by Griff Hosker
Erik suddenly stared at me and his hand went to the hammer of Thor around his neck. “An oldish man and a wife who looked as though honey flowed from her lips?”
“Aye, Wighlek…”
“… and Vibeke! They came to Dyflin a month or so before the first two drekar arrived with Harald’s men. They spoke up for the men saying that they knew them. Jarl Gunnstein afforded the two of them honour. They gave him gifts so that they would be allowed to trade. When Harald came the sentries on the walls were poisoned. I am convinced that it was they who did this.”
“It would be that evil pair. Where are they now?”
“They were in Dyflin when you rescued our kin. Did you not see them when you entered the town?”
I cursed myself. I had forgotten the quest and not sought them. I might have brushed shoulders with them! “Then they will still be there?”
Ragnar said, “I know I am young, grandfather, but it seems to me that they would be more likely to stay close to Harald the Great.”
“Unless they were in Dyflin to make even more coin. I see now that we were meant to meet for you are the link I was seeking. I spent a year looking for them. Had I visited my old friend then I might have discovered them. Who knows, I might have been able to save Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer.”
Erik Ironshirt shook his head, “No Jarl Dragonheart. I see now the Norns and the Allfather in this. You were not meant to stop the death of Jarl Gunnstein. My men and I were destined to die and then to be reborn. Just as Astrid and her family were meant to be found by you.” We had stepped outside and it was a clear night. He looked up into the stars. “And we were meant to come here. The silting of the river was Icaunus making you come here so that we could defend the drekar. The enemy will come here. I am no galdramenn but I feel it in my water. This is where we will battle.”
I left the next day and rode back alone. I had arranged for the first of the beacons to be built. When I passed farms along the road, there were a few farms and hunters, I asked them to build a beacon too. I went into the forest to speak with the charcoal burners. They were not Viking. They had lived in the forest since before the Romans had come but they were my people. I asked them to tend the beacons too. When the greenway was cleared we would have a line of beacons to alert us to danger. When I passed Thurston Island my wife’s spirit did not appear to me and I took that as a good sign.
Of course I had an argument with my wife when I reached my hall. Erika was not with me and I was to blame. She wept and told me I was a barbarian and not a good father. She stormed off, taking Myfanwy, so that I would not be a bad influence on her. She would punish me with silence. I went to visit Aiden. I told Elfrida that her son was happy and that he would be living at the new shipyard from now on. She seemed content. Her world was now the world of the House of Women. They healed and they helped the old and those who had lost all of their family. It was more Christian than anything I had seen the followers of the White Christ do.
I spoke with Aiden and Kara about Wighlek and Vibeke. Kara had a smug smile on her face. “I knew she might hide from us but the Allfather would not allow such treachery to remain hidden. They will come to a bad end.”
“But will I be there to see it?”
“Does that matter, father, so long as they die?”
“I would see them die for they are slippery as eels.” I shook my head. I needed to speak of plans and not spies. “Erik Ironshirt believes that Harald will attack our new shipyard and not Lang’s Dale.”
“I think he may be right. Have you found someone to watch the pass yet?”
“I have not had time.”
Kara and Aiden looked at each other. Kara spoke, “There are warriors who come to us with wounds and we heal them. Sometimes they are as good as they were before their wound. Aiden is skilled but occasionally their wounds mean that they can never stand in a shield wall. Karl One Leg is an example.”
“He is happy here.”
“There are others though who are not. They help Karl One Leg watch the walls but the memory of their past life means that they can never be happy here. If you gave them the task of guarding Lang’s Dale and farming there then they would be happy for that is a task which could save the clan and that is what they wish.”
“And you have warriors in mind?”
“There are six. Each has a family. There is Sven Einarsson, Kurt One Hand, Leif the Lame, Bergil Bergilsson, Alf Audunsson and Mungo Beer Belly. I will have Aiden speak with them. He meets with them to see how their wounds are healing. He does not need to for they are healed but they like to talk with him. They know he is close to you.”
“And what you are saying without using the words is that I should be speaking with these men too for they were wounded fighting for the clan.”
She smiled sweetly, “And you have understood. It is good. You are busy but perhaps this is something that would make all feel better. I will have Scanlan find them some sheep and cattle to start them off.”
And so I met with them and Aiden the next day. I felt humbled for they were desperate to serve the clan. They did not regard it as a punishment but as an honour. They all knew of the danger from the west and were grateful to be given the chance. I gave them not only sheep and cattle but also horses and weapons. Three days later, as I watched them leave I felt much safer. After they had gone I walked around my stad speaking with people I had not spoken to since before Wolf Killer had died. I had been preoccupied. I would have done so longer had not a rider from Ragnar galloped in. “Jarl Dragonheart, the knarr are returned.”
Aiden came with me. We both needed to be there for this news. The ride to the shipyard took longer than to Úlfarrston. However, the land had been cleared for a long way around the shipyard and we had a better view of it as we approached. There was now a mound and a palisade around the halls, huts, workshops and quays. Here the men of the shipyard could defend themselves. I saw Erik and Ragnar’s handiwork. It was well thought out and constructed. There was still work to do. There were no towers at the corners and the breakwaters still needed more stones but it looked better. The four drekar were all tied up to the quay and the two knarr had returned unscathed.
