by Griff Hosker
Ulf stopped when we were another three hundred paces deeper into the forest. When he looked up I saw him frown. He whirled around and pointed to the north east. I had an arrow ready and Siggi White Hair and Rurik spun around with their spears held before them. Audun the Unlucky lived up to his name. He looked at us in amazement when we reacted and it was only when he heard the roar and the sound of the charging boar that he turned. It was too late. Even as he thrust his boar spear forward and caught the animal a glancing blow to his shoulder his guts were being torn out by the vicious tusks.
Even though I knew it was too late for him I loosed an arrow. I did not aim at the boar's head. The skin was thick and the skull was hard to pierce. My arrow hit its shoulder. Arne and Ulf also managed two hits with their arrows but it was Arne and Siggi White Hair, working together who brought us victory. They rammed their spears into the tiny eyes of the boar. They pushed hard and the beast twitched and then expired.
Rolf Ragmunsson had raced to the side of his friend, Audun, but he was already dead. Ulf shook his head. "The hunt is no place for those who know not what they are doing. We will have to return now."
Siggi White Hair said, "Aye, Arne and Rolf, make a bier for Audun. Ulf will lead us back and Hrolf can watch our backs."
It was a sad end to our hunt. The day was half over as we trudged down to the river and the drekar. The Jarl was not back yet but the others had felled many trees and already two rafts were almost ready to be towed. Harold Fast Sailing said, "Two rafts of this size are as much as we can tow. By the time we are ready it will be late afternoon."
Sven and Siggi nodded. In the Jarl's absence they made the decisions. Ulf said, "We will put Audun on the drekar. He was truly unlucky. We will bury him on our island. It is right."
The Jarl had been more fortunate than us. He must have stumbled upon the herd led by the boar we had slain. He had three females and two young pigs. With his two deer and ours it had, Audun's death excepted, been a good hunt. We were sombre as we loaded the dead animals and prepared to row home. Ulf said, "Hrolf take Rurik and go and watch the trail. It would not do to be stumbled upon."
"Aye."
"I will whistle when it is time to leave."
We headed back into the forest. When we were a thousand steps from the river we halted and stood on either side of the path, each of us behind a tree. I glanced down and saw a discarded arrow. It was one of Vermund's. He was hearth-weru. He had stained the feathers on his arrows red. He could afford to do that for he rarely used his bow. I picked it up. I would return it. Neither of us spoke because we did not wish to alert any warriors who were out hunting. We had just heard the whistle and were about to return when I heard the sound of steps racing through the forest. I risked a glance around a tree. There was a slave running towards us. I knew he was a slave for he wore a yoke. He looked to be no more than nine or ten summers old. Two men were hurtling after him. There was no way we could avoid being seen for they were coming straight down the path towards us. I nodded to Rurik. We stepped out after the slave had passed us and sent my red fletched arrow into the chest of the leading warrior. Rurik slew the other. All our plans to avoid detection had failed. Wyrd.
The boy had stopped and he stared at us. I smiled, "What is your name?"
The fact that I spoke in his language seemed to put him at his ease; that and the fact that I smiled for he answered, "Guillaume."
"Why were you running?"
"Hrolf!"
"Patience Rurik. Carry one body back to the drekar and I will follow." Rurik picked up the warrior he had slain and his weapons.
"They whipped Theobald."
"Theobald?"
"The horse I tend. I took a hot poker and burned my lord's hand. I was angry that they hurt the old horse. He sent his sons after me."
I made a decision there and then. "Would you come with us and be free?"
He nodded, "Aye, lord!"
"I am no lord. Pick up their weapons and come with me."
I slung the dead man over my shoulder and headed down the path. When I reached the river the Jarl and Siggi were on the bank with Rurik. They did not look pleased. "What happened?"
"The boy was pursued by these two men. If we had not slain them then they would have stumbled upon us. There was no way to avoid it but it was not of Rurik's doing. This was my choice." I pointed to the boy. "This is a slave and he would join us as a free man."
