by Griff Hosker
“You have trusted me thus far and I would ask for you to continue to do so.” Helga, Ada and Gefn flanked me and it felt as though I was wearing the strongest of mail. “Our volvas have spoken with Ylva and she lives. I think that, as she has spoken with us, then we should try to make contact with her.”
Eidel Eidelsson had been the most outspoken of the advocates to return to the east and he spoke first, “If the King of Norway rules this land should we not bend the knee? We all agreed that a new land was preferable but look at the cost. We lost men at the battle of Larswick and then the Land of Ice and Fire. The battle at the falls was the Allfather’s way of telling us to endure a king.”
Æimundr Loud Voice shook his head and, as he did so I saw the three volvas smile, “To do so, Eidel Eidelsson, would be to laugh at those who died, Lars, Snorri, Butar Beer Belly, Arne, Siggi and Erik. We owe it to them. And what of the Dragonheart? I never met him, but he made the Land of the Wolf a haven for fair-minded warriors who wished to live without a lord commanding them. His heirs are Sámr and Ylva and we would honour the Dragonheart if we tried to restore his land.”
I sensed that the clan was divided. I could see it on their faces and so I spoke. It seemed to me that the words did not come from me but from somewhere inside my head, “Let us ask Helga and the volvas what they think we should do.”
Helga smiled and put her hand on mine, “You are a good leader, Fótr Land Finder, and it is true that while this land presents dangers and threats, we are the Clan of the Fox. The wolf and the fox are brothers. If that was all then I would say let us sail away and find the land of Hrólfr the Horseman but Fótr is correct. Ylva is alive. Each night since we have been within sight of land the three of us have spun. We have taken potions to dream and each night Ylva has come to us. It is she who has led us here and she is alive! We spoke with Fótr about this and we believe that he is the one to find her.” She looked at me, “You say that you wish our advice? Then here it is, you, Bear Tooth and Ebbe should travel to the cave of Myrddyn and speak with Ylva. While you are gone, we will make this our home and we will prepare ‘Gytha’ for sea for it is a wise clan which prepares for the worst but hopes for the best.”
“But I am no warrior!”
Ada smiled, “Nor was Erik but, like Erik, you have been chosen. My son was chosen by Erik as was Bear Tooth. The three of you are the hope of the clan.” She cast a disparaging look at Eidel. Ada was afraid of no man.
Æimundr Loud Voice nodded, “This is wyrd and I trust Fótr. He says that he is the leader for the sea and not the land, but this will be a test. If he succeeds,” he smiled, “when he succeeds, then that will be the proof that he is jarl.”
I had no choice although I saw the fearful look on Reginleif’s face, “For myself, I accept the labour you give me, but I would have Ebbe and Bear Tooth answer for themselves.”
Ebbe nodded, “I am honoured to be chosen.”
Bear Tooth put his arm around Anya, “I know not what you wish us to do for I am not of your people, but I am of your clan. I owe you all and I believe that my seed is now in Anya and that I am a branch of the tree that is this clan. I will follow the brother of the warrior who gave me life.”
And as easily as that it was decided. We had weapons we had taken from the Hibernians and so Bear Tooth was given his first sword and his own helmet. He also saw a seax which he liked. To a warrior who had only used bone or stone weapons, his new weapons were truly magical. Ebbe was given a short byrnie and his father’s shield. I still had my own shield. Ebbe had his sling and Bear Tooth his bow. We had taken some ale skins from the Hibernians and so we each had one. We were given the last of the good meat and the clan would hunt and fish while we were away. I had no idea how long it would take us to reach the cave. Its exact position was unknown to us. All that Padraig knew was that it was one or two days march east from the coast and lay near two bodies of water. That was not much help.
Ada provided us with the most sensible advice. “The folk who live in the Rye Dale will be Dragonheart’s people. Unless Harald Finehair has slaughtered all Dragonheart’s clan then the ones you find, the ones who are not warriors will be people to whom you can talk. Ylva is the most powerful witch in the Norse world. Those who live close to her will be her supporters. You will just need to convince them that you mean her no harm. We will spend as much time as we can in the dreamworld and will warn her of your arrival. You head for the Rye Dale and hope that Ylva can find a way to guide you thence.”
Ebbe said, “If she is the most powerful witch then surely, she will know that we come!”
Ada’s face showed shock and terror in equal measure, “My son, do not harbour those thoughts! Have you not heard my words? She does have great power, but we can aid both you and her! Take care.”
I kissed my wife and son and then leaned down to speak to our unborn child. The volvas were convinced it was a girl, “My daughter, I pray that you wait for my return before you enter this world but if you are in a hurry to see the Land of the Wolf then know that I will return and then we shall all be together.”
Even as we left, I knew that the Norns were spinning and would make a mockery of my words.
