by Griff Hosker
The others all drew their weapons. I took off my helmet, “Fear not, Egge of Skelwith, it is just I, Fótr! Well met!”
It was fortunate that I was wearing mail and a padded byrnie for they crowded around to hug me as though I had come back from the dead. When Æimundr Loud Voice finally prevailed on them to let me breathe Ebbe said, “You look different Fótr; what happened?”
I shook my head, “I cannot tell you except to say that I went into the spirit world and met with Dragonheart.”
They all clutched their hammers and Egge beamed, “This is the best news I have heard since… ever!”
“We have much to do. Ylva has set us a task and I have to say that not all of us may return for we go up against the Skull Takers. We will be fighting Danish mercenaries. The prize will be a home in the Land of the Wolf but if you do not wish to come then speak now!”
They looked at each other and then Eidel said, “Tell us what we must do. We owe you that for you brought us home and I do not believe any other could have done so.”
I nodded and explained our task. I did not try to make it sound easy and I stressed my role in all of this. I handed the red fletched arrow to Bear Tooth. While the others had been amazed at my tale he seemed to know it already. When I had finished, they looked at each other and Æimundr Loud Voice said, “I know not about the others but this seems to me something that we can do. I do not mind dying but I would like to do so for something which is worthwhile. To save Dragonheart’s heir is the right thing to do!”
They all cheered, and I said, “Egge, you will need to lead us there!”
He laughed, “I will fetch my sword and join you for if I am to die then what better cause.”
I shook my head, “I would rather you lived. Bear Tooth, can you shave your head and look like a Penobscot?”
“Aye, but is it true that the witch cannot harm me?”
“That is what Ylva said but do not fret for the witch will be too busy trying to kill me. You must use your arrow to strike true and forget that she is a woman!”
“That I can do for it is for the clan, my wife and my unborn child!”
Egge told us that it would take less than half a day to reach Cyninges-tūn and as we had to prepare Bear Tooth we worked quickly. While Egge and the others gathered what we would need, Ebbe and I helped to shave the sides of Bear Tooth’s head and to turn him into a Penobscot warrior. Although we did not manage to shave him as well as we might have, the cuts we inflicted added to the fierceness of Bear Tooth. We fastened the spell in his tufted hair and Bear Tooth added some feathers from the fowl Egge kept. He told us that the warriors who had killed others did this. “Long Sight was our best warrior and I will look like him!” The effect was astounding, and he looked as different from a Viking as it was possible. Galmr, Mikel Finnbjǫrnsson, Folkman and Ǫlmóðr Ragnarsson were the smallest of the warriors as well as being the ones who had fought and killed before and they would be the ones to gain entry into the stronghold. We would need the others to help me to grab the attention of the Danes and then effect an entry. We had a fire in a clay pot with a lid which would burn slowly. When we reached the stronghold, we could fan the flames and use it to light my head and face.
With my helmet in my hand, I followed Egge and his dog as we headed south along the ancient road to the heart of the land of the Wolf. We kept Bear Tooth at the back along with Æimundr Loud Voice to disguise him for as long as possible. Æimundr Loud Voice was the real warrior amongst us and despite what had happened in the cave he was still the real leader. The path we followed was no more than a hunter’s trail. Egge told us that before the King of Norway had taken the land from the clan it had many travellers who marched upon it but since the culling of the clan, it was becoming overgrown. The road led us up into the hills above Egge’s valley. We climbed and found ourselves in a watery dell surrounded by humps and bumps and we rested for it was not far from the Water we sought.
Egge shook his head as we drank from our ale skins, “This was the land farmed by Ragnar Bjornson and his sons. He was one of the warriors who fought alongside the Dragonheart. He fought hard against the men Finehair sent but it was in vain and he and his sons were killed, their women and children made into thralls and every stick and timber burned so that there is no trace left of them.” He shook his head, “We have just two miles to go and it would be better to approach after dark. We can rest here.”
As we ate the food we had brought Æimundr Loud Voice asked, “The Clan of the Wolf was a powerful clan. I know that Finehair has many warriors, but the clan had defeated the Danes many times; what happened?”
