Irish War (Anarchy Book 16)

by Hosker, Griff

  The Count had been busy speaking with his bride and he looked around guiltily. He had not spoken to me of it yet. “I am sorry, Earl Marshal, I should have mentioned this before. I have promised the King that we will take Dyflin from the Vikings.”

  I played it as though I was ignorant of the plans. “And how many of the King’s men do we take?”

  Domhnall Caemanach mac Murchada took great delight in saying, “None, for Count Striguil believes that he can do so with Normans only.”

  I nodded, “I believe the Count is right.” I had taken all but Sir Raymond by surprise. “If the Vikings at Wexford are typical Vikings then the treasure we find will make us all rich!”

  The King nodded but his son said, “The treasure belongs to the King.”

  I shook my head, “To the victor go the spoils. If you were a warrior then you would know that.”

  Some of the Irish lords laughed at his discomfort. I knew that I had made an enemy. It did not worry me. He glowered and glared at me.

  We did not leave straight away as the King was waiting for reparations from the High King. Had we chosen, we could have taken the whole kingdom for they appeared incapable of achieving anything on their own. I had seen their warriors fight. They were courageous but there appeared to be no leadership. Men fought for chiefs and chieftains. What they would do when the chief died appeared to be totally unpredictable. Sometimes they would go on a rampage and fight on until dead or exhausted. At other times they would simply go home. When the reparations arrived, we left. We did not take all of our men. I did not trust Prince Domhnall Caemanach mac Murchada. I feared he might do something to damage the masons or the work on the castle. We left Sir Raymond’s uncle, Meiler FitzHenry, in command. He had three knights and thirty men at arms. It also gave us a reserve in case we needed it.

  Dyflin was the centre of the Viking world in Ireland. It had been Norse for over two hundred years. I had learned, from Padraig, that the King of Leinster had rarely ruled there. If there was no strong Viking leader then the King was tolerated. If there was then he was ignored. It explained the reluctance of the Irish to take on the wild Norse warriors. Having beaten them once I was confident that I could beat them again. This time they would have a strong wall behind which they could shelter. I was reluctant to try to defeat them as we had at Wexford. We had lost too many knights and men at arms. Until I saw the defences I would not make my decision.

  I learned of the new King of Dyflin as we rode. Although we had not been given any warriors we did have some of the officials King Diarmait had used to collect port dues in Dyflin. There were three of them. “The King, Ascall mac Ragnaill meic Torcaill, is of Viking origin, although his mother was an Irish princess. That meant little. Every other noble woman called herself a princess. In most cases they were not. His origins meant he had support both from the Norse and the Irish. I was uncertain of the number of true Viking warriors he could command. With our losses and our garrison, we had just two hundred knights and squires, two hundred men at arms and our one hundred and twenty archers. We had also suffered losses in horses. Although I still had two war horses some knights had lost valuable and irreplaceable horses. If I could avoid wasting my horses in fruitless charges then I would do so.

  We moved quickly and those who wished to avoid our rule, raced towards the town of Dyflin. It was a rout. The road was clogged. Had I wished then I could have had my archers and men at arms ride down the refugees. I did not for one thing they were not warriors and secondly, they would have to be fed inside the town. I had Aelric and my archers ahead of me and they had a stroke of good fortune. The Vikings we driving a herd of cattle into the city in anticipation of a siege. The men who were driving them were not warriors and they fled for the safety of the town adding to the charge of people who headed for the town. The houses and farms just outside were abandoned as panic set in. When we arrived, Aelric and his men had a thousand head of cattle they had captured.

  Count Striguil said, “We will eat well.”

  “And, more importantly, they will starve!” We halted half a mile from the town. The wall was substantial. I could see the masts of at least five dragon ships along the river. I saw one mast at an ungainly angle closer to the mouth of the river. That meant that there were at least two hundred warriors in the town. It would be nearer to three hundred. The number of men we would be fighting would be more than double that.

  “Sir Raymond, take your men and seal off the approach from the north.”

  “Aye lord.”

  “Sir Gerald, take your men and cut off the approach from the south.”

