by Griff Hosker
Some of the others nodded and said , 'Aye'. I noticed that they moved further away from the noble's daughter, Mary.
I spent the time it took the crew to unload the drekar teaching them the basic words and telling them the names of those who would be in charge of them. Night had fallen and the fires had been lit. Brigid had come over while I was speaking. I knew that she wished a word and I nodded. She spoke a little Frank and she said to the slaves, "Work hard and obey orders and life will be good. Do any of you know how to make ale?"
One girl of about twelve summers put up her hand.
"Who are you?"
"I am Emma and my mother makes ale. I have watched her."
"Then Emma, you can work with me." The slave jumped up and she had a huge smile on her face. For her life would be almost the same. She would be used to obeying orders. Instead of her mother it would now be Brigid.
Jarl Gunnar arrived and I said, "I have told them that they are slaves. Most are resigned to their fate."
"Good." He turned to me. "Ketil told me how you stopped those scouts. Thank you Hrolf. Your skills have aided us again."
"I am glad to be of some use, Jarl."
We ate a basic meal and the slaves were put into a hut we kept for them. I was about to return to my home when there was a commotion and two of the slaves came tumbling out. Hildegard and Mary had come to blows. They each had hunks of the other's hair in their hands and I saw bite marks on Mary's arm. Siggi White Hair strode over and bodily separated them. They were both sobbing but Mary, even though she was the elder, looked to be the most distressed. Siggi looked at me and I shrugged. "The one with the bite on her arm was the daughter of the lord. The other resented her. I fear they will take things out on her."
Jarl Gunnar had appeared along with some of the women and they had heard my words to Siggi. Brigid said, "Lord, I will house her in my home for a while but I am not certain if she has any skills which we can use. Perhaps it might be as well if we sold her back to her people."
I walked over to her and said, "What did you do in your father's hall?" She was still sobbing and I said, quietly, "Take your time. You will not have to share the hut with others, not for a while anyway. Brigid will care for you. What did you do?"
She seemed to breathe a little easier when I said that and she said, "I helped to teach others to read." That would not be a skill we would need.
"And was there anything else which you did well?"
"And I sewed with my mother. We made tapestries."
I smiled, "She can sew. That is a useful skill."
Brigid and the Jarl smiled, "It is indeed. In the morning take her to old Seara. She could do with some help." Seara was a slave we had brought on an earlier raid from the land of the Saxons. She was older than the ones we normally brought but we had discovered that she could sew and make clothes. Those unmarried warriors paid her to make them kyrtles and cloaks. She was however old and her eyes had been failing of late.
I turned back to Mary, "Tomorrow you will be taken to Seara who will watch over you. You will sew."
She took my hand and kissed it. "Thank you, master."
"I was a slave once amongst your people. I know how you feel but you will find that life goes on. This is your god's way of testing you."
I rode home in the dark but Dream Strider and I knew the path well. I heard my two mares whinny as we approached and Dream Strider responded. "Tonight you sleep in your stable tomorrow you and your mares can become acquainted."
For some reason I slept well for I felt contented. The population of our island was growing but, more importantly, my dream was coming to fruition. I was up before dawn. I went down to the quay and fetched the saddles. I placed them in the manger above the stalls. The mares would not need them for a while. I finished off the last of my ale and ate some stale bread and cheese. I did not even taste it for I was eager to see how my herd got on with each other. Dream Strider was equally keen and he stamped in his stall. I took him out and let him drink from the pail. I then went to the pen and opened it. This was all new to me but instinctively I knew I had to give them the freedom to get to know each other. As soon as I opened the gate the two mares bolted. We were on an island and they could go nowhere. Dream Strider reared and then took off after them. It was only then I realised how much bigger than the two mares he was. His hooves ate up the ground as he followed them. They would return.