Egge shook his head, “Aye, you are right but they took the head of the clan first. When they captured the Dragonheart’s family the rest of us all tried to fight but we did so in small groups. Ketil’s family, in the north, held out the longest for they had the best stronghold, but they fell too.”
I nodded, “It would have been better to feign acceptance and then strike at a chosen moment.”
They all looked at me and Æimundr Loud Voice said, “Where did you learn such wisdom? We knew you could sail but the strategy of war?”
I smiled, “Let us say that when I was in the cave of Myrddyn with Ylva the witch and the spirit of the Dragonheart I was changed. If Harald of Dyroy was here, he would understand. I was tempered in that cave and the man who walked out was not the same who went in.” I watched realisation sink in. “Let us go through this plan one more time for once we are close to the Water then we cannot speak. Egge, you and your dog must return to safety once you have shown us the stronghold.”
“I can fight!”
Shaking my head, I said, “We do not need you to fight; we need you as a witness if it goes wrong and to take word to our families. We need not numbers and Ylva’s plan relies on surprise and trickery. The fox is a clever animal, but it is not the largest in the forest. It survives through cunning.” I saw him nod his acceptance. I had not insulted him by calling him old and that had made it easier to swallow my words. “Galmr, Mikel Finnbjǫrnsson, Folkman and Ǫlmóðr Ragnarsson, yours is the most crucial part of the quest. If you cannot eliminate the sentries, then we will have to battle our way in, and we will fail.”
Mikel nodded, “But how will we let you know that we are in? We need a signal.”
Galmr said, “If we make a noise then the Danes will hear.”
Egge beamed, “Ducks!” My warriors looked at him as though he was mad, but I listened. He said, “There are ducks who live on the eastern side of the Water for there are reeds there and it safer for them. Even though it is night time this is the time of year when they are raising young. They quack. When you are inside then one of you quacks. Make it three times and then Fótr here will know that it is not a real duck.”
I liked the simplicity of the idea. “That will work and then I will open the pot forty counts after I hear the duck. Egge, is it far from the walls to the gate?”
He rubbed his grizzled beard, “It is a long time since I was there but if you were swift then you could reach it in fifty steps.”
I decided that we needed a little more time and so I said, “Then I will count to sixty and gain their attention by stepping out in the bear cloak. You must open the gate for us but avoid the witch.” That, to my mind, was the main weakness of the plan. I knew, from my time with Ylva, the power of a witch. Gytha and Erik had had a bond which kept them close even though they were many miles apart. If the witch sensed us, then all our preparations might be ruined. I touched the spell Ylva had given to me. I prayed that it would work.
We left the tarn and headed towards the Water. We reached it before the sun had set and were rewarded by the sight of Old Olaf watching over the Water. Egge had told us the legend of Olaf and the sun setting behind him appeared to give the craggy mountain a crown. It also shone on the stronghold which Egge pointed to as we sheltered in the trees at the northern end of the Water. I could see that they had used the water and the rocks there as natural def
ence although there were hewn rocks which I could see. They were unnatural and explained how we might gain entry. There had been growth around the rocks, and I hoped that Ylva’s recollection was accurate. I tapped Mikel on the shoulder and pointed to the rocks. He nodded, clasped my arm and then signalled for the others to follow him. They would skirt the water, as the sun set and make their way to the hidden entrance.
I turned and clasped Egge’s arm. To my surprise, he hugged me. We left and I saw Egge and his dog hunker down to await our return. He had his sword across his knees. I knew that if we failed then Danes would die as would Egge and his dog. He would disobey me and our families would be forced to wait until all hope of our return had faded.
