by Griff Hosker
“You will not fight alongside me again?”
“I told you, this is weregeld. There is no honour n this and precious little booty. We go home tomorrow. You could raid this land for a time. I doubt that King Egbert will have men close by. Take the slaves and find the holy books in the churches but by the new moon Egbert will be back and he will have raised the fyrd.” I smiled, “That is free advice from someone who has fought the men of Wessex many times. You are free to take it or ignore it.”
He stared at me looking for the lie or the deception. Seeing none he nodded, “Thank you for the advice.”
As the sun rose in the east and before Klakke and most of the Danes were awake, we marched back to our ships with Magnus Axe Head and his men. We did not have much treasure but then I had not expected much. We had a great quantity of mail, helmets and swords. Some of the Saxon eorledmen had coins and jewels on them. Some had rings. It was more than Klakke Blue Cheek had given us. There had been much drinking and fighting the night before. It was mainly the Danes fighting amongst themselves and fighting over women. The slaves from the palace paid the price of the Saxon defeat. We kept out of it. When two drunken Danes fought over a woman and one died Gruffyd caught my eye. Klakke said and did nothing. We now knew that the whole situation had been planned and created by Klakke to get me to fight for him. My instincts had been right. It made leaving, as we did, much easier.
Only two crews came back with Magnus Axe Head. The other three hoped to pick up more scraps from the table of Wessex. Magnus did not mind that they had stayed. “I have two good crews now and we have better mail and weapons. The treasure we have will just keep us fed for a short time but I will heed your advice and head for Thorghest the Lucky’s longphort. I will ask Thorghest if we can sail with him. I think you are right about Egbert. I also wonder about Klakke’s tactics. If he had just wanted to capture the treasure of the palace he should have kept his plans secret.”
I nodded, “He wanted Egbert there. Klakke Blue Cheek plays a game and the prize will be a throne. You and I are his pawns. If he sacrifices us then he cares not. You are right to sail with Thorghest. The Hibernians are not united. Thorghest has fought them before and he knows that he can beat them one by one.”
It took us longer to reach the longphort and our ships for there was no rush. Neither Magnus nor ourselves had bothered with the slaves and it did not take us long to load the drekar. We were about to leave when four riders galloped up. It was Gedda and three other Danes. He threw himself from the back of his horse, “Jarl Dragonheart, Klakke begs you to stay. We can sail south and raid the southern coast.”
“Gedda, you seem like an honourable warrior and I will speak to you honestly. You deserve that. We were duped into fighting for Klakke.” His eyes flickered to the ground confirming my suspicions. “I have lain in bed with a viper. I will not do so willingly again. I should have made it a blood feud for I have seen your leader and he is no warrior.”
Gedda pleaded, “I beg you Jarl Dragonheart, with you at our side we can defeat and conquer Wessex.”
“Klakke could not convince me and nor can you. I sail home to the Land of the Wolf. From now on I choose my own battles.”
I boarded my drekar and we sailed north. I had paid the weregeld and I hoped that would be the last I would see or hear of Klakke Blue Cheek. I was wrong.
The winds were against us and we did not row hard. By the end of the day we were close to Porth Madog and the coast of Gwynedd. There was a small island just off the coast and we anchored there. Magnus and his ships carried on north and we waved them farewell.
We had shared out the booty and mail with the other crews before we had left Wessex. As we ate on the beach Ketil and Ulf approached me, “Jarl Dragonheart we have a request to make.”
“You have only to ask.”
“We did not gain as much from the raid as we hoped. We would like to raid the hills close to here. They have many sheep and cattle. We have an empty drekar.”
“You may do so.”
The other jarl, including my grandson had been listening and waiting for my decision, “We would like to join them.”
I laughed, “Of course, you are Vikings. Us old men will sail home to Whale Island and await you there.”
I knew that Erik Ironshirt and his crew wished to raid as well but it had been my band who had suffered the most injuries. I waved him towards me. “We will return home but if you wish to raid then you can do so once we have reached our home.”
