by Griff Hosker
A smile appeared on her face. “You know I believe you.” She laid the sleeping Eurwen down gently in her cot and sat opposite me. “I thought you were playing games with the young girl and her affection. I am sorry; I should have known you better. I forget that you grew up lonely without friends and you did not play with other children. If you had done so then you would have known what I meant.” She sighed and looked me directly in the eye. “Erica sees you as her husband.” My mouth dropped open and she held up her hand, “The whole village, including your Ulfheonar, see it too. It seems the only one who is blind to this is you.”
“But how?”
“When you spoke the other day you made her love you. She thinks you feel the same way.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know, which will make this difficult. You enjoyed speaking with Erica?”
“Yes it was very easy.”
“You like her?”
“Of course she laughs and smiles a lot.”
“She neither laughed nor smiled before you spoke with her but let us go on. Were you aware how long you sat holding hands and talking with her?”
I had no idea and I shrugged. “An hour?”
“It was part of the morning and the whole afternoon. You neither ate nor drank. Now what does that tell you?”
Suddenly I knew what she meant. I had not needed any food or drink for I was satisfied with just her company, “Oh! But I am too young surely to think of taking a wife?”
“Erica was a bride when she was younger than you are now. Do you not want to marry her?”
“I am a warrior and I have no time for such things.”
“Jarl Butar is a warrior too. Should he have no time for me?”
“Yes but…”
“Erica will not wish to change you. She loves you for who you are. She knows you are a warrior.”
“But her brother…”
“Her family are all in favour of the match.”
“You have spoken of it?”
“Of course! The whole village has spoken of little else. They all see it as good match and one favoured by the gods. We all saw how they shone the sunset of the longest day upon you. You are both special and have been chosen.”
I started to chew my lip and she held my hands in hers. This was a decision. I never had to make decisions. Events happened and I reacted. I had not chosen to fight the wolf it had happened. It was Ragnar wanting me to take out his night water that had alerted me to the raid. I had not chosen to have my sword struck by lightning. Then I saw it all; this was the Norns weaving their webs and it was wyrd. I had not chosen this course, it had been chosen for me. My shoulders sagged in resignation and I gave a slight nod.
“We will arrange it all. You shall be married and we will make a room here in the hall for you. I can look after your wife when you go raiding. She will be here when you return.”
I could face and fight wolves, Saxons, Champions and wild boars but I could not stand up to my mother and, as it turned out, to Erica. It was not in my nature. I resigned myself to the fact that I would be married. I didn’t mind the change in state; I just wished that I had had longer as a free man with neither responsibilities nor ties. I did not doubt that I would be happy. After all Butar became even happier after my mother entered his life. But I knew I would miss my brothers.
Haaken and Cnut were not surprised when I told them. “We knew this would be. Do not worry. She will not expect you to be there always for her. If you want a slave girl then you can have one.”
I was shocked. “That does not worry me. I like being Ulfheonar.”
“Bjorn is Ulfheonar and he is married. You will still be an Ulfheonar and we will still be brothers. Unless your wife wishes to come raiding with us?”
Both were mocking me and that was the point when I stopped minding. I looked up to Bjorn. If he could cope with marriage then so could I. I would still have my brothers and I would still be Dragon Heart, no matter how pretentious that name was. I resolved that the first thing I would do when I next saw Erica was to ask her what the word meant.
We were married a week later. She did look beautiful and the whole of our people came to watch us be married. We spent our first night together in the new sleeping room built by Butar and we too made those noises I had heard my mother and Butar make. As we cuddled together she giggled, “My first husband left before we could truly join. I was determined to be as one with you before you went to war. I am glad I did for it was worth it.”
“You do not mind me going to war?”
“It is what you do and you are a hero. Besides we will be rich and you will be a Jarl. I am happy and I will be here when you return. You took the sadness from my life and gave me my smile back.”
