by Griff Hosker
Kurt shook his head, "And you do not have to row!"
I smiled and spread my arms, "The gods favoured me, that is all!"
As I rode back, more slowly this time for I wished to enjoy the ride, I spoke to the horse. "I shall call you Dream Strider for I have dreamed of my own horse since I was young." The horse whinnied. "I will see if the Jarl will let me take you back to the island."
By the time I reached the other side of the valley the crew were carrying the contents of the burgh down to the harbour. My joy ended when I saw the four bodies lying there. We had paid a price for our success. I tied Dream Strider to the lintel of a hut by the harbour. I strode towards Siggi whom I saw organising the men.
"The drekar is coming."
He nodded and pointed up the valley. There I could see a line of warriors, "And Arne has finished at the mine. This has been a good day." He pointed to the fishing boats. "Go and fetch two of those. We will tie them to the stern of 'Raven's Wing'. They will be useful on the island. We can catch bigger fish."
"Aye!"
The two nearest boats were anchored just twenty paces from the shore. I took off my helmet and mail shirt and laid my sword and seax on top of them. I took off my seal skin boots and I waded out to the nearest one. The water came to my chest. I pulled myself aboard and pulled up the stone anchor. There were a pair of oars and I sculled it back to the shore. I repeated with the second boat by which time I saw the drekar as she nosed into the harbour. I put my shirt and boots back on.
The Jarl was carried down to the water's edge on a shield. His leg was heavily bandaged. Harald Fast Sailing said, "Watch him, Hrolf. We have much to carry from the burgh."
"How is the wound, Jarl?"
"He was a good warrior and he fought well for his people. I was lucky that I just took the blow to my leg." He pointed to the horse. "Siggi told me you had your own success."
I nodded, "Could we take the horse back to the island? He will be useful."
The Jarl considered, "I do not see why not but have you considered what happens when we leave the island?"
I shrugged, "That is in the future. I am young, Jarl. We deal with each moment and then move on."
He nodded, "That is a good attitude."
When the drekar was tied up we took the decking up and began to fill the hold with the barrels, sacks of grain and other booty. Sven reluctantly tied the two fishing boats to our stern. He did not relish the prospect of towing them. Finally we laid the bodies of our dead by the raven prow. 'Raven' would watch over them until we could bury them on our island. The ore would be spread out on the deck. We just awaited the last of the ore to be loaded. Then the burgh could be burned and could leave.
Siggi White Hair smiled as I took the horse's halter in my hand, "I look forward to seeing how you get this beast on board. I have tried to take sheep and pigs before now. I always got a soaking."
I confess I had not thought how I would do it. The deck of the drekar was slightly higher than the quay. It was higher than the horse's legs. I wondered about a plank and then I had a sudden idea. I mounted the horse and rode him a few paces from the drekar. "Stand clear! Clear those chests away from the centre of the drekar." The Eriksson brothers quickly cleared a space and sheltered by the stern. I kicked Dream Strider in the ribs and said, "Come boy! Let us see if you can jump!" I rode him obliquely at the deck so that I could land on the cleared space. I did not ride him hard but I pulled up on the halter when we neared the drekar. He sailed over and I had to jerk the reins to the left to stop us flying off into the sea. I barely kept his back and had to grab a hunk of mane to do so.
To my great surprise the crew all cheered and began banging their shields. Even Sven was impressed. He laughed, "I thought you were due a ducking there, Hrolf the Horseman! I can see you are well named!"
The last of the ore was just being manhandled into the drekar when Ulf Big Nose, who was at the burgh firing it shouted, "Riders! They come from the north!"
Siggi was decisive. "Fire the burgh and get back on board." Arne, Ketil, Knut and I were on the quay. He turned to us. "We will wait until they are aboard" He leaned over the drekar to pick something up.
I saw the flames licking the wooden hall and Ulf Big Nose and his three men began to race towards us. He had left it late for I saw the horsemen as they hurtled down the slope after them. We had no bows strung and so Siggi passed us each a long spear.
