by Hosker,Griff
As we headed back, in the late afternoon, Gilles said, "We will soon be a little crowded on our side of the island hersir. What about the horses? They need room. When they foal they need quiet."
The thought had crossed my mind too, "I know but there is nothing we can do about it."
"We could build an enclosure further away from the huts. Perhaps we could build it behind the house of Einar Asbjornson. The grazing is good there and will not affect his animals." Gilles was now able to think things through. He was no longer the slave. He was his own man.
"Good. We will do that."
Mary was remarkably philosophical about the new neighbours at the shipyard. The ones who were coming were not the ones she had fled. Sven's wife was a quiet mouse of a woman. The Gods had determined that she could not have children and so she just kept home for Sven. Her sister, Harold Fast Sailing's wife, was the opposite and she had four small children. She was too busy to be a gossip.
With all the men we now had it took just three days to help them build their hall. We were lucky we had slaves to help us but it was far bigger than the ones we had built before. I realised that the store of timber would soon be gone and we would need to replace it from the mainland.
When I mentioned this Sven nodded, "Aye, I know. As soon as the ship from Frankia has brought the ransom I will ask the Jarl to let us take wood from the mainland."
Harold said, gloomily, "If they come."
"I think they will. Mary said that King Louis himself founded the monastery."
"Then I hope you are right."
After we had finished and I walked back to my hall I realised that we would have more people to protect if danger came. As I crossed the bridge I saw that if we deepened and widened the ditch as the Saxons had then we would be safer. That would require slaves. We had just the two girls. That had been enough. Now it was not. Before winter came I would need slaves and we would have to make my hall a haven.
When Sven and Harold sailed the drekar into our bay then our world changed forever. Now we would use my bay as the main point of departure. When the clan went to raid we would have many people waving goodbye. I knew that Mary had not thought of that. I would not mention it. She had been happy of late and I did not wish to spoil the mood.
Sven had enough wood to begin the keel. It would not have been enough for a drekar but a knarr was much shorter. He and Harold would take their time. So long as it was ready for the harvest time it did not matter. We would sail her to Ċiriċeburh and collect the tribute. Already Sigurd and Skutal had shown an interest in being her crew. As soon as their sons were old enough they would take over as fishermen.
Chapter 11
Sigurd and Skutal had been at sea and it was they who raced into the bay with the news that a Frankish ship approached. "Gilles, ride to the stad and take a mare with you. Bring back the Jarl."
"Aye lord," I noticed, as he rode away on Night Star that Gilles was almost fully grown. His exercises and sword practice with Einar and Erik had made him broader. He would soon be able to fight in the shield wall. Mary disappeared along with the two slaves. Before she left she flashed me a look of irritation. I wondered what I had done wrong this time. Sometimes I thought I needed a galdramenn to understand my wife. At least that way I might know her thoughts!
I strapped on my sword. It was just one ship and I did not think it brought danger but it did not do to be careless. I walked down to the jetty. Skutal and Sigurd shooed their families up to the headland. "Go and see if you can see the ship better from yonder!"
"But father..."
"Just do it!"
They went, reluctantly. I noticed that Sigurd and Skutal had strapped on their swords too. I watched the ship as it tacked back and forth against the prevailing wind. I wondered if they would anchor or tie up to the quay. Their captain decided on the latter. I suspect it was the fact that there were just two of us although I saw Einar and Erik making their way to join me along with Harold Fast Sailing and Sven the Helmsman who had both left their yard. We had a reception committee of sorts.
I noticed that the ship had a healthy complement of warriors. All wore mail. Along the side were shields with red and white stripes. They were obviously the bodyguard of a lord. Sven and Harold were seamen and they caught the lines that were thrown and tied the tubby vessel to our quay.
I waited and eventually four warriors stepped from the vessel. They had shields but their swords were not drawn. The formed a guard of honour for the noble who stepped from the ship. He was not a big warrior but he had fine mail and a red and white plume on his helmet. It would mark him out in battle.
