by Griff Hosker
“Of course. This will not take long.” I took out the crown. “I have some holy books. I believe that you might buy them.” He nodded. “But this is something special. It belonged to Queen Osburga of the Saxons.”
He looked up, “She is dead?”
“I told you we are hunters not women killers. She is alive but I think she will miss her crown.”
“May I?”
“Of course.” I handed it to him.
He examined it carefully and then handed it back. “It is worth more as a crown than melted down. I have a thought, Jarl Dragonheart. Let me sell it back to the King of Wessex and we will split the proceeds.”
“I could do that myself. Why do I need an intermediary?”
He laughed, “I think not. It would be obvious that I had not taken it. I could negotiate without rancour. If I paid you what it is worth I would be out of pocket until the ransom was paid. This way we both benefit. You get more than you would if I offered you coin and I do not have to lay out money I could use to, let us say, buy your books.”
“You are a clever man. I was told that I can trust you.” I gestured at the four men who stood around us. “These men look tough but, believe me, I have tougher.”
He laughed, “That I can believe. When can you bring me the books?”
“I can send my men back now if you wish. We intend to stay for your market tomorrow. My men have coins they wish to spend and we have other goods to trade.” I went to the door. My two men looked relieved to see me. “Go the drekar. Have Olaf Leather Neck and some men bring the books we took from the monastery.”
“Will you be safe, jarl?”
“I will be safe.”
Once I was back inside one of the warriors asked, “Is that the sword that was touched by the gods?”
“It is, Ragnar’s Spirit.” I made no attempt to unsheathe it. Many men wished to touch it but I did not know these men.
The warrior nodded. He was not offended by my reluctance to show the weapon. He turned to the Jew, “Lord, as valuable as that crown is, to a Viking warrior that sword is worth much more. Men would sell a whole drekar just to own it.”
The Jew smiled and spread his arms, “I am just a simple merchant. I know nothing of war but even I have heard of this sword. Many Danes and Norse seek me out to sell their goods. I am honest for Vikings do not try to kill me because of my religion. Often, they have spoken of this sword, you and your Land of the Wolf. I confess I have been intrigued.” He waved to one of the warriors, “Fetch us wine while we wait.” The man hurried off, “You do drink wine do you not?”
“I am well-travelled and I have been to Miklagård. I drink wine.”
“Do not take offence, Jarl Dragonheart, but you are the oldest Viking I have ever seen.”
I laughed, “I am not offended. I have been lucky.”
The warrior who had asked me about the sword shook his head, “No, you are not just lucky. The gods favour you it is true but the men you have killed were all mighty warriors, Klakke Blue Cheek, Eggle the Skull Splitter, Guthrum, Sigeberht the Saxon; the list is a long one. I have heard that so long as you wield the sword you cannot be killed.”
“I have heard that too. I hope it is true.”
“And that you went into the bowels of the earth, dived into a pool and recovered another sword, just as powerful as this one.”
“I have a sword I found, aye. The Weird Sisters weave webs around me.”
The wine was brought and I sipped it. It was red and it was unwatered. I saw Isaac the Jew watching me. This was a test. I smiled, “Good wine. A beaker will suffice. I do not wish to be dull witted when we negotiate for the books.”
“Fear not, I will not rob you. This meeting is fortuitous. When I tell the other Vikings who come to me that you are one of my clients it will increase my esteem. I will make more coin from this visit.”
We chatted about warriors he knew. I recognised some of the names. Most appeared to be Danes. Then there was a knock on the door. It was opened and Olaf Leather Neck and Haaken One Eye stood there with the two chests containing the books we had taken. Olaf glowered at the warriors who watched me. I smiled. Isaac thought he had hired the best warriors he could. Now he was seeing real warriors.
The old man might have been a Jew but he knew the value of the books and he paid us a higher price that I expected. He even purchased the chests we had taken. I stood to leave. I handed over the crown. “When can I expect a return?”
