by Griff Hosker
When they had gone, I turned to Ragnar and Gruffyd. “And you two need sleep. Tomorrow we head south and you will bring your hearth-weru, Ragnar. The grass may be emerging from the ground but our men must sharpen swords and not ploughs.”
When they had gone Elfrida asked, “Are you so certain that war is coming?”
I gave her a grim smile. Do you think that the taking of Ylva was an accident? The Norns are spinning once more. I had thought war was threatened when I returned from Eoforwic but now I think it is imminent.”
“Then we will organise the women. If the clan is in danger, then it is the duty of us all to be prepared.”
I did not follow my own advice. I sat and stared into the fire. I had plans to modify and men to organise. We had only added one Ulfheonar: Aðils Shape Shifter. He had hunted the wolf. He was the son of a hill farmer, Aðgísl Svensson. Aðils’ mother and father had died two winter’s since and he had stayed in the hill farm alone. He had learned to be as one with the woods, the rocks and the land. He was as good as Snorri and Beorn as a scout and his skills with a bow were legendary. It was just his sword skills which needed work and Haaken could teach those.
It meant I now had sixteen Ulfheonar. I did not count those Ulfheonar who were not gesith and jarls. Asbjorn’s crew numbered twenty. He would still have others to guard Windar’s Mere’s walls. In Úlfarrston Raibeart commanded another twenty. Although Raibeart’s were not Norse they were as fine a crew as I had met. Sigtrygg’s forty men were vital to my plans. The bondi in my stad were forty in number. I also had the six hearth-weru of my grandson. It meant that if the Danes came I could count on over a hundred warriors to face them. The other three stad I would leave untouched. If I withdrew men from my three other stad I was inviting disaster. A hundred of my clan would be enough.
I had finished my plans as the smell of baking bread drifted from the bakery at the rear of my hall. I went to see the slaves. Uhtric, my servant, supervised them. He frowned, “You did not sleep Jarl. It is not good. A man needs his sleep.”
“Thank you Uhtric but sometimes sleep does not come.”
He nodded, “I heard about the little one. You have much to bear, Jarl. I have no family save yours but I know that my heart aches at the pain you have had to endure. I know not how you do so.”
I pointed beyond the walls. “I think part of me was made from the stone of this land. I have in my heart a place made of stone where none can hurt me. I go to that fortress.”
“The Dragonheart!” he nodded, “You are well named.”
He was right. When I had been given that name I had not thought of what it meant. Now I did. My heart had to be cold, like a fire drake. I had to be vengeful and terrifying yet a dragon could raise young and care for them. Now I saw that I had been meant to grow into my name. The dragon of which we had dreamed was me. If I did not make the right decisions, then I would destroy my own people. I had a greater responsibility than ever. I clutched my amulets and asked the spirits of all my people for help.
With all my Ulfheonar and Ragnar’s Hearth-weru I was taking a large band to Úlfarrston. I was heading for Sigtrygg Thrandson’s stad later than I would have wished. I did not wish to fall foul of Danish scouts. I made sure that Erik Short Toe had begun the process of preparing my ships for sea and then we headed across the river towards the enclave that was my southernmost stad.
Aðils Shape Shifter roamed ahead with Snorri and Beorn the Scout. Both were impressed with my newest warrior. As we rode south Olaf told me of the wolf hunt. “The boy had killed a wolf when he lived alone! He had the skin but he wished to follow the rules of the Ulfheonar. In all the hunts I have seen his was the most impressive. He truly is a shape shifter. He wore the skin of the wolf he had already killed and managed to approach within ten paces of the wolves before he was spotted. He killed his wolf with a single thrust of his spear and drove off the others. Snorri was impressed.”
He had much in common with me. I had killed my first wolf not as a ritual but out of necessity. I had been defending Old Ragnar and myself. I took it as a good omen. I was wrong.
It was Beorn the Scout who raced back with the news. “Jarl, we have found people fleeing from Sigtrygg’s Stad. The Skull Takers have attacked! The stad is lost!”
