Olaf hopped down, and perched beside her. “You followed him? How, with all the guards? That sounds like a trick worth teaching.”
“It is a trick that would unman you. Save yourself for whipping the soldiers into shape.”
Harald leant against the gunwales and started humming. “Well, that settles it, then, if witch-wife has seen everything. As long as any Grikk soldiers sleep on different ships. I don’t want to be buggered in my sleep. Now, is it time for dinner? That last feast was a good one—you missed a lot, Princeling. Olaf turned a fish on his plate and all those rassragr courtiers jumped up and whimpered about how these barbarians were insulting their emperor. A fish! Do you know what the punishment for turning your fish around on a plate is? Death! I want to see what they do to murderers and oath breakers. No sense of proportion, these small people.”
Gest guffawed, punched Askr on the arm. “Cheer up, skald. We’ll write that saga yet. My Prince, how many ships in our fleet? And what shall we call this ship of ours?”
The tide was turning, Botulfr noted. The hird debated, their prince ruled, and they moved on with his decision. He stared at his wife in admiration, unsure of what she knew or how she knew it, but glad she was always watching. They all started back up the gangplank, the inspection over. Even Askr was smiling now.
“It is Surtr’s ship, we should call it Naglfr,” the skald offered.
Harald seemed appalled. “Why not just put Loki at the helm while we are about it?”
Olaf chuckled and offered up a short verse:
With ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh,
Like stars in heaven, and joyously it showed;
Some lying fast at anchor in the road,
Some veering up and down, one knew not why.
A goodly vessel did I then espy
Come like a giant from a haven broad;
And lustily along the bay she strode,
Her tackling rich, and of apparel high.
The ship was nought to me, nor I to her,
Yet I pursued her with a lover’s look;
This ship to all the rest did I prefer:
When will she turn, and whither? She will brook
No tarrying; where she comes the winds must stir:
On went she, and due north her journey took.
Askr almost hooted in surprise. “Who’s been drinking the mead of poetry now?”
“Ormstungr,” spat Harald. Snaketongue. “He is always babbling nonsense. He should have been a skald, or a Kristin, signing Psalms on Sunnudagr.”
Botulfr smiled at his wife and helped her onto the dock, the rest of the hird marching off in search of sustenance. It was odd, to be in such a warm place with the Yule feast so close. The sky was reddening, Sol hung low on Midgard’s belt. Tomorrow would be a fine day for sailing. He called up to his men.
“Did I mention that the Kristins think the end of the world is coming too?”
Harald bridled and let out a yell. “I’ll end your world if you don’t shut up.” Adding, after a moment’s hesitation, an apologetic, “…my Prince.”
They all laughed and walked on to their meal.
COELESTINUS IMPERATORIS NUMERUM ANNORUM
THE CELESTINE EMPEROR: A TALE OF PAST YEARS
ASKR OF BRIMARBORG ( 1066 AD )
TO THE MOST BLESSED BOTULFR, in Óðinn’s name elected Alhróðigr Fylkir Veðrhallar,
Askr, the greatest of the skalds at your Temple in Uppsala, offers this exquisite token of his devotion. Many years ago, we admitted you to the number of our company, and you asked me write your saga. Since I will soon die on this bed of sickness, old and full of days, I have been anxious to ensure that I acted on your request. In this book, I have written down our old stories, as we lived them: the pedigrees of a young king reckoned up, in the manner of old songs and ballads which our forefathers had for their amusement. You’ll excuse the Latin script. I’ve decided you need the encouragement. Wouldn’t all fit on a standing stone, I’ll wager.
It is told of Fylkir Thormund that he had the custom of riding out in the uninhabited forest to hunt the wild beasts that are dangerous to man. This Thormund also roved the seas to tame the wolves of Kangar and claim all the silver that flowed from the Vargsea.
One season, among his bounty was a girl of mean birth named Kera, who had been captured in war and, therefore, was called the king’s slave-girl. He had her brought to him and took her to his bed. She was a remarkably handsome girl, of high spirits and fierce, and lived then in the court of King Thormund. Kera was a devoted householder, who often went about herself to inspect her corn-rigs and meadowland and paid close attention to the spirits of the land.
