by Griff Hosker
At the feast I restrained myself. I did not want a thick head. It was because I was so sober that I learned what a fine poet and singer Aiden was. Haaken had been the one to write all the sagas and stories about me but Aiden had created a few himself and he entertained the warriors well with his words. Perhaps because he could read he used different words to those used by Haaken and the stories seemed more musical somehow. Aiden was a youth with much depth. I was so grateful for the day he had chosen to follow me and leave his family.
The voyage home helped me to gauge the mettle of these warriors and I was pleased. They rowed well together and they sang as they rowed. I knew that meant they would fight well together. I would keep this as one crew and mix the other volunteers with my Ulfheonar. We would be taking just sixty warriors. It did not dishearten me for I knew we left more behind to defend what was ours. The men would fight all the better knowing that their hearths were safe.
When we landed I sent Arturus back to his mother with Aiden. He would need to prepare. Before he took him I charged Aiden with another task. He almost ran with my son to complete his two tasks. Rolf took our men to the warrior hall and I headed for Bjorn Bagsecgson. He was my blacksmith and I had a task for him. I was returning to Rheged and I hoped that it would soon become our home again. I could not return empty handed.
He saw me coming and left his smithy to greet me. “I hear you are going to pay back that snake One-Eye.”
“I am.”
“I wish I could come with you. My father hated that man. I was just a child when we left our home but I had never heard my father speak of anyone in that way before. I knew then that he was evil.”
“We will, the Allfather willing, punish him.” He put his hands on his hips as he waited for me to continue. He knew my moods and my ways as well as any man. He knew that I measure my words much as a housewife would weigh out her flour in her hands.
“The sword I brought from the land of the Welsh. You remember it?”
“Aye Jarl. The sword you pulled from the pool in the stone cave. It had been a fine weapon but it had seen better days.”
“It was not killed. My ancestor who threw it down the hole did it to save it. He did it so that it would come to me.” He nodded his understanding. “It came to me but I know that he would not want it left in the state it was. Can you do anything with it?”
“That is a tall order but I would need to see it again. I had the briefest of viewings when you first returned with it.”
Just then Aiden raced up with a sheepskin. He bowed and laid it on the floor before us. “Then look now Bjorn Bagsecgson and tell me if it can be saved.”
He took the sword out and held it reverently. It was still a fine weapon but the jewels which had adorned it and the gilding were gone. The wrappings around the hilt were no more and it was pitted with rust. He examined it closed and, after, an age he laid it down.
“This weapon can never fight again. It would be like sending out Old Ragnar to face a young warrior. No matter what his skill was he would not have the strength to defeat a younger opponent and so it is with this sword.”
I took out Ragnar’s Spirit and held it aloft. “I need no other sword with which to fight so long as I have this one. I need the sword to be a symbol. It rallied the people of Rheged once and I am hoping it will do so again.”
He smiled and said, confidently, “Then it can be repaired. I can make the sword that was broken whole again but I cannot make it look as it once did.” He looked pointedly at Aiden.
“Could you do that for me Aiden? Could you make it look as it once did? You remember, as we saw in the cave?”
Even though I knew he was desperate to say ‘yes’ he had grown much of late and reflected. If he gave his word then it would have to be with the knowledge that he could deliver on his promises. He reached down and picked up the weapon. He touched it, tenderly, as though it was a living thing. Finally he said, “I can do so.”
We all smiled. “When I return, after the winter I will expect you to have done your work, Bjorn, and then Aiden here can begin his magic.”
The next day flew by in a flurry of activity. ‘Wolf’ and ‘Bear’ were fitted out and their spaces filled with the weapons and supplies which we would need for a winter on the mainland. We would, largely, take what we needed but there were some vital items which we had to have; arrows, sails, and salted fish. Winter was a hard time to be without some sort of food. It was as well to be prepared.
We needed new ship’s boys to be trained. Erik Short Toe had joined the young warriors being trained and he would remain with Dargh. Arturus would be one and we also took Magnus Larsson who was a little older than Arturus and had sailed with us once before.