Egge had told me of the road which ran around the northern edge of the Water and then climbed above Hawk’s Roost. I halted just below the first bend and applied the cochineal to my face. I donned my helmet and the others recoiled as the fading light of the sun illuminated it. I could not see my own face, but they were clearly terrified by my appearance. I hoped that the Danes would be too. We climbed up as darkness fell. We passed the shadows of two deserted huts and they were testament to the ruthless nature of the Norwegian King. Egge had told us that the road led directly to the stronghold and so when we could smell the wood smoke and hear the noises from within the palisade then we knew we were close, and we left the road to enter the wood. I knew from Ylva that Sámr and Baldr had cut back the forest to enable them to see their enemies. We gathered dead wood as we passed through the wood and then stopped at the closest point to the stronghold knowing that we could not be seen. We, however, could see the sentries on the gate and we waited for the Danes to retire. We watched the number of sentries decrease as it became later until there were just the three night guards. I saw that the walls were not high, perhaps they were the same height as two men, but the fighting platform afforded them a good view of the road which lay to our right. I saw that there were three Danes on the gatehouse. That was more than Ylva had expected and I began to fear that the Danish witch had sensed us, and security was tighter than we had anticipated. We had made our plans and if I changed them then men would die. I had to trust that Mikel and the others were inside. Using our bodies to shield us from the walls we added dried material and made the fire in the clay pot brighter. I replaced the lid and then stood between two trees. Ebbe put the wolf’s head over my helmet, and while he fastened it around my neck, I drew the copy of Dragonheart’s sword and, with the others hidden, we waited.
The duck call, when it came, seemed inordinately loud and I feared the Danes would be suspicious. I did not hear their words, but one said something and the other two laughed. All was well and I began to count in my head. Mikel and the others would be stealthily approaching the ladder leading to the fighting platform and they would wait until they heard my words before they struck. I had seen the wisdom of Ylva’s plan for the Danes kept glancing back into the heart of the stronghold. When I reached sixty, I raised my sword as Ebbe took the lid from the pot and I shouted, “I am Dragonheart, come from the dead to seek my blood!” The face mask on the helmet seemed to change my voice.
The effect was dramatic. The three Danes were dumbstruck, and their hands went, not to their swords, but to their hammers hanging from their necks. I saw four shadows appear behind the Danes and heard the death rattle of the sentries as they had their throats cut. We raced for the gate and as we neared it, Galmr opened it. I took out my second sword and nodded to Bear Tooth who nocked the red fletched arrow. Ebbe took the hessian from the arrowhead. Speed was of the essence and we ran towards the warrior hall. There was no guard and Ebbe carried the clay pot with the fire. Folkman carried the dead wood we had collected when passing through the trees. They would set a fire outside the door of the warrior hall. Æimundr Loud Voice led half of the others towards the lord’s hall while I led Mikel, Galmr, Bear Tooth and Ǫlmóðr Ragnarsson towards the shadow that was the cage of Sámr Ship Killer. There was a burning brand outside of the witch’s hut but I could not see the witch. Bear Tooth and I were to the fore for we had to attract the witch’s attention and fix her gaze on us. Bear Tooth was a good archer and had become even better since we had given him one of our bows. The arrow he drew had the potion which Ylva has assured me would help to eliminate the witch. I prayed that it would. I had great respect for witches.
I saw the skeleton that was Sámr Ship Killer in the wooden cage and my heart fell for it seemed we were too late. It was then that the witch gave a shout and stepped out. She saw Bear Tooth and her hand went to her spell bag. The Skraeling did not hesitate and the arrow struck her with such force that she was thrown back into the hut. Galmr and Mikel ran to the rope which held the cage and began to lower it. Ebbe had managed to start the fire and the dried wood of the door to the warrior hall was already afire. Viking halls had just one door. The only way out for the warriors was though a fiery doorway. Æimundr Loud Voice and his men were already inside the hall and I could hear the clash of metal on metal. Ǫlmóðr Ragnarsson opened the cage and, to my amazement, Sámr grinned and spoke, “I know not who you are, but I am grateful. You are the image of my great grandfather and yet I know he is dead! Have you a weapon for me for I will not suffer capture again?”
I reversed the copy of his great grandfather’s sword and said, “Will this do?”
He nodded and took it, “Already I feel my strength returning. There is magic in this blade! If we are to escape then all in here must die! How many men have you brought?”
“Not enough but let us die hard, eh?”
