by Griff Hosker
"Then we will soon resolve the matter. We capture the fishing boats tomorrow and the next night we land on Ynys Môn. This is all speculation at the moment but once we are close then our warriors will do what they do best. None will live when we have recaptured our loved ones."
The wind came from the east and we made good progress as we sailed north the next morning. We saw the grey smudge which marked the mountains around Wyddfa and the peninsula which jutted out into the sea. We lowered the sail and waited. We could not see the fishing villages and so we assumed they could not see us. When it was dark we would sail north. We wanted the fishermen to sail west before we approached them. That way they would find it difficult to get past us. We knew where they would head, Ynys Enlii. We had seen them there on our way south. These fishermen were not our allies. They followed the banner of the King of Gwynedd and it was that king who had granted sanctuary to the priestess. His people would pay for that mistake.
We rowed slowly north until we saw the pinpricks of light which marked the fishing village. We then lowered our sails and headed west, side by side. The ship's boys straddled the mast and kept watch. It was they who spotted the lights of the fishing boats. We approached them silently. The lights they used to lure the fish to their nets meant that they did not see us until we suddenly loomed up out of the dark. Their sails were down. As luck would have it or perhaps it was the work of the Norns, two fishing boats were between us. The three men in each boat jumped overboard and began to swim east as soon as the dragon ships appeared. I hoped they would be good swimmers for it was many leagues to land. Our ships boys dived into the sea and swam to the two boats. After we had thrown them ropes, they tied them to the rear of each drekar. Erik laughed as he pointed to the other fishing boats, "They have picked up the fishermen. I wonder what tale they will tell."
"I am just pleased that we did not need to hurt them. They can always build more boats."
We headed west past Ynys Enlii. I looked over the stern at the boat we towed. Although there had only been three crew it was large enough for eight men. It would be crowded but we would fit. It meant I could take eleven others with me. I would not overload the two of them. My intention was to capture the tower at Porthdafarc and allow my two drekar to land my men. The bay, which we had seen before, was well protected by two headlands. The eastern wind continued to push us towards the island. We saw masts in the distance but their lookouts must have recognised our long ships as Vikings and they steered clear of us. We kept out to sea until twilight and then Aiden pointed to the island and guided a nervous Erik closer to shore.
We saw the waves crashing into the cliffs and I could not see the cove which Aiden seemed to have found. "Jarl, I cannot stay here long. It is too dangerous."
He was a seaman first and foremost. "You are right, Aiden, we will go closer and hope that the smaller boat can survive. Ulf, Snorri, Bjorn the Scout and Harald Long Legs you come with us."
The two new Ulfheonar were both pleased and surprised to be asked. "Why us Jarl? We are honoured but…"
I smiled although in the dark they would see nothing, "Because of your strength Ulf and because Harald is the tallest man on the ship. I may need his height!"
"Do we need mail?"
"We will not risk it. Leather byrnies only. Haaken, take command. I will send the fishing boat back if we find this cove. Send ashore ten men when we do so and then sail south and lie off the bay. We will signal if we succeed."
He nodded and then said, "And if you fail?"
"Then Wolf Killer will be Jarl and I will watch from the Otherworld!"
Snorri chuckled, "That is a cheering thought!"
Ulf was the first to descend for he was the largest of us. Aiden and I were the last. The fishing boat seemed tiny after the drekar. With the wind from the east we could use the small sail and, while I steered Harald and Ulf lowered it. Aiden crouched in the bows peering into the dark. He waved to the left and I put the tiller over. The wind seemed to make us fly and I shouted, "Ulf shift your weight to counterbalance us!"
We raced towards the cliffs and then Aiden's arm moved to the right. Suddenly I saw a black hole before us and a maelstrom of whirling white water. It looked like we were going over the edge of a waterfall. He held both arms up and I tried to keep us straight. The sides of the channel seemed to be almost touching us. I found myself struggling to hold us straight. The tiny boat was tipping precariously close to the rocks and we were in danger of sinking. "Snorri!"