“It will take time. I would say six moons. I have to get a message to the King and then negotiations will take place. It will not be a speedy transaction.” He looked nervously up at Olaf. “Is that satisfactory?”
“We will return in five.”
“Five it is.” The Jew held out his arm. “It has been a pleasure, Dragonheart.”
As we headed back Olaf said, “Do you trust him?”
I nodded, “I trust him to make as much money for himself as he can. He paid more for the books than we have ever received. Tomorrow we see if we can sell the three priests. If not, we take them to Dyflin. There is a market there for such clerics.”
Erik Short Toe and the ship’s boys were cleaning themselves up as we returned. Erik looked pleased with himself. “The boys worked well, jarl. Tomorrow I will let them visit the market.”
Sámr looked pleased and then said, “Jarl Dragonheart, where is our share from the books? We have empty purses.”
Lars Long Nose looked shocked that Sámr had the effrontery to be so bold. I nodded seriously, “You are right to take me to task although we normally wait until we are at home to do so.”
He looked crestfallen, “I am sorry. I did not know.”
“No matter. Haaken, fetch the crew.” I sat on the beer barrel and waved Haraldr over with the chest of coins we had been paid. I used the lid to divide it. A quarter went to me. I put that to one side. Then I took another quarter and, after dividing that in two, pushed it over to Erik. The remaining half I handed over to Haaken. He would divide it up. As Erik began to dole out the coins Sámr asked, “What is that half of a quarter for, Jarl Dragonheart?”
“The families of those who fell. They will also receive the same amount from that which we sell tomorrow and when we are paid for the crown.” He was young but he was old enough to recognise the wisdom of such an action.
That night the crew went ashore again but I remained on board. I noticed that, as well as Haaken One Eye, Haraldr, Lars Long Nose, Sámr and Erik Short Toe also remained on board. As the others left I said to them, “We have enough to guard the ship. Stay as long as you wish…or can afford!”
I wondered why Haraldr stayed aboard and then I saw him take his byrnie and a hammer and go to the stone quay. He began to hammer flat the cut links. Haaken had bought some of the local sausage. He cut a slice off and washed it down with the beer. “He has done well for his first raid. Leif would have been proud of him.”
Erik asked, “I wonder if those in the Otherworld can watch us here in this world. If not, Leif will have to wait until his son dies to discover what he has sired.”
Sámr looked up at the stars. It was a clear night and it would be cold, “Does my grandfather know of me?”
I nodded, “He does for Úlfarr is in the Otherworld. The men who died protecting you are in Valhalla. He will know.”
“What was Wolf Killer like?”
“He was a great warrior. He died protecting your father and he was trying to save your uncle. We slew his killers. Your father was lucky to have your grandmother. Elfrida was a strong woman. She kept you all together.”
He was silent and stared at the stars. He had never known my son and that was sad.
Eventually the crew came back aboard. It was late and they were noisy. Olaf smacked a few of the more boisterous ones and told them to be silent. I tried to get back to sleep but, as the last of them fell asleep, I found myself needing to make water. As I stood on the sheerstrake I saw a drekar slowly making its way to the quay. It had no shields
along its side but it was a Dane. I finished making water and watched it tie up. They did not leave their drekar and so I returned to my sleeping blanket. It took some time to drift off to sleep. It was not a surprise that a Dane should visit Bruggas to trade but I was a little uneasy.
I was awake early. More ships had arrived and the quay was filled. Four ships had anchored in the harbour and were using skerries to ferry their men ashore. There were just two drekar and I was glad that we would be leaving in the evening when we had made our trades. Erik was awake. I pointed out the Dane. “Keep the ship’s boys close and an eye on that one.”
“I will. How long will you need to trade?”
“If all goes well we could leave in the early afternoon.”
“I would prefer that, jarl. The waters can be tricky. If I do it now, in daylight, it will be easier next time we come.”
The three priests had been closely watched. They knew their fate. I think they believed that the church might buy them back. I was not certain. Not all of our crew wished to trade. Many wished to spend their coin in the Land of the Wolf where we made better weapons than here in Flanders.