"Leave them space to get by. Run Ulf!"
I saw him glance over his shoulder. They would make it; just.
"Ready your spears. Spread them out!"
Ulf, Karl and Knut all leapt through the gap and hurled themselves over the side of the drekar. They landed on the deck. The leading horse and rider tried to turn. The horse's hooves found no purchase on the cobbles and it began to slide. Arne's spear took the rider in the side of the head while Ketil and Knut both speared the horse. Its sliding body struck them and knocked them into the side of the drekar.
Sven shouted, "Get them aboard! They are hurt."
The next riders managed to stop and then appeared to be confused as to what to do. Their leader lay impaled upon Arne's spear! Siggi White Hair shouted, "I have had enough of this! He rushed forward jabbing his spear as he went. Arne and I followed. The rider closest to Siggi stabbed at him with his spear and Siggi's mail was struck. The blow, however, knocked the rider from his horse. Siggi lifted his spear and stabbed the horseman through the side. The rest waited.
Sven's voice boomed out. "Back! You have done enough!"
We climbed aboard and the crew cheered. I went to Dream Strider and stroked his mane. The smell of the dead horse's blood could upset an animal. We pulled away from the port as more horsemen appeared. They were too late and our first raid had been a great success.
Chapter 6
The smoke from the bread oven was a welcome sign as was the sight of Erik One Hand as he waved from the cliffs. We had discovered the problem of carrying a horse when Dream Strider decided to make water and then defecate. Luckily I was the one closest when it happened and I was the one who suffered. Arne Four Toes thought it hilarious. Consequently I was fairly smelly when we arrived in the bay.
Siggi White Hair said, "I think it would be easier if you took your beast off first, don't you?"
I nodded and began to take off my boots. My mail, helmets and swords were already with my chest.
"Any idea how you are going to get off?"
I pointed to the iron ore which was stacked, in places, as high as the sheer strake. "The same way as I got on."
I swung up on to Dream Strider's back. He had had enough of the drekar and eagerly moved towards the sacks of ore. He was careful with his hooves. When he put his front ones on the sheer strake I slapped his rump and he jumped into the sea. I lost his back and sank beneath the sea but as I had the halter in my hand I popped to the surface like a piece of cork. I rolled on to his back and lying flat encouraged him to swim to the shore. When he stepped ashore I slid down. I let go of his halter. He shook himself and then cantered along the beach just happy to be on dry land.
It took some time to empty the drekar. We had had a rich haul. Our chests were brought ashore. We would not need to raid again for a while. The task of taking our goods to the hall would take longer. First, however, we took the dead to the hill and we buried them close to Olaf. We made a barrow. After the Jarl had sent them on their journey to Valhalla Siggi said, sadly, "They will not be the last."
It was a sobering thought.
The cart and Dream Strider proved to be invaluable. We rigged up a harness and my horse pulled the cart up the path which led to the cliff top. We did not take the iron ore there. Siggi pointed out that we could use the beach just as easily to roast the ore and then refine it. Most of the iron ore would end up as slag. We would leave that on the beach. The valuable iron we made would be easily carried to the crucible and the forge. That, however, was a job we would leave for a later date. We had a victory to celebrate and treasure to
display. We had captured many animals. Dream Strider was not the only passenger. We kept a ram and a ewe from the animals we had captured and slaughtered the other four. We would add to our herd when we raided Frankia and Austrasia. The fowl we kept. They would be good eating but they would not take much keeping and would give us eggs.
That evening as we ate roast mutton and fresh bread we washed it down with Saxon beer. Harald Fast Sailing began a saga about our victory. My horse's activities featured prominently. After everyone had laughed at my embarrassment the Jarl spoke of the dead and of our future.
"It is sad that we lost four men but when I look at what we have gained I am happy. Siggi, I give to you the mail I took from the Saxon Thegn. I have a byrnie already and if you continue to charge horsemen then you will need it. We have gained many swords and helmets. It is a start. Tomorrow we begin to make iron and I start to heal. When Harald takes out my stitches then we raid and this time we try Aquitaine again."
