by Griff Hosker
I sat with them and told them of my journey. They nodded. “This will not be ready until Heyannir at the earliest. It may take longer.”
“We will not need it until ‘Dragon’s Breath’ has sailed her last voyage.”
“She has many more voyages left in her, jarl. That is good for the prow needs much work. They say that a shipwright puts himself into the carving of the figure head. This cold has seeped into my bones and I can feel the Allfather calling. I would make the prow something for you all to remember.”
It was that time of year, when the nights were long and the days gripped like ice that old warriors spoke thus. I had heard of some, back in Norway, who had just walked into a blizzard to let the Allfather take them. Some had deliberately faced wolves with just a sword to have a warrior’s death and not a death from within. The plague at Ċiriċeburh had worried many of the older warriors. That was not the death for a Viking. We wanted an enemy we could face and fight and not some pestilence that crept into our bodies and killed from within.
After my wife had spoken with Seara, I learned more of this Philip of Angia. Seara had heard of his father who had taken the island from his brother. It explained much. The one I had killed might have been the son of the slain ruler. Philip of Angia had called him cousin. It told me much about his character. I did not like being used. I would remember the Angian lord.
The new grass came at Gói. It lifted the spirits of even the dourest of warriors. New weapons were bought from Bagsecg. Armour was cleaned. Young men clamoured to be warriors. They wanted to raid. I was preoccupied. Did I take the war to Henry of Carentan or did I wait? It was as I was exercising Dream of Freya that it came to me. I would do as Ulf Big Nose had taught me. I would scout. He had taught me that riding amongst your enemies was never a bad thing for you learned more that way. Your own eyes are better believed than the tongues of others. After speaking with Arne, Sven and Folki, I left alone and rode to my son’s hall. He and Bertrand’s men had built a fine hall. Over the winter my son had grown a scrubby beard. He had broadened out and now looked like a man. He had also thought about what he wore. Gone were the rough garments he had once worn. He had had his mother make some finer clothes from the cloth we had brought back.
“How goes it, my son?”
“Flambard and his people have come to accept us. Perhaps they even welcome us. I get on with his sons and we laugh. I often visit his hall. I am made welcome.” I noticed a slight flushing of his cheeks and wondered what it meant. “We do not impose upon them and we show gratitude when they give us fish. We have hunted and shared our catch with them.”
“And what of your young warriors?”
He pointed to his young warriors practising. “We are learning to become warriors like Alain of Auxerre. We have tried the longer spears they use. It is taking time but we will learn how to use them.”
“Good. I would take Gurth from you for a short while if you can spare him.”
“Of course, but why?”
“I intend to scout the land around Carentan. He and Tadgh lived there wild. They will know the back ways and the hidden ways.”
He frowned, “Of course you can have him but is there not someone else you could send? You are the clan, father. If we lost you, then…”
“Then you would be jarl and you would lead the clan. Do not worry about me, Ragnvald. I am still the best scout in the clan. I will teach Gurth to be one too. We will be as ghosts.”
“Then war is coming?”
“It is coming.”
Gurth was more than happy to join me. We rode back to Valognes so that we could leave early the next day. I did not wear mail. Gurth was surprised. “But if we meet warriors how will we fight?”
“The same way I did before I wore mail. You need mail in a battle. Blows can come from all sides. We are not fighting a battle and we need speed. We are well mounted. If we meet enemies, then we run away. If we have to fight it will be against one or two. I will not take my shield. I do not need it. My helmet will hang from my saddle for most of the time. I will take my bow. Do you have a bow?”
He hung his head, “I never learned.”
“No matter. When we return I will have my son teach you. Take your slingshot. I know that you can use that.”
We ate with Rurik One Ear and Alain of Auxerre. Rurik listened as Gurth questioned me. The old warrior laughed, “You will learn more in the next few days with Hrolf the Horsemen than many men learn in a lifetime. He can hide in plain sight. Take everything in young Breton. These opportunities do not come often.”
Alain said, “My men can escort you if you wish, lord.”
“Then we would not find out what we need to know. I intend to enter their towns and listen to their gossip. I need you two to prepare as many men as you can. If war does come, then I wish to be able to respond quickly. You will be the warriors who face the first attack. He will not bother with a siege. He has learned his lesson but you will be isolated. That is where the horsemen you have been training will come into their own. You hit and run. Slow them down until we can bring our whole force here. We will still be relying on the shield wall. We can field almost a hundred and fifty warriors. The Franks have never fought such a large number. When they fought Fótr’s people only a few had mail. I would have them shatter their spears against our shields.”
We left before dawn and headed through the woods where I had first encountered Seara and her people. Gurth knew it well and he would be able to guide us south of Carentan without being seen. I planned on entering the town through the southern gate so as to allay suspicion. We had coins we had taken from the dead. They bore the face of Louis. I had trimmed my beard a little and I did not wear my sealskin boots and cape. The cloak I wore we had taken from a dead Frank. I looked like a warrior seeking a lord. Gurth looked like a younger version of me. Gurth’s Norse was not yet good enough and so we spoke Frank. It was a good habit to get into.
