TLV - 01 - The Golden Horn

by Poul Anderson

  They had laid the islands under them when they heard that Magnus had raised a levy and was sailing toward Denmark. Harald laughed aloud. "That's what I hoped for!" he told Svein. "Now I shall take my own men to Norway."

  "Is that wise?" asked the Dane.

  "Are you so little a man that you can't hold your own realm?" countered Harald scornfully.

  Svein did not answer, but his eyes were resentful.

  With a number of ships, Harald sailed through the Kattegat and the Skagerrak, up into Oslofjord. When he saw the hills before him, rolling in a flame of autumn, his heart sprang, and he went into the bows so that men should not see the tears in his eyes.

  They had brought horses along, and Harald rode with half his troop toward the thorp where he was born. Trees murmured above him, a vivid splash of scarlet, hot bronze and fluttering gold and sober brown. A little wind drove a gust of yellow leaves across his path, hoo, hey, off in viking to the other side of the road! The air was sharp and clear, thin blue overhead, flowing over a land wrapped in quietness.

  "Home," he said, as if the word were holy.

  Ulf looked sidewise at him. "Perhaps I see what you've had in mind all these years," he said.

  They trotted into open fields, and now the thorp lay before them, smoking into the sky, and the lake blinked beside it. There were new buildings, Harald saw, it all had a rich look. They must have prospered here. He smiled, weighing the pouch at his belt; it held a necklace of diamonds and rubies that he would hang on his mother when she welcomed him home.

  Armed housecarles stood warily at the garth as he rode up. Two men among them were tall and stout, well clad; it was with a small shock that Harald recognized his brothers.

  They stood in silence for a while. Then Halfdan spoke: "Is it you, Harald?"

  "Aye." He dismounted, smiling crookedly. "I'm back at last."

  "I hear you are the king's foe," said Guthorm.

  "For the time, at least," answered Harald. "Let us not speak of that now. Where is our mother?"

  "You do not know? She is dead. Five years ago she died."

  Harald stood without moving. A sudden emptiness was in his breast, he felt all at once how tired he was. "What did she die of?" he asked dully.

  "Some sickness. It was a quick death, by Christ's mercy. She asked us to stand by you when you returned, for she never doubted you would."

  Harald looked at the ground.

  "We shall," said Guthorm hastily. "We swore we would. But it were better to make peace. Halfdan and I are content to be free yeomen."

  "No matter," said Harald. He shivered and drew his cloak about him. "Come, let's go in, it's cold."

  XVI

  How Svein Was Angry

  1

  Now came a time of whirlwind, and Harald wore out many horses. Riding into the Uplands, he met the yeomen and asked that they name him king. They looked at him sullenly, gripping their weapons, and said they would not; one king was enough, and they were well pleased with Magnus Olafsson.

  The levy to Denmark had not been large, coming as it did in the time of harvest and butchering, so the country was full of armed men. A war word could be borne across the land, from house to house, in days. Harald stared for a while into the ruddy, bearded faces before him. "I will not fight you now," he said tonelessly, "but you may be hearing more of me."

  Leaving the field where they had met, he took his warriors down into the great valley Gudhbrandsdal. Here he was found by another troop, at their head young Thori of Steig. This was a powerful chief in the shire, and a kinsman of Harald's, who gave him friendly greeting.

  "It is ill that you are denied your right," said Thori as they rode side by side toward the meeting place of the Thing, "but no better that you and your nephew must bear arms against each other."

  "I'm willing to reach agreement with Magnus," said Harald. "We could have done so this spring had it not been for Einar Thambaskelfir."

  Thori stroked his chin. "What then do you plan?"

  "I can hardly remain much longer in Norway; as soon as he learns I've come hither, Magnus will return with a bigger host than I can fight. But if he and his counselors can be shown that I have friends within the realm ..."

  "It's a risky course," said Thori. "Still, we Dalesmen are not glad to see all the power lie with the Throndish chiefs. I may be able to persuade the Thing to hazard Magnus' wrath."

  "If you do," said Harald, "I shall not forget."

  The assembly was a huge one, for the valley was thickly peopled. Harald mounted the Thing-stone and addressed them with fair words, pleading his case and promising he would not be swayed by advisors from the north country alone. His cousin Thori also argued on his behalf, and the end of it was that they hailed him king, and a number of the younger men joined his following.

  "Now I must go back to Denmark," said Harald later, "for otherwise there would be war. Thori, you must speak to King Magnus; it's setting your life at stake, I know, but I doubt he will provoke an uprising by acting to harm you, the more so when you come as peacemaker."

  "It would be an evil day indeed if you two kinsmen threw a death spear against each other," said Thori earnestly. "It's for that reason, as well as our mothers being sisters, I do this."

  "Some Danes are friendly to Magnus," Harald told him. "Let your folk carry word secretly to them of what is happening here, and they can tell me. I stand by what I said: half the kingship; but I am not unwilling to yield on other points."

