Horseman (Norman Genesis Book 2)

by Griff Hosker

  "Hrolf!" I descended as I heard my name called. Karl stood there. "I will watch now. The cheese is good but the beer is like cow's piss!"

  I was thirsty. Combat always made me so and I drank the horn down without even tasting it. I took my seax and cut a hunk of bread and smeared it with the runny goat's cheese. I pointed with my seax towards the town, "I think the Jarl is attacking. There are not many men on the gate here." I began to eat.

  "You think to attack the gate?" I nodded. "With six men?"

  I swallowed and washed it down with some beer. "Some of the Saxons had axes. When we chased the guards into the open gate I saw that the wooden walkway would given an attacker shelter. They would have to use arrows from the corner towers and we have shields to protect two axe men."

  The others nodded and Ulf said. "I would rather do that than sit on my arse and wait for the Jarl to take the burgh. Besides it might draw more men to this gate." He pointed to the bridge. "Gunnstein Gunnarson, Beorn Fast Feet go and find some axes. Sigtrygg find as many undamaged spears as you can."

  There were four good axes. Sigtrygg and Gunnstein Gunnarson were the biggest warriors. We called down Karl and explained our plan. Ulf said, "Karl and Beorn use your shields to protect these two. Use the axes to break down the gate. When one is blunt take another. Hrolf and I will use the spears to keep their heads down." He shook his head, "I knew we should have brought our bows!"

  As we marched down the bridge, with shields held before us, the defenders began shouting. They sent arrows our way but Saxons are not the best of archers. Their bows are poor and their arrows badly made. Those that struck us found only our shields. While the other four ran to the shelter of the walkway Ulf and I began to throw the six spears we had each found. We chose our targets. Ulf managed to hit one warrior. I feinted each time a head peered over. After Ulf's fine hit they were wary. When I had feinted three times one archer raised himself above the wooden palisade. This time I did not feint and my spear plucked him from the walls. I heard his body crash to the ground below. The two men with axes were making deep gouges in the door. They were striking at the join so that they would be able to hack the bar eventually.

  Ulf hurled a second spear. It did not kill the archer but he managed to hit his arm. I heard arrows striking the shields as men loosed from the corner towers. They were beyond our range. Suddenly one struck my helmet and made my head ring. I turned to the right and saw the archer. I would remember him. I turned and hurled my spear at the gate for I glimpsed a face. My spear cracked into a helmet and the man fell, stunned. The archers on the towers had become emboldened now and were directing their arrows at us rather than the four at the gate. When an arrow hit Ulf's helmet too he said, "To the gate, Hrolf. They are almost through."

  As we ran to the gate I could see that a gap was appearing. Soon they would be able to strike at the bar. I dropped my spears and took out my sword. It was Gunnstein Gunnarson who struck the last blow. We were ready and the four of us still holding shields hit the gate as one. The other two picked up their own shields and we ran into the town. Those who had been on the gate began to clamber down to fight us. Karl ran at a ladder and hit it with his shield. The ladder and the three men who were descending crashed to the ground. Beorn and I were amongst them and with swift strikes with our swords they were slain.

  "Shields!"

  We joined together and locked shields. This time Ulf and I were in the centre with swords held above them. A dozen warriors had gathered to attack us and when they ran at our wooden wall they discovered how hard it is to kill a Viking. My sword darted out and plunged into the chest of a screaming Saxon who had made the mistake of raising his axe as he moved his shield to allow him to strike at my head. I twisted as I pulled it out and felt it grate along his breast bone. Six blows meant six of our enemies either dead or wounded. Our weapons were far superior to those of the defenders and they had poor mail.

  Ulf knew that we had taken the initiative and we had to exploit it. We would not wait to be attacked, we would attack them! "At them!"

