Viking War

by Griff Hosker

  “I serve, Jarl Dragon Heart.”

  The old man turned to look at me. “You are the warrior with the sword touched by the Gods?” I nodded. “Then the new Jarl will be glad to see you. Jarl Harald Blue Eye has spoken of visiting you on Mann.”

  “We live on Mann no longer. Where is the jarl?”

  “He is in his hall.”

  “I will speak with you later, old friend.”

  “I look forward to that, Trygg. Many of us were unhappy when you and your families had to flee. Old Sigurd could be vindictive.”

  “What is the new Jarl like?”

  The old man had a worried look and he said, “He is young.” Then he went back to his work.

  As we approached the hall some warriors emerged to view us. Although I wore mail I had neither helmet nor shield and there was little to identify me. I stood at the bottom of the steps leading up to the hall. “I would speak with Jarl Harald Blue Eye. We are here to trade.”

  The two warriors were young. They looked to be little older than Arturus. “And who are you with the strange looking armour and trimmed beard?”

  Arturus started but I restrained him and smiled, “I am Jarl Dragon Heart of Cyninges-tūn. And you are a little foolish to insult a warrior whom you do not know.”

  I saw the one who had spoken colour and his hand went to his sword but his companion restrained him. A warrior emerged. I saw immediately that he had to be the Jarl. He had the blondest hair and the bluest eyes of anyone I have ever seen. His mail was finely made and had two golden clasps for his cloak. “Did I hear that you are Jarl Dragon Heart?”

  “I am. I was just explaining that to this young man. He has a rash tongue.” I glared at the young warrior. “We are here to trade.”

  “Come into my hall.” He turned to the young warrior, “Sven, find something useful to do away from here. You have offended the jarl!”

  His hall was well made and had a fire burning at one end. I nodded, “You have a comfortable home.”

  “This is nothing. I will improve it before too long. We will make a few more raids and I will be rich enough to build a hall of stone!”

  “Good.” I was not convinced by his bravado but I could be polite and diplomatic when I wanted to. “Then perhaps you need not trade with us.”

  “That depends what you bring and what you want.”

  “We want seal oil but we bring kyrtles and fine weapons.”

  “Weapons like the sword which was touched by the gods?”

  “Made by the same smith but untouched by any gods.”

  “Then you are thrice welcome for we have heard of your sword and if the ones you trade are of the same quality then we will be invincible.”

  “Come to my drekar and I will show you. The crew have all been given the identical swords to the ones we would trade.”

  As we left he said, “You give your crew a sword? That is mighty generous of you.”

  “They fight for me, why should they not have the best?”

  “And yet you wear such strange armour. Why do you not wear mail?”

  “This was given to me by the Emperor of Byzantium and it suits me. Each to his own.”

  I could see that the young jarl was intrigued and he studied my armour as we walked to the drekar. Arturus ran ahead and his young warriors stepped ashore to show the jarl their swords.

  He held his hand out and Arturus nodded to one of his warriors. Erik Stigson handed his sword over. Bjorn made excellent swords. They were light and yet immensely strong. Most importantly they were balanced. I could see that he was much taken with it. “How many do you have?”

  “That depends how much seal oil you have.”

  “We have some here but we would need to send to other parts of the island to get sufficient for such weapons. Will you be our guests tonight? I would like to hear some of your stories.”

  Trygg had stayed in the background and I think that he was relieved not to be recognised. He busied himself aboard the knarr as I returned to the hall with Jarl Harald. I left Arturus and Aiden to arrange the watches on the two ships. It would not do to have our cargo stolen.

  Chapter 9

  The jarl offered me a chamber to change from my armour. My new armour was more comfortable than my older mail but it was still more pleasant to be in my tunic. “Come and sit by my fire. I have many questions for you.”

  “I will answer if I can.”

  “Was the story of the gods touching your word true?”

  “Aye. A bolt came from the heavens and hit the sword. It threw two of us to the ground but we were unharmed.”

  “How was that so?”

