by Griff Hosker
The warriors all began to bang their shields and roar with the exultation of victory. I looked at the Ulfheonar who would fight no more. Karl the Bold, Sven Four Fingers, Erik Dog Bite and Einar all lay dead. Tostig Wolf Hand, Snorri, Bjorn the Scout and Sigtrygg all had wounds which would keep them from fighting for some time. But we had won and I silently gave thanks to the spirits who had protected us. We were at the very edge of Old Olaf's mountain and I knew that he had aided us. My Ulfheonar had done well but this had been our severest test. Had Arturus and his warriors not arrived things might have gone badly for us.
Arturus and Cnut helped to search the bodies. Cnut came to me with a puzzled expression upon his face. "These warriors have no treasure upon them."
Haaken laughed, "That is the problem with berserkers, they have nowhere to keep things."
"They must have been paid by King Egbert. I cannot believe they have spent it. And where are their cloaks? Arturus they must have a camp somewhere. Take your warriors and find them. I suspect they may be either at Grize's Dale or Hawk's Stad. If you hurry you may catch them."
Eager to please, Arturus led off his warriors at a steady lope. We bound the wounds of the injured. "Cnut, you appear to be unwounded. Go to Cyninges-tūn and fetch carts and Aiden. There is no rush to leave here."
After we had bound the wounds of the wounded and given them water we looked at the weapons we had captured. The axes showed that the warriors of Bothvar Bjarki had spent much gold upon them. They all had intricate carvings upon them and that of Bjarki was inlaid with gold. These were not weapons to melt down nor were they weapons which we could use. We would take them back with us and decide how best me might employ them.
It was getting towards dark when Cnut arrived back. He had brought men from the stad as well as Aiden. We laid the dead on one cart and the wounded on the other three along with the weapons.
"Where is Arturus?"
"I sent him to find the camp of these Danes. I am not worried. He will be able to handle guards. Come let us get back for we have done much work here today."
As we walked, or rather trudged, up the road to Cyninges-tūn my men chanted one of the rowing chants in honour of the dead who would never share an oar or a bench again. Ulfheonar were not easy to replace and when 'The Heart of the Dragon' sailed again half of the crew and more would not be Ulfheonar. I knew that we could not retain all of our warriors forever. We would be reunited in Valhalla but I would miss the faces which had faced me on so many voyages. My world was changing.
Arturus and his men arrived back at Cyninges-tūn after dark. They brought with them two horses and a string of ponies. They also had the treasures the Danes had left with their guards. "They were not the best of warriors but we slew them. I did not think you would want them as slaves. They died with their swords in their hands."
The Danes had indeed been rich. It seemed they liked gold more than even we did and there were many gold bracelets and torcs. We found the gold given to them by King Egbert. His image was on each coin. One day I would take some of those coins and throw them in his face. I smiled at the thought of him waiting, over the winter, for the return of the Danes and his child bride. He would worry that they had taken her for themselves. The word of their fate would take many months to reach Lundenwic.
Kara and her healers took our wounded to their hall. Elfrida had shown some skill in that area and she helped. As Aiden and I prepared to leave for Wolf's Lair with the few Ulfheonar who lived there she came up to me and hugged me. "Thank you, jarl. I will honour the warriors who died to protect me and I will care for those who were wounded. I am happy that I chose to come here. It is wyrd.'
Chapter 14
I was no longer a young man and it took longer for my body to recover from the fight. The crack to my leg had done some damage as had the axe blows to my shield and arm. It would be a month or more before I was recovered enough to even consider my journey to Jorvik. My men too had suffered much. When the message came from Bolli to tell me that my drekar was ready I had already chosen the ones who would journey with Aiden. I summoned all of my warriors and Arturus to Wolf's Lair. "Some of you will be travelling with Aiden to Miklagård. I will need six warriors to go with me to Jorvik. I am leaving Arturus to protect your families when we are gone. I will take Snorri, Bjorn the Scout, Sven Sharp Blade, Arnulf Bjornson, Harald Finehair and Siggi Siggison with me to scotch the snake, Wiglaf."
