by Griff Hosker
I sat with the other knights. “What do we do on the morrow?”
The Jarl Birger Brosa pointed across the water. “They came by boat. They use an island as a base from which to raid. If this was winter we would march over the ice and we would be slaughtering them already. But it is not yet winter and they chose this time to raid because there is no ice. We will have to march around the headland and cross the shallows to reach them. It will take all day.”
I looked over to my friend. He was deep in thought. “You can rebuild.”
He nodded, “Aye and like my cousin I will build in stone. When I came back from the crusade I had such ideas. I was putting them off until I could hire a good mason. It has cost my people their lives. When we have punished these animals then we build in stone.”
The Jarl Birger Brosa shook his head, “But not here, cousin. I would have another castle but I would have it on the island these animals use. Let us deny them a base and use it ourselves.”
“But this is the home of my people. My family farmed here.”
“Look around. It is a charnel house. Start again!”
It was as though he was talking to me. It was what I would have to do. I would never be given Stockton again. There was little point in yearning for what I could never have. The castle was gone. I would have to begin again.
The Jarl Birger Brosa continued, “Besides you have told me that the channel was becoming silted. The island will be not only more secure, it will also be better for your fishermen.”
My friend nodded, “You are right and I have been away at the wars for too long anyway. Sir Thomas, will you help me? You English know your castles.”
“If the bishop allows me to stay then I will.”
It rained in the night but with the rain came sleet and that promised snow. The men I had brought from the Holy Land would suffer more than the others. The women and children, along with the wounded men were sent back to Stock Holm. They took with them all that they could carry. They would build a new home. Others would come to Sigtuna and it would be rebuilt but it would always be a poor and mean place. It would be haunted by the memory of the dead.
Rather than riding our horses we led them. We were going at the pace of the men on foot in any case. I hung my spurs and helmet, along with my shield, from my saddle. With my coif hanging loose I kept my head dry with the hood of my cloak. The trail we followed was a circuitous one but through the grey murk we could see, ahead of us, the darker shadow of the island. Petr dropped back to speak with us as we went.
“My brother has sent me to give you more information about this place we seek. We will need to attack at low tide. It will be in dark of night and that suits us. You and your men know how to use the night.” It was not a question. I nodded. “He wonders if you and your men could cross first and slay their sentries. We would attack their main band. All that we would require you to do is kill those who watch for us.”
I smiled, “Petr, we will do whatever is needed. We are warriors for hire. We need to prove ourselves. I know that. Tell your brother he need not worry about us.”
He seemed relieved and he mounted his horse and headed back to the head of the column.
I said, “David, Will son of Robin.”
My two archers led their horses next to me, “Lord?”
“We are going to have to cross the water and slay their sentries. Bows or knives?”
Will looked up at the sky. “Our strings will not be taut enough in this rain and we have not scouted their positions. Better that we sneak ashore and slit their throats. We can take our bows and then defend the Swedes when they attack.”
I smiled, “You were listening.”
They nodded, “Of course, lord.”
The sleet turned to snow in the afternoon. We were all soaked through. I heard Will say to David of Wales. “It will get us used to the wet then, eh David?” They saw positives in everything.
By the time we reached the shore line it was dark. The island could be seen now as a large dark shadow ahead of us. We halted at the waterline. The sound of the sea rolling over the stones meant that we could speak without being heard. I took off my surcoat and then waved William over and I held my arms out so that he could pull my mail shirt from me. Petr came over. The two jarls were deep in conversation.
“Sir Thomas what are you doing?”
“A man does not order his men to do something he would not. I will lead.” I took off my chausses too. I replaced my surcoat.
The two jarls came over, “You need not do this, Sir Thomas.”
“I know but I shall. When we spoke in your hall of the coin you would give us it was for my whole company. I am part of that company. I will lead.” They both nodded. Birger Persson understood more than his cousin, I could see that. “William, you take charge of the men at arms. Bring them over when you are ordered.” Glancing down I saw that the tide had already gone out a little. “How deep is it?”
Birger Persson shrugged, “To be truthful I am not certain. At low tide, a knight on a horse can walk across and his spurs will be dry.”
“The sooner we get across the better.” I fastened my baldric over my shoulders so that my scabbard hung down my back. I carried my sword. I raised my arm and waved my archers forward. The water was icy. The sleet had stopped but the water felt as cold as snow. I held my sword above me so that it would not be immersed in the sea. My men followed me. The water was just up to my ankles but, as I headed towards the island, it began to rise. I had no idea where the deepest point was. If my mouth dropped beneath the waves then we would stop until the tide receded some more. There was an awful shock of cold as the water hit my lower body. It was painfully cold but then the water level dropped. We had reached the deepest part. I could see the water breaking on the shore of the island. The masts of Karelian ships could be seen on the far side of the island. They were like trees without branches. When the water just covered my ankles, I stopped. I sheathed my sword and drew my dagger. I looked around. My men were close behind me. We moved very slowly towards the shore. It shelved and the last thing we needed was for one of us to slip. A sudden splash would alert the Karelians.
