by Griff Hosker
Haaken said, “You know what you do, Jarl Dragonheart? Snorri’s hair is testament to the horror of the cave. You would go down that hole and beard the Norn?”
“I would but I ask no man to come with me. When I face the beast, I will do so alone.”
Haaken shook his head, “I have stood at your side since we were boys. I will not abandon you now.”
“We will see. I may not survive this attack of the Skull Takers.”
Olaf Leather Neck snorted, “I relish the attack of the Danes. Let them come and we will slaughter them. Facing a witch in her den? No. I have not courage enough for that.”
We reached Cyninges-tūn by noon the next day. We had taken it slowly for we had many weary women and young children. Everyone wished to stay with us. My presence and my warriors made them feel safer. Word spread as we headed up the Water and by the time we reached the gates Brigid had organised food and shelter.
“Where is Kara?”
“She and Aiden have been in the steam hut since you left. I did not want to disturb them.”
“Good for we shall need them with all of their powers. Sigtrygg and most of his warriors are dead. These are the only survivors. The Skull Takers are coming here.”
Brigid gripped my arm, “Can you defeat them?”
“Time alone will tell but I hope so.” I pointed to Gruffyd who was helping one of the women from the back of a horse. “Our son did well. He is a warrior.”
“And that does not please me husband yet I know that we will need every warrior no matter what age they are.”
Over the next seven days my people threw themselves into the work on our defences. While there was daylight they dug and they built. The new fighting platform was completed and stakes sharpened on both palisades. The new, staggered entrance was finished. It made entering the stad more difficult but we all knew it was a price worth paying. Fish and meat were salted and smoked. We had already begun to prepare for the hard times but we now did so with greater urgency. Bagsecg worked well into the darkness turning the metal we had taken from the Danes into arrow and spear heads. The ditches were seeded with spikes and filled with water. My Ulfheonar rode to my three stad to tell the jarls of Sigtrygg’s fate. He had been a redoubtable warrior and his death was a warning for all. They passed the message that there were Danish spies in our land.
I also had a secret way made out of my stad. It went under the north wall. There the ground was higher and I had a gate made in the bank of the outer palisade. We disguised the entrance. This was not for escape, it was to allow my scouts and my Ulfheonar to leave unseen. When war came, there would be eight men guarding our secret passage.
Kara and Aiden had exhausted themselves in the steam hut but it had all been in vain. They had seen nothing. They knew of the disaster which had befallen Sigtrygg but only as a cry from the spirits of the dead. They had had no warning.
“We may have lost our powers, or some of them, at least. Perhaps Ylva had more power than we realised. You are right, father, this is all part of the Norn’s web.”
I shook my head. “You have lost confidence that is all. The loss of Ylva has sucked the spirit from you. I was the same when Wolf Killer died. You must keep working. Your powers will return and I hope that it is in time to save the clan.”
It seemed I was beset by problems. We would have no warning of the Danes; at least not from Kara and Aiden. I needed to know their approach so that I could meet them sword to sword.
I now had the problem of finding another forty warriors. I was forced to the conclusion that it would have to be my farmers and those who lived in my settlement. The bondi would have to be our shield wall. I had Karl One Leg divide them into groups. Some would use bows while most would be trained to use spears. Those who had some skills already were given axes. The Danish shields we had taken and their helmets meant that we had well-armed men. The problem would come if they had to face hardened warriors inside my stad. We had to hold them outside.
On the eighth morning I sent out six of my Ulfheonar in pairs. They were sent to watch the approaches to our land. You cannot hide an army and it would take an army to defeat us. Their orders were clear. They were to watch and then report back. I wanted the enemy to be unaware that we knew of their approach. They had killed Sigtrygg’s scouts and used that to destroy Sigtrygg. They knew of his passwords. We changed ours so that only my Ulfheonar and sentries knew them. They changed every three days. I wanted them to approach blind. I wanted them to seek out my scouts and not find them. All of the farms which lay on the Danish path were warned that they might have to flee quickly. I gave them horses to aid their flight. Most of the farmers sent their women to the settlement. They had the courage to stay and work their farms but they would not risk their wives, daughters and mothers. They worked but with a sword strapped to their waist.
