by Griff Hosker
That night Kara had prepared food for me in my hall. Aiden joined us and the four of us enjoyed a fine meal. I still had a little of the wine we had brought from Vasconia. We would now be reliant upon Coen ap Pasgen’s ships bringing such wine. After the meal Aiden brought out the torc. He and Kara both held it and closed their eyes. Brigid looked as though she would speak but I held my finger to my lips. At one point Kara frowned.
They both opened their eyes together. “There is death connected with this torc. The Queen was murdered. She died with an unborn child within her.”
We all looked at Brigid. Her hand went to her crucifix. She mumbled something, I think it was a prayer.
Aiden said, “I saw a sword.” His eyes went to my wall. “That sword.”
Wyrd.
Aiden and I finished off the wine and we sat in silence looking at the torc. It was obvious now that we could not sell it nor melt it down. It was connected to me and to the sword. I suspected, but I could not work out how, that it was also connected to the parchments which Aiden had brought.
Brigid broke the silence, “Is this not just an accident?”
Kara put her hand on Brigid’s, “No my sister. This is the work of the spirits and the Norns. Jarl Dragonheart has been chosen. He is not Norse and yet he is a Viking legend. He is not of one world but of many. His threads reach back beyond time itself to the ancient peoples and their beliefs.” She pointed to the torc and then to the sword. “Those were made before your White Christ walked the earth. We do not say your beliefs are wrong but ours are older. But you need not fear. You and your baby will be safe.”
“How do you know?”
“The spirits have told me.”
Later that night as we lay together, Brigid hugged me so hard that I thought I would break. “I am afraid.”
“If Kara says you are safe then you have nothing to fear. I am content. This is just another part of my life… but now it is our life and you are part of it.”
I really wished to travel to my jarls and see how they had fared. I had not seen my son for some time either but Brigid was still more than nervous and Kara advised me to stay close to home for a while. Aiden and Kara spent many hours poring over the parchments and even Kara was impressed. “The wizard gives advice on cures for ailments and diseases which now result in death.”
The two of them and some of Kara’s women took to travelling the land finding the herbs, leaves, roots and barks they needed to make their medicines.
After a month Brigid said, “Jarl you should go and make the journey. I am settled now. I was afraid but I have thought about this and I have spoken to Deidra and Macha. They are not afraid and they, too, have told me that Kara has a power which they cannot explain. It is enough. I trust you and your daughter.”
I took only Aiden with me as I rode from my home. I headed first to the south for I wished to speak with Sigtrygg. He needed to know what had happened. It had been his land which had been attacked. I would then visit with my son, Windar, Ketil and finally Arne. I would be away some days but my jarls needed to see me and speak with me.
Sigtrygg had learned from the attack and now had a walled town with a double ditch. He had built towers across his land and he trained all of his farmers. He had been the finest warrior to have followed my wolf banner and he was a good leader. “When you find this Magnus let me know, Jarl, for I will come with you and end his life.”
“I will. And if your warriors wish to raid with me I will be honoured to take them with me.”
He nodded, “When I have built up my treasure again I will have Bolli make me a drekar. It will not be as large as yours but we will build one.”
The journey to my son’s home was pleasant for there were now more farmers living between the two strong jarls. My grandson, Ragnar, was growing in leaps and bounds. He and his mother had brought Wolf Killer and myself closer together. We had drifted apart and it was still not the same as it had been but it was better. He, too, was intrigued by the torc and the connection. “I cannot see how these threads join but I agree with you, Jarl Dragonheart, something binds them.” He and Aiden were as close as brothers, “Aiden, are there no writings that you can find?”
He gave me a curious look. “I have heard of a book by a Roman writer called Tacitus. It concerns the man who conquered Britannia, Agricola. If I could find that book then we would know more.”
“Where would we find one?”
“Miklagård.”
“That is a long way to go for a book.”
“If there is another on this island then it will be where there was a Roman fort. Lundenwic?”