I set off for the village. I needed more ale and some bread. I was also keen to see how the slaves had settled in. I knew that my language skills would be in great demand. The village was a hive of activity. We had a barn where we stored our grain. It was off the ground to prevent the rats from feasting upon it. The slaves were busy moving the sacks of grain we had captured. There were many jobs we could now do. With the increased number of slaves we were able to harvest more salt from the sea. The island had few beaches but there were areas we had used to turn sea water into salt. We had built dams so that the sea water did not flow back to the sea but dried, over time, in pans. The salt was placed in sacks. It was a time consuming task to cart the sacks of salt up from the shore to the village. The Jarl had his men organise that. At the same time there were more homes needed and there were many warriors helping to build the wooden houses with turf supported walls and roofs. Brigid and her new assistant were boiling up great vats of beer. We had the grain and our supplies needed increasing. Bagsecg was already sorting out the weapons and mail which could be repaired and would be reused.
As I passed he said, "I still need some boys to work my bellows. Girls tire too quickly."
I shrugged, "I will speak with the jarl but we take what we find. Many of the boys in the places we raid either run off or choose to fight and then they die. But I will watch out the next time we raid.
I went, first, to see the Jarl. I had my share of the raid to come. The coins I had taken and the weapons from the dead warrior were mine for I had killed him alone. That which we had taken from the village was to be shared. The Jarl took one third as was his right. He gave some of his share to the hearth-weru. The other two thirds were shared between the warriors who had raided. My two horses would be deducted from my share. Even so I was given two chickens and a small purse of silver. With that which I had got for myself it would do. I was becoming richer. I had my horde buried in my home.
I went to the baker and bought enough bread for the week. Then I went to see Erik and his wife, Brigid. "I have run out of beer, Brigid. I need a firkin."
She nodded, "If you can wait until this evening I have a new batch I am making. I roasted some barley while you were raiding. It will be a strong dark ale. Do you want it watered?"
"No, Brigid. I have a spring by my home. I can water that which I need."
"That will be five silver coins but I need the barrel back when you have finished. They do not grow on trees."
I saw a mischievous look on her husband's face. "Actually, my love, they do grow on trees but they need a cooper to make them!"
She threw a wet cloth at him as she laughed, "One armed fool! Do something useful, mark Hrolf's barrel."
As he went to do so I said, "How are the slaves?"
"You mean the high and mighty one?" I nodded. "She slept and she seems happy to be with Seara. I still think we would have been better to sell her back. This will cause bad feeling with the men of Neustria. The Count will want back this daughter of a noble."
"Perhaps but they do not have ships and they war with the men of Vannes and the people twixt us. I noticed that they had few animals. I think they have been raided from across the river."
Brigid wiped her hands on her apron and stood looking at me. "I came from Hibernia; I know not the people of Frankia." She smiled. "Is there one among the slaves whom Hrolf the Handsome would take to his bed?"
"I have enough to contend with just surviving. I now have three horses besides I am still young."
"There are many younger who are fathers yet! Many of the women here would happily take yo
u to their beds Hrolf! You are well thought of!"
"I will know when the time is right." I was uncomfortable talking like this. "I had better see if there are any tasks for my horse."
Emma the slave, was stirring the mash and she smiled as I passed. She spoke to me in Norse, "Good morning Hrolf the Horseman!"
I smiled, "Well done! You have learned some of our words."
She reverted to Frankish as she added, "I could learn much from you, master. If you need a slave to work in your home and keep it organised for you I would be willing to be your thrall."
"That is not your choice, Emma, nor mine. You have a skill and you are using it. Be content."
She looked disappointed. "I am happy for you to take me, master. You said that we would be sought after by the men of the village. You are less hairy and smelly than most."
I shook my head, "I am not yet looking for a woman. I thank you for the offer. There are many young men looking for women to bear them children. Look for the ones with warrior bands on their wrists. They are rich and good warriors!"
She looked sad, "I think I would prefer someone gentle with a shaven face, like you."
"That cannot be. Choose another."
