by Hosker,Griff
Mary burst free from Acca and Morag and threw her arms around me. "I thought you were dead!" She said huskily into my ear.
"It will take more than a half drunk reckless fool to kill me. Thank you for caring and thank you for rejecting the Count's offer."
She kissed me, "I will tell you more when they have all gone. I will go and prepare our meal. You will be hungry."
Jarl Siggi shouted for silence, "Let all men of the clan know that this was fair save for Ketil Eriksson's intervention. Hrolf the Horseman, do you wish Ketil Eriksson to be punished?"
I shook my head, "He was helping his brother and I forgive him. I am unhurt. Let us forget this."
The warriors, like Karl Swift Foot, who were in the Eriksson band, went to help their friends with bandages. Neither would be a complete warrior again. I saw pure hate from Hildegard and Seara, their wives. I had not made any friends there.
Jarl Siggi said, "We will return home now. Thank you for your hospitality, Hrolf the Horseman. This has been an unexpected result." He lowered his voice as he clasped my arm, "Perhaps this may curb the two cubs."
I shook my head, "I think not. I fear I have just created a division in the clan. I am sorry."
He shook his head. "You had to respond to the challenge and you handled yourself well. I would have killed him."
Rurik, Arne, Beorn, all of them clasped my arm as they left and all said something to show that they supported me. I did not enjoy the moment and I should have.
When all had gone those who were my warriors surrounded me, "Hrolf! Hrolf! Hrolf!"
"Thank you for your good wishes but I take no pleasure in this victory."
Einar said, "I am new to this clan but that is why I will follow you, Hrolf the Horsemen. The gods have touched you. I can see that and it is an honour to be one of your warriors."
Mary insisted that all stay to eat with us. It was a fine feast. I saw the young boys of Skutal and Sigurd admiring my sword. They would be warriors. I could see that. Eda and Cwen served the food. They both stopped on either side of me and kissed my cheek at the same time. Eda said, "We would have been sad if you had died."
Cwen said, "And our mistress did not tell us to say that, lord!"
It made me smile.
Later that night, as we cuddled together, Mary nestled into my neck. "Is that what you do when you fight?"
"Aye but I wear armour."
She sighed, "Then I am happy for you were never in any danger. You danced around that fool as though he was pinned to the ground. It is no wonder that you are so successful."
"One day I may meet someone who is better."
"Perhaps." I remembered her words after I had fought. "Before I fought you said you had news. What did you wish to tell me?"
She kissed me, "I am with child. You are to be a father!"
Chapter 12
My life changed in that instant. I had grown up without a father. Gilles had had his father taken from him too. We both knew how hard it was growing up like that. I now had a family to provide for. As I went about the business of the farm I found myself looking, increasingly critically, at our home. On the surface we wanted for nothing but I saw that our good life was a veneer. The island was small and land for farming was limited. We needed space to grow. I looked at the wives and children of my men. Skutal and Sigurd's wives were always bearing children and even Morag showed signs of being with child. I looked north, to the mainland. We had seen somewhere that we could make our own. The rude, crude huts by the haugr could be developed into a good home. The Franks had already done the hard work of making a citadel. It would not take much to make it defensible.
For all my ideas and plans, however, we would be restricted until we had a knarr. I needed my own drekar too. I would not be making a new home any time soon but that did not stop me planning. Jarl Siggi had planted the idea by giving me his blessing to leave. I had not done so. Now I might leave the clan. I had now made enemies at home. I kept my thoughts to myself. If I shared my dream it might evaporate like morning mist.
Ten days after the fight Sven and Harold brought the drekar into our bay. We had almost exhausted our supply of wood. We needed to hew timber and to let it season so that we could finish the knarr by harvest time. The Eriksson brothers were missing. I said nothing as we boarded the drekar. Jarl Siggi did not look his normal happy self. He was even paler than he had been when last he had visited. The plan was to row directly north. We had tried to avoid taking from our neighbours, the men of Vannes, but that had not stopped them from assembling a fleet to attack us. Jarl Siggi decided that we would sail due north and land just ten miles from An Orient. There were huge forests there and we would be able to hew trees and have a short journey home.
