by Griff Hosker
"Aye lord." He added quietly, "Remember Aiden's words, lord. Patience."
I nodded and put on a smile to greet my son and his wife.
Elfrida threw her arms around me. She was the best wife my son could have chosen. I wondered what his nature would have been had he not met her. "Do you stay overnight?" She asked me.
"No, I ride when I have spoken with Wolf Killer. We travel to the land of Northumbria."
She nodded, "He told me he left angry. He means no disrespect, father. He is just..." She searched for words that would not hurt either of us.
"Wolf Killer. I know. But what of the time when he rules this land. What of his haste then? He cannot storm off when he is lord of the Land of the Wolf."
"He has mellowed, lord." She was clutching at straws for he had become calmer since we had rescued Elfrida from Caer Gybi but not by much.
"You are far too good for him. Let us go and beard the bear in his den then!" She took my arm as we headed indoors.
He sat at his table with a stern expression on his face. I sighed. This would not be easy. I forced the smile and extended my hand, "Son."
Ragnar and Gruffyd were behind me and he was forced to rise and clasp my arm, "Father."
"I called in as I said I would. I saw your men improving the defences. That is good."
He nodded, "I have my farmers digging channels and building dams so that we can flood the land around if anyone comes this way."
Haaken said, "With the Danes so close that is a wise move. The Frisians may or may not come but one day the Danes will decide to take this valley."
When Wolf Killer nodded I thanked the Allfather that I had brought Haaken. He had said what I could not.
"Is this enough men to take with you?"
"I will take Ketil and some of his oathsworn but it should be enough."
"I wish to go with Grandfather, father." Ragnar was not afraid of facing his father.
"But..."
It was Elfrida who came to her son's defence. "Gruffyd is going. If the Dragonheart thinks it is safe for his son then Ragnar will be safe. He is becoming a man and a warrior, husband. Soon you will have his byrnie made and he will ride to war. I lost him long ago. Your time will come. You will lose him. It happens to all fathers." She held her hand out and grasped mine. Wolf Killer looked from me to his wife and nodded. He knew when he was beaten.
Ragnar threw his arms around her and said, "Thank you mother. I will be safe. I ride with Dragonheart and the Allfather watches him. You have often told me that, father."
"Aye. Well you will need your leather and your helmet. Get a spare horse."
Elfrida pecked me on the cheek, "I will get him a cloak and blanket. You will watch him will you not?"
"He rides with the Ulfheonar. If anything happens to him it will be because I and all my oathsworn are dead."
Young Garth came over to me. "One day, Grandfather, I will ride with you."
"I know and that will be a great day for me with my two grandsons and two sons at my side." I reached under my cloak and took out a small piece of sheepskin. I unrolled it. "Here, I promised you a seax and here it is. Bjorn Bagsecgson made it just as you asked and in the handle is carved a wolf cub. That is for you."
The joy on his face made me smile long after we had left the hall and headed north. The road we took was much more pleasant than the road through Grize's Dale. We headed towards the pass of Shap. I hoped we would reach Ketil by dark. This was a desolate place. The valley ran north to south and it could be a cold and cheerless place in winter. The nearest settlement of any size was Penrhudd. Arne Arneson was Hersir there and he had a wall around his hall. In the past we had been attacked too many times by the men of Northumbria. This and Ketil's Stad were two barriers on the old Roman Road to the Land of the Wolf.
He rode out to greet us when we approached our westernmost outpost, "Do you visit with me lord?"
"No, Arne, Ketil's Stad. Tell me have the Saxons been a nuisance of late?"
"No lord. Not since the last time you trounced them. The bones of their wounded still mark the road east. The Hibernians and the northern barbarians are more of a problem. The Jarl rides north every month or so to take a few heads and mark the border afresh. It is only the young hotheads who risk the wrath of the Jarl."
"Good. Keep a close watch and if you hear or see anything unusual then send a messenger to Cyninges-tūn."
"Aye lord."
"Have you seen my Galdramenn?"
"Aiden? Not yet, lord."
"He should be passing along the road soon. Have your men watch for him. He might be a wizard but he rides alone."