“Egbert would dearly like to get his hands on me and he knows you too.”
“Then that leaves Caestir and Jorvik.”
“Again I am known in Jorvik and Caestir has been laid waste by us too many times. I fear this is one book that we will never see.”
Our next visit to Windar was sad for he was now a bloated and corpulent old man. He had never been much of a warrior but he had been a good leader. Since his son Ketil had taken over the north lands he seemed to have forgotten how to be a leader. I did not tarry long but headed instead for Ketil. He was the most exposed of my jarls. Unlike Arne he had no river for protection and he was close to the Northumbrians and the Scots yet he was a brave and clever leader. He kept a close watch on his land.
He had inherited a Roman fort which he had made stronger. It afforded him a fine view of the lands to the east. He proudly showed us around. As it was late we stayed with him and we told him of our finds and our journey.
“I miss the adventure of the sea but I am content with my land and my people. When my young men are stronger we will raid to the east for the Saxons are becoming weaker.”
I advised caution, “The only treasure they have in Northumbria are the slaves and the holy books of the White Christ.”
“Then I will take what I can.” He was confident. He quaffed his ale. He looked at the horn and frowned. “Have you seen my father?” I nodded. “It is hard for me to see him as he is now. I always looked up to him.”
“A man cannot change his nature, Ketil. He is still your father. He is getting old. Let his last days be happy ones.”
Arne too had made a stronger wall and I was happy that my land was now encircled by strong walls. We headed south over the col and the Grassy Mere towards the Rye Dale. “I think Ketil will make a good jarl of Windar’s Mere when his father goes to the Otherworld.”
“He would but does Windar’s Mere need a strong leader? It is one of the safer parts of our land. In all the time we have lived here it has suffered but one attack.” Aiden shrugged, “I am no war leader, Jarl. Perhaps I am wrong.”
I laughed, “No Aiden you are right. I should think of the good of all of the people and not individuals.”
The realisation that I had, however accidentally, strengthened our borders made me feel quite contended as we rode down the fertile Rye Dale. We paused to speak with Audun Thin Hair at the col. He always had fine beer and he was a good listener. He knew the mood of the farmers in the valley. His son, Leif, had grown considerably and was now a man. He stood and listened as we spoke.
“The farmers are happy, Jarl. The crops grow well and we are safe, however…” he hesitated.
“Go on Audun, speak.”
“There are many young men who are restless. Many of them tried to go with you on your last voyage but you took but one drekar. They do not wish to be farmers; they want to be warriors. I fear that if they cannot go with you then they will seek others to lead them and leave this land. We cannot afford to lose such young men. I am sorry, I have spoken out of turn.”
“No Audun, you were right to speak as you did.” I looked at Leif, “You wish to be a warrior too?”
“I wish to know what is within me, Jarl. I want to stand in a shield wall and hold a sword in my hand. Perhaps I will only be one for a short time but when I return to the farm and have a wife and children then I will know that I can pro
tect them.”
I understood then the need for my young men to have the opportunity of testing their mettle. This suited me for I had many journeys yet to make.
My feelings of content disappeared when I entered my walls for a large crowd had gathered before my hall. I saw Kara speaking with them. When they saw me they became silent and parted so that I could approach. I saw two angry young men facing each other. They were no more than fifteen summers old. Both were being restrained by my Ulfheonar. I dismounted and handed the reins of my pony to Aiden. Turning to face the crowd I smiled, “Thank you for this welcome! It was unexpected.”
I saw scowls flash across the faces of the two young men. I recognised them now as Olaf Grimsson and Rolf Eriksson. My daughter allowed the briefest of smiles to flicker across her face. “This is not a welcome for you, Jarl Dragonheart, father to our people but it is good that you have returned. Here we have a dispute. The two young men both wish to take the daughter of Thord the Shepherd, Hlif.”
“And where is this Hlif?”
“Her father keeps her in his home on the fells. He says she is too young to marry.” Lowering her voice she added, “She is not yet thirteen summers and she is his only child. His wife died two winters since.”
