Hrolf the Viking (Norman Genesis Book 1)

by Griff Hosker

  "How will I know when to attack?"

  Siggi laughed, "Do not worry; you will know!"

  I put on my helmet and Erik fastened my wolf cloak around my shoulders. I did not need it to hide me but I knew that it would bring me luck. I touched my horse amulet and hung my shield and helmet from my saddle.

  Arne handed me a spear, "Use this like those Moors we saw near Bourde."

  I took it and led Dream Strider towards the rear wall. The Eriksson brothers were just finishing laying the two wooden posts they had taken from the wall across the ditch. I walked ahead of Dream Strider. Nipper tried to follow. I shouted, "Stay!" Reluctant he did so. I led Dream Strider to the bridge and I spoke to him all the way. I did not want him to fear the drop into the corpse filled ditch. Once on solid ground I watched as the two posts were replaced. Erik's wave seemed final. I mounted my horse and rode north and west. I intended to ride around the island and avoid any contact with the enemy. I needed to achieve surprise. As I neared the cave I heard skittering in the undergrowth. I readied my spear but as Dream Strider did not react I was not worried. I came across one of the men we had slain the other day. The foxes and the rats had been at his body. Nature would soon eliminate all traces of our battles. I was familiar with this part of the island. I rode confidently. I used my ears and watched Dream Strider. He would let me know of any danger. By the time I had turned and headed east towards the haunted farmhouse I saw false dawn in the distance. I resisted the urge to hurry. I still had time. As a precaution I hung my shield from my left arm. It was then I realised that if I was to use my shield properly from the back of a horse I needed a different bit and longer reins. I would use some of my coins to have Bagsecg make me one. For the present I would have to adapt quickly. I donned my helmet and fastened the leather thongs beneath my chin.

  I knew that I was nearing their camp when I smelled the wood smoke. I reined in on the rise just a couple of thousand paces from the camp. The trees and bushes afforded me cover. I decided to wait. I did not want to warn the enemy of the approach of our shield wall. I could picture the clan as they prepared. The Jarl, Siggi, Arne and the warriors with mail byrnies would be in the front two ranks. A forest of spears would protect them. At the rear would be the younger warriors; the ones who had no mail. They would fill the gaps when the ones at the front fell. Shields would be held above the heads of those at the front. I knew that if the enemy had warning they would form their own shield wall and ours might fail. Siggi's plan relied upon surprise. And so I waited.

  There was the hint of dawn now. The sky seemed a shade or two lighter than it had been. I thought I caught a movement to my right and ahead of me. I took a chance and kicked Dream Strider on. He was ready and looked around almost as though he was saying, 'What is keeping you?'

  I had not travelled more than four hundred paces when I heard a roar and a shout of, "Raven Wing!"

  The attack had begun. I held my spear so that I could thrust with it. I had to keep my enemies at bay. I heard, even with my helmet about my ears, the sound of consternation in the enemy camp. Men had been asleep. Fuelled no doubt by beer. They would not be wearing armour and they would not know from which direction came the danger. I kept a steady pace with Dream Strider. There was a long area of turf before their camp and I wanted his hooves to drum rhythmically. It was an easy way to ride. And then I saw the wedge. It had burst through the outlying men and was heading, like a large, moving machine, towards the main camp and Hermund the Bent. Harald Black Teeth was trying to organise a shield wall but men had been asleep and had not had time to put on their mail. Had they done so it would be have been a long day. Mailed men against mailed men take a long time dying.

  The half formed shield wall met Siggi and the Jarl. There was a loud crash and cries. Although the enemy wall was breached it had slowed down the wedge. Warriors tried to flood around the side. I was less than five hundred paces away and I saw one or two warriors look around as they heard the thunder of hooves. It was time to play my part. I shouted, as I waved my spear forward, "Warriors of the Wolf, ride on! Let us slaughter our foes! On Warriors of the Wolf!"

