by Griff Hosker
"Drop your weapons!"
He was young; he was about the same age as me. He shouted at me, "They will catch you Viking! They know of you! The Count has put up a reward of ten gold pieces for your head!"
I nodded, "Then drop your weapons or I shall kill you where you stand."
He looked surprised, "You will let me live?" I did not answer but he eventually dropped his weapons.
"Now take off your boots and your breeks." He looked surprised but complied. I still had the bow pointing at him. "Now walk east and you shall live." I saw that he was undecided. "You saw what I did to your companions at a range of a hundred paces. Do you think I would miss this close to you? Walk!"
He turned around and began to walk east. The river bent around in a loop and when he was two hundred paces from me and about to disappear I picked up his weapons and put them on Dream Strider. I slung my bow on his saddle and then went to the young man's horse. I spoke quietly to it as I took its reins. "I will not harm you." I slipped onto his back and, taking Dream Strider's reins rode west. I knew that there were no bridges crossing the river. The men of Andecavis could however, cross at the many islands. They made fording slightly easier than where I had attempted it. As I headed west I saw them copying me. The would follow down the river and look for an island. I kicked hard and my new mount responded. I would tire this one out before remounting Dream Strider. Those pursuing me outnumbered me; there were six of them but their horses would be more tired than Dream Strider. In a long race I might win. I still had five arrows left. They would be wary of my bow.
There were no towns or villages on this side of the river but there were farms. However the sight of an armed warrior galloping along the greenway was enough to send them scurrying back into their homes as I passed. I knew that they would sound the alarm but I had seen few villages on the south bank. By the time help came I would be gone... or dead. I saw that I was keeping pace with the horsemen on the north bank. They had been joined by three more. The fact that they were keeping pace told me the effect the ride would be having on their horses. They were tiring for I was now going at a fast pace. They still had to cross the river. As we approached the first of the many islands I saw half of them plunge into the water to cross to the island. I took the opportunity to change horses and I tied the new horse's reins to the back of Dream Strider's saddle. The island hid them from view but also hid me from them. The river was just forty paces wide.
I waited, with an arrow aimed at the island. As the first warrior appeared I sent an arrow which hit him in the chest and threw him from the saddle. I had a second arrow ready as the next warrior appeared. He tried to hide behind his horse's head. At fifty paces I had a big target and my second arrow hit him in the thigh. I did not see the other three and I kicked Dream Strider on. I would put as much space between us as I could. I knew that they would struggle to rise from the water. They would also be cautious because of my arrows. They did not know how perilously short of them I was. They would ride together and hope to catch me unawares.
The greenway was firm underfoot and we made good time. When I spied the island where I had left the drekar my spirits soared and then plummeted as I realised that the drekar's mast could not be seen. I deluded myself into believing that they had stepped the mast. As I neared the western end of the island I saw that just the fishing boat was there. The drekar had not arrived. Perhaps they had struck trouble.
I dismounted and allowed a thirsty Dream Strider to drink from the river. I tied my captive horse's reins around the saddle and then broke a spiky branch from a riverside bush. "I am sorry for this." I lifted the saddle and placed the spiky thorns beneath. As I dropped the saddle I slapped his rump and he took off as though stung. The thorns dug into his flesh and he galloped down the greenway. I took Dream Strider's reins and slapped his rump. He jumped into the river, almost pulling the reins from my hand. I held on and kept pulling on the right rein to keep him heading for the island which was just twenty paces from me. Undisturbed by man it was covered in thick luxuriant foliage, Dream Strider scrambled up and I followed. We quickly vanished into the undergrowth. Leaving my horse I ran to the southern end of the island and in one slash of my sword severed the rope tethering the fishing boat. It began to drift with the current and headed downstream.
"What are you doing?" Olaf the Bear suddenly appeared from a bush in which he had been watching.
