by Griff Hosker
It was vital now that we all stuck to our plan. I ran with the Ulfheonar to the warrior hall. I now saw why there had not been a quicker reaction to the cry. They had taken the time to don armour. This would not be as easy as it might have been. A wall of warriors ran towards us. I knew that Haaken and Cnut guarded my sides and I blocked the sword thrust from the first warrior with my shield. I jabbed with my sword but this was no novice and he contemptuously flicked Ragnar's Spirit aside with his own shield. He was not intimidated by my appearance and it would not do to underestimate this warrior's skill. His open helmet allowed me to see his face and when his eyes flicked to once side I knew that he would feint with his sword. I did not fall for the feint and when he punched with his shield I was ready with my own and our shields locked. He was strong and I felt myself going backwards. My two companions were busy with their own combats. I used a trick of my own. I spun around so that his weight took him past me and he struggled to regain his balance. I swung my sword as he passed and heard the grunt of pain as my sword sliced across his unprotected leg. I continued my spin and he became disorientated. It allowed me to hit him in the back with my shield and he sprawled to the floor. This was no time to be generous and I plunged my sword into his back.
Turning I saw that the enemy were flooding from the hall and we were struggling to contain them. Glancing over my shoulders I saw that Bjorn the Scout and Snorri had done as I had asked and were guarding the hut. Then I cursed as I saw that the gate was open and my son was not to be seen. He had disobeyed me. The distraction almost cost me my life as a sword came towards my back. Cnut saved me and his shield took the blow which was meant for me. I stabbed the would be killer in the throat and then watched in horror as another warrior rammed a spear through Cnut's back. I screamed in rage and brought my sword down to split his skull in two.
I had no time to see how Cnut was for another two warriors ran at me. Suddenly Haaken was by my side and we locked shields. The two spears hit our shields and we both pushed. The spear is good at range but we were now in close. We opened our shields and our blades darted out to smash the spears in two. The two warriors' hands went to their swords but our hands were quicker and the two were despatched in two blows.
"Aiden!"
Cnut needed help and Haaken and I were now committed to defending ourselves as more warriors raced towards us. We stood over Cnut as more of my Ulfheonar saw our dilemma and joined us. The moment of danger eased as I felt Sigtrygg join me and the three of us hacked, slashed and stabbed our way through the Welsh warriors swarming like disturbed ants as they tried to get at us. Soon we had a single line of ten warriors and I yelled, "Wedge!"
Sigtrygg and Haaken guarded my sides as I stepped forward. The Welsh were in a disordered mass and although my wedge was but a few warriors deep we were like an armoured boar and we stepped boldly into them. They hurled themselves at us, hacking at our helmets and our shields; both were too strong to be damaged. Our swords darted out and sliced into unprotected arms, hands, necks and faces. I felt a clatter as a sword hit my helmet. I stabbed forward and saw my sword penetrate the face of the warrior who was already screaming his victory. His scream changed to a death cry. I felt a huge push from behind. The warriors of Wolf Killer had joined us and with their weight we pushed the Welsh back to the warrior hall. When their backs were against the wall and they had nowhere to go the slaughter began. We worked and killed faster than we had ever done so before. Cnut was wounded and he needed our help.
When the last warrior slid down the wall I knew we had won. I turned and ran back to Cnut who lay in Aiden's arms. The spear which had done the damage lay at his side. I threw my shield to the floor and knelt next to him. I glanced at Aiden who shook his head. Cnut tried to chuckle but he just brought up some blood. Aiden wiped his mouth and my oathsworn said, "The Galdramenn has done all that he can, Dragon Heart. I have done my duty and my sword was in my hand. Do not grieve. I know that you will watch over my family and I am content. Had you died then all hope for them would have gone." He winced and closed his eyes. As he opened them he said, "I can see Old Olaf. Jarl let me touch the sword. I would greet my comrades with its memory fresh." I handed him the sword so that he held his own and Ragnar's Spirit. He smiled, lifted his back and shouted, "Ulfheonar!" His eyes closed and Cnut went to Valhalla. Despite his words I could not contain myself and tears flowed. Like Haaken he had been there since the beginning and he had seen the birth of my sword. It felt as though a part of my heart had gone to the Otherworld with him.