As we approached, at dusk, the lonely old Roman fort which stood astride the road from Northumbria I regretted not warning Ketil. He was no longer the single young adventurer, keen to escape his father's life of plenty. He had married and had children. I had behaved much as my son might have; recklessly. He was, however, a good host. His men had seen our approach from his walls and he was ready to greet us. His wife was Saxon; she had been captured as a slave. Like many female slaves she became a wife and seemed, as far as I could see, to be happy.
"Welcome, Jarl Dragonheart. My wife, Seara, will see to your men. Come to my hall and we will feast you."
I could hear the unspoken questions in his words but he knew me well enough to wait.
"Thank you and I apologise for the inconvenience."
Seara gave a small bow, "How can we be inconvenienced, lord. We would have nothing without you."
As we were led away I turned to Ragnar and Gruffyd. "Tonight you keep silent. Listen and watch. This is training for when we meet King Eanred." They both nodded seriously.
Ketil and I sat before his roaring fire and the two boys squatted out of sight but not hearing. I told Ketil, briefly and succinctly what I intended.
"And how can I help?"
"If you could supply some scouts who know the land then that would help us. I do not wish to start a war."
"It would be better if I came with some of my warriors."
I nodded, "But I would not wish to take you from your children and your family; not to mention your people."
"I think you are right to bring so few warriors. A show of force would be wrong. I would bring two scouts and six oathsworn. That would be enough."
I nodded. "And what think you of the idea? Am I a foolish old man who is becoming a dotard?"
"No lord. If anything it is the opposite. I think it is astute. We need not the land to the east of us so why not make an ally of the Saxons? It would make my land safer. We could keep more animals on the fells. I am more worried about this Ragnar Ruriksson. Perhaps your son is right. He may use the southern passes or even the sea."
"That he may and having the Saxons as allies makes our task easier for then our enemy has but two choices."
He laughed and turned to the two boys. "When you grow if you are half the leader that is Dragonheart then men will follow you to the ends of the earth."
I asked that Seara join us while we ate. That was unusual. Normally the men ate separately but I wish to use her knowledge. It had been many years since I had lived amongst Saxons. She had only been married to Ketil for four years.
"Tell me how the Saxons view us."
She looked nervously at her husband. He smiled, "Speak. Nothing that you say will cause the Dragonheart offence. He was born a Saxon."
"Truly?"
I nodded, "I was but six or seven when I was taken as a slave."
"And yet you are now Jarl." She shook her head. "They fear you. They fear all Vikings for you do not respect the church. But you hold a special terror for them. Despite White Christ they see you as the one who changes to a wolf and appears out of the dark. Their children are brought up fearing you."
"You follow the White Christ?" Her hand went involuntarily to the cross she bore around her neck. "Fear not my wife is a Christian."
"You kill priests and take the holy books. They say you burn them."
I laughed, "They are too valuable to burn. We sell them. And the king, King Eanred; what do they feel about him?"
"Some say he is not strong enough. There are those who would try to take his crown from him. It is why he stays in Bebbanburgh. He is safe there no matter how many try to take his throne."
"And has he children?"
"Prince Aethelred. He is a fine young man and very popular. There are many ladies who would have him as their husband. He leads the king's army."
Just then a weary Aiden strode into the hall.
Ketil stood, "You had better get food for the Jarl's galdramenn." Seara made the sign of the cross and hurried out. Ketil laughed, "She has many superstitions and rituals of her own but she is afraid of witches and wizards."
Aiden sat. He looked weary. "It has been many years since I have ridden so far on the back of a horse!"
"How long will it take us to reach Din Guardi from here, Ketil?"
"If we ride hard then we can do it in one day. It is a hundred miles and from here is a straight line."
"Where will be the danger?"
"There are two such places. One, when we cross the wall. At Hagustaldes ham there is an ambitious young thegn, Coenred of Hagustaldes ham. He sends his men sheep raiding. It is rumoured that he wishes to be King."
"And the other?"
