by Unknown
Bárekr and Alain greeted me as we rode up, “Have we won yet, jarl?”
I laughed, “No but we have hurt them, Bárekr.”
“A fine horse, lord. A gift from the Franks?”
“Let us say I thought it too fine a beast to leave in the hands of such men. Have you ale? A horn will help me tell my tale.”
As I drank I told them what had happened. “Now, Captain, I would have you bring your men each day and ride from my walls to the island. Our animals here are a tempting target. You will stop them from spying them out. Vary your horses and your dress. One day wear your blue cloaks and the next your old ones.”
“You would have him think we have a larger body of horsemen to the north than we do?”
“I would. It will just make him and his men more nervous. Tomorrow he will be ready to begin his attack. Your presence will restrict what he can do.”
“And when do we attack?”
“When he has eaten the supplies that he has brought and we have weakened the resolve of his men. Keep your men safe, Captain, when we do attack you and your warriors will be the spearhead who will help us defeat their horsemen.”
“You have great faith in the eight of us lord. The Franks we fight will be lords themselves. They will not be hired swords.”
“You do not give yourself enough credit. When you fought for Hugo of Ċiriċeburh then you were hired swords. The moment you joined me as freemen then you became greater than those you followed for you now fight for the clan and your people. If you wish to be a lord, then I will give you a title. It is not the way of our people but…”
He shook his head, “I did not mean that, lord. I am happy to be your captain of horse. I just do not want to let you down.”
“And you will not. When the eleven of us lead my horsemen, we will be fighting together. We will be the clan of the horse and the men from the north. The Franks will know they have a new enemy who will not be pushed back into the sea.”
We reached my walls again in the late afternoon. I could see that they had almost finished assembling their three war machines. They had a ditch and stakes surrounding their camp and they had horsemen ready to ride to attack us should we tempt anything. As we entered the Haugr, Bertrand said, “They still have many more men than we do, lord.”
“True but what of their hearts and minds? They have one dead Viking to show for their efforts and their dead rot and fester in the sun.”
When we awoke the next morning, we could see that they were ready to begin their attack. Their three war machines were ready to be rolled into position. Folki had told me that they were fragile. He had seen at least one broken through wear and tear. I was counting on that. The Franks had two large wings of cavalry on the flanks and behind the three war machines were their levy. They had shields and spears. It looked to me as though they were going to attempt an old-fashioned shield wall.
Bertrand had good eyes. “Lord. See, just behind the war machines. They have twenty men. They look to have a strange weapon in their hands.”
I saw what he meant, “Folki, what is that weapon they hold.”
“I saw some when we attacked their walls at Caen. They do not use an arrow but a pointed stick like a dart. They can penetrate mail.”
“Go and ask Pepin of Senonche to join me.”
We had time for the war machines had to be pulled into place. They were not yet at the first line of ranging stones.
“Yes, lord? Do you wish me to fight?”
“No Pepin, I would use your mind and your knowledge. Those weapons you see behind the war machines, what are they?”
“They are called crossbows, lord. They have warriors from Brabant who are trained to use them. It looks like the men I see wear the garb of Brabant. They are mercenaries. The crossbows have a mechanism to wind back the string and they can reach four hundred paces, or so I am told.”
I remembered now that I had been told that the Leudes had hired such men. “They are a war machine you hold in the hand?”
“They are. They do not have the ability to send their bolts quickly but they are deadly.”
“Thank you.” I had not expected that. It would affect my plan. I had counted on keeping them at bay by using our Saami bows. It seemed my enemy had anticipated me. “Einar, bring the men with the Saami bows here to the gate. Beorn Fast Feet take charge of the others and await my command.”
Folki had told me that the war machines had a range of almost two hundred paces. They would need to be closer to us than that if they wished to hit my walls for my walls were much higher than a man. The machines were pulled and dragged closer to us. They were soon inside the range of our bows. I could have ordered Beorn to have his archers send their arrows towards the enemy but I wished to see the war machines in action. The centre one was loaded. I saw that they needed eight men to load and release. Another ten had pulled them into place.
“Beorn be ready for my command. I want you to aim at the men close by the machines.”
“Aye lord.”
The first stone was accurately thrown but short. It hit the ditch where the bridge would have been. I saw the Leudes shout orders and the eighteen men on each machine began to pull them closer to us. I let them start to move the machines and then shouted, “Now Beorn!”
Every man who had a war bow sent their arrows skyward. They sent wave after wave. We had plenty of arrows. The men pulling the machine had no shields to protect them and they fell. The machines stopped moving as the survivors raced back. It was then that the men with the crossbows moved forward. They were each accompanied by a warrior with a large square shield. Beorn’s archers’ arrows hit the shields. It would be a waste to send more.
“Cease!”
Suddenly the shields were dropped and twenty deadly darts flew towards us. Three of my men were too slow to react and they were all hit. Salsi Salvison fell with one in the middle of his head; he was dead instantly. Erik Red Hair had one in his shoulder and Sven Bergilsson was pitched from the fighting platform with one in his chest.