I stood. Across the fort I saw my son with his arm around Elfrida and the gate still loomed wide. There was no sign of Kara. I felt the anger rise in my throat. I bit back the words I wanted to say. We had a brave warrior to bury.
"Aiden, find me a wounded Welshman; have the rest killed. Sigtrygg, secure the gates. Haaken have Wolf Killer's men collect the weapons and keep him from me until I am ready to speak to him."
He nodded, "Do not blame your son, Jarl. He thought of his family."
"And it is because he disobeyed orders that Cnut died. That will take a long time to forgive."
He nodded and left. Sigtrygg had returned. "The witch escaped on the horses with Kara. They have fled."
"I know. Build a pyre. Use anything that you can find which will burn. We will burn our dead and honour Cnut."
"But the pyre will be seen."
"Nonetheless we will do them honour."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw my son begin to come towards me but Haaken restrained him and shook his head. I saw Haaken say something to him. He turned away. Snorri and Bjorn the Scout joined me. They looked at Cnut's body. "I thought he would outlive us all, Jarl."
"As did I. What happened?" They looked at each other and I snapped, "You are Ulfheonar! The truth!"
"We killed the guards and found the women safe and sound, then Wolf Killer came into the hut. He had five of his men with him. When we came out of the hut we saw that Kara, the priestess and four guards were riding through the gates. Six of Wolf Killer's men lay dead."
I nodded, "Thank you. Take the new Ulfheonar and escort the five of them back to the drekar. Ulf is guarding her. We are going to light a pyre and it may bring enemies."
"But Wolf Killer…"
"I care not what he says. You obey my orders Not my foresworn son!"
The sun peered over Wyddfa in the east. I saw Snorri and Ulf leading the five women out of the gate to begin their descent to the bay. My son had held Elfrida in his arms until Snorri removed her from them. Haaken restrained Wolf Killer. Sigtrygg said, "We have the pyre ready, Jarl."
I saw that, in addition to Cnut and the six men who had died following my orders we had lost two more Ulfheonar. Harold White Hair and Einar Siggison had only served me for a couple of years but they would be missed. We laid the three Ulfheonar in a line abreast on top of the other warriors. We placed their swords in their hands and their shields across their chests. We removed their golden wolf pendants from around their necks. They would be returned to their families. Finally we laid their wolf cloaks across their bodies so that all would know the mightiest warriors from our land were coming to Valhalla.
"Allfather! Take these brave warriors to your table. They died fulfilling their oaths with their swords in their hands. They will have fine tales to tell!"
I thrust the brand into the fire and as the flames licked around the dried wood my men had gathered they all took out their swords and yelled, "Ulfheonar!"
And so Cnut went to the Otherworld. No more would he chant out the rhythm for the oars. No more would he stand at my shoulder and protect my back. His children would grow up fatherless and his wife would mourn him until the end of her days. He had died fulfilling his oath and protecting his jarl. It was a good death. But, as I turned away I knew that it was an unnecessary death and the blame lay with the one warrior who had disobeyed me, my son!
I glared at the prisoner Aiden had found. The Welshman did not look as though he had long to live. He had
a bad stomach wound. "Tell him I will end his pain if he answers my question." Aiden spoke. The prisoner opened his eyes and then nodded. "Ask him where the priestess would have gone." The prisoner looked at Aiden when the question was asked. When he said nothing I said, "Tell him the other woman is my daughter. I only wish to save my daughter."
I know not if Aiden added any words but the man opened his eyes and then spoke. "He said she would go to the palace at Aberffaw. Hywel ap Rhodri is there."
"Give him a safe passage to the Otherworld." Aiden slipped the sharpened knife across his throat. "Who is this Hywel ap Rhodri?"
