‘We shall break out of the town tonight,’ said Cuaran. ‘There’s not much time but if we do this right we shall all live to fight another day.’
I thought him unduly optimistic on that point but when he and Wulfstan explained their plan I saw that it was possible – just – for at least some of us to escape. When he’d finished talking, Wulfstan craned his neck and looked around. I shrank back but not quickly enough. He spotted me and waved me to him.
‘Ah, Sigrid Kveldulfsdaughter, I thought you’d be here. Good, it saves me having to send for you. We decided you were the best person to be in charge of the safety of the young maiden, Wulfrun. She must leave the city with us. Much depends on her remaining in our care.’
***
Our wounded were left with the monks and nuns in the religious house. Before collecting Wulfrun I found Kveldulf and took him to Brother Ansgar. He was delighted that Kveldulf remembered him from his time in Buttermere and assured me he would keep my son safe. Kveldulf was less sure.
‘But the horses,’ he said, ‘I’m in charge of keeping them safe.’
‘We won’t need the horses.’ I didn’t tell him that our horses were no longer ours but in the possession of Edmund and his soldiers. I also didn’t tell him that I could only hope that our servants and thralls had been able to escape from the camp with their lives. I tried to make a show of confidence as I kissed him goodbye. He accepted my embrace but insisted on a warrior’s handshake as well.
***
The Abbess looked torn between relief to get Wulfrun off her hands and horror that it was I who would take over. I wasn’t exactly delighted at the idea either. Wulfrun was brought. She looked me up and down. My padded jerkin still bore traces of dried blood and more than just traces of mud. I knew my hair was filthy and had swept it up under my helmet but here of course I had to remove that and the effect made Wulfrun wrinkle her nose. Her gaze lingered on Dragonclaw. Then at last she looked me in the eye.
‘I’m told you’re the granddaughter of King Harald Finehair. I, too, have royal ancestors. Do you always dress like this?’ She was so serious I had to smile.
‘No, Wulfrun, only when I’m fighting.’
The girl turned to the Abbess.
‘Should she address me as “Lady”?’ The Abbess looked like she was about to slap the girl but before she could say anything, Wulfrun continued. ‘I suppose she is almost a princess, so that means she’s my equal even if she doesn’t look it. What do you wear when you’re not fighting?’ I managed not to laugh.
‘Wulfrun, I think we should leave. I need to explain to you what will happen.’
‘Oh, yes. Abbess Ægwyth, will you be so kind and send for my luggage.’ The Abbess looked at me and I shook my head.
‘Archbishop Wulfstan has decided you have to send for that later. For now, all you need is your cloak and your riding boots. Do you know how to ride a horse, Wulfrun?’
‘Of course I do.’ But she neither sounded nor looked convincing.
***
Cuaran’s plan was daring. There were few places we could break out of the town. On three sides were fields and meadows. Leaving that way would be easy but without our horses we’d not get far. To the west, on the other side of the river, our camp had been taken over by Edmund’s army. Their camp separated us from our horses. The West Gate had a bridge across the river but beyond that, the marshy ground was cut through with streams and ditches. It was treacherous ground which we would have to negotiate in the dark. Then there was the enemy camp, full of soldiers. At night, such a venture seemed impossible. So that was the way Cuaran had decided we should break out.
I explained to little Wulfrun that she would need to run with me and Ylva Flamehair to the horses and then ride to the other side of King Edmund’s camp. She seemed to find this exciting and, as she clung to my hand, had all manner of questions: did I have a tent; was it cold; how would we get past the soldiers; and did I have a nice small horse for her? I answered as truthfully as I could and kept reminding her to whisper. I had some difficulty explaining how it could be that her kinsman, King Edmund was not on our side and that this wasn’t a game.
On the other side of the river, fires flickered among the dark shapes of our tents. Only a few of our enemies were still celebrating, most of them slept after their long march and the battle they had won. Edmund had only set a handful of guards. He must have thought us defeated and now he waited for morning, when he’d either force a new battle or settle down to starve us out. The town walls were in poor repair in some places, especially along the river. There was nowhere to ford, the only way to cross the river was the bridge. A couple of Edmund’s warriors paced up and down before it. They were just out of range of our archers and must have felt themselves quite safe.