We were ready to sail on the evening tide and we would make the journey across the water in the dark. There had been a time when sailors such as us would have feared to sail in the dark. We had learned that, if you were careful, then you could sail in the dark. We used the stars and we used our memories. This voyage would be a short one. We could leave after dark and sail the short way to the mainland in a few hours of hard rowing. That way we would arrive unannounced before dawn. Our ships could be hidden and my wolves would emerge like wraiths from the sea. It was our way and it worked.
Chapter 2
The Ulfheonar occupied the front benches and faced me. Out helmets and weapons were stored for the voyage. Our shields, lining the sides, were the only sign that we were prepared for war. As I steered with Magnus and Arturus watching my every move I too was watching. I was looking at the warriors behind the Ulfheonar. I was watching the way they rowed and how they sat close to their new companions. Although friends sat with friends if there was an odd number then, inevitably, some warriors would sit with a neighbour they did not know well. They were the ones I scrutinised. I did so to detect any tension and I began to relax a little when I saw that there was, apparently, none.
Glancing up at the mast head I saw that the Allfather favoured us for the wind was blowing us east. The oars were not even necessary but there was a ritual about going on a raid. We always rowed the first day. I knew, without even looking, that Rolf would be on station behind me. We had sailed and fought together enough times now to be confident of the other’s moves and actions. In a skirmish that could be the deciding factor.
I heard Magnus and Arturus whispering. “If you must speak then speak so that we can all hear. We are brothers on this boat and we have no secrets.” Even as I spoke I knew that was not the truth. I had secrets deep within me. Only Erika knew some of my innermost thoughts and I kept one or two from her.
Arturus looked at me guiltily. “Magnus and I wondered when we would get to steer the boat.”
Haaken laughed, “He is as keen as his father used to be.”
I scowled at Haaken. “When I think that you can do so without putting us on rocks.” I pointed at the cloudy sky which hid the moon. “Do either of you think that you could land us successfully with no moon to guide you?”
They shook their heads and Arturus asked, “How do you know you are travelling true?”
“I watch the rowers. If they keep time then we move straight. I watch the waves at the prow of the ship. I watch Rolf and see that he is in the same position. When we reach land we will see how well I have done. If the Allfather smiles upon us then we will see the estuary ahead of us and if not then we will have more rowing for my strong warriors.”
In my mind there was no doubt that we would hit the estuary where I predicted. The winds were coming from the right quarter and the journey was short enough to minimise the chance of error.
The warrior we had questioned had told us where Harald One-Eye had set up his camp. He had occupied and rebuilt the wooden monastery and nunnery we had attacked some years earlier. It would not be made of stone. There would possibly be a ditch and a wooden wall surrounding his hall and huts. He would have guards on the walls watching for enemies. All of that would make him feel secure but he did not know how good
my Ulfheonar were. His warriors we had slain when he tried to take my home had taken that knowledge to their graves. Had they survived then they might have told Harald that the men in the wolf skins were able to hide in plain sight; rise from the ground like the ghosts of the dead and kill silently and swiftly no matter how great a number of warriors faced them.
I would be with my Ulfheonar when we attacked and Rolf would command the rest. Our task would be to find the stronghold and eliminate the guards; Rolf and the others would capture it. It sounded easy when you said it quickly but it would be hard. These were neither Saxons nor Hibernians we fought. They were our people. More than that they were people we knew. I had grown up amongst many of them. I did not make the mistake of underestimating what Harald One Eye and his warriors would be capable of.
I sent Magnus up the mast to get an early view of the land. I could have sent Arturus but I did not want to risk him yet. Magnus was a little older and stronger. Magnus shinned up the mast using the ropes to help him. He scrambled to sit across the cross tree with his legs dangling down the sail. I had told him what to look for; a darker line across the horizon. If he saw breakers then he was ordered to shout a warning immediately. “Arturus, keep your eye on Magnus. When he signals you need to tell me. Do you understand?”
