign of any movement but for the rest of us there was no rest. After the walls had been marked out we began to dig. First we dug the four corner post holes and then the two for the gate. Once they were finished we dug more post holes equally spaced along the wall. Soon we had forty holes ready for the logs. While we waited for the wood to arrive we dug the ditch which would surround it. When the logs reached us we used our axes to cut them to the same length. As soon as the forty posts were in the walls began to take shape. I was not skilled enough with an axe and I continued to dig the ditch while those skilled with axes split the next logs as they were brought up. Once they were ready they were hammered into place using long nails the size of a small dagger.
The sun was setting and we were tired. Butar waved the men down to the beach. Two men were chosen to sleep in the half finished walls and to watch for the approach of an enemy. I promised my friends that I would return with food for them.
Mother had worked wonders at the beach site. The men had erected the framework of a hall and there was a sod roof already in place. Trees were stacked to make a half wall running around the sides. There were three cooking pits and the smell of hot food wafted towards us. We almost broke into a run even though we were exhausted. Our first meal in our new home set the seal on our adventure. We had made it across two oceans and round many islands without loss. We made a sacrifice to Ran in thanks.
I carried the food back up the hill to the two guards. They were grateful. I also gave them a jug with some of the last of the beer. We would need to brew again soon. “Have you seen anything?”
“Not yet but there is a glow close to where the smoke was; I think that it is a settlement.”
“By tomorrow we should have a hall for us to sleep within, Harald.”
“I do not mind sleeping on the earth and it is warmer here than at Ulfberg.”
As I wandered down I noticed that too. After we had left Orkneyjar I had observed that the sea and the air were much warmer. I did not know why but it boded well for our new life. I touched the wolf charm. Perhaps my grandfathers were working together to guide us to a new home.
Chapter 8
All of our attention was given to the construction of the walls and the houses. Three days later and we had finished both of them. We only had five families, the rest were single men and so we had two halls, one on the hillside in the fort and the other by the beach. There were also five huts for the families. While Olaf repaired the boat and stored the spare masts he had brought, Butar took half of us to explore the island and to scout out our neighbours. We left the hall armed for war; I had my bow, as well as my wolf shield and Quicksilver. We were all rested from the voyage and eager to conquer this new land.
We kept to the western side of the ridge so that we would not be silhouetted against the skyline. Bjorn scouted ahead. He was an older warrior who was quick witted as well as being able to hide well. We, too, observed everything that we saw. We needed to come to know this new land as well as we knew Ulfberg. I noticed some small wild ponies grazing in the distance. “We could use those beasts, Jarl Butar.” I had taken to giving Butar the same title as the others and he had come to accept it.”
“Aye. They will help us to get around.”
I could see the sea to the west and saw just how small the island was. We could see the mainland to the east as well as to the north. I suspected that Hibernia was not far away to the west. We had travelled about five miles from our new home when Bjorn came scurrying back. “Jarl Butar, there is a Saxon settlement ahead.”
“Does it have a wall around it?”
“No, there are fifteen huts and it is close to the sea. They have some fishing boats.”
We all looked eagerly at Butar. He knew what we were thinking. “No, we will not just walk in and raid them. I need to know of the ot
her settlements first. These are our closest neighbours. I would know of others. Let us climb that mountain there.”
It was not a mountain really but it was the highest point that we could see. We dropped down the valley of the river which seemed to teem with salmon and began to ascend the slope. It had looked higher when we had stood on the other side of the valley but as we climbed I could see that it was a shorter climb than to Ragnar’s house. When we stood on the top we found that we could see all the way to Northumbria and Ireland whilst to the south I could see a white topped mountain. I wondered if this could be the Wyddfa that my mother had mentioned. If so it was a holy mountain which was said to be the home of a sleeping dragon. While we were admiring the view Butar was using his head and he had seen something more important; the other Saxon settlements.