I had thought that it would be more complicated than that but it was not. The next day she shooed me out of the house. “Go. Talk to your Ulfheonar and return here tonight! I have woman’s work to do and that is far more important than polishing a sword; even one touched by the gods.”
My life had only changed a little. I was warmer at night and had someone I could confide in. I found that Erica’s day took my mind off whatever worries had entered my complicated head. Marriage was not that bad.
I took the opportunity of explaining to Butar what my plan for taking the last Saxon town was. I had reported to him on the state of the Saxon town but not how we could capture it. He summoned Harald and Eric to join Bjorn and myself when I explained it. “The ditch they have does not go around the town side. The gate is not strong and they have built houses next to the walls. They are both weaknesses which we can exploit. We can land from the three ships and fire the houses. The walls will burn.”
“That sounds too easy. Will they not flee?”
“They cannot, Bjorn. They have but one gate and they have no ships. Besides where would they go? We have the rest of the island. Their only way out is by the sea and our ships will shut that door. The morale of the men is at its lowest ebb. Before I fled I counted fifty warriors and fifty villagers. They lost twenty warriors. They are ripe for plucking Jarl Butar. We can make the island ours and not lose a warrior.”
I saw the other three warriors nod one by one and then Butar smiled and said, “We will attack! My stepson has had fire put in his belly by your sister, Eric!”
Eric laughed, “I hope he has put more than that in her belly. A nephew from this union would be a mighty warrior!”
We left ten men to watch our home. Eric and Harald had left five in each of theirs. If any Saxons did escape and flee north we wanted no one in our homes hurt. We took just two boats for our raid and we set sail in the afternoon. When I told Butar that the Saxons ate at dusk he thought that would be the best time for an attack. The fishing boats would be in port and would not be able to give warning. In addition the men’s wits would be dulled by the food and drink; poor though the quality was. We took fifty warriors. It was not many more than the Saxons had but we were well armed, well fed and confident. They were not. We had beaten them every time we had fought them; even when we were outnumbered. We were also led by a warrior whom we all admired, Butar. He had defeated Aella in combat before and my view of Aella had shown me a broken man. He felt betrayed and resentful. This was a good time to strike.
As we rowed south, in the late afternoon sun, it felt good to have Ragnar’s Spirit around my waist again and to be amongst my comrades. Although I had escaped from their wooden walls I had not enjoyed being alone. With my brothers around me I felt I was a better warrior. Olaf had put the Ulfheonar together on the rowing benches and it was we who gave the beat for the other rowers. That was a great compliment. It showed that Olaf the Toothless held us in high esteem. He did not suffer fools gladly.
As we were sailing along the eastern end of the island on our journey south we were in the shade of the isle and it began to become dark. I could see the rays of the sun reflecting on the water to the east but we were almost invisible. Olaf had the sails taken down as soon as we had
passed Duboglassio. The lights from the settlement were a dim beacon for us and we ghosted in to the harbour. There was no one on watch and our boats slid on to the sandy beach. We leapt over the side leaving Olaf and the other captains to watch the boats.
We did not alert the Saxons to our presence by shouting. We moved purposefully through the huts. We would deal with the villagers once the warriors were eliminated. I saw that the gate was still open and the two guards were lounging at the entrance talking. Butar did not issue a command he just ran. His oathsworn and the Ulfheonar ran with him. The two guards saw us and ran inside to close the gates. We ran faster.
Butar yelled, “Ram the gate!”
We all put our shields before us and we hit the gate together. There were fifteen big, heavy and strong warriors; the Saxons had not put the bar in place and the gate shattered. The two sentries lay beneath the broken gates and were trampled as we ran over them. Although we had heard the two Saxons shout a warning there appeared to be no reaction from those within. We continued our run to the warrior hall and Butar burst through the doors. The Saxons within looked up in shock as the mailed figure of Butar roared, “Aella! Today you die!”
