by Griff Hosker
"Go and fetch a brand. You can have the honour of the first fire."
The other warriors joined us; each held a burning brand in his hand. Leif thrust the torch into the wood and it soon caught. We stepped back as the flames, slow at first, suddenly flared up when a gust of wind touched them. "Go into all the buildings and light fires. Leif, we will go to the southern gate. We will light it when the rest of the fort is on fire."
By the time we left the fort fires were burning all around the ancient building. I handed the last of the seal oil to Leif. "Now burn the huts."
In the time it had taken to burn the fort darkness had fallen and my Ulfheonar had returned with the carts, more slaves and some animals. I had intended to head back to our ships but it was too late. "Slaughter some of the animals and we will eat. Then we make camp." I pointed to the fires, "We have plenty of fires to use eh?"
The men were in good spirits. We had lost none; we were eating well and we had plenty to take home. All was good. I divided my Ulfheonar so that they supervised the warriors who kept watch. I did not think the captives would run but I would take no chances.
My men insisted that I sleep without having to watch. I was tired and I did not argue. Perhaps that was the reason I dreamed. It was one of those dreams which came in flashes as though lightning was striking and showed you a moment in time. I saw a fleet of drekar and I saw women weeping and crying. Finally I saw warriors on horses with long lances; their hooves drummed on the ground and I suddenly awoke.
It was still dark and the night was silent. Rolf Tryggson and Ulf Olafsson were on duty. They looked concerned when I stood. "What is it Jarl. Does your wound pain you?"
"No my sleep did. Have you heard anything?"
Rolf laughed, "A while ago Ulf thought he heard thunder. The skies are clear."
That decided me. I shouted, "Awake! Ulfheonar we move!"
Although everyone was surprised, not least of all my oathsworn all woke and prepared for battle.
"Snorri, lead the way and head for the drekar. The Ulfheonar will be the rearguard. Have the captives pull the carts." The Saxons were pushed and prodded to make them move. They had soon adopted the docile acceptance of captives. They were now slaves. I had seen it when I had been captured. The one or two who had fought against it had soon died.
Sigtrygg said, "What worries you, Jarl? It was quiet when I watched."
I pointed to Ulf, "Ulf here heard thunder and I dreamed of horses. There is a clear sky."
They were all convinced, "Get spears!" Haaken knew as well anyone the value of spears when horses were close by. Although horses will not willingly attack and charge men warriors had been known to break in the face of a line of charging, snorting horses.
"Bjorn the Scout, keep a mile behind us and give us warning of any pursuit."
We gave the carts a head start and then moved along the Roman Road. It would become a greenway soon but we would make good time whilst we could. As we walked Haaken asked, "How could this be Saxon horses? Tamworth is many miles hence."
"Aye but there are burghs twixt Caestir and Tamworth. We know that the Mercians have horses. I tarried too long."
"Do not berate yourself, Jarl. We have much to take home and to trade. We cannot expect to escape without any risks being taken."
As a damp and grey dawn broke from the east I calculated that we had travelled six miles or so. We had caught the carts despite giving them a start. "We will wait here for Bjorn. It will give the carts a chance to reach the Maeresea." I worked out that we were about half way from safety. The knoll which rose above the river would give us somewhere to defend if we had to. I still hoped that we would escape without being caught.
Bjorn ran up a short while later. "There are horsemen, Jarl. I did not see them but I heard them."
"Then stay with us for we are few enough in numbers. We move up the greenway but listen for the sound of horses."
Bjorn laughed, "And the smell!"
"Is that the horses or the Saxons?"
We hurried up the greenway. Haaken's humour had cheered the men. I had no idea how many men might have been sent but as the fleeing Saxons had seen our numbers I had to assume it was a force big enough to deal with us. The day was as light as it was going to get. The greenway was becoming slippery and slick. That might aid us. When I heard the hooves in the distance I knew that we had run far enough. We were too far away from the knoll I had hoped to use but we were in a wooded area which might suit us.