That same summer, it was reported that Kera was with child. The girl prepared for her confinement but became so ill that she was nearly dead; and when she was delivered of a man-child, it was some time before they could discover whether the child was in life.
But then the infant drew breath, and the godsmen praised Odin and had water poured on him. He was named Botulfr.
When Botulfr grew up, he was not tall, but middle-sized in height although very thick and of good strength. He had dark brown hair and a broad face that was dusked by the sun. He had particularly fine eyes, which were beautiful and piercing, so that one was afraid to look him in the face when he was angry. He was much beloved by his mother but less so by his father, who would often travel on Viking excursions.
Thormund was much addicted to women and had many wives and many children. Among them was his first son, who was called Eirik, a hardy man-at-arms who was strong and stout beyond most men. The fylkir set him over the Western Isles, in Jorvik, to judge according to the laws of those lands and collect tax upon the account of the emperor. King Eirik was a man of firm resolve; in battle, he exceeded all in bravery, but he was known for his cruelty when he was enraged.
At that time, the Grikkir were ruled by Emperor Gregoras the Brave. He sent men to the Western Isles to King Eirik with the errand that the messengers should present him and his candlemen with silver.
According to the proverb, a rotten branch will be found in every tree. Eirik was a man fond of money and self-interested; and when he saw the heap of money, the fine promises, and the great presents, he was led by covetousness and gave the oaths of friendship to Emperor Gregoras. Soon Eirik was a very rich man and a powerful man, who had many soldiers in his service. In time, King Eirik considered how he might lay all the Northern kingdoms under his rule. It was his intent, as soon as he had set himself fast in the land and had subjected the whole to his power, to introduce Kristin ways. He went to work first by enticing the men who were dearest to him, and many in England, out of friendship, greed, or the old tradition of the land, allowed themselves to be baptised, although they resolved to keep their practice private. Thereupon, Eirik disclosed what had been long concealed in his mind, that his stepmother Kera was a great idolater and very skillful in witchcraft. He called her hel-blue and a shape-shifter and said her hard-twisted songs were enchantments on his father.
Eirik got ready with a dozen ships and came over the Western Sea to Uppsala. He came to the palace in the grey of morning and beset all of the doors and stairs. At dawn, as she was going to the temple, Kera was struck down and her body burned, along with eight other warlocks. And so, she was deprived of life. Thereafter, Eirik was known as Volubrjotr, ‘one who breaks the skulls of witches’.
Eirik came then to the hall of Prince Botulfr, who was then fifteen years old; bribed the watchman first; then broke open the door and went in with drawn swords. But it so happened that Harald Sigurðarson came to Uppsala that night, and naught came of their onslaught, for they were afraid of him. Harald and his brother, Olaf the Stout, together with Gest of Groning and a Saxon skald, Askr of Brimarborg, led Botulfr from the palace, and attended him on the way east over the ridge of the land, and they went by all the forest paths they could, avoiding the common road.
Many men took part in the design to seek the patrimony of Eiri
k with battle-axe and sword; and among them some who rode with the fylkir on his hunts. Thormund wept sorely for his losses and sought distraction from them. One morning early, he rode out with his dogs and falcons and his men around him. When they let slip the falcons, the falcon of the king killed two black-cocks in one flight, and three in another. The dogs ran and brought the birds when they had fallen to the ground. The king ran after them, delighted with his sport. Then the court-men shot off an arrow, which hit the king in the middle of the body. At that moment, the men of Eirik ran against him and assaulted him, some with spears, some with swords, and was his death. Eirik’s men took the body and transported it to Uppsala and took good care of the treason.
Botulfr and his men made themselves ready for a journey without delay. It was said of his hird that they were the finest men of the age.
Olaf was a great warrior, a very merry frolicsome man, and remarkably bold in arms; very handsome he was in countenance, and had beautiful fair hair. He wore generally the Gael dress of short light clothes. The Norse language was difficult for him, and he brought out words which many laughed at.
Harald was a passionate, ungovernable man, and a great man-slayer. He had a short beard, and long mustaches, and he had long yellow hair, as fine as silk, bound about his head with a gold ornament. He could strike and cut equally well with both hands and could cast two spears at once.
