by Griff Hosker
Haaken shook his head, “Times past I would have been the one they all asked about the battles we had fought. Now it is Rollo and Rolf!”
Olaf laughed, “We are old men, now Haaken. These young bloods think that we are past our best and will slow them up. Rollo and Rolf are younger.” He turned to me. “Did you know that they both have sons now, jarl?”
“I did not but that is a good thing. We need warriors who have their blood. You should have fathered children. Leif did.”
“And I too may have fathered bastards. When we raided I laid enough seed about. Whenever we visited Dorestad or Dyflin I expected to see someone as ugly as me.”
“And the Allfather decided to make me the last of my line.”
“You have daughters, Haaken. They may have sons.”
He shook his head, “They have babies but all are girls. Your line will continue Jarl Dragonheart. I envy you that. There will be warriors, as yet unborn, who will have the blood of the most famous Viking coursing through their bodies. I envy you. We both began together, defending old Ragnar on that wall in the cold lands of the north. The Weird Sisters spun very different webs for us.”
“Yet we have shared much.”
“Aye, that we have and here is another tale that is yet to be written.”
His face brightened and, amazingly, the rain abated. As Erik turned us so that the wind came from ‘Heart’s’ quarter our drekar seemed to leap through the water. We sailed into darkness. The ship’s boys now took position along our larboard side and the prow to watch for rocks. We had never sailed this channel.
Lars ran down the centre of the drekar, after we had sped for a while north and west. “Captain, there is a river.” That had to be the Medina. Atticus and Aiden had scoured all the parchments we had. They had only read of one river which emptied to the north of the island.
Erik nodded, “Then reef the sail. Rowers!”
I went to my chest and took out my mail. Wrapped in an oiled sheepskin it was free from rust. I slipped the byrnie over my head. I smiled as I watched Olaf do the same. He struggled. His girth was greater now than it had been. I took my sword from my chest and strapped that on. Ragnar’s Spirit still protected me. With Wolf’s Blood in my seal skin boot all that I needed was my helmet and I would be ready for war. I watched Haaken don his soft leather cap and then slip the mail hood over his head. Aiden had had to replace bone in Haaken’s head with a metal plate. My oldest friend protected himself now when we fought our enemies.
They took their oars as the sail was furled and the steering board pushed over. The entrance to the river was wide. It was over a hundred paces from bank to bank. There was a tower at the entrance to the river and we saw the walls of a burgh. As lights flared from the walls and the alarm was given we sailed south. They knew the wolf was loose but we were now in the sheep pen. Atticus had marked the monastery four Roman miles down the river. Even if they sent a rider we would beat them. The river was wide all the way south. It was not like the Dunum and the Temese. It did not twist and turn. It felt more like a fjord than a river save that there were no mountains rising up like teeth along the sides. Atticus’ map had indicated that the monastery was on a piece of high ground less than half a mile from the river. He had indicated that the river narrowed where we should stop.
Sámr slid down the back stay, “Captain, I see a glow on the hill.”
Lars pointed to the river bank. “The river narrows, Captain.”
I nodded, “Then we are here. Turn us around, Erik. I do not think we will need to leave in a hurry, these are just monks but let us be prepared.”
“Steerboard oars, back water.” The river was wide enough for us to turn easily. “Larboard oars in.” With just the steerboard oars rowing we were sculled to the west bank of the river. I saw Lars and Sámr leap ashore and tie us up. I nodded to my great grandson as I left the drekar. My shield was on my back and my sword was sheathed.
I waited until my men had all joined me. Gone were the days when Beorn the Scout would have raced ahead. I pointed to Rolf Horse Killer and Rollo Thin Skin. With their wolf cloaks to disguise them they would lead us to the monastery. As we moved up the path from the river I wondered if we would find the priests and monks abed. I knew that they often rose in the middle of the night to say prayers to the White Christ. I could see the buildings above us. There was the glow of candles and lights. They were awake. Then I heard a shout, “Vikings!” They had watchers. The Norns had been spinning.
There was little need for secrecy and silence now, “Clan of the Wolf!” I drew my sword and ran towards the buildings. I would not need my shield against priests.
Suddenly I heard the clash of swords. Rolf and Rollo had found the enemy. I saw a door open for there was a great deal of light and I saw armed men emerging. Some had mail! It was too late to regret not scouting out this, seemingly, easy target. I was attacking mailed Saxon warriors with untried youths. A Viking did not regret. I swung my shield around and, with Olaf on one side and Haaken on the other we bundled into the Saxons who had slain three of my men and surrounded Rollo and Rolf. I brought my sword high over my head to hack and slice down on the neck of a mailed Saxon. Even as he fell bleeding before me I took in that he had a fine byrnie. What were such warriors doing at a monastery?
