Viking Witch (Dragonheart Book 15)

by Griff Hosker

  A band waited for us at Satter’s Waite. I reined in for they had a shield wall. I dismounted and tied my horse to a tree. This would need men on foot. As my warriors joined me I counted them. I saw that there were no more than thirty of them. The front rank had men wearing mail. I could not see the chief, Ráðvarðr the Bald, who had led them. There was no helmet with a red painted skull but there were three warriors who had a similar design upon their shield.

  As I waited I shouted, “Where is Ráðvarðr the Bald? I will fight him now, man to man!”

  A voice shouted, “He waits for you in Valhalla! He will pay you pay for the dishonourable way you fought! He thought you had honour but you do not. You fight from behind walls and use fire! You are not a man! You are a nithing!”

  I heard my men growling behind me. I held up my hand, “I do not bandy words with a snake who takes skulls. I am Jarl Dragonheart and I wield the sword that was touched by the gods. You will all die this day!”

  My men were already forming up on me. I heard Haaken say, “Ragnar, Gruffyd, stay in the second rank. This is work for Ulfheonar!”

  The Dane was brave and he shouted back, “We all die, Ulfheonar! We will take some of you with us. Our Jarl is dead and we are oathsworn.”

  Haaken could not resist a jibe despite my instructions for silence, “Is that why you ran, Dane? If you had been oathsworn then your bodies would lie with Ráðvarðr the Bald!”

  “Enough!”

  Haaken ignored me and began banging his shield. My men took up the chant. I lifted my spear and we marched in time to the chant. It was like the drum of doom beating the time to the Dane’s death.

  Ulfheonar, warriors strong

  Ulfheonar, warriors brave

  Ulfheonar, fierce as the wolf

  Ulfheonar, hides in plain sight

  Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

  Ulfheonar, serving the sword

  Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

  Ulfheonar, serving the sword

  Ulfheonar, warriors strong

  Ulfheonar, warriors brave

  Ulfheonar, fierce as the wolf

  Ulfheonar, hides in plain sight

  Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

  Ulfheonar, serving the sword

  Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

  Ulfheonar, serving the sword

  They had no archers and so the men in the second rank did not need to cover us with their shields. The spears of Ragnar and Gruffyd rested on my shoulders. I headed for the three warriors with the red skulls upon their shields. Their spears were shattered but they held swords and axes. Behind their helmets I saw eyes that held no fear. They knew that death was coming and they were prepared to die. That made them a dangerous enemy. I determined to strike swiftly and true.

  I held my spear overhand. I was taller than the Dane and I would use my height to my advantage. As we closed with them we all punched our shields on the word ‘sword’. The Dane struck with his own sword at the same time and shield and sword clattered together. I stabbed down with my spear at the same moment. There was a gap between his byrnie and his helmet. My spear found it. His shield was slow to rise and the spear head hit an artery. The blood spurted like a fountain in Miklagård! It sprayed to the side. The Dane who was showered with the blood could not see and Haaken’s spear was rammed so hard into the Skull Taker’s head that it smashed out of the back. With the two men dead Haaken and I stepped through the gap.

  As I had expected those in the second rank had no mail. A huge Dane in the second rank had no time to bring his sword up but he tried to head butt me. He was the same height but I managed to bring up my shield. His face struck the boss of my shield. I was too close to use my spear and so, while he was stunned, I brought my knee up hard between his legs. He shouted in pain and lost his balance. As he fell back into the next man I thrust my spear into him. I stabbed too hard and my spear head stuck in the ground. I drew my sword. Even as I was drawing it a Dane saw his chance and a sword swung towards my right side. Two spears from behind struck him at the same time. As he fell I glanced behind and saw that my son and grandson had saved my life.

  It was the last act for the Danes lay dead or dying. Two of Asbjorn’s men were also dead but my Ulfheonar all lived. “Asbjorn, take your men and pursue them to the borders of our land. Then return to your stad. We will send your share of the treasure.”

  “Aye jarl. We will take our dead with us and bury them with honour by the Mere.” He nodded toward their cloak covered bodies. “They were new warriors but they died well. I have much to do to train my men for war.”

  “They did well.”

  “Is this over, Jarl?”

  “No Asbjorn the Strong; they will come again. They seek Ylva as do we. Be on your guard and continue to make your home as strong as you can. You saw that mine was not as strong as it should have been. We have more work to do.”

  “Aye jarl!”

  We stripped the bodies of their mail, weapons and helmets. Some had treasure with them. Then we piled their bodies in the ruins of Satter’s home and burned them. Satter had been a good warrior and he would have understood. We did not want carrion to grow bold having tasted human flesh. Besides which the last shield wall had fought well. They had earned the right.

  Part Two

  Chapter 7

  Ylva

  As we rode back I spoke of our defences to Haaken. “The ditches worked but we lost the wall.”

  He nodded, “We did not have enough men. We were just lucky that they did not try to attack at more than one place.”

  “We cannot make men, Haaken.”

  “No but we could use more boys and old men on the upper fighting platform. They could use bows and stones. And we could make the sides of the palisades slicker. They were able to clamber up too easily. The offset gate helped.”

