Viking Wrath

by Griff Hosker

  "And we will show them that the Ulfheonar and Wolf Killer's' warriors are up to such a challenge!"

  Chapter 5

  As we rowed south, keeping a steady pace, set by Cnut, it helped the warriors to bond and to get used to the benches once more.

  'Ulfheonar, warriors strong

  Ulfheonar, warriors brave

  Ulfheonar, fierce as the wolf

  Ulfheonar, hides in plain sight

  Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

  Ulfheonar, serving the sword

  Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

  Ulfheonar, serving the sword'

  The words were almost hypnotic. Cnut was keeping a steady rhythm as the wind was in our favour. We knew that our drekar were both faster than the three ships we pursued. We had that in our favour. There was a chance, despite Erik's words, that we might catch them. The men rowed until Erik nodded to Cnut and then they took a rest. The two knew the strength of our men and Erik nodded to Cnut after a suitable time and he began them rowing again. Cnut and Erik were both experienced. They worked as a team. I was largely superfluous. The men would not become exhausted for we might need to fight and the two of them kept an eye on the warriors, especially the new ones.. I stood at the stern with Erik and Aiden studying the charts. Aiden and I were trying to get into the mind of our adversary and that was hard for she was not a warrior; she was a woman and a witch at that.

  We were sailing close to the coast. It was the most direct route south. Erik looked at me, "Would you have us risk the straits at Menai?"

  "Until we see them we must try to get as far south as we can. The alternative is to sail around Ynys Môn and that brings us close to Mann and Hibernia. It is also a longer voyage. The straits can save us half a day."

  "The safer course around Ynys Môn may be the course they have chosen."

  "In that case Aiden, it is a better reason to risk Menai for we would get ahead of them."

  Aiden closed his eyes. "I fear it may bring danger."

  I pointed beyond the horizon, to the south. "But it brings us closer to Wyddfa and that is where my family lived. I feel the mountain will protect us."

  Erik nodded, "Then the men can stop rowing for it is a tricky gap through which to sail and we may need their arms if we are attacked."

  He was right and I knew that I was taking a risk. The Welsh who lived on either side of the Straits protected that waterway fiercely. I had thrown the bones and we would see which way they fell. I smiled to myself. My life was a circle and each time I thought I had broken free I returned to the same point. My life had begun when I had been taken as a slave. That had turned out to be the best thing in my life and I had met Ragnar and become a warrior. My family had been kidnapped from Mann and Aiden had entered our lives, as a captive and a slave. That had brought me into contact with my past and now my family had been taken again. Would this be the tragedy in my life from which I did not recover or would there be a twist? Was I destined to sail the seas seeking my family? Would the Norns have something else planned?

  My hand slipped to the pommel of my sword and I felt warmth emanate from it. We were nearing Wyddfa and there its power was at its zenith. There was still hope. Wyrd.

  The rowers enjoyed the rest from rowing but for Aiden and I we had more planning to do. We had to work out how to get to Tintagel in case we did not find the three ships. Aiden shook his head. I could see his face from the light we had hung from the steer board to show my son where we were. "The Romans did not know of this Tintagel and I have had to make an informed guess about its position from what Angharad and her men said. I did find some writings from the books we took from the monastery in Dyfed. The castle is built atop a rock which juts from the sea and is reached by a bridge from the land. I know roughly where it is but I know not how to assault it."

  "First we find it and then we take it." Aiden nodded, "You tell Erik our course and, when we stop, then give the charts with its location marked to the captain of the 'Josephus'. It is a long journey and we may be separated."

  Aiden rolled up the map and returned it to its case. It would keep it dry. The charts were like gold to us. Without them we would sail over the edge of the world. I lay back against the wood of my drekar and closed my eyes. I did not think I would sleep but I had to get my mind organised. This would not be like rescuing Aiden from a place we knew well. We had six women to find, rescue and bring home from a place we had yet to find. The fact that Elfrida was with child complicated matters too. I opened my eyes and saw my Ulfheonar staring at me as they rested on their benches. They would follow me to the edge of the world; that I knew. This voyage would bring us close to there.