I pushed Olaf to the ground under a bush as the three horsemen's horses approached. They saw the boat speeding down the river and one shouted, "There he is! After him!"
I waited until they had disappeared around the bend in the river before I stood and allowed Olaf to stand. "That was our way off this island! The Jarl has not come! We are trapped."
I led him back to my horse. "Where are the others?"
"In the middle. They are hiding."
"Lead me to them. Are they all safe?"
"Sigtrygg Red Hair weakens."
"Did you take the bolt from him?"
He shook his head. "We had not the skill."
I had forgotten that this crew was young. "That is why he weakens." I followed him and discovered their improvised camp. They were lying in a clearing in the middle of the island. They rose when I entered. Olaf the Bear pointed accusingly at me, "He let the boat go!"
I shook my head, "If you wished to use it again you should have hidden it. I saw it. There are men searching for you. They would have found it." I went to Sigtrygg. He was sleeping but he was hot. The wound in his shoulder was red, inflamed and angry. "This needs cleansing. Find me maggots."
A bolt is not barbed like an arrow. A barbed arrow tears flesh when you pull it out. Often the only way to remove it is to break the flights and push it through. A bolt could be pulled clear. I got a good grip on it and jerked it out. His body arced and he opened his eyes in shock. Pus and blood poured out. The flesh was beginning to blacken and it did not smell good. If I did not act quickly then he could die. If it had been in his arm or his leg I would have amputated. I did not have that luxury.
Erik Long Hair said, "Are you not going to stem the flow of blood?"
"It needs cleansing. The blood will take some of the bad from the wound. If I could then I would have burned it but we cannot afford a fire. Men still seek us. Here take my helmet and fetch me water to wash it."
Sigtrygg said weakly, "If I am to die give me a sword, Hrolf."
"You are not going to die! At least not yet. If I think you will die then I will give you your sword. Close your eyes and rest."
Erik returned with the water and I poured it over the wound. The blood flowed clear. I lifted his body and saw that the bolt had not gone all the way through. That was good. There was some moss on a rock and I took it and packed it into the wound. I had seen Aiden, Dragonheart's galdramenn do this. It slowed down the bleeding and it seemed to have something in it which helped to heal wounds.
Olaf The Bear returned with a handful of squirming maggots. "There was a dead bird yonder."
"Good. I need a cloth to bind this." Lifting the moss I packed the maggots underneath. Erik handed me a piece of cloth. It was none too clean but the moss would help. I tied it around the wound.
I saw that all of them were looking at me. They were expecting me to perform another miracle and conjure the drekar.
"Why were there no guards watching? I could have been a Frank, slipped ashore and you would all be captured."
Erik Long Hair said, defensively, "We watched the boat."
I shook my head, "There are men searching for us on both sides of the river. Einar and Karl one watch the south bank and one the north."
Olaf The Bear said, belligerently, "Who are you to order us?"
Erik smacked him on the side of the head, "He is the warrior who risked his life to save ours and is the only one who seems to know what to do." He turned to the other two, "Go, we will relieve you before too long."
I stood and went to Dream Strider's saddlebags. There were two loaves left. They w
ere a little stale. They were a couple of days old but these men needed food. A lack of food made it hard to think and I needed these to be able to think and do as I ordered when the time came. I broke one into four and handed a piece to each of the two sentries.
"Thank you Hrolf." Karl looked at Olaf. "Forgive Olaf, his brother was one of those executed. What of the others?"
"Others?"
"The ones who brought word that we were captured."
"No one came. This was Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson's decision and the clan of the Raven Wing agreed to the rescue."
The two of them went to their sentry post. Olaf The Bear said, "So when you came you did not know where we were?"
"No. I spent two days travelling up the river in the hope of finding you but when I found the body of Sven Dragon Arm I feared the worst."
"Then I am sorry for my words. I thought we had been abandoned by Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson."
"Then you do not know him. He was angry with his young brother but he would not leave him to die. He will be saddened by his death."