  I lowered my voice. “Next time they will bring the whole clan and the witches. We have beaten off two smaller bands. It has cost them dear. They will either give up or bring everyone in the clan to defeat us. Ráðvarðr the Bald said that they wished to take our land. You have been to Loidis; it is a harsh land. This would seem like paradise by comparison. And they have brought other clans too. The witches draw warriors as does the promise of this golden land. The Skull Takers come for Ylva but the other Danes come for our land.”

  “And you still intend to go for Ylva?”

  “I do. I will just take the Ulfheonar and Ragnar’s hearth-weru. We need not go to war but I would have protection for my drekar.”

  “And Kara and Aiden?”

  “I leave them here.” He cocked his head to look at my face. “They are under the sway of this witch and I am not. They would be a distraction at best and at worst might side with the witch. They can stay here. The Land of the Wolf still needs watching.”

  The smoke we saw spiralling into the sky as we headed up through the late afternoon showed us that the bodies of the dead Danes were already being burned. Bagsecg and Scanlan had begun work on the repairs to our walls. They needed no orders from me. The corpses of the Danes were terrifying, even in death. Their limed hair hung with animal skulls, painted faces and filed teeth showed my people that we were facing our most terrifying foe.

  Scanlan said, “Jarl I thought to have the bridge retract up to the walls. It will add to the defence of the gate and stop them crossing.”

  “They could cut the ropes.”

  Bagsecg shook his head, “I will use the poor mail and weapons to make two chains. They will not cut through that.”

  “Good.”

  Bagsecg said, quietly, “Is it over?”

  “For a time, yes. The survivors will reach Loidis and their witches and this Baggi Skull Splitter will realise that they have neither Ylva nor my head. They will return again but they will need time to recover. I will sail south and recover my granddaughter.”

  Both looked shocked, “But she has been taken by a witch!”

  “I know, Bagsecg. If she was yours would y
ou worry who held her?” He shook his head, “I would face a dragon to fetch her home.”

  “You are a brave man.”

  “No Scanlan, I am a father and a grandfather. There is nothing more important to me than my family.”

  I went, with my son and grandson, to the Water. This was a ritual now. We shed our armour, padded byrnie and kyrtle and then we immersed ourselves in the Water. I squatted down beneath its surface and opened my eyes to peer into the chilly icy water. I had, occasionally, seen the spirit of my dead wife, Erika, but this time I saw just the stones on the bottom. I did not worry. It calmed me to be there and know that her spirit was close by. When I thought my lungs would burst I rose to the surface.

  Ragnar shook his head, “How do you stay under so long?”

  “Practice. When you are Ulfheonar you need many skills. Holding your breath under water is just one of them.”

  “Father, do we come with you when you go to bring back Ylva?”

  I nodded, “I will need warriors who are not afraid. Ylva is family and I know that you will face whatever terror there is.”

  Gruffyd added, quietly, “And do we go into the cave?”

  “I do not know. I will go and I will decide who accompanies me, if any, while I am there.”

  Ragnar said, “I would go with you, grandfather for I know that my father would. I will try to be my father for you.”

  “No, Ragnar, a warrior should be himself. You can never be someone else. Your father was never me and I am certainly not my own father. The gods want us to be true to ourselves and our own nature.”

  Feeling refreshed we went into my hall where I would have the task of telling my wife what I intended. Surprisingly she seemed resigned to it. “She is of your blood. You cannot leave her there. I know she is not a Christian but she should not be with a witch.”

  Of all the people in my stad she was the one who did not believe in the power of witches. Even Macha and Deidra accepted that volva had powers but my wife was convinced they were tricks. She did not fear me facing a witch.

  Kara and Aiden were less happy and they tried to persuade me to take them. “You had your chance and you left her with the witch.”

  “But you need us father! We have powers that you do not.”

  “No, Kara, your powers cannot defeat the witch. You sent Ylva there because you wished to gain power you could not give. It needs a warrior. I am not afraid. You forget that the blood of your grandmother came directly to me. I will descend into the bowels of the earth and I will find my granddaughter.”

  “She may not wish to return!”

  “Then I must persuade her.” I was resolved. I did not know how I would bring her back but I was Ulfheonar and I would find a way.

  I waited only until my Ulfheonar had said goodbye to their families and word had reached me that Erik Short Toe had the drekar prepared for sea. Brigid was more concerned about our son. Elfrida, too, shed tears. Kara and Aiden gave them both charms to ward off the power of the witch. They would not work; the witch was all powerful. Magic could not defeat her.

  As we headed out to sea, on the evening tide, I wondered if I would ever see my home again. I was not afraid of the witch. I was not even afraid of failure for if I failed then I would be dead. My fear was of leaving Ylva in the witch’s clutches. With so few warriors even my son and grandson had to take an oar. I smiled as I saw them straining to keep up with the Ulfheonar. They would not have to row for long for Erik knew the currents and the winds better than any. My crew rowed until we could catch a favourable wind.