As I slashed my sword into the shield of a second Saxon I saw why. There were men with horses and they were helping some women and two children on to them. I saw a crown. It was the Queen. We had the chance of capturing a greater prize than the holy books. If we could take Queen Osburga then we could demand a great ransom. The two young boys I saw were princes! The Saxon swung his sword against my shield. He only made a quarter swing and it did no damage. I slid my sword up behind his shield and it slid under his armpit. I saw the tip of Ragnar’s Spirit as it came out of his neck. I punched another Saxon out of the way and shouted, “To me!”
I ran towards the horses. One of the women was struggling to climb on to the back of the skittish horse. She was terrified. Haraldr Leifsson and Siggi Einarsson, Einar Hammer Arm’s son, ran with me. The men who were helping the women and children to mount suddenly had a dilemma. If they helped the women then we would reach them. The four of them left the women and ran to us. I saw the Queen’s horse rear. She managed to control it but the crown fell from her head. One of the Saxons slapped the rump of her horse and she and the others galloped off. The woman who had been struggling with her mount fell and her skull was crushed by a hoof.
There were five men facing the three of us. Haraldr and Siggi were novices, “Flank me and guard my sides!” I would have to fight the five of them. Only two had helmets. They must have been abed when the alarm was raised. They were horsemen. They wore short byrnies and had smaller shields. A warrior who has fought as many times as I recognised such things quickly for they are the difference between defeat and victory; life and death. We had three shields facing them and they came at me piecemeal. I slashed my sword before me at thigh height. My blade tore through the unprotected thigh of one and into the knee of the second. I did not pause but raised my shield to punch it into the face of the third. I heard two cries from my side. The men I had wounded had been slain by Haraldr and Siggi. The man I had struck had had no helmet and I saw that he was dazed. I tore my sword across his throat. The last two both wore helmets. They began to back away. They were heading for the open door of the church. If they reached it then they could delay us more and I knew not where the Queen had gone. Perhaps she would summon help.
“Flank them!”
We now had superiority of numbers for Erik Red Beard and Sven Svensson had joined us. I ran at the two men. My legs were not what they had once been but my mail, helmet and bloody weapon drew their attention to me. Haraldr and Siggi struck suddenly and swiftly. Haraldr’s blow was so hard that his sword, short as it was, took the Saxon’s head in one. Siggi brought his sword up under the short byrnie. Both Saxon warriors were dead. I looked around and saw shadows galloping north, along the river. W
e would not catch the Queen.
“Go into the church and find the holy books.” There were still men fighting. I turned to go to the aid of Rollo and Rolf. I heard a gurgled cry and I saw a bloodied Rolf slay the last one. “Who is hurt?”
Olaf Leather Neck said, “We have lost six warriors. Rollo and Rolf are wounded.”
“Get them back to the drekar. I wanted their hurts healed.” Some of the young warriors were now standing around with open mouths. They had won but their friends lay dead. “Strip the enemy dead and take their mail and arms to the drekar. Then fetch our dead. We will bury them at sea.”
I headed back to the church. The sky was becoming lighter. I saw the crown on the ground near the bodies of the bodyguards. I picked it up. It was made of gold and had one blue stone in the centre. This was treasure indeed. I put it inside my kyrtle and went into the church. I saw that the young warriors had slain some of the priests. Another three were about to die, “Hold! We do not kill priests! They are worth coin.”
Haraldr looked appalled, “I am sorry, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“It is my fault. I should have told you before we raided. Take the metal objects, the cloth and linen as well as the Holy Books.” There were many of them. I had not seen so many gathered in one place before. “Put them in a couple of chests. Take them to the drekar and then return.” They nodded and left. The three priests cowered. They had seen six of their number slaughtered. They had expected to die and now a fierce warrior dressed in mail approached them. I took off my helmet. I had not bothered with the cochineal and I looked less fearsome.
“When you built your monastery did you find anything left by the Romans.”
The fact that I spoke to them in their language surprised them and my knowledge of Roman practices further confused them. One, the eldest of them said, “No lord. We just used the stone.”
I nodded. It was as I had thought. The stones of the church were too small to have come from any substantial building. “And the woman who fled?”
“She escaped?” I nodded. “Praise be. That was the Queen and two of her sons. She has escaped the privations of the heathens.”
I gestured to the door, “Whereas you have not. Tell me what she was doing here.”
“She wished her sons, Æthelbald and Æthelberht, to learn more about our holy books. She sets great store by reading.” That made sense. If she had endowed the monastery then the priests would do all that they could to accommodate her. “Tell us, lord, what happens to us?”
“You will be taken to Frisia. Perhaps someone may buy you as a scribe. You will live but we will sell you.”
Their shoulders slumped in resignation, they left. I checked that all had been taken. My Ulfheonar would have cleared the sleeping quarters and the other buildings. As I emerged into the light I saw them carrying sacks of grain and hams. The monks ate well. So would we. Dawn had broken while I had been in the church. I saw the young warriors who had helped me defeat the last Saxons. I pointed to the dead warriors they had slain. “Take what you will from the dead. Their helmets, mail and swords will be useful. Their shields are piss poor.”
They fell upon the dead and searched them. I saw Haraldr as he tried on helmet after helmet. None fitted. He found a long sword and look pleased.