  Their attack broken we burst upon them. My sword was longer than those which the Saxons and Jutes before us held. They hit my shield; I hit their shoulders, their helmets and their upper arms. I whirled my blade around so quickly that I mesmerized those I fought. Then I felt a blow to my back. I turned and saw the archer who had hit my helmet. I ran at him. He had been so confident that he had killed me that he was already looking for another target. Even as he loosed one at Sigtrygg's back I brought my sword down so hard on his unprotected head that it was cracked in two and my sword buried itself in his throat. I pulled it out. Sigtrygg had an arrow in his shoulder. I suspected I did too but I felt as though I could still fight and there were enemies before us.

  Ulf shouted, "To the front gate!"

  I pulled my shield around and gritted my teeth. I would ignore the blood I could feel seeping down my back. I said to Sigtrygg as we tightened into a wedge, "You have an arrow in your back!"

  He laughed, "As do you! It does not hurt much and we have a chance for glory! We can win the gate for the clan!"

  Sigtrygg and I were close behind Ulf. The others had seen our wounds and they were tight behind us. I heard cries and screams as Karl and Beorn slew any who approached as we ran through the huts and houses of the burghs. It was not a large town. As we passed the wooden cathedral I saw the gate ahead. Men had propped wood against it but, even so, it was bulging and I could hear the sound of axes upon it. Once again we were outnumbered but, as Ulf Big Nose shouted, "Charge!" there was a collective wail of despair as the defenders realised that we had breached their walls and they were being attacked from two sides.

  We threw ourselves into the Saxons who defended the gate. They were not mailed and my sword raked down the chest of a warrior who turned in surprise as Ulf took the head of the man next to him.

  "Hrolf, Sigtrygg, open the gates. Shield wall!"

  Our four comrades turned to face the Saxons and Jutes who had rallied to eject us from their burgh. I dropped my shield. My shoulder was aching and I sheathed my sword. I began to throw the beams and timbers to the ground. I felt myself weakening. Sigtrygg and I reached the bar as I heard Karl Swift Foot shout, "Hurry!"

  Sigtrygg managed to lift the bar from the gate but, as we threw it to the side he fell to the ground. I pulled on the door but my head felt light and suddenly I saw blue sky and then I saw nothing. I saw blackness.

  Chapter 12

  I was in a black drekar with a dragon prow and the ship was sailing down a long black tunnel. I could almost touch the sides. There was no wind and yet it moved. I was alone on the boat. I heard a roaring and the boat began to move faster. There was a light at the end of the tunnel and I prayed to the Allfather that I would see daylight again. Suddenly the drekar pitched over the edge of the world and I was thrown from the drekar. My arms flailed as I tried to regain my balance. I went round and round; over and over. The ground rushed up at me. I noticed that it was rich green grass. Surely I would be crushed and then, as I landed, I found myself on the back of a golden stallion with a blond mane. With a sword in my hand I galloped across the grass and behind me I saw a line of Vikings, also mounted on horses. Each bore a lance and a long shield. As I turned to shout I saw Siggi White Hair. He was seated upon a rock and he shouted to me, "Hrolf! Come back! Hrolf! Come back!"

  I opened my eyes and saw Siggi. His face was creased and frowned with worry. He smiled as I opened my eyes. "I thought you had gone to Valhalla." His fingers took Heart of Ice from my hand. "I gave you your sword in case the Allfather had need of you. You gave us a scare. You had lost much blood."

  I tried to speak but no words came out. Siggi poured beer into my mouth. I was parched. "How long have I lain here?"

  "You opened the gate two days since. We have captured the burgh and we have much treasure. We awaited only your awakening. The drekar is ready to leave. The priests and nobles from Cantwareburh paid ransom so that we did not destroy their cathedral
nor slaughter their priests. We have no need to sell the books of the White Christ for they bought them from us. We are rich. However we have no slaves and no women. We must seek them elsewhere. " He turned and I closed my eyes. I heard him say, "You four pick up his bed and carry him to the drekar."

  When I felt movement I opened my eyes as the memory of the last fight entered my head. "And Sigtrygg Red Hair?"

  Siggi shook his head, "It seems he did not wish for life as much as you. He died soon after we captured the burgh. He lost more blood than you had. Perhaps the wound from Andecavis never healed properly. He is with his Jarl now. You gave him a longer life and the chance to die with a sword in his hand. You sent him to Valhalla and he will be forever beholden to you."