The Saxons ran for their weapons. As we had expected, the oathsworn still wore their mail but the others just grabbed their shields and their swords to defend themselves. The Ulfheonar followed Butar closely. Jarl Butar headed directly for Aella who had grabbed his own sword and shield. I ignored them and aimed for the oathsworn who had three legs painted on his shield and had a sword in his hand. He hacked down at my shield and I slashed at his leg. I caught his sword on my shield and he leapt backwards to avoid my cut. He was agile. I feinted with Ragnar’s Spirit and as he brought his shield up I punched with mine and he stepped backwards. I smashed down with sword and he was forced to step backwards again. He was running out of places to move and he was distracted, as he stepped backwards for he feared falling. He was no long attacking me but allowing me to make the attack. I shifted my body to the right and he moved to his left. I slashed again at his leg and this time he did not get out of the way. The edge ripped his knee below his mail shirt. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of Aella being beaten back by Butar. His oathsworn would become ferocious once their leader fell and I increased the speed of my attack. I was quick in those days and I struck left and right making him twist and turn. I could see each movement caused agony to him as his wound bled out. His guard dropped briefly but it was enough and I plunged my sword into his neck. The brave warrior fell dead at my feet.
I whirled around as another mailed warrior tried to strike at my unprotected back. I struck out blindly with Ragnar’s Spirit and he jumped backwards. Aella’s bodyguards were good warriors. I hefted my shield into position and moved forwards. He stabbed at my head and I punched up with my shield and stabbed with my sword at the same time. His shield came up but the edge of the Saxon shield was jagged and it ripped through the leather thong on my shield. The movement of my arm threw the shield across the hall leaving me defenceless on my left side. He anticipated victory and advanced towards me. His face fell when I reached over my head and drew my second sword. I met his blow with my second blade and stabbed at his face with Ragnar’s Spirit. He reeled backwards and I struck with both swords at the same time. He hesitated, albeit briefly, but it was enough. He parried neither and the two swords struck him so hard that his head fell from his body.
I turned to seek another enemy but they were all dead. Aella was bleeding his life away at Butar’s feet and my comrades all stood cheering their own victories. “We shall have to call you two swords now!”
“No Haaken, I have enough names already. I will just make my leather strap stronger.” I sheathed my swords and retrieved my shield.
“And now you have two more mail shirts!”
“I shall give them to Sweyn and Godfrid; they are Ulfheonar and have no mail.”
Sweyn heard me and clasped my hand. “Thank you brother. That is a generous gift.”
“He will get more believe me. They were Aella’s best two warriors. One of them killed Harald’s man, Ulf.” Haaken only had one eye but he saw all.
We had lost a man. I had said we would not. I was foresworn. I felt guilty for his death. The edge was taken from my victory which now tasted bitter.
Jarl Butar sheathed his sword. We left the hall. “Let us round up the villagers. Do not harm them unless they resist.” The villagers had nowhere to go and they stood in a defensive circle just outside the shattered gate. The handful of men gathered bravely to defend their women with bill hooks and daggers. Butar held up his hand, “I am Jarl Butar and I now rule this island. Aella and his men are dead. You have a choice. You can take your boats and leave this island or stay and enjoy my protection.”
One of them, an old greybeard stepped forwards, “You will not enslave us?”
“No we have slaves enough. We need folk who will farm the land and fish the seas. You have until morning to decide. Do not try to leave tonight. My dragon ships are still there.”
He nodded and returned to his people. We had drawn lots before the raid and the men who would crew the ships returned there while we took the bodies of the Saxons outside the walls. We would not despoil their dead and we built a bonfire for their bodies. When we had them all they were placed upon the pyre and it was set alight. We stood there until the flames had consumed their flesh and they went to the Otherworld to tell of our courage and skill. We retired to the warrior hall where we ate the last of the Saxon food, poor though it was and then drank their weak ale.
