Horseman (Norman Genesis Book 2)

by Griff Hosker

  I decided to head down towards the river. Once I could find that I would have a better idea of where our drekar was in case I had to return quickly. It was the smell of smoke which told me where the people were. I stopped and dismounted. There was a stand of trees to my left and I walked my horse there and tied him to a sapling. I hung my helmet from the saddle and, drawing my sword, headed up the slope. Once I was just below the top I dropped to the ground as I had seen Ulf do and I crawled the last few paces. Peering over I saw, nestling in a dell with a small tributary of the Issicauna, a walled village. This one had a stone gate and towers at each corner. It looked to be bigger than the one we had raided. It reminded me of the one in which I had grown up. That had been further upstream. Even as I watched I saw three horsemen leave by the north gate and ride north. I had seen enough.

  Once mounted I rode down to the river and followed the greenway which ran alongside it. I rode quickly for the danger was to the east. I galloped into the village and my arrival made the Jarl and the others turn. Pointing to the east I said, "There is a walled town with towers four or five miles to the east of us.

  The Jarl said, "Did they see you?"

  "No, Jarl. But I saw three horsemen leave the walls."

  "Then we have time to raid the abbey and escape before they come. You and Rurik go and keep watch on them. Ulf will take us to the abbey."

  I nodded, "Jarl I would like to take two of the horses we captured back to the island."

  He smiled, "Horses! If you can coax them on board then you may take them!"

  "Thank you Jarl. Come Rurik."

  Rurik could ride; I had taught him but he was never happy about it. I returned the way I had come. Once we reached the stand of trees I led my friend to the vantage point I had found. I saw that they had fishing boats in the river. If they went to the sea then they would see the drekar. I hoped that the Jarl would not spend too much time at the abbey. I saw the riders I had spied before as they returned to the town. It looked as though they had been hunting for one had an animal across his horse's neck. That was good. It meant they would be less likely to leave again. The Jarl had not said how long we had to stay there but I made the decision to leave by noon. I watched the sun in the sky as it rose higher.

  It was not long before noon when two more riders left not by the north gate but the west. To my dismay they began to ride along the road which ran west. I tapped Rurik on the shoulder and we returned to the horses. "We need to follow them. If they see the Jarl we shall have to stop them returning."

  As we mounted he said, "I cannot fight from the back of a horse!"

  I pointed to the stiraps. "That is why the Franks use those. They allow you to have control over your horse and your weapon. We just need to stop them." I led us further north. We rode above and behind them. I used the folds in the land to hide us but they did not turn as they headed along the ancient road. I could tell that they were heading for the abbey. I had hoped that they might also be going hunting but that seemed unlikely now. When we drew close where I knew they would see the abbey I led us down to the road. The Jarl would have sentries watching the road and I hoped they would take care of the two Franks with their bows.

  The two of them were half a mile ahead and I could see the abbey rising to the right of the road. When they stopped I knew they had seen something amiss. "Draw your sword!"

  I kicked my horse in the flanks and he leapt along the road. Two things happened at once. One of them heard our hooves as they clattered along the road and Ketil Eriksson and Karl Swift Foot spied them. They both released arrows. The two Franks drew their weapons and galloped towards us. Ketil and Karl sent more arrows after the two Franks. They managed to hit the horse of the one at the rear. It reared in the air and threw the rider to the ground. The wounded animal's cries made our horses skittish. I pulled back on the reins of mine but Rurik lost control and his horse charged down the road towards the oncoming Frank. I urged my horse on as I raced to catch Rurik. He was so busy trying to control his horse that he would be an easy target for the Frank. I saw that Ketil and Karl had reached the other Frank and killed him but at that moment the Frank swung his sword at Rurik. My friend bravely tried to block the blow with his own sword but he was still trying to control his horse. As the swords came together with a ring Rurik fell from his horse.

  I held my sword slightly behind me as I raced towards the Frank. He had despatched one Viking and I saw his grin as he pulled back his sword to strike at me. As he pulled his horse to charge at me I rose in my stiraps and began to swing my sword above my head. He had not been expecting that and he brought his own sword around to block my strike. My sword was straight, true and finely balanced. It hit his sword and it bent. The tip continued down and struck first his helmet and then his face as it raked down. I continued with the blow and it bit into the neck of his horse. The rider and horse overbalanced and they tumbled into the ditch which ran along the side of the road.

  I pulled my reins and turned. Leaping from my horse I ran to the ditch. The Frank was dead. His neck was broken and the horse had broken two of his legs. I took my sword and placing it next to his throat said, "Go to the Allfather; you were a brave mount." I slit its throat. The warm blood gushed over me.

  I saw that the Frank was richly dressed. He was a noble yet his sword had been poorly made. I took his rings, his purse and a dagger which was in a richly decorated scabbard. I walked back to the sword. Its hilt was bound in silver but the blade itself had not been tempered as well as that which Bagsecg's father had made for me. I took the sword for Bagsecg could use the metal and I would take the silver.

  Rurik had risen to his feet and was leading his horse. "I do not mind riding the beast but how you fight from its back is beyond me."

