by Griff Hosker
“Then they will be ready.”
My jarls arrived the next day. I met with Haaken and Olaf as well as my son and grandson. The eight of us sat around my table. “The Danes are coming and I will need every warrior the three of you have. You will have to leave the defence of your stad to old men, women, children and slaves.”
The three of them nodded. I rarely gave commands. Ketil asked, “When?”
“That is a good question. We have hurt them and hurt them badly. They will need to recruit more warriors. These are not farmers. These are plunderers. They may come in winter.”
“In winter? No one fights in winter.”
“We have done but you are right and that is why I think they will come in winter. It is the time we least expect it. This Baggi does the unexpected. However, I aim to fight them in the valley of Ulla’s Water, beneath the Úlfarrberg. No matter when they come we will try to fight them there.”
“How can you manage that, Jarl Dragonheart? Will Aiden and Kara use magic?”
“No Asbjorn for we fight witches this time. I hope to trick them.”
“And if you do not trick them?”
“Then, Ulf, we shall fight them wherever they come. They will outnumber us and we need somewhere that gives us an advantage.”
“You will use Snorri and the scouts?”
“Aye and Kara, Aiden and Ylva.”
“Ylva is well?”
“Aye Ketil. She has come back from the brink. Ylva may be the salvation of our people. She is now a woman and a witch. Let us match our witches against theirs. I know that our warriors are better.”
Ketil said, “I believe my lands are safe. King Eanred sent a messenger. He hoped that our alliance still held. He would not have done so if he thought we were a threat.”
Ulf Olafsson nodded his agreement, “We have had embassies from the men of Strathclyde and Hibernia suing for peace. They sent hostages in lieu of were geld.”
“Then we can begin to plan. I want every warrior to have a bow, shield, spear, sword and helmet. Every boy who can use a sling should be so armed and armed with a seax too. What we lack in numbers we make up for in equipment.”
When I told them of the place I would draw the Danes they all nodded their approval. I outlined the bare bones of my plan. They were all clever and knew what I meant.
“The dead of Ulla’s Water, who were slain by those mercenaries hired by the Franks and King Egbert, will watch over us as we fight. The Danes will have an army of the dead to fight as well as the wolves of the north.”
“Aye. They died bravely.”
“This must be kept secret. I tell you for you are my jarls but keep the place we battle a secret. There are spies abroad in our land. If the Danes discover what I plan, then it is we who will be trapped.”
“We understand, Jarl. We know of Danish treachery and cunning.”
“I need as many of the men you bring to be mounted. Speed is vital. Ulf, you have the furthest to travel when we fight you may not arrive in time for the start of the battle. You were Ulfheonar and you are a wise leader. You will need to use your own judgement.”
“I have not forgotten the lessons you taught. I have also learned from the men I have fought. We will do all that we can.”
“We fight Danes. These are neither Saxons nor Hibernians. Do not underestimate them. They can use the shield wall as well as we. Remember Sigtrygg. When they attacked Cyninges-tūn things might have gone ill for us if Aiden had not had the foresight to use fire. Return to your people. Lay in food and prepare weapons. Be vigilant and await my riders. I hope that my scouts will give us warning of the Danish advance.”
After they had left me I summoned Ragnar and Gruffyd. Ragnar now had six other warriors to follow his standard in addition to Einar the Tall and his hearth-weru. “I have a task for you. I need you to go to Ulla’s Water. I wish you to climb up to the tarn there and build a home with a ditch and palisade around it.”
Gruffyd said, “But no one lives there. No one has ever lived on the mountain. The stad that was there lay close to the Water.”
Ragnar smiled, “Have you not learned, Gruffyd, that your father never does the most obvious thing. How many people will live there, grandfather?”
“No more than ten and the garrison who will protect the stronghold. I wish you to do this in secret. It needs to be completed by the end of Haustmánuður. I will visit you while you are there but I will come in secret. I tell no one of this. You will tell your mothers that you go on a hunt. Take boar spears with you.”
“We should lie to our mothers?”
“No for you will hunt will you not? You will need food. If necessary, then I will tell your mothers what you do but I do not think that they will be overly worried.” I leaned closer to them. “The Danes have spies and they are hidden. There may even be spies here in Cyninges-tūn now. It is careless tongues which might end our way of life. Do not be chattering magpies.” I looked at Gruffyd, “You are young. If this task is beyond you then say so and there will be neither shame nor dishonour.”
“I am one of this clan and I will serve. When you fight the Danes, you will need every sword. Even one wielded by a cub! The Danes will learn that this cub can bite!”
“Good. Then begin to talk loudly of your planned hunt. People will expect you to be excited. When you leave if you head for Lang’s Dale first then that will aid your disappearance. You are right, Gruffyd, no one has ever built at the tarn before. It is open and it is deserted but although there are no people there is a barrow there where we buried Ulla and his people. It is close to the tarn and their spirits will protect you. Be careful not to disturb the dead. If you can build the ditch around the barrow, then that will make it stronger.”
“Who is to live there, grandfather?”