“Yes father.”
I shook my head, “No, on this ship I am jarl. Address me as the others do. You are one of them now; you are a ship’s boy. You are one who serves me. When we return home then you will be my son again.”
He nodded. The darkness hid his expression. I was in uncharted territory here. I had had no father when I was his age. I had been a slave and treated as such. I had to learn how to be a father now; no-one had showed me what to do.
Suddenly he said, “Jarl!”
I looked up and saw Magnus waving. The land was close. “Half oars, get the sail down.” I turned and waved my arm. After a few moments I saw a wave from Rolf’s ship. With the sail down we slowed perceptibly. When the rowers began to row once more we edged closer to the land. “Arturus, go to the bow and watch for danger. Wave if you see any. I will be watching.”
I leaned on the steering board and flicked my glance from Magnus to Arturus. Dawn was still some time away. I detected a change in the motion of my drekar. We were closer to land. “Haaken go and help Arturus watch for the river.”
Haaken left his oar and one of the rowers on the opposite side let go of the oar. We had to maintain our balance and our rhythm. A few moments after he had reached Arturus I saw Haaken’s arm go to the left. I leaned on the steering board until Haaken’s arm dropped. He had seen the estuary or the signs of it, at any rate.
“Cnut, slow the rate down.”
Cnut was the oar master when we rowed. When he could he sang to keep the rhythm but at night, this close to land, he used his body to keep the beat. The drekar slowed. Haaken raised both arms above his head. We were on the right course. I noticed more movement in the ship as we hit the fresh water from the river. We were almost there. When Haaken’s left arm came out I knew that we were ready to beach. I saw Arturus scamper down the walkway to get Haaken’s weapons and cloak. He gave me a grin as he picked them up. He would be joining Haaken ashore.
“Aiden of to Magnus. Tell him to get down and prepare the ropes.”
As soon as my message was communicated the young sailor slid down the rope and was at my side in a moment. I pointed to Arturus and Haaken. “Secure the ship to the land when we touch.” As he ran off I said, “Half oars.”
We were barely making way now against the river but, in the dark, our lack of movement would make us invisible. I did not want any guard alert enough, to see us. Haaken’s arms came out at either side. “Up oars.”
I did not need to worry about Rolf. He knew what he was doing and his ship’s boys were more experienced than mine. He would land further upstream from me. I saw Haaken and Arturus leap from the prow of the ship and disappear from view. I centred the steering board and then donned my helmet. Aiden fitted my wolf cloak and handed me my shield. By the time I had reached the bow of the ship most of my warriors were on the beach in a defensive circle. Magnus had found a large tree some fifty paces from the water and he had tied ‘Wolf’ to it.
We had arrived at the perfect time. Dawn was just about to break and I could make out Arturus standing at the top of a small ridge. I knew that Haaken would be scouting the immediate vicinity. We did not expect any warriors this close to the water but it paid to be careful.
Rolf and his warriors joined us. ‘Bear’ was just fifty paces from our drekar. “Leave eight of our warriors to stay with the ship’s boys and guard the ship.
“Eight? Are you sure Jarl? It will leave us shorthanded.”
“If we lose our ships then it will be even worse. I have been stranded on this shore before now, Rolf. We have more than fifty of the finest warriors I have ever led. Harald One-Eye left his oathsworn to die on Man. Who will be left to defend his home?” I shrugged. “If we cannot do this with the warriors I take then it was not meant to be.”
Arturus and Haaken jogged back to us. “The land appears to be clear. I smelled wood smoke from the east.”
I nodded, “As I recall that is where the monks of the White Christ lived.” I turned to Arturus. “Join Magnus and guard ‘Wolf’. Rolf is leaving warriors to help you.”
He looked at me defiantly, “We do not need help!”
“And if I say you need help then you need it. Learn to obey, Arturus, or this could be your first and your last raid!” My voice was laden with the threat I would carry out. He quaked, nodded and scurried aboard the ship.
