Horseman (Norman Genesis Book 2)

by Griff Hosker

  Mary was delighted with the pots and the bowls. She immediately washed the pot for she was determined to use it. I took the furs and blankets in to the house. "Gille, three of these blankets are for the horses. I would not have the foal come to harm because of the cold this winter."

  He nodded, "I had them in the stable at night while you were away. We had much wet weather. I will take these to them now."

  Mary went to the corner and brought out a cloth covered bowl. "Brigid taught me how to do this when we lived in the village. Here is my first cheese, lord." She took off the cloth and there was a fresh sheep's cheese. I cut a piece and ate it. She had flavoured it with nettles and it was delicious. "This is good."

  She gave a little curtsy and smiled, "It is easier than I thought." She then began to babble on about all the other things she had learned and the improvements she would make in the house. It showed a different Mary from the one I had found hiding in the cave. This Mary was content.

  The next day was cold but the rain stopped. After examining Gerðr, Gille and I set to work on the new room. I had built my home in the style of the houses of Cyninges-tūn, It was oblong with stone at the base and wattle and daub beneath a turf roof. In Cyninges-tūn they used the local slate to make the roof even more watertight. Here we had to make do with turf. We had been gathering the stones from the beach for some time and that was ready. I had already brought back timber and so we began.

  I planned on using the buildings we had. The room would extend from my hut to the wooden stable I had built for my horses. The new room would give protection to both the stable and the house. We would all be warmer. It was simple just to extend two walls. That would give Mary plenty of room for her trade as well as somewhere to sleep. First we laid a floor of the largest and flattest stones over pebbles and small stones. We used sand from the nearby beach to bond it together. We had the new walls up by noon. I say noon but it was impossible to see any sun behind the grey clouds. The roof timbers and the brush upon which the turf would sit was also easy to construct. The wattle and daub, however, was both messy and time consuming. We were aided by the recent rain and by the time night had fallen the framework was complete. The last job we did was to make a small entrance for Gille. He crawled in and lit a small fire which he kept feeding. It would drive any insects from the roof and start to dry the walls. The hard part would come the next day when we added the turf.

  The fire was out by morning. When I felt the walls they were not totally dry but that did not matter. It would become drier when the turf roof was added. Laying the turf was both a messy and a tiring job. Gille was small and lithe. He was able to lay the turf on the roof. Then we began to put the turf against the stones. It would make the new room warmer and wind proof. We had just finished it when the rain began again. It was another storm from the west. We went indoors and began to carefully remove the stones from the adjoining wall which would allow us to make a door. We placed the beam I had cut from a solid log above the door and then hung an old blanket from it. When time allowed we would make a door. With the fire lit again we were cosy. We could settle in for the winter. We had food in our store room and I had fish nets in the bay. We would not starve. After the raid by the men of Vannes we had gathered our animals again so that we had milk once more.

  Mary moved in to her new room two days later. It suited Gille and I for we had far more room. We had not thought we had been crowded but now that Mary took her things to her own room we saw how much more room we had. I envisaged us rarely leaving my farm for some time to come but that was not to be. A week after our return from Dyflin the Jarl arrived with his hearth-weru, Siggi and Ulf.

  Mary peered fearfully from behind the door to my home.

  "Welcome, Jarl. I had not expected a visit."

  "I have to speak with you. We are going to raid and your skills will be needed."

  I turned around. Mary could now speak enough of our words and she had heard the word, 'raid'. She disappeared inside the house.

  "Pray come into my home. Mary, Gille, fetch beer and cheese. We have guests."

  Mary had recovered her composure and brought out the food and drink. The hearthweru stood in the doorway which was just as well. I had only made four crude chairs! The beer was Brigid's but the cheese was Mary's. This one had been soaked for a few days in sea water and had a pleasant salty tang to it. She served up some pickled fish to go with it.

  "This is good, Hrolf. You have a fine home."

  "Thank you Jarl."

  "Before we plan the raid I would tell you that we have decided upon the best way to reward you. You are now Hersir of this farm and this bay. Mary will no longer be the slave of the village but your slave. We all think that would be better."

  Hersir! This was an honour. It was but a step away from being a Jarl. "Thank you, lord."

  "It probably means little yet but I know that some in the village would live close to this bay for the fishing is easier. If they came here they would be yours to command in my absence." He handed me a small bronze raven on a chain. It had been cast by Bagsecg; I recognised his work. It had been painted black. "Here is the sign that you are Hersir."

  I knew that Mary had no idea what a Hersir was but she recognised the gesture and could not conceal the joy on her face.

  The Jarl looked pleased with my response. "Now we come to the raid. We had a Thing. We would have invited you but Siggi said that you would be busy and I can see that you have. I will ask you now; do you object to a raid?"

  "No lord but I would ask where you would raid?"

