by Griff Hosker
Ulf took off his helmet and slid forward to peer through the bushes. I copied him. Eventually Gunnstein did the same and Ulf nodded. The Jarl's brother had taken the criticism of the scout to heart. There were four men seated around the fire before the farmhouse. Perhaps they knew it to be haunted and were frightened of it. Beyond that there looked to be four guards on each dragon ship although it is hard to tell, some could have been sleeping; hidden below the sheerstrakes.
We heard them talk. "I thought that the Jarl would have defeated them by now! We have more men than they do."
"You know that he does not waste men in pointless attacks. He wishes to wear them down. It is their treasure he wants. I have heard that they have so many chests of gold that their drekar almost sank while coming here."
"Then we should just burn it to the ground!"
"But then we would not know where it was buried! Fool! Do you think that they will leave so much gold and jewels just lying around?"
"Harald Black Teeth is not a patient man! He came here to kill Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson and that runt who rides horses."
Another voice said, "Enough talk, it is your bet!"
When Ulf was satisfied he slid back down the bank. "We will take the four by the fire. You three use your bows. I will get below the farm and take any you miss." He glared at us, "Do not miss! When they are dead we will go down to the shore."
"What then?"
"Then Gunnstein Thorfinnson, you and Alf the Silent will prop the bodies by the fire and then join Hrolf and me. We will try to take a dragon ship. If they lose a drekar, it might weaken their resolve."
I frowned, "Or it might make them try to take our ships!"
He grinned, "You are learning, Hrolf. If they try that then we are not alone. Sven has warriors, and if we know they are coming, then we can be prepared!"
The three of us crept closer to the four men. Their backs were towards us. I managed to get a good view of the warrior on the far side. He had no warrior bands which showed he was not experienced and he just had a leather byrnie. I had a clear target. I knocked an arrow; I had already chosen my best arrow. I glanced at the other two; they were both ready. I pulled back the bow. The Saami bow took some pulling but I was now more familiar with it. I released the arrow. Even while it was heading for the warrior facing me I had knocked another arrow. The three arrows hit almost simultaneously. The warrior who was not hit stood and looked around for the hidden enemies. Two black fletched arrows struck him. He fell backwards on to the fire. His hair flared into flames. I ran to him and pulled him off the fire. I did not want those on the ships to see a burning warrior, it would tell them they were in danger.
I left the other two to arrange the dead bodies around the fire and hurried to the shore. Ulf was hiding by the bushes which grew on the shelf rock above the bay. I lay down next to him. His eyes questioned me and I nodded. He pointed to the nearest ship. There were just four men on board but they did not have a deck watch. From our vantage point by the farmhouse we had seen that they were playing a game.
"Take off your mail and your boots. We will swim out to the ship. The fools will pay for their laziness. "
Alf and Gunnstein joined us. We had both just removed our leather mail. Ulf just nodded to them and said, "I hope you can swim."
I took out my seax and looked at the sun. It was dipping in the west. It would be some time until dusk. That suited us for it meant we had the darkness to help us to escape.
After checking that no one had moved their position we slipped down to the water. It was cooler than I had expected. I had kept on my breeks and tucked in my belt I had the wickedly sharp dagger. We swam across the still, calm water to the nearest dragon ship. The nearest one was four ships lengths away. The three crews were giving each other enough room in case the sea became more violent. I was a good swimmer. When I had lived in the land of the Wolf I had often swum the waters of Cyninges-tūn. I closed with a ship quicker than the others.
We had seen the four men seated amidships, by the mast fish. I headed for the steering board. I would be able to climb aboard easier. Grabbing hold of the board I reached up to grip the withy rope. I lifted myself out of the water by placing my feet on the hull just above the waterline. I raised my head to peer over the sheerstrake. The four warriors were on the other side of the mast still playing with dice. I took a chance and rolled over the side of the drekar. The large helmsman's chest which lay close to the stern was big enough to give me cover.