  “I have no idea. It was wyrd. But the sword is the strongest weapon I have ever seen. It never bends and it keeps its edge throughout a battle.”

  “You must be special to be touched by the gods like this.”

  I shrugged. “I am not special. I have good warriors and we are successful but we have losses too.” He quaffed his ale and held out his horn for a refill. “And you have done well to be a jarl so young.”

  He gave me a quick look to see if there was any deceit in my face. I smiled. “My uncle, Sigurd the Mighty, was old and he died in his sleep. His sons were dead and the warriors chose me. I have led many successful raids to the mainland.” He touched the golden clasps for his cloak. “We took much gold.” He seemed to see my wolf pendant. “Is that copper or bronze?”

  “Neither, it is gold!”

  I could see that he realised then that the gold on his own clasp was nothing compared with the gold on the pendant. “And is that a blue stone for the eye?”

  “It is.”

  “That is beautiful and who made this for you?”

  “Aiden, one of the men I brought with me, is a galdramenn and a fine craftsman.”

  “I would have him make me a dragon like that.”

  “You can ask him but you will need to ensure you have enough gold.”

  “He could make it here?”

  “Possibly. He is his own man you would need to ask him.”

  “But you are his jarl! You could command.”

  “I could command but I prefer to ask. It is my way.”

  Almost as though he had heard his name Aiden and Arturus came into the hall. “The jarl here asks if you could make him a dragon pendant like the wolves we wear.”

  Jarl Harald suddenly saw the pendants worn by Aiden and Arturus. “Your men have them too?”

  “I give them to my oathsworn, yes.”

  “Then you must be rich.”

  “We have enough. I use what gold we have for what matters to us.”

  “Interesting. Well, Aiden, is it? Would you make me such a pendant?”

  I gave the slightest of nods and Aiden said, “Aye Jarl if you have a smith here and sufficient gold.”

  He frowned, “I will get more gold for I would have one at least as big as the one which Jarl Dragon Heart wears.”

  I hid my smile behind my horn. The young jarl was vain and had a high opinion of himself. I noticed that Trygg was not with the other two and I hoped he would be talking to Rognvald; I would know about this young jarl of Hrossey.

  As we washed before eating I said, quietly, to Arturus. “Make sure the men do not drink too much tonight. I would not have any trouble.”

  “I have spoken with them already.”

  “Aiden, keep your eyes and ears open this night. We may trade more with this jarl but I would know his intentions first.”

  I need not have worried about my men. They behaved impeccably. We had no Haaken to tell our tales and so it was left to Aiden. He did a good job. He had a good voice and it was pleasant on the ear. I began to relax a little and then I noticed some of the jarl’s men were drinking more than was good for them. The warrior I had met earlier was particularly drunk and loud. I discovered his name was Sven Knife Tongue. It seemed appropriate. He had retained his armour and became more and more belligerent as the night went on. It appeared to me as though he had a number o
f young men who looked up to him.

  “Jarl Harald, the young warrior Sven, he appears to be, how should I say, a little aggressive.”

  Jarl Harald lowered his voice. “He is. He is the grandson of Sigurd the Mighty. Some of his friends thought he should be jarl.” He shrugged, “He has never led a raid and is too young.” I said nothing. Jarl Harald emptied another horn and added, “Perhaps I should have had him killed when I became jarl but he is a good swordsman and a fierce warrior.”

  “It is more important to be a loyal warrior. Is he your oathsworn?”

  The jarl looked at me and shook his head. “No.”

  I said nothing more for it told me that Sven Knife Tongue had ambitions. I realised then that he reminded me of Harald One Eye. His jealousy and ambition had driven Prince Butar and the rest of us west.

  One of the jarl’s men stood and told a tale of how the jarl and his drekar had sailed to Norway and stolen the King of Norway’s treasure. He made it sound amusing and I wondered at that. The King of Norway had a long reach and Hrossey could be taken easily by a large army. I hoped that the young jarl knew what he was doing. I found myself liking the young man. He and Arturus got on well. They were laughing and joking with each other as though they had been friends their whole lives. I was so wrapped up in their interchange that I did not notice Sven Knife Tongue walking unsteadily towards me.