Just then a handful of Danes used their axes to break a hole in the wall of the warrior hall and they ran, wearing just their kyrtles, at us. I had my old sword, but I drew my seax in lieu of a shield. Just then Bear Tooth gave a Skraeling scream. It had chilled our blood on Bear Island, and it had the same effect here. The light from the burning hall made him look like a terrible and fierce supernatural spectre. That allied to my appearance, with Dragonheart’s helmet, wolf cloak and blackened mail made the Danes pause. It was long enough for Bear Tooth to send an arrow into the head of one and, a heartbeat late, a second into another. We ran at the rest and each faced a warrior. I remembered my lessons and while swaying away from the strike, I blocked the blow from the Danish axe with own weapon as I rammed my seax up through the Dane’s ribs. I twisted as I pulled it out and was rewarded with the man’s intestines tumbling after. He fell at my feet. Sámr Ship Killer had looked to be dead when I had first seen him but now, I saw that despite his condition he was very much alive, and he brought his sword to hack into the neck of a Dane. Bear Tooth had dropped his bow and was using a hatchet and seax to fight like a berserker. The warrior hall was now fully ablaze and Mikel and Ebbe joined us.
I pointed to the main hall, “Go and help Æimundr Loud Voice and the others!”
Just then I heard a voice in my head, ‘Fótr, you have done well but you have alerted the Norse in Cyninges-tūn. Bar the gates and trust in me!’
I caught the eye of Sámr Ship Killer and he smiled, “I see Ylva can speak with you too. She is right. We must make this a fortress. Have your wild man bar the gates.”
I shouted, “Bear Tooth, bar the gates.”
I then followed Sámr as we ran through the stronghold slaying any that we found. There were not many for the warrior hall inferno had incinerated most of the Danes. We then went to the hall and, when we entered, I saw that we had lost warriors. Eidel Eidelsson and his son Sven lay dead, but they and the others had slain the leader of the Skull Takers and his oathsworn. The Clan of the Fox had been redeemed and the two had died well. The rest of my men were finishing off the wounded.
There was no time to mourn for dawn would soon be upon us and I knew, from speaking with Egge, that Cyninges-tūn was close enough for the Norse there to reach us in a couple of hours and these would be armed and mailed. They would be intent upon revenge!
Sámr took charge for this was his land and his stronghold. “I know not who you
are, but I owe you all. For the moment we must defend the walls. There are few of us, but the walls are well made.”
I nodded and took off my helmet. Holding out my arm I clasped Sámr’s. “I am Fótr of the Clan of the Fox and Ylva and the spirit of your great grandfather sent me. Her words in my head suggest that she has a plan to save us, but you need to eat, Sámr Ship Killer, for you look weak. We will watch the walls while you eat and enjoy some ale.”
He nodded, “Aye, Fótr the Wolf, I will but I beg you have the witch’s body thrown into the fire for who knows what power remains in her even though she is dead.”
Bear Tooth nodded, “I will do so for I have the spell and she cannot harm me.”
As he left Sámr shook his head in wonder and said, “I can see that there is a tale here worth the hearing. I hope that I will be able to hear it at my leisure.”
“Aye, as do I.”
I ran to the fighting platform. Æimundr Loud Voice had spread the men out along the wall and I joined him above the gate. “Your brother Arne would be amazed at the change in you, Fótr. You fought that Dane as though you were one of Arne’s hearth weru. You learned that in the cave?” I nodded. Like Sámr Ship Killer I must hear this tale. It makes our voyage east seem like nothing!”
Chapter 10 Fótr
The smell of the burning flesh in the warrior hall filled the air and although it made me nauseous, I also knew that it had saved us for the Danes in the lord’s hall had fought hard and killed two of our men. There were many more who had died in the inferno of the warrior hall. Æimundr Loud Voice had sent Ebbe and Bear Tooth to find some bows and arrows. They were now distributed along the palisade. Sámr came up to join us. He had donned some mail and managed to obtain a helmet. I took off the two scabbards from my back and handed one to Sámr. “The scabbard goes with the blade.”