Viking Slave

by Griff Hosker

  “I couldn’t fight my own people sir. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “No, I understand that. I mean to do work for me such as tending the animals we catch. Watching the boat; that sort of thing.”

  “You are my master and I will do what you command.”

  “That is not how I do things Scanlan and you know that. You can refuse and I will think no worse of you. You are a valuable servant but it is just an idea I had.”

  “I will give it a try sir. You have been kind to me and I am better off than most slaves.”

  Haaken and Cnut were not convinced. “He will run. Believe me he will have no feelings for that slave he is with. What man would not rather have freedom?”

  “I will tell you what Cnut. I will give you my spare axe if he runs.”

  “What? No wager?”

  “No I am so confident that I am telling you he will return with us to Hrams-a.”

  Haaken listened to my voice and nodded. “He has convinced me brother.”

  Prince Butar had planned a raid to the north of where we had been pillaging lately. The land to the north of the Maeresea was fertile and had many small settlements. It was now high summer and there would be crops in the fields and plenty of new animals to take. We could fatten them just as easily on our verdant pastures. It made sense to me for we had not raided there before. When Prince Butar had suffered his ambush it had been further north. This land looked perfect.

  As usual one warrior in five was selected to stay behind and guard the homes but, since we had rid the island of Saxons we were not worried. Maewe was concerned that her husband would be in danger but Erica put her mind at rest. “He is with my husband, Dragon Heart. Even my father thinks he will be the most powerful warrior we have ever seen. I think that Scanlan will be safe with Dragon Heart.”

  I felt humbled by such praise and it convinced Maewe to put her dark thoughts away. We left a month after midsummer when all of the animals were bringing forth new life and we were hopeful that what we were doing was making our home stronger than ever. The Norns had other ideas.

  The voyage across was perfect. The winds blew from the west and we barely had to row. We landed at sunset and we were unseen. The seventy warriors split into six groups and spread inland. The three boats were guarded by fifteen warriors and we were on a secluded part of the coast. The Ulfheonar were allocated the middle section and the ten of us pushed inland. We enjoyed our status. We were the smallest group and yet we would, if things went as they normally did, collect the largest plunder and kill the most warriors.

  We found a track way just after dawn and, as it headed east we followed it. Cnut and I were the scouts and we saw the farmer trudging towards us. He did not see us and we slipped into the two ditches which ran along the track way and hid beneath our cloaks. We waited until he had passed and then rose. He had been coming from somewhere. We turned and went the way he had come. We smelled the stale aroma of a dead fire and moved more cautiously. This was flat land and it was hard to get a view of places in the distance. We almost stumbled upon the cluster of huts. We secreted ourselves in the elder bush and counted the buildings. They would give us a fair assessment of the population. Then I saw another building, a little way from the huts. It was a White Christ church. I could see the cross on the top. We had found our target.

  We hurried back to Bjorn. “There is a village ahead and a White Christ church.”

  Even in the dark I could see his grin. “We will be rich men after this raid!” All of us knew that the churches of the White Christ had great quantities of gold. It seemed strange to me. All of the followers of the White Christ in the village where I grew up told me that the White Christ was a poor man; I could not understand how his priests could hoard such treasures.

  The village was coming to life as we fell upon them. Two men were just emerging from their hut when I chanced upon them. I hit one with my shield and one with the pommel of my sword. They both fell to the ground. I did not kill them. Perhaps it was Scanlan who stayed my hand for I had come to see the plight of the farmers. Those farmers near the Dee were at the mercy of all. I could not bring myself to kill them. My sword was for warriors and not farmers. There were some brave men in the village. I saw two men, little older than me, trying to take on Haaken and Cnut with two old swords. One sword broke as Haaken smashed down upon it and both men lay dead in a pool of their own blood. The women and children fled to the church. One of their priests stood in the doorway holding one of the crosses they set so much store by. He was chanting an incantation of some sort. Godfrid was a superstitious man; he did not believe in the White Christ but the last thing he needed was to be cursed by a priest. The incantation was ended with a sword. From the collective wail from the villagers one would have thought that we had killed the White Christ himself.

