Varangian

by Griff Hosker

  The men began to drift back down to the alehouse but I halted them. I spoke and Eric translated. “Before we take food I would like to let you know with whom you fight and to give you the chance to leave.” They all halted and watched me, intrigued. My original companions stood behind me and I noticed Jarl Gunnersson taking an interest in the proceedings. “Firstly I am Aelfraed Godwinson, son of Harold Godwinson, Thegn of Topcliffe and outlaw with a fine price upon my head.” They grinned at that and I could see that some of them had understood my English. “You have taken money or promises of money but we are warriors first and I have never fought with men who are not oath bound. If you travel with me you will be oath bound and be men of the Red Horse.” They looked at each other and Gunnersson leaned over the side of the boat with a smile playing along his lips. “If you do not wish to be oath bound then I will pay you for your time and seek others.” I paused to allow them to make the decision.

  Stig stepped forwards, “You being an outlaw and having a price does not worry me for we have a price on ours but why the oath, my lord?”

  “Good question Stig. I have fought many times, against the Welsh, the Normans, aye and the Norwegians.” I saw the smile appear on Harald’s face. “In all those battles none of my men ever ran and I lost many good comrades in the shield wall but other lords who had no oathsworn ran as did their men. You need to know that I will not run when the Pecheng attack us and I will be at the fore. All that I need to know is that my oath sworn will be behind me.”

  There was a silence and then Stig ran his dagger across his palm. “I am oathsworn.”

  I took out the richly made dagger given to me by Malcolm Canmore, did the same and held my palm against Stig’s. He then joined my comrades behind me. Hammer followed suit, as did Ulf, Harald and Olaf. There just remained Pig, who scratched his head. “We still get our share of the profits?”

  I smiled and held out my hand, “Aye and plenty of food too.” He grinned and became the last of the oathsworn.

  I pointed at Ridley. “That is Ridley who was a Housecarl with me against the Welsh and the Normans.”

  Stig grinned, “Not Ridley the mad berserker of Jorvik?” Ridley looked a little shamefaced while Ragnar and Eric looked confused,

  “He is that, although he has promised me he will not go berserk again.”

  “I will enjoy hearing about that battle Master Ridley for the Danes were full of the tale.”

  I gestured to Eric. “This is Eric Sweynson, who will keep a record of our journey and act as translator.”

  Pig nodded, “I served your father King Sweyn and your brothers.” There appeared to be no slight intended and Eric nodded.

  “Finally this is Ragnar who King Sweyn has given to me as a servant. He is a valiant warrior who cannot speak because of the wounds he suffered. That is our company.”

  There was a slightly embarrassed silence and I nodded to Ridley who said loudly. “And I will buy us all one last ale before we voyage.” With a roar they followed him.

  Eric and Ragnar remained with me and Jarl Gunnersson nodded his approval before he went aft. “You did not ask us to be oathsworn Lord Aelfraed.”

  “No for you volunteered to come and you are not a warrior. Ragnar is a servant.”

  “I wish to be oathsworn.” He took out his dagger and cut into his palm.

  Unlike the others he winced and I suppressed a smile. “You know what this means Eric?”

  He held out his hand, “I do.” I clasped his hand to mine.

  Ragnar walked forwards and held his own, bleeding palm, out.

  “You do not need to do this Ragnar. I know of the sacrifices you have made.”He shook his head vehemently and held his hand out. I took it. “Then I am honoured to have you as an oathsworn brother.”

  Chapter 3

  By the time Ridley and the rest of my men had arrived back at the boat we were ready to sail. They had had a good drink and, although not drunk, they all had the cheery glow of men who are comfortable. Ridley winked at me as they boarded. I had wanted my oldest friend to become the friend of the men we led. The relationship I had had with Osbert and Branton was unique and I could not replicate it with mercenaries but I was pleased with the men who seemed to have a healthy attitude about life and war.

  The captain summoned me over. “You are fortunate Aelfraed that the wind is with us across the lake. You will not need to row until we meet the Volkhov.” I started to move away but he restrained me. “Stay here for I would talk with you. We too should get to know one another before we embark on this long and dangerous voyage.”

  The crew scurried about the decks hoisting the sail and loosing the ropes which held us to the land. Gunnersson leaned on the tiller and we began to edge inexorably away from the shore. Slowly at first we headed east and then the wind caught us and we began to move swiftly. Gunnersson seemed happy with the way the ship was handling and he signalled for his first mate to take over. He took me to the side. “That was well done back there with the oath but risky. Tell me why you took such a chance.”

  “Your friend’s crew betrayed him and the merchant. You and I both know that an oath sworn by a warrior is more binding than money.”

  “You are interesting Aelfraed son of Harold. I had heard of you before I met you for I had friends who served King Sweyn, and that is how I know his son. You are said to be fearless and intensely loyal.” He gestured with his arm at my handful of men. “It does not seem to have done you any good.”

  “That depends upon how you measure good. Most of my men fell in battle defending our country against an invader. Surely that is good?”

  He laughed, “You are right. I am from Orkney myself and, like you, dispossessed; this time by a Norwegian. He was one of the ones you defeated at Stamford Bridge. So you see that I owe my present state to you.”