I paused and spoke slowly, “When the Danes come they will bring witches. We have our own but I would not risk my family again. The walls will protect Kara, Aiden, Ylva and,” I looked at Ragnar, “And your mother. So build well.”
He stood, “Thank you for entrusting us with this task. I am honoured and we will make the walls strong enough to withstand all that the Danes can throw at it.”
Brigid frowned when she heard what Gruffyd and Ragnar had planned but she saw nothing ill in it. I would tell her the truth but it suited my plans to keep her in the dark as well. After they had gone Snorri took my scouts east. They would live off the land and wait in the woods and forests to the north of the land of the Skull Takers. Snorri was confident that they would know when the Danes were gathering. He and Aðils Shape Shifter and Beorn the Scout were looking forward to a month of hunting and foraging.
Of course, those in Cyninges-tūn noticed the absence of the two groups of warriors and there was much speculation. Rather than explain it I remained silent and remote. Haaken and I took to climbing the Old Man or riding around my Water. It would add to the air of mystery. I wanted my people to speculate. The spies would hear conflicting stories and the Danes would be equally confused. I was relying on the Danes trying to be cleverer than I was. I knew not if the Danish spies were close yet but if they were I wanted them to wonder at my actions. I spent my nights in my hall with my wife and daughters. Brigid enjoyed my attention and it made up for Gruffyd’s absence.
In the middle of Haustmánuður I took Elfrida to the house of women. The four of them were the only ones in the hall. The women who served Kara were busy with the many tasks which Haustmánuður brought. I explained my plan to them. I told them all of it. Ragnar and Gruffyd knew a part but until I told them only Haaken and the Ulfheonar knew the full extent of it. Even Ketil and my jarls knew but a part. None of the four showed any fear at my idea nor any surprise at my deception. Ylva smiled, “You have done well, grandfather. I did not dream this. If I did not, then the Skull Takers and their witches will also be in the dark.”
“Then I hope we can keep them there. What I need to know from you is if there are any spies in my land?”
“There are no str
angers who have joined us. All those who are here have lived in the stad since before the last snows. We have not sensed danger.”
“That does not mean that we are secure. They could have arrived before. Remember that your thoughts were on Ylva for so long even before she was taken by the witch. They could be here already. It does not change my plan. If they are not here yet, then they will be soon.”
Elfrida said, “And Brigid, will you tell her?”
I shook my head, “Brigid is without guile. She would not be able to maintain the deception. I will suffer the wrath of her tongue after this is over. If she can make my life a misery, then it will be because we have won and the Danes are defeated. I will take that as a punishment.”
Everything was in place and I took Haaken to Úlfarrston where I wished to speak with Raibeart and his brother. Haaken and I spoke of my family. “It is good that you have given Gruffyd and Ragnar responsibility, jarl.”
“I should have done so with Wolf Killer but I have learned my lesson.” When I left they knew that I would need their warriors too.
We were riding through the forest north of Úlfarrston and Haaken pointed east. “What if they choose to come this way? Ketil and Ulf will take too long to reach us and even Asbjorn would struggle.”
“I will draw them to one thing they want above all others.”
“And what is that? The sword?”
“They do not desire the sword. It is Ylva they want. They will come for Ylva.”
“And that is why Ragnar and Gruffyd are building a stronghold. They are making somewhere where Ylva can be protected.”
“Úlfarrberg is wolf mountain. What better protection can she have. The tarn will give Kara and Aiden more power to fight the witches of the skull.”
“You just need our enemies to discover this.”
“They are clever, Haaken. I cannot be too obvious about it. They must believe that I am making somewhere which is secret. Today we add to that illusion. I will sow seeds here too.”
Pasgen ap Coen insisted on us staying the night. It suited me to do so. Úlfarrston was now a busy trading centre. Our friends in Dyflin sent many goods there and our knarr traded as far north as Orkneyjar and as far south as the Sabrina. We ate and drank well. After we had eaten Raibeart and Pasgen looked at me expectantly.
“The Danes are coming. Our raid merely delayed it so that we could get our harvest in. They will be coming to have vengeance on me and to take our land but the greatest prize is Ylva, my granddaughter.”
“But why Jarl Dragonheart?”
“Because she is a powerful witch and they need her to use the power of the other witches. We will have to guard her.”
“And that is why you have improved the defences of your land…”
“It is but we cannot defeat the Danes with the men I lead. I need others. I need your men Raibeart and as many men as you can supply, Pasgen ap Coen.”
“Of course but we leave ourselves weak if we do so.”
“I think not for King Egbert is the only enemy who could cause harm to you and he is busy fighting in Corn Walum.”
“Then you can have the men but when will you need them?”
“I am rebuilding the watch towers along the southern arm of Windar’s Mere and the Water of Cyninges-tūn. We will have ample warning.”
“And if they come from the north and east?”
“Then Ketil will give us warning.”
“Do not fear, jarl, we will be ready.”
“Will you seek help from Dyflin or the isle of the Raven Wing Clan?”
“The Raven Wing Clan is too far away and Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer has too many enemies of his own. Have you had word from him of late?”
