Viking War

by Griff Hosker

  He tried the same blow that I had just made. The difference was I was ready. I braced my shield with my left leg and his sword struck the shield but did no damage. I smiled at him. That was the real reason I had not worn the mail mask. I wanted him to see my face. I punched at him with my right hand. The blow caught him on the side of the face and he recoiled. He was not expecting that. I saw the side of his face begin to swell.

  “How many battles have you fought in boy?” He stared at me silently. “I have been fighting warriors and winning since I was twelve summers old. You can surrender now if you wish and save your life.”

  I knew he would not and knew that he would do something reckless. He swung his sword overhand and tried to bring it down on my head. As he did so I saw a blade emerge from his shield as he stabbed towards me with his left hand. I lowered my own shield slightly and deflected the knife. He screamed in triumph as the sword came down at my shoulder. I brought my shield up but it would not stop the strike. I could not raise it enough. His sword hit my shoulder. I heard a crack as the bone that was across my shoulder broke but I also saw his sword bend a little. I think he expected his blade to slice through and into my flesh. His mouth dropped open as I swung my sword horizontally. It cracked into his shield and I saw wood splinters fly.

  I went on the offensive. I could not use my shield arm much. I knew that if I tried to raise the shield the pain would stop me. I used my size and my superior sword to beat him back. I brought the sword at an angle towards his neck. He countered with his own sword and I saw the bend become worse. His sword had no balance now. He stepped back and I feinted at his head. When his shield came up I stabbed at his unprotected leg. He squealed like a stuck pig as my sword entered the fleshy part of his thigh. I twisted as I withdrew it.

  “Surrender and live!”

  “Never!”

  Blood was pouring from his leg and he tried to finish it. He brought his sword over his head towards my damaged shoulder. I spun away from the blow and his sword hit air. I continued my swing and brought Ragnar’s Spirit to smash into his mailed back. He was wearing good mail but the edge of my sword was sharp enough to sever the links, rip into his mail byrnie and slice into his back.

  Panic set in. He turned to face me but he had a weakened leg. I could not lift my shield and so I had to use my sword and my feet only. I stepped forward and stabbed at his shield. He brought his own sword down on mine and succeeded in bending his own blade even more. He could no longer stab with it. As I was tiring I decided to end it. I shifted my body to the left and he swung his sword at what he thought was an attempt by me to punch with my shield. Instead I stabbed directly at his throat. He tried to bring his shield up but I had faster hands and I saw his eyes widen as the sword entered his throat. There was a moment when he realised he was dying before the blood flooded from him and all life left his eyes. He fell at my feet in a widening pool of blood.

  I suddenly felt the air as an arrow whizzed past me. I looked up and saw one of Sven’s oathsworn with an arrow between his eyes and a sword falling from his dead hands. As Arturus stepped before me Aiden took my shield. I heard the jarl’s voice, suddenly commanding. “If any of you raises his weapons then he will suffer the blood eagle and die slowly. This was a fair fight and honour is satisfied. There will be no blood feud.”

  As if to confirm it Arturus hissed, “And if there is then you answer to me and my oathsworn and we are warriors!”

  There was real venom and authority in his voice and the nine oathsworn stepped back.

  “Where are you hurt, Jarl Dragon Heart?” Aiden rushed to my side.

  “My shoulder. I heard something crack.”

  Aiden nodded. “It will be the bone the Romans call the clavicle. You will be in pain for many days and there is little that we can do to heal it but your armour saved you.”

  “It did that and I can see why they wear so much padding. I think we will make a few changes, Aiden.”

  Chapter 10

  My injuries meant that we had to stay longer on the island than I would have wished but it was wyrd for the jarl allowed those warriors and families who wished to come with us to my land. The word had spread that I was looking for those who wished to farm in our land and he allowed me to take any who chose. I think that he was relieved to be rid of the threat of Sven. In addition, he felt guilty about the events; as a host he should have prevented the fight.