Snorri had been a ship's boy and he added his weight to mine. Between the two of us we managed to right the boat and steer a reasonably straight course. I had no idea where we were going. One wall of rock appeared to bend over us so that it was like going into a tunnel. The sail flattened as we entered the chasm and the wind died. We were in danger of begin swept to our deaths. "Bjorn the Scout! Ulf, Harald, grab an oar and row as though your lives depended upon it!" The side of the flimsy fishing boat ground next to a rock. Ulf used the oar to push with all of his might and we found the channel once more.
As I peered ahead I saw a light patch in the darkness of the cove. Snorri had taken an oar and he was rowing with the other three. Ulf's strength meant that we crabbed a little but when Aiden leapt over the bow I knew that the white I had seen was the sand of the small beach. As the bottom ground on the shingle and sand we all clambered over the side grateful to have reached land once more.
I clapped Aiden on the back. "Well done Aiden you were right. There was a cove."
Harald pointed up. The cliffs appeared to be sheer. "But how do we climb that?"
I laughed, my laughter drowned by the crashing of the waves on the rocks. "That we will discover soon enough but be grateful that you are neither Aiden nor Ulf."
Ulf looked at me, "Why?"
"For you two have to go back to the drekar and bring the other boat and more warriors ashore!"
"That is impossible!"
Aiden took Ulf's arm. "The tide is receding, all I need to do is keep a straight course. You can scull with one oar. Once we leave the chasm we can use the sail. It will be easier the second time. I know where the entrance is." I could see that Ulf was not convinced but, to give him his due, he climbed back aboard the tiny fishing boat.
"We will find a path to the top."
We watched nervously as Ulf sculled them into the blackness of the tunnel of terror. It looked even narrower but then there was just blackness beyond. Within a very short time they had disappeared from view. "Leave your weapons and helmets here. The tide is going out, they should be safe." I took off my belt and my sheath. We had not brought shields but we did have our helmets. I pointed to the cliff. "Look for a path."
"Why should there be a path, Jarl?"
I shrugged, "There will be bounty from the sea washed up here and I daresay that scavengers, human and animal will have come down at low tide to look for them."
Bjorn the Scout's sharp eyes found the path. At first it looked like a crack in the rocks but when we drew closer we saw that it was a path trodden by generations of feet which led up the cliff. It twisted and turned but it kept going up. Bjorn the Scout led. We had not needed Harald's height but I was pleased that we had brought him. The wind whipped around us. It made the climb even harder and I found myself tiring.
Halfway up Bjorn the Scout stopped and pointed. There was a cave to the side. I gestured for him to go inside. Harald was the last one and when he reached the cave we all took shelter within. This would be useful if we needed to hide. All four of us fitted in easily and I guessed that more could take shelter if we needed to. We regained our breath and then I nodded. It was time to climb the last part. Once we emerged the force of the wind hit us once more. The last thirty paces were the most difficult. We had to grasp the tussocks of grass and heathers which lined the sides of the cliffs and use them for purchase. Our feet scrabbled on the rocks which were slippery with water and bird droppings. Suddenly there was a cacophony of noise as Bjorn the Scout disturbed some nestin
g gulls. The sudden fluttering of wings made Snorri lose his grip and he began to fall backwards I pushed hard with all my might on his back and he regained his hold. We scurried up the last few paces and rolled on to the soft turf at the top.
"Thank you Jarl! I always hated gulls now I have good reason to hate them even more!"
I nodded. "Thank the Allfather that Aiden found this cove. We would have suffered far more had we tried to approach the tower of the fort directly. This way we have a chance. Bjorn the Scout, you and Harald go down and bring up the weapons. Snorri and I will scout the headland and see if we can find any paths."
I did not envy the two of them their journey back down the perilous cliff but the journey had been worthwhile. I knew that the tower guarding Porthdafarc Bay was just down the coast. We had a better chance to rescue our family now that we had a foothold, no matter how tenuous, on Ynys Cybi. At first I thought that there was no path but Snorri's sharp eyes found the worn turf. It appeared to go along the headland. That made sense. From what I had seen on Aiden's map the hill fort was just two or three miles away and this would be one route that they would use to get to it.
"There is little point in wandering too far. Let us return to the top of the path and wait for our men."
