by Griff Hosker
“And that, my friend, is a poor trade.” Aiden made his way down to me. “See to the wounded. Erik has been hurt.”
Arturus joined me. “This armour is worth more than gold, father.”
“Aye. As are you. You fought well my son. Take charge of the drekar. You have earned the right.”
I could see a crowd had gathered at the fort and that the gates were barred. We had entertained the locals. I wondered if they had had anything to do with this. Wiglaf certainly had and he would pay. Rorik’s dead men were stripped of their armour, weapons and valuables and their bodies dumped into the river. The creatures there would eat well. We took our drekar and knarr to the south bank where we laid our dead on a pyre made from the carts they had used to bring the iron. The five horses we would take back with us. When the iron had been loaded we stood around the pyre and Aiden set it alight. We stood there until the flames had consumed their bodies and their spirits had ascended to the Otherworld and Valhalla. In all we had lost fifteen friends.
We had loaded the horses and were about to board our ships to pay a visit to Wiglaf when Beorn, who had been scouting to the south, came running back. “Jarl Dragon Heart the men of Wessex come. They have a banner and I think it may be their king.”
I nodded, “Get everyone aboard the ships. Aiden and Haaken stand by me.”
I did not replace my mask of mail nor my helmet. Both would suggest that I was ready for war. I had my shield slung around my back; I pulled it around. As I watched the column of men approach beneath the banner of Wessex I regretted not having my own banner to mark who I was.
The king marched with his men and those around him, his housecarls, were all heavily mailed and carried long axes like our Danish brethren. They halted before us and his men went into a wedge formation. I held out my hands and spoke in Saxon. “We come in peace.”
The man I took to be the king laughed as he stepped forward. He was not intimidated by us and I liked that. “You are burning bodies and I can see evidence of a battle all around me. That is a strange peace, Viking,” he seemed to see my shield, “wolf.”
I nodded and I stepped forward to meet with this Wessex king. “The ones we fought did not come in peace. They came to ambush and attack us. I am Jarl Dragon Heart of Cyninges-tūn. We came to Lundenwic to trade for iron ore.”
He stepped closer to me, “And I am King Egbert of Wessex." He looked at the hoof prints. “Did they bring the iron ore?”
“Aye they did.”
“That is why I am here. The miners who dug it were slain and the ore stolen.”
“Then it is you who should be paid for the iron.”
He looked surprised and he laughed, “That is a strange way for a Viking to behave; to pay for something when he could fight for it.”
I shrugged, “I said, King Egbert, that we came to trade and not to fight. We would buy more iron another time. We have either gold or trade goods; which would you prefer?”
He did not answer me. “I think I have heard of you, Viking. Are you not the one who changes into a wolf and bloodied the nose of Coenwulf?”
I nodded, “We are known as wolf warriors, Ulfheonar and we did fight with King Selfyn against the Mercians.”
He clapped me on the back. “Good then we can talk.” He waved at one of his men, “Athelstan, come and negotiate a price for the iron.” A man who looked like a clerk stepped forward.
“Aiden.”
“Aye Jarl.” I did not need to explain to Aiden he had been listening carefully to every word.
King Egbert said, “Let us go away from prying ears and we will talk.”
“My men’s ears hear all that I do but if you do not trust your own warrior’s discretion then let us.”
He laughed, “You are blunt. I like you more and more. When I heard that Vikings were in my river I came here to fight you. I am pleased now that I did not.”
We sat down on a grassy bank by the river. I took off my shield and laid my sword by my side. I pointed to the river, “There is some dispute over who does own this river, King Egbert.”
“True. Let us say then, that the kings of Sussex and Kent are my subjects and soon the kingdom of Essex will join them.”
“You have ambition then?”
“Do we not all?”
I shook my head, “Cyninges-tūn and the land around it are all that I desire. But I will fight to the death with any who tries to take it from me.”
“Then you would not wish to fight for me? I could pay you with gold. I know the Norse love gold.”
“We fight our own wars but I can promise not to raid your lands. You have been hospitable.”
He laughed so loudly that his men started. “You have two long ships and you promise not to raid. You have a high opinion of your skills, Viking.”
I nodded, “And it is well deserved.”
He suddenly seemed to see my armour. “I have never seen armour like this before.”
“The Emperor gave it to me.”
“Charlemagne?”
I shook my head, “The Emperor of Byzantium, Nikephoros.”
“You have been there?”
“Aye, we traded with them and did the Emperor some small service. He rewarded us with armour and friendship.”
“I see that you do not boast. It makes me want you as an ally even more.”
“Our land is many days to the north of here. We have mutual enemies between us.” I did not wish to completely burn my bridges with this Saxon. He could be useful to us. “I will give my word to aid you in any fight against the Mercians or the Northumbrians but only at my borders. I have no ambition to rule a large land.”
He gave me his hand. “Then, Jarl Dragon Heart, consider us friends.” As we rose he pointed to the bodies of Rorik’s men floating in an eddy at the bend of the river. “Did you kill all of these thieves?”
“Not yet. Their leader comes from Frisia although he is Norse. He and his drekar are downstream at a place called Grenewic.”
