by Hosker,Griff
Leaving just the ship's boys on board we returned to the land to collect that which we needed. We gathered kindling and pine resin. Once back on board half the crew rested while the other half watched. When I watched I took the opportunity of sharpening my seax. I would not take Heart of Ice with me but a seax was a better weapon for slitting throats. I wandered to the stern.
Sven the Helmsman asked, "Where are the ships anchored, Hrolf?"
"They are between the island and the mainland."
"Within the range of a bow?"
"Perhaps but the Franks do not have good bows. I think it too far. Besides you could tie up to the boat at the east. We would be protected."
I had thought Siggi was sleeping but he was not. Without opening his eyes he said, "We must board all of them at once. If not then they will cut their anchors and run."
"Then there will be a problem, Jarl."
He opened his eyes and sat up. "Why? What have you not told us?"
"We have told you all but eight are anchored in a line and the others further upstream."
Sven looked up at the pennant. "Then the gods may favour us. The wind is coming from the south. If you fire the eight and cut their cables then, with the tide and the wind they have a good chance of fouling the others. It will be easier than trying to block the channel. You will need to lower the sails."
"And how do we get off the ships?"
"You swim and we will pick you up."
Siggi nodded, "It is a risk but the risk to the clan is even greater if we do not destroy their ships. We can only use three men to a boat. That will leave the barest number to sail our drekar." He smiled, "This will be a challenge. If we succeed then I truly am meant to be jarl."
Sven the Helmsman smiled, "And if not then it will not matter for we will all be dead."
We rowed in silence. We did not have the sail lowered. We wanted to be as small a target as we could. I would be with Rurik One Ear and Arne Four Toes. We had been given the ship which was closest to the citadel. We would have the greatest chance of surprise but, equally, the furthest to swim if we did succeed. That was why we were chosen. We were the best swimmers. We took off our boots and clothes save for a pair of short breeks. We could swim back naked if necessary.
As we headed into the dark of the east Sven nodded and pointed to the cloudy sky, "The Gods favour our venture."
We rowed slowly, without a chant. It was hard until we turned to enter the harbour. There was no shout of alarm from the watch tower but by the time we swept into the bay then it was too late. With the wind behind we barely had to row. Sven took us directly towards the citadel. We would be the first to board and so we stood and collected our burning pot. Rurik carried it by a rope which ran around its rim. Arne had the grappling hook and I had the seax. Until we boarded that would be the only weapon. I would have to be swift. I could see now that there were three larger ships moored upstream of us.
We could not avoid being seen when we loomed out of the dark just thirty paces from the end two ships but they hesitated for they could not see the dragon prow. We looked like any other long low ship. Suddenly the alarm was given and we heard shouts. Sven put the steerboard over as he shouted, "Steerboard oars in!"
We swung around the end two ships. The wind was against and our turn stopped us as though we had run into a stone wall. I held the shroud with my left hand and stood on the topmost strake. Arne, holding the kindling, threw the grappling hook but I had already leapt into the dark even as he threw it. I landed lightly on my feet and ran towards the two men of the watch who had woken. They raced to me with swords drawn. I saw that they were the curved swords they liked further south. Pausing only to grab a looped rope I did the unexpected and ran towards them. I hurled the coiled rope as I did what the Hibernian champion had tried with Ulf Big Nose. I rolled beneath their flailing swords. The rope hit one and I drove the seax deep into the inside of the thigh of the second. Blood gushed from the fatal wound. I stood and, as the second man tried to throw the coils of rope from him, slashed my seax across his stomach. It was razor sharp and he watched his entrails race from his body like a sack of worms.
Leaving Arne to deal with any other crew I picked up one of the swords and ran to the anchor. I hacked through it in one blow and then ran to the steering board. I pushed it hard over. Rurik had placed the pot at the foot of the mast and he scurried up to lower the sail. I heard a cry as Arne despatched one of the sentries. I turned and saw a fourth, a young ship's boy. He looked at me and then leapt into the harbour. An uncertain watery future was better than three fierce Vikings. Arne laid the kindling around the base of the mast. He then grabbed as much wood as he could and piled it on top. As I watched I saw that two other ships were under our control and 'Raven's Wing' was now facing the sea and waiting for the fire starters to join her.
Arne shouted, "Come on Rurik before those three ships upstream escape!"
"I am doing my best!"
I shouted, "Don't bother untying the ropes! Cut them!"
As soon as Rurik slashed the ties holding the sail it dropped and the wind caught it. Already moving in the right direction we now moved with the wind coming from our steerboard quarter. Rurik slid down the shrouds and joined Arne. Arne looked over, "Ready whenever you are, Hrolf."
"The ships are beginning to move. You light the fire and I will take us closer. There is little point in coming this far and letting them escape."
They nodded and waited. I could see that seven of the ships were in our hands and the second and third were already on fire and heading upstream after us. The watches on the three ships further upstream had seen our intention and were cutting their cables in an attempt to escape. They were heading upstream to safety and I knew that they would escape the fires of the last couple of ships. I had to stay on longer.
