by Griff Hosker
I saw a holy book open on a carved piece of wood. The wood had been made to look like and eagle. I took both. My hands were now full. Suddenly I heard the sound of an alarm bell. Someone was calling for help. “Sigtrygg, get everyone back to the ship, now. We take what we have.”
“Aye jarl.”
I saw that he clutched a gold plate and a piece of fine linen. I almost tripped over the monk’s body at the doorway. He had tried to defend his treasures and paid a high price. As we ran back to the ship I could hear a bell tolling on the island and I saw figures running towards the boats. Ahead of me I saw most of the others and, when I glanced behind me, I saw Snorri and Beorn. My back was covered. It was a gentle, well worn path to the ship and we soon made the ‘Heart of the Dragon’. Haaken had had her turned around and they were ready for us. I saw that Karl and Kurt were ready to lower the sail the moment that the order was given. I passed up the book to Aiden and clambered up the strakes with the wooden eagle under my arm.
“Hurry Jarl, they are coming.”
As I looked astern I could see three small Hibernian boats and they were rowing as fast as they could to catch us. “Cnut, row. Sigtrygg and Aiden, get your bows and come with me.”
It would take some time for the rowers to get up enough speed to lose our pursuers. Even though Kurt and Karl had raised the sail our sheltered anchorage meant that we were protected from the wind. It was down to the Ulfheonar.
“Use your arrows to discourage them.” I was not looking forward to this test of my recently healed shoulder but I gritted my teeth and pulled back on the bow. My arrow fell short and landed in the boat rather than at the stern where it could have done some damage. Sigtrygg was more accurate and the warrior next to the steersman fell with an arrow in his shoulder.
The smaller river boats were faster over a shorter distance and they began to close with us. In the distance I could see more boats pulling away from the shore. These first ones would be to slow us up and to hold us until the rest could swarm around us.
“You two concentrate on the steersman.”
“Aye, Jarl.”
I saw that they had to pull warriors back to protect those at the stern with their shields. It raised their prow a little more and made them slower. The captain urged his rowers on. He shouted something and a huge warrior came to the prow. He carried a rope with a hook on the end. He would grapple us. They were just thirty yards from us. It would be a prodigious throw to catch us but the warrior looked confident as he whirled it above his head.
I notched another arrow and despite the pain in my shoulder, pulled back. I let fly just as his arm came back to release the hook. We were so close that the force of the arrow punched him back into the boat and he fell amongst the rowers. It almost stopped in the water as all way was lost. We began to pull away from our closest enemy. Although the others were gaining they were further back and the Ulfheonar now had the rhythm. They were chanting and singing to one of Cnut’s favourite songs.
Sigtrygg and Aiden had each taken one quarter at the stern and they were relentlessly sending arrows after the next two ships. They did not cause deaths but they were so accurate that those guarding them looked like their shields had become hedgehogs.
“Open sea ahead, jarl!”
The moment the sail caught the western breeze we took flight and the Hibernian ships were left wallowing in our wake. The Allfather had been with us. “Cnut, the men did well, they can stop now.”
They all gave a huge cheer as they drew the oars inboard. Sigtrygg shook his head. “I hope that the treasure was worth it Jarl.”
I laughed, “We lost no men and I can feel the blood coursing through my veins again.” Picking up the holy book and brandishing it aloft I said, “And this will be worth much gold. What else would we do? We are the wolves from the sea.”
We hove too in the next inlet we found. We anchored in the middle of the estuary where we were sheltered from the wind. It had veered a little and was now blowing from the south east. It rarely did that and I wondered what it meant.
When I awoke I saw Aiden examining the treasures and Erik preparing the ship for sea. I plunged my head into the bucket of sea water to refresh me and dried myself on my sleeping sheepskin.
“Have we much of value?”