“Look. There is a wall.” We peered towards the south eastern coast and could see a wooden wall with a hall and huts. There were also boats in the bay. On the north western side we could see another wall and another port. There were at least two other settlements and, from what my mother had said, they would have to be Saxon.
“Jarl, there is a road connecting them.” Cnut had good eyes.
I turned to look back at the first village we had seen. I stared at the hillside. “And there is one there Jarl Butar.”
“So these look to be the Saxon settlements. Now you see why we waited. Had we rushed in we might have been ambushed. Let us return home and begin to plan.”
On the way back we also saw sheep and goats grazing on the hillside. Back at Ulfberg they would have been herded into winter shelters but here it still felt like summer. “Dragon Heart, Cnut and Haaken see if you can drive some of those sheep and goats towards Hrams-a. Take care and do not get spotted by any Saxon shepherd boys.”
We set off eagerly. This would be easy. As Butar and the others descended the eastern slope we trotted down the western slope. I was half way down when a thought occurred. “Have either of you ever herded sheep before?” From the looks on their faces it was obvious they had not.
“How hard can it be? They are stupid creatures.”
As we discovered, they might be stupid but they were incredibly agile and could run quicker over rocks and gorse than we could walk. After leading us in circles for some time I stopped the other two. “This is getting us nowhere. We will have to use our heads. There is no point running they can out run us. Cnut, go thirty paces to my left. Haaken thirty paces to my right. Let us walk towards them with our arms out. We will drive them down the valley. That one,” I pointed to a large brown ram, “looks to be the leader. Let the others go but he is our target. We just have one to watch now.”
This time they did not scamper away but walked northwards at a leisurely pace. Whenever we closed with them they hurried off but they did not run any more. I noticed a spur running towards the valley of the wild garlic river and I shouted to the other two. “Let us take them in that direction.” They nodded and we turned slightly. Two of them did not like this and sprinted out of Cnut’s reach. “Let them go. Keep after the leader.” Suddenly the land began to fall towards the water and they began to flock together. “Close up a little and just keep walking.” Now that they were flocking they seemed easier to control. I saw that the sun was slowly setting to the west and I hoped that we could reach our new home before it was dark. There was the thunder of feet behind us and the two lost sheep erupted between Cnut and me to rejoin the flock. We had all eighteen sheep. It was with some relief that I saw the sea ahead and smelled the smoke of our meal being cooked. I just hoped that the sheep would not be spooked by the sight of so many people.
Someone must have seen our approach for the children, led by Bjorn and some other warriors, appeared. Bjorn must have had skill with sheep for he made the children and warriors form a funnel and the sheep walked happily towards the huts. I was not sure where we would put them but Bjorn had an idea. He led them to the warrior hall and they trotted inside happily. Once inside he slammed the door shut.
Haaken moaned, “And where do we sleep now?”
“In there. All we need to do is build a sheep pen. There are plenty of hazels and hawthorn over there. It will not take long. I’ll get the children to cut them. You make sure the sheep don’t get out. The door has no latch yet.” The three of us leaned against the door and sat on the floor. We had done what was asked of us. We had our first flock.
Now that we knew where the Saxons were we could keep watch for them. We built two towers the next day and began the walkway to run along the top of the wall. Butar and Olaf spent the whole day in the fishing boat sailing around the island with Egill the fisherman. Butar hoped that the Saxons would not try to interfere with the single boat and they kept well out to sea. Mother had the warriors finishing the houses. The final task of the day was to drive a huge tree trunk into the ground so that we could securely moor ‘Ran’ to the shore. The rock was fraying the rope we had first used. By the time Butar and Olaf returned we had all finished. Two of the boys had been assigned as shepherds. We just put the hurdles on good grass and then built a second pen for the next day. We had a rope ready for the leader and the flock was becoming tamer day by day.
