Viking Blood

by Griff Hosker

  It was almost too easy. As we ran into the untidy straggle of huts and houses we saw no one. There were people in the huts but none otherwise. It soon became apparent that they were all gathered at the large hall close by the harbour. It had been built by Jarl Erik and was substantial. I went into a hut and hissed at the two women and the old man who were within. “If you want to live then leave by the gate without a sound. If you stay you die!”

  They did not bother to take anything save a cloak. A red eyed wolf had just spoken to them. They ran. I looked around and found a pot of seal oil. I hurled it at the fire. The oil caught and sprayed across the inside of the hut. The chair began to burn. I threw the table on to it. The flames flickered up and I saw the low roof catch fire. When I emerged I saw that the Ulfheonar had done as I had and the old, the women and the children were fleeing silently out of the stad. One of the huts suddenly erupted in flames and lit up the night. Soon there was an inferno. We ran towards the centre. I could hear the commotion as those in the hall heard the fire and came out to investigate. The sight which met them must have terrified them. They saw my wolves with red eyes charging towards them.

  I drew my sword and, for the first time, Wolf’s Blood. This would not be as it had been at Hrams-a. These warriors would be awake. They would be armed and some of them would be mailed. Crucially they would outnumber us. They had the crews of at least two drekar. We had to hit them and hit them hard. My younger Ulfheonar were ahead of me. I saw Rollo Thin Hair swinging his sword while next to him Rolf Horse Killer wielded his axe. Even as I watched I saw them slay three men. None wore mail but all had weapons. One struck his spear at Rollo even as he died. Rollo had good armour and it slid off harmlessly.

  A mailed warrior yelled orders. I saw a shield wall begin to form. Olaf roared a challenge and with Rolf next to him, he led my men at the shield wall. It takes courage to stand and carefully lock your shield when you are being attacked. It is harder when you are faced by wolf warriors. As Olaf and Rolf broke through the shields I parried a spear thrust at me and then rammed Wolf’s Blood up into the mail of a tall warrior. Bagsecg had made a truly wonderful weapon. The mail rings parted as though they were made of cord. It tore into his kyrtle and then sliced into his chest. I punched his body from me with my sword.

  I heard a roar from my left as Erik Ironshirt led his Angry Cubs from the narrow passageway and into the large area before the hall. His men roared too. I heard them chanting as they fought.

  Angry cubs and the warrior wolves

  Angry cubs and the warrior wolves

  Dragonheart’s clan is their new band

  Reborn they fight for the wolf’s land

  Erik and Thorghest were like two demons as they hacked, chopped, stabbed and sliced at the enemy. They feared nothing. Haaken had truly transformed them. They fought like wild beasts. Their swords slashed wicked wounds in the enemy. They tore into the flank of the men who had been standing before the hall. Even as I blocked a sword with Wolf’s Blood and stabbed the warrior in his thigh I saw that the enemy were loading the two drekar. The families of the jarls and Hersir were fleeing. I heard an enemy horn sound three times. A flurry of arrows descended. The enemy thrust their spears at us and then they fled to the quays and threw themselves into their ships. The ones who could not escape fought on and slowed us up. I could not understand it. More than a hundred warriors had stood before us and they had fled.

  Olaf swung his axe to lay open a warrior’s back and then he turned to me, “Are they women, jarl? Why did they run? They still outnumbered us!”

  “I think Erik Ironshirt’s sudden attack made them think that we had more men than we did. I will take the victory, Olaf, for it was unexpected. I had thought to raid and run. Now we take what we find!” I turned to a panting Erik Ironshirt, “You did well warrior! Now send half of your men back and fetch the drekar!”

  “Aye jarl.” Thorghest grinned at Haaken, “If you had composed more verses song master, then think what we might achieve!”

  Haaken laughed, “I like these fellows! They appreciate my work! Perhaps I should join the Angry Cubs eh Jarl Dragonheart?”