“The linen is good quality but the women will claim that. There are two silver candlesticks and a golden platter. We can use those to melt into coin or pendants, as you wish. There are some other candlesticks made of base metal. Bjorn can use those. The book is incomplete but it is a thing of beauty.” He put them back in the chest as we began to get under way. “The trouble is, jarl, that we would have to travel to Frankia to sell them and there are dangers in that. If war is coming then we will not be trading there for a while.”
“Then the book will increase in value. You must care for it back in Cyninges-tūn.”
“Aye jarl.”
Haaken joined me. “I wonder what the Norns have in store for us this day.”
“Worrying about them will not help us. We just try to survive.”
He laughed, “And we do that.” He pointed to the coast to the east of us. “We had best keep well away from the land, Jarl. They will remember us well there.”
I nodded, “And besides we took all of their treasures last year.”
The Weird Sisters listen and it does not pay a jarl to make frivolous comments. The wind changed to come from the south west and we sped around the northern coast of Hibernia. My men and I were in high spirits. We had outwitted the men of Mann and Sihtric. We would soon be home. The winds were so favourable that we saw the mountains to the west of Cyninges-tūn just before dusk. We would be able to rest close to our land and be home by the following morning.
Sharp eyed Karl brought us back to earth and sent a shiver of fear through us all. “Jarl, there are ships drawn up on the beach and the huts are on fire!”
The Norns had been spinning their webs again. My land was being attacked.
“Erik, approach slowly. I would not have us be seen by these raiders.”
“Aye, Jarl.”
“Karl, are they longships?”
“I cannot tell yet for certain, Jarl, but I think not.”
I felt some relief at that. If it was a party of Vikings then it meant the attack had begun earlier than we had expected. The small fishing port was called Itunocelum by the Romans who had built a fort there. Nothing remained of the fort and the handful of villagers who had settled there were a mixture of Rheged and Saxon. They kept to themselves but they lived in my land. They were my people. I hoped that the shepherds who lived on the high pass had seen them and alerted my warriors. The road from Itunocelum was like a dagger aimed at the heart of my land.
“They are Hibernian ships, jarl. I count six of them. Many of the warriors are heading inland!”
“Get the sail down, Cnut and we will slip in under oars. Land at the beach to the south of the town.”
As my rowers took their places Haaken asked, “What will you do?”
I did not answer at first. I looked at the mast head. The wind was still blowing from the west and the south. “Erik, could you get the ‘Heart’ back to Úlfarrston with a handful of rowers?"
He too looked at the pennant. “Aye Jarl.”
I spoke to the rowers as well as Erik. “The six who came ashore with me will help Erik to row the ship home. Aiden will get to Cyninges-tūn. I want warriors to head along the road and meet us. Windar must be warned of the danger too. He will be watching the east and not the west. The rest will come with me and we will pursue these Hibernians.”
It made me proud that not one warrior pointed out that we would be outnumbered. Six pirate ships would have a combined crew of over a hundred warriors. They feared no man for they were Ulfheonar and they were fighting for their own land.
Aiden helped me to adjust the straps on my armour. He held my mask of mail in his hand. “Do not send all the warriors to help us and you need to warn Pasgen about an attac
k from Mann. They will soon realise that we have evaded them and may decide to attack us sooner rather than later. We need to be prepared.”
“And the treasure?”
The treasure suddenly seemed less important than it had. But the thought came into my head that we might not have seen the raiders had it not been for the treasure. “Put it somewhere safe for the time being.”
Night had fallen as we edged into the beach which lay just a short distance from the pillaged village. We leapt ashore into the shallows. Erik did not need to be grounded with so few crewmen to row the boat away.
We ran along the beach. Snorri and Beorn led. We were drawn to the burning buildings and we heard the screams as the women were violated. They would have to suffer until we reached them. We halted when we saw Snorri with his raised arm. Beorn said, “They have left ten men with the villagers.”
“Cnut, secure the ships. The rest come with me.”
