by Griff Hosker
One morning, however, we were brought back to our world. We had almost gathered all that we needed; we were just awaiting our copper pot when a fishing ship arrived in the river. There appeared no urgency to the boat but the captain sent a messenger to the Duke. He came to me smiling. "It seems another two of your drekar are coming. They were seen out to sea but heading this way. Is this your son who is coming?"
My hand went to my blue stone. It could not be Wolf Killer. He would not leave home whilst I was away. The Duke had come to see warriors such as us as ill deserving our reputation. If this was more than one drekar then it was a raid.
"Duke Seguin I would prepare to bar your gates. These are not friendly Vikings. This is a raid!"
"Are you certain?"
I looked him in the eye so that he would know I was speaking truly. "I swear it."
"It will take time to do so."
"We will try to buy you that time." I ran off. Aiden was still within the walls of the town but my men were not. I spied Snorri. "Get the men and arm them. Raiders come. I will meet you at the ship."
We had left our armour on the drekar and I shouted to Erik as I approached. "Erik there is danger! Drekar come!"
The three captain of knarr heard me and they began to prepare their ships. They were fully laden and had their crews aboard. I shouted to Karl and Cnut, "Come and help me with my armour."
As they were dressing me my men came in dribs and drabs. They asked no questions but emulated me. I was dressed the first. I went to Erik. "There are two drekar coming down the river. I am guessing that they are raiders. If they are not then I will apologise to everyone and feel foolish. However my heart tells me that there is danger."
"Has Aiden not dreamed the danger?"
"His head is in books and he is far from home. We will try to stop them here. I want you and the knarr to go upstream behind the bend in the river. Can you do that?"
He looked up at the pennant. "Aye the wind is in our favour but you will need to row us back later."
"If we are alive then we will do so." I pointed to the local ships; there were not many. "I would warn those ships to do as you do too."
"I will speak with them. I have come to know them in the time we have spent here."
Most of my men were aboard. I turned to address them. "There are two drekar coming here. They may be friendly in which case you can all mock me to your heart's content but if they come with sides lined with shields then we fight them. These are our friends in this town. We fight for our friends."
Haaken nodded grimly, "Your feelings have rarely let us down."
"We will wait in those warehouses they use for the wine." I smiled, "Most of the barrels and amphorae are now in our holds anyway. That way we can watch their approach and if they are hostile surprise them."
"Would it not be better to fight inside the town?"
"They take time to prepare Sigtrygg. You have seen that they move at a slower pace down here. Come we are wasting time."
We hurried from the ship as the last of my warriors arrived. Erik was speaking with the other captains. I slid my seax and my sword in and out of their scabbards. They were ready and then I hefted my spear. If we did fight then we would need to fight as a shield wall. Two drekar, unless they were small Threttanessa, would have more men than we did and we would be outnumbered. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the ships begin to leave their moorings and head upstream. It was one less thing to worry about.
"Snorri and Bjorn, leave your shields and helmets here and go downstream to spy out the river. If you are spotted then you may be taken for locals. Warn us."
They ran off and Haaken snorted, "You have more chance of seeing a gust of wind on a clear day than spotting those two."
I nodded. He was right. "If we fight then we fight as a wedge. The Ulfheonar will form the front five ranks. The rest the last two. We use surprise." I pointed to the three doors in the half empty hall. "We emerge from these doors and form up quickly. I want to drive these raiders back to their ships if I can. If not then we buy the Duke enough time to get his people inside his walls." Most of his people lived outside the walls of the town. Some were a mile or so away.
As my men prepared I was already thinking of the advice I would offer my new ally. He needed a watch tower downstream. We had one at Úlfarrston and it had saved many lives already. Aiden suddenly appeared, out of breath. "I am sorry Jarl I was with the priests. The Duke said there were raiders."
"Two drekar were seen. I do not think they are friends."
"It is unlikely." He frowned. "I did not dream danger."
"Do not berate yourself Aiden. This is not our home and you were, as we were, lulled by its peace."
Snorri and Bjorn appeared as though by magic. "They are raiders. They are dressed for war and they have large crews. We counted twelve oars on each side of the two ships."
"Then that means at least fifty and possible ninety men. Our plans do not change. Open the doors and stand in the shadows. Remember to listen for my commands. Aiden, return to the Duke and tell him that it is raiders. We will fall back if we cannot hold them." He left quickly.
With the doors open we would see when they landed. The warehouse had no windows and we would be hidden, briefly, in the dark recesses. It was unnerving to wait in that empty hall and listen but gradually our ears became attuned to the sounds of the water. Snorri cocked his head to one side. "I can hear them Jarl."
I listened and I, too, heard the rush of water at their dragon prows. Then I heard the command to lower sail. They were Norse.
"Ready!" Sigtrygg and Haaken were at my side. We had to be the first out of the door so that the wedge could form behind us. Our spears were ready and their shields were locked. I saw the first drekar glide along the wharf. The sides were lined with warriors. They would have their ship's boys leap ashore and secure the drekar to the land. Then the warriors would spill ashore. "Now!" We ran from the shadows into the sunlight. The two drekar were touching the jetty and I saw ship's boys running to the stones which would be used to tie them to the land. I cursed. I should have had my archers ready to slay the boys. It was too late for that now. We halted and I felt the slight movement behind me as the wedge was formed.