As I stepped onto the sandy rocks I winced as a sharp rock cut my foot. I should have worn boots. I ignored the pain and stared into the dark. My archers spread out behind me. They had carried their bows and now they began to string them. Their arrows had been carried in a quiver on their backs. The tips might be wet but the feathers would be dry. My patience was rewarded. Two men, just fifty paces from me, were talking. I had no idea what they were saying. From what I had been told they spoke a language that even the Swedes could not understand.
I tapped David on the shoulder and pointed. We dropped onto all fours and crawled towards the two men who were talking. We did not have to look up, their voices drew us to them. I found that I could smell them. It was the smell of rancid fat and seal oil. We were three paces from them. The fact that we could smell them meant that the slight breeze would not allow them to smell us. I looked at David. He nodded. We rose as one and stepped forward. I grabbed a handful of hair and pulled the Karelian’s head forward. Ripping my dagger in a sideways motion I tore open his throat. Blood flooded onto my surcoat. I lowered his body to the ground. David’s sentry lay in a widening pool of blood.
I turned and waved my men forward and they spread out to find the other sentries. David and I moved towards the crackling fire we could see in the middle of the island. I reached over my back and drew my sword. My men could take care of the other sentries. David and I kept moving forward. He had an arrow ready. We stopped when we saw and heard the people by the fire. The men were drinking. By the light of the fire I saw that the captives were tethered together. If one tried to escape they would have to take all of the others with them. It was an effective way to keep them under control.
Karelian numbers were hard to estimate for it was dark and they were moving around but there seemed to be more of them than the force we had brought. Howeve
r, as I looked at them I saw that none had mail and most had either a bow or a short sword. Our job was done. We had to wait now for the Swedes to attack. As I looked to my left and right I saw the faces of my men. They had all survived.
Suddenly there was a shout. It came from behind me. One of the dead sentries had been spotted. Then I heard The Jarl Birger Brosa as he shouted something in Swedish. I heard hooves. The Karelians grabbed their weapons and ran towards the beach. We were in the way!
I shouted, “Archers, one arrow and then take cover!”
There was a chorus of ‘Aye, lord’. Then I heard the crack of bow strings and Karelians fell. The others stopped and that allowed my archers the chance to flee. I did not move. If I stayed still then they had less chance of seeing me and, behind me, I heard the sound of our men as they charged to get to grips with their enemies. A Karelian ran straight at me. He had seen me. Wielding an axe and screaming he charged me. I was taller than he was. He swung his axe at me but I had anticipated it. I swung my whole body in a circle. The axe head tore my surcoat but did no damage to me. My sword bit deep into his side and jarred against his spine. As I withdrew the blade two more ran at me. Both fell with arrows in their chests.
I waited for the next wave to attack me but none materialized. The Jarl Birger Brosa galloped past swinging his sword. His squire, Jarl Birger, Persson, Petr and William followed. The five of them swept through the advancing Karelians. Moments later my men at arms and the Swedes arrived. The slaughter was about to begin. I shouted, “My warriors, Stockton, stay with me!”
I was acutely aware that we had not fought with the Swedes before. I wanted none killed or hurt by mistake. William was charging ahead and had not heard me but the rest raced to my side. My men at arms flanked me and my archers stood behind. Those who had yet to string their bows were now doing so. As the Swedes ran towards the enemy I raised my sword, “On!”
We moved steadily towards the whirling blades and screaming men. Later, when it was all over, I wondered what had put the thought in my head for I saw that there were more Karelians than I had first realised. It was a large warband. The Swedish foot had been eager for vengeance and hurled themselves into the barbarians. Even worse I saw that the five horsemen were now surrounded and fighting off barbarians who were hacking and slashing at man and beast. If we had had shields then I might have ordered a wedge. As it was we had neither mail nor shield.
“David, as we move clear the men from around the jarls.”
“Aye lord.”
“The rest of us will carve a path to them.” Our delay in organising a line had worked in our favour. The Karelians had swarmed around the rear of the Swedish warriors. I saw arrows flying overhead and men screamed as the deadly arrows plunged down into bodies without armour. The first that they knew of our approach was when men began to die. They had no armour and I rammed my sword through the back of one warrior as I stabbed down into the neck of a second. With Ridley on one side and Jack on the other we had soon cleared a path before us. The next men we struck were fighting Swedes. Attacked from two sides they were soon despatched. I saw that only three horsemen could be seen. Language was now a problem. The Swedes were neither as disciplined or as organised as we were and they were in the way.
The warrior called Sverre must had realised that they were not helping for he roared something and the Swedes parted. I raised my sword and shouted, “For God!”
My men roared. Arrows sailed over our heads. David and his archers were just two paces behind us and using the space we had cleared. Their arrows were aimed at men less than thirty paces away. They could not miss. I saw that William was still mounted. A Karelian jumped on to the back of his horse and raised a wicked looking dagger. He fell with two arrows in his back. William’s predicament spurred us on and we ran. The enemy knew we were coming and they turned to face us. A spear was thrown at me from less than ten paces. Even as it clanged from the side of my helmet I had rammed my sword deep into the guts of the would-be killer. I had always had a strong left hand and I used sword and dagger to strike, stab and slash at those before me. Their numbers did not help them against my men. The Karelians were raiders. The mail and helmets of my men made them almost impervious to their weapons. They struck and fled. My men were warriors who had stood in shield walls and faced disciplined Turks or organised Scots. They killed with a cold efficiency.