"He is the warrior fighting his brother, Cynan, for the throne of Gwynedd."
"Then let us leave while we may."
"Jarl, there are warriors coming from the town."
Although we could have defeated any men sent from the town we could afford no further casualties. "Then let us get back to the drekar. Sigtrygg, take the rearguard. Snorri find us a quick way down."
All the way down the mountain Aiden was desperate to speak with me but I had a black and dark humour. I was angry. We had lost warriors when we need not have done and we had failed to save my daughter. All of it was my fault for I had failed to make my son into the warrior and leader he needed to be. Each comment and question from Aiden was greeted with either silence or a curt reply. When he became silent I knew that he would wait until I could not avoid the questions and ask me again.
As we neared the headland above the bay I saw Elfrida and the others far ahead. I was relieved. It was not her fault that her husband had let me down. He had been kept from me by Haaken. Haaken, as Cnut had been, was close to my son and Kara as anyone and he was almost like family. Now he was the last of the original Ulfheonar. He would be peacemaker. I knew that my tiredness was aggravating my mood but we still had to find this royal palace and then find out how to rescue my daughter.
Elfrida, Seara and the three girls we had rescued from Jorvik awaited us on the beach. The tide was not right yet to load the ships which waited just at the edge of the bay. Elfrida ran to me and threw her arms around me. "Thank you, Jarl. I knew you would come for me!" She kissed my cheek and said, quietly, "I am sorry Cnut died."
I nodded, "You are safe and I am happy." I held her at arm's length. I saw her eyes flicker to her husband who approached down the beach behind us. "Tell me about Kara." Her eyes dropped. "The truth; I need the truth."
She sighed, "She has been drugged, Jarl. I tried to tell her but she did not believe me. She does all that the Priestess wishes. She was given the potion when the witch first came to our home. She tried to persuade me to drink it too but I thought of my baby and I refused."
I know not if it was the memory or the baby for she suddenly winced. "I would not ask if it was not important."
She nodded, "When they came again she fought the Priestess and said we should not be taken. She said you would be angry. Then the witch threatened me and my baby. She threatened to give the other four to their men to use unless Kara drank the new potion she had brought. Kara drank it and gradually she changed. Each day she was given a draught and each day she became less like Kara and more like Demelza. She acted as though she did not care anymore. It seemed she only had eyes and ears for the High Priestess. By the time we reached here it was as though her body and her mind had been taken over. Angharad controlled her completely." She shook her head, "It was not her fault, Jarl. She did all for me!"
I put my arm around her to comfort her. "And what does the High Priestess want from my daughter?"
"She uses her to speak with the dead. Kara is more powerful than you can possibly imagine. It is something to do with the combination of your mother and Kara's mother. The world of the Hen Coel and the world of the Norse. I did not understand it but the priestess believed they could change the world. They have started to use that power." She dropped her eyes. "They stopped Aiden from seeing in his dreams. I know not how they did it but I have not dreamed either. I fear they put something in my drink. She also used the mountain to control the weather and seas. It was frightening to behold."
I held her closer and spoke quietly in her ear again, "They could not have done that with Aiden. There is darker magic at work here. You will be safe now. Your husband and his men will protect you."
"Snorri told me about Cnut. Do not think badly of Wolf Killer. He thought only of me."
"Wolf Killer, take your wife and the others on your drekar. Keep them safe." He nodded. I stared at him. "Let us see if you can obey that order at least."
He looked angry but Haaken put his arm around him and whispered in his ear. He nodded and went to Elfrida. I ignored him and waved my Ulfheonar and Aiden over. "They have gone to the Royal Palace at Aberffaw. The Weird Sisters are toying with us. Had the tide been in we could have reached the palace before them. As it is we will have more walls to assault. They will be ready for us. My daughter's mind is controlled by another and they know we will come. This Hywel ap Rhodri will be waiting for us."
Snorri said, "Elfrida said that your daughter has gone over to the witch."
"It matters not we rescue her whether she wants or no. We use force if we have to and then, when she is no longer under the power of the witch then we will regain our daughter."