As we rowed I saw that our crew was smaller than normal. Rurik explained, "The Eriksson brothers cannot walk yet. When you hamstrung Knut you stopped him being a warrior. The two of them are now brewing ale in competition with Brigid. The ale is not as good but their supporters shun Brigid."
"Supporters?"
"A knarr, on the way to Olissipo called in and six warriors landed. They asked the Jarl if they could join the clan. They had weapons and were young. He allowed it. Those and some of the older crew, like Karl Swift Foot, welcomed them and they are a clan within a clan. They are the ones who are not here. They said that they did not hew trees. They were warriors. Words were said and they asked that Jarl Siggi either lead a raid or let another become jarl."
"So I have destroyed the clan."
Arne Four Toes had been listening, as had Ulf Big Nose. Arne said, "No, Hrolf, for Ketil and Knut were determined to try to defeat either you or Ulf. You were champions and by defeating you they could have a claim to be jarl."
"If they had tried me they would have more to worry about than a hamstrung leg and missing toes!" Ulf spat over the side.
Rurik said, "You were not there and Hrolf was."
"The Jarl is keen to build a knarr and then we can trade. He wants another drekar too."
"We barely have enough crew for this one!"
"He sees the rise of opposition. Siggi is a kind man. He is no Harald Black Teeth. He would be more like Jarl Dragonheart. He should make the Eriksson brothers outlaws. We should take them and their families to the mainland and abandon them there."
"But he will not."
"No and each day they infect more and more. The stad is divided down the middle. I thank the Allfather that Bagsecg Beornsson is there. They will not take him on."
"No wonder the jarl looks older. We have more treasure than any jarl save the Dragonheart and yet he looks unhappy."
"He needs a healer too. His slaves say he coughs much in the night. We have heard him."
Ulf shook his head, "We all grow old. My wound aches now when rain is coming and I cannot run as far as I did. You younger warriors will soon have to bear the burden we have carried."
"Burden?"
"Aye, Rurik, wisdom and experience. We pass it on to you. Neither Siggi nor I have children else we would have passed it on to them. It was our choice and no matter how much we might regret it there is little we can do about it now. You are our children."
It was a chilling thought. Not many years earlier I had been a lowly follower being cuffed by Ulf for doing things badly and now he was telling us that the clan's safety lay in our hands.
Sven took us into the small beach. Although we wore no mail we all had our weapons. While men hewed trees some of us would watch for enemies. Gilles knew the land for he had been a slave here and it was Ulf, Gilles, myself and Erik Long Hair who would scout out the land. As the others landed and prepared to chop down the tallest trees we headed into the forest. Ulf and I had our bows. If we saw game then we would hunt.
We had not travelled far, perhaps two thousand paces may be more, when we heard noises. It was the sound of axes on trees. Ulf and I had done this before we waved Erik and Gilles behind us as we readied an arrow and then made our way through the forest. The dark and gloomy t
ree filled vista became a little lighter and we hunkered down in the undergrowth to peer into the lightness. Ulf and I bellied forward. We stopped just at the edge of the clearing. There were men from An Orient. They were also cutting down trees. I saw that they had a huge pile of timber ready. I worked out that this was to rebuild the ships we had burned. There were six guards and six hewers of timber. They had four horses that they were using to haul the timber to a pile which was covered by an old sail.
Ulf and I had scouted together so many times that we knew each other's thoughts. If we went back for the rest of the clan then we could save ourselves some work. We looked at each other and backed out. We were able to do so silently but Erik Long Hair was not as silent and he broke a branch. The guards heard the noise and ran towards us.
Ulf stood, "We fight! Draw your weapons!"