Eystein and Asbjorn still had axes. "Cut down two trees, the rest of you spread out on either side. Sigtrygg take one side and Haaken the other."
I swung my shield around and hefted the spear. It was a Saxon spear but it appeared to be well made. My two strong warriors soon had the trees down. They were young and had many small branches. They filled the greenway and spilled into the woods forming a barrier. We could have fled north to the ships but I wanted to deter them from following us.
The horses sounded much closer now. "Into the woods and hide."
Only Eystein did not have a wolf cloak but the rest of us easily disappeared into the undergrowth. I waited with Haaken and half of my men. I heard the jingle of mail and spied the untidy column of Saxons. I saw that there were some warriors with mail but most had none. All had spears. They reined in when they saw the barrier. Anticipating an ambush they faced outwards with their shields protecting them and their horses. When all remained silent the leader shouted, "Clear this away. They must be close if they are trying to slow us down."
"Aye Eorl Athelfrith."
Eight men dismounted and began to pull the trees away. The branches of the trees had become entangled and the men did not work together. It took time. The time would help the rest of my men reach our ships. It also gave me the opportunity to estimate numbers. I guessed that there were about thirty warriors. Eventually they managed to clear a path but it was only wide enough for one warrior at a time to come through.
I waited until the leader had reached my hidden position and there were eight men strung out behind him before I stepped out and thrust my spear through his leg and into his small horse. The shock showed on his face as I appeared, apparently from nowhere. Haaken and Sigtrygg stabbed the men next to them and soon nine men lay on the ground; all had a wound, some fatal. I lifted my spear and stabbed down at the eorl. The spear was not as well made as I had thought and the head broke as it pierced his throat. My warriors despatched the rest. The ones on the other side of the barrier threw their spears but they landed in the bushes and the trees; none found their mark.
I shouted, "Fall back!"
We turned and, effectively, disappeared. I waved my sword and we headed through the woods towards the north. It would take some time for them to recover and we had the measure of them now. After half a mile of hard running I held up my hand and stopped. "Into the woods again. I have no spear and I will be the bait. We do the same."
"Are you certain, Jarl?"
"Aye Haaken. There are few left with mail and I would make them think I was going berserk!"
The horses' hooves drew closer as the Mercians raced to catch up with this band which had slain their eorl. I had chosen a bend in the greenway to stand and when the first riders appeared around the bend I stepped out and roared, "I am Jarl Dragon Heart! I am Ulfheonar!" I raised my shield and my sword. The first horse skittered to the side and the second rider jerked on his reins. The ones behind lowered their spears and they charged me. Before they reached me spears darted from both sides and struck home. I swung my sword at the heads of the two small horses. The tip of the blade was so close to the two animals it almost tore across their eyes. They reared and tried to pull away. Their riders fell to the ground. I stepped forward and stabbed both of them as they lay winded.
My Ulfheonar had the advantage that the horsemen could only come through the gap singly or in pairs. My men hurled their spears and then laid about them with their swords. Soon the survivors drew down the greenway to regroup. "Back to the
drekar!"
I saw that Olaf Leatherneck and Magnus Redbeard had both suffered wounds. Two of the Saxons had managed to strike them both across the face with their spears. Although not life threatening both were bleeding profusely. This was where we would miss Aiden and his skills as a healer.
"Siggi watch Olaf and Magnus. Bjorn, watch our rear."
We could smell the sea and the river as we began to descend. The wind was from the north east and it told us that we did not have far to run. Bjorn caught up with us. "They stayed with the dead Jarl, they have given up."
Haaken said, "And now King Coenwulf will know who it was raided his lands. We have done what the King of Dyfed wanted but it may come back to haunt us."
"You have a saga out of this Haaken; why complain?"
"You are right and besides I have yet to meet a Saxon we cannot defeat."