Arne Four Toes said, "Is that wise, Jarl? The last time we barely made it out alive. Remember the Moorish horsemen?"
He nodded. "And that is why we will not raid the southern bank of that mighty river. We will sail along the northern bank. This time we will send scouts out first. It is half the distance we travelled to the land of the South Saxons. If we leave at dawn our scouts have a whole night to find us a target."
"You mean we attack during the day?"
"Aye Beorn. I have not heard of any, save Dragonheart, raiding the river. If our scouts can find somewhere without a stone wall we will not have a problem."
That caused a debate. I remained silent. I did not know enough yet to contribute. Ulf, our chief scout, also remained silent. Eventually the Jarl noticed this. "You are quiet Ulf Big Nose."
He nodded, "I am the scout and I will choose those who go with me. It seems that the gods have given us something we did not have before." He pointed to me, "A horseman. Any man who can make a horse jump on to a drekar and then off has my respect. If we could steal horses then we could explore further and have the means to escape. If I have Hrolf the Horseman as a scout then I think we can do what you wish and that the drekar will be safe. A horse doubles the area we can search."
Every eye was on me. The Jarl said, "Well, Hrolf, what say you?"
"I serve you, Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson and I am happy to scout with such an illustrious scout as Ulf Big Nose. I hope I do not let you down."
Siggi White Hair put a huge paw around my shoulder, "You could not. Even if you tried!"
Dream Strider could not escape the island and so he was not tethered. He galloped around the island as though it was his domain. Each day he grew. I suspect he had been stabled too long and it had stunted his growth. When I was not working I liked to watch him. He did not belong to me. He belonged to himself and permitted me to ride him. He came whenever I whistled. I thought I knew horses but it was not until Dream Strider came into my life that I truly came to understand them. It was funny to see some of the other, younger warriors who tried to entice my horse to them. He would come and eat whatever treat they offered and then gallop off. When he came to me he stayed and nuzzled me. We had a bond from the outset.
Knut and Ketil, in particular, were convinced that I was a galdramenn. "I have heard that the Dragonheart's wizard, Aiden, taught you the horse spell."
"No, Ketil. I swear that I use no magic save the connection between a horseman and a horse."
"I would like you to teach me."
I smiled, "The problem you have is that you try to dominate the horse. A horse is like a good hunting dog; if it likes you then you need do nothing. If it does not then you will never control him. Let Dream Strider come to you."
Ketil nodded and Knut asked, "Why did you pick that name?"
"In my dreams I see horses and there is one, a jet black stallion, much bigger than Dream Strider and he strides through my dreams. No matter how fast I run I can never catch him. I have often woken murmuring Dream Strider. I did not choose the name, my dream did."
The times when I could ride my horse or even watch him run were few. We had to build a furnace big enough to melt the rock. Then when the rock had cooled down we had to separate the slag from the ore and then re-smelt it. The process took a long time and required much wood. The island soon began to become bare. There would come a time when we would have to spread further afield to get the wood for the fire. Erik Green Eye knew how to make charcoal and Beorn Beornsson said charcoal was better for iron making. We began to make charcoal.
The Jarl began to heal and the first of the metal was produced. Rolf Arneson had skills with a blade and he carved a raven's wing for our herkumbl. It would not be large but it was detailed. The painted one had disappeared from our helmets. The metal ones, when produced, would be riveted to the front. I liked it for it added metal to the part of the helmet most prone to attack. I had managed to take the aventail from my old helmet and, after I had repaired the dents in my new one, had managed to fix it to the back. Even Arne was impressed by my new helmet. I could see that he was envious. Everyone wanted one of the raven's wings. It was seen as a mark of honour. However some of us had to go on the next raid without the prestigious adornment. They took time to make. When we left this time every man had a helmet. Some had managed to sew pieces of metal on their leather armour and everyone now had a good sword. Siggi had sold his mail shirt to Ulf Big Nose. As we two were the only scouts it felt right that we both wore the short mail shirt which covered just the back and the front.