I stepped forward, "I am Hrolf the Horseman, hersir of this place."
I did not bow. I was a Viking and we bowed to no man, not even a king. I did not think this was the king. By his reputation Louis the Fat was a bigger man.
I saw him considering if he ought to speak with me. Then he said, "I am Hugh, Count of Tours and the representative of King Louis, the Holy Roman Emperor."
If he thought to impress me he was wrong. "I am the one who speaks your language. I will be the one with whom you will negotiate."
"Negotiate? We were told to bring a chest of coins."
"And that chest will determine how many of your priests you take back with you. If it is enough you have them all. I hope your king was generous. We have grown used to the monks. They make good slaves."
"Slaves? You have been working them?"
"Of course. We had to feed them and nothing is free."
I was deliberately provoking him. If I was to have a home on the mainland then I needed lords such as Hugh of Tours to fear me. Aquitaine was to the south of where I wished to live but the fact that he had been sent showed that he had influence in this land.
We turned as we heard hooves slithering down the shingle slope. It was Gilles. He leapt from his horse. "Lord, the Jarl comes."
"How long?"
"They are walking."
I turned to the Frank, "Your priests are on their way. We can wait by my home if you wish. We have beer."
"Beer? Do I look like a peasant?"
I did not say what he looked like. I shrugged, "There is shade from the sun there but it is your choice. You can wait here if you wish. We are thirsty and we will ascend. Your monks are walking and it is five Roman miles. They may be some time."
I led my men as we walked back up the hill. Mary had put on her finest clothes. She looked at me with surprise when we reached her. "Why have you left the Franks at the shore?"
"I invited them up but they declined. Apparently Hugo of Tours does not drink beer."
"Oh Hrolf! You are so pig headed."
"I was not going to force him to come. When it gets hot enough he will come, or not. I am not concerned either way." I waved my men to me, "Come we will have some ale at any rate!"
I had just poured a horn when Gilles said, "Lord the Franks are coming. They are bringing the chest." I saw that there were ten men with Hugo of Tours and they were walking up the shingle slope.
I avoided giving a smug smile to Mary. There was little point in pushing my luck. I said, "Gilles, get Eda and Cwen to fetch eleven beakers for our guests. I suspect they will not use horns."
"Aye lord."
The chest looked large enough but I suppose it depended upon the coinage within. Mary curtsied when Hugo of Tours approached. "My lord, welcome to my home. I am sorry we only have beer but it is made of the finest ingredients."
He looked surprised, "You are of our people!"
"I am called Mary. I was daughter of Lothair of Rheims. We lived in St. Nazarius. The Vikings took me."
"You are a slave?"
"I was but now I am the wife of the hersir."
He spoke quietly although it must have been obvious that I could overhear all that they said, "I can buy you back from this barbarian."
She flushed and said, "Thank you lord but I am happy with him. Perhaps I can make him more civilised."
They both
looked at me. I saw that Hugo of Tours did not agree with my wife. When they tasted the beer I saw that the warriors quaffed it without a second thought. Hugo of Tours sniffed it and sipped it. His face became as sour as the taste in his mouth.
I was about to say something when Mary said, "My lord you sip wine but you drink deeply from beer. It tastes better."
He handed her back the half drunk beer. "I am not thirsty." Turning to me he said, "How long will they be?"
"I told you they have five miles to walk. They will get here soon enough. I think they tire of working with their hands!"
Nipper began to bark. It was a sure sign of visitors.
"They come. Soon we will see how many of your priests you take home."
Jarl Siggi, looking as dignified as he could, sat astride Gerðr. She was a placid horse and not as big as Dream Strider. The monks marched behind and then our warriors, all armed, followed. When the white haired leader of the monks saw Hugo of Tours he dropped to his knees to give thanks. Ketil hit him on the side of the head and, picking him up unceremoniously, pushed him towards us.
"I thought you said you had treated them well."