They had built just one gate and that faced the north. It was risky for if they were surrounded then they would be doomed unless help came. I would speak with Ragnar and Erik when I had heard what my two captains had discovered. They were all waiting in the hall. Even Bolli and Erik Short Toe joined us. They knew that this war could hurt them as much as anyone. Aiden and I sat.
“Have you told the others yet what you learned?”
Olaf Grimmson shook his head, “No Jarl Dragonheart. That would have been disrespectful.”
“Then tell me what you have learned.”
“King Merfyn had heard of the Saxons’ presence. He and his people had intercepted two Saxon ships ten days since and there was a sea battle. The Saxons lost a ship and the other fled. He had heard that King Egbert was raising an army. He had thought it was to attack him but after the meeting with the Saxon ships he believes that you are the target. He promised that his ships would patrol his waters.”
“Good. And you Siggi?”
“I have better news. Dyflin is now in the hands of the Hibernians.”
“The King of Munster?”
“He is a clever king, jarl. He has sent men from all over Hibernia to keep it safe. In the battle both sides lost many men. Only three drekar escaped and they were not fully crewed. They went to Man. The King of Munster has his ships watching for their return but he confesses that they are no match for Vikings.”
“So now we need to watch and wait.”
Gruffyd asked, “Could we not attack them?”
“We could but they have too many men. We caught them off guard three times. I cannot see us succeeding a fourth. You can continue to build your walls and I will bring men to make the beacons. Our people plant crops and trade. Those on Man can only get food by stealing and they are now being watched. When their bell
ies are empty and their Saxon allies complain of hunger then they will come. We will need to be ready.”
I said to Siggi, “Did you hear aught of Wighlek and Vibeke?”
All eyes turned to me. Siggi shook his head, “Should I have?”
“They were in Dyflin. It was they who paved the way for the attack. I had wondered why Jarl Gunnstein had been fooled by the two drekar and now I know. When we have beaten the enemy we will seek them again.”
Ragnar shook his head, “Grandfather, you wasted a year doing that. Let someone else punish them.”
“Do you not see Ragnar? I stopped too soon. I did not look everywhere. Had I continued my quest then the jarl might still be alive. It is my task.” I smiled, “First we beat our enemies when they come.” I turned to Aiden. “You have studied the walls of Miklagård and the writings of the Romans. Is there anything Ragnar and Erik Ironshirt could do to improve their defences?”
He nodded, “This is closer to the sea than Úlfarrston. You need to fight nature as well as enemies with swords. I would dig a ditch around each of the halls and have a bridge to the doors. That way you have a last line of defence. The ends of the breakwaters need defending. It would have to be a stone tower. It need not be high but with archers and fire arrows a few men could make life hard for ships trying to enter.”
I said, “And what about Whale Island?”
Erik Short Toe answered for me, “Jarl, I have sailed past it many times. It is under water more than it is above. It seems to have been put there by the gods to break the water. It makes an approach to the quay slow. No matter which direction the wind blows you will have to sail against it at some point. It is the only weakness I can see from the point of view of those who wish to trade but it is a good defence.”
“And one more thing. Wighlek and Vibeke are with Harald. I cannot think that they would have been left behind. They will be on Man. They may try to come here. Raibeart did not see them. They do not know that Erik Ironshirt knows of them. They will avoid Ragnar and Gruffyd. Be vigilant.”
Ragnar asked, “And if we see them?”
“You capture them. You chain them. You keep them apart! Then you send for me.” My voice sounded like a thunderclap.
Gruffyd looked up in terror, “I have never heard your voice like that.”
“My voice reflects my heart. They will not die well when I have them within my grasp.”
Aiden and I stayed another two days. I knew sword and shield; Aiden knew walls. His sharp eye spotted weaknesses. Improvements were suggested. I cast my eye over the warriors. The new members of Ragnar and Gruffyd’s band had brought their numbers up to twenty. Erik Ironshirt’s men brought the total of warriors up to fifty. The shipyard workers and their families added ten. Raibeart had another forty men just a few miles along the coast. I had to hope that ninety warriors could hold up an enemy long enough for us to reach them.
As we headed back to my home I saw that work had begun on the beacons and the sound of axes on wood told me that the timber was being cleared. It would not be wasted. Bolli had knarr and fishing boats to build to replace those lost in the last attack.
Aiden nodded approvingly, “If men are vigilant then a message could be sent in the time it takes to don a mail byrnie.”
“And that is the key word, Aiden, vigilant. The people who live here work. I think they will see the first beacon and they will light their own but I also think that Ragnar will need to send a rider to light one half way down too in case they are not as vigilant as they need to be.” We were just a mile or so from the end of the forest. “This is the most important area. Once we are out of the forest then we know that we can see to the end of the Water.”
Aiden mused, “Then we use the island as well. A beacon there would be easily seen for there is nothing between us.” He suddenly reined in his horse. “We are both fools, Jarl Dragonheart. Men may work with heads down but they have their ears.”
“Ears?”
