by Griff Hosker
I reached down and my hand searched in the dark. Almost immediately I felt a pommel and I knew that it was Ragnar’s Spirit. Just in time I pulled it from the dead Saxon and deflected the blade which suddenly lunged at my face. Cnut’s sword ended the warrior’s life.
Behind me I heard a wail. It must be Snorri and the reserves. The pressure on my back lessened. Then there was a shout from the front and Windar and his men arrived to pour through the gap in the ramparts. The Northumbrians were caught between two fresh warbands and an island of Ulfheonar. The victory, which had briefly been in their grasp, disappeared in a heartbeat. Had it not been night then we might have slaughtered them all. As it was, many died. Some disappeared along the edge of the Water while others feigned death as my men passed over them and vanished before they could be despatched. There was confusion as our warriors milled over the field looking for the Saxons who had dared to come to our land. We knew that our people had suffered and those that we found paid a heavy price. Even though some escaped to take the tale back to the east it was a mighty slaughter. King Eanred’s attack had failed. He had gambled and failed. He would never again try to wrest my land from my hands.
Chapter 17
Windar, bloodied but unwounded, found me. “I have failed you, Jarl Dragon Heart. We took too long to reach you. I fear Ulf and his brother have died.”
“It could not be helped. At least we held the Northumbrians here.”
Up the valley we could hear the shouts and the screams as the fleeing Saxons were caught. Haaken shouted me over, “Jarl Dragon Heart, we have a prisoner.”
I went over, taking a torch which Windar thrust into my hand. There was a mailed warrior kneeling at the edge of the lake. His right hand and arm had been badly cut and he would lose it.
“You are truly evil! I did not believe the priests when they told me that you could turn into a wolf and back. Now I have seen it with my own eyes. You are shape shifters. You are cursed!”
“Who are you?”
“I am Eorl Oswald of Bebbanburgh.”
“You follow the White Christ?”
“I have been baptised.”
“Then you would not welcome a warrior’s death?”
“It matters not for when I die I shall go to heaven.”
“And that is filled with the priests of the White Christ?”
He nodded, “It is.”
“Then I shall stay a pagan and go to Valhalla. Your arm is useless. I have a healer but he is not here.” I gave the torch to Windar. “You will not die but you shall be my messenger. Hold out his damaged arm.” Cnut held the bloody mangled limb. He moved the mail up so that the bare flesh could be seen. I swung down Ragnar’s Spirit swiftly and the arm was cleanly severed. Windar thrust the burning torch into the wound. The air was filled with Oswald’s screams and the smell of burning flesh but he remained conscious; he was a warrior.
“Take off his mail. He will not need it now. Did they bring any beasts?”
One of Windar’s men said, “Aye Jarl. There are five ponies.”
“Bring one for him.” My men stripped his armour from him and they were none too gentle. I took a cloak from one of the other dead leaders and fastened it about his shoulders. “My men will escort you to our borders. Return to your king and tell him this; I will not visit death upon him this time. If, however, he ever sends warriors west then I will appear with my wolves and we will feast upon Northumbrian flesh. This is my land. This is the land of the wolf. This is Úlfarrland.”
I had not taken off my helmet and my red eyes burned into him. I saw true terror at that moment. He believed I was a shape shifter. He mounted his pony with help from Haaken. “I will deliver your message and I swear this to you. I will never leave my burgh again.” Oswald kept his oath. I heard that he never moved out of sight of his fort on the rock.
“Escort him to the borders.”
By the time dawn broke the survivors had either fled or were slain. We gathered the weapons first and then the bodies. We made a pyre of the bodies close to the place where the battle had taken place in the dark. The smoke spiralled high into the sky. Our own dead, and there were too many, were laid on the rocky slopes of Úlfarrberg. We laid many rocks above them until they almost made a mount themselves. We cut turf and laid it over the mound.
“This marks our land. Let the dead guard our border. Let their spirits walk this land.”
They did for no enemy ever risked crossing that mound and that blackened piece of earth during my lifetime. Ulf and Ulla’s children prospered and hunted north of their land to stop any enemy, Saxon or Pict from despoiling their fathers’ graves.
It was late afternoon when we had finished and too late to return home. We were exhausted and were hungry. Thorir Ulfsson was now the headman and he slaughtered animals to feed the remnants of our army. The only one who appeared to be in high spirits was Haaken for he had a fine song to sing. He sang of the men who became wolves and slaughtered the Northumbrians at the battle of the Úlfarrberg. It was a momentous occasion. We did not know it at the time but Northumbria grew smaller year by year. It had cost us some fine warriors but our eastern border was now secure. We trudged home the following day.
The voyage and the battle had eaten into the time we might have spent preparing for the winter. Autumn was close and we all had to work collecting in the crops, salting fish and repairing halls and homes before the winter. Our craftsmen were kept busy making weapons and fine jewellery. Much of the jewellery was given by me as reward for good service but we had a surplus and they would make fine trades. We had decided not to trade weapons with any save the men of Gwent. When we had an excess then we might but until then the better weapons we produced were reserved for us alone.
