by Unknown
The end came when he panicked. With our dragon prow almost touching his steering board he made a sudden turn to larboard and his sails flattened as he turned into the wind. Sven shouted, “In oars! Down sail!”
The wind took us to bump gently into his steering board. The master and his crew ran towards the bow. After Siggi Far Sighted had thrown a rope with a hook to secure us together Arne Four Toes led my men aboard the ship. Normally I would have been first but my warriors all stood before me so that I could not. When I finally clambered aboard my warriors had scurried down the deck. They did not need me.
I stood at the steering board. The chest which was there obviously belonged to the captain. I opened it. As I expected it was clothes which were at the top. The sealskin coat was there to be grabbed when rain came and to protect the contents. Beneath it lay a woollen garment to keep him warm. Below that was what I sought. There was a sealskin pouch. I took it and opened it. I could not read the words for although I could speak Frank I could not read it. What I did recognise was the seal. It was the gryphon. This had come from the Leudes of Rouen. I guessed it was some sort of warrant which the captain could use. Beneath that was a small cask with coins within. They were all imperial. Egbert might have ordered the assassination attempt but it had been carried out through Philippe of Rouen. I now knew why he had not tried military action. This was an easier way to rid himself of me and my crew.
Arne came back. There were four terrified Franks with him. “The captain and the rest threw themselves into the sea. They are dead.”
The ship was now pitching as the wind twisted around the flapping sail. “Get back aboard Dream Strider. Leave two men with me and send Harold Fast Sailing over to sail this ship. We will return to Dorestad.”
He looked at the four men. “And these?”
“They did not jump and they will wish to live. I think I can handle them. Now go. This delays our departure home and I can see a web of the Norns in this.”
“Aye, jarl.”
He left Sven Siggison and Rurik One Ear with me. While we waited, I said to the nearest sailor, “Where is your home port?”
He swallowed and said, “Rouen.”
I held up the letter, “What is this?”
“The master was given the trade route to Lundenwic. He would be rich in a year.”
“And now he is dead. The men who came with us, where were they from?”
“Lundenwic and Rouen.”
Harold Fast Sailing boarded, “Jarl?”
“Take us back to Dorestad. We will sell this ship after we have stripped it of anything of value.” I looked at the four men. They were ordinary sailors. “Obey my helmsman’s orders and you shall go free when we land.”
They nodded gratefully.
It took some time to turn and to tack back and forth. ‘Dragon’s Breath’ rowed back and forth behind us protecting us from further attack.
“We were lucky, jarl. Had they slain you then who knows?”
“I know Sven. I think they thought to kill me quickly while I was carrying the chest. They hired not warriors but bandits and brigands. It was false economy. Mailed warriors might have defeated us. Siggi Far Sighted’s quick reactions and eyes saved us.”
Rurik shook his head, “If they thought they could end us with that band of brigands then they were wrong.”
“Those men were expendable. It is another reason why I returned here. The Saxon thegn who made the exchange knew what was going on. They thought to kill me and enough of the crew to make us vulnerable to attack.” I pointed astern. “King Egbert will have Saxon ships waiting to take us when we leave. They will be close by the narrow part of the sea. I am guessing that the Saxon will sail to Dwfr and join other Saxon ships. This is not over.”
Harold had heard all, “That makes sense, jarl. The Saxon ship was well handled. I was watching her as we chased the Frank. They were almost below the horizon by the time we managed to catch the Frank.”
“Can you arrange the sale of this ship? I am unconcerned what we get for it but if there is profit to be made from this then it should go to us.”
“Aye and you can have your chest seen to by a healer. Knut did a good job but I can see the blood coming through your bandage already.”
When we reached the quay the two berths were still empty. The harbour master and his guards were examining the bodies. After we had tied up Harold said, “I will go and speak with Günter, the harbour master. I know him.”
I turned to the four sailors. “I want everything of value brought from below decks. Rurik go with them. When that is done then you may go but if you every cross my path again then I would choose a watery death for I will not forgive you twice.”
“Thank you lord! Our days at sea are ended!”
Perhaps Harold had been right about my wound. I began to feel light headed. As I left the ship the ships’ masts began to spin and I found that my legs could not hold my weight. The sky went black and I fell.
Chapter 12
When I awoke, I was lying on my deck. “How long was I asleep?”
Sven shook his head, “You were almost dead! Your bandage was soaked with blood. We found a sailmaker. He stitched your chest. Harold gave him a gold coin from the Frank’s captain’s chest to make sure he made small stitches. None of us would risk the wrath of your wife if they were large ones.”
I held my hand out for them to help me to my feet. Rurik said, “You should rest.”
I waved it. “Help me up!” He did so. “And the ship?”
Harold Fast Sailing said, “Günter, the port master, was annoyed with the Franks for bringing such disorder into his port. He has bought it from us.” He shook his head, “He will profit from the sale for we were not given its true worth.”
“Whatever it is we have more than we would have. It is weregeld for my wound. Can we sail?”