  Godfrid picked up the cross and stepped over the body. A woman threw herself at him, trying to rake his eyes with her nails. It was foolish for he wore a helmet. He punched her and she fell to the ground.

  “Get the villagers outside, Sweyn, and watch them. Dragon Heart, take Cnut and Haaken. Find all that you can in the church.”

  The people were herded out and I grabbed a torch to illuminate the dark little church. At the far end was a table with a white cloth upon it and some objects. We took the cloth and wrapped the objects within. They were gold and silver. There was a large cross and a couple of candlesticks. Cnut found two metal platters while Haaken found a purse with silver coins hidden in a small room to the rear. We had a rich haul indeed. I could not remember so much treasure in one day. As I stepped over the body of the priest I noticed two rings upon his fingers. They joined the other objects.

  Bjorn nodded as we emerged into the light. “Time to head back.”

  “What about the villagers?”

  “We have enough slaves and besides,” he pointed to the animals, “we will not have the room.”

  We led the bull and two cows along with the other animals leaving the women wailing and tearing at their hair. Only three men had died and yet they were carrying on as though we had slaughtered all of their men. I was the last to leave and I wondered why they had neither wall nor ditch. These sheep would be shorn again. That was not my problem and I trudged down the track way after my comrades.

  It was a longer journey to the coast than the one when we had arrived. The animals were slow. Sweyn and Godfrid were given the task of making sure that no one ambushed us. When we reached the beach others had returned. I saw that Scanlan was still there and I said to Haaken. “It seems that my slave has not rejoined his people.”

  “We are not back at Hrams-a yet are we? Do not crow until then.”

  Prince Butar was delighted with the plunder. “How do we get the animals back?”

  “We could build a raft.” We all looked at Cnut. He pointed to the pine forest. “We cut down the trees and make a raft. We can use the logs when we get home and we can tow them. All we have to do is to walk them aboard and have a couple of men to watch them. We can tie them to the logs.”

  No one could think of a better solution and so we began making a large raft for the animals. There was plenty of wood and we had rope. The building of the raft meant that we were not ready to sail until the following day. There was no sign of any pursuit and we felt safe. I dare say the ones we had raided had thought that we would have sailed directly home.

  We loaded the reluctant animals at dawn. As it was Cnut’s idea he sailed with the animals and Haaken and I felt honour bound to go with him. I brought Scanlan with us so that we had four of us to watch the beasts. It made it easier to manage them. We were barely moving at first until Bjorn hoisted the sail and we moved a little quicker. The motion was somewhat disconcerting and the sea water sloshed around. However there were gaps in the logs and the water emptied itself as quickly as it entered. We knew we would have a slower journey home and, once the cows settled we were able to talk.

  “If we have more raids like that one then our island will bec
ome the most powerful one in these waters.”

  “We cannot always be that lucky, Dragon Heart.”

  “I do not know, Haaken, my brother here seems to accumulate luck like a beach with sand. The more you shift, the more you have.”

  “And why does it have to be my luck? Could it not be yours Cnut? Haaken’s? Or even Bjorn’s.”

  “That might be true but I think of the times you were not with Cnut or me and you still had the luck. The weird sisters must like you.”

  When he said that, I felt a shiver run down my spine. It might have been the motion of the raft but I think it was something else. I clutched the hilt of my sword until the sensation passed. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer to the Allfather to forgive Cnut his words. It did not do to disparage the gods and those who worked with them. The weird sisters had been kind but they could also be both petty and precocious. I resolved to make a sacrifice when I returned home.

  “Still, Dragon Heart, you must realise that we have more treasure today than we have ever had. That must be a good thing.”

  “It probably is, but let us get this voyage over with. I would not risk the wrath of Ran while sailing on a few logs held by rope. It is a dangerous thing to do.”