  Even though they did not row far their hands were raw when they had finished. Snorri took pity on them and used some of Aiden’s salve to ease the pain. I stood by the steering board with Raibeart, Haaken and Erik.

  “I know the sea where the isle should be, Jarl Dragonheart. Like Raibeart I know the rough position but I am not sure that it will be there when we reach it.”

  I nodded, “I have thought about that. The island is always there. It is just that it remains hidden from us. I have a plan to find it so long as the two of you can place us where it should be.”

  I had them puzzled but I had delved deep into my dream. I thought I saw a way. Only time would tell.

  The winds were in our favour but they were not strong winds. It took all night to reach the isle of Mona. As dawn broke we passed the western cliffs. The Saxons who lived there now saw us as we sailed by. They could not harm us. We beat towards the island of the puffins and passed that by the middle of the afternoon. We sailed on into the dark but pulled in close to the hour of midnight into a small bay on the north coast of Wessex in the land which had been Corn Walum until Egbert had captured it.

  “Why have we pulled in, Father? Is this not the land of Egbert?”

  “It is, Gruffyd, but the coast is treacherous south of here. It would be too much of a risk to sail the ship in the dark. Better we try it in daylight. Syllingar is but a good day’s sailing from here.”

  However, when we woke there was a thick fog lying all around the drekar. We dared not move. I saw some of my Ulfheonar looking worried. “What is the matter, Karl Karlsson? Have you never seen fog before?”

  “Aye Jarl but this came up so suddenly that it looks like a Norns’ web!”

  “Perhaps it is. Can we do anything about that? Perhaps turn back?”

  “I did not mean that, Jarl.”

  Haaken said, “It delays us that is all, Karl.” My oldest friend was as determined as I was to see this through to its bitter end no matter what obstacles the Norns put in our way.

  We prepared to sail although as there was no breeze we would have to row. Suddenly the fog lifted as thought a giant had swallowed the grey mist. There was bright sunshine. As Erik gave orders for the crew to row I spotted a huddle of horsemen on the cliff top. We had been seen. They were the men of Wessex. I recognised their banner. If they had seen us sooner, then we might have had trouble. I felt happy that we were away and we headed for the dangerous tip of land which marked the end of Britannia.

  The men sang as they rowed for there was still not a breath of breeze. They sang Finni’s song. His death was still fresh in our mind and we would do him honour.

  The Danes they came in dark of night

  They slew Harland without a fight

  Babies children all were slain

  Mothers and daughters split in twain

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Across the land the Ulfheonar trekked

  Finding a land by Danes' hands wrecked

  Ready to die to kill this Dane

  Dragonheart was Eggles' bane

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  With boys as men the ships were fired

  Warriors had these heroes sired

  Then Ulfheonar fought their foe

  Slaying all in the drekar's glow

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  When the Danes were broke, their leader fled

  Leaving his army lying dead

  He sailed away to hide and plot

  Dragonheart's fury was red hot

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Then sailed the men of Cyninges-tūn

  Sailing from the setting sun

  They caught the Skull upon the sea

  Beneath the church of Hwitebi

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Her
oes all they fought the Dane

  But Finni the Dreamer, he was slain

  Then full of fury their blood it boiled

  Through blood and bodies the warriors toiled

  With one swift blow the skull was killed

  With bodies and ships the Esk was filled

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  Viking enemy, taking heads

  Viking warriors fighting back

  It was late afternoon when we finally found a wind and the exhausted crew were able to ship oars. I went to the dragon prow to stare out at the grey sea which stretched to the horizon. Somewhere out there was an island and now we had to find it. We spent the last hours of daylight seeking the mysterious isle. As darkness fell we furled the sail and dropped an anchor. We had searched but not found it. There were islands and there were rocks. They were dotted all around but none was the island we sought.

  We ate cold rations and slept on the deck while we waited for dawn. We awoke to a grey day; a dank day. Once again the crew had to row. I stood with Raibeart at the prow.

  “I am sorry Jarl. I have let you down. I have not found the island. I am certain it was close to this part of the ocean.”

  “You have nothing to apologise for. I did not think it would be easy. We will find it.”

  Raibeart pointed ahead, “Not today, jarl. Look at that fog bank!”

  I heard Erik Short Toe shout, “Ship oars.”

  As I peered ahead I remembered my dream. I was seeing that which I had seen in my dream. I sniffed. I turned and shouted, “Aðils!”

  Aðils Shape Shifter hurried next to me. “Yes Jarl?”

  “I need your nose.”

  Haaken and Ragnar, along with Gruffyd, had followed my youngest Ulfheonar. Haaken asked, “His nose?”

  “What can you smell?”

  I could see that he was confused but he was obedient and he stood up and, closing his eyes, sniffed. “I smell the resin of the prow.” He sniffed again, “The sea and seaweed.” He turned and opened his eyes. “What am I supposed to smell, Jarl?”

  “Just tell me what you smell.”

  He shrugged and turned back, “The sea.” There was silence. I could almost hear my men’s breath. Then suddenly he said, “Smoke! I smell smoke!” He pointed to the steerboard side.