by Griff Hosker
You fight the wolf you pay the cost
You fight the wolf you pay the cost
You fight the wolf you pay the cost
You fight the wolf you pay the cost
As the enemy disappeared into the safety of the fell I stepped beyond the front rank and turned. I held up my arms. “Have the wounded taken inside the stad. Reform the shield wall. This is not yet over!”
Returning to my place between Haaken and Olaf I saw that almost a hundred Danes lay dead or were crawling back to their lines. We had not won but we had hurt them. I knew now that they had intended to capture Windar’s Mere and then take Eagle’s Nest. Now that we had stopped that from happening what would they do?
“How many did we lose?”
“Not as many as we might have expected. Snorri and the archers broke up their attack.” Haaken pointed behind us. The sun had almost set. “Will they come again this night?”
Olaf Leather Neck growled, “I hope they do. I saw nothing today to make me fear them and our bondi made me proud. They did not flinch.”
As darkness fell we saw lights on the fell side. The cold ground began to get to us. I turned and shouted, “Aðils Shape Shifter; your jarl has need of you.”
Almost immediately Aðils appeared, “Yes jarl?”
“I would have you disappear and see what they are up to.”
He nodded as though I had asked him to fetch me a horn of ale, “Aye Jarl!”
He vanished before our eyes. “Erik Ulfsson, go and ask for hot food to be prepared.”
I wore sealskin boots but, even so, the cold gradually began to climb up my legs. My hands started to grow numb. We could not stand outside all night. I almost jumped when Aðils appeared next to me, “They have made camp, Jarl. The witches are performing some sort of ceremony over the witch Snorri killed and they are preparing some magic. They have sentries out. They are vigilant and if we tried to get close we would lose men. I think they fear an attack by the Ulfheonar. They will not come again.”
It was a confident statement but I believed him. “Everyone, back into the stad. We have frozen long enough. Tomorrow we fight again.”
The army filtered back through the gates. I paused in the entrance, bathed in the fire from the two braziers which were next to the gates and I stared into the darkness. The Danes could see me even if I could not see them. I took out my sword and I raised it defiantly. We had not been beaten and I was letting them know it. I was the last through. The gates slammed behind me and the bar was lowered.
Inside there was a buzz of excitement. Most of the warriors who had fought that day and night had never experienced a battle before. To have escaped unscathed, as most of them had, and to have retained the field was a cause for celebration. The exception was the Ulfheonar. I joined them in Asbjorn’s warrior hall with Raibeart’s men. They were all subdued.
Olaf Leather Neck handed me a horn of ale, “It was well that you angered them, Jarl. Your actions and Haaken’s words made them forget to be warriors. In the cold light of morning they will be less easy to defeat.”
I nodded as I swallowed the dark brown ale. “You are right but it is like climbing a mountain. You measure each step as you go. This is not the way I planned it but it has gone better than we might have hoped. You are right about tomorrow. Dawn will bring us new problems but we have survived this day. Let us enjoy the night.” I pointed to the pot of steaming stew. “How many times have we been able to eat hot food after killing Danes?”
Haaken had been the only one of my Ulfheonar who had been smiling when I had been speaking, “The jarl is right. It was a good day.”
I saw Snorri standing alone and sharpening his seax. As I went to him Aðils approached me, “Jarl, he is fearful. It was his arrow which slew the witch. He murmured, ‘I am cursed’ when he did so.”
“He killed a witch last year and he had to atone in Syllingar. He cannot do that again. You did well today, you both did. Go, eat and I will speak with him.” I reached into my leather pouch and took out the golden wolf which Bagsecg had made, “I should have given you this before we set off but…”
His eyes widened. He knew that all of my wolf warriors wore one but he had not asked for his. “Thank you, jarl. I need no reward to serve you.”
“And it is not a reward. It is the token which binds us. Kara has put a spell of protection upon it.”
“Thank you.” He wandered off clutching the wolf.
Snorri had seen me, “That was well done, jarl. He is a fine warrior. I fear, however, that I will need more than Kara’s spell to protect me.”
“Snorri, you have served with me longer than any save Haaken One Eye. You were a young boy little older than Aðils when first you killed your wolf. Now you sprout white hairs. I know why you are despondent; you killed a witch.”
“I killed another witch.”
“Aye, another witch and tomorrow there are three more who must die. I hope that it is I who kill them but it may well be others.” I took out Ragnar’s Spirit. “This sword defeated the Norn in the cave. Until that moment I thought I was doomed to die in the cave. I did not flinch for it was Ylva for whom I fought but I believed death awaited me. It did not because the power of the witch is nothing compared with the power of the gods. Touch the hilt and let its power fill you with hope and not despair.”
He took the hilt, gingerly as though it might burn. I saw his eyes widen as the power surged through him. “You feel this each time you fight?”
“Each time I hold it, aye. I wish you to sleep with it this night. Others can watch. I wish the sword to heal you within. Tomorrow I need Snorri the warrior to be at his best.”
He clutched it, “Thank you, jarl. This is an honour for you have never let the sword be parted from you before.”