  I think that I worried them too for they became silent. Only Scanlan smiled. “And why are you smiling Scanlan? Are you protected from the wrath of the god of the sea?”

  “No sir. But I can swim. We lived by the river and I learned.”

  “It is a long way to swim home.”

  “I would not have to swim all the way home for the logs would float and I would just need to hang on to the wood and I would be safe.”

  Scanlan had hidden depths. He was clever and understood matters which some of my comrades did not. In another lifetime he could have fought alongside me rather than being my slave.

  The day drifted on and we dozed. The other ships were now in the distance for they were not towing a raft. Suddenly I saw Bjorn and Prince Butar, raise their hands to point at the island. There was smoke coming from beyond the horizon. It was our home and there was trouble!

  Chapter 17

  I knew now that Butar would be regretting towing us. I could see that the rowers were rowing even harder than before. The other two ships appeared heading east and turned to join the ‘Man’. I could see that Eric and Harald were speaking with Butar but we were too far away to hear. Two ropes snaked towards us and all three ships towed us. We moved much quicker but the water was rushing over the logs and distressing the cows. Scanlan began to sing to them and, amazingly, it calmed them. Once again the slave had come to our aid.

  Butar leaned over the rear of the ‘Man’ and cupped his hands, “Duboglassio has been attacked. It is on fire!”

  Now I knew that the weird sisters were paying us back for our boasting. We should have kept quiet. I could see, beyond the three ships, that there were buildings afire. It was hard to discern anyone but I could see movement. It looked as though the raiders were still there. I cursed the raft. If we had not made the raft then we would have been home a day earlier and we could have met the raiders at Duboglassio.

  When we were two hundred paces from the shore, the three ships stopped rowing. The tide and the motion took the raft to ground itself on the sandy beach. “Scanlan stay with the beasts.” We grabbed the ropes and hurriedly tied them to two rocks we then hefted our shields and raced up the beach. I could see that warriors were trying to get inside the wooden walls. We were in time. The smoke from the fires they had started had hidden our approach and Prince Butar led us to attack them from behind.

  We were angry. Some of the warriors had families on Duboglassio. We became even angrier when we saw that the raiders were not Saxons; they were our people from beyond the seas in the land of the fiords. I had fought recklessly before but, as we tore into the enemy, I did so without any regard to what might happen to me. They had broken the unwritten rule that we do not attack our own and there could be no mercy.

  I slashed down on the back of the first warrior I met and I laid him open to his backbone. Two others whirled to face me. I blocked the sword thrust from one with my shield as I hacked at the second warrior. These were not Saxons. These knew how to use their weapons. The man I had struck with my shield punched at me with the boss of his and I had to use all my power to hold him. As the second warrior tried to slash at my head I leaned backwards and tried a blind stab. I must have struck flesh for he recoiled backwards. I continued the swing with my sword and it bit into the shoulder of the first warrior. I now had breathing space.

  The two of them had wounds but they were warriors and would not stop until they were dead. One of them grinned at me. “There is a bounty on your head, thrall, and we will share it!”

  They knew me. That should not have been a surprise for my shield was well known but who hated me enough to put a price on my head? It determined me to fight even harder. The warrior with the wounded shoulder was the weaker of the two. I feinted at the other and then launched a furious attack with both sword and shield. I rained so many blows that he could not deflect them all and I hacked at his leg. He crumpled when I struck. I felt the blow coming from my right and I rolled just as the other warrior tried to stab me in the side. The sword caught on my wolf skin and pulled the blade away from my body. I could see that my earlier blow had stuck his arm and he was bleeding. He was also panting and out of breath; he was not a fit man. I regained my balance and we circled each other. I was vaguely aware of my comrades fighting for their lives but I could not aid anyone. I had to kill this warrior first.

  I swung Ragnar’s Spirit at my enemy and he tried to block it with his shield. I felt it shiver and a crack appeared. He began to look afraid. He tried a blow but when I blocked it with my shield I saw him wince with the pain.

  “This is the sword touched by lightning. This is the sword of the gods. Do you really think that you can best me?”

