by Griff Hosker
Siggi White Hair said, "We now have a name for you! From this day you shall be Hrolf the Horseman!"
I smiled. Aiden had called me something similar. This was wyrd. The name felt right. I stood and watched the horse struggle ashore. I was glad. It had saved me and did not deserve to die.
Sven's voice came down from the steering board, "Get to your oars! We have far to go!"
I hurried to my bench, dripping river water down its length. I sat next to Siggi and we began to row. I watched the horsemen follow us for a while along the river bank but as the current and the wind caught us they soon gave up.
Arne Four Toes said, "There must be magic in you Hrolf the Horseman. How else could you make the horse swim. You will bear watching!"
Chapter 2
We returned to the beach on the northern bank. It had been defensible and we needed to see to our wounded. As we rowed I saw empty chests. I had only seen two bodies but there were obviously others who had fallen. When the order was given to ship our oars I laid mine next to Siggi's and stood. I took off my cloak and Siggi laughed, "You will need a new shield, Horseman!"
I took off my shield. The horse which had stepped on me had completely dented the boss and my shield was cracked. "My cloak and my shield saved me, Siggi White Hair."
"And you saved me. Arne and I are both in your debt." He looked towards Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson, "The Jarl and the drekar also owe you. If you had not found me then we would not have charged the horsemen. Our attack gave the crew enough time to escape." He took the curved sword I had given him. "Here this is yours."
I shook my head, "It replaces the one you lost."
"I cannot take it. You won this weapon. It will not serve another. I have an older one I will use until I can buy another." I took the sword from him. I could not see me using it but it might be worth something. I could sell it.
We went ashore. The ship's boys were lighting a fire with driftwood. We sat in the sand, exhausted. The treasure we had captured was brought to the beach. The horsemen had prevented the crew from bringing back as much as we might have wished. Even so we were in profit. The greatest treasure was the chest I had found. We all gathered around the Jarl as he opened it. There were many coins and jewels within. He found a flat rock and began to put the coins in piles and the jewels in groups. He was jarl and he decided how it would be apportioned.
He took a large gold coin and handed it to me. "Here Hrolf. Before we divide it up this is for you. You discovered this."
Most of the crew banged their shields but Hermund the Bent scowled and neither he nor those from his oars joined in.
"Thank you, Jarl. I am glad that I have been of service. I am honoured to be a member of this clan."
Arne had seen the look which Hermund the Bent had given me. He stood, "I am Arne Four Toes. You know that I speak true."
There were nods and 'ayes'.
"This youth saved my life and saved Siggi's life. More than that it was his eyes which not only spotted the horsemen to allow us to escape but the charge of Siggi and him was the act which ensured we would escape. I owe him a life, Siggi owes him a life," he looked pointedly at Hermund, "we all owe him a life. Those who have spoken behind his back let them know that I will take offence at further comments." He sat down.
The Jarl nodded, "I too have heard whispers and I say now that they will stop. I will have no disharmony in the drekar. Know this also, it has been suggested to me that we winter here, closer to the places where we find riches. If we can find somewhere then I do not intend to return to Ljoðhús."
This caused a bigger reaction. Erik Karlsson, who was a confederate of Hermund the Bent, stood. "What about our homes? What about women?"
Siggi laughed, "We are Vikings! Do you not know what that means? We have no home save our ship. And women? Find them."
Others joined in and Erik was shouted down.
Jarl Gunnar held up his hands for silence, "We have to find somewhere but you know my mind. If any are unhappy then when we put into port to trade they can leave. I will have no man aboard who is not loyal." Looking around I realised that was easier said than done. With the deaths and Hermund's faction we would be down to twenty men loyal to the Jarl. That was not enough to crew the drekar.
The Jarl then divided the treasure. He took slightly less than half and the rest was divided equally amongst us all. I saw evil looks cast my way. Hermund the Bent had taken my success as a personal affront. Far from making my life easier it would now be harder. My hand went to my sword. I felt the power Kara had given it and I became as cold as the blade. There was little point in becoming angry.