“Take cover!” This had not been part of my plan. As I crouched behind the palisade I said, “Einar, we have one chance to kill the men with the crossbows. They had to emerge from behind their shield to send a missile our way. Folki said it takes time for them to reload. When they have sent their next bolts, we rise and await the dropping of their shields. Aim for those with crossbows.”
The men with crossbows were confident of their weapons for they sent them at any target. I heard Rurik roar with rage as one hit his helmet and pinged off. “Let that Frank get close to me and I shall make his head ring… all the way to the sea!”
“Now.” I stood with the others who had the most accurate of weapons. I held an arrow in my left hand ready to send it towards them. “Beorn, release another shower of arrows!”
As Beorn’s arrows clattered into the shields I saw that one of those holding a shield fell. Einar Asbjornson reacted quickly and the crossbowman fell dead. As the shields were moved we each sent our arrows. Four more died before the Leudes had them moved back. He thought to use their superior range. As they moved back his levy were brought up with shields. They were trying to move the war machines back out of range.
“Beorn, concentrate your arrows on the men pulling the war machines. Einar, our target remains the men with crossbows.” They had fifteen left. As Beorn’s arrows struck Frankish flesh the men with crossbows sent their darts towards my archers. Two more of my men fell but our Saami bows accounted for five more of the deadly hand held war machines. Sigtrygg Rolfsson, who had a Saami bow, was hit. The dart pierced his left hand. He handed his bow to Beorn Fast Feet as he was taken away to have his wound bound. It had cost them eight men but they managed to pull the war machines back beyond the range of our bows. They were still within the range of our bows but I did not let them know that. The rest of the army moved back towards their camp. They left just four mailed men with shields to stop us riding out to wreck their machines. It was a tempting thoug
ht but I had other plans.
When he realised that his initial attack had failed the Leudes withdrew his men to his camp. He would plan something else. He still had ten crossbows. They could hurt us. Leaving Einar in command of the walls I went to see the wounded. Sigtrygg could fight for his hand had been bound and he could still hold a shield. Erik Red Hair could not hold a shield. They had made inroads into our men and I wondered what would come next.
Although we had plenty of food we were rationing what we had. We ate enough to survive but not well. I knew that the Franks would be having it even harder than we were. We had seen them try to fish but Sven and Harold had taken the knarr with their ship’s boys and discouraged them with arrows and stones. It was only the arrival of crossbows which drove them back out to sea.
I returned to the wall at dusk. Arne Four Toes had taken over from Einar. “I have heard them in the woods yonder, lord. They are chopping down trees.”
“They will make a ram.”
“That would be my guess. They also lit fires in the afternoon. They are planning something.”
“But what?” Bertrand was as mystified as any of us.
“Call me if you hear anything.”
Arne nodded, “Aye jarl.”
I did not sleep in my bed but in my chair before my fire and in my mail. When Gilles shook me, I was awake in an instant. “Lord, Arne sent me. The Franks are moving. He has heard their war machines creaking.”
“Go get Bertrand, Rurik Gunnar Stone Face and Harold Haroldsson. Have horses ready.” I ran to the fighting platform. I could hear the groans and rumbles as the three war machines were pulled into position. “I expected something like this. We cannot see them and we are a huge target. They will not need to see us. They are going to use the fire Folki spoke of. Have water ready to douse the flames.”
“Is that all we do, jarl. Put out the fires?”
“No Arne. I will lead men to end the threat of these machines once and for all.”
When I reached the bottom of the ladder Gilles and my men were there. They had saddled Night Star for me. He was jet black and the perfect choice. “Each of you find a pot and tie a rope around it. Then fill it with coals. Prepare one for me.” I saw Pepin, “Have the slaves fill five water skins with seal oil and have them brought to us.”
“Aye lord.”
I went to Night Star. And waited. Suddenly the night was filled with the noise of a crash as the first of the enemy war machines hurled its fire at our walls. Flames leapt up. The hiss of water and the column of steam showed that Arne had been ready. Our walls had been soaked with sea water. The Franks would find it had to fire them. Soon, however, the other two released theirs and my walls were assaulted by three war machines. The Franks had their men with crossbows too. I saw a warrior pitched form the walls.
“Einar! Kill the crossbowmen! Use the light of their fires!”
“Aye jarl.”
Gilles handed me my pot.
I turned to speak to my tiny assault party. “We ride out and throw the pots at the machines. Pepin will give each of you a skin full of oil. When you have thrown your fire then throw the oil. Return back to our walls once you have thrown your pots and skins.”
“Aye jarl.”
Pepin arrived and flinched as a part of the wooden wall erupted in flame.
I heard Erik One Arm shout, “Get that sea water here!”
I took my skin, “Lower the bridge. Open the gates!” The greased metal did not make a noise but I knew that the enemy had a chance of seeing the two open gates. “Folki you and your men guard the gate while we are gone!”