We had been seen. I heard a voice order the men ashore to get us. I hoped that my wedge was ready. "Charge!"
The raiders began to clamber over the side. They had no gangplank and it was not easy. There were just four warriors who had made it to land before we reached them. I stabbed forward with my spear and it went through the open mouth of the Norseman who was shouting some curse at me. He was punched back and he crashed into two men trying to land. Haaken, Sigtrygg and Rolf Tryggson killed the other three. The wedge spread into a line and my men used their spears to jab at the raiders who were trying to jump ashore. They stood on the strakes and tried to spear us from above but we had helmets, mail and shields. They, on the other hand, were above us and our spears found unguarded parts of their body. Few appeared to wear mail. The ones on the strakes were thrown back or killed. I slashed my spear across the line that towered over us. Some fell back. The first drekar was filled with wounded and confused men. Had there been just the one drekar then we could have boarded and ended it. Many of the crew were already either dead or had a wound.
Snorri's voice sounded the warning, "Jarl the other drekar has landed!"
"Back to the fort. Go!"
My men had expected the order and the second rank turned and ran. We jabbed forward one more time and then we turned. As we did so we slipped our shields around our backs. We would have protection in case they had bows. We held the advantage for we knew the town. We also had a slight lead over the second drekar. I knew that Snorri and Bjorn would remain at the rear and would give us warning if we needed to turn and fight. The fortified part of the town was only slightly higher than the river and was not far away. I saw that the ramparts were lined with the Duke's warriors. It was a thin line. The gates were opened and we poured throug
h. The Vasconians did not have many archers but the few they did released their arrows as we thundered over the bridge and into the citadel.
As the mighty gates slammed behind Snorri I turned to run up the ladder to the gatehouse and the Duke. Snorri said, "Jarl! I saw someone we knew."
I turned, "Who?"
"He was hard to miss; it was Thord the Foresworn. He was not named Thord the Big for nothing."
I cursed. I had brought this to Bourde. These were the men whom I had declared outlaw. They had sold themselves to someone who thought not to trade but to steal. This was personal now.
When I reached the top of the gate the Duke grinned, "Thank you for the warning. We would have been slaughtered if they had caught us on the streets."
"How many men do you have?"
"We only have twenty guards here. I have more men but they are on the borders. How many do we fight?"
I looked out at the advancing Norse. They had had large crews. "I am guessing at least ninety remain. We are outnumbered."
"We can sit behind these walls and they will leave."
I nodded. "But they will wreck your town first and your warehouses will be emptied. I know they are not full but these will take all and then fire them. We have to rid your land of them."
"How?"
"I will give thought to that."
The warriors approached the ditch cautiously. I saw Thord the Foresworn myself. He was in the third rank and I think I saw the others too. They had better helmets and shields but Thord stood a head above the others. Aiden was counting and he said, quietly, to me, "There are ninety of them. Twenty have mail byrnies."
I scanned the line for their jarl. A warrior with a long mail byrnie and full face helmet looked to be the likely candidate. His shield had a red boar upon it. He, like me, had a banner and his oathsworn looked to be dressed in the same fashion. They looked Norse to me but I would discover that when they spoke.
The Duke said, "What do we do now, Jarl Dragon Heart?"
"We speak. It will give your people the chance to boil water. If they attack it is an effective deterrent. While they talk they cannot destroy your homes and your warehouses." I spoke calmly for his men looked nervous. The Duke had a large army but many were horsemen and they patrolled the dangerous borders with Frankia and the Arab lands. I suspected that those in the town were not the best warriors the Duke possessed.
The man I had taken to be the leader put down his shield, took his helmet and walked forwards with his palms showing. He wanted to talk. One of the Duke's archers raised his bow. I restrained him, "Duke Seguin, he comes to speak."
The warrior stood just twenty paces from us. I took off my helmet. I saw that this was a jarl. He wore a torc around his neck. He was younger than I was. He looked to be the same age as Sigtrygg. He put his hands on his hips and said, "I am Kolbjorn the Slighter and I will speak with Jarl Dragon Heart."
I turned to Aiden, "Translate for the Duke." I leaned forward. "I am Jarl Dragon Heart. I see that you have heard of me from the four foresworn warriors whom you have taken on."
He looked around, "They told me who you were but they did not tell us that they were foresworn."
"That is because they are liars and outlaws. They murdered a man and almost killed another. There are families in Úlfarrston who are owed blood money by these nithings."
One of them, I guessed it was Magnus, shouted something and received a blow to the head from one of the oathsworn near him.
"I will deal with them later. Why do you fight for these sheep? You are the wolf and should hunt them. Slay them and open the gates. We will share the treasure with you."
I saw Aiden hesitate, "Translate!"
He did so and I saw the Duke's eyes widen.
"These are my friends and allies. I have given my word that I will protect them and I am never foresworn." As Aiden translated I felt the Duke's hand as he patted my shoulder. "Go now and find other sheep, Kolbjorn the Slighter. If you stay here you will find death and that is all. Your oathsworn will die and your drekar will be burned. Go now and find easier pickings."