  I was not sure if the enemy heard all of my words, it did not matter. The first ray of sunlight glinted off my helmet and spear head. The four who were less than forty paces from me turned and ran. I kicked Dream Strider and he leapt forward. I pulled back my arm and thrust my spear into the back of the slowest of the four. As I passed his dying body I pulled out my spear. I had little time to react for the next one half turned. I rammed my spear into his mouth. As he fell back the spear was almost torn free. Others had witnessed my charge and the death of the two men. More men began to flee towards the single drekar which lay just a half mile away. These were not oathsworn. These were men who looked to make an easy killing and quick profit. With only one ship left the weaker would seek shelter there.

  A warrior, braver than the rest, turned to face me. He had a shield and sword. I feinted, as though I was going to throw my spear and when he lifted his shield I rammed my spear through his mail and into his stomach. His dying hands clutched the spear and it was torn from my grip. I drew Heart of Ice. I swung it to my left as a warrior turned to try to strike at Dream Strider. My horse's bared teeth made him flinch and my sword hacked across his throat. I swung it to my right and hit a fleeing warrior across the back of his neck. He too fell dead.

  I was aware that there were many men fleeing before me and that the battle was to my right. I reined in Dream Strider and turned. The two lines were now facing each other. Although evenly matched I had to intervene. I was behind the enemy lines. Any warrior in a shield wall fears being attacked from the rear. I played on that fear. I rode to within fifty paces and stopped. I had learned how to make Dream Strider rear and I pulled back on the reins and stood in the stiraps.

  "Harald Black Teeth! Today you die! The Wolf Warriors are coming!" I played on the fact that Jarl Dragonheart and his Ulfheonar were feared. They were not here but I was known to be their friend. I galloped towards them. Some broke immediately and ran to my left and right to avoid what they thought was a column of warriors. The light was behind me now and as I approached those at the rear I pulled back on Dream Strider's reins. He reared again. I swung my sword at a helmet to my right as his hooves smashed into two men before him. I twisted his reins so that my sword faced those on my right. I could see Siggi and the Jarl furiously fighting with Hermund the Bent and his few oathsworn. I had free rein to hack at men who were busy fighting the Raven Clan.

  It was too much for Harald Black Teeth and I saw him stab forward to strike Knut Eriksson in the face and, as he fell, he shouted, "Back to the drekar! There will be another day!"

  I could not allow that. I turned Dream Strider's head around. Harald Black Teeth still had oathsworn. Two of them turned to face me. As one hacked at my left leg I swung my sword and hit the other in the face. The blow to my leg hurt but the mail held. The Weird Sisters had decided that I had had enough luck for one day and the dying man fell into Dream Strider. My horse lost his footing and he fell upon the man who had hit my leg. My horse's body crushed the warrior. As I fell I kicked my feet from my stirap and rolled clear. Dream Strider rose and, frightened, galloped north.

  I ran after Harald Black Teeth. I was young and I did not tire easily. I began to catch him up as we neared the farmhouse. Ahead I could see, in dawn's early light, the first of those who had fled wading out to the drekar which was now moored less than thirty paces from the shore. Harald's oathsworn were dead and he was alone. Perhaps he heard me as I pounded across the turf after him for he turned with a snarl, "You whelp! I will have the pleasure of killing you first!"

  A year ago I would have been terrified of this man who made my life on Ljoðhús such a misery but I had changed. "I do not fear a man with breath which smells like a pig's arse and who runs while his men still die for him!"

  He swung his axe at me. I may have been overconfident for I met it with my shield and did not angle it enough. I felt
my arm shiver and Harald Black Teeth laughed, "You do not have Siggi White Hair to watch you now!"

  That was it! I had to use the lessons Siggi had taught me; use my speed and use my head. Be like my sword and be ice. I feinted with my sword and he laughed, "Boy! I wish I had more time to kill you slowly!"

  He swung his arm around to end it with a massive blow to my head. He swung diagonally so that if it missed my head it would still strike my weakened arm and shoulder. I would die. I leapt forward and smashed my shield into his face. It hurt my arm and I was numb from the shoulder down but he only hit my shoulder with his hand. He stumbled backwards with blood pouring from his nose. His nasal was bent and he spat out two of his famously black teeth. I laughed. "Now you are the Bent and you have no black teeth!"