***
The best swimmers were from the Cumbrian Norse. Eysten Mordson and Orm opted to join Ragnar. They slid into the river, their pale bodies outlined against the dark current.
‘Ohh, cold,’ groaned Varg. ‘Glad it’s not me.’
‘Shush,’ said Wulfrun,’ they’ll hear you.’ Moments later two splashes marked the demise of the two guards. The gates were pushed open. Every creak made me wince. A dog barked. Others joined in. We froze. Someone shouted, the dogs whined then one by one they fell silent.
‘Now,’ Cuaran gave the order and we filed in silence across the bridge. Ylva and I led Wulfrun between us. About half of our forces were across before the alarm was raised and sleep-heavy men, fumbling for their weapons, crawled out from their shelters. No more need for stealth. Norse swords and axes sang as they hacked and sliced into our surprised enemies. My warriors surrounded Ylva and me with our young charge. We followed our Norse warriors as, blow by blow, they fought their way through the rows of shelters. We kicked the embers from the camp fires onto tents and anything else that would burn. Unfortunately not much did, the tents were damp from recent rain and so was the grass, but we created smoke and that serves just as well to confuse and spread panic.
We made straight for the horses and saddled up. I looked round for North Wind. I couldn’t see him. I called him. I called again, louder.
‘Sigrid, leave him. Just come.’
I barely registered Ylva’s voice. I must find my horse. I called his name, I whistled again and again. From some distance away, from somewhere on the edge of the tents and shelters came the reply, a strong neighing. He’d heard me but where was he?
‘Look after the girl,’ I shouted to Ylva. Then I turned and ran back in among the tents. I ran towards where I thought I’d heard North Wind. All around me men fought, tents smouldered while clouds of smoke swept like ravens’ wings across the camp.
A half-dressed warrior raised his sword at me but I pushed him off-balance with my shield and continued to run. I heard his agonised scream as he fell backwards into a burning tent. Then I heard another cry of pain followed by a chorus of powerful oaths and the furious neighing of my North Wind. There he was. He had reared and knocked one of the grooms unconscious. The others flocked round trying to hold him down. I set Dragonclaw to work on the grooms who decided that, caught between my sword-fury and North Wind’s hoofs, they knew when a cause was lost. They not only allowed me to take my horse but one of them helped me mount. I noticed that, instead of my modest saddle and bit, North Wind bore a splendid silver-buckled saddle and a bridle decorated with polished silver plaques.
I rode out of the camp leaving the smouldering shelters behind. The smell of burning followed me like an evil spirit. I noticed the trampled crops and churned up grazing land and I pitied the poor people of Leicester.
***
We spent the rest of the night hidden in forest land, cold and uncomfortable but safe. In the dew-moistened air of daybreak, I met Wulfstan. The expression on his face made all the agony and fear of the previous night feel worthwhile.
‘Sigrid Kveldulfsdaughter, you’ve ... you’ve stolen Edmund’s horse.
‘No. He stole it from me. I have just reclaimed
my property.’
‘The saddle? That bridle?’
‘Well, no, not those exactly. But I claim them as booty.’ The sound of stifled laughter from Wulfstan’s hird could no longer be ignored. He turned and glared at them. I caught a glimpse of Ragnar’s proud smile.
Cuaran joined us by the fire. Despite the rain he looked pleased, as well he might. Our losses were fewer than could have been expected, much fewer. We had captured enough horses for everyone to have a mount and some more. His eyes widened when he saw North Wind.
‘Whose is that magnificent mount?’
‘King Edmund’s.’
‘Mine.’ Wulfstan and I spoke at the same time.
‘Sigrid Kveldulfsdaughter stole the horse from King Edmund,’ said Wulfstan.
‘I took back the horse King Edmund stole from me,’ I said. Cuaran frowned.
‘Kings don’t steal.’ He thought for a moment then he laughed and slapped his thigh. ‘But that is splendid. I shall ride it when I go to parley with Edmund.’ Wulfstan stared at me daring me to protest. I thought it better not to, for now.