Thorkell’s ship was also finished before the autumn storms. There were some who wished to join my jarl. He was ever popular and many remembered his time at Wyddfa. I used some of my men to crew her and I escorted the ‘Oarsteed’ north. Bolli and I had come up with the name after her trials. She was like a lively young horse. If Thorkell wanted to rename her then he could. The ship had been paid for by my crew. Thorkell had been one of us. He would have to create his own wealth now. The ship would enable him to raid whilst protecting our land.
I saw that he had not been idle since we had left. He even had a ditch around his wooden wall. As a gift from Bjorn we had brought some new swords and spear heads. The settlers were, however, the most welcome addition. There were some widows as well as orphaned girls. Our last battle had left some empty halls. Happy with his ship he led me to the river to show me his next task. “We will build a wood jetty here so that we can moor my fine new ship.”
“That is good.” It was still pleasant to sit outside and we sat on a small mound. I told him of the men of Gwent and the battle with the Northumbrians.
“It has been quiet here, Jarl Dragon Heart. I make sure that my men patrol the river and they are armed. Those who see us from across the river flee at the sight of us.” He chuckled, “They are terrified of Lochlannach. The men of the north have always plagued them.”
“We will be trading when we return. Have your people anything that they can trade yet?”
He shook his head. “We have salted fish and collected as many animals as we can but we will need them for the winter.”
“Perhaps it will not be as bad as the last one.”
He shrugged, “If it is then you may just find our bones here in the spring.”
“No, that cannot happen now, Thorkell the Tall. You have a ship and you could return to Úlfarrston if you found life too hard.”
“We will persevere. Besides if Pasgen survived at Úlfarrston, then we should manage that here.”
I clasped his arm. “Take a wife, Thorkell. None of us are getting any younger. We need to leave our mark on this land after we are gone. Our children are the future of this land.”
“I will. I have spent my life as a warrior. I should like to pass something on to someone else.”
&nbs
p; When we left for our Frisian and Gwent trades I only took some of my Ulfheonar. Haaken, Cnut, Snorri and Arturus were the only ones who accompanied me. I think the others were a little disappointed to be left behind until I pointed out that we had had unwelcome news when we had returned from our last two voyages. It would not happen again. I needed our home protecting. I would sail with Trygg and Sigtrygg as far as Gwent and then I and my ship would visit Frisia. Aiden, of course would accompany me. For the rest I took those who wished to become my warriors. It would help to test them and give Haaken and Cnut the opportunity to see them rowing and working together.
During the voyage south we endured poor weather but we sailed on empty seas. It was as though we ruled the waves for we saw not a single ship. For Haaken and Cnut they were perfect conditions to observe the men. It also allowed me to see if Magnus could sail alone and make the correct decisions. He did so. Erik Short Toe and Ketil also showed me that they were seamen and not warriors.
King Selfyn’s men had spotted us when we were still at sea and he and Iago awaited us on the jetty.
“We hoped you would return but we were not certain.”
As we walked to his hall Iago said, innocently, “We heard that the monastery at St.David’s was raided not long after you left.”
I stopped and turned to face him. “It was us. You do not have to be delicate around either me or my men. If you wish to ask something then do so. We do not lie.”
“I am sorry, Jarl Dragon Heart. I meant no offence.”
“I know and none was taken. Too many people think that they know the Norse and the Dane. They do not! Only a man who has gone a-Viking can ever truly understand another Viking.”
Iago remained silent. I think he was a little afraid of upsetting me again. As we passed the Roman fort, now a ruin, I asked. “Did you know anything of the Romans?”
The king shook his head. We use some of their stone for our buildings and we occasionally find things they have buried but that is all. Have you examined their buildings?”
King Selfyn looked confused, “Why? They are just full of Roman ghosts.”
I shook my head, “Would you mind if my healer and I explored them. Come with us if you wish.”
I could see that he was intrigued. “Very well.”
The five of us went. Iago and Arturus accompanied me while the rest of my people arranged the trade for the iron ore. This was not the first Roman fort I had explored and I was amazed at the similar layout. Some were larger than others but the proportions appeared to be identical. I could see that some of the stone had been taken. There was evidence that people had sheltered there; we could see evidence of burning. The people of Gwent appeared to fear the spirits of the Romans who had lived at this Imperial outpost.
We headed for the main building. It looked much the same as the others we had visited. It had been ransacked and anything of value taken. The king and Iago looked at us with a look which suggested we were wasting our time. When the three of us dropped to our knees and began to examine the ground they stared at us in amazement.
This time it was Arturus who found it. “Here!” He pulled his dagger and began to scrape away the dirt. As we joined him I saw the number II carved into the stone. We knew now that they were the names of the Roman legions that had built and garrisoned this fort. This flagstone looked to be larger than the one we had found in the monastery. It took us longer to clear it. Three of us were not going to be able to lift it. I looked at a bemused Iago. “If you have a knife then you can help us lift this stone.”
He knelt and took out his dagger. “What do you seek?”
“We know not but more times than not we find treasure.”
He did not look convinced but he put his blade into the cleaned crevice. Aiden said, “Lift, gently.”
