by Griff Hosker
He whipped his horse’s head around and galloped towards the advancing lines of warriors.
I raised my sword and shouted, “I am Jarl Dragonheart and I wield the sword that was touched by the gods! Fear me, men of Strathclyde, for you will leave your bones here for the carrion to feast upon.”
The prince reached their lines and they all stopped. My men began banging their shields and chanted, “Ulfheonar, Ulfheonar, Ulfheonar, Ulfheonar, Ulfheonar,” over and over.
When they did not move, I slipped my shield over my back and began to head back to our horses. As I expected there was a delay as they stood, stunned by my words and what they had witnessed. Then I heard their feet. They were chasing us. We ran. We easily reached our horses and were mounted and riding away before the first of our foes reached the dell. We galloped towards the stad. When we reached it, I saw that Ketil and Asbjorn had a double shield wall and the walls bristled with archers. Our men cheered as we approached!
Ulf had the gate opened. He stood on the fighting platform, “Come bring your men inside.”
I shook my head, “No, Ulf, for that will invite the men of Strathclyde to rampage through our lands. I want every warrior with a mail byrnie out here with me and the rest within the walls! Beorn go inside and organise the archers.”
No one argued with me no matter how ridiculous my plan sounded.
As the orders were passed I began to organise our shield wall. I knew what I was doing. Man for man we were better warriors than the enemy. This way our archers could release over our heads and the enemy would break against our steel rock. Of course, they outnumbered us but I was counting on Ragnar bringing reinforcements along the river. The enemy advance was not as quick as I expected and we had the men arrayed before their banners appeared. The enemy host spread out before us and we had just a double line of sixty warriors to face them. They had learned from their first attack that horses were not the answer. They were all dismounted. However, there was little order to them.
I heard the gates slam behind us. We were between the two gates. Ulf, Beorn and Aðils were experienced enough to make decisions while I fought. I scanned the enemy ranks. The Hibernians were clustered around their leader and they were on the enemy right. Wild men who fought half naked, they would be a handful. It was Asbjorn who fought on our left flank. He knew how to deal with them. Ketil, on our right faced those who lived in the high lands bordering Northumbria. They were tough warriors who lived on the high and lonely hills. They would have bow men and slingers with them. I did not envy Ketil facing them but he knew them better than any for his land bordered theirs too. He had led raids north and the enemy had learned to respect him.
In the centre, we faced Prince Artgal. I saw that the king was not fighting. He and his men were gathered on the low bluff behind their army. They were gathered around their standard.
“Shields!”
Finni Folkisson was behind me and his shield and spear were placed over my head. I put my left foot forward and flexed my knee. I held my shield before me and held my spear overhand. A horn sounded from the rear and the enemy ran at us. I saw that it was not their mailed men who came but men armed with javelins and slings. They were attacking the centre of our line, me! My wolf shield drew them. Behind us I heard Beorn shout, “Release!” Arrows flew over our heads to thin the ranks of those who ran at us. We only had thirty or so archers but their lofted position meant that they had a clear view of the enemy. I saw one warrior pull his arm back to throw his javelin only to be hurled back by the arrow which struck his chest and came out of his back.
Some made it through the storm of arrows. A javelin thudded into my shield. A stone pinged off Finni’s. Peering over the top of my shield I saw the survivors limp back to the safety of their own shields.
Haaken One Eye was next to me, “If they do this enough times then we will not need your grandson.”
“I do not expect them to be so foolish. They were testing us and they did not expect us to have so many bows on our walls. Their next attack will be different.”
Their horn sounded twice. I took the opportunity to lower my shield and pull the javelin from it. As I rammed the shaft into the ground before me I saw that, this time, they were attacking our flanks. They knew we had limited archers and were dividing our arrows. I pulled up my shield again. The enemy facing us were three hundred paces from us. They were beating their shields and yelling taunts at us. I could hear the feet of their comrades as they ran at Ketil and Asbjorn. They would reach my flanks first. I heard the cries as men were hit by arrows and stones and then I heard a crack and a crash as they ran into our shields. I kept my eyes to the front. I would have to trust that my men would hold.