  Haaken smiled and said, "Sleep, Jarl Dragon Heart. Aiden and Erik can watch. We will need to be refreshed when we strike the coast of Cymru."

  "You are right, Haaken One Eye."

  He chuckled, "Do not worry, I will keep an eye on you!"

  I closed my eyes and pulled my cloak tightly about my body. The motion of the ship and the fact that I had been awake for more than a day took their toll and I was soon asleep. Perhaps it was the proximity of Wyddfa or that the spirits were disturbed but whatever the reason I dreamed. It was the first time in a long time.

  We sailed through tall cliffs which towered over us. The seas were stormy and cascaded over the dragon prow, drenching my rowers. There were high crests and deep troughs in the wild seas and the waves drove us towards the cliffs. No matter how much we fought our drekar was being driven inexorably towards a rocky end. One enormous wave seemed to pick us up and throw us at the cliff wall. The boat shattered into a thousand pieces and I found myself falling. Suddenly a hand came from above me and I grasped it. It was Kara! I heard my son shouting and I looked down; his hand reached for me as he sank beneath the grey, white flecked waves and into the savage teeth of the rocks below. When I looked up Kara's face had gone and had been replaced by that of Angharad! The witch laughed maniacally as she begin to prise my fingers one by one from her grasp. Behind her I saw Elfrida tied to a stake and screaming. The witch was laughing as my last finger and my thumb were opened and I fell. Her face seemed to follow me down and she was screaming with laughter. I shouted, "I will see you in the Other World, witch!" Blackness overwhelmed me.

  I felt a jolt and I opened my eyes. Aiden and Haaken were holding my arms and staring wild eyed at me. Aiden said, "Jarl you were dreaming. You tried to throw yourself over the side of the drekar! Had we not held you then you would have drowned for we would not have been able to stop for you." He pointed to the sail which was billowing full and hard.

  Erik said, "As soon as we drew close to the straits the storm began and you started to dream." He shook his head, "It is witchcraft."

  I nodded, "There you are right but we will talk of this when we have negotiated the straits! You are captain but we need the sails reefing!"

  He nodded and waved to his ship's boys. The three of them raced towards the mast. They would not be enough. "Siggi the Silent, Harald Long Legs, help the boys!"

  My two new Ulfheonar nodded and ran to the shrouds. None of us wore mail when sailing and the two young warriors began to out climb the lithe and agile boys. Erik cupped his hands and shouted. "Do not reef it completely. We need to keep our way! Cnut, have the oars run out! I will need every bit of skill I can manage." He looked to the heavens, "Master Josephus, guide my hand this day!"

  Had it been night time I fear we would have crashed on to the rocks but it was merely late afternoon and the pale light shone on the rocks to our left. "Aiden, help Erik!"

  I sat on the bench next to Haaken. He was on the side closest to Wyddfa and he would need help. He laughed, "If we survive this, Dragon Heart, then tell me your dream for this has all the makings of a fine saga!"

  "If we survive this then that will be enough for a saga!"

  The short passage was a nightmare as terrifying as the dream I had had but there was one consolation. The storm prevented the Welsh from hurling stones and missiles at
us. No one could stand on the shore to our left and we were too far from Ynys Môn for the men we saw to hit us. They stared at us and shook their fists as we raced through the narrow channel which separated the island from the mainland. It had been some years since I had rowed and I felt the burning between my shoulder blades as the effort began to hurt. I knew that the others were suffering as I was but none of us could relent. We would crash into the rocks unless we kept the same rhythm.

  I saw a smile appear on Erik's face and Aiden shouted, "We are almost escaped from this witch's trap! I can see clear water!"

  Within a short time we were able to breathe again as the land on both sides receded. I could see the low clouds masking the tops of the mountains to our left. I could not see Wyddfa's summit but I knew it was there. The witch had used the power of the mountain to bring near disaster to us. Was she close? I knew nothing any more. With darkness coming Erik was keen to find shelter. Aiden pointed to the south west. "There is an island there. Remember Jarl? They have many sea birds and there is a safe shelter."