  “Aye, lord.”

  Sir Gerald Fitzmaurice had shown himself to be a dependable leader. He was only young but other knights followed him.

  I planned on keeping all of the archers with me. The two conroi on the flanks were just there to stop the Vikings fleeing and to stop reinforcements. I saw that the walls of Dyflin, or Dublin as we called it, were manned and this time, unlike Waterford, they were manned by mailed men. I viewed the enemy defences. They had a ditch and a wooden palisade. The gate through which the people had fled had two small towers. The bridge over the ditch was fixed. I suspected they would make it a killing zone if we tried to cross it. We needed something to break the gatehouse.

  “Count, I think that we will need an onager. Have the men at arms cut down the wood to make one.”

  James pointed to an abandoned farm. The farmer and his family must have fled with the cattle herders. “Earl Marshal, there is a wagon there and timbers upon it. We could use that.”

  “You have sharp eyes. Then all we need is rope.” I saw the dragon ship whose mast was at a strange angle. Now that I was closer I could see that they had been trying to make the quay but had run aground. She was hard and fast. They would only be able to refloat her at high tide. “Roger of Bath, bring the men at arms. “Aelric, I need ten archers. Come Count. We will see if we can capture a ship!”

  I dismounted and we ran towards the ship. There were just twelve or so men on board her. They were not in mail but they were Norse. I would not underestimate them. As we ran arrows were sent in our direction from the town walls. I hefted my shield but it was not necessary. They fell short. The crew also had bows and they began to send hurried arrows at us. I switched my shield to the front. Two arrows thudded into it. Then Aelric and his archers began to release from behind us. I heard cries from ahead. Roger of Bath and Harry Lightfoot raced aboard the ship and the arrows stopped. I lowered my shield just as the last two crew members jumped into the river and began to swim upstream.

  “Put the bodies in the river. Aelric, you and the archers take every coil of rope you can find. We will use them to make an onager.”

  “Aye lord.”

  “Harry, do you know how to furl a sail?”

  “It can’t be that hard, lord.” He turned to Wilson of Bristol. “Come with me and we will try to furl the sail.”

  “What is on your mind, Earl Marshal?”

  “Simple, Count Striguil, when the tide rises and frees this ship I intend to lower her sail and set her alight. The rising tide and the wind from the south east will take her into the town. At best she will set alight the other ships and perhaps the walls and, at the worst, she will sink in the river and block the channel.”

  “I will get men to bring oil and kindling.”

  “Roger, stay here and guard the ship. I intend to make it a fire ship.”

  I saw that the Vikings were curious. Would they sally forth to stop whatever we were doing? I hoped so for then we could catch them in the open. We moved our horses further away from the walls. I did not want them as targets for their archers. At the same time, I had my servants watch the cattle. We had already taken two and slaughtered them for our meal. It would feed us and, just as importantly, annoy those within who would see us eating the cattle intended for them.

  Roger of Bath sent a runner for me when the tide was on the turn. It was sunset and the sky above the town was an orang
e tinged with pink and blue. By the time I had reached the ship Harry and Wilson had managed to lower the sail and the wind was already tugging at it. Count Striguil had filled the ship with kindling. “How do you intend to ignite it, Count?”

  “We have pots filled with hot, burning coals. We throw them aboard.” I saw that he had ten of his largest men at arms with the pots.

  Harry Lightfoot leapt from the ship. “Lord she is moving.”

  I nodded to the Count who shouted, “Throw them!” He must have instructed them where to send the burning missiles for they were not sent to one place but spread along the length of the ship. The ship moved with the incoming tide. It was the wind which would do the most damage. It suddenly caught the sail full on and the dragon ship seemed to race towards the narrowing river mouth. James pointed to the quay. The light tower at the end of the quay obscured our view somewhat but we could see frantic activity as men ran to the ships.