This was a longer fight than their first attack. Suddenly the horn sounded once and their centre ran at us. This time we would not have the benefit of the arrows to protect us. They would charge at us and try to knock us into Ulf’s ditch behind.
“Lock shields! Brace spears!” Finni’s shield was not over my head; it was locked against my back. This time I did not hold my spear overhand I placed the end against my right foot and rested it on my shield. The head protruded more than an arm’s length in front of my shield.
We had a clear view of the enemy as they ran in a wild charge towards us. Chiefs led their oathsworn and men from their villages. Some had helmets. I saw a few in full mail. Many had spears but others used long, slightly curved swords. Their shields were smaller but they would use them offensively. And then they hit us. The javelin I had jammed into the ground caught one warrior, who raced ahead of the others, by surprise for it was low and it impaled his groin. He lay writhing on the ground until his comrades hurdled his body. I felt flesh strike my spear as a sword crashed on to my shield. The speed of their charge had rammed a warrior against my spear. I could not move my right arm and the dead warrior lay against my shield. Then the weight and bulk of the enemy began to throw themselves into the wall of dead and dying men to push us back.
“Hold them! Hold them.”
I heard Finni roar, “Lock shields!”
It was a strange sensation to be pushed back by dead men. I released my spear for I could not use it and I drew Wolf’s Blood. The weight of the man’s body made it start to slip down the front of my shield. I wriggled my hand between the two dead men before me and then pushed the blade up. I was rewarded by flesh. I pushed harder and felt blood on my hand and heard a scream. I had no idea what I had struck save that the pressure eased slightly. I was fighting alongside the last of the Ulfheonar and we knew more tricks than any warriors alive. As we slew and wounded those in the second rank of the enemy so we stopped them being able to use their dead comrades as human battering rams.
Now that the pressure before us had gone I slipped Wolf’s Blood into my left hand and drew Ragnar’s Spirit. I managed to hold it aloft and yell, “Ragnar’s Spirit!”
Just then I heard Beorn cry from the walls, “Sails! Ragnar, son of Wolf Killer has come!”
That seemed to give my warriors renewed energy. I swung my sword overhand. I could not see a face but I saw a helmet and it was moving. I used every ounce of strength that I had. The blow was so hard that my hand jarred. I had split the helmet and his skull. As I pulled it back I saw two axes swing overhand and hit two heads even further back than the man I had killed.
“Push!”
Finni’s shield began to push me in the back and I climbed over the first warriors I had slain. We walked carefully over the dead and dying men of Strathclyde.
Then there was a cry from behind, “They are falling back!” Even as Ulf Olafsson shouted I heard a horn sound four times.
There were too few of us to attack them and so I shouted, “Hold the line!”
I looked to my left and right and saw that my Ulfheonar all lived. They started banging their shields and calling my name. Ahead of me I saw the enemy pulling back. They would reform. Was the attack over?
“Have the wounded taken into the stad!” I turned to sp
eak with the men behind me. “You and your shield brothers did well, Finni!”
“It was an honour, Jarl Dragonheart, to stand behind you.”
“Have your men search the dead and finish off any wounded. They were brave and deserve a warrior’s death.”
“Aye jarl.”
I kept my eye on the enemy. I could see a debate going on. Why were they not attacking? Now would be their best chance to defeat us while our men were still heading up river. I glanced to left and right. Asbjorn and Ketil had both lost men on the flanks. If they came again then we would only have forty or so spears to fight them. The other thought was that they were going to leave. That would not suit us. I wanted the threat eliminating. I wanted King Dumnagual hurting so that he would never fight us again. The morning dragged on and then I saw the standards wave and the men of Strathclyde began to move back to their camp by the river.
I took off my helmet. Haaken did the same and he said, “So we have won.”
“No Haaken, One Eye, they are leaving in good order. We have not won until their bones lie on the ground as a reminder to them of the folly of attacking the Land of the Wolf.”