  He became angry and swung his axe wildly. I had all the time in the world to step back and then, as the axe head flashed before my face I stepped in and hacked at his knee with my sword. His byrnie stopped short of his knee and I not only drew blood but shards of bone shone on my sword. I was ice personified. I did not allow him time to react. I spun around and brought my sword behind his right knee. My sword slashed through his tendons. He sank to the ground. I stepped over him and put my weight on his right hand which held his axe still.

  "You faced me as a man and I will let you keep your weapon. When I see you in Valhalla, move aside! Hrolf the Horseman will remember you and your treachery!" I plunged my sword into his throat. He seemed to cough and choke. His eyes stared lifelessly at the sky. My demon was gone.

  I turned and heard a shout behind me. I saw the Jarl raise Hermund the Bent's head high. We had won. The enemy was defeated. Even as I watched the last three survivors shed their mail and swam out to the last drekar which, with just ten oars manned, headed north. There they would tell the world that the island of the Raven Wing Clan was a dangerous place to go. As I looked up I saw Dream Strider wandering towards me. He had survived. He did not limp and I thanked the gods. I would be a horseman still.

  Epilogue

  We had many dead to bury. Olaf would not be alone. Einar Einarsson and Thorir Thorsen were among the fifteen warriors who died. Others had wounds. Knut did not die but he lost his eye. He became Knut One Eye. We all had warrior bands to boast of our bravery. When next we fought our enemies would know who we were.

  We had great quantities of mail and weapons. Ran gave us back more when a storm a few days later brought in the mailed, bloated corpses which had drowned trying to get to their ship. Few of our warriors were now without mail. We tended our wounds and we sang songs of the battle.

  The Jarl rewarded me with a small jewel encrusted dagger he had taken from Hermund the Bent. His brother gave me a spare set of mail. The greatest reward was the song they sang of me. The Weird Sisters had shown me favour and I was now accepted as a warrior of the Raven Wing Clan.

  The horseman came through darkest night

  He rode towards the dawning light

  With fiery steed and thrusting spear

  Hrolf the Horseman brought great fear

  Slaughtering all he breached their line

  Of warriors slain there were nine

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  With mighty axe Black Teeth stood

  Angry and filled with hot blood

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  Ice cold Hrolf with Heart of Ice

  Swung his arm and made it slice

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  In two strokes the Jarl was felled

  Hrolf's sword nobly held

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  The End

  Glossary

  Afon Hafron- River Severn in Welsh

  Alt Clut- Dumbarton Castle on the Clyde

  Andecavis- Angers in Anjou

  Balley Chashtal -Castleton (Isle of Man)

  Bebbanburgh- Bamburgh Castle, Northumbria. Also know as Din Guardi in the ancient tongue

  Beck- a stream

  Blót – a blood sacrifice made by a jarl

  Blue Sea/Middle Sea- The Mediterranean

  Bondi- Viking farmers who fight

  Bourde- Bordeaux

  Bjarnarøy –Great Bernera (Bear island)

  Byrnie- a mail or leather shirt reaching down to the knees

  Caerlleon- Welsh for Chester

  Caestir - Chester (old English)

  Casnewydd –Newport, Wales

  Cephas- Greek for Simon Peter (St. Peter)

  Chape- the tip of a scabbard

  Charlemagne- Holy Roman Emperor at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th centuries

  Cherestanc- Garstang (Lancashire)

  Corn Walum or Om Walum- Cornwall

  Cymri- Welsh

  Cymru- Wales

  Cyninges-tūn – Coniston. It means the estate of the king (Cumbria)

  Dùn Èideann –Edinburgh (Gaelic)

  Din Guardi- Bamburgh castle

  Drekar- a Dragon ship (a Viking warship)

  Duboglassio –Douglas, Isle of Man

  Dyrøy –Jura (Inner Hebrides)

  Dyflin- Old Norse for Dublin

  Ein-mánuðr- middle of March to the middle of April

  Eoforwic- Saxon for York

  Faro Bregancio- Corunna (Spain)

  Ferneberga -Farnborough (Hampshire)

  Fey- having second sight

  Firkin- a barrel containing eight gallons (usually beer)

  Fret-a sea mist

  Frankia- France and part of Germany

  Fyrd-the Saxon levy

  Gaill- Irish for foreigners

  Galdramenn- wizard

  Glaesum –amber

  Gleawecastre- Gloucester

  Gói- the end of February to the middle of March

  Grenewic- Greenwich

  Haesta- Hastings

  Hamwic -Southampton

  Haughs- small hills in Norse (As in Tarn Hows)

  Heels- when a ship leans to one side under the pressure of the wind

  Hel - Queen of Niflheim, the Norse underworld.