  I looked up and saw that the four who carried me were Erik Long Hair and three others from Gunnstein Thorfinnson's crew. Even Olaf the Bear carried me. Erik looked down and said, "Sigtrygg knew he owed you a life. It was his greatest honour to fight alongside you." He nodded to Ulf Big Nose. "Ulf told us what you all did at the bridge. That is an end any Viking would be proud of. We were in your debt before, now we too owe you a life."

  I closed my eyes. They were happy with Sigtrygg's death. I wished he was alive. I had been proud to fight with him. When I opened them I said to Siggi. "Can we leave safely? Will not the men of Cent try to stop us?"

  "They may for we took much gold but they would have to capture our ship. Do not worry. There are others in the clan who have much to do to equal the achievements of the six of the bridge." He shook his head. "I wish I had been there. That will be a tale told around the fires all winter. Six of you took three gates and a bridge. The Eorledman will never fight again and the Saxons and Jutes speak of the clan with fear. What a fight!"

  I was carried gently aboard and laid by Sven at the helm. I think they must have put a draught in my beer for I kept drifting in and out of sleep. I woke in the dark of night and the drekar was rising and falling like a fiery stallion. I looked up and saw Sven at the steering board. "Fear not Hrolf for the Norns and the Gods watch over you. They sent this storm when four Saxon ships tried to close with us. Two were sunk by the fierce winds and strong seas and the other two fled. Men say it is you and your luck which brought the sea to our aid. I care not so long as my drekar is safe. Now sleep. We have far to travel."

  Each time I woke I was given beer and told to sleep. The drekar smelled of animals for we had ransomed the people and the books but not the animals. The grain also lay in our holds. The men of Cent would speak of us in fear for years to come. I would have been happy to rise but I was kept in my bed until we reached the bay of the haunted farmhouse.

  I was carried ashore and the Jarl himself accompanied me. "We will not raid again this winter, hersir, you can rest and care for your family and your animals. When Spring comes we will plan raids for we need women. We have brought your share of the raid and Mary and Gille watch it for you. Your wound should be healed but Siggi has said that you should not exert yourself for the arrow went deeper than we thought. We have your mail and Bagsecg will repair it for you." He clasped my arm. "I am honoured that you are in my clan."

  When he had gone Mary and Gille rushed back in, "Your are hurt! I knew it! I had bad dreams while you were away!" Mary threw her arms around me and sobbed.

  Gille nodded, "It is true, lord. She woke me with her screams."

  Mary stood and pointed an accusing finger at me, "Ulf Big Nose told us that you need rest. You shall not stir until Siggi White Hair says that you are well. We almost lost you!" She rushed out.

  "Do you think she is a volva, Gille?" He did not know the word I could see that. "A witch? Can she foretell the future?"

  "I think she is happy here. When you went away she cleaned our house and tried to make it perfect for you then she had the dream. I know not if she is a witch. I did not think that Christians had witches."

  "Nor did I but I have heard of the power of dreams. I have dreams which seemed very vivid but I have never had a dream which predicted an event. We will get life back to normal now. I shall tell Siggi when he next comes that I am well and she will be happy then." He nodded. "How is Gerðr?"

  "She grows large and each day I feel for the foal." He frowned. "I have only helped a mare to foal once. I am not certain that I will be strong enough to birth her on my own."

  "If you tell me what to do then I will use my strength. Your father birthed many horses?"

  "He did. It was not just the horses of our lord he birthed but those who lived close by us. I learned everything from him. They called him the horse master."

  "You have never told me of your family."

  "We lived on the Issicauna, the southern shore and the men from the south came to raid. They came for the horses and, I think, my father, but he fought them and hurt the lord who captured me. They slew him and took me instead. I think that is why they whipped me to punish me for my father's actions. They wanted him to care for their horses and they were left with me; they called me the whelp. My father was a good man and I think of him each time I groom the horses. I see his face in every pail of water I fetch for them."