It was dawn when we headed east. All that I had was a few vague places we might pass. The most crucial appeared to be a Roman Road and a long deserted Roman fort. We headed east along man-made trails knowing that if we met anyone then I would have to talk my way out of trouble as just three of us could not risk a fight. I was fighting for the life of the clan and there was no more important task. We saw signs that, like the deserted village the clan had occupied, there had been many people living here. We found deserted homes as we followed the man-made road. We found one clutch of homes with the skeletons of four warriors; identifiable by their hammers of Thor. One had a broken spearhead lodged in his ribs and another had a split skull. Tendrils of hair and flesh remained on some. It explained much. We crossed a shallow river but, as the road continued east, we followed it. After we had walked six or seven miles we were rewarded by a bigger river. There were huge stones in the river, and we used them to cross for we saw the road continuing east on the far side. Once on the other side we drank some of the water and nibbled some of the salted meat.
Bear Tooth said, “This looks nothing like my land. Where are the biting insects? Why are there no trees which rise so high into the sky that a man cannot climb them?”
I shrugged, “I confess that I know not. On Orkneyjar there were few trees and at Larswick there were just small woods and a mighty river. This land is a special one, Bear Tooth.” As we continued up the road which ran along the river, I told him all that I knew of Dragonheart. All of it was in the form of sagas and songs. We all knew the songs. They were not ours and so we never sang them while we rowed but in the Land of Ice and Fire the warriors like Butar Beer Belly had sung them and they had heartened us in the depths of that icy land. Ebbe had been too young to hear them and so I sang the only one I could remember; I had liked the story. It was the song of Ylva’s rescue by her grandfather.
The Dragonheart sailed with warriors brave
To find the child he was meant to save
With Haaken and Ragnar’s Spirit
They dared to delve with true warrior’s grit
With Aðils Shape Shifter with scout skills honed
They found the island close by the rocky stones
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
Beneath the earth the two they went
With the sword by Odin sent
In the dark the witch grew strong
Even though her deeds were wrong
A dragon’s form she took to kill
Dragonheart faced her still
He drew the sword touched by the god
Made by Odin and staunched in blood
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
With a mighty blow, he struc
k the beast
On Dragonheart’s flesh he would not feast
The blade struck true and the witch she fled
Ylva lay as though she were dead
The witch’s power could not match the blade
The Ulfheonar are not afraid
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
And now the sword will strike once more
Using all the Allfather’s power
Fear the wrath you Danish lost
You fight the wolf and pay the cost
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
They were both silent when I finished and then Bear Tooth asked, “What is a dragon?”
I let Ebbe tell him the answer for I had spied, ahead, a road which looked Roman. “Come, let us move for I see the road and perhaps the fort. If we find them then we know that we are on the right path.”
Ebbe and Bear Tooth were like chattering magpies as we headed up the side of the river. I saw the steppingstones and we crossed the river beneath the place that the path twisted and turned before reaching the Roman Road. For Bear Tooth it was as magical as anything. He had never seen such precisely cut stones laid out to form a surface upon which he could walk. He was so fearful that both Ebbe and I had to step upon them first before he would risk it. The magpie was silenced. The going was much easier now that we were walking on a straight and hard road and when we found the half-ruined fort I almost shouted with joy. Once again it was Bear Tooth who became so fearful that he could barely move. Both Ebbe and I had seen stone buildings before but the Skraeling had not. Rather than try to explain its function I hurried him on. Soon the road descended, and I saw the Land of the Wolf laid out before us. I spied, to the northeast of us, a mighty mountain with a sheer, craggy face. This was as spectacular as anything I had seen in the land of the Skraeling. As the road descended, I spied a tendril of smoke rising from a hut in the distance.
We stopped and I took off my helmet and my shield. I handed them to Ebbe and Bear Tooth. “Keep these for me. I hope that I may speak to these people. If I am harmed, then you must continue east without me.”
“Let us all go and that will guarantee your safety.”
“No, Ebbe, this needs words and not violence.”
Bear Tooth nocked an arrow, “We will follow.”
“Do not begin a fight unless I tell you to.”
I kept my sword sheathed as I walked from the road down the path to the small hut which lay by the stream. I deliberately kicked stones as I walked for I did not wish to surprise whoever lived in this remote valley. The door of the hut was open and a dog, which lay across the entrance, growled. I reached into my leather pouch for some dried meat, “Peace, for I am a friend.”
The voice which came from inside the hut was old, but it was a friendly one, “And until I give him the command then no amount of food will let you pass.” The man who stepped out of the door was white-haired. He had a scar on his face, and he was stooped, “Who are you and what is it that you want? If you are from Finehair then my answer is still the same as it was before, I will not bend the knee!” I stood in silence and he laughed, “You have too honest a face to be one of Finehair’s killers. Speak.”
“I am Fótr of the Clan of the Fox and …”
He rubbed his chin, “The Clan of the Fox? Did I not hear that they were driven from their land by Harald Finehair?”
I nodded, “I will tell our tale but before I do can my two companions come for one has an arrow aimed at your chest and I would not, for all the world, have his hand slip.”
He laughed, “And that confirms that you are not from Finehair, fetch them and I will bring ale. I will not ask you to come inside for my home is mean and rude.” He turned to his dog, “Friend. Now you may feed him.”
The dog stood, wagged his tail and came to me. I gave him the meat and then shouted over my shoulder, “It is safe. The man means us no harm.”