  “Wyrd.”

  “You are right, truly wyrd. And some of the men you have taken on have connections too, like your Harald who also fought at Stamford.” He looked up at the sky. “The gods are watching you.”

  I shook my head. “There are spirits watching over me but they are the spirits of my ancestors and they care for me.”

  He nodded and gestured towards Eric who was busily translating for Ridley. “He is interesting. He is what you English call the runt of the litter and he is, well he is different to other men. Did his father force him upon you? Was he glad to be rid of him?”

  “No I was happy to take him. Not every man is chosen to be a warrior and I had the feeling that Eric would make the difference at some time during this voyage but his father was, I believe, a little sad to see him leave.”

  “He is nothing like his brothers.”

  I laughed, “No you are right there, it was as though a bear had sired many young bears and then followed it with a lamb.”

  “Aptly put.” He became businesslike again, “When we begin rowing I will assign you your positions.” I gave him a questioning look. “It is all a matter of balance, having the right weight distributed on each side. Your book keeper can row for he is the same size as Stig and they will balance each other.”

  “He is lighter.”

  “True but I can move heavier men to counteract that. You have never rowed before so take a word of advice; wrap a piece of cloth around your hands.”

  I watched the shoreline recede into the distance. “Do you anticipate trouble?”

  “Always and yet the last two voyages have been trouble free so who knows. The first part is hard for we travel upstream. After the first portage we have an easier stretch for then we will be going downstream. When we are going downstream we do not need to stop at night but your men will have to take turns as guard when we anchor midstream.”

  I wandered back to my men; I had been given a number of problems to solve and I decided to use Eric’s mind to help me. “Come Eric, let Ridley try out the words he has learned so far.”

  Ridley shrugged and I was pleased that, Ulf apart, they all appeared to enjoy being with R
idley. That was important. “Now then Eric, we have to stand watches and that needs organisation. What do you suggest?”

  I already had my ideas for I had stood watches before but I was interested to see if this poet and singer could put his mind to that problem too. “Using all of us?”

  “All of us Eric, that means you and me as well.”

  He suddenly smiled. There are ten of us which means five pairs. Some are obvious like Stig and Hammer, me and Ragnar.”

  I held my hand up. “I like the pairs but not you and Ragnar.”

  He looked crestfallen. “Am I not to be trusted?”

  “The first thing you need to understand Eric is that there is never anything personal in this. We do things because they work. Ridley and I have stood sentry before whereas you and Ragnar have not. You will be with me and Ridley with Ragnar. Now go on.”

  He grinned with relief. “It seems to me that if we all do the same duty at night that is unfair so we have four watches each night so that one pair gets a night off. Then each watch moves on one.”

  I nodded. It was well thought out and, more important, fair. “Well done. Divide the men up, put Ulf with Harald, it might lighten him up a little and put a smile on that miserable face of his and then tell the men.”

  The river we would be travelling down was the Volkhov and, fortunately, it was wide for there were boats under sail coming in the opposite direction. We anchored while Jarl Gunnersson fussed amongst us, arranging us. Ridley and I were in the middle, opposite each other with another of the crew next to each of us. Once he was happy he pulled up the anchor himself. “Up oars!” I could see the wisdom of putting the newer rowers with experienced men. I never knew the name of the man next to me for he spoke neither English nor any of the other words I had learned but, as he kept grinning at me with a furtive grin I called him Weasel. He soon answered to Weasel although I doubt he knew what it meant. “Stroke!”

  Ridley and I just held onto the oar and pulled when Weasel and his companion did so. As soon as the blade struck the water you could feel the resistance and the boat barely seemed to move. “Stroke!” The next one was just as hard and it was another ten strokes before I could discern any movement. My son, Harold, would be a warrior before we reached Miklagård at this rate. I pulled hard and Weasel rewarded me with another inane grin and I saw that we had now picked up speed. We soon fell into a happy rhythm but it was a relentless pace. The Jarl soon stopped shouting ‘stroke’ when we reached the speed he was happy with. I wondered why no-one was at the bow watching for danger but the captain seemed happy enough. Soon my arms began to burn with repetition and I risked a glance at Ridley who appeared to be unfazed by the pain. I took comfort in the knowledge that Eric would be struggling more than I was. As night began to draw in Jarl Gunnersson perversely upped the rate and we were flying along but I felt certain that I would collapse before he slowed down. Suddenly he shouted, “Up oars!” As he did so he prepared the anchor; he waited until we were much slower then dropped it over the side and I saw that we were in the middle of the river. I could barely breathe, let alone speak and so I grinned at Weasel and Ridley. The oars were passed in and stored in the middle as a lighted torch was hung from our stern. We had learned that one of the duties of the night watch was to replace the torches so as to avoid a collision with a downstream boat.

  I was still lying on the thwarts when Jarl Gunnersson came along. “Well Housecarl how did you find that?”

  “Give me a shield wall any day. That was brutal!”

  “When you get to Miklagård seek out the apothecaries for they have oils and potions to ease the pain.”

  I shook my head, “No Captain, once I leave this boat I will never row again.”