The Jarl nodded, "Wyrd. Get on board. We will dispose of the bodies at sea."
I turned to Guillaume, "Climb aboard. I will follow."
The man was literally a dead weight and I was glad to drop him next to the other dead warrior. I had to take my place at the oars for with the logs we were towing the sails needed all the help they could get until we reached the open sea. As we rowed Siggi laughed, "Only you could turn a simple sentry duty into something like this."
"What else could I have done?"
Rurik said, "Hrolf is right. They would have seen us or you. A hundred paces from where we slew them they would have seen the drekar's masts. This was the work of the Norns."
Siggi White Hair nodded, "It was wyrd."
The Jarl and his hearth-weru stripped the bodies. Ulf sliced off their heads and threw them and their bodies over the side. The odds that any part of either would return to shore were slim. As we neared our island the wind was strong enough for us to stop rowing for a while. I took the opportunity of going to Guillaume who stood fearfully by the mast. I took out my seax and his eyes widened. I smiled and said, "I am freeing you that is all," as I cut him free from his yoke. His neck was red raw. I pulled his loose shirt from his back and saw the criss cross of healed scars. I did not doubt that I would be in trouble for my actions but I had done a good thing. I would stand by my actions.
The Jarl said ,"What will you do with him?"
"I told him he is free."
Siggi shook his head, "If he lives on our island how is he free Hrolf? Is he free to starve? Who will look after him? He is too young to fend for himself."
I had not thought of that. I had stopped a slave being hurt. That was my sole intention. Ulf Big Nose said, "This was wyrd. You are clever Hrolf. The Norns sent this boy into your path not ours. There must be a purpose to it." He suddenly frowned, "Why were they chasing the boy? Had he escaped?"
"They wished to punish him. He had attacked his master."
Jarl Gunnar shook his head, "Then he may not be trustworthy. Perhaps we should just land him on a beach in Frankia."
I shook my head, "No, Jarl. He fled because they hurt the horse he tended. He stood up for the beast."
The three of them all smiled and then Siggi started to laugh, "I have never known such a clever warrior as you, Hrolf the Horseman and yet sometimes you cannot see what is plainly before you."
"I do not understand."
"He cares for horses. He is a Frank. You are the horseman and the one who speaks his language. The Norns could not have been any plainer. They have sent him to you. Prove it to yourself. Ask him if he wishes to care for your three horses."
I beckoned over the boy. He looked apprehensive as he made his way through the Raven Clan warriors. We were a frightening band especially to someone who had never seen one and only heard the stories of what they did. I could see in his eyes that he wondered if his fate was to be the same as those who had chased him. The only words he understood were mine. I smiled, "Guillaume they call me Hrolf the Horseman. I live alone but I have three horses. When you are free would you tend my horses for me? I will pay you."
His eyes lit up and his face broke into a broad grin, "Master I need no payment. I will care for your horses and gladly."
Siggi White Hair had not understood one word but he clapped me on the back. "His face tells all. The Weird Sisters use him and they use you. Hrolf the Horseman, you walk a precarious path."
Sven sailed the drekar into our bay. It was dark by the time we lowered the sail but our work was not yet done. Not only did we have the dead
animals to be taken ashore we had the monumental task of making sure that the logs were well above the high water line. It would not do to have a sudden storm undo all the work of the axe men and take the wood as a sacrifice to Ran. We were bone weary when the last logs were pulled high up the beach. I would have to bring my horses the next day and we would haul them to the village.
We carried the animals and Audun's body up to the village. Guillaume walked close by me. This was a strange dark place to him. I did not blame him for being fearful. As we neared the village Erik One Arm came to greet us. "Jarl, the slave Mary, she has run away. We cannot find her."
"We are weary and it is dark. She can go nowhere. When we have fetched the logs tomorrow then we shall search for her."
I remembered my conversation with her. She did not know the island and, noble born, she did not have the skills to survive for long on her own. "But Jarl there are dangerous places. She might have fallen to her death on the rocks!"