It was Snorri who brought news of their approach. He and Rolf had been camped by the Grize Dale. They hurried back and told us of the approach of the Danes. “There is a large warband. There are a hundred and fifty or so warriors. We saw their approach and we scouted their camp. They have forty mailed warriors.”
“Are there witches?”
“We saw none.”
“Then go and find the other scouts and then trail them. I need to know where they are heading.”
Haaken and Olaf Leather Neck joined me as we looked at the map I had made of my land. “I think they are coming here.”
“It could be Windar’s Mere.” Haaken pointed a finger at the southern end of the Water. “Until they reach here they could be heading for Úlfarrston too!”
“I know. I want you to go to Raibeart. I want his warriors in the woods to the south of Torver. If the Danes head through the woods, then they can delay them while they send a messenger to me. If they come here, then he can follow them.”
Olaf nodded, “And if it is Windar’s Mere?”
“In many ways, I hope it is. Asbjorn has good defences and we can reinforce them from the Rye Dale and across the Hawks Head Ridge.”
“But you believe it will be here.”
“I do. They seek to hurt me here in my home.”
We were on a war footing. My warriors all wore their mail from the moment they climbed from beneath their furs. Every man wore his helmet and strapped on a sword. Gone were the days when women went alone into the forests and woods to collect berries and mushrooms. Armed men escorted them. My fishing boats on the Water now collected not only fish but information. They watched for the sudden flight of birds which would tell them that men were moving through the woods.
My new entrance had a pair of towers. The base was made of stone but their tops were wooden. The climb, up the ladder, was not easy but when I reached the top I was more than ten paces above the ground. I spent much of each day there. Gruffyd and Ragnar would follow me. With the watchman as a fourth it was a tight fit but I could see almost to the farm of Torver. We had arrows ready stacked in each tower. The watchman was not a warrior but an archer. All of them were young and had sharper eyes than I.
“This waiting is hard, father.”
I nodded, “A warrior needs patience. A battle lasts a heartbeat and ends with a sleep but a good warrior knows how to watch.” I pointed to the eastern shore of the Water. “There my six scouts hide and eat dried meat and drink fell water. They suffer the rain and the cold but they do not move and when they spy our foes they will tell us.”
Ragnar asked, “And if they suffer the same fate as Sigtrygg’s scouts?”
“I hope that will not happen. Sigtrygg was taken unawares. Snorri and the others know the cunning of these Danes. Three of my scouts are the best that I have ever seen. They will survive and they will give us warning.” I looked at Ragnar. He wore his new mail and his helmet hung from his pommel. He now looked like a warrior. “And your hearth-weru, they are ready?”
When we had last fought the Danes Gruffyd and Ragnar had become isolated. Einar the Tall and the hearth-weru had forgotten their duty in their
eagerness to pursue the Danes. Luckily Ragnar and Gruffyd had emerged unscathed but I had berated Einar.
“My hearth-weru are ready, grandfather.”
“And you Gruffyd, you will not stir from my side. You hold the banner of the wolf.” With so few Ulfheonar left I had given the banner to my son and Leif the Banner would now fight in the shield wall. It would be a great responsibility for my son. A warrior who held a standard could not use a sword. His only defence was a shield.
He grinned. I had told him his new duties often. “Aye father. I stand behind the Ulfheonar. When you go forward so do I and I listen for your commands so that I may use the wolf to signal.”
“It is not something to be taken lightly, Gruffyd. Men will watch for the signal and I will only give you the command once.”
“I know. And I have two boys who are ready to stand by me.”