A chieftain ran towards The Jarl Birger Brosa. He had a helmet and a shield. There were two others similarly armed flanking him. I saw him swing his sword at the jarl’s horse. David’s archers killed one of the men with him. The chieftain hacked into the jarl’s horse which fell, taking the jarl with it. As the second warrior raised his sword I watched as William pulled back on his reins so that his horse reared. The Karelian’s skull was crushed like an egg. The chieftain, who had been on the verge of ending the jarl’s life was forced to stop by the rearing horse. I just ran at the chieftain. He turned and saw me. As I swung my sword he raised his shield. I stopped my sword before it struck and I grabbed the edge of his shield with my sword hand and pulled it towards me. He had not expected that. I saw his bare throat and I rammed my dagger deep into it. He just collapsed at my feet.
Jarl Birger Persson shouted something. There was a cheer from the Swedes and then the remaining Karelians began to flee. He and William galloped after them. The Swedes followed. I shouted, “Hold!”
I sheathed my weapons and went to Birger Brosa. He was not moving. “Ridley!” My giant came. I handed him the jarl’s spear. “Try to lift the horse a little and I will pull out the jarl.”
“Aye lord.” He took the dead chieftain’s helmet to use as a lever. I put my hands under the jarl’s armpits. He appeared to be breathing. Ridley nodded, “Ready lord.” He pushed down. The dead horse moved a little and I pulled. The jarl popped out. He gave a moan as he did so. We had a priest with us but he was back on the mainland. I took the jarl’s helmet from his head and remove his coif. I saw blood. I knew enough, from the Hospitallers I had met in the Holy Land, to know that you laid someone with a head injury on their side and tried to avoid moving them. I wondered if I had done more harm than good by moving his horse. Then I saw that his leg was hurt too. I had done the right thing.
I stood, “David, release the captives. Jack finish off the enemy wounded and bring our own here.” The Swedes had followed the Karelians who had fled to their ships. I had a handful of men left. I did not know if there were more enemies left on this rock! To my relief I saw The Jarl Birger Brosa’s eyes open. He saw me and smiled. Then he closed them again. “Alf, fetch water.”
I heard a cheer from the far end of the island and knew that we had won. The sky was beginning to become lighter. Alf brought a water skin. I dribbled some into the jarl’s mouth and then used some to wash his scalp. Here there was plenty of water. Had this been the Holy Land then we would not have wasted precious water in such a fashion.
“Have we won?” The jarl croaked.
“Aye Jarl Birger. You rest. When I can send for a priest to heal you I will do so.”
The captives, having been freed, stayed close to David and his archers. There was an occasional cry from the battlefield as wounded and dying Karelians were given a warrior’s death. The wounded Swedes were brought to where we waited for relief. I looked up as Birger and William rode up. I saw Petr, bloodied but alive, walking behind. Birger looked down at his cousin. “Is he alive?”
“He is but we need the healers.”
“The tide is in. We are trapped.”
I stood and laughed, “I can see at least three ships from where I stand. Fetch them!”
Birger hung his head, “I should have known that.” He turned and shouted something. Eight men ran back towards the ships whose masts could be seen in the distance. They stood out against the lightening sky.
Daylight brought us the priests and food. It also revealed the extent of the slaughter. There had been far more Karelians on the island than the two jarls had expected. The Swedes ha
d lost heavily. There were just twelve men without wounds. The reckless charge into the night had cost them dear. Their jarl had almost been killed and there was a sombre mood in the camp as the wounded were attended to. We found Birger’s squire, Lars. He and his horse had been butchered. Petr’s horse had also fallen. We would not be able to leave until low tide.
I pointed to the ships, “Why not use those to take the captives and wounded back to Stock Holm? We can march but I feel a chill in the air. That sleet we have felt makes me think that there may be snow on the way.”
“You are right. I fear I have asked you to come here and fight in a battle we cannot win.”
“You are wrong. You can win but your men need to fight as our armies did in the Holy Land. I know he is your cousin but a reckless charge in the dark against an unknown enemy is a dangerous thing to do. He is brave but his men have paid a fearful price.”
He was silent. My words had struck home. We reached The Jarl Birger Brosa. He had a bandage around his head. “Sir Thomas suggests that we send the wounded and the captives back to Stock Holm in the Karelian ships. Snow is in those skies.”
The jarl nodded. He put an arm out for the priest to help him to his feet.
“Do we have slaves and captives?”
“No, cousin. The few who tried to surrender were slain by our men. They were in hot blood. The rest jumped into the sea.” Birger Persson pointed to the mainland. “The ones who survived fled west. We can hunt them down at our leisure. It seems they had raided others and gathered them here. It is the end of the raiding season. Perhaps the attack on my home was the last one.”