Ulf was the next one over. I drew my seax. Without waiting for the other two the scout waved me forward. They had cleared the deck, I assumed to lift the decking and store the treasure they hope to capture from us. It made our task easier. With bare feet we moved silently. We were ten paces from them when they saw Gunnstein and Alf as they tumbled over the bow. The Jarl's brother fell awkwardly. Alf stood before him with his short sword ready.
The four deck guards might have been lazy but they were prepared. Grabbing their swords and axes they raced towards our two companions. We ran after them. I was faster than Ulf. I dived when I was close to the rearmost warrior. My shoulder hit him in the back and as he fell forward his sword shot from his grip. Ulf lunged at the second. I lay on the back of the warrior I had hit. He smelled of sweat and fish. I brought my seax up under his right arm. Warm blood flooded down my hand. I pushed harder with my blade and twisted as I did so. The man went limp; he was dead. I pulled out my blade and looked to the bow
Alf had wounded one of his attackers but the other had cut my silent comrade in his side. Alf knew he was dying but refusing to give up hurled himself at the remaining warrior who shouted, "Attack! We are under attack!"
Ulf and I ran towards the two of them who appeared to be embracing. Even as our blades sliced into the back he had used his own dagger to kill Alf the Silent.
Gunnstein rose groggily. His head was badly cut. He had fallen against a sharp piece of iron and he appeared to be limping. Ulf shouted, "Cut the anchor! Hrolf, find kindling. We shall send Alf to Valhalla in his own drekar."
The crew of the other ship were alerted. I could see them moving around and shouting to the dead guards at the farmhouse. They were too far away at the moment to do any harm to us. I saw them shout again at the four corpses by the fire. I found the kindling. It was by the fire and the firestone. They would have used it to cook while they watched on the ship. I found an empty pot and put kindling in the bottom. I saw a jar of seal oil. I poured some on the wooden deck close to the mast.
Ulf shouted, "Gunnstein, help me raise the sail." With the anchor rope cut I could feel she was drifting already. The outgoing tide was taking us towards the other ships. I laid more kindling at the side of the pots. I took the flint from the chest by the steering board and then struck it until the kindling and oiled sheep's wool caught fire. I blew on it to make it flame more. I put more kindling on and as the fire caught, poured the last of the seal oil upon it. The flames leapt, almost singeing my eyebrows. "The fire is ready!"
"Then fire the ship! Do not wait for us." The Norns! I tipped the fire onto the oil soaked deck. I had been expecting flames; I had created an inferno. I had to jump back to avoid being caught by the fire.
Ulf laughed, "It is good you have no beard or you would have lost it already!" He pointed to the shore. "Over the side. The wind and the tide will take it to the other ships." The sail was only halfway up but the tide was driving the dragon ship towards the second one. It's crew was already trying to cut their own anchors. As we jumped over the side I said a silent farewell to Alf. He had said little but he had been a warrior who had always stood by me. He had died well and I would see him in Valhalla.
The water was refreshing and I quickly swam through the water. There was no need for silence now but speed was vital. I clambered ashore and raced for my leather armour. The flames caught the sail. As I began to don my leather I saw that while the third dragon ship had managed to turn to avoid the fire ship the second had not. Alf's drekar bumped into it. The
second drekar's crew had tried to raise the sail and the flames caught hold of it. The two ships began to drift east. Alf and his funeral pyre were heading for Frankia. Already it was lower in the water. The masts were alight and made the ships alive. I swear I saw Alf's spirit rise through the fire to ascend to Valhalla. I clutched the horse amulet around my neck.
I had dressed by the time the other two reached me. In the distance the clamour of battle diminished. The day was almost over and with dusk not far away they would see the glow from the burning ships. They would come to investigate. We did not have long.
"Hrolf, ready an arrow. Gunnstein can you walk?"
"Aye." He looked distraught. "I am sorry I fell."