I know not if it was deliberate but the Jarl made Hermund and Erik stand guard. On reflection it was not the best decision the Jarl had ever made. The two of them had a watch to fuel each other's resentment of me. As we boarded the ship Karl Knutson said quietly. "Watch your back. Hermund blames you."
I turned, "For what?"
"Harald Svensson was his cousin. He died and he says you brought the bad luck with you."
"But..."
He smiled, "I know. It makes no sense. Most of the crew are behind you. We will watch you when we can but try not to be alone. He would murder." There was shock in his voice.
I could not believe that for murder was the most heinous of crimes. A murderer would be ostracised by all and forced from his own home. I had thought I would have an easier time but I was wrong and I would still need to watch my back.
We left before dawn and headed south. The Jarl had not ventured there before but he had seen the riches the Dragonheart had brought back with him. The spices and fine garments were worth the risks we took. We were heading for Olissipo in the land of the Emirate of Córdoba. The wind was with us and we did not have to row. It was a good thing for we were under crewed. As we headed south I was questioned about this Al-Andalus for they knew that Jarl Dragonheart had raided there.
"I only know what I was told and that was by Haaken One Eye. He makes up sagas and I learned to treat his stories with some suspicion."
"I know," said Siggi White Hair, "all singers of sagas have a tendency to exaggerate but there is always a part which is true."
"You know those horsemen we met?"
"The ones with black skin? The Moors?"
"Aye, well the crew said that the land is filled with them. Some wear robes which cover them from head to foot and others fight naked."
Siggi asked, "They are berserkers?"
"I do not think so. Haaken said that many of them were so proud of their manhood they wished to display it."
Arne Four Toes laughed, "And that is a quick way to lose it."
"The men of Cyniges-tun had sailed the Middle Sea as far as Miklagård and they say the land to the south of the sea teems with these black warriors. They are as plentiful as fishes."
Karl Knutson shook his head, "It seems to me that we are wasting our time then. What treasures can a naked man have? At least those we fought yesterday had armour and helmets. If we had managed to defeat them then we would have had some reward for our dead men."
"But they do have treasure." I felt deceitful about not disclosing my golden necklace but I wanted no more bad feeling between the crew. I made up a story, "Haaken said that many of them liked to wear gold about them and they prize jewels. The chest we found in the house was evidence of that."
Arne nodded, "Aye and it was guarded by a giant Moor. I should have searched his body!"
"We had not time. We did not know that the horsemen were coming."
That reminded them of who had seen them. "Your eyes and ears are useful, Hrolf the Horseman."
I smiled, "Did you know the story of horses and me? Did the Jarl mention it?"
Arne looked genuinely interested in my words, "What story?"
"I grew up in Neustria. They have horses there and I learned how to ride them. I rode them when I served the Dragonheart. It is why I was able to mount and control it. I thought you knew and that was why you named me."
>
"No, Hrolf. We named you thus because you defeated the horsemen almost on your own. That is something of which you can be proud."
The Norns must have been listening to our conversation for they began to spin their webs. Their thread spread out across the sea. We spied a half sunken boat. Boats were rarely met on the seas and any which saw our raven prow would flee. The ship would be empty and of no use to us. We would have passed it by but Knut Egilsson, the ship's boy, shouted, "Captain, there are men alive in the water."
We may have been cruel warriors and hard enemies but it was an unwritten rule that you did not leave men in the water to drown. The Gods would not approve of such a callous act. Sven put the steering board over and we headed towards the wreck. We crowded along the sheerstrake. The sea was normally an empty place. A ship could travel for days without seeing another. Usually another ship meant danger. There could be no danger in this half sunken boat.
There were two men and a boy clinging for life to the wreck. It looked to have been a merchant vessel for the part to which they clung was too broad to be a fishing boat. I was not certain if they were alive. The ship's boy must have seen something which suggested life. Sven the Helmsman shouted, "Knut, you and the other boys go over and take ropes with you. Tie them under their arms. Be quick!" He pointed and I saw the distinctive fins of sharks. They were circling.