Chapter 12
Ulf shouted, “The drekar are tying up at the quay.”
“I will enter the stad.” I turned to Finni Folkisson. “There will be too many of us to stay within the stad. Have a camp made and dig a ditch. Get fires going for food.” I pointed to the birds which flocked around the two dead horses. “Have some men go and butcher the horses. We will eat meat this day!”
I left my shield and helmet with my men and headed inside. Olaf Leather Neck and Haaken One Eye accompanied me. As we stepped through the open gates, men cheered and banged their shields. “See, Jarl Dragonheart, they think it is over.”
“And that is why I am jarl for I know that it is not! We will rest and then make plans to attack them on the morrow.” Ulf descended from the fighting platform to greet me. I pointed to the men of Strathclyde. “Have two of your men mounted and watch the enemy. I need to know if they move or not.”
“We will attack them?”
“Yes, but not this day. My men need rest. We have done that which I intended. We have kept the stad safe, but the march was hard. There are Ulfheonar who could fight this day but not the others. Ketil and Asbjorn lost men. If they do not flee then tomorrow will be time enough.” He nodded. “Haaken, have the Ulfheonar get some sleep. Tonight, we raid again.”
“They will be expecting a raid.”
“I know and the expectation will make our attack even more terrifying this time. Just have the men rest and I will explain my plan.”
Ulf waved two men to him and they were given their orders. He turned to me, “You need rest too Jarl. Use my hall.”
Shaking my head, I said, “Not until I have spoken with Ragnar. He will command while I sleep.”
Ulf smiled, “Aye, the young cockerel is ready. He may not be able to out crow the cock yet but he is Wolf Killer’s son, that is for sure.”
I found the well and drew a bucket of water. I poured it over my head. The pink puddle around my feet told me that I had been covered in other men’s blood.
Ragnar entered the gates with Raibeart, Erik Ironshirt and Gruffyd. “I see we made it in time, grandfather.”
I nodded and began to rub my face with the cloth the slave had brought me, “It is not over yet but we have made a start. How many spears did you bring?”
“We have three drekar. There are ninety of us.”
“Then they still outnumber us. They are cautious. Tonight, I take the Ulfheonar to attack their camp. Then we attack at dawn.”
“How many do they have?”
“Beorn estimated a thousand spears when they marched south. They will not have that number now and many of the ones they brought are poorly armed. There are some Hibernians here. They are wild but they can be dealt with. Ketil and Asbjorn lost men today. I would have the mailed men from your drekar join the Ulfheonar and be the wedge tomorrow.”
Ragnar smiled, “That is your plan then? Batter your way through their middle?”
“Their king is cautious. He sits at the back of his men and watches. His son, Artgal, is a little more belligerent. I am counting on attacking Artgal. We will destroy the threat. My men and I will sleep now. Ragnar, you command. Keep a good watch and if the enemy moves then wake me. If not then let us sleep until late afternoon.” I smiled, “I am not as young as I once was!”
I slept well. I had not dreamed in some time. I wondered what that boded. I rarely understood my dreams anyway. I needed Aiden or Kara to interpret them for me. When I awoke, I saw that my men had been busy. There was a ditch around our camp. I did not think that we would need it for the men of Strathclyde were still in their camp. They had sent some scouts but my men had driven them off. They would only have a vague idea of our numbers. A drekar could hold anywhere between thirty-two and sixty-four men. Uncertainty would mean they had much debate in their camp. We had no such debate for I would give the orders.
After I had made water and drunk some ale I went to the whet stone to put an edge on my sword and dagger. I would need both. I waved Gruffyd over. “I need eight bows with arrows.”
He nodded and ran off. He was eager, no doubt to be doing something. I went out of the gate when the blades were sharp enough to use to shave. The smell of cooking meat still hung in the air. Cnut Cnutson cut me a hunk from it and handed me some bread. “Ulf’s people had their oven ready and we thought fresh bread would go well with the horse.”