***
The parley party got ready to set off. Wulfstan brought our hostage, Wulfrun, her small hand resting on his. She was pale and held herself very straight. I felt both pity and admiration for this brave girl-child who was already getting used to her role as bargaining chip in the power play of men. Cuaran was in excellent mood, joking and preening himself. He quickly changed when he tried to mount North Wind. That horse knew how to humiliate even a king. Especially when I stood nearby humming and playing with a green apple. Wulfrun kept giggling and at one point clapped her hands.
‘What’s wrong with the infernal nag?’ Cuaran seemed at the point of giving up.
‘He doesn’t like anyone but me to ride him’, I said.
‘That’s nonsense,’ said Wulfstan. ‘He used to belong to Kjeld Gunnarson.’
‘Let go of him and see for yourselves.’ The grooms let go of the reins and North Wind ambled across to me, put his head over my shoulder and for all the world it seemed he hugged me. Of course all he did was to snap up the apple I held behind my back. The trick I had made up to amuse the children worked just fine on this audience too. Warriors cheered and little Wulfrun laughed. Unfortunately, my performance didn’t have the intended effect.
‘I shall give the creature to Edmund,’ said Cuaran. ‘You shall ride him there and I shall hand him over as a gift. Oh, just imagine his face when he recognises his own saddle. Ha!’
***
So I went with Wulfstan, Cuaran and the hostage Wulfrun to meet with Edmund and sue for peace. Housekarls and bodyguards were left outside and the four of us entered Edmund’s camp. His grooms recognised me on North Wind and shrank back when I rode up. We dismounted. I decided this was the wrong time to draw attention to myself and went to stand behind Wulfstan and Wulfrun. The girl turned to look at me and giggled. Edmund came out of his canopy and stopped in mid-stride when he saw North Wind.
‘That’s the horse, my new horse.’
Cuaran smiled at him.
‘No, Uncle, mine and it is with the greatest pleasure that I humbly beg you to accept it as a gift.’
Edmund ignored him. He’d spotted me behind Wulfstan. His watery blue eyes came level with mine. I struggled not to shrink back from his putrid breath. He seemed to sniff me like a dog and called out.
‘You! I never forget a face. I have seen you before. Somewhere. But where, where? A warrior maiden. Brunnanburgh. That’s it. You steal horses now do you? Wonder what my foster brother in Norway would say about that.’
He turned on his heel, greeted Wulfrun with a respectful bow and offered her his arm. She was shown to a chair by a brazier and a servant brought her a cup of steaming brew. Folding seats were brought for Edmund, Cuaran and Wulfstan. They began talking. As they talked I took a step back, then another and another. Wulfrun saw me. I put a finger to my lips and she smiled and looked away. I turned and walked towards the horses. The grooms were suddenly busy with another horse and didn’t challenge me. I nodded to one of them and he helped me mount. Then I rode out of the camp. When I passed Wulfstan’s bodyguard I slowed down and called to Ragnar.
’I’ve had enough. I’m going home.’ With his laughter ringing in my ears I gradually let North Wind gain speed until it felt like we would take off and ride the sky like Odin on Sleipnir.
***
Back with our army I told my warriors to get ready. Most of our belongings had been left in the camp so there was nothing much to pack or prepare. We were off in moments and kept up a fair pace, only resting when our horses needed water. By nightfall we camped without a fire and the morning drizzle didn’t invite us to linger.
But I couldn’t keep to that pace for ever. Hildur’s horse lost a shoe and began to limp. We were hungry, not having eaten for almost two days. When we saw a small hamlet in the distance I sent Thorfinn and Anlaf with silver to buy food. They also took Hildur’s horse in case there was a blacksmith there or to exchange it for another. The rest of us built a couple of simple shelters from branches covered with grasses and leaves. We groomed our horses and waited. In the afternoon, Thorfinn and Anlaf returned with a fresh horse and a skin full of gruel which we ate cold.
The next morning, with food in our bellies and after a sound sleep, we continued our journey. Thorfinn had asked directions of the people in the hamlet but all they knew was the way to the next village. I thought if we kept north we would eventually find our way home.