Siggi White Hair said, "They will have feasted already in the rest of the crew." He shuddered. That is not a good way to go!"
The three were hauled on board and, to be honest, I was not certain if any if them lived. Siggi and Sven took charge. They turned them on their front and pulled them in the middle. The two men vomited sea water and then coughed and spluttered. The ship's boy did not need any such help. He began to cough and to bring up sea water himself.
"Sven, resume course!"
The first man to recover began to babble. Jarl Gunnar shrugged and said, "Where were you bound?"
The second man spoke and this time some of the words sounded familiar. "Jarl, I think they are Franks."
"Come Hrolf speak to them. Find out where they sailed from and where they sail to. What is his name?"
I nodded and approached them. It was some time since I had spoken Frankish. There were many variations and regional accents. "Your name? Where were you sailing? What were you carrying?"
I kept my words simple. Even so the man struggled to understand. I repeated them, very slowly. He nodded and said, equally slowly. He pointed to himself and nodded. "Hunald of Bourges. We go to the Rinaz. We had spices on board." He shook his head. I did not catch all of the words but I caught the word fortune.
"Where did you come from?"
"Portucale to the south of the Kingdom of Asturias."
I told the Jarl what he had said. "Ask him what is in this place, Portucale and if it is closer than Olissipo."
I simplified it. "Where is Portucale?" Instead of pointing due south he pointed south west. Closer than Olissipo, Jarl." I turned to the man. I had decided that he must have been the Captain or the Master of the ship. His clothes were well made."Tell me Captain, what kind of place is Portucale?" I had used too many words. He shrugged and smiled. I tried again. "Trade? Portucale?"
He understood, "Wine! Slaves!" He saw the curved sword hanging from my belt. "Swords!"
I told the Jarl what he had said. "I see a chance here. We will return these men to their home. At the very least we can scout out the port and if the chance arrives we can make a profit." He turned to the crew. Take the shields from the side. We will go to Portucale as merchants!" He smiled at me, "And you, our lucky charm, can tell the Captain that we will take him to safety."
I smiled at the Captain, "We take you to Portucale. Good?"
The two men grinned, "Very good. Thank your captain. I reward him."
"Reward?"
"I give him gold for saving us!"
When I told Jarl Gunnar he could barely contain his good humour. Our lack of numbers limited our potential action. This way we could sail with impunity into a port and scout out possible targets. Our act of kindness was being rewarded. By the time we reached the port perched precariously on the side of steep hills which rose almost vertically from the river, we looked like merchants. We had taken off our mail and hidden our helmets. There had been few enough drekar in this part of the world to inspire fear. We were amongst the first.
I did not row but stood, at the steering board, with the Jarl and the Captain of the Frankish ship. I was not really needed for the Frank directed Sven with hand signals. Jarl Gunnar wished me to be there. The apparent favouritism did not sit well with Hermund the Bent who gave me murderous looks.
Hunald took us upstream to a wooden quay next to a large wooden hall. When servants emerged and waved to him I realised that this was his hall. He beamed at me as his men tied us to the land, "My home."
It was when the Jarl and I entered his hall that I realised that this was a rich man. He had many servants and his walls were hung with fine cloth and tapestries. "Sit. Food, drink!" He clapped his hands and spoke a language I did not understand at all. His servants scurried off. The Jarl and I were left alone.
He looked around at the hall and nodded, "That witch on her island did me a favour when she spoke to you. This is a wondrous place." He patted the finely carved chairs on which we sat. "These were not knocked up by some old carpenter and those tapestries on the wall are worth a small fortune. If we sold them in Dorestad would be rich men."
The servants came in and poured wine into metal goblets for us to drink. They put platters with cured meats and cheeses before us. After they had gone the Jarl said, "And look at these! We could take them and sell them for a fortune in Lundenwic."
"But Jarl how do we make money here? We have no coin and we cannot buy anything."