  I nodded, "And a monastery but we shall leave the monks alone this night. I just want my drekar to be still!"

  We reached the island the Cymri called, Ynys Enlii, just after dark. We saw the lights from the huts which marked the monastery but we left the monks to their devotions. To the west we saw the lights of the fishing boats who fished the rich waters around the island. They, too, would be safe from our wrath. They had not stolen my family. All we wanted was a safe anchorage for the night and some rest. We anchored in the small sheltered bay and went ashore to light fires, eat hot food and give thanks to the Allfather for saving us. Snorri and Bjorn the Scout took two of the new Ulfheonar and hunted some puffins and seals. We ate well. While the food was being prepared Aiden, my son, Haaken and Cnut asked me about my dream.

  After I had told them Aiden nodded and closed his eyes. He held his blue stone. Haaken asked, "Why could Aiden not see your dream as he usually does?"

  He kept his eyes closed as he said, "I was not asleep. I see the Dragon Heart's dreams when I sleep and I dream."

  Haaken shook his head. I could see that he felt foolish. "When you say it then it is obvious."

  Aiden opened his eyes. "I think that most of the dream reflects the fear you have for your daughter and the danger represented by the witch. It is the other part of the dream which is more curious. I believe you have seen into the future. Elfrida and Kara are both fey and can speak with the spirits."

  I shook my head, "Kara lost that power and she will not regain it until she has become a woman."

  Aiden said, "No Jarl; there you are wrong. Who told her she could not speak with the dead?"

  "Angharad but I know that she had lost her powers. She did not see the attacks!"

  Aiden poked the fire with a piece of driftwood, "She could not sense danger because she was under a spell. Angharad gave her a potion did she not? That not only did not help her, it blinded her to danger. I believe that was part of the plan to make Kara fall under her spell."

  It all became clear. The only question which remained was the reason they had been taken. That, of course, was immaterial; so long as we got them back.

  My son smacked his hand against the sand in anger. "If they harm my wife I will make them pay."

  Cnut shook his head. "Wolf Killer, we will make them pay for what they have done already. Do not give ideas to the Weird Sisters. When we find these men and women of On Corn Walum, they will die. It is as simple as that." My Ulfheonar were all listening and they nodded their assent. None needed an oath. They were my men and they would extract savage retribution from those who had dared to steal our most precious possessions.

  "If Kara had not allowed them into your hall then they would not have been taken. Rolf and your men would have protected them. It is my sister's fault! I have lost my wife and my child! I will never forgive her if any harm comes to my family."

  I pointed a finger at my son, "You will do as I command! This is not your sister's fault. Can you not see the Weird Sisters at work here? It is like blaming Odin for striking my sword and drawing my enemies to me. Does Aiden blame the sword? He nearly lost his life."

  "It is not the same!"

  I stared at my son until he lowered his eyes. Aiden said, quietly, it is the same. It is wyrd."

  My son rolled over in his wolf cloak and turned his back on us. It was the beginning of the rift.

  We left on the high tide the next morning. We had decided, during the night, that we would continue south but that we would not row unless the wind changed. If we could catch them at sea then we had a better chance of recapturing the captives without too much loss of life. Assaulting the castle meant men would die. The sea is large and empty but we hoped that luck would be on our side. We kept a ship's boy at the masthead scanning the horizon as we sailed south down the coast of Cymru. Every sail he spied was greeted with an expectant hush until he reported that it was either a fishing boat or a drekar. Inevitably they changed course when they saw the wolves of the sea prowling. I was not aboard 'Josephus' but I knew that my son would be fretting and worrying more than we were. He was impatient. If the Norns wished us to sail to Tintagel then we would. I knew not why they wished us to do so but that seemed the course they had made for us to steer.

  We stopped twice more on our journey south. Our last stop was at Casnewydd. The Welsh who lived along the Sabrina were our allies and we traded with them. Although the king was absent fighting the Mercians again we found out a great deal more information about the men of On Corn Walum and their stronghold.