Chapter 5
The Norns were cruel. Had I left when I had planned I might have reached Sigtrygg but the return of my daughter and Aiden had changed my plans. Inwardly I cursed but I kept an impassive face. “We ride hard. Perhaps we can save more of our people. I care not what happens to the horses. We ride as though our lives depended upon it. Our people are in danger.”
We were all well mounted and we had good horses. The ground was undulating and we made good time. We galloped hard. After a short time we began to pass huddles of women and children who cowered at our approach. They saw mailed riders; we could be Danes. We shouted that we would return. They would be safe for any Dane would have to get through us to get at them. I knew that Snorri and Aðils Shape Shifter would be seeking out Sigtrygg and any survivors of this attack. We could ride hard knowing we would not be ambushed. We passed thirty or so survivors. None were warriors. I knew that other refugees would have headed due north towards Windar’s Mere. These might not be the only ones who had escaped. I hoped that Sigtrygg, although he might have lost his stad, might still survive. He and his warriors were stout. It would take many men to defeat him.
We were still some way from the stad when Snorri appeared from behind a tree, “Hold, Jarl. They are over the next rise. Sigtrygg and his oathsworn have formed a shield wall and are singing their death song. They have not long to live.”
“Then we ride to war!”
I kicked my lathered horse hard as I drew my sword. As we crested the rise I saw that the band of Danes had the eight warriors surrounded. Aðils Shape Shifter had dismounted and was loosing arrows as fast as he could. A half dozen Danes turned to run towards him. I reined in next to him and threw myself from my saddle. I ran at the Danes. I did not even bother to pull my shield around. I was angry. The Norns had tricked me again! The Danes would pay the price. I drew my seax and sword, hurling myself at the six surprised Danes. They had expected me to wait for their attack. I saw that each had an animal skull on either their helmet or around their necks. They were Skull Takers. I moved so quickly that they barely had time to react. I flicked the spear away with my seax and rammed my sword into the stomach of the first Dane. My speed had taken them by surprise and the second Dane watched as my seax tore across his throat. I felt a blow on my back as one of the others swung his sword at me. The sword cracked off my shield; hidden beneath my wolf cloak. Then there was a cry as Haaken One Eye ended his life.
Leaving the other three for my warriors I ran, recklessly, towards the ever-shrinking shield wall. I could hear them singing.
“Sigtrygg Thrandson’s warriors fight
Come you foes into our night
Sigtrygg Thrandson’s oathsworn’s end
Brother to brother friend to friend”
Their death song made me reckless. “Skull Takers! Jarl Dragonheart comes to end your lives!” My roared challenge made some turn and that gave the survivors the chance to hold on until more help came. A tall warrior with a two-handed axe and a large skull on his helmet ran at me. I saw that he had two smaller skulls hanging from his hair. If this was intended to frighten me he failed. He wore mail and I would have to get inside his swinging strokes. I had the experience of forty years behind me. He was younger than I was and saw the flecks of grey in my beard. It made him overconfident. He laughed, “You will die, old man!”
In the time it took for him to speak those words I threw my seax at him and swung my shield around from my back. A seax does not throw well but I was lucky. My sharpened blade ripped across the back of his right hand and he began to bleed. It angered him and he swung hard at my head. I ducked and lifted my shield. The edge of the axe caught the boss on my shield. It jarred. I thrust blindly with my sword underneath m
y shield. It tore into the mail at his side. Although I did not strike flesh I weakened his mail and as I stepped back I saw that there was now a gap there.
All around me were the sounds of metal on wood and the cries of the wounded and dying for my men had now joined the battle. The arrows which fell on the Danes told me that Aðils Shape Shifter was still using his bow well. I prayed to the Allfather that Sigtrygg and his oathsworn would survive.
I had now warned the chieftain that I had some skill and he came at me with feet wide apart to give him balance. He swung his axe so that it was hard for me to get inside it. I decided to take a risk. As he swung I punched the boss of my shield at his hands. I struck his left hand. He reeled backwards a little and I slashed my sword at his knee. I struck it below his byrnie and felt it scrape along the bone. As I tore it back I saw his shield arm drop a little. I had torn tendons. I stepped back to assess what damage I had done. As I did so I saw that there were just three warriors standing with Sigtrygg. I had to end this. I feinted with my sword at the Dane’s good leg and he tried to step back quickly. His weakened leg could not take the weight and he fell backwards. I stepped on to his stomach and rammed my sword into his neck. I was moving towards the beleaguered Sigtrygg even as I pulled it out.