Gest was a tall, slender-grown man of a long neck and face, black eyes, and dark hair, a man of low birth, who had swung himself up in the world. He was, besides quick in speech, straightforward, and free in conversation, very exact and knowing in all kinds of musical arts.
Askr had blue open eyes; his hair yellow and curling; his stature not tall but of the middle size. He was wise, intelligent, and acquainted with the laws and history. He had much knowledge of mankind and was quick in counsel and prudent in words.
The Northmen all wept over the grave-mound of Thormund, where his standing stone remains. Thereupon the jarls led Eirik into the Thing and saluted him with the title of fylkir. The whole empire’s desire was to make Eirik supreme king and raise again the kingdom which Ragnar had made for himself. Eirik held a Thing in each land and bound them by oath in fealty to him, and hostages were given him. He then returned south to England in great splendour, after having conquered the North with one arrow shot, and he ruled now over all the kingdoms of his people.
He sent a message over all his kingdoms that all the people should be baptised and convert to the true faith and used power and violence where nothing else would do. And when King Eirik thought himself quite firmly seated in his wide empire, he became so unreasonable with the small kings as to take to himself not only all the tax and duties which Ragnar himself had levied, but a great deal more.
Botulfr went east in summer to Gardariki and travelled far and wide in the Eastern land. There he found a girl in a Rus hut, whose equal for beauty he had never seen. The prince wanted that very night to take her to his bed. Ellisif and Botulfr both drank together and spoke a great deal with each other during the evening. The next day, when Botulfr and the hird met, Botulfr spoke of his courtship, and they all approved of it highly and thought it very advisable. The wedding followed soon after. The same day there was a marriage feast.
Ellisif was clever, with much knowledge, and lively; but a very devious person, haughty and harsh in her speech. She understood the art in which the greatest power is lodged and which Kera the mother of Botulfr was said to practise; namely, what is called magic. By means of this she could know beforehand the predestined fate of men; and also bring on the death, ill-luck, or bad health of people, and take the strength or wit from one person and give it to another. But after such witchcraft followed such weakness and anxiety that it was not thought respectable for men to practise it; and therefore, the priestesses only were brought up in this art.
Botulfr sailed south to Grikk lands to avenge the mockery and scorn that had been shown to his family. When he came to Miklagard he presented himself to the emperor and told him for what reason he had come before him; namely, that he could not remain with safety in his own country; and in recompense Gregoras promised to assist him. He was generous, but a strict ruler, for he was a wise man and well understood what was of advantage to his kingdom. Botulfr went on board the galleys manned with troops which went out to the Grikksalt at the behest of the emperor and fought much against his enemies. He had always a fair wind wherever he wished to sail, which came from the arts of witchcraft. He took into his own keeping all the gold he plundered, which made up so vast a treasure that no man in the Northern lands ever saw the like of it. Botulfr soon became stout and strong and, by reason of his black hair and deeds, was called Botulfr the Black.
At this time, the Patriarch of Rúmaborg argued much with Gregoras about how the Kristin Son differed from the Father. The patriarch had always spies in the army of Gregoras, who entered into conversation with many of his men, offering them presents and favour. Many allowed themselves to be seduced and gave promises of fidelity to be the men of the patriarch, and to reforge the bond between East and West. With his armies, the patriarch strove to put Romanos, who believed in the Trinity and was therefore a true son of the purple, onto the Eastern throne. Old age had chilled Gregoras and made him over-fearful; though in youth he had been very brave, now he only breathed freely as long as he was encircled by the walls. He fled to his stronghold at Baba Vida, known as the Grandmother of Bolgaraland, and there the old man persisted in his practice of drinking his belly full, until he at last suffocated and burst.
On hearing this, Botulfr sailed north along the coast; and when he came to the Golden Horn, he landed, and made a great blood-sacrifice. There came two ravens flying which croaked loudly; and now Odin had released him from his solemn oath to serve his Grikk father.