  As we sailed south with a hold full of the valuable seal oil and a knarr full of farmers I forced myself to think about what had happened. It also took away the pain of the pieces of bone grinding together with the pitch of the drekar. I still did not know the truth about the death of Sigurd the Mighty. I knew that many of his people thought that the jarl had done the deed and yet, to me, he had seemed honest. He was a little vain but many young men were at that age.

  I was also curious about the oathsworn of Sven Knife Tongue. If they were cast from the same mould as their leader then this was not over. I knew that I would have to suffer Haaken and Cnut telling me that I should have taken the Ulfheonar with me. They would be wrong to do so. This was the work of the sisters. I had been meant to fight and kill Sven. I could have landed at any of the islands and we had chosen Hrossey. Wyrd.

  My left arm was strapped to my body to prevent movement. The small drekar did not help me as the motion was more pronounced than on my larger ship. That too was meant to be, for the pain was constant and a reminder of my mortality. If I had worn my old armour there was a chance that the blow, which bent Sven’s sword, would have severed the mail and might have cut me. It only took one such wound to end a battle. I would have more padding made for my shoulders. I knew that even when the break healed it would be a weakness. A warrior could not fight if he could not wield a shield.

  By the time we reached Úlfarrston the ache in my shoulder had eased somewhat. Aiden had apologised that the only potion he had would be drink to numb the pain. I had seen wounded warriors who had taken that course and they did not live long. I lived with the pain. I would not become a slave to drink. By the time we had trekked to Cyninges-tūn I was able to talk without grimacing.

  Kara already knew of my pain. As much as she trusted Aiden and his opinion she examined me herself. Her touch on my shoulder actually made me feel less pain. She was a true volva.

  “Have you spoken with the spirits in my absence, daughter?”

  “Always. The danger is spreading. It is all around. The struggle you had in the north is a foretaste of what is to come. There are many Norse and Danish babies being born and they want land. You have done well for our people. This is a prosperous and rich land. This is a land which will attract those who wish to take. War will come.”

  “And my name and renown do not help.”

  She helped me put my kyrtle over my arms. She was gentler than Arturus. “That is not in your hands. The gods have touched you. That cannot be taken away. There will always be young warriors who wish to challenge you and have the fame of killing the Dragon Heart.”

  The thought depressed me. “I bring danger to my people.”

  She laughed, “You are your people. Fear not father; your armour and your skill will protect you. And you have both the spirits and the Ulfheonar watching over you too.” She inclined her head. “And I believe that will be some of your wolves even now.”

  She had been gone but a few moments when Haaken and Cnut came in. I could see concern written all over their faces. Haaken shook his head. “I will come with you next time!”

  “It would have made little difference.”

  “No, but I would have been able to observe, and the story would have been better. I have to make it up from the words of Arturus and Aiden!”

  I laughed. It was a mistake for the bones grated and I winced. “My daughter has spoken with the spirits again and there is danger from the west as well as the east.”

  “Has the world gone mad?”

  “No Cnut, but the sisters are spinning once more. I have learned th
at small events are like a stone thrown in a pond. They ripple outwards. The young jarl of Hrossey raids the King of Norway. He will retaliate. The Vikings who have settled in Hibernia and Mann, our former friends, will look to us and desire our riches. And we are the cause of much of our own mischief. Had we not damaged the Northumbrians so much then they would be as a wall against danger from the east.”

  Aiden came in with Arturus. They had stayed with the ship for another night and a day so that the hull could be examined.

  “How is the drekar?”

  “It has a bottom covered in weed. We have taken it from the water and the crew are scraping it clean.” I nodded. Arturus continued, “They feel they let you down and should have protected you on Hrossey.”

  “You must make them know that they were wrong. It was wyrd.” I told them of Kara’s words.