I nodded, “And none of my warriors has needed its power before. This is wyrd.”
He went to a corner of the hall and rolled himself in his fur. He held the sword in both hands and cradled it to his chest. As I turned I saw Olaf, Haaken and Beorn the Scout watching me. Haaken smiled his approval, “He needed that, Jarl Dragonheart. We are all worried for him. Beorn here told us that when they camped, watching the Danes by Loidis, he was melancholy. The witch he first killed preyed upon his mind. After your return from Syllingar he became worse.”
“Aye Jarl, Aðils and I feared for him.”
“I was not lying to him when I said that we had another three to kill. Baggi Skull Splitter is the figurehead. It is the witches who wield the power. No matter what happens on the morrow they have to die.”
“And risk their curse?”
“Beorn, they cursed us before the battle did they not? We survived. I said to Snorri that we are warriors. In the war between the gods and the witches I put my faith in the Allfather and the right arms of my Ulfheonar. The witches have power but that power diminishes if you face up to them.”
Haaken clapped me on the back, “There speaks the fellow who descended into a cave and fought the witch when she took the form of a dragon! The jarl is right. Whatever comes tomorrow we face it together. We are Ulfheonar!”
He said it loudly and everyone in the hall took up the chant.
“We are Ulfheonar, we are Ulfheonar, we are Ulfheonar.”
After they had eaten I wrapped my wolf cloak around me and headed for the walls. Asbjorn’s old men and cripples stood a watch and I joined Siggi One Hand as he stared at the eastern fells. He bowed as I approached, “Will they come again on the morrow, jarl?”
“I know not but we fight the same way. We meet them shield to shield. Your people did well.”
He smiled, “It was strange to fight without the jarl.” He glanced to the north to where our other men waited. “He will be less comfortable than we I fear.”
“Aye but he and the others are vital to our plans.”
“We only know that he is north of here.”
“And that is how it should be. We have had spies in our land, Siggi One Hand. We kept this plan within the
heads of my jarls. The men they led did not know where they were going until they arrived two days since. We fight a treacherous enemy. We have to use treachery ourselves. I do not like it but the clan comes first.”
“We all trust you and the jarl. You have made this land safe for our people.”
We watched the flickering fires of the enemy sentries. The Danes knew my men’s skill. I guessed that at least a third stood watch as they waited for the wolf warriors to slip into their camps to slit some throats. They would be disappointed. My men slept. I had no time for sleep. My plans were only half come to fruition.
Haaken joined me as the thin grey line of dawn appeared above the sky line. “Any sign of them jarl?”
“We have heard nothing save the changing of their sentries. They are beyond the ridgeline so that we cannot hear them. I have been talking of the old days with Siggi One Hand. It was pleasant.”
The old warrior smiled, “And now this old warrior will go and make water and then rouse the watch. Today will be a blood day. I can feel it in my bones.”
He left. Haaken pointed towards the shadows of the dead still lying on the battlefield, “They paid a heavy price for their recklessness.”
“Not heavy enough. Beorn told us that they have many men in this warband. There are other clans who fight alongside the Skull Takers. It is the witches who bind them together.”
“How do you plan on killing witches? I am intrigued.”
“I do not know yet. Snorri’s arrows will make them keep at a distance. We will need some way to get close to them.”
“We could have gone last night into their camp and slain them.”
“They would have expected that. In fact, I suspect that even Baggi will wonder at their powers now for they will have said that I would come and I did not. Their curse failed, they lost a witch and I did not do as they expected. Those three things are as great a victory as the deaths we inflicted upon them.” I stretched, “And I will now go to prepare for war.”
By the time I had eaten, made water and donned my war face dawn had broken. Snorri joined me with my sword. He smiled, almost shyly. “Thank you, jarl. I dreamed. It was a good dream. I saw the prince and old Olaf, Bjorn and Cnut came to me. You were right, the sword does have power. They told me not to fear the witches’ curse. Just before I woke I saw Wolf Killer. He said nothing but his smile was as it had always been. I am ready this day.” He handed me my sword.
“Then let us go to war!”
My Ulfheonar led the warriors through the gates. I had the Danish bodies moved to form a barrier before us. I held a spear in my hand for I knew that this time the Danes would come at us in organised lines. They would use archers and they would fight as we had fought. This day would not be as easy. We would have more men to bury at the end of this day.
We waited.
It soon became obvious that they were not going to attack. I waved Snorri, Beorn and Aðils forward. The three of them ran towards the enemy camps. They dodged, twisted and turned but no arrows came their way. They disappeared into the undergrowth, the bushes and the trees. I waited for a cry which would be the signal to go to their aid with my warriors but none came. Eventually Aðils and Snorri returned.
Snorri stood before me. “Jarl, they have gone. They have buried their dead and abandoned their camp. Their tracks head north. I sent Beorn to follow them but I fear they have gone to Ulla’s Water.”
I nodded, “This is wyrd. They want Ylva more than they want me. We have killed another witch. They go now to replace her with Kara and Ylva! Fetch our archers and slingers. We march north and I pray that we are in time!”