Snorri had supervised the loading of the knarr and the drekar. My warriors awaited us and I saw the relief on their faces when we appeared. As soon as we were aboard I said, "Make for Dyflin; we have some slaves to sell."
When the land was a smudge on the horizon Haaken said, "The men of Dyflin have many slaves of their own you now."
"I know but there is a good market there and these Saxons are more saleable. They cannot run home as the Hibernians can. Besides we have been paid already to raid. This is extra."
Haaken said, "The reason I say that is because some of the unmarried men have taken a fancy to some of the younger women."
I had noticed that there were more young women amongst our captives."They can have them for their share if they like." I shrugged, "Perhaps this is a good thing. I am of Saxon blood. It may make us all stronger."
Haaken told the warriors of my decision. I noticed that Sigtrygg was one who nodded and smiled. I had thought that Sigtrygg would remain unmarried. He had never shown an interest in women before. Could it be that when we had visited his homeland it had spoken to him?
Hakon the Bald was not in Dyflin but his men were happy to sell the slaves for us. We had to wait but two days for the sale. We took the opportunity of exploring the town. We had visited before but then we had come as raiders. I wanted to see if we could learn anything from them. There was nothing. They even had to make do with dirt floors in their halls. We had floors made from Old Olaf's slate. It showed me that our home was even more valuable that I had thought.
When we left we were richer and my warriors would soon be looking for ways to spend their money. Most of it would end up with Bjorn my smith. They would either have him make them weapons or brooches and bracelets for their wives and their women. There were eight women who remained with us. Sigtrygg had taken one who was a little older than the others. He seemed pleased with his choice. The young women too looked to have decided that my young warriors were a better prospect than they might have expected as slaves. My young men were warriors and they had shown kindness on the flight from Caestir.
As for myself I had nothing I needed. I was just pleased that the grain we brought back would ensure that we would not starve over the winter.
Chapter 9
When we reached our home and the treasure had been shared I sat with Sigtrygg and Aiden in my hall. Neither Sigtrygg nor myself had spoken of his plans and I would not tell others until a final decision had been made.
We sat at my table and I opened an amphora of wine. "Sigtrygg wishes to take over the land to the south of us, Aiden, his homeland."
Aiden did not seem surprised, "It is, as I recall, good land." He sipped his wine, "There are still many of your people who farm around here. I am sure some of them would wish to travel with you," he smiled, "And you now have a woman."
"I have not yet spoken to any, Jarl. It may be that I go with just Hilda. I will go in any case."
"And when would you go?"
He swallowed his drink as though fearful of giving me the answer. "I would go now before winter sets in properly."
"It might be harder to build."
"I know but I wish to have marked my land by lambing time so that all know that I am Jarl and that it is my country."
"Then Jarl Sigtrygg I give my permission. Will you walk or sail?"
"We still have those carts we took. I have some ponies and my other animals. I have thralls too. We will walk."
I clasped him by the arm, "Then go and seek your people." I held him a moment longer. "You are still my Ulfheonar and my jarl. If I send word, you will come?"
"I would come. Even though I might have to fight an army to reach you, I would come. Without you I would be as nothing. I will ever be your oathsworn."
After he had gone Aiden said, "This is a wise decision. We needed new blood. It has been many years since Siggi and Trygg came from Orkneyjar with their families. Pasgen's people have come too but this will only result in good."
"You dreamed?"
"No but sometimes I do not need to dream. There are times when Kara and I know something without knowing why."
Haaken came in to the hall unannounced. I could see that he was troubled. "Sigtrygg is asking for people to go with him to a new land!"
"I know, he asked my permission." Haaken seemed perplexed. "Sit down and have some wine and then tell me what has upset you so."
After he had drunk half a horn he said, "We have perilously few warriors as it is. How will we replace the ones who go with him?"
"You saw Dyflin?"
"What?"
"When we were in Dyflin did you think it a good place to live?"