  “Where is your fancy armour now? Are you too ashamed to wear it amongst real men?”

  “Sven Knife Tongue, do not embarrass us in front of our guest. Jarl Dragon Heart is a mighty hero and a famous warrior.”

  I carefully watched the young man. The drunk ignored the jarl. “I have bedded young women who looked more like a warrior than this oiled and spoiled jarl.” His friends all laughed and I saw Arturus colour.

  “Sven! Leave us now!”

  I held up my hand. “He is drunk, Jarl Harald. And I am tired. I will retire. I seem to annoy the young man and I would take away the source of the annoyance. Thank you for the feast.”

  I stood but Sven blocked my way. “Where are you going? I have insulted you. If you were a man and not a drekar wife you would fight me.”

  I put my face close to his. “I do not fight drunks and I do not fight boys. You will feel the shame of this in the morning.”

  “I am no boy!”

  He suddenly pulled out his dagger and lunged at me. I grabbed his hand and put my elbow sharply into his stomach. The dagger fell to the floor and I felled him with one blow to the chin. I picked up the dagger and put it in my belt. I pointed to his friends. “If you are his friends then take him to his bed and keep him there until he is sober.”

  They staggered over and picked up his unconscious form. One of his friends held out his hand for the dagger. “When he apologises then he can have the dagger.”

  After they had gone the jarl said, “I will have him punished in the morning.”

  “Do not do so on my account. He is a young man and he is drunk. Many young men behave that way.”

  “You are too kind Jarl Dragon Heart but if that is your wish…”

  “It is.”

  I went to the hall I was sharing with my men. Trygg was there. He had not stayed at the feast for too long. No-one had said anything but he wanted no trouble.

  “Well?”

  “It seems that the old king was in good health one day and dead the next.” He shrugged, “I shall not mourn him for the vindictive old man cost me members of my family but this appears to be an even bigger nest of vipers now.”

  Arturus and Aiden joined us. “You are more tolerant than I am father. I would have used my sword on him.”

  “And that would have been a mistake. He is the grandson of the old king. He has many supporters. The last thing we need is a blood feud. I doubt that there are many warriors here who would wish to come and settle in our land or that I would want any who chose to.”

  “You may be wrong there Jarl. Talking to Rognvald there are many who seek a life in a place which is less harsh and where there are not so many factions.”

  “It is good that we came here, Jarl Dragon Heart, for we have done well with our trade. We will have enough seal oil for at least two years and it cost just ten swords.” Trygg smiled more now.

  “Then when the oil comes we will sail back to our own land which already seems greener, safer and more honest than here. You did well to leave here Trygg.”

  “I know, jarl.”

  Despite the words of Aiden and Trygg I did not sleep well that night. I heard warning voices all night. I awoke before dawn and I dressed in my armour. I walked down to the harbour. I had to make sure that the knarr and the drekar were safe. I was relieved when I saw Stig and my guards sitting by a lighted fire.

  “As soon as the oil comes I want the swords trading and the seal oil storing. Be ready for a rapid departure.”

  “Is there trouble, Jarl?”

  “I am not certain.” I looked at the sea beyond the harbour entrance. It looked very welcoming.

  The others had heard me stir and they were dressed too. We went to Jarl Harald’s Hall. Most of his men were sleeping but, surprisingly the young jarl was up and about. He welcomed me with a horn of ale. “I meant to ask you last night, Jarl Dragon Heart, the drekar out there is it your only ship?” He gave me an apologetic look, “It is just that it does not seem as large as the one I have heard about.”

  “No this is a new one we captured in Wessex. I wanted to see the new crew and see how she sailed. I have two bigger drekar.”

  “How many warriors can they carry?”

  “More than sixty.”

  He almost choked on his ale. “That is twice the size of ours. With ships that size you could threaten Norway himself.”