We had only twenty-four miles to cover. I knew that if we rode hard we could make the town in less than half a day but I wanted to be cautious and to enter the town before dusk, in the late afternoon. Those who had used the market would be on their way home and I hoped to slip through in the confusion. We passed people on the greenway. The Franks were nervous of strangers and, unlike my land, no one spoke. They kept their heads down as they hurried along. The fact that we had swords and rode horses marked us as warriors. They were wary of us. In my land, we would have been welcomed.
We rode down the valley which had been flooded the last time I had been here. In places the greenway was still a little boggy. We were just emerging from winter and it had been a wet one. The mud spattered our horses. It would help with our deception. Gurth’s local knowledge came in handy. We crossed the road which headed west and he took us through a small wood. There was no greenway but he knew of a hunter’s trail. It brought us out on the road north. Carentan lay to the north of us now. We waited in the woods until we saw a merchant heading north. He had four servants with him and led horses. He would probably be taking goods to trade at the next market. We let them disappear before we emerged and mounted our horses. With the road clear, we followed them. Their horses were slower than ours and we soon caught them up. We could see the town ahead and the merchant stopped and viewed us suspiciously.
I smiled, “Do you know of a good place to eat in the town ahead of us? We have not yet eaten today.”
“How far have you come?”
I shrugged and dismounted, “I am not certain for we came over greenways without markers. Let us just say that I have ridden far enough to walk the last part.”
My easy manner seemed to put him at his ease. “There are few decent eating places in Carentan. I am lucky. My brother lives there. I would offer you hospitality but…”
“But we are strangers and who knows what foul habits we have. I understand. Hopefully we will find employment there.”
“You are warriors?”
“Aye. We fought in the land south of Aq
uitaine against the Moors. We lost the rest of our company.” I used Alain of Auxerre’s story. Ulf Big Nose had told me to keep stories as honest as possible.
“Then you have come to the right place.” He patted the sacks which hung from his horses. “These are weapons. The Lord of Carentan is planning a war.”
“That is good news! Who does he fight? The Bretons?”
“That would have been true four or five years ago, but now we are blighted with the Northmen.”
“Vikings? I did not know they were here.”
“There are only a few but they have captured two towns. Phillip of Rouen is sending thirty of his own lords to help Henry of Carentan. Jean of Caen is bringing twenty. Our horsemen will drive these barbarians back into the sea.”
We were now less than a hundred paces from the gate. I was keen to keep the conversation going. “They are good swords you sell?”
“They are Saxon. They came from Thuringia. There are none better. And do not worry my friend, the Count has also sent more horses to replace those that were taken last year. If you join the lord of Carentan there will be remounts.”
We were approaching the gate and I laughed as I put my arm around the merchant’s shoulders. “You have been a godsend. If there is a tavern I could buy you a jug of wine…”
He shook his head as we passed by the sentry who nodded to the merchant, “No, thank you for the offer, but my brother is a wine merchant. His is the best wine in Carentan.”
And then we were through the gates and in the walls. The merchant pointed left down a narrow and shabby looking street. “There is an inn down there with a stables but it will not be cheap! I hope you have coin.”
“We do. Our master paid us off and we were compensated for the loss of our comrades.”
“Just so.”
We headed down the street. It was covered in animal and human waste. The Haugr was much cleaner and yet they called us barbarians. I saw the crude sign hanging from the wall of the hut. It was a dilapidated saddle. I nodded to Gurth, “This must be the inn.” I saw that it had an arch which led into a straw covered yard. There was little to discriminate it from the street we had just walked down. There were two horses in the stables which looked as though they could hold six. The two horses were almost on their last legs. They had not been cared for and their ribs showed through their flesh. It angered me.
“Looking for stables?”
I turned and saw a fat Frank wiping his hands on his apron. “We are. Just for the night. We hope to find employment tomorrow.”
He laughed, “You may still have to pay for stables. The lord here is stingy! He likes his men to pay for their own.”
“We will pay for one night but if you are right then you could do well out of us. How much is it?”
He gave me a sly look. If you pay for seven days, it is just a silver coin.”
“And for each day?”
“A silver coin.”
We were being robbed. I nodded, “I can see that you understand business.”
“It is better than your business. Here we are safe from the barbarians that you will fight. They are wild men from the north! Whatever you are paid, you will earn it.”
“And for our accommodation?”
“The inn is full. You can sleep in the hay loft for one copper coin.”
“You are too kind.”
He was not put out by my sarcasm. “That is each but for that you can have a bowl of stew.”
“You have made it?”
“Aye. With my own fair hands.”
I handed over a silver coin and two copper coins. I had no intention of eating his stew but I would not tell him that. “Is there grain for our horses?”
“Hay only!”
We led them into the stable and took off our saddles. Gurth clambered up into the hay loft and I handed them to him. I took my leather case containing my bow and handed that. I said, quietly, “Cover that with hay.”
When we emerged, the innkeeper was still there. “We will have a walk around the town.”