"There is a hall at Alnwick. The Aln is not a deep river and we can ford it if the bridge is guarded but Hagustaldes ham is the place I worry about for we cannot avoid it and we may find trouble."
"Then it is good that we know where it is for we can be prepared."
As we had scouts we used Ketil's oathsworn to lead the horses. Leif the Banner now had two boys to watch although they felt they were guarding my standard. As soon as we left Ketil's home we were in the land of our enemy. His scouts rode ahead and returned as we headed north and east. They kept changing horses. There had been a bridge at Haydon but it had washed away in a storm and so we would have to cross the Tinea at Hagustaldes ham. We broke our journey four miles short of it. We ate and changed horses. We kept our helmets on our saddles and our shields behind our backs. We were there peacefully but we kept a hand on our swords.
We had not gone far when Oswald, Ketil's scout, galloped in. "There are Saxons ahead, lord. A horseman and thirty warriors."
Ketil deferred to me. I asked, "How many are mailed?"
"The rider and four others."
"Fetch the other scout back and stay with the spare horses." Turning to my Ulfheonar I said, "We come for peace but be prepared for war."
They chanted, "Aye Jarl!"
"Ragnar and Gruffyd stay by the banner! No matter what you see. That is an order! Aiden stay by the banner too."
"I will."
Haaken joined Ketil and me. "What does this Coenred of Hagustaldes ham look like?"
"He is the size of Asbjorn the Rock. He has mail which has a coating to make it look like gold. It is not. His shield has a boar upon it with a bloody mouth. A human tongue hangs from it." I cocked my head to one side. He nodded, "A real one!"
Haaken asked, "Does it not rot?"
"He takes a fresh one each month I am told." Haaken looked in disbelief. "It was my wife Seara who told me. When cases are tried by the thegn his punishment for serious crimes is always the loss of a tongue." He shook his head. "And they call us barbaric!"
"And he is a rival for the throne?"
"He is ambitious and would have more power. He and Aethelred, the King's son, were friends. They had a falling out. He is an untrustworthy warrior from what my wife told me."
"She seems to know much about him."
"She is his cousin. She lived in a settlement close by. The Gesith owed allegiance to Coenred. He was punished for losing the village. He had his tongue cut out and then he was executed." He paused. "He was Seara's father."
"Then he may take exception to your presence."
"He may."
"Thank you. We will now ride on and meet this Coenred." I turned to Ketil. "Do not rise to his jibes and his insults."
"No, Jarl."
I had met Vikings as barbaric as Coenred but never a Saxon. Even old Aella had not been such a savage. I wondered how I should speak to him. I wanted no confrontation but we had to get to Eanred.
The town was to the south of the Roman Road and Coenred had his men waiting for us. They were in a shield wall with him astride his horse before them. I saw what Ketil meant about his armour. It was intended to impress. I saw the tongue. It looked ridiculous and yet grotesque. From his hip hung a Saxon sword. We rode forward. Saxons had no archers. Apart from their leader they were on foot. The danger they presented was as a barrier. When we were thirty paces from them I stopped and held my hands before me to show them I came in peace.
He rode forward five paces and drew his sword to show that he meant war. "A Viking who comes in peace? I do not trust such an action. From your cloaks you are the men from the Land of the Wolf and as Ketil the Coward hides behind you I am guessing you are the one they call Dragonheart."
I glanced at Ketil who kept his face impassive. I nodded, "I am Jarl Dragonheart of Cyninges-tūn. From the tongue on your shield I believe you are Coenred of Hagustaldes ham."
"I am. Now go back to your land before we slay you!"
I had his measure now. He wanted to impress his men by making me flee and yet he did not trust them to defeat us.
"I come in peace. I am on a peace mission. We are travelling to Bebbanburgh to speak with your king."
"And I will not let you pass! What say you?"
We had been speaking in Saxon and I knew his men were hanging onto every word. They would be taking in my warrior bands and my armour. They would see the jewelled sword hanging from my belt and knew it was a sword of legend. They would glimpse the golden dragon around my neck. They knew who I was. Whatever I said next would determine whether this ended peacefully or not.