“I know it. Then it seems I may yet get to fight and kill some Vikings.”
“And I can bring my men to your aid.”
He nodded, “Then this is wyrd. Let us go.”
Chapter 7
Aiden and the clerk from Wessex looked to have agreed terms and goods were already being unloaded from the knarr. Both sets of warriors, mine from the boat and the Saxons on the bank, looked at us as we approached.
“Haaken, get the Ulfheonar who are not wounded from the drekar. Aiden keep the archers and the other warriors to guard the ships. We go with King Egbert to find Rorik.”
That pleased my men who began banging their shields with the pommels of their swords. Although there were only forty of us we were all dressed the same way. The veteran Ulfheonar had their wolf skins and all had armour. The twenty of us who wore the new armour looked to be the bodyguards of a king and I saw Egbert looking enviously at us. We all carried our helmets and I had my mail mask with me too. We would don them when we were closer.
I diplomatically allowed the king and his men to go first. He had a hundred warriors with him although only twenty were mailed as we were. The rest had helmets, shields and spears. Egbert waved me forward. “You walk with me. I have much to ask you.”
“Haaken, take charge.”
“Your men have discipline.”
“Warriors who do not throw their lives away recklessly have discipline and they live to fight for their jarl.”
He nodded. “It is not far to Grenewic.”
“Good. This man Rorik, I think he has ambitions here.” I pointed to the citadel at Lundenburh. “That would be an easy place for someone to command. Thegn Osric does not seem to have much control. I would fear Rorik if he controlled such a place. He is not like me, he does harbour ambitions.”
“Thank you for the warning. Unlike you I have few ships and we would need many of those to control Lundenwic.”
“Then be prepared, if Rorik succeeds, for a neighbour who will raid. The land you call Kent would become a was
teland at the mercy of Rorik and his bandits.”
“But he is of your blood.”
“No, he comes from the same land. A weed can grow in the same field as the barley but their hearts are different. Do not judge men by their looks or their language. You need to look them in the eyes and understand their spirit. I was born of a Saxon father, a mother from Cymru and I was brought up a Norse. What does that make me?”
He laughed, “An enigma.”
The king’s men did not lead us in a direct line to Grenewic. We left the track and walked behind a low hill. We stopped and his men spread out in a line behind us. “Grenewic is on the other side of the hill.”
“Then I will place my men on the right of yours. This Rorik has drekar and he will try to flee.”
“I know. I will use my lighter men to close with him quickly then.”
I was not certain that would work but it was his land and his men. I donned my mail mask and helmet and led my men to the right of the line.
“Rorik is on the other side of this hill. King Egbert is going to try to catch him.”
Cnut snorted, “Then I wish him luck. Rorik will wriggle away like the slippery eel he is.”
“Come Ulfheonar. Let us show these men of Wessex how we fight.”
We marched up the hill. It was not a steep slope but I admired the cleverness of the Saxons. This would enable us to surprise Rorik. As we crested the rise I saw that there were three drekar and they were tied to the bank. His men were resting and having wounds dressed. I saw Rorik and his oathsworn immediately. They still had armour on. I had no doubt that he intended to sail down the river after dark and surprise us. Had King Egbert not arrived when he had then he might have succeeded. The Norns were busy their webs were complicated.
The Saxons just hurled themselves down the hill. The men without armour ran like hounds across the spongy turf. Some stumbled as they ran too quickly to keep their footing. We kept to a steadier pace. None of us wished to fall before we faced the foe. The men who had been resting on the bank leapt up and grabbed weapons. As the first of the Saxons struck them there was a clash of metal on wood. I watched as Rorik led his men to cut down the poorly armed warriors. I drew Ragnar’s Spirit and pointed it at Rorik. Regardless of what King Egbert did we would go directly for Rorik. There was a blood feud and it could only end when one of us was dead.
I think that Rorik only saw the lightly armed Saxons when he charged. We struck his men from the side and his warriors were unprepared. I jabbed over the shield of a warrior with a red painted shield. The blade went through one cheek and out of the other. I twisted and pulled my sword out. His shield lowered and I ended his pain with a fatal slice to the neck.
I sought Rorik. He had just despatched a Saxon twenty paces from me and I shouted, “Rorik! Face me like a man!”
“Jarl! Watch out!”
Siggi Finehair’s warning made me turn and I barely blocked the blow from the sword swung by one of Rorik’s oathsworn. It was a strike delivered with all of his strength and it forced me back. However it also bent his blade. I punched with the boss of my shield three times in quick succession. It allowed me to bring my sword up and around. I delivered my blow with all of my strength and when he tried to block it his damaged sword shattered and Ragnar’s Spirit continued downward to bite through his mail and into his shoulder. He fell writhing on the ground.
I looked for Rorik and saw him as he and his oathsworn jumped aboard a drekar and began to pull away from the shore. He had evaded me once more. The warriors from Wessex and my men despatched the dead. King Egbert joined me and I took off my mail mask and my helmet. He looked down at the shattered sword. “That is a marvellous weapon, Viking. Where did you get it?”
I laughed, “Where did I steal it you mean. My smith made it for me. But it was touched by the gods and that gives it added power and strength.”