“Bring the captives and the trade goods.” This was a Christian land. The religious artefacts would fetch a higher value here. The presence of the priests would only add to that value. The Empire did not approve of slave markets. All that had done was to drive them to the remote parts of the Empire. Bruggas benefitted and there were many slaves. I saw that the Danes had brought Saxons. They had been raiding Northumbria. Ours were the only priests. I left two men to watch them in the holding pen while I went with the Ulfheonar to sell the candlesticks and altar furniture we had brought. There were the dishes they used to place the bread upon and the goblets in which they served the wine. We could have melted them down but this would yield more profit.
I saw a stall which had poorer quality versions of our merchandise. Haaken opened the chest. “What price for these?”
The trader had grubby fingers and I did not think that he would know their true value. Before he could answer a voice behind said, “Name your price heathen and the church will pay.” I turned and saw a churchman. This was neither poor priest nor monk. He had jewelled rings on his fingers and fine clothes. He was also attended by two guards. They had short mail shirts and fine helmets. I just looked at him, “I am the Bishop of Lille. These are fine pieces and my church is a beautiful one. Name your price.”
I did not like the man. He smelled of perfume but a sale was a sale. I made up a ridiculously high price. To my amazement he paid. I took his money and I smiled, “There are three priests too!”
He almost snarled at me, “We need no Saxon priests. And I would watch yourselves, barbarians. King Charles is now King of the Franks. He and his brother will search out your people from their rat holes and destroy your ships. The day of the Viking is at an end!”
His two men picked up his chest and he left. Haaken laughed, “The day has not been wasted then. We have made money and been insulted by a man who smells like a woman!”
We returned to the sale of the slaves. The lesser quality ones were sold first. Finally, there was just the three monks left. I looked for the churchman but he had gone. There were three nobles. Often a noble would buy a priest to educate his children or to write letters for him. Many Franks could not write.
When the bidding started I was surprised at how high it went. Eventually two nobles were left. The one who bought them was an older man. I asked a man nearby if he was from Flanders. The others had deferred to him. The man thought about refusing to answer my question and then realised that we were Vikings. He said, “He is the Count of Poitiers. He serves Lothair, the Emperor’s son.”
“I thought that was Charles?”
“He has three: Louis, Charles and Lothair. Louis and Charles just fought a war against Lothair and they won.”
Suddenly everything became clear. That was why the Bishop had not made a bid. He would not wish to bid against Lothair; he supported Charles. I saw advantages to this port of Bruggas. We collected the coin. I turned to Olaf, “We will divide the coin when we are on the drekar. Tell the men they have until noon and then we sail on the high tide.”
“Aye, Jarl Dragonheart.”
Haaken and I walked back through the square and headed for the quay. A voice said, “I would like to buy you a drink, Jarl Dragonheart.”
I turned and saw a Dane. He was not alone. He had a couple of hearth weru with him. He looked to be of an age with Rollo Thin Skin. He wore good mail and had a Danish war axe. I recognised him as being one from the drekar. I was going to refuse and then realised the futility of doing so. The Norns were spinning. “We sail on the afternoon tide. I can have one drink. We will drink at the sign of the wheatsheaf.”
“You know your ale. Freya brews the best.” I did not tell him that I also felt safer there. I merely nodded. “You have a fine drekar but I was somewhat surprised at the youth of your crew. I would have thought that the great Dragonheart would have mailed warriors who wear battle bands sailing with him.”
Haaken One Eye smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. He was angry. “Battle bands are what the Danes wear to show that they have fought. The Dragonheart’s crew let their deeds speak for them.”
The hearth weru with the Dane bristled. “Peace. Haaken means nothing but do not insult my young warriors.”
“I am sorry. I meant no offence. I have looked forward to meeting you for some time. I expected a different crew was all. Especially as you have just managed to steal Queen Osburga’s crown.”
I looked at Haaken. He had discovered that information quickly enough.