The wind chilled us to the bone, despite our wolf cloaks as we awaited the arrival of Bjorn the Scout and Harald. Soon they struggled up with the weapons. It had taken them far longer than I had expected and there was a faint glow to the east. Dawn was approaching. I felt better with my sword and seax strapped on but I held my helmet. I needed to be able to hear and the howling wind on the cliff top made conversation difficult. I contemplated going back down to the cave to wait but Bjorn the Scout's outstretched arm pointed to the entrance of the cove. I could just make out the first of the fishing boats. I guessed that it was Aiden.
It seemed, from the cliff top, impossible for them to navigate the tiny tunnel of rocks but amazingly they managed to do so. Then I saw the second fishing boat. As Aiden leapt ashore a huge wave suddenly crashed into the second boat. It was hurled against the rocks. Unlike our experience they did not merely graze the side, they struck with great force and the side of the small boat splintered and shattered. The warriors within were thrown into the sea. We were helpless to do anything. We could merely look down and watch. Aiden threw a rope out. It snaked through the air and landed in the water. I saw arms grasping for it as Aiden and his crew pulled and tugged the survivors to safety. Aiden's boat had not been secured and, to my horror, I saw it picked up by a freak wave and smashed on the rocks to the side. We were now trapped. We had no way to return to our drekar!
Miraculously all of the warriors who had been spilled into the sea appeared to have survived but when I saw Aiden, clearly now as the power of the sun grew, tending to one of them I knew that we had not escaped unscathed.
"Snorri, go down and show them the way. Bjorn the Scout, now that there is light take Harald and find the tower."
I risked the path once more and I waited at the cave. If we had an injured warrior then he could use that for shelter. Cnut was the first one who reached me. He shook his head. "I would not wish to do that journey again."
"Me neither. Who was injured?"
"Olaf Sweet Tooth. Aiden thinks he has broken his arm. He will have to wait until the light is better to be certain."
"Left or right?"
"Left."
That was a relief for he would be able to recover and use a shield. "This cave here is handy as a shelter. It was fortunate that Aiden found this cove. Olaf will need this." I pointed to the water below where the broken shards of wood from the two fishing boats bobbed and dipped as it was taken out to sea. "There is no way back now. We have to take that tower. I will wait on the headland. I have sent Harald and Bjorn the Scout to find where the Welsh keep watch."
As I crested the cliff I saw the light from the sun shining on the mountain of Caer Cybi. It looked close enough to touch. A tendril of smoke on the far side showed where the hill fort was. Now I understood the need for towers on this coast. The fort would be blind without them. I also saw how we could approach the fort. We could stay on this side of the island. It looked to me as though there was a possibility that the summit might overlook the fort. As soon as Snorri reached me I would send him to scout out the mountain. I saw, now that the light was better, that there were a couple of huts and farms between us and the mountain. They might be a problem. The other problem might be the High Priestess sensing our presence. I hoped that Aiden's power was strong enough to detect any danger.
Cnut and Snorri arrived first. "Aiden has taken Olaf into the cave. His arm has been broken and he has put on a splint."
"We have not enough men to spare to watch over him."
"He knows. He is just angry at his own clumsiness."
"That was the work of the Weird Sisters. Snorri, take one warrior and climb the mountain. Find us a safe route and see if you can see the women. " I pointed at the huts in the distance. "Avoid those. We will wait for you by the tower."
Gradually the other eight men clambered to the top. The last to join us was Aiden. "You can stay with Olaf if you think he needs care."
"He does not." He looked to the rounded rock which rose in the distance. "That is the mountain then?"
"Aye and we have chosen the best approach. They keep no watch from its peak."
There was a noise from the east and a flurry of rocks told us that someone approached. It was Harald. He looked sheepishly at his feet as though they had caused the rock fall and he had nothing to do with it. "Bjorn the Scout has found the tower, Jarl, and he watches. It is not far and we have found a place where we can observe without being seen."
"Good. Lead on."