  We wandered through the stad, ending the misery of the wounded. We had no healer and they would die anyway. By the time the drekar appeared it was almost dawn and we had collected grain, food and treasure. We were reclaiming what had been taken from Úlfarrston. We had enough mail for half of the Angry Cubs and, when we left the burning stad, our drekar was low in the water. The pall of smoke drifted east and I knew that Harald would be angry. He would not know that his men had fled. They would have sailed south but the smoke would tell him that I had struck again. I had intended to raid for longer but there was little point. We had a full hold and we had destroyed two of Harald’s five stad. With two drekar destroyed, we had hurt him. The question which remained was, ‘what would he do about it?’ I needed to speak with Aiden and Kara to discover the answer to that question.

  Chapter 10

  I did not return to my home with the rest of the crew. I stayed at Úlfarrston. The Angry Cubs returned to the Hall of Hope where they would fetch their war gear and, for those who had them, their women. Until they had built a hall by the new shipyard at Whale Island they would stay in Raibeart and Yngvild’s hall close to Úlfarrston. Although I wished to return home I needed to be sure that Raibeart had his defences in place. We had poked the bear. I was not arrogant to believe that we would escape retribution of some type.

  We had arrived back in the afternoon and spent the last of the daylight inspecting Raibeart’s defences. I did so with a critical eye pointing out to Raibeart where I thought the weakness were. We still had time to improve them. The crops were in but the weather was deteriorating soon it would be winter. Úlfarrston had a gentler climate than mine further north. The sea always seemed to keep the land around the stad warmer. They endured less snow. The days, however, were just as short and it was the length of day which halted work.

  As I ate with Raibeart and his hearth weru I told him of our raid. Raibeart was a good captain and he appreciated the skills shown by Erik Short Toe and his son. “The people will be pleased that you have extracted some revenge.”

  I nodded, “We extracted more than revenge.” I took from my leather pouch the seal I had taken at Hrams-a. “This was your father’s. Now it is yours.” I handed it to him. “We have other treasures which were taken from your people. When Erik Ironshirt returns he will bring them with him. He and his Angry Cubs will be close by at the new shipyard. When Harald comes once more there will be a band of warriors you can summon.”

  “Thank you, Jarl Dragonheart.” He looked into my eyes. I saw worry. “He will come? You are certain?”

  “In truth I know not. I am guessing he will. He swore he would before his men. I will return home tomorrow after Erik and his men are here. I will speak with Kara and Aiden. My plan is still to drive him from Man at the end of Mörsugur. We have hurt him but he can still field many drekar and who knows how many others will join him. I fear that we are a juicy plum to be picked. We are no longer a secret. When we trade we spread the word of our riches.”

  “Aye.”

  “Have Siggi and Olaf not yet returned?”

  He shook his head, “No Jarl and I am worried. Our knarr and our captains were taken. Suppose they have suffered the same fate?”

  The thought had crossed my mind. The difference was that both Olaf and Siggi were Vikings. They would not be taken as easily. Bolli and his men could now begin to make more knarr but it was unlikely that they would build many in the short days of winter. I hoped they could launch one before Ragnar’s wedding at Samhain. Without knarr we were blind. The world outside was hidden from us.

  Erik and his men arrived at noon. I waited until their women were settled in Raibeart’s old hall before we returned to Úlfarrston. As we marched I said, “I would have you split your men into three. Keep one third at Úlfarrston, a third at the yard and a third at your hall. Patrol and keep your men activ
e. Raibeart still has fishermen and they will supply you with fish. The forests teem with game for Raibeart’s people are not hunters. You will be well supplied.”

  “And we will practise. When we fought I watched your Ulfheonar. We have not that level of skill. We may never attain it but if we practise then we will be better. Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer was a good jarl but he had become soft. We never practised and spent more time drinking than fighting. Warriors had mail which was rusted and blades that were dull. Life was too easy. I will make life harder. A hard life makes for a tough warrior.”

  I looked at the sun. I would have enough time to walk the walls with Erik and still make it home. The Norns had been spinning again. After walking around the new fighting platform I decided to return home. Even as I went to take a horse from the stable I heard a cry from the tower. “Ships approach. They are from the south. There are three of them.” I wondered if this might be my knarr just as the lookout shouted, “Two knarr and a ship of war. It looks to be the Cymri.”