Siggi White Hair said, "Then if so it is wyrd. She may have decided to take her own life. She was not happy."
I shook my head, "She is a follower of the White Christ. She would not do that."
"Hrolf we search not this night. That is my command. We will search tomorrow. She is a slave. Take the boy and get some rest."
Siggi nodded, "The Jarl is right, Hrolf. The boy needs his rest."
I was defeated. I nodded and took the boy by the hand. His grip told me of his fear. He needed reassurance. "Where were you taken as a slave?"
"I lived on the Issicauna with my family. My sister, mother and I were taken by the men of the Count of Vannes. I was given to my master. It was he gave me the name Guillaume."
"That is not your name?"
He shook his head, "I know not my real name for I was the youngest and teased. It may have been Gille but I cannot remember it was so long ago but Gille was the name of my father. My mother called me 'sweetheart' and my sisters, 'runt'. They meant it not unkindly."
"Did you know that we are Vikings?"
"I guessed that you were. The others all look fierce and frightening."
"They are not. They are men like any others but they fight hard. We give each other names. The one with the white hair, the older man is called Siggi White Hair. Erik is One Arm. You will have a new name. For now it will be Gille. That may be the name that your mother gave you and is shorter than Guillaume anyway. What say you?"
"I like Gille. Thank you master."
"And I am not master. I am Hrolf." I heard barking. "And that would be Nipper."
He looked up, "Nipper?"
My dog bounded out of the dark. He had grown since I had first had him and was now a powerful dog. He stood before Gille and bared his teeth. "Nipper! Sit!" He obeyed but his teeth were still bared. I reached into my pouch and took some dried meat I kept there. I took out a piece and gave it to Gille. "Put this on the flat of your hand and present it to the dog." He looked dubious. "Be brave. This will make him your friend." The boy extended his hand slowly. Nipper stopped baring his teeth as he smelled the meat. He sniffed and then took the treat. He licked Gille's hand. "Now you are friends. He will watch over you as he watches over me and my horses."
We walked the last hundred or so paces to my home and the horses whinnied. Gille let go of my hand and ran to the sound. I let him greet them alone. They would judge him as they had me. If they liked him then all would be well. By the time I reached them Freyja was licking his head and he was stroking Dream Strider. "Thank you Hrolf! It is as though I have died and gone to heaven. This is perfect."
"I know, Gille. It is wyrd."
I did not sleep well that night. After I had finally persuaded Gille to leave the horses and curl up in my home I tried to sleep but I worried about Mary. Had I done enough? I was the only one she could talk to and I had walked away and left her. I must have fallen asleep but I woke myself with a jerk before dawn and rose. I walked down to the sea, stripped off and swam to clear my head and my thoughts. Nipper ran with me. He enjoyed the water too. It is strange the way the gods and the Norns shape our thoughts. The icy cold of Ran's world helped me to clear my head. It swept away the fog and the mist, the doubts and the uncertainties. I knew where she would be. I thanked Ran and then waded from the water. I picked up my clothes and ran up to my home. Nipper shook himself and then ran off to hunt himself some food. I was about to dress and then ride off to find Mary when I remembered my new charge. Gille slept still. I could no longer think only of me. I had a child to care for.
After drying myself and dressing I lit the fire I used outside my hut. It was still dark. Dawn was still to break. The boy would be hungry. I put some water and oats in a cooking pot and placed it on the fire. I tossed in some salt and then went to my horses. They would be worked hard this day. They neighed as I approached. I stroked them all, Dream Strider first, and spoke with them.
I looked around and saw a yawning sleepy, Gille. "You should be asleep."
He shook his head, "The horses called to me."
I nodded. "Then dress yourself. I have some food for you. I must leave you here with two of my horses. I have a task to do."
He was young but he nodded, "I can do that, Hrolf."
"Good."
We ate the porridge and then I showed him where the brushes were. The two mares had not had a good comb for some days. I saddled Dream Strider. I had sudden doubts. "Are you certain you will be all right here?"