  Herkumbl- a mark on the front of a helmet denoting the clan of a Viking warrior

  Here Wic- Harwich

  Hetaereiarch – Byzantine general

  Hí- Iona (Gaelic)

  Hjáp - Shap- Cumbria (Norse for stone circle)

  Hoggs or Hogging- when the pressure of the wind causes the stern or the bow to droop

  Hrams-a – Ramsey, Isle of Man

  Hywel ap Rhodri Molwynog- King of Gwynedd 814-825

  Icaunis- British river god

  Issicauna- Gaulish for the lower Seine

  Itouna- River Eden Cumbria

  Jarl- Norse earl or lord

  Joro-goddess of the earth

  kjerringa - Old Woman- the solid block in which the mast rested

  Knarr- a merchant ship or a coastal vessel

  Kyrtle-woven top

  Leathes Water- Thirlmere

  Ljoðhús- Lewis

  Legacaestir- Anglo Saxon for Chester

  Liger- Loire

  Lochlannach – Irish for Northerners (Vikings)

  Lothuwistoft- Lowestoft

  Louis the Pious- King of the Franks and son of Charlemagne

  Lundenwic - London

  Maeresea- River Mersey

  Mammceaster- Manchester

  Manau/Mann – The Isle of Man(n) (Saxon)

  Marcia Hispanic- Spanish Marches (the land around Barcelona)

  Mast fish- two large racks on a ship for the mast

  Melita- Malta

  Midden - a place where they dumped human waste

  Miklagård - Constantinople

  Leudes- Imperial officer (a local leader in the Carolingian Empire. They became Counts a century after this.

  Njoror- God of the sea
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  Nithing- A man without honour (Saxon)

  Odin - The "All Father" God of war, also associated with wisdom, poetry, and magic (The ruler of the gods).

  Olissipo- Lisbon

  Orkneyjar-Orkney

  Portucale- Porto

  Portesmūða -Portsmouth

  Condado Portucalense- the County of Portugal

  Penrhudd – Penrith Cumbria

  Pillars of Hercules- Straits of Gibraltar

  Ran- Goddess of the sea

  Roof rock- slate

  Rinaz –The Rhine

  Sabrina- Latin and Celtic for the River Severn. Also the name of a female Celtic deity

  Saami- the people who live in what is now Northern Norway/Sweden

  St. Cybi- Holyhead

  Scree- loose rocks in a glacial valley

  Seax – short sword

  Sheerstrake- the uppermost strake in the hull

  Sheet- a rope fastened to the lower corner of a sail

  Shroud- a rope from the masthead to the hull amidships

  Skeggox – an axe with a shorter beard on one side of the blade

  South Folk- Suffolk

  Stad- Norse settlement

  Stays- ropes running from the mast-head to the bow

  Stirap- stirrup

  Strake- the wood on the side of a drekar

  Suthriganaworc - Southwark (London)

  Syllingar- Scilly Isles

  Syllingar Insula- Scilly Isles

  Tarn- small lake (Norse)

  Temese- River Thames (also called the Tamese)

  The Norns- The three sisters who weave webs of intrigue for men

  Thing-Norse for a parliament or a debate (Tynwald)

  Thor’s day- Thursday

  Threttanessa- a drekar with 13 oars on each side.

  Thrall- slave

  Tinea- Tyne

  Trenail- a round wooden peg used to secure strakes

  Tynwald- the Parliament on the Isle of Man

  Úlfarrberg- Helvellyn

  Úlfarrland- Cumbria

  Úlfarr- Wolf Warrior

  Úlfarrston- Ulverston

  Ullr-Norse God of Hunting