  I ran to the walls. The gates were slammed shut and men ran to man the walls. I ran up the ladder to the fighting platform. The three ships were hull down. The lookout had a better view than we did but I saw that two of the vessels were my knarr but they were in the wake of a Welsh ship of war. They were tubbier and shorter than our drekar. They held as many men but were poorly designed for fighting at sea. However, we would not be fighting at sea. Our drekar were without crews. They were tethered like goats to the quay. I had no doubt that the knarr had been captured and were also filled with warriors.

  Erik Ironshirt and Raibeart had donned their mail and joined me. My mail was in my chest and back in my hall with my Ulfheonar. I had just Ragnar’s Spirit and Wolf’s Blood. We would make a fight of it.

  Raibeart said, “I have sent a rider to Erik Short Tow to warn him. He will then ride to Cyninges-tūn to fetch help.”

  “Good.” I pointed to the newly repaired quay. The new walls were closer to it. “At least the quay is now within bow range. We can contest their landing.”

  Raibeart nodded, “And yet our archers have not the skill of yours. We do not have the Saami bows used by Aðils and Beorn.”

  “And now that Dyflin is closed to us they will be harder to get. I fear that when we do have knarr they will have longer and more dangerous voyages to undertake.”

  I watched his fifteen archers stand on the fighting platform of the wall which was closest to the river. I saw that the Welsh ship had shields and helmets showing. There were warriors aboard and yet the knarr did not. That puzzled me. I wondered if they would be used as we had used the captured drekar. The warship furled its sail and backed water in the river while the two knarr came close to the quay.

  “Archers, ready! Do not release until they land. I do not want the arrows wasted.”

  I slid my sword in and out of my scabbard. I hated the waiting. Then I saw Siggi and Olaf step from the knarr and they held their palms open. This was not war.

  I said, “Archers, lower your bows.”

  Siggi, Olaf and their crews walked towards us. “Is this a trap, Jarl Dragonheart?”

  “These are my men, Erik Ironshirt. They know me. The Welsh do not know that their palms held out mean peace. Had they clenched their fists then it would have meant war. Is that not true, Raibeart?”

  “It is. If my brother had instilled such a signal in his men then perhaps he would still be alive. But, Jarl Dragonheart, I do not understand the presence of the Welsh warship.”

  “Nor do I. Open the gate! Let us speak with our captains first.”

  I descended the ladder and was there to greet Siggi and Olaf. Siggi was now white. He had sailed with us since the days of Man. He clasped my arm, “Jarl it is good to see you. We have been away too long.”

  Because of my search for Wighlek and Vibeke I had not seen either captain for over a year. “And that is my fault. We will speak later. First, what of the Welsh? What does their presence portend?”

  “They captured us two days since at the straits of Menai. They trapped us. We both thought that our end had come but we were treated well. Their king has sent his son to speak with you. He awaits you in the river. He comes in peace but fears your reputation.”

  I nodded, “Raibeart, this is your stad. Go and invite this Welsh prince here and I will speak with my captains. I have much to tell them and they have much to tell me.”

  “Aye Jarl Dragonheart.” He left.

  I gestured to Erik Ironshirt, “This is one of my new warriors. These are the knarr captains I was awaiting. Come we will tell Yngvild she has company.”

  Olaf said, “Yngvild? Haaken One Eye’s daughter?”

  “Aye she married Raibeart. I can see I have much to tell you.” I did not go into detail but I told them of Dyflin and of the treacherous attack on Úlfarrston and of our raids. “So, Olaf Grimsson, I would ask if you would be the captain of the drekar which will take my son and grandson to war?”

  “Aye, Jarl Dragonheart! I would be honoured.”

  I was relieved. If he had said no then I would have been forced to use a captain who was not as skilled as Olaf. “The four of us will talk later. First I am keen to know what the Welsh wish of me. Do you know?”

  Siggi shook his head, “No, Jarl Dragonheart. They just said they wished to speak with you.”