‘I think someone’s following us,’ said Unn. ‘I can hear horses. I’ve heard them for a while. They don’t seem to gain on us very much.’ We rode on. I made us all stop every now and then and, each time, we picked up the sound of horses following our track. It was not a large group, two maybe three, no more. Perhaps someone keeping an eye on where we were headed in order to report back to Edmund, or perhaps Cuaran or even Wulfstan? I seemed to have accumulated some important enemies lately.
Towards evening I’d had enough of guesswork. We dismounted. After a deep breath I managed to sound calm and confident as I told Unn and Hildur to lead the horses off the track. The rest of us took shelter and waited, sword in hand.
There were only two, a piebald brown gelding and a small donkey that looked ready to drop. I stepped out and, hands on hips, blocked their way.
‘Sigrid, oh my dear, I’m not used to this. I thought we’d never catch up.’ Ansgar’s smile held not a shred of worry. A small body slid down from behind him and, in an instant, I held Kveldulf in my arms.
‘Mor, here we are. We were a bit slow because we only had one proper horse.’ I blinked the tears out of my eyes and covered Kveldulf’s face with kisses. When my vision cleared I saw who was on the donkey.
‘Thor’s goats,’ I muttered. Anlaf’s wench from Leicester, tired and pale but very much present. I turned and glared at him. He looked like one caught by his enemies while squatting to empty his bowels.
Of course I couldn’t send the wench back. It was getting dark. She was exhausted, as was Ansgar. He was also determined to return to Cumbria where, according to his unreliable memory, he had made great progress in his missionary work. He claimed to know the way and offered to guide us.
‘I have travelled here with the Archbishop. I seem to recall a religious house not far out of our way, a small place called Sandbach. They are struggling to survive in these difficult times but a few dedicated souls are trying to do the Lord’s work there. It would be beneficial to stop and offer prayers for a safe journey.’
I didn’t feel like telling him that speed was more likely to make me safe than prayers. There was no need for him to know that I faced execution as a horse thief if I was caught by Edmund’s men. But maybe a detour would throw any pursuers off the scent.
‘We’ll go there,’ I said. We may be able to buy food, perhaps even a horse to replace the donkey.’ As we settled down for the night the only one who enjoyed the situation was Thorfinn who kept looking at Anlaf’s
wench and chuckling to himself.
I was curious about the girl. She’d lived with Anlaf for several weeks as his woman, clearly expecting more than some hacksilver and a farewell trinket. Persuading Ansgar to take her along would not have been difficult. His unworldliness made him naïve in the extreme. But the audacity to follow us impressed me. I decided to find out more about her.
Her name was Vida. On closer inspection, she looked quite a bit older than I had first thought. She drew herself up and straightened her shoulders when I called her to me. Exhausted though she was, she met my gaze without flinching.
‘Did Anlaf promise you marriage?’
‘Yes, yes, he said he’d look after me.’
‘Did he mention marriage? Did he speak to your sire and ask for you in marriage?’
‘I have no family, no men; they were all killed when the Northmen came before. I come from a good family, any man could be proud to have me for his wife.’
I didn’t ask how it came, in that case, that she sold her body for what she could get out of a young warrior.
‘Did he tell you he’s already married?’ Her eyes widened but she tried to brazen it out.
‘Northmen take more than one wife.’ I stared her down. ‘Sometimes,’ she shrugged, ‘so they say.’
‘Not if the wife is the daughter of a jarl, the sister of a chieftain and ... my sister-in-law.’
‘He decei ...’ she broke off in the middle of the word, lowered her head in thought and when she looked up again I knew she was ready to tell the truth. ‘I have tried to serve him well, to please him. I thought he might keep me for a concubine or a servant. He’s a kind man, I thought he’d look after me. I can weave, cook and I’m not afraid to work hard. Anything would be better than to live the way I have since my father died.’
This note of desperation rang true and I felt a measure of sympathy for her. But there was one more thing I needed to make sure of.
‘That cannot be Anlaf’s,’ I said. It was a wild guess but I was right. She pressed her hands to her belly.
To Save a Kingdom Page 23