The men working the machines had braziers with them and were picking coals to drop into the pots they had on the throwing arm of the machines. It was a slow process for they did not want the machine to catch fire. The braziers helped us to locate them. Night Star was fast and he was a warhorse. He was ready for war and we soon left the others behind. Our hooves alerted them. A crossbowman hurriedly brought up his weapon and loosed a bolt at me. It zipped over my head and then two arrows flung him to the ground. My archers were watching over us. Cries of alarm brought men with spears from the dark. My own archers sent their arrows towards them. I threw my pot at the machine and pulled back on Night Star’s reins to make him rear. His flailing hooves kept the crew from attacking me. The pot smashed and the coals began to burn. Without wind or oil, they would soon die. I whirled the oil filled skin and threw it at the machine. The effect was spectacular. The flames leapt up and began to burn the ropes. The pot they were about to send toward us was half released and its coals added to those of my pot.
I had no time to admire my handiwork for men rushed at me. I drew my sword and charged towards them to allow the others to set fire to the other two machines. A spear gouged a line up the mail covering my right leg and my sword bit into the neck of the man. I heard a whoosh from behind me as another machine caught fire. I made Night Star rear and took the opportunity to look behind me. All three machines were on fire. Bertrand threw his pot but the rope broke and it fell short, hitting one of the crossbowmen. My young warrior was quick thinking and he threw the oil over the man who burst into flames. He ran, blindly, towards his own lines. Men ran from him. It was our chance to escape.
“Back!” The others galloped before me. I heard hooves pounding in the dark behind me and knew that they had sent horsemen. I leaned forward over my stallion and felt something strike my back. Stones and arrows were hurled and released form our walls and I heard a cry as one of the horsemen fell. And then we were safely within our walls.
The flames from the enemy attack had been doused but I saw that two more warriors had been struck by bolts. As I dismounted Gilles said, “Lord, your mail is damaged.”
“Aye and I can see that your cloak has been cut. You were lucky, jarl!”
“I know, Rurik, someone is watching over me.”
Chapter 19
The next day was almost an anti-climax. We woke to see the three smoking skeletons of the war machines. The Franks had cleared their bodies from the field. When Alain and his men arrived for their patrol they were close enough to the Franks to see deep within the camp. They rode to the walls, “You have hurt them, lord. There are many wounded men being tended to.”
“Aye but it is not over.” I pointed to the rear of the Frankish camp. Men were busy making a ram. “When that is ready they will attack. Tomorrow, when you come, be ready for battle. You may have to do more than just watch.”
“Aye, lord. We are ready!”
I went to my hall. Bagsecg had my mail to repair and it would not be ready until evening. I took the opportunity to bathe. I used some of the sea water we had left. I did not think that there would be a danger from fire. I stripped off and poured pails of it over me. It refreshed me and washed away the smell of smoke and blood. Mary appeared with Matildhe in her arms. She shook her head, “A Frankish lord would never show his naked body to his people.”
I began to dry myself, “They are used to it and besides they have seen their husbands and sons naked.”
“You are a strange people. Come, dress and we will feed you. You have not eaten enough over the past few days. Unless you get some food inside you then you will become a wraith!”
Ragnvald was waiting for me inside my hall. I had seen little of him over the past few days. He was eager to know of the battles I had fought. I told him what we had done and of the men who had died, “They are our people, Ragnvald, and they died for the clan. We should remember them.”
He nodded seriously, “The boys who threw stones at the enemy told me that the Franks fled at your approach. Are they afraid of you?”
“They are afraid of us for we are not what they expect. When they destroyed Fótr’s band they believed they knew how to defeat us. They did not and that is what they fear. It is the fear of the unknown. Our enemies like us to be predictable.”
“One of the boys said you were wounded last night.”
“It was nothing. Others
had wounds which were worse. Even Sigtrygg who had a bolt in his hand can still fight. It is why we wear mail. Soon, when you are a little bigger, Bagsecg will make mail for you.” Mary flashed me a look of surprise. “It is just to get you used to wearing it. Then, when you become a warrior you will not even notice the weight.”
Once he knew that he would be having mail made he was happy and he chattered on about what sort of mail it would be. When I was alone, later with Mary, she asked, “Why does he have to become a warrior so soon? When can he be a child?”
“Being a child is a luxury which a Viking does not get to enjoy. We have many enemies and we become a warrior or we die.”
The next morning, we saw that the enemy had finished the ram and they were preparing to attack. We would have attacked at first light but the Franks were wary of our tricks in the half light of dusk and dawn. They wanted sunshine and the clarity of day to see what we would do. I wore my repaired mail and I stood on the fighting platform above the gate. Alain and his men were to the left of our walls. The Franks had the same formation they had employed when they had first attacked. The ram was in the centre and the flanks were protected by their horsemen. The difference this time lay in the fact that they had dismounted some of their horsemen. I saw Hugo of Ċiriċeburh and Charles Filjean with some of their half-mailed men. There were in the centre of the line of warriors who fought on foot. Their line was four men deep and those in the second rank had their shields ready to shelter those in the front rank.
Our arrows would not help us this time. The ram had men standing ready to pull it and others ready to protect them with their shields. There was no alternative. We would have to meet them, shield to shield. “Gilles, Bertrand, take our ten best horsemen and join Alain of Auxerre. Take throwing spears as well as a thrusting spear. I will make a wedge and we will destroy this ram.”