  I heard a roar of laughter from behind and my Red Horse company, even Ulf were all laughing at me. I looked at Eric. “How did you manage?”

  “I might not be a warrior Lord Aelfraed but I learned to row as a child. You will soon get used to it.”

  I shook my head ruefully, “I doubt it.”

  I had chosen the middle watch for Eric and me. I regretted it, as Stig woke me, but I had to take the worst duty for myself. As I rose I felt the stiffness in my limbs. In another few hours I would be up again and having to row once more. And this was but day one! Eric changed the torch and we sat at the bow watching for any ships coming downstream and any ripples in the water which should not be there.

  “Do not look at the light Eric or it will spoil you night vision. Look to the dark.”

  “Thank you.”

  There was silence for all the creatures of the night were either far away or too quiet to be heard. “Do you regret coming Eric?”

  “Oh no! It is even better than I thought it would be. And the stories the men tell! They will make wonderful songs. It is good to be with men who take me as I am and do not try to change me into what they wish me to be.”

  “Your brothers?”

  ”My brothers. My father let them treat me harshly but I think that if it had been just me he would have been kinder. He had a reputation to keep. I will miss him a little but as my mother is dead, there is nothing left for me in Hedeby.”

  It had surprised me how well this Prince of the Danes had taken to the life but then I thought back to my childhood at Medelai and the bullying of my brothers. After that anything was preferable so I suppose Eric was just pleased to be away from his prison. I looked at my hands; the cloth had helped a little but it was now in tatters. I resolved to use my gauntlets the next time and hope that the leather protected me more.

  By the time we pulled in to the town of Velikiy Novgorod, many days down the river, my hands had toughened up and my muscles felt toned. I no longer felt the burn and the Weasel and I grinned and nodded to each other all day. Jarl Gunnersson had confided in me that there were two or three towns at which we could stop on our way south but this was the safest. When I saw it I wondered what the others were like for it looked like nowhere I had ever seen before. The buildings were all made of wood but their design was radically different from those in Denmark and England. They had long sloping roofs and looked, somehow, like small churches. The people too were different. Many of them had a sallow, almost yellow skin and eyes which appeared narrower than ours. Their clothes were mainly furs and those who had footwear had wooden shoes rather than leather ones.

  Gunnersson called me over. “I need three of your men to escort me and my men to get some supplies, the rest should stay here on guard. This is the safest town we pass but I still would not trust them an inch.”

  I wanted to see the town but I needed experience too. “Ridley, keep the rest of the men on board and make sure nothing is stolen and the men don’t leave. Stig, Hammer, come with me, we are to escort the captain around the town. Arm yourselves.” They both took a club and a sword.

  Stig and Hammer looked delighted but the others, Ridley included, cast me dark looks. Uncle Aethelward had told me that every decision a leader made would upset someone, even one as trivial as this. I took my sword rather than Death Bringer, it was easier to wield in a confided space and I strapped my shield to my back. There were four men with us and I went next to the Jarl with the other two warriors bringing up the rear. We ploughed our way through the throngs. I led slightly and people soon learned to avoid the mail shirt which was wrapped around my huge frame.

  We did not have to travel far for there was a shop which sold the food we would need to eke out our rations to Miklagård. The Captain gave his order. “Leave your men here we will have to get our travel documents.”

  We left the shabby little shop and entered the half stone half wood building next door. There were four guards but they recognised the Jarl and let him in. Inside there were three small figures that were reading lists. Clerks; I had seen many such in Winchester although there they were priests and holy men. These looked like shifty little thieves. I did not understand a word which was spoken but I did recognise the bribe which the Jarl paid to ensure that we could leave quickl
y. I waited at the door for the captain to finish and I saw one of the furtive little ferrets slip out of the back door. I noticed him because he had a split nose, normally a punishment for some transgression, but it made him look as though he had two noses. I should have ignored it but something about the way he looked at us and then left made me suspicious. All the way back to the boat I kept my eyes peeled for the little man but they were all little men in that town so far down the river and so different from England. The Jarl, Hammer and I stood a head taller than any of them. The goods from the shop next door were still being assembled and I waited in the street with the Jarl.

  “That is why we stop at few places. It costs money and all comes from our profits.” I knew from Folke and Thor that the captain and the merchant shared the profits once the guards cut had been taken.

  “Will we need to stop again?”

  “At a town? No. But we will need food. From here on we forage, fish, hunt animals; there should be berries at this time of the year. But I warn you Aelfraed, the hardest is yet to come. We have another lake and then portage. And we must slip through two towns at night to avoid the taxes. Soon you will earn your passage.”

  It was coming on to dusk when we reached the boat and I could see that something had happened. Ridley looked red and angry while Eric looked worried. Ulf was dabbing at a bleeding nose. Gunnersson glanced at them and then at me. I shrugged. It would have to wait until later. We rowed until dark and anchored in the middle of the river. The men had eaten aboard the ship when we were moored in the town and I waited for the Weasel and the others to leave before speaking with Ridley.

  “Well?”

  “Well what?” He almost pouted and I was tempted to laugh.

  “Well what happened when I was in the town?”

  “How do you know something happened?”