He shook his head and laughed, "I would not be happy with my pigs living there."
"And Caestir?"
"A midden!"
"And what of our land?"
"This is almost as good as Valhalla."
"Then we will prosper. We will grow and your sons and those of my Ulfheonar will grow to become warriors. Cnut Cnutson may not be a warrior but he is a fine sailor. Our young men took Saxon women. They will soon bear children. This is neither Dyflin nor Caestir and they will grow safely and well. This is wyrd. I do not think this is Sigtrygg's idea. I think the Norns planted it there. I believe that they sowed the idea of raiding that land in my head too. This was not of our doing. We were obeying the Norns though we did not know it."
Haaken brightened, "We could do nothing about this?"
Aiden said, "We cannot fight the Norns. We accept their will. They have, generally, served us well."
Sigtrygg left three days later. Six young warriors and their families accompanied him. Only one older warrior who had been one of Sigtrygg's father's oathsworn joined him. He was happy.
As they were leaving I said, "If you need aught over the winter then send word to me. You are still our family."
They raised their arms in salute and headed south by the Water. It was only after they had gone that I realised how empty Cyninges-tūn looked. There was just Kara with her women, Bjorn Bagsecgson and his family and myself who lived within the wooden walls. Those who fished lived further down the water and even Bjorn's smiths were half a mile south of us. My people now farmed and lived away from my wooden walls. There were just six Ulfheonar who lived in the warrior hall; the rest were married. Even they had farms which were kept by their thralls. It was inevitable that even the likes of Bjorn and Snorri would marry and they, too, would move out. It was going to happen and I could not stop it.
A week after they had left us then the winter changed from gentle to harsh. The cold came overnight and we woke one morning to a hard and frost covered world. Kara and Aiden came to see me. "Winter has come early."
I nodded, "I hope it will not be a wolf winter again. The last time we lost many of those who farmed alone. We have more of our people who live apart."
Kara smiled, "It is the way of our people. Remember Ragnar? He lived alone high in the mountains. You lived apart."
"You are right. Perhaps it is Sigtrygg's departure which makes me feel this way."
"Do not fear, father, we are better prepared than in those dark time
s. Our larders are full and our walls are solid. There may be those who will suffer but it will not be us." She patted my hand and Aiden's, "We are still here and we are together." She pointed to the Water. "And mother's spirit lies yonder."
That first month it was harsh. The winds blew from the east and chilled to the bone. I rarely ventured outside but then, just as suddenly as it had come, it eased. Was this the earth waking early? Aiden told me that he had read of such occurrences in the past. The priests of the White Christ recorded them. He had been reading the book we had taken from the church in Prestune. Dyflin was not the market for such treasure. He had discovered it was not wholly filled with the stories of the White Christ, it also recorded the lives of the Saxon kings. He deduced that the monks who had written it had intended it to flatter King Coenwulf.
"There must have been a monastery close by Prestune for one priest could not have written that alone."
"Then when the cold has departed and it is the time of the lambs I will ask Sigtrygg to find this monastery. It could be a place where we find even greater treasures."
As Yule approached Eystein came to see me."Jarl I would go on the wolf hunt."
I nodded, "Are you alone in this?"
"No, Jarl, Snorri will come with me." He smiled, "Bjorn the Scout has sniffed out a woman for himself. Freya daughter of Erik the Shepherd now lives with him. But there are other warriors who wish to try to become Ulfheonar."
"And the Ulfheonar approve?"
"Haaken was happy that others wish to join us." He shook his head, "If I am anything to go by then we will be lucky to have two Ulfheonar from this hunt."
"You will kill your wolf Eystein. I know that. I have seen you in battle and you have grown since that first time when the wolf leapt."
"But this time I will not have Jarl Dragon Heart to protect me."
"You do not need him."
I chose not to go with them. Instead I saddled a horse. "Aiden, I will visit with Sven White Hair. I neglected him before. I need to speak with him."