"Hrolf!"
"You just jump! I can swim to the shore. Tell Sven to pick me up below the watch tower."
They set the fire going and then ran to me, "And what if he cannot pick you up?"
I shrugged, "Then it is wyrd. You will watch over my family?"
They nodded but Rurik said, "You were not destined to drown, Hrolf the Horseman! We will see you on the drekar!"
They stood on the stern rail and then leapt into the water. They had, perhaps, four hundred paces to swim. They would make it. As the flames leapt up the mast they seemed to make us travel even faster. When the fire burned through the sheets and the shrouds I knew that the mast would not last long. It was hard to see the three ships ahead and I had to trust that I was going in the right direction. I saw one heading for the far bank. When its mast suddenly shivered I knew what had happened; it had run aground. That one could not escape. The smoke and the flames were making life uncomfortable for me. The dried wood of the deck around the mast was already on fire. I would have to time this so that I did not perish. Looking aft I saw that the other ships were echeloned behind me. Without helmsmen, however, their course was in the lap of the gods. Only my ship would strike where I chose and for that reason I had to get it right.
Suddenly the flaming mast, weakened by the fire at the base and with the weight of the sails unsupported, crashed forward. The stern bounced up a little and we were now bow heavy. It did, however, afford me a view of the river ahead. The two ships which had not run aground had fouled each other. They were just forty paces from me. The burning mast had now set fire to the bow and the raised stern acted as a sail. The wind raced us along. As the fire spread towards me I realised that I had used up all of my luck. Putting my seax in my teeth I jumped into the water.
As I came up I looked around to make sure I was swimming in the right direction. Already two of the burning ships had struck the grounded one and it was afire but the rest had begun to settle in the water. If my fire ship did not strike then the Franks would still have two ships to use. I doubted that would be enough. I swam on my back to enable me to watch the voyage of my doomed ship. There was no hurry and I had further to swim than the othe
r fire starters. I saw the two ships spring apart as the ropes which had fouled were severed. Someone had been careless for the mast of one fell astern. It may have been the work of the Norns for my fire ship settled over the fallen mast and flames ran like rats towards one of the Frankish ships. When I saw men hurling themselves overboard I knew that we had succeeded. They had but one ship left. I turned on my front and began to stroke towards the shore
My way was lighted by the three burning ships which were on the bank. They would be lifted at high tide but for now they were a beacon. The water grew colder as I swam. The tide which had begun to turn when we attacked now rushed and I had to fight it to reach the other shore. It took me longer that I thought. The fires from the ships began to die. I could still see, in the harbour mouth, 'Raven's Wing'. As I crawled ashore I realised that I had landed in a swampy part of the coast. It explained why there were neither houses nor fishing boats. I lay there like a beached whale trying to get my breath back. Taking the seax from my mouth helped.
The Norns were watching over me. I heard the two Franks as they approached. They were not heading towards me but the burned out boats. I turned my head as slowly as I could. They were two hundred paces from me and would pass me by at least sixty paces. The muddy, swampy land could not be crossed easily. I saw that they had come from the watch tower. I had to get to the headland below it. I began to back slowly towards the water. I kept my eye on the two men but they were busy looking at the burning ships. I caught occasional words but nothing which made sense. When my foot touched the water I pushed with my hands and the rising water lifted my legs and I floated. I pushed myself backwards and then used my hands to walk myself against the tide and down towards the tower. I needed somewhere on land I could walk. I kept my seax in my right hand. I had a feeling that I might need it. I saw that there was a beach inland of the tower. I headed for it. Once on the sand I risked rising.
When I looked in the harbour there was no sign of the drekar. Either she waited beyond the harbour entrance or I had been abandoned. I put that chilling thought from my mind and headed along the beach. I began shivering as I did so. I suppose it was inevitable but it did not help me. I was convinced that my chattering teeth would be heard by the men in the tower. The closer I came to the tower the more I realised that it was an imposing structure. It was at least ten paces high and looked to be as big as my hall. I wondered how many men it could hold. It had been built perilously close to the rocks which marked the edge of the beach and the headland. I had to step on to the rocks to negotiate it.
I was half way along when the spear was hurled at me. Ulf Big Nose had begun to train my senses and when I felt something from my left I instinctively pulled back. The spear scored a line across my chest as it passed before me. Had I not moved back then it would have struck me in my neck! I picked it up and held my seax in my left hand. I heard the shouts from inside the tower. I moved as quickly as I dared along the slippery, seaweed covered rocks. I was just happy that the Franks did not use a bow. Had they done so then I would have been dead by now! I saw a light as they opened a door in the tower and three warriors came towards me. One had a spear while the other two had swords. None had mail. The worst thing I could do would be to panic and I kept moving steadily. They made the mistake of rushing and one of them slipped. I heard a sickening crunch as his leg jammed between two rocks and was broken.