Ebbe and Bear Tooth ran and the dog growled. I said, “Walk and put up your weapons.”
The old man came out, “Well, Fótr of the Clan of the Fox, I am Egge of Skelwith. This is Skelwith and once it had six families living close by.” He handed us horns of ale, “Let us toast this meeting for you are the first friendly faces I have seen in this last year.”
We toasted him and he pointed to a log, “I have no seats but the Allfather felled that one in a storm. Tell me your tale for the dog’s stories are all the same; feed me, play with me, stroke me!” He shook his head, “And although he cocks his head to the side when I speak I fear he does not know my words.”
I looked back the way we had come, and the sun was setting. We would go no further that day. I began at Larswick and told him the tale. When I came to the part about Bear Tooth, I stopped for the old man was curious. Bear Tooth allowed himself to be examined and then Egge said, “So there are men in this world we have not seen. I can now die a happy man for I wondered about that. Continue.”
When I had finished, he stood and turned to make water, “I pray you to excuse me for I have an old man’s bladder. It is too late for you to go further this night. I have a stew I have been feeding for a week or so. We will finish it and you can cut some wood for me as payment. While you do, I will tell you my tale.”
He fetched an axe and Bear Tooth claimed it. He actually enjoyed cutting the wood for Egge and it allowed Ebbe and I to listen to him. “I was one of Dragonheart’s warriors. These scars were honestly earned. I retired here to raise a family and we had many sheep on the fells. When Sámr inherited the land my three sons followed his banner. All went well until the day that King Harald Finehair decided he wanted the sword which was touched by the gods. Sámr and the Dragonheart’s son and grandson fought them all off until they were lured away from the protection of Ylva. It was said a witch was used and the three of them were taken. Sámr was captured and Ragnar and Gruffyd tortured and killed.”
“Why did they not kill Sámr Ship Killer?” Ebbe knew the stories of the Dragonheart’s family as well as anyone.
“Finehair hired Danish witches and they used their magic to contain Ylva. She defeated and killed all but one. There were still many men who opposed Finehair and so he threatened Ylva. He had his own witch lay a curse upon Sámr. If any of the Clan of the Wolf tried to rescue him or fight Finehair then Sámr would be killed.” He turned to me, “Pass me the salt, it is in that bowl.” As he seasoned the stew he said, “Sámr is the last of the Dragonheart’s blood for his son and grandson were taken with him. We know not what happened to his family. They may have escaped for the three would have sacrificed themselves to help their families live but the rumour persists that they were also killed.”
I nodded as Bear Tooth brought in the wood he had chopped, “And what happened to your sons and the people who lived here?”
“Harald Finehair is a man without honour. Even when none tried to oppose him after he had Sámr in his power he sent a warband to execute warriors. We thought that we were safe and then they came. I was not here. I was in the hills watching the sheep. My sons and my wife were killed. Their wives and children were made thralls. That was a year since.” He suddenly looked at me, “Why are you here?”
I sighed, “We have three volvas but the most powerful witch in our clan died in the land to the west. Ylva wishes us to speak with her.”
His eyes widened and I saw hope in his eyes, “You are the one Ylva said would come! You are the hero who will save the Land of the Wolf! When Sámr was taken the rumour was spread that there was a warrior would come and Finehair would die. It was said the hero would come in the form of a wolf.”
I laughed, “Egge, you have lived alone for too long! I am a navigator and I am not a warrior! My clan is that of the Fox! Do I look like a wolf or a warrior?”
He would not be cast down, “The Dragonheart had humble beginnings! He was a slave and look what he achieved!”
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��He was a warrior!”
“He learned to be a warrior!” Come, sit, eat and have more ale. This night you have brought hope to me for while you cannot bring back my family you can wreak revenge upon their murderers!”
Despite my protestations, he refused to become depressed again.
“Ylva lives and even Finehair knows where. It is why he slew all those who lived in the Rye Dale. The men of Windar’s Mere live still for they have good walls, but Hawk’s Roost is where they keep Sámr and, some believe, his sons. The rumour is that they are chained and guarded by Danes whom Finehair had hired. They are Skull Takers and they have a blood feud with the family of Dragonheart.”
I had finished the stew and I used the bread which Egge had provided to mop up the juices. It might have been an old stew, but it was delicious. The ale too was the first since one of the watches in the Great Sea. “And do you know where Ylva can be found although I confess that I am fearful of bearding a witch in her lair?”
“You will be safe for she sent for you, but I know what you mean. I would not enter the cave either, but you are chosen.” He smiled, “It is less than two miles from here. I will take you tomorrow, but I will go no further than the path which leads to its gaping maw. I will show you the cave and then return here.”
I had not known that we were so close. We drank more ale and Ebbe and I questioned Egge about Finehair and his men. We discovered that Cyninges-tūn was also occupied by Danes but the Clan of the Wolf still harboured thoughts of throwing off Finehair’s shackles. It gave me hope but I still could not believe that I had been chosen. Perhaps I was to be the messenger and I was to sail somewhere, I knew not where, to fetch help.