  Aiden look serious. “There were some traders who came to Úlfarrston while we cleaned the hull. They spoke of Mercians heading north. They have moved from Caestre. There may be danger from the south too.”

  “Is there any word from Egbert?”

  Aiden shook his head. “Haaken I want you to escort Trygg to Lundenwic. Take some swords and seal oil to trade. We have to know what is happening. Listen and find out the way the world moves. King Egbert told me he would keep me informed of dangers. Kara and the spirits are never wrong. War is coming but we cannot defend all of our borders at the same time.”

  “Which crew should I take?”

  “The Ulfheonar, of course.”

  “But that would leave you alone.”

  Arturus jumped up. “He has me and my men to defend him, Haaken One Eye!”

  Haaken laughed but Cnut said, “I thought they were your father’s men?”

  “Enough! We do not squabble amongst ourselves! Thank you for your concern, Haaken. I have enough men to protect us. We will use this time to build up our strength and for me to see what we need to do.”

  Haaken nodded and Cnut said, “Sorry Arturus, I sometimes forget you are now a man. I still see the boy who used to follow us around.”

  Arturus smiled, “And I must learn to be more like my father and keep both my tongue and my temper under control.”

  When Haaken and Cnut had left I took Arturus to task. “I am pleased that you see your faults for you sounded, to me, a little like Sven Knife Tongue then. We are family and we do not fight each other.”

  “Your father is right. I can understand the concern of his oathsworn. And, it seemed to me, that you believe the crew of the ‘Josephus’ are yours to command.”

  As soon as Arturus coloured I knew that Aiden was right.

  “My son, there will come a time when you do command your own men and I look forward to that day. You need to learn how to lead.” All was becoming clear. The Norns were spinning. I had been meant to meet and fight Sven so that I could see the danger for my son. I needed to plot his course so that he became a leader for my people. Arturus left us, more embarrassed than anything else.

  “I will talk with him, jarl.” I knew that Aiden was like Arturus’ big brother. He would be able to make my son see sense.

  Kara knew there was something wrong between my son and myself; how could she not? “He needs to find out for himself, father, the right and the wrong way to lead. Let him command some men.”

  “But I fear he will become like Sven Knife Tongue.”

  “Then surely it is better to find that out sooner rather than later. Haaken and Cnut just wish to serve you. That is their choice. Who will lead the people when you are in the Otherworld? Your son will make a good leader. He needs experience and guidance.” She smiled as she left me. “You will find a way.”

  It was strange the manner in which Kara now spoke. Each day she sounded more like her mother. As I could not exercise and riding was difficult, I spent the next twenty days around Cyninges-tūn. I had rarely had the chance to look at it closely. I first went with Aiden to the western village for that was where we kept our animals and I was keen to see the improvements in the herds. Scanlan spent most of his time there. Since the Wolf Winter he had been almost running the village. He had come a long way since we had captured his family on Maeresea. Wyrd.

  He was pleased to see me but I saw the concern on his face when he saw my injury. “It is nothing, Scanlan, without the armour I might be dead. How are the new animals?”

  “It is still early. We have yet to slaughter any of the newly born. We will need for them to grow a little more. They will be culled after the next winter but the signs are good. They are all broader in the shoulders and the rump. The heifers give better milk and the skins look like they may make good hides. The sheep are bigger too. Perhaps we could trade for pigs?”

  Aiden smiled, “You are reading my mind Scanlan. I was about to tell the jarl that they have fine pigs in Wessex. We could trade for those at the end of summer. We do not need to slaughter them here. We have food for many more animals.”

  He was right; the cereal crops were going to be the most bountiful yet and we had built granaries based upon the Roman style.

  I put my good arm around Scanlan’s shoulder and took him towards the Water. “Keep this to yourself but there may be danger from the west. We have made the north secure but enemies may come from the west and the south. How are the defences?”

  “We have good weapons. Every warrior has a leather byrnie and a sword or a bow.”