“Are you not being a little hard on him?”
I whipped my head around to face Haaken. “When you are a father and you lead warriors on a raid then tell me how to do things. Until then keep silent.”
His mouth opened and closed like a fish. Cnut chuckled, “He is right ,Haaken. Let us worry about our job and let Dragon Heart do the thinking as well as being the father.”
Haaken nodded and then smiled, “You are right and I am sorry.”
I turned to Rolf. “We will find this settlement. Give us a start and then bring the others. Watch for our signs.”
We had devised signs; trees we would mark, arranged piles of rocks. Rolf would follow in a straight line unless he saw a sign.
The eight of us set off. Snorri, as the youngest, left first with Beorn, who was the most experienced of our scouts. They were a good team. Both had the ability to sniff out danger and to move without leaving a trace. We jogged along behind. This was when my wolf helmet did not help me. It muffled sound and restricted my vision. I was happy to stay towards the rear. Even with the helmet I was able to smell the wood smoke. I knew we were nearing a settlement and the odds were it would be Harald’s. He would not countenance anyone else living this close to him.
Beorn hissed, “It is close.”
We had climbed up from the river and there was a low ridge. It continued to rise but was very gentle; it was almost a plateau. I recognised the site. The trees and bushes had not been cleared very well and we were able to secret ourselves some fifty paces from one of the gates. As I recalled, there were two.
I waved Snorri and Beorn over. “Find somewhere to the east for Rolf’s warriors to hide. Return when you have found somewhere.”
They ghosted away almost without disturbing the leaves. I took off my helmet to examine the walls more closely. The sun was coming up and soon the gates would open as the settlement came to life. We had a short time to inspect the defences. I risked wolf helmet being seen.
They had repaired rather than renewed the walls. That was a mistake. We had broken through in a couple of places but we had damaged other parts of the walls that they had not repaired. The buildings inside were hidden by the wooden stockade but I that they too would be made of timber and lath. They would offer no defence to an axe. All that we needed now was to identify the numbers.
I counted two guards on the g
ate. Both had a helmet and a spear. I could not see any light reflecting from armour. If we had to we could use arrows to eliminate the guards. There did not appear to be any others patrolling the walls. Either that was over confidence or they did not have the manpower. Just then I heard movement behind and turned. I saw Rolf and the rest of the warriors arrive. He waved to them and they hunkered down below the ridge to await orders.
Snorri appeared from the ambush site. I signalled to Rolf to follow him and they disappeared along the trail. I looked at where they had been. The ground was heavily disturbed. Harald would soon know that there had been a large number of warriors there.
I led the Ulfheonar directly down to the river. If I could persuade the hunters that we had gone down to the river it might allay their fears. None of my men questioned my movements. When we reached the river I headed up stream. I deliberately broke the branches of the overhanging bushes and trees. “Make them think that we headed upstream.”
Soon it looked as though an army had tramped up the river. I found part of the river where there was a shallow beach covered with pebbles and shingle. I led the Ulfheonar into the water. It was icy. We waded upstream along the river. After a hundred paces or so I spied some rocks leading to the shore. I jumped from rock to rock until we were back on firm earth. I did not need to tell them to follow my exact footsteps, they knew what to do. We made our way up the steep slope and I heard a low whistle. I headed towards it and found a grinning Snorri.
“I had a bet with Beorn that you would come this way!”
I growled, “If Rolf and his men had been more sensible then we would not have had to do so. They left a trail that Kara could follow!”
Rolf heard, as I had intended him to and he looked contrite, “Sorry Jarl Dragon Heart.”
I nodded, “Set sentries. I want to know how many men we face. We all eat and then half the men sleep.” I took off my helmet and cloak. I was tempted to take off my mail shirt but if we were surprised it would take too long to don. We were few in numbers but we were well armoured. I would not jeopardise our safety for comfort. “Rolf, wake me at noon or when something happens.”