  "It is a skill you can learn. Come let us return to the village."

  Ketil and Karl approached. Ketil was grinning. They too had found that the Frank they had killed had coins and rings. "An easy victory!"

  I nodded, "Perhaps we should call you Ketil the horse killer! What was wrong with hitting the warrior?"

  Karl shook his head, "Not all of us have a Saami bow such as you, Hrolf the Horsemen. It turned out well enough."

  When we reached the village Sven and those the Jarl had left to guard the villagers were already loading the drekar. Sven nodded at my approach. "Sven, the Jarl said I can bring aboard two horses if I can coax them."

  He laughed, "If anyone can it is you. There is a gangplank. It is strong enough to take a horse. Put them at the bow and you can stay with them during the voyage." I nodded. "And you get to clean the horseshit!"

  "Of course." I went to the stables. I would saddle the two mares I wanted. It would make them easier to control. "Rurik, come and give me a hand."

  He came over. "You are taking two horses?"

  "Mares for breeding." I handed him my helmet. "Put this and my shield aboard the drekar. I will saddle them and lead them." As I headed towards the stables I met Sven the Helmsman. He had a coil of rope he had found. Rope was always in short supply. "The Jarl says I can bring two horses back with me."

  His face fell. "You get to clean up the drekar after them."

  "Of course. It is good for the crops. It is like gold!"

  Shaking his head he said, "And you stay with them on the voyage home. If they charge around the boat it could sink us."

  "Of course." I entered the stable and fitted a halter over the head of the larger mare. "I take you and the little one to a new home. You will like it there. You shall run free." She whinnied and seemed unafraid.

  By the time I had saddled them and Rurik had returned, the men were coming back from the abbey. I led the first mare. I spoke to her in the Frankish tongue. I did not know her name yet. She would tell me eventually. I stroked her as I spoke. When we reached the gangplank I thought she was going to baulk as a wave lifted the drekar a little. "Come, I have a fine stallion waiting for you! Dream Strider is handsome and he is brave. You will make a fine pair." She raised
her head and whinnied but she put her hoof on the gangplank and let me walk her aboard. "Rurik, come and hold her while I fetch the other."

  Rurik took the reins. He began to stroke her neck. As sheep and pigs were brought aboard so the noise rose. By the time I had brought the second one down to the drekar it was a cacophony of noise. She became quite skittish. I climbed on to her back and turned her around. I would not lead her aboard, I would ride her. I started to sing. I used the song they had made up about me. It was in Norse but it had a gentle rhythm.

  The horseman came through darkest night

  He rode towards the dawning light

  With fiery steed and thrusting spear

  Hrolf the Horseman brought great fear

  Slaughtering all he breached their line

  Of warriors slain there were nine

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  With mighty axe Black Teeth stood

  Angry and filled with hot blood

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  Ice cold Hrolf with Heart of Ice

  Swung his arm and made it slice

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  In two strokes the Jarl was felled

  Hrolf's sword nobly held

  Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade

  Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed

  Gradually she calmed and when I came to the chorus risked approaching the gangplank. I knew we did not have much time for the Jarl was already aboard. To my great relief she walked aboard calmly. I dismounted and stroked her head. "Well done! You are a brave one." I handed her reins to Rurik as I tied a piece of rope to the raven prow. I then tied the reins of the two mares to the rope.

  Sven's voice carried down the drekar, "Ready oars!"

  "You had better get to your oar, Rurik. Sven wants me to watch my prizes. He does not wish two horses careering about his ship."

  "Better you than me!"

  The first mare which I had led aboard had a proud look about her. She was not young but she held herself well. I stroked her and said, "You I shall name Freyja for you are like the goddess herself. You are fearless and proud."

  I turned to the other. She had a golden colour and her mane seemed like a beautiful woman's hair. She also seemed younger, "And you are like the jǫtunn, Gerðr. Your foals will be the most beautiful while Freyja's will be the boldest and bravest!" They both seemed content but I spoke to them until we were well out to sea and the sail had been set. The crack of the sail almost made Gerðr start but Freyja turned her head and nuzzled the younger mare. It was then that I saw the similarity. Freyja was just a little darker than Gerðr. She was her dam! She had foaled already. This was wyrd.

  Siggi White Hair came forward to bring me some ale and some ham when the oars were stored. "I see you have your treasure."

  "Aye they are beauties. I can start my own herd."

  "What for? We live on an island!"

  "Someday we may not." I did not want to share my dream yet and so I changed the subject. "How was the raid on the abbey?"

  "We have two holy books, much fine linen and two golden crosses. We also found much grain. It was a good raid. We lost no men and the wounds the men suffered were slight. It was the hearth-weru who needed healing. They and the Jarl fought the only warriors in the village. The women we took are all young."

  I looked beyond him to the mast fish. There were ten captives there. They were mainly girls and young women. "Is the Jarl happy with the slaves we have taken?"

  "He is. They all have broad hips. You will need to teach them our words."

  "Brigid can do that too."

  "Aye." He looked south. "I wonder how the Jarl's brother fared."