“Ragnar’s Spirit!” I smashed my shield and sword into the backs of three Danes. One fell winded and my sword caught the side of a second. The third whirled around to face me. He was so close that I pulled back my head and butted him in the face. He had an open helmet and his nose blossomed like a ripe plum. As he was toppling backwards I brought my sword against his side and ripped him open to this ribs.
As I looked up I saw that there were just three warriors left and Sigtrygg was not one of them. Ignoring the three at my feet I stabbed one of the remaining Danes in the back. I used so much force that the blade came out of his front. A Dane next to me shouted in triumph as he started to swing his sword at my unprotected side. The arrow from Aðils Shape Shifter’s bow hit him in the side of the head and killed him instantly.
There were no Danes left around the last stand of Sigtrygg Thrandson’s hearth-weru. My Ulfheonar had slain them. There were three wounded warriors left and they knelt around their jarl. I dropped my shield and leaned over him. He looked up as one of his men took the helmet from him. He had many wounds, to his face, his legs, his arms and his body. I saw that his cheek had been laid open to the bone looking down I could see the contents of his stomach. He was dying. “Thank you for coming Jarl Dragonheart.” He winced and his eyes closed briefly. His bloody fingers gripped my arm. He spoke urgently for he knew his time was come. “They knew our passwords and our routines, Jarl! I have failed you.” He arced his back as pain coursed through his body. I said nothing. I could talk later. These would be Sigtrygg’s last words. “Watch over my people; those that survive. We had a good home here but I fear…” He died. His hands were on his sword.
I stood and looked up to the skies, “Allfather, welcome a great warrior and an Ulfheonar. Sigtrygg Thrandson was never foresworn and was a true warrior. This was his father’s land and he made it his. Prepare a place for him in your hall and I will see him ere long. Sigtrygg!”
His oathsworn raised their swords as did the Ulfheonar who stood around us, “Sigtrygg!”
I stood and saw that the Danes we had not slain were now fleeing. “After them! Let none escape!”
This was not just an act of vengeance. I wanted none to return so that they would wonder what happened to this warband. We had been caught napping but I believed we could turn this disaster to our advantage. I picked up my shield and joined in the chase. Ragnar, Gruffyd and Ragnar’s hearth-weru were younger and faster than almost all of the Ulfheonar. Along with Aðils Shape Shifter they began to catch the Danes. The Danes who were fleeing had no mail. They should have been faster but there was grim determination in my men. They disappeared over a rise and as I followed I saw a wounded Dane. He had lost an arm and was bleeding to death. He was reaching over with his left hand to try to reach his sword. I picked it up and held it by the blade.
“You are dying Skull Taker. Do you want this and then you can go to Valhalla?”
He grunted and a tendril of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, “And what is the price?”
“Who led you?”
“The warrior with the axe that you slew, Baldrekr The Wild.” It was not the chief, Baggi. I had hoped it was.
“How many more men are there at Loidis?”
His eyes widened. I had surprised him. Then he laughed, “More than we brought today! Do not worry Ulfheonar, Prince Baggi will come and when Asta tears your soul from within you I will be waiting in Valhalla!” He held his hand out. I had learned all that I could and I gave it to him. He looked up at the sky and cried, “Odin!” Then the light went from his eyes.
It was getting on to late afternoon and a chill was spreading from the east by the time my hunters returned. Gruffyd and Ragnar both had blood spattered mail and their swords were notched. Einar the Tall said, “None escaped Jarl.” He nodded towards Gruffyd and Ragnar. “They did well.”
“You are both blooded. I fear this will not be the last Danish blood your swords taste. Collect the weapons and the mail. We shall need it before long.”
It was late in the night by the time we reached Úlfarrston with the survivors of the attack. We would have reached there sooner but we had our dead to honour and to bury. They deserved that. Olaf Leather Neck took some of my men and they burned Sigtrygg’s stad. If he could not have it then no one would. The smoke had billowed in the sky as a marker for our former outpost. We had lost Elfridaby and now Sigtrygg’s stad. We were losing our land. Son the blackened lines would be all that remained of Sigtrygg’s stad. That did not hurt but to lose our warriors tore out my heart.