He and I loosed an arrow each. The two Franks who were just twenty paces from us fell each with an arrow embedded in his chest. I had a second arrow ready in my hand and I struck a third Frank. Two had run to the side and I heard the clash of steel as they tried to get at Gilles and Erik. Gilles had improved but he was fighting a veteran. I drew back my arm and sent an arrow into the side of the warrior's head. Leaving Erik to finish off his man I said, "Gilles, get to the horses."
The tree fellers had their axes ready as we burst from the trees. I sent an arrow into the chest of the largest man. A second arrow whipped over my shoulder to take a second and the four who remained fled towards An Orient. Erik came over to us, "Sorry!"
"No matter. It was wyrd. Get to the Jarl and bring the men back here. We can take this timber and be gone before they are back from An Orient. Go!"
I turned to Gilles, "Attach the traces of the horses to the largest logs and when our men come have them take them to our drekar."
"Aye, lord." The men took one of the horses. "Three are better than none."
Ulf said, "We should get down the trail and make some traps to give us early warning. Pick up an axe. Come." Taking two of the axes the tree fellers had been using we ran down the greenway which led to An Orient. It was as wide as a cart but it was not Roman. There was no ditch at the side. A thousand paces from the clearing there were some saplings. With trunks as thick as my leg they were perfect. We began to chop them down. We felled them so that they lay across the greenway. The axes were sharp and we hewed six each. The greenway was blocked. They would be able to move them but it would take time. We then went into the forest on either side and hacked down the very thin trees the thickness of my arm. When they could not use the greenway they would try the forest. This would slow them down. Finally we used our seaxes to cut thorny brambles and wild roses. We laid them in the gaps we could find.
Satisfied Ulf nodded and said, "Come let us see how the Jarl fares."
Siggi had seized our opportunity. By the time we had returned the pile of logs was much smaller. He was there with Rurik and Arne Four Toes. "Two more trips will see this back at the drekar. It has been cut and split. The Franks have saved us much work."
"They will be here soon Jarl Siggi. You two come with us and we will wait deeper in the forest. The Franks will have but eight miles to cover and they will be on horses. The men who fled had one horse. I am guessing that they will be back here before we have taken all of the wood."
"So long as it is in the water, ready to be towed then it matters not. You will need to give us warning Ulf and Hrolf."
"We can do Jarl Siggi. We need to use surprise." Ulf nodded his agreement. "Arne you guard Ulf's back and Rurik mine. We will use these bows. I have twenty arrows. We should be able to discourage them."
Ulf growled, "And when I say fall back then move! I do not want your wife to be a widow Hrolf the Horseman!"
We settled down by the barricade of logs. We took opposite sides of the greenway and we waited. Gradually the silence that had been there when we arrived ended as birds and animals resumed their activity. We stayed as still as possible. Ulf and I found it easier than the other two. We had done this before. We were patient. I heard the sound of horses. They were in the distance. I glanced over to Ulf, thirty paces from me and he nodded. The four of us took shelter in the bushes and waited.
I had my bow half drawn and ready. Four arrows were in the earth by my feet. Rurik's sword and seax were drawn. I saw a flash of yellow and green as the Frank's horses pounded up to the barricade. One of them did not see it in time and as he pulled up his horse crashed into the branches throwing the rider into the middle of the tangle of trees. He screamed in pain.
"Find a way around!" The mailed leader with the green plume pointed his spear to the sides. I saw a pair of riders heading in our direction. I was forty paces from them and had a clear line of sight. They had no shields up and they were not mailed. My arrow hit one in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground. His companion turned to look for me and my second arrow hit him in the face.
There were shouts from the other side as Ulf did the same and the leader shouted, "Ambush!" I sent an arrow at the leader. He had just pulled up his shield and my arrow thudded into it. Ulf's arrow hit his horse which reared and threw him. There were shouts and cries from confused and wounded men as they sought their invisible foe. I peered into the forest. They had gone to ground and dismounted. They would now be creeping along to get us. That suited us for it bought more time for the Jarl to finish his work.