  He made his farewells and rode back to the Oslofjord. Winter came striding behind him, and it was a stormy passage to Sealand. On the way, Ulf remarked dryly: "I wonder what your friend St. Olaf thinks of your locking horns with his son."

  "So far I have succeeded," Harald answered. "If I must defy Heaven too, I will."

  Halldor shuddered and crossed himself.

  The ships went down the Sound and were drawn up at Hafn, a hamlet living off the herring fisheries. Harald told some of the men to lay the craft away for winter, and rode with the others to Roskilde.

  On a gloomy day, with snow thick out of a leaden sky, he entered the town. A church bell was ringing, its sound as far and muffled as his horse's hoofbeats in the drifted street. Houses lifted dim on either side, providing a glimpse of galleries and carved eaves; a few people wrapped in cloaks were abroad, leaning on their spears as they watched his troop go by.

  Firelight leaped in Svein's hall when he entered the main chamber, dusting snow from his breeches. The king rose to meet him, and guardsmen on the benches sat watchfully.

  "Well, my friend, it's good to see you again!"

  Svein beamed and took his hand. "I feared for your life. How went it?"

  "Not so well," replied Harald, "but some are on my side." More than that he didn't care to say, for Svein's force was immensely bigger than his. "But what of Magnus?"

  "He withdrew before we came to grips. I thought he would, with you at his back, so I was in no haste to meet him." Svein led Harald to the high seat. "Now we can look for a peaceful winter. Even Magnus would not campaign at this season. I've gotten a dwelling for you, and had your wife brought here before the weather got too rough."

  "Thanks," said Harald curtly. He spoke little while they drank. It did not trouble him that he was planning to cast Svein aside; the king was not famous for keeping oaths. .But maintaining the secret of his plans all winter would be hard. He left as soon as he could and went to his own hall.

  Elizabeth met him in the entry room. She was swollen with child and walked slowly. "God be praised, you came back," she said.

  He kissed her lightly, and was surprised at the hunger of her response. The thin hands tightened on his shoulders. "I was so afraid," she whispered. "It has been lonely here."

  "Well, well, that's done with for a while." He ruffled her hair and then, his guardsmen coming in, led her off with proper stateliness. Not till they were alone that night did they have a chance to talk.

  He was pleased to see how well she had been runnin
g the house. Even one of the shut beds which stood in the corners of the hall had been rebuilt to fit him. As the fire pits darkened and men stretched out on the benches, Harald and Elizabeth entered their bed and drew the panel. The straw pallet rustled beneath them as they wriggled out of their clothes. She snuggled into his arms in lightlessness, and he told her how matters stood.

  "So we get peace with Magnus?" she sighed. "That is ... I cannot say how good that is."

  "Much depends on how long we can hoodwink Svein," he answered. "I'll have to keep my men ready for battle."

  "There is naught to fear. Now that your cause is good, God will watch over you."

  "It would be as well to have a few men-at-arms watching too," he said. His hands slid over small breasts firmed now with milk, and he drew her to him.

  She pushed cold palms against his chest. "Harald, darling . . . no. I have not been well. I'm afraid for the child ..."

  He lay in darkness for a bitter moment. "As you wish," he said coldly. "Good night."

  A few minutes later, he heard her try to muffle her weeping, and felt a sudden pity. "It's naught. Forgive my temper. I've missed you."

  "I want to be so much to you," she said, "and I am so little."

  "Don't think thus," he said awkwardly.

  "Take a concubine," she murmured. "I don't care. All men do, don't they?"

  He could hear that she had to force the words out, but decided to follow her rede. It would have been done in any case, but she was good to say it herself.

  The short winter days dragged by. Harald had no trouble finding a yeoman's daughter who would live with him for a while. Waking alone across the hall from the disturbed dreams of a woman with child, now and then he wondered how Ellisif felt, but did not know what to say to her. He did observe that she seldom went to church, and when he asked her why was told that she did not feel at home in the Roman rite.

  "When I am king," he said, "we shall get an Orthodox priest or two for you."

  Her smile broke forth like sunlight.

  He took some care not to get his leman pregnant, for any king's son by any woman had a full claim to the throne and it would be better if he was succeeded by Jaroslav's grandchild.

  Shortly after the new year, Elizabeth was brought to bed. She bore the child with many hours of pain. Harald sat them out drinking with Ulf; he could think of nothing else to do. Whenever a shriek came across the yard from the small house in which she lay, he would stiffen.

  "I have not prayed much," said the Icelander drunkenly, "but let Christ comfort her."

  "The Virgin," said Harald. "She was a mother too. I vow her a hundred candles if this goes well."

  "You're a better churchman than I, though neither of us is very good," said Ulf. "Do you pray for her, and I'll cast a spell an old witch wife taught me." They heard another scream. His teeth snapped together. "By all the gods! Torn apart living . . . is there no other way than this?"

  "They say it was a curse laid on Eve," Harald mumbled, staring into his horn.