The ones I had chosen looked delighted whilst the rest scowled. As I had expected many of my warriors wished to be with me.
Sigtrygg shouted the loudest, "Jarl, I have always been your first choice for such danger."
"And if you had not suffered such wounds in the last months you would be my first choice again. You need time to recover and rowing to Miklagård will help you recover." I pointed to my Galdramenn, "And you have my healer with you to watch over you as you will protect him."
Haaken looked affronted, "And what of us, Jarl Dragon Heart? We have no wounds."
"No, but you now have families and besides you are my most experienced warriors. You will have twenty warriors on the drekar who need training and guidance. That will be your task." I sighed, "This is no Tynwald. I am jarl and I have made my decision. Haaken and Cnut you need to choose the warriors who will row with you. Choose those who are single and who might make good warriors."
When they had all left me I sat with Aiden and we spoke of the voyage. "We have goods to trade with the Greeks, Aiden, but what do we seek in return?"
"We know that we can buy the spices which are so valuable elsewhere. We can sell those in the lands where we traded them last time; the ones who fight the men of Frankia. I would also trade for the garments which are finer than we can produce. They too can be sold for a profit. Then there are the wines. If we cannot trade with the Franks then we have to go there for wine. The Musselmen shun wine."
"I can see that both cargos would be light but what do we have that they want?"
"Animal skins. We have hide and fleece. Both are of high quality and we have many of them but it matters not. Thanks to the gold from King Egbert," he laughed, "and the gold which King Egbert gave to the Danes, we have more than enough gold to pay for what we want." He paused, "The real reason is to gather that which is free and even more valuable. Knowledge. The priests of the White Christ know much but even they learn from the Greeks. Our first visit merely whetted my appetite. It will take time to make all the trades we need and I can study in their libraries and their buildings." He waved his hand at my small hall. "We know that the buildings in Miklagård are many times bigger than this. How do they build them? What are the secrets of the Roman cement? How do they build so well in stone?"
I held up my hand. "Enough. Will you have enough time there to do so much?"
He laughed, "You know that I am a quick learner. There will be time enough." I nodded and peered into the fire. "And what of you Jarl Dragon Heart. Will you be able to get inside Jorvik with so few warriors?"
"I believe that the Norns sent the berserkers. They are our way in to Jorvik. We will go in disguise. We take Danish axes and helmets. We wear their rings and their scabbards. We use their cloaks. We become Danes. If Wiglaf is attracting them with the promise of my sword then we should be able to mingle easily with them. We will use their ponies too. I am certain that this berserker will have travelled up the Roman Road to Jorvik first. The animals may well have come from there. Do we still have the Danish mail? It is poorly made but it will disguise us. Is it still here in Wolf's lair?"
"I think it is. We gave it to Rolf to use for his guardians."
"And I will need a new shield which does not have a wolf upon it. Rolf can make one of those too."
"He will enjoy that, jarl. He hates being idle."
Aiden and the Ulfheonar left the next day. The hall felt lonely without him and we rattled around Wolf's Lair which was now empty save for Rolf and his guardians.
We spent the next month preparing for the journey. We chose the
best of the captured mail for us. Our own was too good and was a different style. It marked us out. I found a Danish helmet which had a mask for the eyes and a nasal. Rolf made me a shield which was as strong as my old one but this had red spots painted upon a black background. I remembered the design when we had fought Guthrum's men. We took spare cloaks. The Danes had all left their cloaks at the camp they had made and Arturus had brought them. We had two each for it would be cold in the empty lands. Finally we chose the spears we would use. We did not take bows. Most of the warriors we had fought had not used them and we needed to appear Danish. I hoped that we would not need them.