“It is no wonder they were so easy to defeat they had nothing inside of them to make them fight.”
Olaf laughed, “Aye but it was also Butar’s skill in leaving them alone for so long. It weakened them further.”
We all chanted Butar’s name. He stood. “Thank you my warriors. We have travelled far from our homeland and Harald One Eye. We now have a home which is secure and, when we have raided grain in the autumn we will be well supplied with food. I thank you all!” We all banged our beakers. He held up his hands for silence. “I would like to thank my step son Dragon Heart. Without his courage we would not have known that this was the time to strike.”
This time it was my name which was chanted but I did not enjoy it. Men had died because of me. Butar came to join me, “What is the matter? You do not look happy at all.”
“I am foresworn. I said no one would die and men did die.”
He laughed, “Is that it? We lost two men. Perhaps it was their time to die. Perhaps the Norns had spun a web to entrap them. Who knows? Your plan was a good one and it worked. Two dead men and a handful of wounded warriors is no price at all.” He pointed to Ragnar’s Spirit. “If you keep going at this pace you will need a longer hilt for your sword. Already you have more warrior bands than some of the older warriors.”
I shook my head. “I told you Jarl Butar, since the lightning strike I will add no more bands. I like it the way it is.”
The next morning the old greybeard who turned out to be the headman, approached Jarl Butar. “I am Morgan, the headman of this town, and we have decided, Jarl Butar, that we would like to stay here.”
Jarl Butar nodded and said, “Then swear allegiance to me and my people; the people of Manau.”
He nodded, “On what should we swear?”
Jarl Butar looked to me and asked, “I would have them swear on Ragnar’s Spirit; how say you?”
I could say nothing. It was an honour. I took it out and handed it to him. “It is an honour Jarl Butar.”
Butar held the sword aloft. “This blade contains the spirit of my dead father and is lightning struck. If you swear on this then it is a most binding oath for the sword has been touched by the gods.”
Morgan nodded, “We are of the White Christ and do not believe in the gods but the sword is the sign of the White Christ, it is the sign of the cross and we will so swear.”
I could see the awe on their faces as each man approa
ched and kissed the blade; swearing their fealty to my stepfather. There were only ten men but they all proved loyal subjects.
We left Olaf in command of the burg with ten warriors. The rest of us loaded the booty on the ships and headed home. Harald took his own ship and headed north. We dropped Eric and his warriors at Duboglassio. The last mile or so was a joy for the families had come out to wave us back. “We have our own land now, Cnut.”
“Aye. We have come far in a short time. And you have a bride. Soon you will have a son.”
“How do you know?”
Haaken laughed, “Ragnar watched over you when you were alive and he does so still. Cnut and I are still looking for a girl pretty enough to marry and you find a noble born beauty. You are the special one and the gods watch over you. You will have a son.”
“I am not sure of that. You two have had as much luck.”
“That is not true but we will pass over that. You were a slave and now you are the step son of Jarl Butar who is now a king in all but name. If that does not mark you as special, then I do not know what does.”
As the oars were raised we pulled on to the beach. Our next task, this winter, would be to build a stone quay so that we could tie our boats alongside. For now we were welcomed as heroes. This was my first time returning as a husband and Erica threw her arms around me and smothered me with kisses. Haaken and Cnut roared with laughter. I felt embarrassed but Erica seemed to think this was acceptable. I disengaged myself from her arms. “I am glad to see you wife.”
“And I can see that you were successful! My husband, the hero again!”
Haaken shouted, “We will see to your booty. You see to your wife!”
We scurried from the boat and Erica linked my arm as we went into Jarl Butar’s Hall. She wrinkled her nose once we were alone. “You smell of blood.”
“We were fighting. And men died.”
She took my clothes from me and took a cloth and some water. She washed every drop of dried blood from my body. The water she used was perfumed. She gave me a sheepskin cloak to put around my shoulders. “I will get these cleaned for you! Stay here.”