I saw relief on his face. “Thank you, Jarl Dragonheart. We, too, thought there would be more treasure in the palace.”
“I think King Egbert heard of the raid and spirited most away with him. He is not a stupid man. I think Klakke will be disappointed. He hoped to find a pot of gold. Egbert will have his treasury well-guarded with Danes loose in his land.”
The other drekar left in the middle of the night. They would be able to use the wind to help them sail east to the estuary. We would need to row for the wind was still from the north and west. As we cleared the land there was a cry from the masthead. Leif the Lucky was there. “Captain, a ship to the north east of us. She looks to be a Saxon.”
Erik Short Toe looked at me, “We can catch her if you wish Jarl Dragonheart.”
Haaken was rowing and he grinned, “The gods have sent us a juicy mouthful. It would be churlish to refuse it.”
“Very well but you will all be rowing!”
“For a Saxon ship that will be worth it!”
Through the stormy Saxon Seas
The Ulfheonar they sailed
Fresh from killing faithless Danes
Their glory was assured
Heart of Dragon
Gift of a king
Two fine drekar
Flying o'er foreign seas
Then Saxons came out of the night
An ambush by their Isle of Wight
Vikings fight they do not run
The Jarl turned away from the rising sun
Heart of Dragon
Gift of a king
Two fine drekar
Flying o'er foreign seas
The galdramenn burned Dragon Fire
And the seas they burned bright red
Aboard 'The Gift' Asbjorn the Strong
And the rock Eystein
Rallied their men to board their foes
And face them beard to beard
Heart of Dragon
Gift of a king
Two fine drekar
Flying o'er foreign seas
Against great odds and back to back
The heroes fought as one
Their swords were red with Saxon blood
And the decks with bodies slain
Surrounded on all sides was he
But Eystein faltered not
He slew first one and then another
But the last one did for him
Even though he fought as a walking dead
He killed right to the end
Heart of Dragon
Gift of a king
Two fine drekar
Flying o'er foreign seas
It was an appropriate song. I went to the prow. A Saxon ship was, indeed, a tasty morsel. They were slow, which meant we could catch them. Their crew would not be a match for ours and who knew what cargo it carried. The ropes, sails and anchors would make the raid worthwhile and, if we could capture her undamaged, then we could use her as our own vessel.
As I passed Erik Ironshirt I smiled, “You may not have to raid if this Saxon has cargo.”
“They say that Thorghest is lucky but it is you who is the lucky one.”
The Saxon had seen us. He had a couple of choices. He could try to out run us and head for Hibernia. If he did so we would catch him. He could stop and let us capture him or he could turn to steerboard and use the wind to reach Mona or, as the Saxons called, it Angle Sey. That was the option they chose. As I made my way back to the steerboard I knew that it was a mistake. We were flying across the
sea and the change in course would aid us. Erik Short Toe could adjust the sail so that we would be able to help the rowers. We would catch her and, as I looked to the land, I saw Wyddfa. Perhaps returning the chest to the cave bought us favour with the spirits. Who knew how the gods worked?
The Saxon captain was a brave man or, perhaps, he trusted to the White Christ. As we closed with him he suddenly put the steering board over to sail with the wind behind him. His ship began to move much faster. He was trying to use the wind to escape us. Erik Short Toe was as good a sailor as any and my crew the strongest. Erik shouted, “Haaken, up the stroke. Guthrum, Leif, tighten the stays.”
If the Saxon was fast then my drekar was faster. We barely seemed to touch the water. The oars flicked in and out of the sea in perfect rhythm. It soon became obvious that we would cut them off and catch them. The captain turned north and west. It made no difference and we began to close even faster. “In oars!”
I shouted, “Gruffyd, get a grappling hook. When we are level with her stern catch her!”
“Aye Jarl Dragonheart.”
My men grabbed their weapons. I was not certain that we would need them. I saw little evidence of a large, armed crew. Six warriors stood at the stern and they had helmets, shields and spears. I went forward with Haaken and Olaf to join Gruffyd. Aðils and Beorn had their bows strung. “Send a couple of arrows towards the steering board.”