“Aye. We have the cargo from the Frank. It was fine pots and linens.”
“Good.” I turned to Sven, “We will be attacked. They will think that their attack hurt us and that we will be undermanned. Let us continue with that illusion. Do not line the strakes with the shields and have the crew stay hidden. Let them think they have an empty drekar.”
“You have a plan, jarl?”
Arne Four Toes laughed, “That is like asking an eagle does it know what it has planned for its prey.”
“I have a plan.”
I explained the plan as Sven took us out to sea. We would not need to use the oars anyway as the wind was with us. It took us until early afternoon to reach the narrow straits between Dwfr and the coast of the land of the Franks. As we approached the area I expected danger I waved Einar Asbjornson over, “You are the best archer we have on the drekar. Here, take my Saami bow.” I handed him my weapon.
“What do I do with it jarl? I cannot slay a whole boat crew.”
“When I give the word, I want you to send as many arrows over to the steering board of the closest Saxon ship. It does not matter if you do hit any, just so long as you make them think they can be hit. I would do it myself but the wound in my chest would make it a waste of arrows.”
“I will do it jarl but I know not what good it will do.”
“Sail to steerboard!”
Siggi’s voice made us all look.
“Now it begins, Sven. There will be another ship to the landward side too. Where the third will be, I know not.”
My men took their places at the benches. We would only be using six oars each side to give the illusion that we had lost men in the ambush. Each oar would be manned by a single oarsman until I gave the word and then they would be double oared. I hoped to give them a surprise.
Erik Half Grown shouted from the bow, “Ship to landward!”
A moment later we discovered where the third ship was. Siggi shouted, “Ship astern.” There was a pause. “It is the one which left Dorestad.”
I nodded, “Now we have his plan we can deal with it. Sven, they will converge knowing that if we turn eithe
r way they will have us. Steer straight. Have the oars run out. They will expect it.”
Harold said, “It is the one astern I worry about. I saw her when she left Dorestad. She is faster than most Saxon ships and she has two sails. With the wind astern, she will close with us until we have the oars fully manned.”
“I know. Do not worry, Harold Fast Sailing. I do not think the Norns have finished with us yet.”
The wind had whipped up the waves. It was stronger now than it had been. Sven had been right. The wind at this time of year was unpredictable. If the gods really favoured us, then they would make it swing around and halt the Saxons. I did not think that would happen. The two Saxons were being cautious. They were using the wind from their quarters to converge slowly. I had no doubt that the thegn who followed us had devised this plan. This way would take more time but they would catch us, eventually.
As the oars began to bite we moved quicker. I turned and saw that the Saxon astern had rigged another piece of canvas. If the wind changed, they risked broaching for they had so much canvas that their gunwales would be temptingly close to the sea. But the extra canvas on the prow was edging them closer. I had to time this right or I would exhaust my men and for no good reason. The twelve men who rowed were the strongest warriors I had.
The two Saxon ships were close enough for me to see that their decks swarmed with men. I saw helmets but no mail. The Saxons feared the sea and would not risk mail. They were both closing with us. They were less than one hundred paces from our bow.
“Einar, try an arrow at the ship to landward.”
“Jarl he is two hundred paces from us.”
“And that bow is powerful. Just try. The first arrow will allow you to gauge the range.” Those who were not rowing watched as the arrow arced into the air. Its converging course necessitated skill from Einar but he was a good archer. The arrow sailed over the drekar and cleared the steering board by forty paces.
“You were right, jarl.”
“Good now send three arrows in that direction and then three at the other. Sven ready the other oarsmen.”
I did not look at the two nearest Saxons. I looked astern. The third ship was now two hundred paces from us and closing rapidly. I heard a cheer and looked to landward. The Saxon ship had suddenly changed course. Siggi shouted, “Einar has hit the helmsman! The sailor next to him has an arrow in his arm too!”
Einar changed targets, to the other ship. Because of our sail, the second Saxon had not seen the fate of its consort. This one was even closer and I watch Einar’s three arrows as they plummeted to the steering deck. A warrior fell, transfixed. The helmsman was hit and a third wounded. This time the helmsman took matters into his own hands and pushed the steering board over to take it away from us.
“Sven, the rowers!”
The rest of our men joined the oars and we almost leapt forward as the extra power took us further from the nearest Saxons. The third one had changed course slightly to come down our steerboard side. They were now a hundred and fifty paces from us. Soon we would extend our lead but the angle of their approach gave them more wind. They might catch us.
“Einar, the last ship. Use as many arrows as it takes.”