He grinned, "I do not understand men, Hrolf, for they are cruel but horses are simpler. I will be safe. My father was a horse master. He had a way with them and he taught me, young as I am, how to care for them. I am content."
Nipper led us as we headed down the trail. He must have found something tasty to eat for he did not pester me for treats. I was going north. If I was wrong then Mary would be dead. If I was right then the Norns had guided both of us. By the time dawn broke I was at the trail which led from the village north. We had fought Hermund the Bent's men close to here. Nature had reclaimed where their bodies had fallen. Nipper stopped and sniffed. I dismounted and I looked. I saw, in the grass, a flattened part. Someone had stood here recently. This part of the island was lonely. No one had a reason to come here. This was a sign that Mary had come this way. I hoped she had come in daylight. There were cliffs at this end of the island.
"Nipper! Find!"
My dog loped off and disappeared in a golden flash. I tried to follow her trail. I knew it was Mary. I dared not take my eyes away. If she had run then I might lose it. So long as she kept heading north then I would find her for the island ended a mile hence. Nipper came back. He had lost the trail. I began to fear the worst. The cave in which I thought she might have sheltered was to my left but her trail led north towards the cliffs. Has she done as Siggi White Hair had suggested? Had she thrown herself to the rocks below? I reached the edge of the cliff and dismounted. Fearfully I peered over the edge. There was no sign of a body on the rocks below. It was but twenty paces to the rocks but that would be enough to kill someone. The lack of a body proved nothing. Her corpse could have been taken out with the tide.
Suddenly Nipper sniffed to my left. I grabbed Dream Strider's reins. "Find, Nipper, find!"
He moved along the rocks at the edge of the cliff. Hope soared when I saw an indentation on the left of the rocks where a foot had stepped. I looked ahead. The cave was just two hundred paces from me. I kept at the same speed as Nipper. If she had gone along the edge I had to keep looking down in case she had fallen. We were twenty paces from the cave. Its entrance was still hidden by a fold in the land. Nipper raced ahead barking and he disappeared. I heard a scream and knew that he had found her.
Chapter 8
I tied Dream Strider to a scrubby bush and headed down to the cave. I stepped into the narrow entrance and saw that Nipper was wary of the girl. She was cowering at the back of the dark and damp hole in the rocks.
"Nipper, out!" The dog obeyed. His tail wagged as he passed me. The girl had passed the te
st for I had not told him to get her. There were two kinds of people to Nipper, my friends and all else were enemies. I spoke quietly to her as I held out my hand, "Come Mary; this is not the place for you. You will be safe."
Her eyes were wild and staring; white against the dark walls. She stood but said, "I will not go back to the village! I would rather die."
I shook my head, "No, you would not. The fact that you sought shelter shows me that no matter how unhappy you are, you cling to life and that is good, now come into the sunlight and I will take you back to my home."
"It is not in the village?"
"No."
"I will not submit to the insults of those others!"
"Come, give me your hand."
Her hand reached over and took mine. I gave it a reassuring squeeze as I led her out. She had been in there some time for she had to shade her eyes against the sun. When they became accustomed to the light she stared around her to see if others waited for her.
"There is no one but me and my horse. Come, Dream Strider will carry you to my home."
"Dream Strider?"
"I dreamt of him before I found him. It was wyrd." I helped her into the saddle. "You just hang on and I will lead him. He is gentle."
"I can ride. My father had horses."
"Nipper, home!"
Nipper raced off and we walked in silence. Eventually I broke it, "What was it made you run?"
"Hildegard had some of the slaves spit in my food when they brought it to me. Seara did nothing."
"Seara is old."
"What will happen to me?" I did not answer. "If I am sent back then I will run away again!"
"And they will put a yoke on you. They will tether you like an animal at night. You cannot win." Her face fell as she realised I was right. This was not the world she knew where she got what she wanted. Here she had to obey others and it was hard for her. "I will speak to the Jarl." I was not confident that he would listen to me for I had already used up my favours by bringing Gille to our land. I could only try.