“Aye, thank you.” I chewed the meat and bread. I was hungry. Apart from the dried venison on the road I had eaten little the day before. “Tonight, we will take bows and go to the enemy camp. I intend to send arrows into their camp. I want them to come and hunt us.” I pointed to the wood through which the greenway passed. “We will lead them a merry dance through there and tire them out. When they are fed up of following we will chase them back and repeat it.”
“You would have them kept awake?”
“I would and then, at dawn, when our men attack they will be tired and we will be fresh.”
“Except for the Ulfheonar.”
I laughed, “Everyone knows that the Ulfheonar are not mortal and need neither food nor sleep.”
Cnut spread a hand at the Ulfheonar who made their way towards us. “When my father was an Ulfheonar you could crew a drekar with them.”
“All things change. Soon there will be none left and we will be a memory. There will be a legend and in days to come people will wonder if we existed at all or were we a figment of some frightened warrior’s imagination.”
“Aye you are right. Finding that dagger, as you did, has made me wonder about this land. It appears to be magical. I never saw Norway but my father did not think it as magical as this Land of the Wolf.”
“I lived there and it is majestic but I saw no magic. It is interesting that so many come here to this land. What is it that lies here which draws us?”
I gathered my Ulfheonar and Ragnar around me. “Tonight, we will approach to bow range and loose as many arrows as we can into their camp. I want them to chase us. We will run and then slaughter the ones who are brave enough to follow us into the woods. We keep it up until just before dawn. Then we return to lead our men and to attack their camp.”
None seemed put out by the instructions. Ragnar said, “We will have the men ready to advance when you return. They have no ditch but they have chosen a good camp for the river sweeps around them.”
“And that is a trap for they have nowhere to flee. What do they do when we close with them? Throw themselves in the river? We drive through Artgal and his men and then for their king. He will have to surrender.”
“You are that certain, grandfather?”
“If he was a warrior then he would have led his men. He thinks that numbers alone will win the day for him. He knows not the mettle of our warriors. It is good. Did you destroy their ships?”
“We did not need to.
As soon as we arrived they fled. The wind and the current took them out to sea so fast that I thought they had wings. Our archers slew some of their crew as they passed. They will not return.”
I prepared for the raid. I applied cochineal on my eyes and smeared charcoal on the backs of my hands. We would not be using shields and we left them at the camp. We headed, after dark, towards the enemy camp. They would have sentries out and they would be watching for our knives. What they would not expect was an arrow storm. Their fires marked their position and we stopped two hundred paces from them. Their sentries would be a hundred paces from us. The wind was blowing in our faces and they would not smell us. Aðils and Beorn had their Saami bows. We had war bows. The idea would be to keep loosing, almost blindly, into their camp. Many arrows would hit the ground or their fires but so long as some hit them we would have achieved the effect I wanted.
We stood in a close line and pulled back. Even as we released we had a second arrow ready and we all aimed slightly to the right and released again. The third arrow went further right still and then the fourth back to the start. By the third arrows we heard the shouts as men were struck. We each managed to send ten arrows before we heard the alarm sounded and men ran from the camp. Slinging my bow, I followed my men as we ran for the greenway and the woods. We had scouted it out and knew where the dangers were. The enemy hurtled after us.
The ones who were the closest to us were the ones who wore no mail. As soon as we reached the trees we stopped and, with weapons drawn, awaited the men charging after us. I heard a cry as Einar Hammer Arm hacked his axe into the middle of the first warrior. I stepped out and rammed Wolf’s Blood into the Strathclyde warrior who recklessly hurtled through the woods. I heard metal on metal. Someone was fighting back. I changed my position and looked for the next enemy. I saw three warriors running towards me. I moved behind a tree and counted in my head. I stepped out and I was amongst them. I swung Ragnar’s Spirit into the chest of one. I fended off the sword from the second and then used Wolf’s Blood to flick the sword to the side and slash across the warrior’s face. The third swung his long sword and I barely blocked it in time. I moved forward and headbutted the warrior. As he reeled I slashed across his head with my sword. I felt it grate against metal and then bone.