I felt naked without my mail and my shield but if we had worn armour then half of my men would now lie dead at the bottom of the cove. The path rose and fell over small rises. We were always close to the sea and, while there were one or two more places where we could see gaps, none could have been used to land. Aiden had found the only one. At one point Harald held his arm before me to stop me stepping forward. "Be careful, Jarl, here is a hidden gulley."
I peered over the ferns and saw, to my horror, that it was a sheer drop. "Thank you Harald. That makes up for your slip." I regretted the lack of armour as soon as the narrow path, obviously largely used by sheep, went between towering walls of bright yellow gorse. Soon my hands and arms were lacerated by the thorns. It made for a formidable defence.
"Keep your head down on this part, Jarl Dragon Heart. The tower is yonder but this is dead ground and they cannot see us."
Finally Harald waved us to our knees and we crawled the last part. Bjorn the Scout crouched beneath an overhang of rock. Harald said, "Slither on your belly Jarl. It will be easier."
I crawled next to Bjorn the Scout. I could see why he had chosen this place. He looked up at the tower. It had a stone base with mortar but the upper courses were a dry stone wall with a wooden platform on the top. At the base were five warriors. I saw that they had a shelter made of three walls of stone and a wooden roof. It faced the sea. They had a fire going. They had lines reaching into the sea; they were fishing. We were far enough away from them to be able to speak; the surf would drown out any noise we made..
"There are three men in the tower. It looks like they keep a watch on the three sides. The landward side they ignore. One man is asleep in the shelter. The others rose a short while ago."
That made nine in all. "Is there any way we could approach unseen from this direction?"
"No, Jarl. We will have to back track. It should be possible to get around to the landward side. We can use the gorse to keep us hidden. A sudden rush should achieve our end."
"How do they communicate with the other tower and the fort do you think?"
He pointed, "Do you see at the top of the tower? They have a burning torch there and when one of the men moved I saw a metal brazier there. My guess is that it is filled with something which w
ill smoke and that will alert the fort to danger."
I tapped him on the shoulder, "Come back. We will leave Aiden here and Siggi the Silent to keep watch. Siggi can signal with a whistle if there is danger. Ten of us should be able to deal with these sentries."
I gathered them around me. "Aiden, I want you and Siggi to go back to the place Bjorn the Scout watched from. If you see danger then have Siggi whistle like a kestrel. The rest of you, we are going to use the gorse as cover and get around to the landward side of the tower. When we are in position then we rush them. It is a pity that we have no bows for the greatest danger comes from the three men in the tower. If they light the signal then all our hard work will have been in vain." They nodded. "Bjorn the Scout, Harald and Cnut I want you three to get up the tower as soon as you can and kill those three guards. None must escape."
The first part was easy for we were in the dead ground still. As the land climbed we had to keep closer to the gorse and we suffered from the thorns. There was a cart track which cut through the undergrowth and headed towards the hill fort. Bjorn the Scout crept under the gorse. After a few moments he returned, "I can see the tower. I will wave when it is safe to cross the track. There is a stone wall on the other side and more gorse. We can use that for cover."
"I will go first." He nodded and slithered back to the gorse. I crouched, ready to move as quickly as I could. His arm came down and I ran across the track. It would not do to fall as Aiden had done and I dived under the gorse on the other side. I turned and looked towards the tower. Bjorn the Scout had been right. They kept watch from three sides only. No one looked in my direction. I waved. A few moments later Cnut leapt over and crashed into me. "You wait here and gather the men. I will find a better place from which to launch our attack."
I did not have to crawl and I just crouched as I moved down the slope. I found a gap in the yellow, thorny bush. Looking inland I saw three circles of stones which showed where huts had once stood. This would be the place from which to attack. I could not see the shelter with the six warriors but I could see the tower and the men who watched. I used the gorse as cover for I knew they might, occasionally, glance inland. After what seemed an age my men joined me. Although the noise of the wind and the gulls would disguise any sounds we made it was not worth the risk to speak. I used hand signals. I pointed to the gap and then at the three who would assault the tower. When they nodded I waved them forward. As soon as the entrance was clear I drew Ragnar's Spirit and led the others towards the unseen men in the shelter. I waved to my left and Magnus Red Beard and Ragnar Siggison ran to cut off the escape of any we failed to kill.