He had the range and he was not tired yet. When he had emptied the quiver then he would be tired but he had just warmed up. The Saxon had aided him. If he had stayed on our stern, then their sails would have hidden the steering board. This way Einar could see it. He would have to send them over the sails but the angle was such that he could. His first arrow fell slightly short but managed to hit the ship’s boy who was at the masthead. We heard the crash of his body hitting the deck over the sound of the wind and the waves. His second arrow hit the helmsman but I saw that the thegn was ready for that. He held the steering board and another man was pushed towards it. The third arrow did it. Before the next helmsman could take over Einar’s arrow pitched the Saxon thegn over the stern of the ship. The new helmsman put the steering board over and they moved away from us. He must have had a family and wished to live. Their last chance had gone. I had thrown the bones and we had won. The men cheered as we began to extend our lead. The ones who had not rowed joined the oars and, with a song in the air, we escaped.
The horseman came through darkest night
He rode towards the dawning light
With fiery steed and thrusting spear
Hrolf the Horseman brought great fear
Slaughtering all he breached their line
Of warriors slain there were nine
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
With mighty axe Black Teeth stood
Angry and filled with hot blood
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
Ice cold Hrolf with Heart of Ice
Swung his arm and made it slice
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
In two strokes the Jarl was felled
Hrolf's sword nobly held
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
We stopped rowing as night fell. Sven changed course slightly in case they were still following. I doubted it. We had killed the man who would have pursued us. No one in his right mind follows a wolf to its lair. They hunt them in the open.
I began to feel light headed again. Harold Fast Sailing saw it and shouted, “Jarl, lie down! We do not want you falling. You have done all that you could. Sleep. We will take the drekar home.”
He was right and, wrapping myself in my fur, I lay down. Soon I was asleep.
“Jarl, we are here.”
I opened my eyes and saw sky. It was daylight. As Sven and Harold helped me to my feet they said, “We sailed through the night, jarl. The wind was with us until the last part and the men only had to row for a short time.”
I stepped ashore. It felt strange. I had rarely slept for so long on my ship. I turned and said, “Have the cargo unloaded. You all did very well. Einar, keep the bow. You have earned it.”
“This is a wondrous gift, jarl. I have never seen a weapon which could send an arrow so far.”
“You have earned it.”
Gilles and Bertrand hurried towards me. “Did it go well, lord?”
“It did, Gilles. We have coin and we have booty. The Saxons tried treachery but we outwitted them.”
They turned to walk with me. They were both sharp. Gilles especially had followed me for years. “Lord, what ails you?”
“I have a wound. It is nothing. Do not make much of it. My wife will worry.”
“Aye lord.” Gilles turned to Bertrand, “I told you we should have been with our lord.”
“And I wanted you here. The land is safe? No Franks came while we were away?”
“Everything was quiet lord but…”
“But is what we fill with water or ale. Leave it at quiet and I am happy. Nothing untoward happened to me and it was a lesson learned. In future I shall go mailed, even where I think I am safe. My wife may prefer me in silks and fine tunics but not I. I would live to a ripe old age. My mail does that for me!”
In the end, it was the mouths of my crew which alerted my wife. They could not help themselves. They told all of our escape and how their jarl had outwitted three Saxon ships even though he had a bad wound. Once alone, Mary had me strip off my clothes so that she could examine the sail maker’s handiwork. “But is the wound clean?”
“It was cleaned with vinegar and honey. It was fresh gut which was used to stitch it. It does not smell bad.”
“But it looks so red and angry!”
“It does not bother me.” That, of course, was a lie but Odin never minds when a man lies to his wife. It is often out of necessity.
When she was satisfied, I dressed and she waited on me hand and foot. It was only when Matildhe demanded milk that she stopped. Then Rag
nvald came to me. “Could I see the wound?”
“Ragnvald!”
“It is fine, wife. He will be a warrior. He should know of such things.” I opened my tunic and showed him. He was young and he was curious. He ran his fingers over the stitches. He was gentle. “It will not affect me. In a month or so I will be as good as new. Perhaps even better for the scar will be tougher than my skin!”
He reached up and rubbed my beard, “Your beard is rougher now than when I was little.”
“That is because I do not trim it. I used to. Your mother found it rough.”
“It makes you look different.”
“How?”
“It makes you look older!”
“I am son. All men age and all men die. That is what the Allfather wills.”
“Mother said that when we die we go to heaven if we are good.”
I looked at my wife and then back to my son. “If you are a warrior and die with a sword in your hand then you go to Valhalla, which is a warrior’s heaven.” He nodded and I saw him take in the difference between heaven and Valhalla. Valhalla would be where he would be with his father and warriors. In heaven, he would be with priests.
I saw now why the Norns had spun their web. Because of my wound my wife did not argue and that was the day my son began to become a Viking. He disappointed his mother for he never followed the White Christ. He followed the way of the sword and became a warrior.
She would not, of course, let me ride for the next few days. That was just as well as it began to rain with that biting rain which comes just before Yule. If we had been in the land of the wolf, then it would have been made of snow and sleet. We shared out our booty and our coins. The clan had half of the ransom and I kept half. That was the decision of my warriors. My men spent a day putting the drekar in her winter cradle and preparing it for winter. Then Sven and Harold made sure that ‘Kara’ was ready for sea. We might not raid but we would trade.