Bagsecg had brought two young boys who were not quite old enough to become warriors but had shown some skills with a short sword. Edil and Leif were both keen to impress me. Armed with a sling as well as a small shield they would stand by Gruffyd to give him some protection. With just a leather helmet it would be a fiery introduction to war.
I had just descended to the ground when the sentry shouted, “Jarl, I see Beorn the Scout. He is heading across the Water.”
I headed towards the Water and spied the fishing boat heading from the eastern shore. Our fishermen had instructions to watch out for our scouts as well as Danes. He was with Alf Jansson. I waited until they neared the beach and then they leapt ashore.
I said to the fisherman, Arne, who had brought them, “Have all the fishing boats drawn up on the beach and go into the stad. I fear Beorn brings ill news.”
“Aye Jarl.”
Beorn nodded, “You are right, Jarl.” He came to the point. He pointed to the south. “Jarl they approach Torver. Snorri and the others watch them. They have spent the last few days searching the farms for those who lived there. They found none. They built traps to catch us but they did not. We told those who lived at the southern end of the Water to leave. Already they are heading up the road here.”
“Will the Danes come here or go to Úlfarrston?”
He looked me in the eye, “They come here. Aðils Shape Shifter managed to get into their camp and he heard them speak.” He shook his head, “Even Snorri could not do what he does. The Danes are not just Skull takers. There are other clans there with them. We saw clan of the bear and clan of the dog tokens. The leader of the warband is Ráðvarðr the Bald. He rules them with an iron hand. He had one who argued with him gutted like a fish and his body hung from a tree. Aðils heard him tell them that they had to be patient if they wished to take the stad.” He paused and said, ominously, “They come for Ylva.”
Ragnar said, “But she is not here!”
“They do not know that.” I nodded. “This explains why the witches are not here. They wish to capture Ylva and then they will be complete once more. Perhaps the Norns have planned all of this to save Ylva.” I saw my son and grandson take in the importance of Beorn’s words. “Beorn you and Alf head back down the greenway on the western side of the Water.”
“Aye.”
“Gruffyd, go and summon the Ulfheonar. When you have done that have the men pour water on the far side of the ditch!”
“Aye Father.”
“Ragnar, warn Karl One Leg that they are coming. Then ride with your hearth-weru. Fetch Asbjorn and his men.”
I strode towards Kara and Aiden’s hall. They both stood in the doorway. “They come here.”
I was not surprised that they knew. They could read our thoughts as easily as I could the weather. “Aye and they come for Ylva.”
I saw in their faces that they had not expected that. “Then the Norns took her for protection!”
“Perhaps but when this is over I still go to fetch her back.”
“No, father, you cannot! She is too powerful. Ylva lives and has been saved. This is all wyrd.”
“No daughter, that is not good enough. She is of my blood and I will fight any who tries to take her.” I waved my hand as though to dispel the words which hung in the air. “There will be a time for that. There is no witch with these Danes. You must use your powers.”
Aiden nodded for Kara had withdrawn into herself. “We will use our minds to confuse them. If there is no witch with them then they will be susceptible to deception. We will make a fog in their minds.”
“Good. I intend to make them bleed upon my walls.”
“They will try tricks as they did with Sigtrygg.”
“And I have my own tricks already. Asbjorn will be here by nightfall and Raibeart and his men will follow behind the Danes. Their witches might have spotted such tricks but their warriors will not.” I looked up at the Old Man. The sun shone on the eastern side and I could almost see old Olaf’s face. “We have Olaf to watch us this day.” He would have approved of our actions. He had died defending his own hall on Man.
Chapter 6
Asbjorn and his men arrived after dark and entered the gates unseen for a fog had descended upon the Water. This was not of Aiden’s doing. He smiled at me, “I think this is the work of the spirits who control this land. The Danes are unnatural. From what you told me they kill their own. The taking of skulls is not natural. They have made a mistake not bringing their witches with them. They have no protection from the earth. The Mother adds her protection to that which we have built.”