I saw a hand ahead of me as it tried to clear a path through the thorny bushes. It was a left hand and so I aimed a hand span to the left of it and loosed an arrow. I was rewarded by a cry and the hand disappeared. I watched as the plume rose and Ulf's arrow clanged into it. The helmet disappeared.
I heard the Frank shout, "Spread out. There are only two of them."
In spreading out and moving they exposed themselves. I loosed at any flesh I spied. I was not killing but I was wounding and that would slow them down. Suddenly there was the clash of steel to my left and Ulf shouted, "Run!"
I said, "Go Rurik and I will follow."
He nodded and ran. I was not being heroic by staying. They would hear us and know we were running. They would expose themselves. I had three arrows left. I used them well. Four men burst from cover thirty paces from me. I sent the three rapid arrows in their direction. Two fell and the other two took cover. I slipped my bow over my shoulders, turned and, drawing my sword, ran after Rurik. Our path was clear and we soon made the greenway. I saw the other three ahead of me. Ulf glanced behind him, "Go I am unhurt!"
I saw the forest lighten as we approached the clearing and then heard the sound of hooves behind me. Three of them had negotiated the barricade and were thundering towards me with lances eager for vengeance. I stepped from the greenway so that I had a tree behind me. I held my sword in two hands. An arrow flew down the greenway and stuck the leading warrior in the chest. One went left while the other came for me. I saw him raise his arm to stab down at me with his spear. Even in that moment I was able to judge it to be a mistake. An underarm blow would have been better. I jinked to my right and, as he adjusted his strike, I stepped to my left and swung my sword two handed. The spear caught the side of my helmet as my sword hacked into his leg. It was stopped only by the saddle but the blow was so hard that the horse jerked around. With just one leg in the stirap the rider was thrown from the saddle and his head crashed sickeningly into the tree.
"Run, Hrolf, run!"
I needed no further urging and I ran after my comrades. The clearing was empty and devoid of timber. We kept running. I could hear hooves behind us as more Franks negotiated the barricade. There was no greenway on this side of the forest. We were on hunters' trails. Horses could not move as fast. When I smelled the sea I knew we were close to safety. Jarl Siggi had half of the men fashioning a crude raft which Harold Fast Sailing had attached to the stern of the drekar. The other half of the clan had a shield wall ready. Gilles stood with the three horses.
As we panted to a stop Ulf said, "They will be on us soon!"
"Then we
face them here! Stand in the wall."
I shouted, "Gilles, bring the horses to me."
I went to the gorse bush which was close by and hacked off three branches. When Gilles arrived I took the traces of one and held them while I lifted the leather harness over its hindquarters. I put the gorse underneath it and then released the traces and the harness. When I slapped the gorse it took off and galloped towards the advancing Franks. I handed some gorse to Gilles. He did the same as I had. The two horses took off together. I quickly joined the shield wall. I heard a cry from the forest. The Franks had run into the wild horses.
"Jarl!"
"Back towards the sea. Do not show your backs to the Franks."
Eight horsemen burst out of the forest. They had spears and I saw that the plumed leader was with them. They charged towards us. Rolf Arneson had one of the woodmen's axes and he hurled it through the air. It spun end over end. Even as the Frank tried to move out of the way it embedded itself in his horse's neck. It fell into the path of a second. Erik Long Hair also had a woodman's axe and he stepped from the line and swung it two handed to smash into the skull of a second horse. I felt water beneath my feet. "Erik!" He nodded and ran back to join us.
Arrows were loosed from the drekar as the ship's boys threw ropes to help us clamber up the side.
"Lower the sail! Take to the oars!"
We watched as the Franks waved their impotent fists at us. It would not be a swift voyage home but it would be short and we would not be pursued. The Franks had done the work for us and we were joyful. We had had to spend less than half a day in the land of the Franks. We sang! Once again it was my song. I was proud to be in Raven Wing Clan among my brothers in arms.
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