Chapter 18
They had been clever and left on the eastern side of the ridge. It was a slightly longer road but it was hidden from us. That gave us our only chance for the greenway there was exposed and rough. We travelled up the road. We would make better time. This would be a test of my plans. Up the road, just south of the valley and path which led to Eagle’s Nest was a barrier of stakes and logs behind which stood my three jarls with their warriors. With over a hundred of the best warriors in the lands I hoped that they could hold up the Danish behemoth until we fell upon their rear. No matter the numerical superiority a warrior is never happy when he is assailed from the front and the rear. I sent Snorri ahead to join Beorn.
As we marched, as quickly as we could, I said quietly, “Aðils Shape Shifter, I would have you take charge of the archers today. It is normally Snorri’s task but I fear his mind is not in the right place. I would have him fight in the shield wall. You are a good archer and you have a sharp mind.”
“I will do so, jarl and it is an honour. Where would you like the archers and the slingers to come with us?”
“I would have them pressed as closely as they can to the rear rank of the shield wall. Those with mail and leather jerkins have swords and can aid the shield wall if their arrows run out or we are pressed too closely.”
That was, indeed, my worry. If the Danes turned away from the barrier they had enough men to push us from the road. I wanted as solid a block of men as I could get. As we climbed the slope which would lead us to Ulla’s Water I began to worry that I had omitted something in my planning. The Danes had done as I had planned and we were in the perfect position. Had they thought of something I had not?
We had passed the water at Hartsop when Snorri returned to us. “Jarl, they are forming up to attack our defences.”
“How long do we have?”
“They will be ready before the sun has travelled to sit over Windar’s Mere.”
This was one time when we needed to arrive together. If we came piecemeal, then we would be defeated. I looked along the column which snaked along the old Roman Road. “Olaf go to the rear and see if you can hasten them.”
“Aye, jarl! They shall hear the bite of my tongue.”
Haaken said, “It is not their fault, jarl. Many feet have made this muddy and slippery. They are farmers and metal workers, shepherds and miners.”
“I know, Haaken One Eye but much depends upon our reaching our men before they have fallen to our foes.”
“Asbjorn is a rock and Ketil knows how to fight! They will hold.” I turned to Snorri, “Give your bow to Aðils Shape Shifter, Snorri. I would have you fight in the shield wall today. Aðils is good but he is young and I need your experience.”
“Aye jarl and he is a good archer. He will do the bow honour.”
As we descended towards the beck we saw them. The barricade spanned the area between the Water and the rocky outcrops of the steep side of the valley. Beyond them lay the stream and path which led to the Eagle’s Nest and the tarn. Ulf Olafsson had placed the archers on the knoll which marked the western end of their line. From their lofty position, they were able to rain arrows down on the Danes. This time, however, the Danes had their own bow men and even as we watched I saw one of our men fall to his death as they fought each other. The Danes had formed up their men and were approaching in a boar’s snout formation. They had, however, weighted the left-hand snout. They were trying to force Ulf and his men from their position. That would allow them to break through to the Eagle’s Nest. I was just grateful that they could not see it. I knew where it was but even I could not see it.
We were a Roman mile away from the Danes. I waited until we had halved the distance and then I shouted my orders. “Raibeart, take the first shield, make a wedge and attack by the Water.”
“Aye jarl!”
“Second shield wall form up behind the Ulfheonar! Today you will gain great honour for you fight with the wolf warriors!”
Even though they knew that many would be going to their death they all cheered for this was a great honour and when they died, and went to Valhalla, they would be treated as heroes. I stood in front of Olaf and Haaken. The rest of the Ulfheonar formed the next two ranks. After that it was the better armed and mailed bondi. Behind the last rank Aðils Shape Shifter organized the archers.
We had been seen; it was inev
itable and the rear two ranks of the Danes turned to make a shield wall to face us. I saw that the Danes were ten men deep. It was a mighty army. As I waited for all the men to position themselves I suddenly noticed that I could not see Baggi Skull Splitter. I had expected him to have a vantage point behind his men so that he could direct their attack. Perhaps he was in the front rank. Where he was, the witches would not be far away.
Olaf shouted, “Ready!”
Spears sprouted above me and shields made it darker for those behind me. Haaken began the chant and we stepped forward.
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
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
I stepped on to my right foot knowing that every warrior was in perfect time. The ash shaft of the spear was comforting and I held it loosely at waist height. There would be time enough to raise it. The chant helped the warriors not only to march but to feel not as an individual but part of a whole. It was as though we were one warrior and I was just the head. We took it steadily as we marched towards them. Already the effect of our movement had managed to distract some of those fighting my three war warbands. I saw that my archers on the knoll had won the battle of the bowmen and some of those facing us fell as arrows struck unprotected backs. Aðils and our archers would have no chance to send the arrows towards the Danes until we stopped. Then the Danes would see a powerful weapon unleashed.
I led the wedge obliquely towards Ulf Olafsson and his men. That was where the Danes were trying to break through. We had to destroy that wing or all of my plans would be wasted. When we were twenty paces from the Danes Haaken raised his spear and Olaf yelled, “At the bastards!”