Ulf shrugged, "It is wyrd. The Weird Sisters could not allow was an easy victory. Alf has paid with his life. We will remember him. "
The sun was now setting in the west but there was a glow in the north-east from the sinking dragon ship. We had almost made it back to the cave when we were spotted. It was at the point when we were the closest to the settlement. We could see the walls. I had Heart of Ice drawn and I was leading. Ulf was guarding the rear. Two warriors suddenly stepped out from the trees to our right. They came so quickly that I just reacted. I was quicker than they were. Perhaps they had been fighting all day and were tired, I know not but I lunged with my sword at one of them. It struck his throat and he made a gurgling sound as though he was choking. Then he fell at my feet in a bloody heap.
I pulled the blade out preparing to kill the other. However he managed to shout before I did so. "Jarl! The enemy!" He got no further for I slashed the edge of my blade against his throat.
I heard Gunnstein slump against the trees. His eyes were glazing over.
Ulf saved our lives that day. "Quickly! Run to the walls! Hrolf, you must carry Gunnstein. I will watch your back."
I just obeyed our orders and, picking up the Jarl's brother I ran. The day's fighting at the settlement was over and our enemies were limping and trudging back to their camp. The two we had slain were between their camp and our cave. We had just been unlucky. Already warriors were rushing to discover where the danger lay. We were lucky that, in the twilight, we looked much as they did. We burst out into the clearing before the walls. We had just eighty paces to run. As we hurried I took in the dead bodies which lay before the walls. It had been a day for dying. Behind us I heard our enemies as they realised that we had evaded them.
I heard the shouts from the walls, "More of them! Arrows!"
Ulf shouted, "It is us you old fool, Beorn Beornsson! Let us in!"
I took all of Gunnstein's weight. His weakened ankle could not support him. Behind me I heard a roar as Hermund discovered where we were. Siggi White Hair appeared on the wall as I laboured across the open ground. "Archers now you can release! Get the gates open and have the bridge ready."
Ulf stopped to turn and release an arrow. Gunnstein was now almost a dead weight; the blow to his head must have been worse than we had thought. I knew that the gates would be well barred and there was a danger that our enemies could follow us in. I resolved to carry Gunnstein. I stopped and put him over my shoulder. I found that I could move faster. The noise of pursuit grew. When I saw the gates opening just thirty paces from us I hurried. Arne Four Toes and Siggi threw a long plank across the ditch,
"Hrolf, get across!"
Ulf's voice told me that the scout was protecting my back! Normally I would have run across the wooden board but I was tired and Gunnstein was a dead weight. I almost overbalanced in the middle.
"Hurry, Hrolf! You can make it."
Siggi's words gave me the confidence and I leapt the last three steps. Arne took me and Gunnstein and pulled us through the gates. Ulf bundled into the back of me knocking Gunnstein and me to the ground. As the bridge was withdrawn and the gates were slammed shut Siggi's face appeared above me. "You came close to Valhalla then Hrolf! Is the Jarl's brother dead or alive?"
Ulf said, "He fell when we attacked the drekar. He hurt his leg but his head struck a piece of metal on the ship. It was only in the last few hundred paces that he passed out. It is good that Hrolf is stronger now!"
The Jarl held a hand out to help me to my feet. "I owe you my brother's life now Hrolf. Beorn, see to my brother!"
"Where is Alf the Silent?"
Ulf pointed to the east. There was the slightest of glows. "He is in Valhalla but we gave him a dragon ship to carry him on his way, Siggi. They have but one drekar left and they have lost many men. We have slain almost twenty. We saw their dead in the ditch. Perhaps they will leave."
Beorn picked up Gunnstein and carried him to the hall. The Jarl shook his head. He pointed to a line of bodies. "We have lost too. One more attack would have seen him over the walls. We wondered why they did not come again when darkness fell. They suddenly withdrew from the walls. Thank you for your attack. It has bought us time." He turned to Siggi, "What do you think, old friend, will they come again this night?"
"Which ships did you destroy?"
"Not the one with the serpent's head. The ones with the dragon prows."
"Then one will be the ship of Harald Black Teeth; Eagle's Heart'. He will not be happy and I think there will be harsh words this night. We have a night to prepare." He put his arms around Ulf and me. "Come, these two heroes need food and we need to plan, Jarl Gunnar."