The weather was against us and our departure delayed by early snow storms. Although they did not last they made the trails we would use impassable. Eventually the sun shone. The day we were to leave Kara and Arturus came to see us off. We were each riding a pony leading a spare with our armour and weapons upon it. I embraced Kara. "Have the spirits sent any warning?"
"No, father but sometimes they do not. Take care. You do not need me to tell you how dangerous this is. You are entering the lair of the bear and he is dangerous."
"But we are the wolves and this pack is the best. Arturus watch over my people and be aware that Egbert may send more warriors."
"Fear not father. I have a wife now and soon, I hope a family."
"A family?" I must have appeared a little eager.
Kara shook her head, "Perhaps, father. Do not get your hopes up. When you return then we will know more. We will both watch over our people for you."
We took the trail down the eastern side of the Water. We would follow the Roman Roads which criss crossed the land. Until we reached the high divide we would be travelling amongst people who knew me and owed me fealty. Once we crossed into the empty lands then we would be in danger and would need to be alert. We rode side by side. It was more natural that way. Although our weapons and armour were on the spare ponies we kept a watch for danger. When we passed the bodies of the Danes, Arturus had slain we took it as a reminder that we had to be constantly upon our guard.
I rode next to Snorri. I had known him since he had been the ship's boy. He had trained Erik Short Toe for me but he had proved to be so skilled as a scout and a warrior that his course was chosen for him. I knew he was eager to be off scouting. "We are playing a part, Snorri. If anyone watches then I want them to see seven Danes who wish to sell their swords to the highest bidder."
He smiled, "I know Jarl but it is hard. Bjorn the Scout and I have ranged ahead so often that it feels unnatural to be riding here next to you."
I was aware that the others were listening. "I chose all of you because you six have great skills when it comes to concealment, moving quietly but, most importantly, you can kill close in. I do not anticipate that we will have to fight in a shield wall. If we do then we will have failed. We need to get to Wiglaf when he is alone, kill him and leave. If we can do so without anyone being the wiser then so much the better. We seven are going to do something which might seem impossible to those who do not know us. I know that we will succeed."
The weather, over the last seven or eight days, had begun to deteriorate. The temperature had dropped and rain clouds constantly filled the skies. Rain showered upon us making us cold and wet. It made us huddle beneath our Danish cloaks. However it disguised us for no one could see our faces or know of our identity. We were just seven weary travellers. I hoped that if we were seen we would be taken for Bjarki's returning warriors.
It took two days to reach the eastern side of the empty lands. There the temperature plummeted even more and we were grateful for the fire we built each night. That was the first night where we kept a watch. Until then we were in empty lands or our own lands. Now we were in enemy territory. Here we had no friends. It also meant that we had someone feeding the fire all night. I insisted that each of us took it in turns to stand guard. It meant we all had a few hours sleep and it was no hardship.
When I stood my watch it happened that the clouds cleared and the stars came out. After I had put more wood and kindling on the fire I stared into the heavens. Were my mother and my wife watching me from above? I often thought, at such times, about my ancestor, the Warlord of Rheged. From what we had discovered he too would have crossed these empty lands as he fought the Saxons. Had they been empty lands then? Had he camped and watched where I watched now. I had only seen an image of him painted on a cave wall but since I had held his sword, now kept safely in Wolf's Lair, I felt an affinity with him. He too had led warriors who were a band of brothers. He had fought against great odds and he too had kept his people safe. I was continuing a proud tradition. When I fell in battle then my son would do the same. It was meant to be.
The brief interlude of a cloudless window in the sky was not repeated and dawn brought a flurry of sleet and snow which drove in savagely from the east. It made visibility difficult and it made the going harder as the sleet and snow made the cobbles on the Roman Road, slippery. We were forced to slow down. The last thing we needed, on that steep road which passed over precipitous drops, was for one of our ponies to slip. Consequently we did not manage to travel as far as we would have liked. Fortunately we found shelter in a cave above a twisting and roaring river. I suspect in normal times it would have been a gently bubbling stream but the recent rains and the snow had made it a torrent.