I stared at the two young men, “It seems to me there is not a problem here. Unless, of course, Hlif wishes to disobey her father and marry one of you. Is that the case?” I nodded to my men so that they released the youths. I did not think the dispute would continue whilst I was present and I was right. They stood glowering at each other. They remained silent.
Behind me Kara said, loudly enough for all to hear, “Hlif is happy to stay with her father and to obey him.”
“Then there is no problem, is there?”
Rolf pointed an accusing finger at Olaf. “I am happy to wait for I know that she will choose me when the time is right but Olaf here wishes to fight for the right to her hand. I was going to oblige him.”
I now had Audun Thin Hair’s words in my head. This was what he meant. When young men did not have the chance to vent their anger in battle they turned it amongst themselves. This was my fault. I had not led them as I should. “We are one people! We do not fight amongst ourselves. It is not our way and I forbid the two of you to continue this dispute. If you do so then I will banish you both.” I saw the mothers of the two youths grip the arms of their husbands who stoically stood. “I will speak in my hall with the two youths. This thing is over.” It was not really a thing. I had not formerly convened one and only I had spoken but I wanted all of them to understand how seriously I took it. “Haaken one Eye would you join me?”
Kara and Brigid had entered my hall and they stood by the table. I took off my sword and laid it, symbolically, along the table and then I sat at the head of the table. Kara and Brigid flanked me. I knew the effect this would have on the boys. They came in, somewhat fearfully. It was rare for others to enter my hall. Haaken followed them and I saw him nod when he saw the sword. It was a symbol of my power. Kings had crowns and titles. I had Ragnar’s Spirit and that was all that I needed. He came to sit next to my right hand.
I allowed the silence to grow uncomfortable. When I spoke it was softly. Even so they both started as I did so. “This dispute has upset the harmony of our home. I am not happy. When I am not happy our land becomes disturbed. Do you wish the crops to fail and the animals to decline?” They shook their heads. “Perhaps I should go away eh? Would that be better than banishing you both? Then the disharmony would pass. Would that solve the problem or would you two still bicker and squabble? Would your wishes still cause division in my land?” They hung their heads. I knew that I had won but I did not leave it there. I pushed the sword further down the table. “You are both young men. Have you chosen if you wish to follow your fathers yet?” Rolf’s father was a farmer. He raised cows on the lower fells. Olaf’s father was a fisherman. “Speak.”
Rolf shook his head. “I am the younger brother. My elder, Erik Eriksson is the farmer.”
“Olaf?”
“I do not like fishing.”
“But you are comfortable on a boat?”
His eyes widened, “I would be a sailor.”
“And Rolf what would you be?”
“I would be a warrior. I would follow your banner and your sword.”
“Will you hear my judgement then? And will you obey for I cannot have disputes upsetting the land? I meant what I said, I will banish you if I have to.” They nodded. “Good. Until such time as Hlif is ready to choose then you both put her from your mind and you will take the hand of friendship now.” They hesitated. “Do it for I have yet to finish.” They clasped hands but there was still enmity in their eyes. “You Olaf, shall become a sailor. You will accompany me to my drekar and Erik Short Toe will discover if you can be a member of his crew.” He nodded, eagerly. I saw the disappointment on Rolf’s face. “And you Rolf can begin to train as a warrior. You will serve in the warrior hall as a servant until my warriors can train you. Until that time you will learn to sharpen swords and clean armour.” He too nodded, eagerly. “It is well, now go. I have done.”
They ran out together, both keen to tell their friends of my judgement.
Haaken smiled, “You have grown wise. That was masterful.”
I shook my head and told them all of Audun and his warning. “The peace in this land means we have many such as Olaf and Rolf. Unless we do something this will become commonplace and may result in bloodshed. We are rich. I would use those riches. I will go tomorrow to see Bolli. I will have a new drekar built. We will take the young untried men and we will raid.”