  Siggi and Ulf exchanged a smile. The Jarl said, "These two said you would say that. Where would you choose?"

  "The land to the east of us is in a state of readiness for our attacks. Your brother raided the Liger and we the Issicauna. I am not certain what we would get from it. The men of Vannes will be wary of us and expect a revenge raid after their attack on us. I think we head north to the land of the Saxons or even the Cymri."

  "The Cymri are poor and their land filled with mountains."

  "True Jarl but not so Ynys Môn. It is flat and there are many beaches that we can use. Aiden, Dragonheart's galdramenn, told me that it is the bread basket of that area. It is rich."

  "True but it is a long way to travel and it is winter."

  "Then I say the Saxons are rich and they are almost as close as the Franks."

  "You agree with Siggi White Hair and Ulf Big Nose then for that was their choice too. Where?"

  "Cent. It is rich and the warriors who live there do not use the bow. The Medway and the Temese are both easy to sail and we could raid deep in the heart of the land. Ulf will tell you of the churches there."

  "It is true Jarl. They have the largest churches in the land close by those rivers. There are many abbeys and nunneries too. I think that Hrolf is right and we have not yet raided there. The Danes make incursions but they come by land. We would come by sea."

  "Then you have persuaded me. We will raid in six days time. That will allow Sven to fit his new ropes." He stood. "Thank you Hersir."

  After they had gone I told Mary all that we had said. The words I had taught her were not the words of war but those that she would need to talk to others in the village. "You leave us to go to war?" I nodded. "But it is dangerous. When you went last I heard it was because a whole boat load had perished."

  "Some survived."

  "But not all. Why must you go? We have all that we need here, lord. I can sew more. "

  "I will return."

  "You cannot promise for you do not know."

  "No I cannot and I will not promise but I tell you that I will come back. You must have faith in what I do. I am confident that the two of you can look after my horses and my house." I stood. "It is not a matter for discussion. I go to war. Come Gille and I will show you how to sharpen my sword on the wheel. Then you can sharpen your own sword when I am gone. Go fetch the weapons." As he went out I said, "And tomorrow I will build you a bread oven. When we took up t
he turf for your roof I found a patch of clay. It is not large but it is enough to seal an oven. Then you can bake your own bread. It will mean less visits to the village."

  She brightened at that. "And perhaps I can get Brigid to teach me how to make ale too."

  I worked from dawn until dusk on the farm and then in the house each night fletching my arrows. I had learned how to do it and I trusted my own work. When the time came to leave I was as ready as I could be. The bread oven was made and we had tried it twice. Gille knew how to grind the grain and I left my home confident that the two would survive until I returned.

  I called Gille and Mary together just before I left. "The Jarl made me Hersir. He also gave you to me, Mary, as my slave. I will have no slaves here. You, Mary, have your freedom. What say you?"

  She dropped to her knees and, crying, began to kiss my hand.

  I raised her up, "No, Mary, you are a slave no longer. You do not have to kneel."

  She looked at me and I could see that the tears were tears of joy, "No, Hersir, I kneel because I wish to. There is a difference. Take care."

  "I will but I leave knowing that the two of you will be safe here together."

  Once again we were fully crewed. Our new men took their places. We had a new hearth-weru. Rolf Arneson was a fine warrior and had asked the Jarl if he could join his remaining three. The Jarl accepted his offer. The Jarl would now have four men to watch over him in battle. That was good.

  I was the last to board and I received a wry cheer. Rurik and Arne Four Toes gave me mock bows and touched their hair at the front. "We are privileged, master that you will sit with us! We are honoured to have a hersir with us!"

  I knew the banter and the mockery would come. It meant nothing to me for it was a title only. It would only mean something if others came to live close by and then they would be my bondi. They would be warriors who would fight under my banner; if I had a banner. Until then I was still Hrolf the Horseman who lived with his horses. The banter went on until we had cleared the island then Siggi started our chant. It was he who chose the one we would use and he picked one which silenced the humour at my expense.

  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

  The new men had not heard the chant and it took a couple of renditions for them to learn the words. When the wind came to our aid and we shipped our oars they asked about the battle. Rurik told them all. He did so without exaggeration but I could see that the newly acquired warriors were impressed.

  Although it was risky we were going to raid the Medway. We knew from earlier voyages along the eastern coast that there were many small, deserted islands where we could lay up. There were settlements there and we would raid the ones by the coast. If we were not discovered then we would venture further up the river. One of the new men thought that there was a bridge from the times of the Romans but we did not know. What he did know was that he had heard there was a large church there. It was a start. The danger in the raid lay in its proximity to Lundenwic. King Egbert hated Vikings and he had appointed his own Jarl to that walled city.