He laughed, "You have one small boat's crew and, from those I see on the walls, not enough men to stop us. We will fight you but first we will take your town apart. When we take your fort we will slaughter the men and enslave every man woman and child. If you surrender the town's treasury to us then we will let you all live."
The Duke's knuckles whitened as Aiden translated and he shouted, "You will have to kill me first!"
I smiled, "He will do none of those things, Duke. The moment he and his men leave here to despoil your land I will lead out my Ulfheonar. He cannot destroy while we are close by."
Kolbjorn the Slighter looked up at the walls and spread his arms wide, "What say you?"
"I say Kolbjorn the Slighter, that I challenge you to combat. Let us decide if you will take the town or not."
He nodded, "I can see little in it for me. If I kill you I still have to take the town."
I laughed, "Killing the Dragon Heart and taking the sword touched by the Gods is nothing? Very well your men have heard that you fear to face me in combat. I understand."
I saw him become angry, "Trickster! Do not put words in my mouth. I will fight you but I want your wizard to stay within the walls. I can fight you but not his evil magic." I saw the smile on Aiden's face as he translated for the Duke. He took it as a compliment. "Meet me here before this gate and I will send you to Valhalla, old man!"
He was afraid. He was trying to goad me by calling me an old man. The Duke frowned, "You would fight him?"
"He has to fight. If he did not then he would lose face with his men."
"But it is my city he threatens and not you."
"But it is my fault he is here. Sigtrygg and Haaken are both right. I should have killed the four traitors out of hand but I was swayed by compassion. It is my error of judgement and I will rectify my mistake. Ulfheonar, come with me. Eystein and Aiden, you two command in my absence."
As we descended Sigtrygg said, "He looks a handy warrior, Jarl. His sword is longer than yours."
"I know and he is fitter too. Do not worry, Sigtrygg. It may not come to a death. Have faith in me."
"I do, Jarl but you are fighting for someone else this time."
"No, I am fighting for us and our name. When I defeat him the word will spread that Jarl Dragon Heart is still undefeated and men will be less likely to venture close to our lands. It is this sword and our reputation which are our walls."
The gate was opened and we stepped out. I handed my spear to Haaken and donned my helmet. We walked across the bridge and faced the Norse warband. Kolbjorn the Slighter's oathsworn had formed a half circle. My Ulfheonar formed the other half. I saw that he did not use a cloak. It was hot but I would retain my wolf cloak. This was partly because it was part of me and inspired fear but the other reason was that it afforded me protection to my back. There were no rules to this sort of fight. When we started then any means possible could be employed.
I walked towards him. He nodded to me, "I have heard your name in every port and in every home I have visited. They speak of you as though you are the only warrior who can fight. Looking at you now I fail to see how you have achieved your reputation. Your sword looks nothing special and you are not as big or as strong as I am. Your men tell me that you have no Norse blood in your veins at all. There will be little honour when I slay you."
I smiled, "It is easy to see where you got your name. When I am dead and lie at your feet; when you have my sword in your hand then you can crow and decry me until then let us see whom the Gods favour."
He half turned to laugh but I knew what he was about. He suddenly launched himself at me. I had seen the move before. It was a way to end a battle in a spectacular fashion. The long sword whipped towards my head. Rather than just blocking the blow I angled my shield and stepped forward on my right leg. I brought Ragnar's Spirit around in a low swing. He had been so confident and moving so quickly that he d
id not get the shield down in time. He had a long byrnie which went down to his knees but my sword swept into the mail and into the side of the knee. I did not penetrate the flesh but part of the hem of the byrnie hung down and I saw him buckle a little. I had hurt him already.
He stepped back and spat his words out, "Trickster! This is the work of your Galdramenn!"
"It is a poor warrior who blames others for his faults."
He roared and swung his sword overhand. He was a head taller than I was and if the blow had struck it would have hit my helmet. He was such a big man that I was not sure if my helmet would survive such a blow. I stepped into him and punched with my shield. I trailed my sword behind me. He did hit me but it was on the helmet and with his hilt. It made my helmet ring but did no harm. The boss of my shield smashed into his hand and I saw him wince. He did not wear mail gauntlets and I saw his knuckles bleeding.
Keeping my sword behind me I hooked my right leg behind his weakened left knee and I punched his shield with the hilt of my sword. He staggered back as he tried to keep his balance. Behind me I heard the cheers from my men and the Vasconians. His own men were cursing me and calling me Loki!
He spread his arms wide to regain his balance and I took my opportunity. I darted forward with my sword. It would be a lucky blow which penetrated mail and his leather byrnie but every blow weakened his confidence. I had to remain on the offensive. If I could keep him guessing about my next move then he would not be able to attack me. He was angry now. He was being humiliated in front of a large audience. He fought with his heart and not his head. As the tip of my sword struck him I leaned into the strike. I felt the end tear into the mail and into the leather. I put the weight on my right leg and the sword went a little further. I was penetrating closer to his body than I had hoped. For the first time the anger was replaced by fear and he stepped backwards to get away from the sword.