“We need to be alert. Sigtrygg told me that they knew his passwords. They have spies in the land. Watch everyone.”
I made sure that all ate well and that we had more sentries on the walls than normal. I had fires lit beyond our walls. They would not burn all night but they would light our ditches. With our scouts watching I knew they would not be able to hide close to our walls as they had done before.
I was in the tower before dawn. Wrapped against the cold I watched the light appear from the east. The last of the fires had died not long before I reached the towers. Even as I stood and watched, I sensed movement. I hissed, “Stand to!”
The words were passed down the wall so that the walls themselves seemed to speak. I peered at the land to the south. It was not pitch black. Gruffyd had good eyes, “It is Aðils and Beorn.”
I saw my scouts appear. It meant only Snorri and Rolf remained at large. I said, “Open the gate.” Turning I said, “You two stay here and watch.”
As I reached the bottom of the ladder I saw the two boys, Edil and Leif, standing with my furled banner. They did not look nervous but were excited at the prospect of going to war. I waited with them as both sets of gates were hauled open. Beorn said simply, “They are in the woods beneath the Old Man. We waited until they camped before we came back. Snorri and Rolf watch them. They said they could do more harm outside the walls.”
Aðils said, “We would have stayed with them but Snorri said we would be of more use in here.”
“And so you will. Your bow, Aðils, can slay many more from my walls than in the woods where you could be hunted. Get food and then join me on the walls.”
My Ulfheonar all joined me. There were two outside the walls but the rest were ready to do battle. Asbjorn and Karl One Leg were in attendance too. “They come. You know your places. Today we do not fight as the Ulfheonar, we fight as the men of Cyninges-tūn. I have spread you out so that there are captains amongst those for whom war is new. Today you are all leaders.”
Haaken nodded, “The plan is unchanged? We hold them until they are weak and then sally forth?”
“Aye we let Snorri and Raibeart do their work in the woods and we hold them here.” As they left to take their positions I said to Edil and Leif. “And now is the time for you two to take your place with Gruffyd. Watch my son. Today will see if you are worthy to become warriors of Cyninges-tūn.”
“We will not let you down.”
They climbed the ladder to the fighting platform above the gate. Olaf Leather Neck would be there with
six men from the stad. I shouted up to them, “Gruffyd, Ragnar, take your places.” I saw Haaken leading his thirty men to the outer palisade. It meant we had double the bows to thin them as they approached and they would have enough time to enter the gate if things went ill. Our new defences at the southern end allowed Olaf and his men to release their arrows and send their stones over the heads of Haaken and his men.
Gruffyd joined the two boys and Ragnar went to the other tower with his hearth-weru. I returned to my tower just as light began to spill from the east. I took one of the bows which stood in the corner and strung it. I turned to the sentry, Einar Siggison, “Let us see who can send an arrow the furthest, eh Einar?”
He was a farmer of thirty summers. His home nestled beneath Olaf’s gaze. His wife and young son waited below. This would be the day when he defended them. He had sailed with me once but here his fight would be for his clan and family. I saw the determination in his eyes, “Aye jarl. They may destroy my farm but they will pay for that with their blood!”
A nervous air descended on my walls. We all peered to the west and the woods beneath Old Olaf. All now knew that the enemy were there. Kara and Aiden were in their hall making a fog in the minds of the Danes but we all knew that they would come.
When they came, it was almost noon. Three women and two children fled from the woods with two men behind. The men were armed and kept looking over their shoulders as though they were being pursued and then we saw them. The Danish warriors burst from the woods and were just two hundred paces behind them.
I heard Haaken shout, “Prepare to open the gate!”
“No!” I was not convinced that this was all that it appeared.
My voice made every head turn.
Einar peered at the refugees, “It is Thora and her family. They farm the valley on the far side of mine.” I was about to shout, open the gates when Einar prepared an arrow. “But they are not her family! Those men are Danes!”