  The stricken ship moved inexorably towards the end two dragon ships. I saw the masts of the end two. They were silhouetted against the setting sun. Then the flames leapt up the sail and the mast of the fire ship. Sparks flew through the air and, even before it struck, the end ship caught fire. Men tried to douse the flames but more sparks flew and then there was a grinding crash as it struck. At that moment the flames raced across not only the first ship but the second and the third. The evening became daylight as the three ships burned. I saw flames moving up stream. They had moved another of the dragon ships. They might save her but she would not sail again without repairs.

  “Let us go back to the camp. We may have angered them. If so they might seek retribution.”

  Harry laughed, “Lord I can guarantee that we have angered them!”

  Most of our men were watching the fire. All men were fascinated by such events. The flames had spread across the quay to the nearest buildings. It was a fierce fire, fed by the winds from the south east. They had an adequate supply of water and I heard the screams, shouts and orders in equal measure as they fought the fire. Finally, the flames reached the end of the wooden palisade. This was more than we might have hoped. They had saved two, perhaps three of their ships but they had lost houses and part of the palisade.

  I rubbed my hands together. “Come, the fire has given me an appetite. I will enjoy the beef.”

  We ate well but I was not foolish enough to relax. We had a good watch set. We had moved the horses further away from the walls as the smell of smoke and fire unsettled them. All night we saw sparks fly through the air and we had the smell of burning in our nostrils. Some of the sparks set fire to one of the tents belonging to one of Count Striguil’s knights. I gave the order for our tents to be soaked with water. I retired, tired but happy. We had had a good day.

  Something woke me but I knew not what it was. I could hear no sound. I rose. As I was awake I would make water. When I stepped over James’ sleeping body and opened the tent flap I saw the reassuring figure of John son of John on sentry duty.

  “You are awake early, my lord. Dawn is not due for a while yet.”

  “I know. I have to make water.” He nodded sympathetically. I went to the rear of the tent. When I had finished and returned I said, “Have you heard anything?”

  He rubbed his chin. “Funny you should say that, lord. They were making all manner of noise for what seemed like an age. Then the flames went out and there was just a murmur. Then there was some shouting and then silence. Strange.”

  I was awake. I said, “I will go and put on my mail. Wake Roger and my men at arms; Aelric too.”

  “Something amiss, lord?”

  “Let us just say that I was awoken by something.” When I entered the tent I said, “James, awake and help me dress.”

  “Trouble, lord?”

  “Perhaps nothing.”

  Padraig had woken, “Is there danger?”

  I sighed, “There may be but it is as well to be prepared.” By the time I had dressed in my mail my men had arrived. “Come let us take a walk by the enemy defences.” Smoke still drifted towards us as we walked the five hundred paces towards the ditch. The ditch was five paces wide and there was a further five paces until the wall. We reached the line of sentries.

  “Earl Marshal.”

  “Any movement?”

  “Not movement as such but we heard the jangling of metal not long since.”

  “Metal?”

  “Like a spear catching mail.” The sentry shrugged, “Sorry, Earl Marshal, you asked.”

  I looked to the east. Dawn was some way off. Suddenly I heard a creak as the gate opened and the Vikings erupted from it. They made no sound but they ran at us. “Back to the camp. Sound the alarm!”

  They had taken us unawares. The twenty or so sentries would not stop them. I ran back with my men. “Aelric, Roger, come with me. James and Padraig, rouse the Count. I want a shield wall at the camp.” It would take some time for my men to arm themselves. If they did not then the Vikings would butcher them. I had one idea but it was a ridiculous one. I glanced over my shoulder. They were ignoring us. They thought we were fleeing. We were not. The Vikings began to form into a wedge. It made sense for it would take some time for them all to pass through the gate and they still had enough time to reach our camp before our men were mailed.

  We reached the cattle. I shouted to the men with me, “We are going to stampede these cattle through the Vikings. At the very least it will disorder them and it may thwart their attack. Get around the rear and keep driving them. Aelric, once we get close to the Vikings you and your archers pick off as many of their leaders as you can.”

  Harry Lightfoot laughed, “If we survive this morning I will enjoy telling this tale over a flagon of ale.”

  We hurried to the rear of the herd. I shouted to the cattle guards, “Drive them towards the sea. Make them stampede!”