  "I think little of a God who would curse Ellisif for something another woman did," snarled Ulf. Sweat lay in the pockmarks on his face. He began to cut runes in a willow wand, slowly and carefully.

  Dawn was chill and gray across miles of snow. Bells were ringing to matins when the midwife entered with something wrapped in a blanket and laid it on the earthen floor at Harald's feet.

  He stared at the tiny wrinkled face. It hardly looked human. "What is it?" he asked. His skull was a hollowness filled with mists, the world was far off and unreal.

  "A girl, my lord," said the woman, opening the blanket. "She seems to be sound."

  "A girl. Well, then . . ." Harald stood up. "How is Ellisif?"

  "She is awake, my lord."

  Harald crossed the wintry courtyard to his wife. She looked up at him through eyes dulled by fading nightmare. He laid a hand on her wet forehead. "Are you well?" he asked.

  "Yes . . ." He could barely hear her. "What do you want to call the child?"

  Harald glanced away. "Maria," he said.

  "For the Virgin? Yes. ... My little Maria ..."

  "Go to sleep now," he said. His lips brushed hers and she smiled wearily.

  * * *

  It was not to be expected that Svein would not know what had occurred in Norway: the Uplanders refusing Harald, but the Dalesmen hailing him, and talk of agreement with Magnus. Harald did not try to hide it. What he wanted to keep secret was the men who now and again slipped into his house after dark with word from the north. Svein made remarks about how Harald's folk were always armed and near the hall, but added a nervous laugh. It was plain, though, that he bore little love for his ally.

  The bargain was made by such messengers. Both sides yielded something: Harald was to be king with Magnus, the younger man ranking first; their movable goods should be divided equally; they would meet to take oaths on this. Now he must get away from Denmark without a fight.

  Spring came in all her ancient trickiness: a day of warm skies, melting snow rushing seaward, birds achatter above wind-ruffled puddles; then snow again, wet and heavy, and ice in the morning; then all at once every road a mud wallow and the woods breaking out their first shy green. Folk crept from their houses and grew aware of crusted winter filth; children leaped on water-gleaming gravel, their bare legs blue with cold but wild to be out and run. The yeomen were suddenly hitching oxen to the wooden plows and turning over the earth in the shadow of gray old dolmens. Springtime feasts were held; men and women danced in a ring, and the clergy labored to give centuried heathen customs a Christian meaning.

  Harald went to Hafn and worked at readying his ships, paint and tar and bast caulking, new ropes of walrus hide, scrubbing and soaking, then out of the boathouse and into the sea! Spring blazed in his blood; this year he was going home.

  He came back to find Svein raising the Danish levies. Now that seed was in the ground, men had time to fight, and the camps about Roskilde bellowed with them.

  "My scouts have brought word that Magnus is preparing to leave Norway," said Svein. "But he seems to have no great fleet, so he must not plan to do much this year. God willing, we can fall on him with more ships and be done with him."

  "That may be," said Harald. "I shall take my whole household, and we can sail straight north after the battle."

  Svein looked narrowly up to him. "Sometimes I wonder about you," he said. "I hear talk."

  Harald raised his high-tilted left eyebrow.

  "You should understand me," said Svein. "By every saint, I too want what is my right. If you knew what a weary time it's been, ever coming back, ever seeing my hopes crumble ..." He wrung his hands. "But I'll not stop fighting till Denmark is mine. If no other means will do, I'll outlive my foes."

  Harald went to his own hall, where he found Elizabeth sitting on a bench outside with the child in her arms. She was still weak after the birth, but Maria grew apace. Harald picked the baby up and swung her over his head, laughing. "Oho, Maria!

  Are you ready to go in viking with me?"

  Sunlight lay snared in the baby's thin fine hair. It was gold, and the great eyes were gray. Elizabeth tried to reach up to the small threshing legs. "Do you think she's a bird, Harald, so high you lift her? Yes, she is, she's my own sweet bird, and now it's time for her meal."

  "Whew! Messy little beast." Harald gave her back and wiped his hands.

  "You were yourself, once," smiled his wife. "Wee and red and noisy. Somehow I can like any man better when I think that that is also true of him."

  "Well, enough of this. Make ready, Ellisif. We go on shipboard tomorrow."

  Fright was suddenly in her face, but she nodded.

  The men walked to Hafn and boarded the waiting vessels. Lean figure headed dragon, heavy buss, broad knarr, the waters were decked over with them. Harald had his men and goods on their own craft. His numbers were not great beside Svein's fleet, but they stayed together. Against a gusty wind, they rowed up the Sound and lay to that eveni
ng at Elsinore village.

  Harald went ashore to talk with Svein. The house which the king was using was bright with fires and noisy with men. He took a seat by the Dane, and was greeted coolly. They drank together in stillness for a while.i

  "I think we can best wait here," said Svein at last. "Magnus must come by us unless he means to fall on Fyen or Jutland."

  Harald nodded. "He knows what treasures I have along; they'll lure him hither."