I left my bread and ale with Erik while I sought out my horses. I tramped back to my home and found all three of them on the headland contentedly chewing the grass. Dream Strider came to greet me and his mares followed. I had a herd. I saddled my stallion and headed back to the village. To my surprise the two mares followed. As we entered the gates the villagers stopped and stared. I dismounted at Brigid's hut. "This is good Hrolf the Horseman. We now have three horses to fetch and carry. Perhaps I will see if I can afford to buy one from you. If I had a cart it would make my life easier." She nodded towards Erik One Hand, "Especially with a one handed husband!"
"I hope that they will breed. When they do it will be easier to train a foal to pull a cart. These are used to being ridden."
Erik was intrigued, "How will you get the barrel, the grain and the bread home?"
"Balance." I handed Freyja's reins to him. "This one is strong. I will tie the barrel to one side of her and the grain to the other. The weight will balance out. It is not far. It would be better if she was trained to the cart but she is not. The younger one can carry the bread."
It took some time but eventually I rode home, very slowly. I had tied ropes to the two mares and they followed. When we reached our home I could see it had taken much out of Freyja. "I am sorry I worked you so hard." After I had unloaded them I went to my apple store and brought out four apples. I gave them to the mares. As it was a pleasant and cloudless night I put the three of them in the pen. I would have to build two more stalls in my stables but that could wait until the leaves began to fall.
After I had eaten I took a horn of the ale out to the headland and looked at the land of Vannes just across the short stretch of water. I wondered why the Jarl had not visited with the Count. It would be better to have our nearest neighbours as allies. I knew that they often fought with the Franks. It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. I was not Jarl. I was one of the youngest of his warriors. He made those decisions and not me.
Chapter 3
Like the other warriors who had land or animals to tend I had task to perform when we were at home. The sheep and chickens needed little care but my horses did. I began to gather the wood I would need for the stalls. I made sure that I rode a different horse each time I sought the wood and I chose a different part of the island to hew the trees. Wood would soon become scarce. We would outgrow this small island soon enough. It took me some time to both gather the wood and then work it so that I could use it. I added two stalls to the stable. When Erik, Rurik and I had built the stables we had allowed for expansion. I had dreams. Thus it was six days before I returned to the village. I walked, for my herd seemed to want to be together. They were a family.
As I reached the gate Rurik accosted me, "The Jarl is worried about his brother. He says he should have returned before now." I agreed with the Jarl but I said nothing. "Siggi White Hair and Ulf had words with him. They say that it is Gunnstein's own fault that he went off alone."
"Does the Jarl wish to go and find him?"
He nodded, "It is a hard choice. If Gunnstein has found trouble then they will be watching for another drekar. Siggi White Hair said we could end up losing all because of a headstrong wastrel."
I shook my head. Siggi White Hair was always forthright. He was much older than the Jarl and sometimes he was impatient with our leader's decisions. I think Siggi thought of the Jarl as the son he never had. He wanted him to be the best he could be. I went with Rurik to the hall. It was a pleasant day and men were outside talking. Everyone had an opinion. I heard raised voices. Some remembered the arguments between the two crews and thought that this was wyrd. Others said that Gunnstein had come to join us and we had been grateful for his help when we had fought Hermund the Bent. I could see the arguments on both sides. I kept silent as I watched. This was not a Thing where there were rules. This was a clan arguing amongst themselves. We were oathsworn to the Jarl but we were warriors and men had opinions.
I could see that the Jarl was becoming angry. His hearth-weru were also becoming nervous and fingered their weapons. The Jarl stood, "'Raven Wing' is my drekar! If I decide we will seek my brother then we will do so!"
Silence fell. This was not like our Jarl. The jarl was rarely autocratic. He liked to hear opinions. If he had to judge a matter he did so fairly but he never imposed his will upon us. Something like this required a Thing. He was behaving like a king or a lord. We followed him by choice. For myself I was quite willing to seek out the errant brother but I knew that there were many like Siggi White Hair and Eystein One Eye who did not.