“What about mail?”
“I am bigger than these, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“Take the biggest one you can. You will be able to use it. Do not forget to search their purses for treasure. If they are Christian and have coin they may have a silver cross around their neck.”
I wandered over to the dead woman. I saw that she lay at an awkward angle. I took the silver cross which hung around her neck. It was well made. It would fetch a better price than melting down the silver. I saw that she was an older woman. It explained why she had not been able to control the horse. I waited until the last of my men had begun the descent to the river. When I reached the drekar they were waiting for me. I boarded and I saw the relief on Sámr’s face. The cloak covered bodies would have been a reminder to him of how dangerous our life was. We rarely brought home our dead. The only ones who were aware of our losses were the families of the dead.
Erik shouted, “Loose the sail!” We would not need to row. The journey, however, was likely to be more dangerous than the one upstream.
I put my helmet in my chest. I left my mail on. I saw that the men who had acquired treasure stored it in their chests. They knew that we were not safe just yet. A couple of miles down the river I saw the Queen, her women and her sons. They were four hundred paces from the river and they had stopped. I remembered the crown and I took it out. In the daylight it was even more beautiful than I had thought. It was simply made but elegant. I noticed that the blue stone was the same as the one in my sword pommel. Wyrd . I put the crown in my chest. That alone would make the raid, even with the dead, worthwhile.
Lars Long Nose was the lookout. He shouted, “Captain, there are ships at the mouth of the river.”
“How many?”
“Three. They have blocked the mouth.”
I looked at Erik. He smiled, “Rowers, to your oars. Let us see if Bolli is a better shipwright than those who made these Saxon ships.”
I went to my chest, “Ship’s boys, get your bows! Let us see your skill!” The oars were run out and began to bite in the river. With the wind, the current, and the oars we were travelling as fast as I had ever known. I took the Saami bow and half a dozen arrows. As the ship’s boys grabbed their weapons they followed me.
The three ships were all slightly smaller than ours. They had their sails lowered and were using those to hold them in position. The mistake they had made was in failing to tie their ships together. Had they done so then we might have been in trouble.
I nocked an arrow and pulled back. “When you think you can reach then send arrows at their sterns. Try to hit the steersmen. Even if you do not hit them you may make them panic.”
I released. My bow had a longer range. It plunged down and hit a ship’s boy who was standing next to the steersman on the middle ship. Immediately men ran for shields. I nocked another and sent that towards the ship. We were closing with them rapidly. One of my arrows managed to hit their rudder. Sámr and the other ship’s boys were keen to emulate me. Their bows did not have the range and they had not the strength but their five arrows, falling on the Saxon decks had an effect. They were not watching our prow slicing through the water as my crew put all their efforts into the oars. They were watching for arrows descending from the sky. My men sang, joyously, as they rowed.
Haaken had chosen one of our victories over the Saxons. It seemed appropriate and inspired the men.
The Saxon King had a mighty home
Protected by rock, sea and foam
Safe he thought from all his foes
But the Dragonheart would bring new woes
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
The snake had fled and was hiding there
Safe he thought in the Saxon lair
With heart of dragon and veins of ice
Dragonheart knew nine would suffice
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
Below the sand they sought the cave
The rumour from the wizard brave
Beneath the sea without a light
The nine all waited through the night
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
When night fell they climbed the stair
Invisible to the Saxons there
In the tower the traitors lurked
Dragonheart had a plan which worked
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
With Odin’s blade the legend fought
Magnus’ tricks they
came to nought
With sword held high and a mighty thrust
Dragonheart sent Magnus to an end that was just
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
We struck the stern of the middle ship so hard that Lars Long Nose fell to the deck. Erik shouted, “In oars. Even then he was not quick enough. Three oars sheered. The Saxon began to take on water. As I sent an arrow at a range of thirty yards into the chest of a mailed warrior I saw that she was down by the stern. We had sprung her strakes. The other two ships had a dilemma; did they pursue us or save their comrades? They chose, wisely, the latter. Had they tried to catch us and battle with us they would have lost. Erik put the steering board over so that we headed east. Once we had cleared the island we would head south and east. The wind would help us and we could stop rowing. When we were clear of the Saxon shore we would bury our dead. They had died with their swords in their hands and they would be in Valhalla. Their bodies would go to Njoror and he would guard them. When they were buried we headed due east. We would sail through the afternoon and the night. The wind would help us.
I watched the new men take out and examine the treasures they had collected. The coins and jewels were ignored. It was the weapons they pored over. I wandered towards Haraldr. He held the byrnie he had found before his body. It was obviously too small. “I told you jarl, it will not fit.”
Olaf laughed, “Not like that. Give it here.” He took his axe and held the shaft between his knees. Using a sawing action, he began to cut the links of mail in the middle. It took him time but eventually he had the byrnie split. He handed it to Haraldr. “Take off your leather vest and put it on.”
The byrnie looked like a vest but it covered his arms and his back. The problem was that there was a gap down the middle. “I suppose it is better than nothing!”