"If you want them to sail before the tide turns then they have no time for prayers!" I was, however, annoyed with Ketil. It had been an unnecessary act. I would speak with him later.
Gilles held Gerðr's reins as Jarl Siggi dismounted. He approached us, "This is Jarl Siggi White Hair of the Raven Wing Clan." I changed to Norse, "This is Hugo Count of Tours."
Siggi said, "Have you seen the coin yet?"
"I waited for you."
"Ask him to open it."
"The Jarl would like to see how much you value the monks."
Nodding to one of his men the Count stood back. The warrior opened the chest and it was filled with coins. Siggi went to it and put his hand deep within it. He pulled up a handful. The ones on the top were gold and silver coins. The ones at the bottom were copper. Siggi deliberately let the copper coins slip through his fingers. They landed on the shingle path and some rolled down the hill.
"Tell him this buys half of the monks."
I spoke loud enough for the monks to hear, "The Jarl says this is not enough. There is copper here. We can get more coins selling them in Dyflin. You can have half of them. The rest will be sold." We had no intention of selling them. It was a long and unnecessary voyage but they would not have then cheaply.
The monks dropped to their knees and all began to pray once more.
"No! This is a great deal of money." The Count obviously took us for fools who did not know the value of a priest.
I shook my head, "It is not. You have seeded the copper coins with a few gold and silver. You think we are barbarians and that we are stupid. We are not. If you wish me to count out the money before you then I will do so and I will then tell you the value of a Frankish priest in the markets of Dyflin, or the kingdom of Cordoba!"
The last barb struck home. The Caliphate of Cordoba had made forays into Aquitaine. The Count shook his head, "No! That will not be necessary. Philippe, fetch the second chest."
The warrior ran down the slope. It was a mistake for it was slippery underfoot and he fell. Our men cheered and jeered. The Count coloured.
Mary said, to ease the tension. "Would you like some bread and cheese? Both are fresh?"
I think he agreed just to regain dignity. However when he ate I saw his eyes widen. We made good bread and our cheese was the best I had ever eaten. It brought a smile to his face. "You should come back to civilisation with us. We can offer you a better life than this."
I turned. I had had enough of this, "Mary, daughter of Lothair, if you wish to return to the mainland with this man then do so. I give you permission." I spoke in Frankish. Gilles understood and he looked ashen. I did not want the others to hear it they might be offended.
She took a breath and then held my hand, "No I will stay here with this man. He is a good man and I believe there is hope for him."
I smiled my thanks. The Count rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. The warrior returned, huffing and puffing. He had a much smaller chest. The first one had been the length of a sword and the width of an arrow. This one was as long as a seax and half the width. The Count opened it and poured the golden contents on to the other chest. "Enough?"
I looked at Siggi and cocked my head to one side. Siggi nodded, "He can have all of the priests."
I turned and smiled, "They are yours to take!"
We escorted the Franks to their ship which they loaded quickly for the tide was receding. The Count said, before he left, "I have learned much in this visit. I will remember your name, Hrolf the Horseman."
"Good for I will not hide from you, Frank! I am a Viking and I fear no man!"
We walked back up the hill. All of the men from the clan were there save for Ulf Big Nose and so the Jarl began to divide the coins. We brought out my table to enable us to do so. The Jarl's share was the largest and he filled the small chest with his share. The next largest were mine, Ulf's Sven's and Harold Fast Sailing. The rest was divided equally. Gilles' eyes widened when he saw his share. Our warriors all had leather pouches and satchels and they filled them.
They were about to leave when I said, "Ketil Einarsson, there was no need to hurt the priest. His prayers could not hurt us and it almost meant we had no trade."
He squared up to me. "Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?"
I spoke quietly, "I am hersir and I decide what happens on my land."
"Your land? It is the clan's land!"
"I will not argue with you. You are in the wrong. You know it as does every warrior here."
Knut One Eye leapt forward, "I am a warrior! I am here and I say my brother is not wrong."