“One of his knarr is in port. He buys iron, slate and timber from us. It is a good trade for he pays in gold and silver.”
Before we left, the next day, Haaken and I went to the quay where ships were loading and unloading. I sought the knarr from Dyflin. I noticed that there were four other knarr in port. The captain recognised me, “Jarl Dragonheart, this is an honour. How can I help you?”
“I would have you take a message to your jarl for me. I need news of the Danes who follow Baggi Skull Splitter. I fear that they mean to come to my home and try to wrest it from me. Worse I believe they intend to take my granddaughter. I would have the Jarl send me any news which comes his way. It matters not how trivial.”
The captain shook his head, “It is one thing to make war on men but to take children…”
“Aye we will keep her safe and keep her secret. They shall not have her.”
“I will pass the word to other captains. Some trade with Lundenwic and Eoforwic. Someone will hear news.”
Our last visit was to Erik Short Toe. We warned him that we might need his crew to fight on the walls of Cyninges-tūn. He was happy to do so. He had grown up there. His brothers still farmed the land his father had bequeathed them. “We will fight, jarl.”
Heading back to my home I was more than happy. Word would get back to the Danes that we expected them. They would know that we had towers watching for them. They would also know that I planned on hiding her. The witches had already shown how clever and cunning they were. They would try to find out where I was hiding her. I had no doubt that word would get out about the task I had given my son and grandson. They would say nothing but there would be questions when they returned and no matter how cleverly they answered then people would discover where they had been.
Our training now had more urgency. Karl One Leg and the Ulfheonar knew that our warriors would have to face our enemies not from behind a protective wooden wall but on a battlefield. The bondi would need more skills than they had at present. Time was not on our side.
More of our archers now wore the leather mail with the metal plates. Snorri organised them so that those with the armour stood in the front rank. “If you are attacked then you will have more protection. But eventually all of you will have such armour.”
The archers were pleased for their armour marked them out as different. Snorri smiled when they began to release their arrows for they flew further than they had done. He nodded his approval, “They are getting better, jarl.”
The shield wall with the new swords also showed greater improvement. The ones who had the least training, however, did not. I went to Bagsecg. He was training with the first shield wall. “We will need something for the other shield wall, Bagsecg. What can be made quickly?”
“Something which is made quickly is rarely of any use in a battle. What we could do is give them a wolf emblem for their helmets. It would make them all look the same and make them feel as one. We have enough made for them by the next training day. I was going to make them for all your warriors. It is the mark of the clan. It will make the helmets stronger in any case.”
And so, we gradually improved the morale of our men. I knew that when the day came to fight it would be down to that morale and the clan identity which would see us through. We had to fight as one people. We had made a start.
I travelled, with Haaken, up to Ulla’s Water. I knew that we would not see the walls from the Water. The tarn was high up. There was a twisting path which led to it. It passed alongside a bubbling mountain stream. The barrow where we had buried our dead was five hundred paces from the tarn on a piece of high ground above the stream. Once there had been trees covering this land but now most were gone. Isolated copses stood. The building of the walls had taken half of one such copse. Einar the Tall had chosen the saplings rather than the thicker, more mature trees. It meant that, as we approached, I could see that they had finished the ditch and mound and had half of the stakes buried in the soil. They had used many of the stones which littered the mountain side to make supports for both the ditch and the palisade. It was cleverly done. An enemy could not hack through the wooden walls.
“You have done well.” We had brought a barrel of ale and they stopped work so that we could talk with them and enjoy the freshly brewed beer.
I flashed him a searching look, “Who has spoken?”
“No one. I said to Gruffyd that you are a thinker who plans far ahead. You would bring Ylva and her family here. That way the Danes would attack Cyninges-tūn and they would be safe here. It is a good plan.”
I did not like deceiving my grandson. He had only seen half of the plan. “Keep this to yourself or it could go ill with your cousin.”
“I have not even told Gruffyd although I suspect he will work it out when he has time.” He frowned, “The worry I have, grandfather, is that this is far from any help. What if the Danes discover their presence here? They could be captured. We have made it as strong as we could but…”
I pointed down to the Water. “Here you have a good view of the Water and the path which climbs here. They could spy an enemy. If the numbers were too great, then they would have time to climb Úlfarrberg and head for either the Grassy Mere or the Rye Dale.”
“It is still a risk.”
“Life is a risk.” I patted his back, “You are doing well and it is better than I might have hoped. What do you name it?”
“I would have thought Ylva’s Stad but that would give away its purpose. We have been calling it Eagle’s Nest for it is like an eagle’s eyrie.”
“And that is a good name. Let it be so.”
We spent the night with them in their lonely camp. They had organised it well. They had fish from the Water and a squirrel stew. It was pleasant sheltering behind the first of their wooden walls even though the nights were drawing in and there was a chill to the air. Gruffyd had changed in the short time he had been working on the stronghold. His hands had hardened up and I saw that he had become more muscular. The hard work suited him. He was also excited about his work. “I would like to build my own stronghold when I am Jarl.”