Kara came over and kissed me on the top of my head. “That is why you are Jarl. You are not only a great warrior you are a great leader.” She nodded, “The spirits approve. This is wyrd.”
Chapter 5
I had a drekar and my son, Wolf Killer, had one too. My son was more occupied with his own land and his family rather than raiding so that his drekar was rarely used. It was not mine to command and so I would have a smaller one built to accompany ‘The Heart of the Dragon.’ It would not need to be as big. My own ship was one of the largest and we had yet to see a bigger one. Bolli would be able to build one in a relatively short time; if he had the men. Haaken, Aiden, Kara and I worked out the best way to do that.
I sent word to all those who lived under the shadow of the Old Man of Cyninges-tūn that I was looking for thirty young men to become warriors. While they assembled I rode down to Bolli’s shipyard accompanied by Olaf. When I reached the yard he and Erik were repairing the withy which had caused us problems.
“This is Olaf Grimsson. He would be a sailor.”
Erik frowned, “He is a little old to begin to learn the skills.”
Erik could be blunt. “He has some skills already. His father is a fisherman and I wish this to be so.” Erik bowed his head in acceptance of my decision. “Have Karl begin to teach him.”
Erik waved over Karl and after a brief conversation took away Olaf. I had no doubt that he would first be given all of the tasks which Karl and Cnut Cnutson did not wish to do. Cnut, too, would be eager to leave the drekar and become a warrior. He would make sure Olaf could replace him. Alone with Bolli and Erik I went to the heart of the matter. “I wish a threttanessa to be built and to be built quickly.”
Bolli nodded, “That will take more men than I have.”
“Do not worry. I will bring thirty willing workers in the next few days. They are to be the crew.”
“Good for if they work in the building of a ship then its heart will be stronger and there will be a bond.”
I turned to Erik, “I will get you some more ship’s boys. Could Karl captain a drekar?”
He looked across to where Karl was beginning to instruct Olaf. “Aye. He sailed that trader back from Vasconia. He could not operate alone but if I gave him some of my ship’s boys he could.” He seemed pleased that his apprentice was to be thus rewarded.
“And Cnut, he is re
ady to be a warrior but if he sailed on the new drekar on its first voyage he could help Karl.”
“Aye they work well together.”
“Good then make it so. I will bring the gold for the drekar when you have decided a price Bolli.” I clasped his arm as a sign that I would pay. I held it for a little longer than was necessary. “I want this to be the fastest drekar ever built.”
He grinned, “Aye Jarl!”
We had more than enough young men who were willing to both work on the ship and then serve whoever commanded. We had thirty four of them. I went down for the first week to watch them working together. I was relieved to see that Olaf and Rolf were getting along. They were doing different tasks but each one was doing something they wanted to do. Hlif had just been the collision point for two frustrated young men.
I spent time with my Ulfheonar and Aiden discussing who should command the new drekar. We had many warriors who had sailed with us and raided but none of us could agree on a suitable captain. It would be my ship for I would be paying Bolli for it but we needed someone who could be decisive and control a crew of, largely, young men. I noticed Asbjorn and Eystein remained silent during these discussions.
“Asbjorn, have you nothing to say?” There was a slight hesitation which I knew meant he was reluctant to speak his thoughts. “Come I know that you and your friend Eystein are amongst the younger members of the Ulfheonar but your views are welcome nonetheless.”
He shifted uncomfortably. Karl Word Master smiled, “He is seeking words which he knows might offend.”
His friend, Finni the Dreamer said, more seriously, “Perhaps he has other words in his heart.”
“Come Asbjorn, you have your comrades putting words into your mouth. Answer the Jarl.” Haaken often acted as the one who spoke for the Ulfheonar.
“I would captain the new drekar.”
He blurted it out and that made Haaken smile. I was taken aback. I had thought he enjoyed the life of the Ulfheonar. He lived in the warrior hall and was as stout and doughty a warrior as any.