"I have no quarrel with you and I do not want to kill you. Let us pass and I am sure your king will reward you."
"Reward me! Crumbs from his table?" He pointed his sword at Ketil. "You, hiding there behind this old man, come and fight me! I owe you a death! You destroyed my village and stole my cousin!"
I held my hand out to silence Ketil. "This is discourteous even for a young man like you. Ketil Windarsson is oathsworn to me. He cannot fight you without I give him permission and I do not. So let us pass." I waved a hand at those behind me. "These are Ulfheonar. There are no finer warriors in this whole land. We are all mailed and your men are not. If you try to stop us we will slaughter you and I do not wish to do that. Let us pass peacefully."
I kept my voice calm and reasonable. I saw his men looking at each other. They did not want to die. His four oathsworn looked ready for a fight but not the rest. The Saxon thegn looked around to gauge support. He did not like what he saw.
He kicked his horse on. "Then I will fight you in his stead!" He roared it loudly so that all would hear the challenge.
"I do not wish to fight you."
"You are afraid?"
"I did not say that."
"Then fight."
I pointed to his men. "You will bear witness that I refused to fight. I want no bloodshed." I saw one or two of his men nod. "I say again, Coenred of Hagustaldes ham, let us pass peacefully."
He dismounted. "The only way is through me. Do we all fight or just you and me?"
I dismounted. "I would not have any man's blood on my hands but if this must be then so be it. I will fight you alone." It was unspoken but we both knew that this would be to the death. I wondered if this was the first time he had done so. I had fought like this more times than I cared to recall.
I handed my reins to Haaken. He said quietly. "He will be quick, lord."
"You will be teaching my horse how to run next, Haaken." I smiled. "I know that he will be fast and I know that he will be strong. I have to trust in my sword and the Allfather."
I swung my shield around to my front. He glan
ced at one of his oathsworn and I knew what was coming. He would rush me before I reached the middle. I pulled my shield around tighter as I stepped towards him. He ran at me roaring a war cry and swinging his sword. He aimed it at my head. I planted my left leg on the ground and angled the shield up to cover the lower part of my face. I needed to see him. It was a mighty blow. It shivered my shield and slid up to my helmet. My thongs held it in place and the adornments Bjorn had applied prevented damage. He roared in joy and turned to face his men and their cheers. It was another trick for he hoped to entice me to attack his back while it was turned.
He suddenly spun and sliced his sword towards my shield side again. He was quick. He was like lightning. I had a sword struck by Thor's lightning and my left hand came down as I stepped forward. The sword crashed onto my shield. It was not as powerful a blow as I was closer to him. My forward movement meant he overbalanced slightly. His helmet only had a nasal and I saw the look of disbelief on his face. He had expected it to be over.
"Old man can you no longer fight? Give me this so-called magical sword and I might let you live as a dog in my kennels!"
I said nothing but stretched my left arm out and then pulled it tight again. I knew that silence from behind my face mask would be unnerving. I had yet to use my sword which I held slightly behind my body. Once again he used brute force and speed to try to overwhelm me. He came at me swinging quickly with looping cuts. I used my shield to fend them off and my feet to keep me out of trouble. After a flurry of eight such blows he stood, panting and sweating.
This time I spoke again and I spoke loudly enough for his men to hear. "I ask you again. End this and let us go to visit your King. This cannot end well for you."
Through gasping breath he said, "How have you lived so long when you cannot fight? Your shield can only take so many blows!"
He was tiring and I watched as he took a deep breath to launch yet another attack. As he pulled his sword back I knew that he would strike over his head. He was a big man and he would be able to create much power when he did so. I did the unexpected. I stepped forward and punched him in the face with my shield. My left arm ached but I had a boss on my shield. The boss caught him squarely in the nose, bending his nasal. Blood and cartilage sprayed from the wound. The edge of the sword caught the rim of my shield and it stuck there. As he faltered I swung my sword from behind me and it bit into his knee. I pulled and twisted it out. This time it was not a war cry which came from his lips but a cry of pain. He did not step back but lurched back the blood pouring from the wound.