by Griff Hosker
At the marker which was four hundred paces from the enemy I began to run a little faster and Haaken and Cnut formed up behind me. It would now be clear what we were doing. We were forming a giant wedge which would punch a hole through the middle of their line. We had avoided their traps by running along the road where they could not lay traps. The ditch alongside the road afforded some protection too.
By the time we were one hundred paces from them they were trying to reorganise their lines. The few arrows they sent our way bounced off armour or struck shields. At thirty paces the Ulfheonar began to hurl our first spear. It did not matter that some would miss. The warriors of Strathclyde and Hibernia had to hold up their shields and were temporarily blinded. Just before we struck I pulled back my arm and punched forward with my second spear. It slid along a shield and the pressure of the men behind and our speed took it into the stomach of a warrior in the second rank. All of the Ulfheonar spears found a home and a hole was punched through the middle of the line. They were three deep. They were hit by a body of men which was almost a hundred strong. We were so swift that the three riders on their ponies did not have time to react and move out of the way. I drew Ragnar's Spirit and hacked at the first rider. He turned to flee to safety but my blade hacked though his leg and into the pony. The pony reared in pain, throwing the rider and clattering into the next rider. Cnut despatched him.
The third leader shouted an order and the men from the flanks came around the rear to try to form a new line which would encircle us. Suddenly a horn was heard as Thorkell led his garrison from the Roman fort less than a quarter of a mile away. I saw the face of the last leader of the men of Strathclyde. It was a mask of fury. I had outwitted him. His army was now split in two. I yelled, "Two lines! Back to back!"
We were on the road and we halted to stand back to back. We had a ditch in front of us and my men locked shields with their neighbour. Haaken was in the most precarious position for there was no one to his right. I had my shield on that exposed side. Cnut and I stepped forward to the edge of the road. We had broken through the men with armour and now faced the ones who had a shield, a spear and, if they were lucky, a helmet. The first Hibernian jabbed his spear at me and, as I deflected it harmlessly to my left, I lunged forward and skewered his half naked body on my sword. I stepped forward and twisted my sword from his writhing body which dropped into the ditch. I was ahead of Cnut and I sliced sideways to slice into the back of the warrior he was fighting. We were now forcing the two halves apart and, behind us, Thorkell's men were attacking the rear of the southern end of their line.
A rash and courageous warrior hurled himself at me with his sword held in two hands before him. Although I held up my shield the sword struck my helmet. Had it not been a full face one then I would be dead. As it was my head was forced to the side. The young warrior impaled himself upon my sword. His act of bravery seemed to encourage others and they threw themselves at our line. Had we not been mailed warriors then it might have gone badly. The blades struck metal and shields and their unprotected bodies were ripped and torn by our swords. Their attack petered out. They ran towards the north and we began to drive them, inexorably towards their home and the river which protected our northern borders. The river was less than sixty paces from them and we were like beaters driving game into a net. The most resistance was in the middle where Arturus and his men were fighting the last of the mailed warriors. There were not many but they were like a dam holding back the water. At the sides Karl and I were pushing towards each other. The men of Strathclyde found themselves attacked from all sides and, inevitably some of them broke and, joining the ones we had broken already ran to the river.
Ignoring the ones who were doomed to drown we pushed towards the warriors fighting Arturus. I need not have worried. I saw my son take a blow from a long sword on his shield and swing backhand into the mailed side of the warrior. He pulled back and struck again. I knew what had happened without seeing. The first blow had severed the mail links and the second tore into the warrior's side. He was a dead man walking. He struck at my son's shield but I saw that his blows were weakening. Arturus struck at the same spot again and the warrior crumpled and died. We kept pushing the ever decreasing circle of warriors further and further back.
Three warriors decided to make a heroic end and they charged at me and my Ulfheonar. My wolf shield drew them on. We were tired but they were exhausted. Their final effort to charge us sapped the last of their energy. The sword which struck my shield was a weak one and I contemptuously knocked the sword aside with my shield. I feinted with my sword and the warrior parried fresh air. I swung my sword it his neck and his head joined his dead companions on the bloodied grass. That was the last resistance from our band we went to the river and I saw three men of Strathclyde clambering up the other bank. The others who had survived were being swept to the sea and their death. We needed no prisoners now. There were three who would tell the terrible tale of the slaughter of the men of Strathclyde by the wolves from the south.
Chapter 12
Although the battle was won we still had to clear the field of those who fought on beyond all hope. We turned our attention to the southern band. Even when they surrendered they were slain. They had not learned their lesson the last time. This time we would make no mistake. Finally we met Thorkell's men. Of my former Ulfheonar, Thorkell the Tall, there was no sign. Harald Green Eye with bloodied blade approached me. "Thorkell has gone to Valhalla, Jarl Dragon Heart. He was stabbed in the back by the leader on the pony." I looked and saw the body of my captain next to the butchered leader and his pony. Yet another of the original Ulfheonar had gone to the Other World. My world was emptier for the loss.
"Did you lose many others?"