As soon as the bows were pulled back the six warriors held their shields above the steersman. One paid for it with his life as Beorn’s arrow struck him in the neck. A second flight of arrows resulted in an arrow to a Saxon warrior’s leg. Then Gruffyd hurled the grappling hook. The stern was less than ten paces from us and it was a good throw or perhaps the gods aided his arm. As one of the warriors drew his sword to sever the rope, Aðils’ arrow pitched him over the side. My men began to pull on the rope and, inexorably, we closed with them. Haaken, Olaf and I stood on the gunwale. I held on to one of the stays. When we were just two paces from the Saxon and with its stern racing towards us, we leapt and landed on the deck. One of the warriors tried to spear me as I lay on the deck but an arrow appeared from his throat. Olaf and Haaken killed the other two.
“Lower the sail!”
I think my use of Saxon surprised the captain. He nodded and the sail came down. My men swarmed aboard.
“Secure the ship and search for her cargo.” I turned to the captain, “It must be valuable for you to risk your ship like that.”
He shrugged, “The choice is simple, risk the ship or die as these did and as we will soon enough.”
“Perhaps, you never know. Where were you sailing?”
He hesitated and then realised the futility of lying, “We were heading for Leinster and the court of King Bran mac Fáeláin.”
“An Irish king.” I looked down at the dead warriors. They all had the same mail and weapons. These were King Egbert’s own warriors. “This ship is King Egbert’s?”
“He hired me, aye.”
I was about to ask what he was conveying when Rolf Horse Killer appeared with two girls. They both looked to be about fourteen summers old. “I found these below, Jarl Dragonheart. They are not Saxon but I cannot understand their words.” Behind him I saw Rollo carrying a small chest.
I looked at the captain. He said nothing. “Answer me and you might live. Give me information which I can use and you may have your freedom.”
“And my crew?”
“If I like what you say then yes.”
He sighed, “This is Ebrel the daughter of King Mordaf ap Hopkin of the Om Walum. The other is her half-sister Bronnen.”
“And they are going to the King of Leinster because…?”
“I cannot say, lord. These six men were her guards.” He pointed to the one Olaf had slain, “That was Eorledman Ather. He was to stay with her. I swear I know not why.”
The guard who had been wounded lay by the steering board. I took out Wolf’s Blood. I cut a strip of material from the eorledman’s cloak and bound the wound to stem the bleeding. I took the Saxon’s seax and sword and threw them across the deck. I held the dagger before his right eye. “There are a number of things I can do with this. I could take your eye. I could end your life. If you wished, I could give you a warrior’s death.” He shook his head. This man was not ready to die, “Or, if you answer me, then, like the captain and his crew, you might live.”
I saw his eyes take in the dead men around him. He had expected to die and I had given him a lifeline. “What do you wish to know?”
“Why are you going to King Bran mac Fáeláin?”
“King Egbert is paying him to watch these hostages. They are the daughters of the King of Om Walum. The Queen of Om Walum is dead and he has no sons. If King Mordaf ap Hopkin keeps the peace and acknowledges King Egbert as his lord and master then the girls will be safe.”
“Hostages?”
“Aye, lord.”
“Rollo open the chest.” He did so and we saw that it had coins within. “Here is the payment. Put the girls and the chest on the ‘Heart of the Dragon.’ We will sail to Legacaestir and land these Saxons there. I will stay with them. When we have landed the Saxons ashore, then we will put a crew aboard this ship and take her home. I will just keep the Ulfheonar with me. Haaken, you and Olaf take the girls and the chest aboard our ship and then return here.”
The girls began to scream when Olaf Leather Neck put his arm around the waist of the one called Bronnen. Gruffyd said, “Let me, Jarl Dragonheart. She is frightened. Einar and I are less frightening than these two.”
He was right. Neither had full beards and both Olaf and Haaken had scarred and gnarled faces. We were used to Haaken’s one eye but he terrified the young. Wearing mail, they were even more frightening. I nodded, “Very well but make it quick!”