  Llewellyn ap Daffyd was in command of the castle and he knew more about the political intrigues of this most distant British Kingdom. "This Mark of Tintagel would be King of On Corn Walum. He is the nephew of the present king but Gwybfor is old. Mark of Tintagel is busy gaining allies and the means to seize the crown and the throne. His sister is the one with the power. It is said that she has delved into the earth and summoned fell creatures who should not see the light of day and she has powerful magic available to her. I would fight her brother butI would steer well clear of her."

  "And Tintagel? Is it as hard to assault as we have heard?"

  "Aye!" He drew with a piece of charcoal on the table as he spoke, "They have a gatehouse on the mainland. If that is taken then you have to cross a rope bridge. It would need someone who could fly to cross it. Then they have another gatehouse, a high wall and the whole edifice is built upon cliffs."

  "And the cliffs? Could they be climbed?"

  He nodded, "They could but not in armour. I would not risk it but they are not sheer. A nimble couple of men could climb but then they would have to face the garrison and he keeps many men within its walls." He looked at me with horror on his face. "But you cannot seriously consider that. You would have to climb in daylight and you would be hit by arrows. It is impossible."

  "None the less we will try it for they have my daughter, my son's wife and girls I rescued from Wiglaf the Evil. We rescue them or die trying."

  He nodded, "Wyrd!"

  "If you could ask your sailors and your ships to watch for those three ships we would appreciate it."

  "None of those who have arrived in the last few days have reported seeing three such ships. We knew you were coming." He smiled, "Others fear you Jarl Dragon Heart. Perhaps they have taken a different route."

  "They may have. If they have a witch on board then they might risk the edge of the world. We will have to sail to Tintagel and see if there is a way in."

  We took our leave and headed along the Sabrina towards the land of On Corn Walum; it was within a day's sailing and we were now on the last part of our journey. I had never felt so pessimistic as on that voyage. I could not see how we could affect a rescue. It seemed that we would end our lives on a fruitless search for my family. The world and the sea was a big place and the witch could be anywhere.

  We now had more detail on Aiden's map and he and Erik had worked out a more accurate position
for Tintagel. We edged our way down the course during the afternoon. We saw no ships and we saw few settlements. Our information could only place the castle within ten Roman miles or so. We would need to scout it out and that meant wasting valuable time. We knew that there were some rocks called the Sisters and they were less than a mile or so from the castle. When we spied them in the distance we headed for shore. They were unmistakeable. Llewellyn had been specific about their location. The shore was a mass of sheer cliffs and no beaches. Even if we could get Snorri and Bjorn the Scout ashore then there was no way they could scale the cliffs. Reluctantly we retraced our course in the fading twilight to find somewhere to land.

  We found an estuary some four miles north. It was now dark and we hove to off the coast to the south of the mouth of this estuary. Aiden used the light from the stern to read the chart. "I think, Jarl, that this must be the port that they use for their ships. There is nowhere else along this coast." We had been told of a small port which had a wooden jetty. The port lay at the mouth of an estuary to the north of Tintagel.

  "Then we can send Snorri and Bjorn the Scout to scout out the castle and I will go ashore with Sigtrygg, Aiden and Cnut. We will see if this river and this port contains the ships we seek."

  Haaken shook his head, "Wolf Killer will not be happy."

  "When Wolf Killer is jarl then he can make the decisions until then it is my responsibility. Erik stand off the coast. I would not have you risk damage. We will signal with a light when we return."

  We did not wear armour. I wore a kyrtle and wolf cloak over my leather byrnie. I carried my helmet but I left my shield. We did not wish to look like Vikings. Hopefully we would not be seen. 'Josephus' was anchored to our steer board side and we descended into the water from the other side. Erik had judged it perfectly and the water came up to our chest when we dropped into the chilly waters. The six of us waded ashore. Once we reached the rocks we began to climb the path we had spied from our drekar. It looked to me to have been made by goats and then used for those seeking shellfish; it sufficed.