  "This animosity between the brothers cannot be good, Siggi White Hair. This rivalry divides our people."

  "Aye but it is wyrd. Brothers are always thus. When Gunnstein Thorfinnson realises that he has to walk before he can run, life will return to normal. A Jarl has to learn how to raid and how to lead. Jarl Gunnar learned that with the Dragonheart. He left when he was confident he could raid alone. Do not worry, when he returns with less than he thought he will swallow his pride and raid with us."

  I nodded but I was not too certain. I was no galdramenn but sometimes I sensed things I did not understand. This was one such time. I put those dark thoughts from my head and I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening singing to my two new horses.

  As there was a wooden quay of sorts in the bay where I lived, Sven put in there. The fishermen who had lived there before us had built it so that they could tie up their boats and land their catch. It would make it easier to offload not only horses but also the other animals. When they were landed he would take drekar, with most of the crew, to the place we called Raven Bay. I waited for the captives and other animals to be taken ashore under the supervision of Erik Green Eye and six warriors. Then I mounted Freyja and rode her down the centre of the drekar. When we reached the mast I turned her. It was a short jump to the jetty but, when we jumped, it felt further than it had looked. We landed and I took off her saddle. I went back for Gerðr. She would be a little more nervous but the fact that her mother was on the jetty would make it easier. She halted at the sheerstrake the first time I tried to jump. I smiled as the warriors on the drekar backed off nervously. They knew the effect of a wild hoof.

  I spoke to her gently and backed her a little more. Her mother whinnied as I approached the second time and she jumped cleanly to land on the wooden walkway. The crew cheered and Sven hoisted the sail to take her to Raven Bay. I took off Gerðr's saddle too. I left the saddles on the jetty and led the two mares up the path to my home. Dream Strider had been running free but he must have smelled the mares for, as I approached the haunted farmhouse, he appeared along with Nipper who stood well back from the new horses. He, too, knew the danger of a nervous horse. I had to pull them to the pen I had made for Dream Strider. It was too high for them to jump out. I opened the gate and let them enter. Then I shut the gate to keep out Dream Strider. The two mares had had enough excitement for one day.

  I slipped a halter on him and, as I stroked his neck said, "You will get to meet them by and by. I will ride you when I have fed and watered your new companions."

  I took two wooden pails of grain and bran and put them next to each other in the pen. The water trough was still full. They were both thirsty and drank greedily. I saddled Dream Strider and rode to the village. The drekar had landed and the men were bringing up the sacks of grain and booty we had captured. The captives were huddled fearfully together.

  Erik Green Eye said, "The Jarl asked if you would speak with them, Hrolf. He wants them calmed. They were keening all the way back." I nodded; I had heard them. It had been an eerie sound and it had unsettled the horses.

  I dismounted and let Dream Strider's reins drop. He had been ridden and he was content. I had left my helmet on the drekar but I still had my sword. I took that off and slipped them over my saddle. I approached the women with a smile. When Brigid and the others had first been brought as slaves they had said that my smile made them feel slightly safer and that they liked my soft voice.

  "You have been captured by our warriors but I am here to tell you that you will not be mistreated. None of our warriors will take you against your will. You will serve us on the island. You will work but you will be fed and well treated. There is no escape from this island but you will be safe here. We will not use a yoke and you can move freely but you are captives and, until a warrior chooses you as his woman, you will be used as slaves." I saw their predicament sinking in. I do not know what they had expected but now they knew the reality. "You will need to use our language. I will teach you." I pointed to Brigid and the other women. "All of those were slaves and could not speak our language. Now they can and they are happy. Ask them. They a
re now free. Their captivity did not last long. They can help you speak our words. Until such time as you can speak easily ask me and I will give you the words."

  One of the young women, a little bolder and prettier than the rest put up her hand, "Lord, will you not sell us back to our people?" I noticed that she finer clothes than the others and sat a little apart.

  "What is your name?"

  "I am Mary daughter of Lothair of Reims. He was a noble. Your men killed him but my mother has money. She would buy me back."

  "You should know, Mary, that we have all the gold we need but girls and women are in short supply. None will ask for ransom."

  She pouted. I think she thought it was a defiant gesture. "Then I will throw myself from the rocks!"

  I nodded, "You follow the White Christ. Does that not mean that if you do that you cannot go to heaven? Is it worth that?"

  "I will not lie with an unwashed barbarian!"

  "You do not need to but you will work." I looked at her hands which were soft and smooth. She had not had to do any hard work in her life. "I am afraid it will be hard work."

  She sat down and her face showed resignation and despair. I thought she had been a little selfish. She would have been the only one who would have been ransomed. The rest would still be slaves. I saw resentment on some of their faces.

  "Are there any other questions?"

  Another, a little younger than Mary, put her hand up, "I am Hildegard, daughter of Otto the swineherd. Do we have to call her, my lady?" She jabbed a finger at Mary.

  "You call the Jarl, 'lord', and the men in the village master but what you call each other is not our business."

  She smiled, "Then I am content. Life cannot be any harder here than in our village and at least the men here look like they know how to fight. I would like to learn your words."