As we had found before it was difficult at first and we had to strain but gradually, slowly, inexorably, it began to rise. I saw a broken piece of wood. “Your majesty, when this clears, jam that wood underneath to stop it falling back into place.”
As the stone emerged he did so. The four of us sat down, exhausted by the effort. Aiden sniffed. “That smells worse than the others.”
“I know. Light a brand, Aiden.” He went outside to find something which would burn.
“Why did the Romans build holes in their buildings?”
“From what Aiden has read they kept the soldiers’ money in them and other valuable documents. We have found coins before.” Aiden returned with a candle he had in his satchel. It was not a good one and the light was yellow, barely illuminating anything.
He placed it on the ground and then we manhandled the stone to reveal the hole. Aiden was our expert in Roman holes and he took the candle and lowered the upper half of his body into the hole. “Arturus, hold my legs.” Arturus sat on his legs. Suddenly Aiden started and lifted his body back out of the hole. “It is a body, or the bones from one, at least. I think it is a soldier.”
Arturus laughed, “Do you wish me to go down?” Aiden had been like a big brother to Arturus when growing up. This was the first chance that Arturus had had to tease the healer. “No. It came as a shock that was all.” He put his head back in. “I think I can climb inside this one.” Arturus released his legs and Aiden slipped down into the dark hole. His head was above the top. He handed me a short fat sword. I had seen one before. It was the kind of sword used by Roman soldiers. It was plainly finished and heavy.
I handed it to Iago. “Not treasure but useful.”
Next came a dagger, followed by a belt and a rotting piece of leather covered in metal medals or coins of some description. Finally he handed a gold crown of leaves to me. It was a fine piece of work. It was obviously Roman for there was a Roman eagle on it and the letters SPQR again.
The king was impressed. “This is a surprise.”
“Anything else Aiden?”
His disembodied voice came from beneath us. “There are fragments of parchment but they crumble when I touch them.” There was silence. “There is a small chest.” His head emerged and he lifted a heavy wooden chest. Arturus pulled himself from the hole and we replaced the stone.
“Sleep in peace Roman. Your bones will remain where you died.”
Aiden did his magic and unpicked the lock. He had made various keys and picks now and he was quite adept. We opened it and found the usual gold and silver coins. King Selfyn could not contain himself. “You are all truly magicians. Let us take this back to my hall and you can tell me how you learned of this hidden treasure.”
As we walked back we told him of our earlier experiences. We had not finished when we reached his hall. It was more of a roundhouse than a hall but it was well made and spacious. Our men were busy trading with the merchants of the town. We continued our tale including the finding of the sword. It was at that point that Iago became excited.
“We have heard tales of a mounted warrior who led his men to hold back the Saxons. It was said he had a sword which was magic and as long as he bore it he would never be defeated. He lived by the holy mountain.” He pointed to the king. “We still have mounted warriors to protect the king.”
“What happened to him?”
“The stories say he was betrayed by one of his own family and slain but his death drove the Saxons from his land.”
“They have returned.”
King Selfyn looked at me. “The stories are that he had the wolf symbol on his shield.” He pointed at my shield which rested on the wall. “Like yours. Are you descended from him?”
I shook my head, “In truth I do not know. I may be but…”
Iago clapped me about the shoulders. “You are.” He smacked his chest, “I feel it here. Your coming halted the Saxons much as your ancestor did. He was the wolf the Saxons feared and you are the Viking wolf.”
For some reason it seemed to make him happy. I was uncomfortable with the attention. “Let us divide the treasure up, your majesty.”
He seemed surprised. “But you found it!”
> “On your land. Keep the sword for we need it not but we will take the torc to Frisia. We will get a better trade there. You are a richer king now. With the gold we gave you for your iron you will soon be able to buy better armour for your men. That is the best defence against Saxons!”
The feast, that night, was a joyous affair. Iago became roaring drunk and swore undying friendship to all of my men. We had sore heads the next day.
The king, Iago and all of his horsemen came to see us off. I bade farewell to Sigtrygg and Trygg. They would sail home with the iron. We would head for Frisia. I was as excited as Iago had been the night before. I had left a home safely protected and with the iron and the wheat we had traded, we would be both secure and well fed over the winter.
We left the other ships at the mouth of the estuary. As I put the steer board over the wind changed a little to come from the north east. The Allfather was smiling on us and giving us his blessing. Our discovery of the dead Roman had not been an ill omen.
Chapter 18
We approached the dangerous seas towards dusk at the end of the first day. The sea air and the wind had cleared all of our heads. The treasures, all of them, had been safely stored beneath the pine deck. When we had sailed north this had been the point where we had felt safe. Now we sensed the danger in the malevolent maelstrom which whirled around the islands and rocks.
We approached the islands of Syllingar and I had the sails reduced to barely sticks. “Oars!”
We would have to edge our way through the jumble of islands, and the precocious wind sent by the Allfather now prevented us from making headway east. Ketil raced down the deck. “My lord, it is too dark to see. There are rocks all around us.”
He was right. I should have anchored closer to the mainland and risked these savage rocks during the day. My mind had been distracted. I had wanted to sail close to here. I knew not why. “Find me a beach then or at least some shelter from the wind.”