Erik was left again save that this time he had Dream Strider for company. He also had animals to tend. Soon it would be harvest time and then we would need to prepare to over winter in our new home of Olafstad. As we rowed the first few miles to gain sea room, it was a much more fluid motion. We were now in rhythm. Even when we did not sing we spoke and we spoke in the rhythm of the oars. Hard work and constant exercise meant we found it easy to row and to speak. We only had to row ten miles and then Sven was able to turn and head south by east. The wind from the west now worked for us. We were able to lie on the deck and sun ourselves. Although the land would never get as cold as at home these late days of summer were days to savour. The days ahead would be colder. Winter was coming.
This was not the first time we had approached this mighty river and we were better prepared. We knew just how wide it was; it felt like a sea. We kept to the northern bank. There were settlements there and a couple of towers but fewer of them than on the southern bank. We reached the mouth of the estuary just before dusk. The river appeared empty. Sea birds soared overhead, that was all. Sven had the sail lowered and we took to the oars. I was facing the sunset and the sky seemed to be on fire. The river was flat, especially after the waves we had endured sailing down the coast. We rowed for ten miles up the river. It was then we spied the tower in the distance. The light from the setting sun reflected from its top. We rowed in silence for another five miles and then Sven put us over to land on the northern bank.
Ulf Big Nose and I slipped over the side. The Jarl would not anchor. The crew would row against the gentle current. "Be back before dawn. Hopefully we will find somewhere close to this spot on the river where we can shelter and wait for you." The Jarl nodded to Harold Haroldsson and Alf the Silent. They would search nearby for a stand of overhanging trees or a small tributary.
Ulf and I waded through the shallow water to the marshy bank. It was flat land but there appeared to be no roads. I was the novice and I followed Ulf as he loped along. We only had our swords as weapons. It was speed and stealth which would save us. Ulf was not called Big Nose for nothing. He sniffed and pointed left. There was a track of sorts. I guessed it was the path trodden by those fishing at the river. Ulf stopped and sniffed. I did too and I knew then what he had found. It was the smell of horse muck. Where there was muck there were horses. Ulf could move remarkably silently. He was like a ghost or a will o'the wisp. I struggled to keep up with him.
I heard the whinny of the horses. They were
not in a stable. Instead they were penned outside. Their only guard, however, was a formidable one. It was a dog. I heard it growl. Ulf and I dropped to our haunches. He held his hand up to me and then, leaning forward began to whistle. Had I not been as close as I was then I would not have heard it. The growling stopped. While still whistling Ulf clicked his fingers and the dog began to move towards us. When it reached us it spied me and growled again. Ulf reached into his tunic and pulled out something. He offered it to the dog who ate. He handed me something. It was a piece of dried deer meat. He nodded towards the dog. It was a vicious looking dog and was the size of a calf. I held my hand out with the food on the palm. The dog ate it and then lay down.
Smiling Ulf stood and we went to the pen. There were four horses. Ulf gestured to me. This was my job. I climbed over and clicking with my tongue approached them. I did so calmly and steadily. As I had expected one of them moved towards me. Knowing we had horses to ride I had brought two of the apples from the island. There was a small orchard and while the apples were not quite ready horses didn't seem to mind the sour taste. Certainly Dream Strider didn't and ate all that were offered.
I took out an apple and took a bite. I held it in my palm. The horse picked it up, gently and chewed it. Then it licked my hand for more. I offered it the other half while I slipped the halter around his head. He took it. Waving Ulf over I handed him the reins. I mimed for him to walk around with the horse. It needed to get used to his smell. I took out another an apple and bit into it. The horses must have smelled the apple once I bit it. That and the fact that the first horse had accepted me made them slightly less nervous. A pair of them walked towards me. I took another bite out of the apple and held out the two pieces. I kept half in my mouth. While they ate I took out my second halter. I had decided to go for the chestnut. It was larger than the other. I took the half of the apple from my mouth and gave it to him as I slipped on the halter.