The two who were left were coming at me obliquely and would reach me before I could reach the headland. There was a large rock ahead of me and it obscured my view of the sea. I turned to face my two opponents. One had a spear and one a sword. I braced myself to wait for them. They split up and that decided me. I bounded across the rocks and pulled back my right arm. I hurled the spear at the swordsman and hit him in the middle. The force of it knocked him over but it was a mortal wound. Changing my seax to my right hand I grabbed the spear of the last Frank just behind the head. As he tried to move his feet he slipped and pulled me down on top of him. I plunged the dagger up under his ribcage and into his heart.
More men came from the tower and I turned. I hurried towards the rock. The rising tide meant that I could no longer walk around the headland and so I threw myself into the sea and began to swim. If the drekar had gone then I would swim back to my home. There were bigger waves here beyond the protection of the land and I could not see too far ahead as waves and rollers crashed down on me. I thought, briefly, of turning around but that way led to death. At least this way I had a chance. I turned on my back and crabbed. It was easier that way although I could not see where I was going. I felt my breeks, now sodden, begin to pull me down and so I shed them. I found the going much easier. I caught sight of a lightening sky to the east. It would not be dawn for some time but that gave me hope. I would be able to see where I was going.
Then I heard a voice. It was Ulf Big Nose. "Unless you intend to swim all the way home do you want to grab this rope?"
I turned on my front and reached for the rope. The drekar was just ten paces from me. I was hauled aboard. I had survived. As I flopped like a fish on the deck they began to sing as they rowed me back across the bay to my home.
The horseman came through darkest night
He rode towards the dawning light
With fiery steed and thrusting spear
Hrolf the Horseman brought great fear
Slaughtering all he breached their line
Of warriors slain there were nine
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
With mighty axe Black Teeth stood
Angry and filled with hot blood
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
Ice cold Hrolf with Heart of Ice
Swung his arm and made it slice
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
In two strokes the Jarl was felled
Hrolf's sword nobly held
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
Chapter 4
It took some days for me to totally recover. The rocks had badly cut my feet. I used the excuse to ride Dream Strider as much as possible. Although Mary was pleased to see me return and still alive she had heard of my exploits thanks to Rurik One Ear and Arne Four Toes. She did not see it as heroic but foolhardy and reckless. I tried to tell her that was who I was. She did not understand for she had not been brought up as a Norse woman. As my feet began to heal I supervised the completion of my defences. I had not had time to fill the ditch with water and I did so now. Skutal and Sigurd's sons fetched sea water in barrels on the backs of my ponies. They thought it a great game. I knew that the ground would dry but we had enough rain on the island for it to fill up again soon. The ditch also had the advantage of making the hall and the land around it drier when it did rain.
On the way back Siggi White Hair had asked me if I would visit the clan's home more. I had promised him I would try to do so. When I felt ready I broached the subject with Mary. Since my return things had been a little awkward between us. Neither of us had mentioned the kiss. On reflection that was a mistake. Ulf Big Nose had always told me to face problems and not to hide away from them. I was hiding. The subject of a visit to the clan seemed an easier and more predictable choice.
"I will be travelling to the village of the clan tomorrow. Would you like to come?"
She nodded, "I would. You have faced your enemies and I must face mine. They cannot hurt me."
"And you should not have to suffer their tongues either. You have a place here. Since Seara went to the Otherworld you are the one who sews the finest garments. They will soon learn your value."
And so we rode, the three of us, to the village. The story of my exploits had been told in the village for as we entered I was surrounded. The warriors had always held me in esteem and since the younger ones who wished t
o fight me had gone I was, once more accorded a position of honour. The exceptions were the ones who supported the Eriksson brothers. I noticed, sadly, that now included Karl Swift Foot and Gunnar Gunnarson. Brigid and the other women also crowded around me too. I think that was one reason they resented Mary. They were jealous.
"Go! Back to your work! I would have words with the hersir!" Siggi White Hair had assumed the mantle of Jarl well. The women were all shooed away by their men folk and Siggi took me into the hall. It was a fine hall. Jarl Gunnar had tried to make it a palace for his wife. Siggi almost rattled around in it but he seemed happy enough.
He still had the Jarl's servants and slaves, "Beer, cheese and bread!" They scurried off. "We have not had time to talk since the raid."
I shook my head. "It seems like a long time ago now."
"You had no need to take such a risk. It was brave and we appreciate it but it was unnecessary."
"If I had not done so then there would have been two ships left to our enemies. They still might have come."
He shook his head, "No they would not. We had damaged enough of their ships to stop them. They still might come but it will take some time to rebuild. Do not have the death wish upon you, Hrolf."
His servants brought in the food and beer. "I do not. I have much to live for and, in truth, I never think I am close to death."
"Ashore, alone, half naked with a knife and fighting armed men is close to death, my young friend. Believe me."
"Then I will be more cautious next time."
He laughed, "No you will not but so long as you think a little more this old man will be happier. You and Ulf Big Nose are the only two who can advise me. You are young but you have a head on your shoulders. Ulf is wise and my oldest brother in arms but he is like a bear now and prefers his own company. If I am to be Jarl I need your help."
"And you shall have it." I toasted him with my horn of ale. "And what would you have of me?"