We had reached the alehouse. Freya greeted me warmly with another kiss, “I thought you were sailing on the afternoon tide and I did not expect to see you. Do you wish food?”
I gestured at the Dane, “I have been invited for a horn of ale but I will buy a barrel of your golden ale for the voyage home.” I took out a half gold piece and gave it to her.
She smiled and said, “With any other warrior I would ask if he wished change but I know that you do not! You are something rare, Dragonheart.”
The Dane sat opposite me. There were only three seats and so his hearth weru stood. “I am Hvitserk Ragnarsson. My father was Ragnar Lodbrok.”
“I have heard of him.”
Our ale came. The Dane lifted his horn and said, “I drink to the Dragonheart and the sword that was touched by the gods!”
Haaken raised his own, “I will always drink to that.”
Hvitserk Ragnarsson said, “I will come directly to the point. I heard about your raid on Lundenwic. You took in a few ships and yet you came away with a fortune. The way you drew the Saxons to Essex was masterful.”
I raised my horn and nodded.
He leaned forward, “Think what we could do if we took a fleet of three hundred ships to Wessex. It would not just be Lundewic, the whole of Cent, Essex and Wessex would be there for us to take.”
I said nothing. I knew that Haaken was interested but he would wait for me to respond.
I saw that the Dane had expected a more fulsome answer. He spread his arms, “What can I do to persuade you.”
“I have never sailed with Danes. The ones I have met, like Klakke Blue Cheek and the Skull Splitter were not men I would like to share the same air let alone a longphort.”
“You would lead and it would not just be Danes. There are many Norse and those from the islands who wish to follow you. We would not need a longphort. With three hundred ships we could fill the Temese.”
“And if we succeeded, what then?”
“We would be rich! We would rule the land of the Saxons.”
“But I do not wish to rule any land. I am happy to live in the Land of the Wolf.”
“Then one of us would rule it.”
I drained the horn of ale. “And you would not rule it long. You would fight amongst yourselves for the right to rule and the Saxons would band together and drive you back in
to the sea.” I stood.
“I beg you to think about it. Just lead us. You take your choice of the treasure and if we fight amongst ourselves then you will be gone. The sword that was touched by the gods can bring us victory. Especially if you lead us.”
Haaken had stood too. “How long will it take you to gather such a fleet?” Haaken gave me a surprised look. I gave him the slightest shakes of my head.
The Dane also looked surprised. “In six moons I will know. We would raid at Einmánuður.”
“Then I will be here in five moons. Leave word here with Freya.”
“I said I would know in six moons, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“If you do not have them in five moons time then you will never have them.”
He stood and clasped my arm. “I believe that we will succeed, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“We will see.” Freya had been listening and she came over to me as I left, “I am honoured that you trust me, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“This white hair and beard are testament to the knowledge I have gained over the years. I can judge people.”
“I will not let you down.”
As we headed back to the ship Haaken said, “Why agree?”
“Because if we had not then we would have made enemies of the Lodbrok clan. We have enough people coming to our land to try to hurt our families without inviting more Danes. He will not raise three hundred ships. When we see him next, he will come up with some excuse. Now let us head home. We have coin to share with our people.”
There was a rustling in the air. I took it to be the breeze. It was the Norns.
Chapter 4
The voyage home was long but it was uneventful. The weather deteriorated but the winds were just precocious rather than dangerous. Erik’s repairs held. We stopped frequently for we had lost rowers. That helped my men for they became even closer as a crew. We had left Whale Island with untried and untested boys and we had brought back men. It was wyrd .
As usual the narrow entrance to our harbour meant that people had time to come down and to meet us. The quay was filled with a sea of fearful faces looking for loved ones. Only a handful would be heartbroken. Their pain would be lessened by the coin we would give as weregeld to their families. I thought that Sámr had grown on the voyage. I knew that he had changed. The hard work had broadened him and he would now have more strength when he practised with his sword. He and Lars Long Nose had become drekar brothers and that was good. Haaken and I were still oar brothers and it was more than fifty years since we had become so.