At that time, in the Lands of the Holy Fire that were called Azerbaijan by the people who lived there, Yetirek had risen to the command of his people, who were called Uzes and Torks. He was the great-grandson of Ilik, the first of his name, who made the kingdom and ruled over it for three score years. Botulfr came along the mountain paths to Baku, the City of Winds, which some say was the land of his mother, Kera, and of the sons of Tengri. He entreated with Yetirek all through the cold and rough Khazir and mild and gentle Gilavar.
In consequence of this entreaty, Yetirek promised to assist the Northman. He came to the neck of land north of Lake Van, and immediately challenged the newly crowned Romanos to battle. But before the lines came together, Botulfr urged his men to stand down and told them to sheath their swords. The Varangi marched to their ships, leaving the field. Undone, Romanos fled to Miklagard, and Yetirek laid the whole country in subjection to him. And so it was that Botulfr repaid the treachery of the Grikk against his kin.
Botulfr asked his wife to travel to Uppsala in some altered shape and to learn there of his brother’s rule: and she set out in the shape of a narwhal. And when she came near to Northern lands, she saw all the mountains and hills full of guardian-spirits, some great, some small, and saw that the realm had not yet submitted fully to the Kristin.
Without delay the prince made himself ready for a journey, took with him ten score men who were chosen from among the Varangi, and who were carefully equipped in all things: clothes, weapons, and horses. Botulfr rode from his ships with his followers who were dressed in purple and rode on gilt saddles, and all were they a trusty band, though Harald, Olaf, and Gest were peerless among them. He had coats of reindeer-skin made for them, with so much witchcraft that no weapon could cut or pierce them any more than if they were armour of ring-mail; and they had Ulfberht iron girt on them, whose blades never dulled, and the grips woven with gold.
Eirik, in the meantime, heard some whisper that, over the Eastern sea, was a man called Svartr, who was looked upon as a king. From the conversation of some people, he fell upon the suspicion that he must be of the royal race. It was, indeed, said that this Svartr in his infancy had gone east to Miklaga
rd and had been brought up by pirates. The fylkir carefully inquired about this man and had his suspicion that he must be his lost brother and a slave-woman’s son.
Botulfr advanced to Uppsala where, in summer, there was assembled a numerous Althing. Olaf recommended the cause of Botulfr to the people and proposed him to the bondsmen as Emperor of the Storm Hall, who had returned mighty and rich from Miklagard. Then Botulfr himself stood up and spoke; and the people said to each other as they heard him, “Odin himself is come again, grown and young,” for the gods have long protected their descendants even though many now neglected their faith.
Many came unto him and complained of the sorrow and evil his brother Eirik had wrought, who was at this time fylkir. As hatred of Eirik grew more and more, the more liking all men took to Botulfr; and they got more boldness to say what they thought. The Northmen agreed they would not have the kingdoms go out of the old ways of their ancestors.
Thereafter Botulfr set forth this determination to all the people and his demand on the kingly power. He desired that the jarls should receive him as King of Kings, and desired from them the title of Fylkir and aid and men to reclaim the empire. In return, he promised that he would not only hold by and improve the laws and rights of the country but also to return to the Great City and make it his own and give every man new lands and wealth in the south. Then the jarls rose and spoke, the one after the other, and supported his cause, and the whole public cried and shouted that they would take him to be fylkir. And so it was that the Himinríki took Botulfr, who was then twenty-five years old, for emperor; and he proceeded through the country with great feasting.
Fylkir Botulfr, early in summer, collected a great army at Uppsala and fitted out ships. He also had caused a great drakkar ship to be built and had it fitted out in the most splendid way by master-builders: some to fell wood, some to shape it, some to make nails, some to carry timber; and all that was used was of the best. The ship was both long and broad and high-sided and strongly timbered. The forecastle men were picked men, for they had the banner of the king. Such men only were received into his hird as were remarkable for strength, courage, and all kinds of dexterity; and they alone got place in his ship, for he had a good choice of house-troops from the best men of every jarldom. He also had a great troop of Finnar. They could run so swiftly that neither man nor beast can come near them in speed, and they hit whatever they took aim at. By their witchcraft, they could conjure up a dreadful storm or bad weather on the sea.
The All Father Paradox Page 11