Siggi White Hair stood and weighed his words, "Can you sail 'Raven Wing' with your hearth-weru, Sven and the ship's boys, Jarl?" It was said with respect and calmly but the threat was obvious.
"Do you stir up contention, Siggi White Hair?"
Such an act was against the rules by which we lived and Siggi White Hair shook his head. "No Jarl; I ask because I for one will not risk my life to sail after a foolish and arrogant youth who probably lies dead along the Liger." He spread his arms. "I do not doubt that there are many others who feel the same."
I watched as the hearth-weru gathered around the Jarl. This was almost a rebellion. One or two of the clan stood by him but the majority stood by Siggi White Hair. The clan was about to fall apart. If swords were drawn then it would be a bloodbath. The Jarl and his followers would die but then so would many other members of the clan.
I had decided to keep silent but now I saw that I could not. I stepped between the two groups. "We are in danger of falling out and destroying this family. That is not good." The two sides stared at me but I could see hands were still on swords. It was like a forest fire which has almost gone out but a small spark remains and just needs a breeze to fan it. "I am a new member of this clan but, since I left the Dragonheart, you have become my family." I saw hands relax at the mention of the Viking hero. I had fought with him and served him. That bought me some time to speak. "I agree with Siggi White Hair that it would be irresponsible to risk our ship searching for someone who may be already dead." I had appeased some but the Jarl's eyes narrowed as he glared at me. "On the other hand Gunnstein Thorfinnson and his men fought with us and helped to defeat Hermund the Bent. We cannot forget that. I suggest a compromise."
Every hand went from their swords as they considered my words. There were quizzical looks as they wondered what I had come up with and they had not. Every man woman and child in the clan was watching me. They had been drawn by the heated debate. I felt naked and exposed.
The Jarl said, "Speak. You have my interest."
I took a deep breath, "How well do you know your brother?"
"What?"
"If you wish us to find him and sail 'Raven Wing' to seek him where do we look? The Liger is a long river. Do we look upstre
am or downstream? The north bank or the south bank? If we sail blindly then we are doomed Jarl. We will all die."
He had not considered that. I saw him chew his lip. "You are right, Hrolf, I should try to think like my brother. I cannot believe that he would risk attacking Nantes for the Count Of Vannes regards that as his city. " He rubbed his chin and then looked into my eyes. I willed him to speak that which was in his heart. "Our greatest treasure came when we raided Andecavis. He will try to outdo me and attack that city!"
Siggi White Hair said, "Then he is dead! We barely escaped with our lives! He grounded his ship in the river there. He would be a fool if he did so."
"Nonetheless, Siggi White Hair, if this was your brother would you not wish to find out?"
Siggi White Hair nodded but I could see that he was not convinced that we should all risk our lives on what would probably be a wasted chase.
"Then here is my compromise." Every eye was fixed on me. Every ear heard my words. "If we sail past Nantes then you can land me and my horse, Dream Strider. I will ride to Andecavis. I can speak the language of the Franks. If I go dressed as a Frank then I can go into the city and find out his fate. The clan can wait in safety. It will be me alone who takes the risk."
Siggi White Hair turned, "Why would you do this?"
"Because this is my clan and this threatens to tear us apart. I am but one warrior. My loss would not harm us but, if I succeeded then we would be as one again."
Ulf Big Nose came over and put his arm around me. "A fine gesture, Hrolf but one doomed to failure."
"How so? You taught me how to scout."
"You would have to get into an enemy city and if the Jarl's brother is there then they will be wary of strangers. If you did find them what could you do? Could Dream Strider carry them all back?"
I looked at the Jarl. "I could return to the Jarl and the clan. I could tell them of the fate of Gunnstein Thorfinnson."
Siggi White Hair asked, "And if you found no news?"
"Then that would eliminate one place we had to search. It is my own life and that of my horse which I risk. I ask no man to put his own life in danger."