I saw the Eriksson brothers. They looked older and both bore wounds. They smiled and waved as we passed. I searched for other familiar faces and wondered how many of the old crew lay beneath their cloaks by the hall. I ate while Ulf told them of our efforts outside the walls. Siggi nodded his approval. "Your bow was a good purchase."
"It was, Siggi, but it now lies beyond the walls. I fear I have dropped it."
Arne Four Toes smiled, "It paid for Gunnstein's life. It is wyrd. Besides we may find it when we rid our home of these raiders."
"How?"
The wound to his brother and the loss of such old friends as Ulf Squint Eye had made the Jarl doubt himself. That was not good. In some crews that would mean another would take the Jarl's place. Ours was a different crew. I still do not know what made it different. The only explanation I could think of was that we had served with the Dragonheart. His crew served through loyalty rather than hopes of reward.
Siggi shook his head, "We have sat behind these walls long enough, Jarl. It will not take them long to decide to use fire against us. I am only surprised they have not done so already."
"That is because they think we have vast quantities of treasure and they are buried but Black Teeth wishes the Jarl and Hrolf here, dead. The loss of his ship may well make him angry enough to attack and to use fire regardless of what Hermund the Bent wishes."
"But have we enough to attack them?"
"Ulf, where is their camp?" As ever it was the calm mind of Siggi which plotted our course.
"They are close to the farmhouse in the dell sheltered from the north winds. They have many small fires and are spread out."
Siggi thumped the table making me start. "Then we attack them. We use a shield wall and approach silently. If they are spread out then we take them piecemeal."
We all looked at the Jarl. Our faces told him that we could do this and that we wished to try. If we were to die then better to throw the bones and take a chance than wait for a fiery death. He nodded, "Aye then."
Siggi turned to me, "You have done much, Hrolf, and each man within these walls owes you but I would ask one more sacrifice from you."
They all looked at me now. I nodded, "I am oathsworn Siggi and I will do whatever is asked of me."
"I would have you be Hrolf the Horseman. Take Dream Strider and when we attack I would have you charge from the west. If we attack just as dawn breaks then you will approach from the darkness. We have all heard Dream Strider's hooves as they pound on the turf. It sounds like death approaching. "
"But I will be alone! What can one man do?"
"You will be a man on a horse and they will not kno
w that you are alone. You shout as though you lead a whole army." I nodded. Siggi put his hand on my shoulder. "I do not ask that you become berserker. Just distract them and then look after yourself."
Ulf laughed, "I have fought with this one enough times to know that you are spitting in the wind Siggi but I like the plan. Hrolf the Horseman can do this and we will tell the tale this winter when we recall how we destroyed three drekar crews!"
"Then I had best go prepare my horse. He will be ready to ride!"
Once outside I found Rurik One Ear and Erik One Hand waiting for me. I could not keep the smile from my face. They were both alive. "Come, we have to prepare my horse."
Rurik looked at me quizzically, "Your horse?"
"I am to charge our enemies!"
"Alone?"
"I will have Alf the Silent and the spirits of the other dead warriors with me. Do not worry I do not fear this. I will be on my horse and I have seen their camp. The Jarl intends to attack them and end this!"
As we walked to Dream Strider's stall I told them of the last few days. Erik suddenly became excited, "I will join you later! I have something to do!"
Dream Strider was pleased to see me. I could see that he was well fed and watered. He stamped his hoof. He was ready. We saddled him and Erik returned with Bagsecg. He carried my mail.
"It is not totally finished, Hrolf but Erik told me what you intended. I could not let you ride out knowing that this might be the mail which would save you. It is not oiled and it still needs the mail for your arms but it will do. Come let us try it on."
I had just donned it when Siggi came in. "We are taking out some of the palisade at the rear of the wall. We will use them to make a bridge for you and then you can leave without their sentries and scouts spotting you." He noticed the mail and nodded his approval. "A warrior at last! May the Allfather be with you today! Leave whenever you are ready."