Butar and Olaf spoke to us in the warrior hall. “There are five villages on the island. There are two on the east coast, one on the south and one on the west. We saw no dragon ships just tubby traders. The largest settlement is the one we saw from the mountain. We will destroy the villages one by one until they meet us in battle and we can conquer this island. We came here in hope and now we have it. I believe that we can make this a secure home for us and our families.”
We all cheered the prospect. An island of our own would make us safe and we had seen that we could do much with this new land. As our reputation grew then warriors could come to join us for the plunder. Olaf told me that there were many warriors who were no longer welcome in their own homes. For some it was a blood feud and for others they were outlawed. It explained why he followed Butar so readily. “It does not do to give an oath too many times. I gave one to Ragnar and now to his son. I will swear no more oaths.”Olaf spoke to me more now. I think that was because I had lived with Ragnar for so long and Olaf had been Ragnar’s man before he lost his arm; we shared our memories of the old man. They were close. I think that Ragnar had taken the younger Olaf under his wing; much as he had with me.
While our sheep and the village were becoming tame and controlled we were becoming more warlike. We were young men and many had not been blooded. Haaken and I had fought twice but some had never faced a warrior in battle. With this in mind Butar took the unusual step of explaining what we would be doing the next day.
“Olaf and five warriors will stay here to guard the camp. Those warriors will be chosen by lot. Ten of you will watch the road from the big settlement in the south; they will be led by Bjorn. The rest of us will go to the first village by the Salmon River. We will take the ‘Ran’ and land from the sea.”
Cnut could never keep his mouth shut.”When they see ‘Ran’ they will flee, Jarl Butar.”
I shook my head as Butar smiled. “I know and Bjorn and his men will capture them.” Cnut began to speak again but Butar held up his hand, “And I know that some will escape. They will run to the big Saxon settlement and tell them that a dragon boat has come. They will think that it is from Orkneyjar and will not look on their island.” He paused as the warriors nodded. “I intend to conquer this island and make it ours.”
I looked around we would have only thirty five men to do this. Would it be enough? And then Ragnar’s voice came into my head. I knew that I trusted my friends. I would never let them down and they would be there when I needed them. We would prevail.
I was proud to be chosen to go with Bjorn. Haaken and Cnut went with me and we liked that for we fought well together. Godfrid had gone with Butar. He would need the better sailors. There were bushes and trees close to the road which led south and we spread ourselves out. Bjorn was older than we were but not m
y many years. The difference was he had experienced many voyages and raids. Like Olaf he had been restless as a youth and had gone a-Viking. We left before dawn so that we could be there well before the boat.
Bjorn checked our weapons and helmets and nodded. “Remember we only kill the men. The women and the children we need as slaves. Use your pommels to stun them if they struggle. Make sure you have your rope ready to tether them and if any one loses them because of a poor knot then they answer to Olaf.” That threat was enough. We then had to wait.
The sun rose in the east but it did not bring warmth. The weather was changing and the rain began to drive from our homeland far to the east. It seemed to rip through our clothes and find flesh despite our layers of clothes. We waited. I had my bow string in my leather purse to keep it dry and I still had my fur cloak. If I had to fight then I would drop it.
Suddenly we heard the sounds of sword on sword. It showed how close we were to the village. Butar was attacking. “Ready yourselves. They will not be expecting us.” Four boys ran towards us; looking over their shoulders as they came. They were easily taken and trussed up. The four women and three little children who followed were also easy to contain but then there were six men who followed. None had helmets but three had swords. The others had axes. These would take more than a rope to stop them. Bjorn shouted, “Get them!”
Haaken raced forward flanked by me and Cnut. Quicksilver was ready for the farmer with the axe and I stabbed him in the belly. I stuck my shield in the way of a blow aimed at Haaken who then killed his man. Then it was over. They were all dead. “Take their weapons and let us join Jarl Butar.”
Just then two young men who had been hiding behind a rock stood and raced away down the road. Cnut tried to run after them but he slipped on the muddy morass beneath our feet and he fell to the ground.