"I am sorry, I meant every warrior who has more sense than a flea!"
"You insult me. I will have satisfaction."
Jarl Siggi stepped between us. "The hersir is right and your brother was wrong."
Knut ignored the Jarl's words, "I have been insulted. Go get your helmet and we will fight here!"
I saw Mary start but Rurik restrained her. "Gilles fetch my helmet and shield."
"Do not forget his mail."
"No, Arne Four Toes, I do not need mail to defeat a one eyed wild man who has yet to grow up!"
I had insulted him. He wore mail and carried his war axe. He was flushed and I knew that he and his brother had been drinking.
Jarl Siggi said, "This is a serious thing, Knut One Eye. Are you certain you wish to do this?"
"I am certain! This cockerel has been getting above himself ever since Jarl Gunnar gave him the title. He and his high and mighty Frankish bitch think they are better than we are. He will learn the error of his ways."
Until then I was just going to teach him a lesson but he had insulted Mary. I donned my helmet. Soon I would have a new one. This one would do. I hefted my shield as the warriors formed a circle around us. The rules were clear. If you stepped from the circle then you forfeited. There was little room for manoeuvre. After touching my horse amulet and asking for the help of the gods I took out Heart of Ice.
Knut swung his axe easily from side to side. He was bigger than I was. I looked in his eyes and saw his plan. He intended to kill me. Honour only demanded disarmament, or first blood but I could see in his eye that he would kill me or maim me. This was more than avenging an insult. The two of them had been looking for the opportunity and I had given it to them.
I saw that Acca and Morag were on either side of Mary. Our two young slaves were looking intrigued by what was about to happen. It would come as a surprise to them.
Knit made his intention clear as he lurched at me swinging his axe in a figure of eight. It stopped any attack I might make. I moved my feet quickly and sidestepped out of the way. His brother took it as a sign of weakness and he cheered. I would weaken Knut. I had no mail and I was fast. I twirled my sword in my hand. I did it to annoy him. It did. He suddenly swung sideways as he tried
to catch me unawares.
I stepped out of the way and he cried out, "You are a girl! Stand and fight! Horse lover!"
I laughed for it was intended to insult me, "Do you have a problem seeing me Knut One Eye? Then keep your good eye on me for I will be as quicksilver!"
As he swung an overhand blow to my head I whipped my body around in a full circle and brought the flat of my sword into the middle of his back. I did not want to blunt my blade. I saw links sheared. It was a powerful blow and I heard his grunt of pain. Before he could react I swung in the opposite direction. His guard was down and my sword sliced across his middle. His baldric was sliced in two and I saw that I had torn some of his mail links.
He roared like some wild beast and raised his axe again. He held his shield before him I sliced my sword across his thigh as I spun away from the misdirected blow which embedded itself in the earth. I saw blood on my sword. He was wounded. The drink had dulled his senses and he felt it not. I stepped back. Ketil Eriksson was just behind me and he stuck out a foot. I tumbled to the ground. Knut saw his chance and roared in joy. I heard Mary scream. I watched the axe come towards me. Had I worn mail I am not sure I would have survived but I managed to roll out of the way. Instead of my flesh Knut's axe hacked into his brother's foot. I saw bright blood spurt.
I stood and said, "Your brother is hurt. End this now!"
He shouted, "This ends when you die!"
He was furious now. He saw the blood on his axe and knew that it was his brother's. As he roared into me I used the trick I had seen the Hibernian champion do to Ulf Big Nose. I tucked myself into a ball as I rolled beneath his wide swing. Unencumbered by mail I sprang to my feet and slashed backwards with my sword. Heart of Ice bit into the back of his leg and severed the tendons behind his knee. His leg would not support him and he dropped to his knee. I stepped behind him and smashed my shield into the back of his head. He tumbled to the ground, unconscious.
There was a brief moment of silence and then Rurik and the majority of the clan all cheered. I had won. I said, "They need healers, "They are both fools but they have courage!"