We used the horses to carry the wounded and the women. I spoke with Nagli the Swift. One of Sigtrygg’s oathsworn he had a wounded leg and he rode my horse. “Tell me, Nagli, what happened?”
“We had scouts out. We always did. The jarl was careful. When two scouts did not return, he became worried and sent Arne Jorgenson with ten warriors to find them. He then prepared our defences. Arne was just leaving the stad and the gate was open when two warriors appeared. They gave the password to Arne. He turned to speak and then more Danes rose from the ground and the ditch where they had hidden. They burst through the gate before we could react. Jarl Sigtrygg shouted for any who were not warriors to flee. Arne and his men slowed down the advance but there were many Danes and Arne and his men were slaughtered but they bought time. The jarl ordered the women and children to flee. He knew there was treachery. They had known our passwords. The women and children fled and the jarl formed a shield wall to allow our people to escape. We had but twenty-four warriors left and the Danes had many more than we did. We retreated out of the other gate. We paid a heavy price for the land we surrendered. Three Danes fell for each one we lost. We wondered if we might manage to extricate ourselves and reach Úlfarrston and then a second band cut off our retreat. We formed a shield wall. You came upon us soon after. Had we not been surrounded then we might have reached you.” I saw his head droop. They had been so close.
“It was not your fault.” I told him of the Norns and their web. He shook his head and grasped his amulet.
Sigtrygg’s death had not been in vain. I now saw their cunning. They had lured his men out of the gate to gain entry. They had had spies too who had learned of Sigtrygg’s passwords and routines. Our new offset defences would stop that but they had also used a second warband. I had to work out how to stop that. My first problem was Úlfarrston. That was now isolated. It would take some time for Baggi Skull Splitter to realise that his warband were all dead. I guessed he would send scouts to see what had happened to them. They would find the burned out stad and the corpses of their dead. What would he do next?
I knew that Aiden and Kara would need to seek guidance from the spirit world but that would not give me an accurate account. I
would have to use my three scouts to watch for them. I worked out that we had a month at most to finish our preparations. He would expect a messenger back from Baldrekr. It was six days to Loidis. We would use each moment well.
Pasgen ap Coen made the refugees welcome and housed my men in his warrior hall. I sat with Olaf, Haaken, Raibeart and the headman of Úlfarrston.
“The Danes will be coming. The only question is where will they strike? Here? Windar’s mere or Cyninges-tūn?”
Olaf Leather Neck shook his head, “It could be anywhere Jarl. They showed us that they are cunning. The ploy they used was effective. Sigtrygg was a good jarl and he was prepared yet he fell.”
“The nights are getting shorter. They used the darkness to hide themselves in plain view. They will find that harder here. You have cleared the land well. The estuary and the river are a better boundary than Sigtrygg had.”
“Aye and we have made our walls higher. Still I fear for my people. We are not as hardy as your folk. Could we withstand an attack?”
I did not know. Already I feared that the Danes would use an attack on Úlfarrston to draw me from behind my walls. “Then you must have riders ready to fetch us if your scouts and your ships see anything.”
“We will.”
“And Raibeart, if we succeed in thwarting this attack I have need of you.”
“Aye jarl, what?”
I would have you pilot ‘Heart of the Dragon’ to Syllingar. I would rescue my granddaughter.”
It was as though an icy wind had suddenly whistled through the well-lit hall. They all shivered and clutched amulets. “But this is a Norn, jarl. Aiden told me as much when he returned.”
“Could you find the island again?”
“I know the waters where it should lie but…”
“That will do. All I need you to do is prepare Erik. I will have to return quickly to Cyninges-tūn. We have much to do. You will have less than a month to prepare for any attack. And remember they have had spies. They knew how Sigtrygg and his men defended their stad. Change your routines and passwords and be wary of all strangers. Better to be inhospitable than to die by a knife in the night. Find some time to speak with Erik. You are both captains.”