  “That is not enough. I want each one to have a dagger and a metal helmet. We have the metal. See Bjorn.” He nodded. “And the ditches should be deeper. It will stop flooding and slow down an attacker.”

  Aiden pointed to the Old Man. “We should use the boys who guard the flocks of sheep on the slopes. They have good eyes. They could watch for enemies coming from far away.”

  “See to it.”

  We returned to my hall and Rolf. He was a warrior and, unlike Scanlan, he was constantly improving the walls, the ditches and training the sentries. “Rolf if danger comes then I may not be here. You will command.”

  He nodded and then asked, “What about Arturus?”

  “Do not worry about my son. I have plans for him. Make sure we have plenty of barrels; I intend to get salt from Úlfarrston and salt any surplus meat. If we are besieged I do not want the people to suffer. We have plenty of water. We save what food we have. How many men do you command? Exclude the Ulfheonar and the crew of the ‘Josephus’.

  “There are twenty men who have mail. Fifteen who have no mail but weapons and who have been trained to fight in the shield wall. There are thirty boys who are either slingers or archers.”

  “And women?”

  “Twenty of the girls can use a sling.”

  “I want all of them able to fight for this land. My daughter can organise them.”

  My final visit, before my Ulfheonar returned, was to Bjorn. I had realised the worth of the armour and, although the Emperor had given me mine Bjorn had made it for my men and I wished him rewarded. I still had half the torc I had taken from the Hibernian as well as some gold chains I had taken from Rorik’s men. I gave the bundle to my smith.

  “What do you wish made, Jarl Dragon Heart?”

  “Nothing. This is for you. I am pleased with the work you have done. Many of my warriors would now lie dead but for the armour and the swords you made for them.”

  “You have no need, Jarl, I am pleased to do it for you.”

  “You have sons who work for you and they have wives. I know that women crave pretty things which gold can buy.”

  “Thank you. I am honoured.”

  “You will find Scanlan and Rolf asking for more helmets and weapons.”

  “War is coming?”

  “My daughter believes so and there are rumours of other Norse Raiders looking covetously at our land.”

  “I do not blame them. I thought Mann was perfect until we came here and now I cannot conceive of living anywhere else.”

  “I feel the same. I feel at peace here especially with Old Olaf lo
oking down.”

  “Aye Prince Butar and my family would have loved it here.”

  I tapped my heart. “I think they do.”

  I summoned Arturus and Aiden that evening. Arturus had been distant since I had chastised him and I needed to mend fences. One of the fishermen had caught a huge pike which had been decimating the fish stocks. It was one of the few luxuries I allowed myself and I accepted it. It seemed to please the fisherman even more than me. I think that was because they saw me as the source of all bounty. If nature was in order then our world would be well. I was seen as the one who kept that order. It helped that Kara was the volva and was a healer. As her father I seemed to have an aura of mystical power too.

  My arm ached less but I could still not raise it above my head. It was another reason why I was pleased with the pike for it flaked off the bone and I was able to eat it with my right hand alone. Aiden knew what I was about. Even when I had told him what I intended he had nodded. He had the second sight. He helped me for he had been the one who had trained Arturus and taught him to read and write. He was the nearest thing to a big brother that Arturus had.

  Aiden was clever and he filled the conversation with inconsequential and harmless anecdotes but all were to do with being a leader and the responsibility a leader had to his people.

  “This is good fish is it not Arturus?”

  “It is father. Olaf knows how to fish that is for certain.”

  “I also hope that he can fight.”

  My son looked up sharply. “You are certain that war is coming?”

  “No, but your sister is. She is never wrong. The problem we have is that we do not know the direction it will come. When Haaken returns he may be able to give us news of the Mercians.”

  ”The Mercians? Their land is many miles to the south.”

  I sighed, ”It is not. The Northumbrians retreat. The land to the south of us is empty and easy to travel. King Coenwulf may remember me.”