He shook his head, "Not Ulfheonar but they killed many of the people and had you not come then it would have gone ill. Thorkell had become complacent and we did not have enough supplies within the fort. We would have starved to death in a matter of days had you not come." He shrugged, "I know he believed that he had let you down. Perhaps he had a death wish."
My decisions had been the correct ones but that did not help me for I had lost another old friend. There were just two left from the original Ulfheonar, Haaken and Cnut.
We stripped the bodies and then took them to the river. As I hurled the first one in I intoned, "Great Icaunis, take these unworthy offerings in thanks for our victory today!" It was a sacrifice of sorts.
It took some time to rid the field of their bodies. Then we dug a grave for our own dead. These were not stripped but dressed and arrayed in their armour with helmets and shields. We laid Thorkell in the middle and the others around him. We put his sword and that of the chief who had slain him across his body. The shield covered his head. We placed stones on top of the bodies and when that was completed we piled earth until it was a mound and then turf on the top. It would be visible from the fort and a reminder of the sacrifices others had made to keep their freedom.
The fort was too small to accommodate us all and so the men camped outside. Arturus and I stayed in the hall for we would need to speak with the Ulfheonar who remained in Thorkell's Stad. I would need to appoint a new commander. There had to be someone to command my northern marches. However before that I needed to be clean. I had been fighting for almost three days and I reeked of blood and sweat. There were still baths at the fort. They did not work as they had in the days of the Romans but they would clean the blood away. I donned a simple kyrtle when I was clean. I felt better.
There were just seven of us seated around the table; the five remaining oathsworn, me and my son. After we had eaten we told tales of Thorkell. We told of his time in Cymru and his escape. We remembered his fierce style of fighting. A blow to the back was the only way he could have been slain. There were a few moments of silence as we each said goodbye in our own way. Then I raised my horn of ale, "Thorkell the Tall; may the ceilings be high in Valhalla!"
"Thorkell the Tall!"
Arturus and I tol
d them about Wessex and Lundenburgh. They were both impressed that Arturus had managed to steal a queen.
"I did not steal her! She chose to come with me!"
"You stole her heart then. That is even more impressive."
I could see that he was embarrassed and I quickly changed the subject. "We will not be either raiding or trading as often as we did. Aiden has come up with a plan to trade with Byzantium once a year. Now that we have our own iron we need less from Frankia and Wessex than we did."
Harald nodded, "That is good. The land is safer when you are here."
I shook my head, "This year we have had many warriors coming to take my sword from me. It has invited death into my home."
Sven White Hair swallowed his beer, "We heard that from some traders who passed through heading north. They said that in Jorvik the tales of the sword which was touched by the gods was a constant source of conversation."
"I know and that is why I will silence that snake Wiglaf."
Einar held up a finger, "I would advise caution, Jarl. The same traders told us that Jorvik now has a Danish master. Wiglaf runs the city but it is ruled by Magnus Klak. He has powerful connections. His brother, it is said, has aspirations to be King of Denmark. They rule Jorvik with a rod of iron. Many traders, like the ones we met, have fled to find easier places in which to trade."
"Thank you for the information." I had put off making the announcement as long as I could. It had to be said. "Now I need to have one of you as a Jarl. I have my own thoughts but you know me well enough to know that I like your opinions too."
They all looked at Harald Green Eye. Sven White Hair said, "There is an obvious choice. When Thorkell sailed on the drekar, Harald ruled. We are all comfortable with that."
"And you Harald, are you comfortable too?"
"I am no Thorkell but I will do my best. Aye, I will be your jarl." We gave him the chain which Thorkell had worn. It had a golden wolf with jet eyes. The ones I gave my Ulfheonar had blue eyes.
That night I slept like a baby. It was a luxury to have a bed. We spent some hours repairing the damage to the fort and dividing the treasure up and then we left. All shared in the victory as we had all shared in the deaths. Karl took his warriors back to Windar's Mere. The battle had made them all better warriors and I was more confident about our eastern approaches. Windar had never been a warrior but his son was and that made me feel safer. We spent the day heading south. There was no hurry and more of my warriors now sported both injuries and wounds.
As we entered, at dusk, the gates of our stronghold, Elfrida ran to greet her husband. The men he led merely smiled but the Ulfheonar took great pleasure in whooping and cheering as she hugged and kissed my embarrassed son. Poor Arturus did not know which way to look. Kara glared balefully at them and they subsided. Kara was very protective of her brother. She took me by the arm and led me into my hall. "The men of Strathclyde are defeated?"
"Aye, daughter but we lost Thorkell the Tall."
"He will join the spirits for he had a strong heart. Do not mourn him for he died doing what he enjoyed."
"I also heard that there is a new Dane who rules with Wiglaf. There may be danger coming from the east."
"I will speak with the spirits. I have not felt any danger." She stroked my hair. "You are tired. I will get Scanlan to light the fire in the sweat hut. It will do you good and then a swim in the Waters will refresh you." She stood, kissed me on the cheek and added, "Aiden is keen to speak with you."
She knew me so well. I had not used the sweat hut for some time. It would be good to do so again. Aiden joined me and brought in jug of ale. "It is freshly brewed. We used some of the hops we traded the merchants of Kent. It has a good flavour."