The Hibernians had no idea how close we were. I led my men with swords drawn out of the blackness. With our wolf cloaks and mailed faces we must have looked like daemons from the underworld to the Hibernians. One warrior had his breeks around his ankles and was standing over a young girl. He looked in horror as Ragnar’s Spirit sliced towards him. His head fell from his body without a sound. I ran towards the next raider who had his back to me and was lying atop an old woman. I pulled back his head and slid my blade across his throat. I pulled his body from the old woman and held out my hand. She recoiled in terror. I did not blame her. We did not look like humans.
And then there were no raiders left. “Four of you secure the boats and guard the survivors. See what you can do for the women. Strip the dead of valuables.”
I saw Haaken detail off the warriors. I waved my arm and Snorri and Beorn loped off along the Roman Road which headed east. I slung my shield. My shoulder ached still and I set off after my scouts. My Ulfheonar fell in behind me.
The raiders had almost an hour’s start on us and they were without armour. Some may have left before the village was pillaged. If they ran hard they could be at Windar’s Mere by dawn. We had landed enough times so that our legs were already ready for running but the steep road soon began to sap our energy. Each time I felt like we ought to stop I thought of the settlers living between Windar’s Mere and Cyninges-tūn. These Hibernians would slaughter them like sheep. We had to get back before them or find them and stop them.
The shepherds at the old Roman fort had been caught by the raiders. The bodies of four of them lay in untidy heaps behind the walls. Three dead Hibernians bore testament to the courage of these boys. The moon had come out and made the fort look stark and desolate. The shepherds would watch no more sheep. I saw two dead sheep dogs. They too had paid the price. They had bought us some time and, as the road descended and it became easier Snorri saw them. He waited for us and pointed down the side of the steep, rock filled valley. “There jarl, “They are less than a mile ahead.”
“You have good eyes.”
He shook his head. “They passed beneath us.” The road twisted and turned but the news spurred us on. We were now catching them. Once on the valley bottom they would be amongst the farms of Lang’s Dale. That farmer and his family had been dead this past year, victims of the wolf winter but others had realised the benefits of farming in an east to west valley. There were many farms.
Once we reached the valley bottom we were able to keep together. Our leather boots were silent along the cobbled road and we heard the screams and shouts in the distance as the raiders found the first farm. It was frustrating not being able to run harder but if we did so then we would be in no condition to fight. We kept the same steady slog. Had my men not been as fit as they were we would have given up long ago. The Hibernians only kept ahead of us because they did not wear armour.
We found only men dead at the first farm. It was Tostig Ronaldson and his boys. They had all died well and the five dead raiders was clear evidence. The Hibernians had taken the women as slaves. Haaken said, “They have taken the cows too!”
“Then we have them! They will move too slowly!”
Sure enough we heard the shouts from ahead and this time it was closer. “Cnut, take one in three warriors to the right. Sigtrygg, take another one in three to the left!”
As they ran off Haaken joined me.
“Wedge!”
My men formed up behind me and I led the eighteen or so warriors down the road. “Let them know we are coming!”
The men banged their shields with their swords and chanted, “Ulfheonar! Ulfheonar! Ulfheonar! Ulfheonar!” as we approached. It was hypnotic. More importantly it kept us together. The Hibernians heard the noise. I wanted them to know we were coming and to draw their attention away from the farm. I could just make out the warriors milling around the Waite of Oleg Three Fingers. I heard a voice giving commands and they tried to form a wall to face us. It was futile.
I saw that they were just forty paces from us. “Charge!”
We ran hard at them. I aimed the wedge at the tall warrior who wore a winged helmet and held a double handed long sword. He whirled it above his head. Lifting my shield slightly I tucked my head beneath it and braced myself for the blow. Haaken brought his shield forward too so that the sword hit both of our shields. It was a powerful blow but we were strong. I felt a twinge of pain from my shoulder which I ignored and then I stabbed forward, blindly, at the naked torso of the leader. I felt the tip of my sword sink into flesh and then grind off his ribs; I pushed harder and then twisted it upwards. It turned off his backbone and then it was through. The weight of the warriors behind me propelled us forward and the weight of his body dragged him from my sword and we trampled over him.