  “Aye but you would need the warriors.” I spread my arm around his hall. “You can muster three perhaps four drekar?”

  “Four.”

  “And your warriors all have mail?”

  “No, Jarl Dragon Heart. It is hard to come by. I have just one drekar with mailed warriors and they are my oathsworn. Sven has ten oathsworn who have mail.”

  “Does he have a drekar?”

  He nodded, “He does but he sails under my command.”

  I lowered my voice. “I would watch him. Last night’s dissent was aimed as much at you as it was to me. It is a challenge to your authority.”

  He suddenly looked both young and distressed, “I know. I would have challenged him but…”

  I thought I knew what the ‘but’ meant but I would not say. “Keep your men busy and it will stop them from plotting and planning.”

  The hall began to wake up and we spoke of other things. He told me that the oil would arrive by sunset. We ate fresh bread and smoked herrings. Even Trygg looked at ease.

  Suddenly the door to the hall was flung open and Sven Knife Tongue stood there. “Where is my dagger? You thief!”

  I spread my arms for my men to remain calm. This could be a bloodbath if I spoke the wrong words. I took the dagger out. “It is here but I believe you were drunk last night and you may have said things you regretted.”

  He strode up to me. “You are right, I had had a drink. If I had not then you would be dead.”

  “You would have stabbed an unarmed man, a guest in my hall?” I heard the shock in Jarl Harald’s voice.

  “This is neither a man nor a warrior. I do not believe he has done any of the things he and his liars say. If he was a man he would have fought me.”

  My men all drew their swords. I held up my hands. “No man calls me a liar. The word of Jarl Dragon Heart is true. You will apologise now. Insults from a drunk are one thing but these words are planned and intended to insult!”

  I had not yet drawn my weapon but it would be out in an instant if he said the wrong thing. I could not allow this insult to pass. I saw the look of disappointment on the face of the jarl. Sven laughed. “I will do nothing of the kind. Come outside now and I will despatch you and then your warriors! They will see
what real warriors and men can do!”

  “Arturus, get my shield and my helmet.” I turned to the jarl. “I am sorry for this jarl. If it offends you I will go with this whelp and decide this somewhere else.”

  “No, Jarl Dragon Heart. He needs a lesson and you will teach him.”

  Sven turned and hissed, “This will be no lesson for it is to the death. Only one of us will survive and that will be me. Then we will see who is the greatest warrior on Hrossey and who is the best leader.”

  I glanced at the jarl. It was all clear to me now. I was being used by Sven. In killing me he would have killed a warrior with a great reputation and he would then take over as jarl. Jarl Harald had made a mistake; he should have killed him when he had the chance.

  I saw the Jarl’s eyes narrow. He had worked it out too. “Make a circle. Archers shoot down any man who interferes. This is in the hands of the Allfather.”

  The jarl’s warriors made a circle in which we would fight. As Arturus fitted my shield I noticed that there were archers lined up outside the hall ready to carry out the jarls’ orders. Arturus had my mail mask as well as the helmet. “I will not need the mask today.”

  Aiden came over to me and adjusted my helmet. He said, quietly, “I spoke with Rognvald. This Sven keeps a dagger in his left hand and he has sharpened spikes on his shield.”

  “Thank you Aiden.”

  I saw that Sven had an open helmet with a nasal although he had a metal coif beneath it. His mail byrnie was well made, with rivets but it came down half way between his waist and his knees. That was a weakness. I saw the metal spikes on the shield. They would only be dangerous if he struck at my face. I would watch for that manoeuvre.

  I walked towards him. I knew that he would want to trade insults I would not give him the opportunity. I brought my sword over my head and swung it towards his. He was not expecting the move but he had quick reactions and his shield came up. It met the blow. He might have had metal spikes but the shield was not as well made as mine and the leather covering ripped as he stepped back.

  I had angered him and I wanted him angry. I wanted him to make mistakes. “You coward! I was not ready!” I did not need to look around to know that the experienced warriors would be laughing at him. He sounded like a petulant child.