“If Ragnar sounds a horn that will warn the people of danger. The beacon men would then light the beacons.” He stopped his horse. “Why I would bet that we could hear a horn here.”
It was not yet noon. “Then wait here and I will ride back and see if that is true.” I galloped hard down the road. Those who worked in the forest stared at me as I hurtled passed. When I reached the shipyard I slowed down. The men were all toiling and, to my amazement, Erika was serving beer to them. She was laughing and she was happy. What a change had been wrought. The sulky girl I had brought down had been replaced by a different person. It was almost as though the spirits had come in the night; she could be a changeling.
Ragnar and Erik stopped worked when they saw my sweating horse. “Is there danger Jarl Dragonheart?”
“No, Erik but Aiden and I have an idea. Ragnar fetch the horn you use in battle.” He hurried back to the hall and then returned with it. “Sound three blasts.”
He did so and everyone looked around.
Ragnar looked confused, “What is the point of that, Jarl Dragonheart?”
“It was a test.” I pointed to some long horned cattle which grazed close by. “When next you butcher an animal do not use the horn for tools. Keep one to make a mighty battle horn.”
“You could not carry it into battle, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“I know Erik but it could warn of danger!”
It was early afternoon when I reached Aiden. “Did you hear?”
He nodded, “Three blasts.”
“I have asked them to make a bigger one. It could well be that it might reach Torver.”
“Kolbjorn’s family?”
“They still farm around here. They could build a bigger beacon. We might even be able to see the beacon from our home. And that way we would know almost immediately if there was an attack. If we used horses and did not spare them, with the newly widened greenway we could reach our people quickly.”
Aiden waved a hand around the valley. “And now I see why this was chosen as our home. The Allfather has made this to protect us. The sound will be channelled down the valley. The light will be easily seen. This is wyrd , Jarl Dragonheart.”
“Aye, Aiden but we still have the Weird Sisters to contend with. I do not think they are done with us.”
Chapter 14
We normally feasted and celebrated at Einmánuður. My people worshipped Eostre and Brigid and those of the White Christ celebrated the death of their god. This year, however, it was a more muted celebration. I summoned my jarls. It was partly a feast and partly a means of telling them what we had done.
“We now have men watching Lang’s Dale. If our enemies come thence we will know. We no longer need your men watching there, Ulf.”
“Good. The men of Strathclyde still try to raid our lands for our cattle.” He grinned. “The ones who tried now have their heads adorning the river bank.”
“I know that it will take you, Ketil Windarsson and you Ulf Olafsson, a day to reach the new shipyard should we be attacked. That cannot be helped. You should know that I believe that we will be able to reach the new yard from here in the time it takes for bread to rise. If danger comes then I will take all of my warriors south. The last time I took the Ulfheonar first. It almost cost us dear. We have enough horses and ponies here to mount fifty men. If the beacons of Torver are lit then I will empty all of this town save the old and crippled warriors. My messengers will come for you and you should know that we will hold on until you reach us. You will either help us defeat our foe or see that our bones are not despoiled.”
Asbjorn had fought with me a long time, “Your son and grandson are in great danger where they now live, Jarl Dragonheart. Is that wise?”
“Wise? I do not know. They are both warriors and the sons of warriors. Through their veins flow the blood of Vikings, Saxons and those who lived in this land before the Romans came but in their chests beat Viking hearts. If it is their fate to fall there then that is wyrd . Would you have me keep them both safe while others die for me?”
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br /> “No, Jarl Dragonheart, but you have lost one son and one grandson already. We all saw how it tore the heart from you. We would not have the Dragonheart torn out too.”
“It will not. I have grown since then and I have visited the witch who killed Snorri and seen the Otherworld. My time is almost done. I have to believe that the Allfather would not take me, my son and my grandson. So long as one of us survives then that is good.” I drank some of the beer. When I laid down the horn I said, “There is one more thing. Wighlek and Vibeke live. They were part of the plot which saw the downfall of Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer.”
I saw Asbjorn’s eyes narrow. His home had been destroyed because of the two merchants who had taken him in. “And where are they now, Jarl Dragonheart?”
“In truth I do not know but I would guess on Man. Had we more men then I would invade Man and fight them beard to beard on that island but we do not. They have twice the number of warriors we do. There are two boat loads of Saxons who also fight for them. That is why we must let them strike the first blow. It is like a single combat between two warriors. We all know that sometimes it is better to take a blow on a well-made shield and then counter.”
Ulf Olafsson said, “And sometimes a quick strike can end a battle with one blow.”
“We tried that, Ulf, when we sailed to Man. If it had not been for the skill of Beorn and Aðils that would have ended in disaster. My new shipyard should be the right bait to bring Harald north.” I lowered my voice so that Brigid would not hear. “When my knarr captains traded with the men of Munster and Gwynedd they were questioned about my new shipyard. I trust the two kings but there will be others in their camps in the pay either of Harald or, more likely, Egbert. I am counting on that. They will think we are blind. We were but we are no longer. They will not find our new walls as easy to take.”
Aiden nodded, “And it is a clever ruse for an enemy would not think that the Jarl Dragonheart would risk his family. But we will watch for Wighlek and Vibeke.”