  “You are a boy and you were a thrall!”

  “And now I am the man who will send you to Valhalla.”

  I brought my blade over my head; I was aiming for his helmet. He hurriedly blocked it with his shield but the force was so great that the shield struck him on the helmet. I swung again and this time the crack widened. I feinted and he brought up the shield. I changed the direction mid-swing and swung across his middle. The sharp edge tore through his tunic and into his body. He tried to push his entrails back inside as he collapsed to the ground.

  I saw that two warriors were assaulting Bjorn. I roared, “Ulfheonar!” One of them turned. He had a skeggox and he swung it at me two handed. If it had connected then there would have been two of me. I deftly spun so that the blade whistled just in front of my shield. I hacked down at him and the sword sliced a hunk from the handle. Bjorn now had the mastery of the other. The warrior I faced was much older than I was and his sword had warrior bands on the hilt. It would not do to underestimate this warrior. He whirled the axe above his head, daring me to attack. I knew that once I did so he would bring the axe down. He dipped one shoulder and as I shifted my position he swung the axe head. It seemed to almost touch my nasal. I took my chance and stabbed at him. He let go of the axe with one hand and grabbed my sword with it. He had leather gauntlets on. He pulled me forwards. I knew what he intended. He was going to head butt me. I lowered my head and I heard his nose shatter as it struck the knurled knob on the top of my own helmet. He fell backwards, still holding my sword. The tip touched his chest and the weight of my body drove it in.

  Bjorn stood watching. “Well done! Let us get after the others!” He pointed to the ten warriors who were running west, away from the sea. They were beaten. “Haaken, Cnut, Sweyn! Come!”

  It pained me to see our dead warriors lying there as well as dead villagers. These animals would pay for their treachery. As we chased after them I wondered where their ships were. We had not seen them which meant they had been somewhere else first. One of the warriors we were pursuing was wounded and he bravely turned t
o slow us down. Bjorn did not even miss a step he swung his sword two handed as the wounded warrior weakly hacked at him. The sword almost went through to his backbone.

  We were gaining on them. We had purpose in our feet. We wanted to avenge our dead. One of them turned and saw that but five of us followed. He said something to the others and they stopped and turned to face their tormentors. None of us hesitated. Cnut and I were to Bjorn’s right; the others to his left. We plunged, like an arrow, into the heart of them. Bjorn knocked aside the warrior’s sword with his shield and sank his sword into his stomach. Cnut and I faced three warriors. One had a spear while the other two had swords. As the spear head came towards me I chopped at it with my sword and the head was sliced clean off. I hacked backhanded and Ragnar’s Spirit cut his throat. A sword smashed into my shield. The warrior was strong. I hacked at his leg but he jumped away from the blow. We circled each other looking for an opening. I raised my sword and brought it down hard. He blocked it with his sword and sparks flew. As I stepped back I saw that his blade had bent slightly. It was not a Frankish sword. I swung again and this time he was forced to block with his shield. I punched with my shield and the boss cracked into the back of his sword hand. I knew that I would have numbed it. I swung my sword again and this time there was little resistance. He fought to hold my sword but it drove inexorably and slowly towards his chest. He knew he was going to die and I gave an extra push. The sword sank into his chest. He was dead in an instant as the blade entered his heart.

  One warrior had had enough and he was leaving his beleaguered comrades and running up the hill towards the safety of the woods. I had run this way myself when I had fled the Saxons and it gave me the impetus to drive my legs into the hillside. I ate up the distance between us. I could hear him panting and I knew that I would catch him. I slowed down a little to recover some of my energy for I could see him slowing with the effort. He must have heard me for he suddenly whirled around. He had a short axe and a sword in his hands. He swung the axe at my shield as he stabbed with his sword. When the axe head bit I twisted, knowing that the leather would catch the edge and it was ripped from his hand. At the same time I twisted my sword and his moved to his left. I drove Ragnar’s Spirit into his neck and he died with a surprised look upon his face.