"Why is the Jarl not here yet?"
"I know not. He will come but we must be ready to fight. Do you all have a weapon?" They each held up one. Finni's was a dagger. I gave him the sword I had taken from the Frank I had captured. "Here." He balanced it in his hand. A Viking is always happier when he has a sword in his hand. "Now they will find us. Let us not be in any doubt about that. When they find the empty boat and the horse I freed they will know that we are between the hunters and Andecavis. They will search every piece of cover. This was the last place they saw me and where they spied the boat. We have to be ready to fight them until 'Raven's Wing' comes sailing up the river."
Thrand the Bold said, "They will not take me prisoner again. If I have to fight them with tooth and claw I will do so. Had you not come for us...."
"Then the lime you used would have killed you."
They stared at me, "Truly?"
"Aye, Erik Long Hair. The guards were laying bets as to who would die first. Because you had a bad leg the Captain of the Guard put money on you."
"I wish they were here to kill again!"
"We are Vikings. We can expect no other death than a cruel one. They are terrified of us. I spoke with them. They accuse of everything from eating babies to drinking the blood of babies. It is what happens to people who are terrified. They exaggerate the fear."
Night fell and I sent Thrand and Finni to relieve the others. I heard horses moving up the river banks and saw the flicker of fire as they used torches to hunt us. Sigtrygg began to moan in his sleep at one point. I lay with my hands over his mouth to dampen the sounds. The noises vanished up river. They had missed the island in the dark but dawn would rectify that error.
Dawn brought us no relief. We had eaten the last of the food. We had river water but Sigtrygg needed a healer. I was also worried about Erik Long Hair's leg. That too looked to be inflamed. It was Dream Strider who warned us of danger. He did not whinny but he stamped his foot. I knew my horse well enough to react quickly. I crept to the north bank. Einar had fallen asleep. I shook him awake and pointed to the shore. There were ten or twelve men on horses and they were pointing at the island. More riders were coming from the east. There were also men with crossbows and spears. They had found us.
"Keep watch."
I hurried back to the camp and grabbed my bow. "Leave Sigtrygg here, put a dagger in his hand. His wound may not kill him but the Franks will. Bring your weapons. One of you bring the shield from my horse. The Franks are come."
They nodded and followed me back. I had precious few arrows left. I would have to use the last ones judiciously. When I reached Einar I saw that the horsemen were preparing to enter the water. There were four crossbows waiting for us to raise our heads. The river was wider on this side; eighty paces and it was deep in the middle. I knew that from when I had left the drekar all those days ago. There was plenty of water beneath the drekar's keel. I sheltered behind a willow. I could see the river through the curtain of leaves and thin branches. If I did not move then I would be hard to see. They would have to swim. I saw that they had two men who might be leaders. One had a plume in his helmet. His oval shield had a design upon it. It was red diamonds on a white background. The same design was on another warrior but he did not have the plume.
I waited until the noble with the plume was fifty paces from shore and I sent an arrow through a gap in the leaves and into his face. He rolled off his horse which continued to swim. Four bolts thudded into the tree. They were wasted missiles. It would take them time to reload. I took my second arrow and aimed at the man who urged them forward. As he raised his right arm my arrow hit him in the side and he clutched at the wound. With only two arrows left I chose the two closest targets. They would be the bravest. I hit one in the shoulder and the second in the thigh. My bow was useless now. I slung it over my shoulder and drew my sword. I turned to the others, "Stay hidden. When the horses try to land the crossbows will be unsighted. Charge the horsemen when they try to struggle ashore. Listen for my order to fall back."