He was right. "There are still some things we need from the land of Wessex then?"
"There may be other places we can get them. Perhaps I will sail with Siggi on his next voyage." He had grown in the years he had served me; both physically and mentally. His mind was an asset as much as my sword. "I hear from Haaken that Wiglaf now has a master."
"He was never cut out to be a leader. Perhaps he was just preparing the way for this Magnus Klak. It would not surprise me. The man is a snake."
"You still plan the winter raid?"
"I do but we will make it by sea and not by land."
"Why?"
"We cannot predict the weather. If we have storms at sea we can shelter in estuaries and bays but the high, empty land between here and Jorvik is dangerous."
"It is a shorter journey. We can be there in three days by pony. The sea voyage would take many days."
"I know. We will see what the spirits say when Kara speaks with them."
"You would not go sooner?"
"No, Aiden, I need time here with my people. I have been gone more than I have been present lately and besides, Arturus will want to come with me and he has a new bride."
"All the more reason for going by land."
Just then Scanlan entered, "The sweat hut is ready Jarl. I should hurry. Haaken and Cnut smelled the smoke!"
I laughed, "I shall use my power to evict them. Would you join me, Aiden, and we can continue our talk. The sweat and the conversation help me to see things clearly."
"I will, jarl."
Of course the hut was big enough for six warriors and Cnut and Haaken joined us. As the sweat cleaned our skin and hair we began to relax and I talked through my plans for Wiglaf. As the day drew to a close a slave came to tell us that the evening meal was ready.
We stepped out and saw the sun setting over the Water and Old Olaf was framed in a golden light. The world was good.
"Well Jarl Dragon Heart, have you finalised your plans yet? Did our talk help?"
"Let us just say, Cnut, that I am clearer but I will wait to speak with Kara when she has sought the advice of the spirits."
I had a fitful sleep. My dreams were filled with faces from the past. Warriors who had died alongside me and for me drifted in and out of my mind in no particular order. Everywhere I turned was another face and I had no place to go to be alone. I wondered if this was the spirit world trying to tell me something but I could not piece together the threads. All that I could see were the bloodied hands of my comrades and there was fire. Perhaps Aiden or Kara could unpick the answers.
I dressed and went down to the Water. I loved it in the morning with the sun behind me picking out Olaf's features and the Water so still it looked as though you could walk upon it. Two ducks quacked their way south; the only noise on that still morning. I stayed there until I heard the noises from the people who lived on the other side of the wall. As work began I headed back to my hall. We had too many people living on this side of the Water. I had chosen this for my home because I liked the view and it was easy to defend but it was steep and rocky. The houses were small for it was difficult to make deep foundations. The land to the west was better. I decided to talk with Scanlan and Aiden about it.
The slaves brought my food and I ate alone and in silence. My thoughts and plans filled the quiet. Aiden slipped in and joined me. He and I shared the hall with my slaves. Erika and I had built it with the children in mind but the Norns had had other plans.
"I have been thinking about the western stad."
Aiden nodded as though he knew. "I think we should visit with Scanlan. There are too many crowded into this small hillside."
He nodded, "Bjorn has been thinking of moving but he did not wish to offend you."
"Offend me? He can go where he chooses but I thought he was happy here."
"He was but now that we have our own iron he needs to be on the other side of the Water. Lang's Dale is to the north and west. It would be easier to take the raw ore there. The animals struggle up our hill with the load. And he needs to have more room for his forges."
"Are there others too who wish to move?"
"I think so. When you were in the north I spent much time here and spoke to many. I think that Arturus and Elfrida should have a large hall on th
e other side of the Water. The dwelling the men threw up is too small for a family."
"Family!" My face must have had a startled expression for Aiden laughed.
"You are not to be a grandfather yet but that will come. Arturus' warriors could have a warrior hall built there too."
"Then that would just leave my Ulfheonar and Kara's house of women here."
"Isn't that what you wish, really, Jarl? And some of the Ulfheonar have families now and they might prefer to have a larger home on the flatter land to the west of the Water. The warrior hall should be for the single Ulfheonar."
I would need time to think but I could give Bjorn the blacksmith his answer. "I will be by the Water. I need to talk with Bjorn and then think." I descended to the fires of Bjorn and his sons.
He came out to greet me. He held a dagger in his hand. It was unpolished but ready to be sharpened. "The first weapon with our new iron. It is good metal. I shall finish this one for you, Jarl."
I held it in my hand and it was well balanced. Although a little shorter than the seax I used it had a point and two edges; it would be a handy weapon for close in fighting. "Thank you Bjorn. I think that it is a good thing if you move your forges to the western side."
"You are not unhappy?"
"I shall miss my talks with you but I can visit each day. I do not spend enough time in the western stad anyway. Go with my blessing, Bjorn."
"It will mean we can work quicker. It takes a longer time for the iron to reach us and the jetty on the other side is better for the boats. This is wyrd."
I smiled when I saw him hurry to tell his sons that they were moving. I did not know that my old friends were afraid to upset me. I had thought they could all be honest and open with me. Perhaps I was wrong. Kara waited in the hall for me. Aiden was with her.