His followers were enraged and they threw themselves at our wedge. A spear came towards me and I could not get out of the way. My helmet and my mail protected me and I stabbed the warrior; my sword went under his arm. The wedge was losing its shape as my men fought desperately against overwhelming odds. Bjorn’s armour saved many lives that day. Poorly made Hibernian swords slid down the armour without even nicking it. Our shields deflected the powerful war axes and our swords were true. Even so the sheer weight of numbers might have gone against us had not Sigtrygg and Cnut fallen on their flanks. I heard the wail as the Ulfheonar hacked into unprotected backs. Their sheer weight of numbers was their undoing for they could not move to defend themselves. We were the anvil and Cnut and Sigtrygg hammered upon it.
By the time the first light of the new day broke it was over. The one or two who had escaped would be hunted down over the next few days but the rest lay where they had fallen and my men walked amongst them despatching the wounded. We found Tostig Ronaldson’s wife and daughters. Elter Svenson and his family had all survived. They had had the foresight to build a wall and a ditch and that had slowed up the Hibernians sufficiently for us to reach the family. Oleg Three Fingers and his family had also survived. We had arrived in time for them.
The bloodied farmer limped towards me. “Thank you Jarl! We could not have held out for much longer.”
I nodded, “I am sorry that Tostig was not as lucky.”
Elter took me to one side. “I told him to build a wall and a ditch but he was convinced that he was safe.” He shrugged, “Wyrd.”
I nodded, “The shepherds who watched died too. I must give some thought to that pass.”
“No Jarl, the men of Lang’s Dale must watch that pass. We are your people. The Ulfheonar defend against invaders; we must protect ourselves too.”
Chapter 13
It was two days later when we finally reached Cyninges-tūn. Rolf and warriors met us on the way and we sent them to collect the Hibernian boats to bring them to Úlfarrston. We gave many of the captured weapons to the men of Lang’s Dale. They were all keen to protect themselves. They had thought it was just the wolves who were predators but they had learned differently. The last of the Hibernians were hunted down and killed. Homes were found for the widows and orphans.
Kara had not worried about me. She told me that she had spoken with the spirits and knew that we would be safe. For three of my Ulfheonar that was not true. They had died in the fight at Elter’s stead. The Hibernian threat had gone but that did not mean we were safe. Winter was but a few weeks away and we had no idea what our enemies would do. We had fought and raided in the winter. Perhaps they would too.
Aiden brought me good news; Pasgen had added stone to the outside of his walls and he was safer. Aiden had told him of the use of water at Arturus’ fort and his men were already preparing a similar defence for his stead. It would be ready by mid winter, if the weather held.
I knew that I should go and visit with my son but I felt that I had neglected Cyninges-tūn for too long. This would be the last refuge if the rest of the towns fell to attackers and raiders. The devastation along Lang’s Dale and Itunocelum had been a warning of what could happen if we were not ready. I sent, instead, the Ulfheonar. Haaken could tell my son what had transpired and he and Cnut could look at the defences critically. I knew now how important the new fort was. We needed better defences and that meant more weapons.
“Bjorn, how are we for spears and arrow heads?”
“We have plenty of spear heads. We just need ash shafts to complete them but we do not have enough arrow heads.” He spread his arms apologetically, “We concentrated on armour and swords.”
“I am not criticising Bjorn. You did as I commanded. If we are attacked then I want enough arrows to blot out the sun.”
“I will get my people working today.” He hesitated, “Aiden said that Jarl Erik and his men attacked you.”
“It was his ships.”
“Then he has broken his oath for he swore to be your man. The gods will punish him.”
“That may be Bjorn but he can still do some damage until he is punished. His wife swore no oath and she seems to hate us even more.”
He shook his head, “No Jarl, I have spoken with Kara about this. The wife of Jarl Erik is jealous. You are the man she wishes her husband would be. You have the land she covets. She is a jealous and vindictive woman. I fear you are right and we will have no peace until she is dead.”