Tostig looked nervously at the others, "Can we fight witches, Jarl?"
I said coldly, "We are Ulfheonar and we can fight anyone. If this witch wishes to speak with the spirit world then we will allow her to do so… as a spirit!"
Chapter 9
It took a frustratingly long time for the two drekar to be able to draw in and to load us on board. I shouted over to Karl, the captain of 'Josephus', "Follow us. We sail south to Ynys Môn. Keep five ship's lengths behind in case we are met by other ships. I would reach the bay unobserved if I could."
I took off my helmet and cloak and then looked at the leading bench. There was no Cnut. Haaken stood. "Sigtrygg, there are few others who could replace Cnut. You are the one we choose. Take the oar!"
My Ulfheonar began banging their oars on the deck. Sigtrygg looked at me and I nodded. He was a good choice. There were none as loyal nor as obedient. I would that my son was as obedient.
We backed out of the bay and then turned. "Aiden, what do we know of this Hywel ap Rhodri?"
"I spoke with the men of Dyfed. They know of both brothers. They are fighting a civil war. It may be the reason he has given sanctuary to this priestess. It gives him an ally and he can use her power for his own ends. As for her she can manipulate men to her will. She is a dangerous adversary, Jarl Dragon Heart. Do not underestimate her."
"I will not. So this Hywel he is not king?"
"Not yet but he would be."
I stared south. Aiden had pointed to Aberffaw on his chart and it would take just a few hours to reach it. Did we have enough men to assault it? Our losses had been heavy. Arturus' crew had been diminished. He had lost a further two men when his men had taken the tower at Trearrdur. Nor was I certain that I could rely on my son. It mattered not if we had not enough men. I would do as I had sworn. I would rescue my daughter and kill the witches. I owed it to Cnut and the other dead warriors.
We rowed at a leisurely rate. The wind was from the south east but I knew that we could not reach Aberffaw before the witch. They had a head start and we had to sail all the way around the island. They would be prepared. I walked to the prow and stood with one hand on the dragon prow and one hand on the pommel of my sword. I could feel the power of the blue stone. In the distance I saw Wyddfa. It dominated the sky in this land of the Cymri. Aiden knew that the palace was on the main island. That was gentler than Ynys Cybi. There were cliffs but they were lower and the rocks were not quite as savage. Unlike that island this palace was set amidst sand dunes. Its protection was a shallow river through which we could wade. We had not enough men to assault directly. We would need to use subterfuge. It confirmed my decision. We would use just the Ulfheonar and we would abduct my daughter. That would be our prime objecti
ve. If I could kill the witch and her followers then I would do so. My heart told me that was just revenge. It was my wrath but I cared not. Vengeance filled my heart.
This decided I strode down the middle of the drekar and returned to the stern. "Aiden, fetch the map!"
We pored over the map which now had more detail upon it. When we reached our home then Aiden would make a new one with all the added detail we had found. Every rock and shoal would be marked. Who knew when it might prove vital. We worked out that we could land to the north of the estuary. There looked to be a beach there, at least there was at low tide. If we landed when the tide was low then we could work through the sand dunes which Aiden told me lay on the south side of the river and approach the palace that way. I would use our other ship, 'Josephus' to intimidate them. They could sail down the river at high tide and draw the attention of the men of Gwynedd. It was then that we might be able to gain entry to the palace. Aiden answered as many questions as he could and then I turned to Erik. "We need to speak to Karl and Wolf Killer."
The oars were run in and the sail lowered. The 'Josephus' slowed and hove to next to us. We were now just south of Ynys Cybi. I went to the stern. "We are going to land my Ulfheonar at the mouth of the estuary at low tide. The men I took from you will crew 'Heart'. At high tide you will sail as close as you can safely, down the river. I want the attention of the garrison on you." Karl and my son were watching me and nodding. I looked at my son as I added, "Do not endanger either your ship or the women. If the tide turns or you are attacked then head for sea and wait for us there."