My Ulfheonar released the girls and Gruffyd held out his hand and, smiling said, “Come,” in Saxon. I had no idea if she understood but as Olaf and Haaken looked like they were staying with me they went with my son and his friend. Once the chest was put aboard we untied the grappling hook and began to head north and west. The Weird Sisters had been spinning. What did this mean? Once again, I would need Aiden and his advice.
Chapter 10
We had dropped our prisoners just five miles from the port of Legacaestir. Then we had sailed north. I had stayed aboard the Saxon ship. After stripping the bodies of mail and swords we had dropped them overboard. It was a well-made ship and there were charts which Erik Short Toe would find useful. There were also weapons. They were intended, I assumed for the Irish King. Perhaps they were to help them to fight the Vikings of Veisafjǫrðr. I would send a knarr there to warn them of the threat.
When we reached Ragnar and Raibeart’s halls I had the girls put on horses and we took them and the chest to my home. They would only allow Gruffyd and Einar near to them and each time either Haaken or Olaf even looked at them they began to weep. Haaken was most bemused, “It has been many years since I could make a woman cry just by looking at her. Olaf Leather Neck, I can understand! I often wake up shivering with fear at the thought of his ugly face, but me?”
Erik Short Toe agreed to find a crew for the ship which we named ‘Fortune’ . Certainly, we thought she had brought us good luck. Aiden would, hopefully, confirm that. As we rode north I had the chance to examine the two girls. They were both similar in looks. The fact that they were half-sisters was intriguing for they looked to be almost the same age. They had long dark hair and the Saxons had allowed them to keep their jewels. Bronnen had a torc around her neck and a bracelet with a stag upon it while Ebrel had a torc and a ring with a blue stone. The stone was the same hue as the pommel stone in Ragnar’s Spirit. I allowed Gruffyd and Einar to lead their horses and we followed. It seemed easier.
When we emerged from the forest and they saw the Water with the sun shining upon it I saw them look around in wonder. I never tired of the view but it was always interesting to see the reaction of strangers. It showed what a
magical place my land was. The men who did not live in Cyninges-tūn left us before we reached my walls. Haaken gave an elaborate bow before he headed up the trail to his home. I sent Aðils Shape Shifter to warn Kara and Aiden of our arrival. That left Olaf and I to talk.
“This is the Norns’ work jarl.”
“I know.”
“We could be increasing the number of our enemies. King Egbert is one. The King of Leinster will become a second and, unless we make the right decision then King Mordaf ap Hopkin will be the third. That is three kings to take on!”
“As you said, Olaf, that is out of our hands. We are tied by threads we cannot see. I will seek guidance but, inevitably, the decision will be mine.”
“And Klakke Blue Cheek?”
“I know not. However, I have learned that not all Danes are our enemies. Magnus Axe Head was a warrior such as we and that gives me hope.”
“You will not sail to join Thorghest too?”
I shook my head, “I have thought on that. It would be wrong. If I did so and we conquered Dyflin then all would say that it was the Dragonheart who was responsible. I owe it to Thorghest to let him succeed by himself. It was why I was pleased that Magnus joined him. If my jarls wish to go then I will not stand in their way but my days of conquering kingdoms is gone. I had thought that we would have defeated Egbert and ended his life but that was not meant to be. I am just grateful that we have hurt him and he will take time to recover. These two hostages are a prize which we could not have foreseen. It remains to see how we might use them.”
We went directly to Kara’s hall. My clan turned out to see the two girls. This was an unusual occurrence. “Gruffyd and Einar, take our horses to the stable and ask Uhtric to light the fire in the steam hut.”
“Should we not stay with the ladies?”
I smiled, “No, you have done all that I could have asked of you and I am grateful. Aiden and Kara can speak with them. They will be better staying here at the house of women than in my hall.”
Olaf put a mighty mitt around each of them, “Come, we will have an ale together. You became warriors in this raid.” He led the two of them off.