  Cadfan ap Merfyn was a young red headed warrior. He looked to be of an age with Ragnar. He wore fine mail and his simple helmet was adorned with a white feathered plume. After we had been introduced by Siggi we sat formally around a table. He was flanked by grizzled and battle scarred warriors who glowered and glared at us. I guessed they had suffered at our hands before. We had fought them many times and we had always won. I liked Cadfan. His father had only recently taken the throne of Gwynedd and he had not yet learned to be a prince. He was still a young warrior and he spoke as one.

  “Jarl Dragonheart, I will come directly to the point. If this offends you then I cannot help it. It is my way.”

  “I am never offended by honesty. It is refreshing. And I am old enough to have a thicker skin than you might imagine. Speak.”

  “Your drekar was seen landing on our Holy Island. You took sheep.”

  I nodded, “We were hungry. Aye we did.”

  “I come not about the sheep. We have almost retaken the Holy Island from the men of Mercia. Coenwulf has been dead these many years and now that Wessex has taken over Mercia they have forgotten the rich island they took from us.”

  I wondered where this conversation was going, “Wessex is, indeed, greedy and your father should keep a close watch on Egbert. I doubt that he has forgotten you. Now that he is High King he will cast a covetous eye on you and your lands.”

  He smiled, “Thank you for the warning. We know of your raids against Wessex. Perhaps it is those raids which have stopped his avaricious gaze falling on us. My father fears that you will raid our island.” He looked me directly in the eye. “You were planning on raiding us were you not?”

  “You have spoken plainly to me and I will answer as plainly. Yes. Had my daughter not advised against it then even now we would be taking your grain.”

  The two grizzled warriors began to rise. The young prince snapped, “Sit! We are being honest! Would you rather he lied to us and then attacked in the night? Would you have his wolves amongst our sheep?”

  I smiled, “And I do not lie but you are right. Do you come to warn us against such a raid?”

  “No, Jarl Dragonheart. We come with an offer. My father would have an alliance with you. If you do not attack and raid us then we will give you grain.” He waved a hand at his two men. “There are some who do not agree with this policy but my father and I think it is better to give what otherwise you take.”

  “And this alliance; what would we have to do?”

  “If Wessex comes then we would have you fight alongside us.”

  I smiled, “And your father knows that I will always wish to fight Egbert for there is a blood feud.”
I stood and clasped his hand. “Then we are your allies and we will not raid Gwynedd.”

  “Good.”

  “However I do not promise that I will not raid your neighbours.”

  He laughed, “Honest as your reputation. Raid our neighbours. Our peace with them is an uneasy one.”

  “And there is something else.” I turned, “Erik, fetch the sword.” He looked confused and then nodded. He returned with Jarl Gunnstein’s sword. “This was the sword of Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer. It is a good sword. I would give it to you to seal the bargain. You have made a gift of grain to us and I would make a gift to you to seal the bargain.” I pointed to his own. “I think it is better than yours.”

  “Aye it is. A worthy gift.”

  “I should tell you that none of his men would have it for it belonged to their jarl and they would not wish ill luck to be upon them.”

  He smiled, “We are Christian but I thank you for your warning. I will have the Bishop of St. Asaph bless it. Perhaps the curse is for those born with Viking blood.”

  Our new allies stayed the night. Before they left Prince Cadfan’s men carried ashore twenty sacks of grain. “Here is our first payment. The next one will be next year after the harvest.”

  I smiled, “You were confident that we would accept your offer?”

  “Let us say we prayed long into the night that you had a reputation which was deserved. Someone told us that you have our blood in your veins. I can see now that it is true. Farewell Jarl Dragonheart.”

  Leaving half of the grain for Raibeart I loaded the rest onto carts along with the trade goods which Siggi and Olaf Grimsson had brought. We headed for our home. As we rode north they told me of the world and the events beyond our seas. I learned that there was a new Emperor, Theophilus, and that his officials were still happy to trade with us. The pirates of Africa still plagued traders and my captains explained that they now took a longer route along the coasts of Italy and the Frankish Empire. It was longer but safer. Both were disturbed at the deaths of Coen’s knarr captains. They had known them. They were a seafaring fraternity.