“When the stew is gone, it is gone. I do not keep any for tardy customers.”
“We understand. Who would be the best lord to see for employment?”
“There is only one, Henry Lord of Carentan but he does not deal with such as you. His Captain of the Guard is Robert of Ouistreham. He is at the warrior hall but after dark he will be in the alehouse close by. You will see the wheatsheaf over the door.”
“Thank you.”
We made our way back to the main gate and headed into the centre. The gate had now been closed. As we passed I glanced at the guards. There were two of them and they had a brazier. The two would be there all night. I looked up at the wall over the gate. I saw one of the town watch walking along. I did not see another but I knew that there would be more than just the one. We kept our cloaks around our ears as we made our way through the street. Carentan was busy. There were many warriors. Already I had intelligence to take back. War was coming. None wore mail but that was normal inside a stronghold. I saw swarthy faces which spoke of hotter climes and I recognised the distinctive garb of some Frisians. There were a wide range of accents. Henry of Carentan was attracting a disparate army.
I saw the warrior hall. There were two mailed men on guard. I had no intention of seeking employment there. We would learn far more in the alehouse. I saw the sign above the door. It was early yet. The gates had just closed. The warriors who had already been employed would be eating. Drinking would come later. Gurth and I had eaten dried rations on the road. We would forego food if we had to. Information was far more important.
It was gloomy inside. Two tallow candles gave off a smoky dim light. There were half barrels as tables and log stumps for seats. I remembered Ulf Big Nose’s training. I headed for a dark corner where no one could get behind us and we could not be easily overheard. It was early and we were able to secure the two most private seats in the alehouse.
A young woman came over. She looked to be little older than Gurth but she had a world-weary look. I knew that she did more than serve ale. Her voice was dull as she spoke, “What can I get you? Ale, or is there something else you want?”
“Two ales.”
She nodded, “Money first. Two copper pieces”
It was expensive. I nodded, “Of course.” She went through a curtain and disappeared. I said, quietly, “Ears open and do not speak unless I do.”
Gurth nodded and we awaited our ale. It was not the best I had ever drunk but then I was used to Brigid’s. This was thin and lacked flavour. There was more water than grain. We would not be ordering more. I took out the two bone dice. It would allow us to nurse our ale and we would be ignored. We used small denomination coins and played quietly. The alehouse filled up and, as I had hoped, we were ignored. We were part of the alehouse to the new arrivals. We listened. There was a great deal of noise and I picked up conversations which Gurth did not. We would exchange information later.
I learned that the warriors who had been hired to fight had not been given money. They were being housed and fed. Their money would come when they sacked my land. The promise was that they would share in the riches of the Northmen. In addition, they were promised land. Much was made of the Viking’s mail and weapons. The women they would take were seen as the most attractive part of the deal. There was also some resentment from the Franks who were fighting for their lords. They were not afforded the same privileges. The hired men would have first choice of mail, weapons and women. A fight broke out at one point. The owner, a giant of a man, came out from behind the curtain and bodily picked up the two men before smashing their heads together. They fell unconscious at my feet. The girl scurried from the back and took the coins from their purses. The owner threw them both out and then glowered around the room.
A little while later the girl came out. “The master says, either order more ale or drink up! This is not a doss house!”
I had seen what the giant could do. There was little point in
arguing and besides we had learned almost all that we might have expected. I nodded and swallowed a little more of the ale. Time had not improved it and I left most of it. Getting out was harder than getting in for it was crowded. Two men darted for our seats as we stood. If it had not been for them then we might not have got out without some sort of fight.
The streets were now full. It seemed that Carentan came to life after dark. We headed back to our lodgings. I was ready to climb into the hay loft and compare notes but, as we entered the yard, the owner spied us. “Ah, you are lucky. There is still some food left.”
It would have looked odd had we refused and so we nodded and headed inside. His room was half empty and with just one tallow candle it was positively Stygian. There were just two other occupants. They looked to me as though they were Franks. You can tell much about a warrior from his weapons and these two had poorly made short swords. If they were the owners of the two horses in the stables, then they were desperate men indeed.
The food came. It did not smell appetising and I was glad I could not see it. I ate mechanically. It was greasy and lacked any seasoning. It was like thin cabbage soup. Gurth wrinkled his nose at it. I nodded for him to eat.
One of the two men opposite said, “Not the best eh, friend? You and your companion look as though you are used to better fare. Where are you from?”
I waved a hand in the general direction of the south, “Aquitaine.”
The other said, “Fighting the Moors eh? They are nasty. They cut your bits off if they catch you.” He pointed to Gurth. “He doesn’t say much. Has he lost his bits then?”
The two of them thought that hilarious. Gurth shook his head, “I still have my bits. I would watch your tongue, my friend lest you lose yours.”
One began to rise and his companion said, “You asked for that, Jean. Don’t mind him. We came from Dorestad. Have you been there lately? I am sure I saw you there. It was either you or your brother… if you have one.”
I laughed easily although I was now on my guard. “I have a common face. I have not been in Dorestad since before the campaign in the south.”