  I asked Siggi about the Jarl's new wife. He laughed, "She has settled down. For the first few days she cried and she roared. She hated the village. It was only when the Jarl had new quarters built for her servants that she stopped howling the nights away. Now she seems happier. She enjoys the attention the Jarl gives her. He seems besotted with her. Perhaps when she is with child she will have better things to occupy her."

  I knew that we still did not have enough women. We had more single men than those with women. Our clan could only grow if we had more children. Many children were born but not all grew. I did not have too long to think of such things for a storm came up out of nowhere. We had mighty seas which towered over our tiny drekar. It was all that we could do to keep the ship together. In a lull in the storm Harold Fast Sailing commented that this was a good thing as no one would expect raiders out in such weather. He was probably right but it did not make for a comfortable voyage. I was glad that my byrnie was in my chest and wrapped in a sheepskin. I did not want to have to clean rust from it before we raided.

  After two days at sea we saw the coast of Cent to the west of us. It was late afternoon although the sky was so dark that it was difficult to tell what time of day it was. We took to our oars for we had used the wind from the south west all the way north but now we would have to use our backs to take us into the shelter of the estuary. We could see nothing as we rowed. We were dependent upon the eyes of the ship's boys and the skill and experience of Sven. He was sailing into unknown waters at night. That was never easy.

  Chapter 11

  It was a pitch black and cloudy night. There was a faint mist which limited our view as we edged into the estuary. We did not chant and we rowed slowly for Sven took us gently between the mud flats of the mouth into the wider basin which could be seen ahead of us. As soon as we had passed the mouth we noticed that the wind was less strong and the motion of the ship was easier. He held up his hand and Siggi lifted his oar. It was the signal to stop rowing. Sven left the steering board to Harold Fast Sailing and he walked the length of the drekar to stand at the prow. He sniffed as he peered into the gloom. When he returned he nodded to Siggi who slid his oar out and we all copied him. We rowed but I noticed that we had changed direction. We headed south and west. When Sven raised his hand again I knew that we had reached the land. I felt the keel as it slid over mud and then the ship's boys raced ashore to secure us to the land. I could see nothing. There was no sign of where the land began and the sea ended.

  As the boys tied us up so we prepared. Ulf and I would need our mail for we would go from scouting to fighting. I put my shield over my back. I left my bow on the drekar. Haaken, one of the ship's boys said as he passed, "It is muddy. Beware." I saw that his breeks were covered in black and sticky mud.

  Sven came up to us, "This is not a good place to land but I need you two to find us somewhere better."

  Ulf nodded and we went to the side. We lowered ourselves over the strakes of the drekar. Haaken had been right. There was mud and it took us some time to make it to more solid ground. The ground upon which we could stand was three hundred paces from the drekar. Once on the spongy ground Ulf sniffed. I did too. I caught a faint scent from ahead of us. It was the smell of plants. He pointed with his sword and we trotted across the grass. The water was to our right. There were few trees and the bushes were very small. Then I smelled animals or their droppings at least. We reached a path of sorts and I saw that we had been on a narrow strip of land.

  Ulf said, "See if it is muddy here. I will check the farm yonder."

  I nodded, amazed at Ulf's skill. I had known there was something nearby but Ulf knew exactly where and what it was. I would never be a scout as good as him. I walked towards the water. There was mud by the narrow strip of land but there was a shingle and sand beach which headed north west. I returned to where I had left Ulf.

  "It is a better landing site."

  "Go and fetch the drekar I will meet you back here."

  I ran back until I rea
ched the mud. I did not have to cross it again for the Jarl had Erik Green Eye on guard. I knew that I was far enough from the farm not to be heard and I hailed, Erik, "There is a better place to land. This is a thin strip of land attached to the shore. It is less than two thousand paces to an easier landing. Follow the water around."

  "Aye."

  I turned and made my way back to where Ulf had been. There was no sign of him and so I headed inland. I would not go far but I had been taught to find out as much as I could. I had gone barely twenty paces when trees loomed up. The ones at the edge were spindly and thin. Most were stunted but as I went further in I saw that they became sturdier. I returned to the meeting point. Ulf loped back. He was out of breath. Behind me I heard the faint sound of oars gently cutting through the still waters.

  Ulf said, "There is a village just along from here. There is just a farm in the opposite direction. You watch here and I will tell the Jarl where the village is."

  The raven prow appeared out of the dark as the keel grated gently up the shingle. It disappeared as Sven backed water and turned our ship beam on to the shore. It would make for a faster departure and enable the clan to land faster. I peered into the dark looking and listening for signs of an alarm. I heard feet as they splashed in the water and then moved along the sand and shingle. Ulf appeared next to me and nodded. We headed off into the dark. From now on we would use hand signals. We ran in the direction in which Ulf had said that the village lay. Ulf gave me the signal for us to go around to the other side. We would stop any escaping and raising the alarm.