When we awoke it was to find a covering of snow on the land. That was bad news. We would be leaving clear tracks. Our progress would be clearly marked for all to see. Hitherto we had been hidden. We had passed and seen no one. It was as though we were invisible. Now, however, as we entered the land ruled by Wiglaf and Magnus Klak, we were letting our enemies know that there were strangers in their land. We would have to be even more cautious.
We saw farms and villages now dotting the vale. Many were Saxon but, from their design, we knew that some were Danish. We avoided all of them. I dare say that we were spotted but the fact that we passed through their land would reassure them of our peaceful intent. Magnus Klak might rule the town but outside the walls of the city life went on as though he had no power at all.
We reached the outskirts of Jorvik at night. There was no snow on the ground here although it was cold and miserable. It had been a year or so since we had visited and the town had sprawled even further out from the walls of the fort. That aided us for there were more places to hide. We had one major problem, where would we camp? If we were playing swords for hire then we could not be seen to be throwing coins around for beds and stables. We found some land which had once had houses upon it but the blackened ground showed that it had been burned. There were the remains of part of the roof which gave us some shelter from the drizzle and, by placing the ponies to one side we had shelter from the wind. There was some scrubby grass and weeds which had grown up and they munched happily on that. Once again we took it in turns to watch and feed the fire. We would begin our search for Wiglaf the next morning.
I was the one on duty when the three drunks staggered by. I was huddled in my cloak and they took me to be asleep. They saw the ponies and the packs. They moved towards them. I slipped my seax from my belt and, as the first one tried to untie a pony, I stood and pressed the tip into his neck before he even knew I was there. "Tell me, friend, why I should not slit your throat for the thief that you are?"
My men were awake and up in an instant and the three drunks found themselves surrounded by seven heavily armed men. The three were Norse, as we were, but their clothes were shabby and none had a sword, just a seax each. "I am sorry. We thought you were asleep. We mean no harm. We are three warriors fallen on hard times."
I nodded to my men and we sheathed our weapons. "Come and sit by the fire. Now that you have wakened us you can, at least, entertain us with your story."
They nodded gratefully and sat as close to the fire as they could get. We came here with our Jarl, Einar the Cautious. We were looking for work but our jarl fell foul of Magnus Klak who had him slain. We were the only ones of h
is men to escape."
Snorri frowned, "How did you three escape? Did you betray your jarl?"
"Not in the way you think. We were gambling and drinking when the jarl and the others were taken. By the time we found out what had happened their heads were on the gates of the fort."
"And why did this Magnus Klak have your jarl killed?"
"The Lord of Jorvik wanted us to go raiding Northumbria and our jarl said he wanted to go to Cyninges-tūn and find the sword which was touched by the gods." My men were learning how to deceive and not one cracked his face.
"Where is this Magnus Klak now then? Perhaps we should be worried."
"He has gone north to raid the lands north of the river. He left ten days ago. We came out of hiding when we heard he had gone."
"And why did you not leave the city?"
They all shrugged, "We have no money."
Bjorn the Scout said, "Enough money for beer."
"We were paid in beer for unloading a knarr which came from Wessex."
We had heard enough but we could not just get rid of them; they might report us to someone else. We needed them to leave of their own volition. "Is there any work then for swords and good warriors?"
The talkative one looked at us. He was the least drunk. "You are looking for work? Your clothes and weapons suggest that you are successful. Why do you come here? This is not a good place. If we had the money then we would be gone quicker than a Saxon when there is fighting to be done!"
I shrugged, "We had the promise of work from Bothvar Bjarki but we missed our meeting with him and we know not where he went."
They stood, suddenly sober, "You would fight with Bothvar Bjarki the berserker. I am sorry my friend but you are too dangerous for the likes of us. We are sorry if we offended you."
They took off like startled deer. "It seems we have arrived at the right time. Klak is not here nor is his army. This will be our best chance to get to Wiglaf."