"I have yet to work that out yet, Hrolf, but the Norns have sent us here for a purpose. I rely on you to keep your ears open and to help me to talk to this Hunald. Your language has helped us already."
Our host returned some time later. I suspect he had bathed for we smelled him before we saw him. He smelled of roses. He had changed and was wearing a fine and brightly coloured garment. He had with him an ancient servant. "This is Odo. He speaks your language." He pointed to me.
Odo nodded, "I come from Neustria. I was a sailor. My master said that you come from the far north. He would know where for he knows you are Vikings. Do you come for trade or war?"
The man was old but his eyes were sharp. I translated for the Jarl. He nodded and gave me the answer. "Keep your face without expression when you speak, Hrolf. Hunald is watching you. This is a test."
I nodded and forced myself to do as the Jarl had told me. I closed my eyes and remembered when I had been a slave and had had to endure blows and insults in Neustria. "We are here to trade. As you saw, Lord Hunald, we do not have a full crew we are not here for war. We have gold and we would buy spices to take back to the land of the Angles."
The mention of land of the Angles seemed to make them both relax a little. The lord spoke quickly and pointed at us as he did so.
"Good. My master can accommodate you and make introductions to the merchants. Instead of gold would you like a reward of spices?"
I translated and the Jarl smiled. "Another test, Hrolf. Tell him, yes."
My last answer seemed to satisfy them both. "My master asks if you wish to stay the night in the hall. There is water to bathe you and slaves to cleanse you."
Jarl Gunnar nodded and told me what to say. "My Jarl says that is kind. He will go and tell the rest of the crew." I smiled and added words of my own, "They would worry if the Jarl did not return."
When Odo translated Hunald spoke. "My master says why would they worry?"
"They are oathsworn. They would give their lives to protect him. As would I."
Hunald shook his head and said something. It did not sound complimentary. I knew that Odo did not translate exactly. I was learning to watch faces now. "My master says t
hose are new ideas. He has not met them before."
The Jarl left and so did Lord Hunald. Odo appraised me. "You are a warrior. I recognise a fine sword when I see one. Yet you are young to have such a weapon."
I shrugged, "I have been lucky. I was a slave in Neustria when I was rescued my life changed."
"Vikings rarely travel these waters. We had some ships which traded but that was in the past and they were not the dragon ships."
There was much unsaid in his words. I was being tested. "The Jarl and I crave adventure. We have heard of exotic places like this and others, Miklagård."
"Miklagård?"
I closed my eyes as I sought the name the Franks and Romans used for it. "You call it Constantinopolis."
"Ah. We can trade there because we are under the rule of the caliphate and can pass between the Pillars of Hercules. Your ship would be taken by the Berbers if you tried it."
"Thank you for the warning."
"It is we who thank you. Our master is a kind man. Had he been taken by the sea then his wife would have sold the business and I would be left without anything. We are only suffered here because our master is rich and the Governor likes the trade he brings. The Arabs can be cruel. Since our people defeated them at Roncesvalles they have been suspicious of Franks. King Alphonso of Asturias threatens the northern borders. My Lord Hunald treads a fine line. We are tolerated, nothing more."
The Jarl returned and Odo stood. "Come with me."
We were taken to a bath house. I had been told of them by Haaken One Eye. Jarl Gunnar had also been told of their practises but, even so, we were surprised when slaves undressed us. Odo smiled at our discomfort. "Tell your Jarl there is nothing to fear. These slaves are employed just for this purpose. I will leave you."
"But we do not speak their language!"
"Do not worry. They will let you know what you are to do."
He was correct. They led us to a warm bath and they combed out our hair. It had been some time since I had done so and I saw, in the water, nits and lice which had fled from our hair and our beards. When we were taken to the next room I saw steam rising from the water. Had Haaken's stories not told me what to expect I would have feared we were to be cooked. He had told me of such baths in Miklagård. After the initial shock it felt quite relaxing. When we returned to the warm bath I saw that the dead wildlife had been removed.