They nodded. The looks on their faces told me that they would not run. As I had found, landing on the island was not easy. The water was as deep as a man's leg close to the island. The riders had to try to keep control of their horse as they did so. Two of them had managed to clamber up when I rushed forward between them. Their hands were on their reins. I used my new sword with two hands and I hacked at the leg of the horseman to my right. I cut through to the saddle and into the leather of his girth. His horse reared and pulled them both back into the water. The horseman to my left tried to draw his sword. I brought my own diagonally in a long sweep. I hacked into his arm, sliced along his leg and then cut his horse. It reared. I saw that another eight warriors were half way across the river. The crossbows would have a clear target.
"Fall back! Now."
Karl had the shield and he backed off last. Two bolts smacked into the shield and one penetrated it. Karl grinned, "I shall have to be Karl the Lucky now!"
I hoped that he would live long enough to be given the new nickname. "Move closer to the camp and take cover. Stay hidden until we can spring an ambush." I contemplated mounting Dream Strider but that would be cruel for my new comrades might think I was abandoning them. We would fight and, if necessary, die together.
I heard the Franks calling to each other. "Spread out in a circle! We know there are just eight of them." I did not translate for it would sap whatever courage they had left. The horses made a great deal of noise as they moved through the undergrowth seeking us. We had no mail to speak of and they were well armed, well fed and mounted. The odds were in their favour. Thrand broke first. He raced out to attack a horseman who was just four paces from him. Although his sword hacked into the leg of the Frank another appeared behind him and thrust his spear into him. Thrand roared and, even though mortally wounded, turned and drove his sword into the side of his killer.
That seemed to be the signal for the rest to become berserkers. They charged from hiding and I was forced to follow. I heard a Frankish horn. It seemed to be in the river. I knew that meant reinforcements. We would have a glorious death. Olaf the Bear used his axe well and smashed it into the skull of a horse. As the horse was falling Olaf leapt on its corpse and began to hack at the rider. I swung my sword sideways into the leg of a horseman. It seemed the most effective blow for they wore no mail on them. As he tumbled from his horse I saw a warrior raise his spear to strike into the back of Erik Long Hair. I smacked the rump of the horse before me with my blade and it leapt between the spear and Erik. I ran after. I jumped in the air and brought my sword down to cut through to the backbone of the spearman. The horn sounded again and the Franks who remained turned to flee. We had blood in our heads and vengeance in our hearts. The wounded Franks were butchered. I looked around and saw that Karl lay unconscious and Knut nursed a badly bleeding arm.
"Ready! They will rally and come again. Put the wounded with Sigtrygg."
Finni asked, "Can we hold them again?"
Olaf snorted, "Why would you surrender?"
The two wounded were pulled to safety and then the five of us who remained stood in a tight circle. I heard noises as men came through the bushes. They were not using horses this time. They were on foot. I braced myself for the strike of a bolt.
"Ready! Let us sell our lives dearly!"
A face appeared through the bushes and I prepared to bring down my sword. Siggi White Hair laughed, "Not yet, Hrolf the Horseman, not yet. We are late but we are come!"
Chapter 6
The wounded were taken on board first. There were questions to be answered from all sides but the priority was to escape the horsemen. The crossbows had been driven off by our archers but as the horsemen had ridden in the direction of Nantes I knew that there would be trouble ahead. Thrand's comrades carried his body on board. He would be buried on Raven Wing Island. My priority was loading Dream Strider. He could not leap aboard as he had disembarked. Ulf and Siggi White Hair helped me to fell six trees and, after stripping away the branches and tying them together, we made a gangplank for him. He boarded as calmly as you like and I led him to the prow.
"Cast off!" The level of the river was lower this time and Sven was unable to sail around the island. Instead he had to turn the drekar around in the river. It was not as hard to do thanks to the excellent crew who worked together. Once we faced downstream Sven shouted, "In oars! Unfurl the sail!"
The Jarl shouted, "Arm yourselves!" The river would take us to the sea without the need for oars but we would need to protect ourselves from the bolts.
I found my shield and I grabbed a handful of arrows. Ulf picked up his bow and joined me. "You did well my young friend. I thought I had seen the last of you when you left the drekar."