  We began to scream and shout. We slapped their rumps with the flats of our swords. At first they were slow but as panic spread amongst them they ran. They would keep running so long as there was a threat behind. We were that threat. The cattle made an awful noise as they raced towards the Vikings. The sun was still below the horizon and I could not make out the warband but I knew where they were from the occasional flash of white as a face turned towards us. It was when I heard the first scream that I knew the cattle had reached the Vikings.

  “Roger, keep them stampeding until we get to the gate.” I had to shout over the noise of the animals. I saw Roger nod. As we neared the place where the cattle had struck I saw the first bodies. There were trampled warriors. One cow had had its head hacked by a Viking. The dead warrior lay with his hands around the haft of the axe which was embedded in the cow’s skull. A horn was buried deep in the warrior’s body.

  I saw arms waving from my right. It was James. He was mouthing something but I could not hear. I patted Roger on the back as I ran towards him. I saw that there were thirty knights in mail. From the camp I saw the rest of the knights and men at arms racing towards us. Had we not stampeded the cattle then our camp would have been a charnel house. If I had not awoken then I would be there with them.

  Count Striguil ran up. His squire carried his helmet and shield. He put his mouth to my ear and shouted above the noise of hooves and dying warriors. “What happened?”

  I put my mouth to his ear. “The Vikings thought to surprise us with a night attack. I stampeded the cattle. I have bought us time, that is all.”

  He nodded and shouted to me again, “It is fortunate that the horses are far from here. The stampeding cattle might have made them run too.”

  The noise began to recede as the cattle turned and moved south. Roger of Bath led my men back to us. I saw, two hundred paces from us, the remnants of the Vikings forming a shield wall. I saw many bodies before us, for the sky was growing lighter but they still had a formidable shield wall.

  “James, fetch spears!”

  Aelric was organising the archers. They had no mail to don and they had joined their captain. He had
his men sending arrows into the ranks of the Vikings as they tried to form a shield wall. Until they had shields locked then they were vulnerable. We needed the other two parts of our army but Sir Gerald and Sir Maurice were too far away. They would have heard the noise and might even have thought to come to our aid but by the time they did so then battle would be joined. We would have to fight them with the men I had with me now.

  James handed me a spear. I looked down the line and saw that we had a mix of knights and men at arms. We were opposite their gate and, therefore opposite the Vikings. I saw them reorganising a shield wall. Aelric had kept my archers to the left of our line. It meant he could loose directly into their flank. I took a decision. “Two deep line.” As men began to move I said, “James, behind me.”

  He said, “I have Padraig behind me, lord. He has your banner.”

  James would be able to fight but the young Irish boy would be in danger.

  I shouted, “We hold them. Do not move forward until I give the word.”

  “Aye lord!”

  The light was better now. The Viking leader, I saw that it was not the king, was waiting for better light now that we were prepared. I saw why. The ground was littered with bodies. There was a danger of falling. I counted fifty shields in the front rank. There were three ranks. They had a hundred and fifty men. I could not see if they were mailed but I did see helmets and I saw that at least half had spears. They began banging their shields and chanting.

  I shouted, “Padraig, is this the song about the warrior with the sword?”

  “No lord, it is one about a young warrior fighting an Irish champion.”

  Next to me de Clare asked, “Why is that important?”

  “Each clan will have their own songs and chants. Padraig told me. These are not the men we fought before. I was worried that Waterford’s men might have joined and that we would have to fight them again.”

  The sun rose and the Vikings, still chanting, began to move. Since they had formed their line Aelric had conserved his arrows. Now our archers began to pick men off as they stepped over bodies and gaps appeared. I saw one warrior who was close to the centre of the line stumbled as his seal skin boot caught on the shield strap of a man whose body he stepped over. Although he was mailed he had no coif and I watched an arrow hit him in the neck. He stood briefly transfixed and then he fell forward. As he did so the four men behind stumbled and two more were hit. The leader shouted something and they halted to dress their lines. In those few moments, three more men were slain. The ones at the back would have even more bodies to negotiate.