  It was some time before Mary returned. I think she had been calming and cleaning her face. She brought in some bread. It was still warm. She had some cheese; it was flecked with wild herbs. "Here is food. You need you strength building. Gille, empty the fish traps." She was running my home now. Where was the timid slave who had cowered in Seara's doorway? Then she smiled at me. It was the start of my life getting back to normal.

  Siggi did not come for two days. We had the first hard frost of the winter followed by an icy wind. Only Gille braved it to see to the horses. When Siggi arrived and examined my wound he sniffed it and seemed satisfied. "There is no smell to the wound. You can move from your bed. If I were you I would not rush to use your left arm. There will be no more raids until the new grass comes."

  As Mary walked in with bread, fresh from our oven his eyes lit up. "Why, you live as a prince here! Fresh bread and goat's cheese too. I may well have my own hut built nearby and call you hersir!"

  "I found some clay and it enabled me to make an oven. This is a good island but it does not have all that we need."

  As he ate the bread and cheese he said, "You would still live on the mainland?"

  I nodded, "Not yet for we are too few in numbers but when we outgrow this island then we should." I pointed north. "Even the rocky land to the north of us has vast empty areas with timber and game. The Issicauna is even richer and more fertile. It is even better than the land of Cent for the climate is gentler."

  "That is something, perhaps, for the future but for now this will do." He stood, "Sigurd and Skutal have asked the Jarl if they and their families can move here when the new grass comes. It makes sense for they are fishermen. The seas to the south are more dangerous than your sheltered bay and as you are here they do not fear the ghosts of the dead."

  "They are welcome for there is space here." Although I said that I did not feel it in my heart. I enjoyed the privacy we three had.

  "Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson said that they would have to acknowledge you as their lord if they did so. You are hersir here."

  I fingered the amulet around my neck, "So it is not merely a title?"

  "No, you will be responsible for guarding this bay. It pleases us in the village for you are like a rock. And now I must go. I fear the Allfather will be sending us a harsh winter. I feel it in my bones."

  We had no Aiden, the galdramenn, or Kara, the volva, but we made do with Siggi White Hair's predictions when it came to weather as well as healing our hurts. Most of his weather predictions proved to be accurate. This one was. We had snow. In all the time we had been here we had only had a covering of snow for a day and then it was gone but this snow fell for four days and it lay. The blankets I had bought proved to be a good investment and the horses were comfortable. The stable was warmer as my house and Mary's quarters protected it from northern winds. The horses seemed quite comfo
rtable. As Mary could no longer do work for those in the village she made items for the three of us. I had brought material back from Dyflin. It was not the most colourful but it would suit our needs. Gille seemed to grow each day. I think his mistreatment had held him back but now that he was well fed he grew rapidly. I had no doubt that by the end of the year he would be the same size as Mary. She had done her growing but now her body was blossoming too.

  While we could not go far I taught Gille how to make and fletch arrows. We had made him a bow for I had found a yew tree at the north of the island. When the weather improved we would go outside and I taught him to use a bow and a sword. We also made his first shield. It would not be as big as mine for he was not yet fully grown but it would protect him if we had to fight. We would die to defend this land. He had no helmet and so Mary and I made him a leather cap. I had worn one when I had first gone to Cyninges-tūn. Mary wished to use a bow for she wanted to protect herself but she had not the strength and so Gille and I taught her to use a slingshot instead. She became so good that she was able to bring down seabirds, pigeons and doves. We ate better.

  That winter was the best of times. We were alone and we were happy. My horses also prospered from our improvements and with the grain we had brought from Cent, they ate well in the winter. On the shortest day we celebrated Mary's god. It seemed his birth was in the depths of winter. I did not mind. She called him the one god as did Gille. I called him a god and we all celebrated the birth of a god.

  The earth and the soil were warming when Sigurd and Skutal came to speak with me. Forewarned in time before winter I had been expecting their visit. I knew that the new grass would bring changes but I did not wish our idyll to be spoiled.