“Your people can make weapons such as this?”
I nodded, “And fine jewellery too. We are not savages.”
“I can see that. We would trade iron for weapons such as these.”
“Good.” We both looked up as the drekar headed down the river towards the sea. “You have not finished with that one, King Egbert. The Emperor Charlemagne is making Frisia too uncomfortable for him.” I pointed across the river. “The chaos and anarchy north of here is perfect for the likes of Rorik. “I smiled, “If I was a greedy man then I could have made the fort yonder my own. This river draws traders like bees to flowers.”
I could see he was intrigued. “Where do you spend the night, Viking Wolf?”
“I have unfinished business with a merchant called Wiglaf.”
“I have heard of him. His allegiance shifts with the wind. If you would take my warriors across the river we will spend the night in Lundenwic. It is time I came to an agreement with this Osric of Teobernan.”
I smiled, “Of course for we are now trading partners as well as allies.”
As we strode back along the river towards the setting sun he laughed, “You have opened my eyes, man of the north, to the potential of a Viking warrior.”
It took three trips to ferry all of the warriors across. I went across first with my Ulfheonar. The inhabitants cowered in their homes, fearful of our retribution. I found one who had spoken truthfully to us when we first arrived. “Where is Wiglaf? Has he fled to Lundenburh?”
He shook his head, “No, my lord. He fled on the drekar.” He pointed downstream.
“And did he take his goods?”
“Aye my lord. While you were burning your dead he took one of his ships and sailed down to the other raiders.”
I put my face close to his. “We are not the same! If we were then you and all of your family would be dead! Remember that!”
I told the king of my news when he landed. He nodded and looked to the fort. “They have closed the gates. You say that you and your men could take such a fort?”
“Aye but it would cost me many men to do so.”
He laughed, “I was not asking you to do so but I would know how would you do it?”
“Attack at night. Have archers watching both gates. If you use your shields your men can climb on the shoulders of other warriors and reach the ramparts.” I smiled, “I am guessing that this Osric will not have maintained the Roman ditch.”
He frowned, “Maintained?”
“A ditch only works if it is clear of rubbish, and it is deep with sharp stakes in the bottom. But if you want this fort there is an easier way.”
“How?”
“Bring your men with torches and I will show you.” As he hurried off I shouted, “Haaken, take the Ulfheonar to the east gate and stop anyone from leaving.”
“We are attacking them?” Haaken did not mind he just needed clarification.
“No, we are frightening them.” I donned my mail mask and my helmet. I led the king and his warriors to the west gate of the fort. “Have your men spread out in a line from the river to as far around the fort as we can go.”
He did so, “Now what?”
“If you will come with me and allow me to be your spokesman we will see if we can frighten the Thegn of Lundenwic into handing over the fort to you.”
“I will and I am intrigued.”
We strode to within fifty paces of Lundenburh. I gambled that they would not try to kill the king whose standard bearer followed us. I shouted, “Osric of Teobernan.”
After a few moments his face appeared. “Yes what is it you want? We have done you no harm.”
“No, and you did not aid us. We have your burgh surrounded and we could take it and all of your families if we chose.” I pointed across the river. “You saw how we dealt with Rorik and his pirates.”
“What would you have of us?”
“I would have nothing but King Egbert here might.”
I stepped aside and the king began to speak. “I want you to surrender this fort to me.”
“But I hold it for my brother.”
“You brothe
r is a weak lily livered vassal of Mercia. I will let you live and leave with your arms and your families but only if you leave by dawn.”
“I need to speak with my people.”
“You have until dawn to give me an answer otherwise I unleash these wolves upon you!”
He disappeared and we went back to the line of warriors and torches. “What will he do?”
“One of two things; either he will surrender within the hour or send to his brother for aid.”
The king waved over Athelstan, “Fetch us some ale and some food. We are hungry.”
Athelstan had just returned when we heard a scream from the other side of the fort. “I think the thegn decided to send for help. I think we may see him soon.”
It was almost immediately that Osric returned. “I have your word that we can leave with arms and my family?”
“I give you my word.”
“Then we will leave.”
“At dawn.”
“At dawn.”
The thegn disappeared. “And now, King Egbert I will collect my men and we will sleep. Two battles in one day are enough for any man. I would suggest you have men watch the other gate in case he tries to send for help again.”
He laughed, “You are careful, Viking.”
“It is why I have outlived most of my enemies. Rorik and Wiglaf will not have long on this earth.”
We slept well and we missed the departure of Osric and his people. The ones who lived in Lundenwic were happy with their new king, for King Egbert encouraged them to live within the walls of the burgh and he promised to garrison it with his own men. I smiled as I saw his men clearing the ditch of rubbish. He had heeded my words.
“We will be departing for our home now, King Egbert. Would you wish me to ferry you across the river?”
He shook his head. “The men who use the port are keen to please me. They are building a ferry for us to use.” He smiled, “It was wyrd meeting you, Jarl Dragon Heart. I now have a secure base on the northern side of the river and the trade will bring in much gold.”
“Just as long as you keep a good watch for the Mercians. They will not take kindly to losing this place.”