by Griff Hosker
His face was a mask of blood and fury, "You trickster! Now I will end this!"
He tried to charge me again but I must have done more damage to his knee than he knew. His left leg gave way. I swung my sword in a scything sweep. His hand tried to bring his shield up but his bent nasal obscured his vision to the left and he was tired. Ragnar's spirit hacked into his neck. I had brought my sword from a long way back and I could not stop its power. It bit through the flesh and the bone. The head, helmet still attached, rolled from the body. A heartbeat later the corpse fell to the ground.
The Saxons were stunned. My men were too well trained to cheer. I heard swords being drawn from scabbards. Sheathing my own I took my helmet off. "Enough blood has been shed. If you draw your weapons we will slaughter you." I looked at his four oathsworn. "Your lord is dead and you will gain nothing by trying to gain revenge." Without looking behind me I said, "Snorri!"
An arrow suddenly sprouted from between the legs of the nearest mailed man. It was embedded along half its length. The man nodded and sheathed his sword. He went to take the reins of Coenred's horse.
"Leave the horse. Take your lives and leave." Scowling, the four did so. I pointed to the nearest four men. "Pick up your master's body and head. Put them on his horse. Does he have a family?"
One man ventured, "Aye lord, a wife and a bairn."
"Then take him home so that he can be buried." I pointed to the next four. "You four come with us. We go to your king but I would have you four testify to the events which took place here." Without waiting to see if they complied I shouted, "Ketil Windarsson, fetch four horses for these men." Turning back I said, "The rest of you go home. I meant what I said. We come in peace. You may well remember this day when you are greybeards bouncing grandchildren on your knee. This could be the day when the war ended and is certainly the day your lives were spared by the Dragonheart."
I mounted Storm Rider and Haaken said, wryly, "Were you trying to blunt his sword? Or waiting for him to tire himself out? It is an interesting technique, Jarl."
"I defeated him did I not? Besides he relied on my shield being as badly made as his. He should have invested his coin in a better shield rather than making his iron armour look golden."
"Aye, his byrnie was too short."
We all wore our byrnies so that they covered our knees. We had learned that the extra weight was worth it.
Ragnar said, "Were you not afraid, Grandfather, when he launched himself at you? His hands were so quick."
"And that is why you practise against two men and learn to use your shield. You have two weapons when you fight. Use them both."
He nodded, "Does this mean that the King will be angry when we meet him?"
"I hope not but I could not avoid it could I? It was the work of the Weird Sisters. Our threads were twisted. We will see what they next intend."
Gruffyd said quietly, "I prayed to the Allfather that you would be safe. He answered my prayers."
When we came to the Aln the Saxons there had heard our approach and they fled to their hall in the loop of the river. We did not bother them for I was keen to reach Bebbanburgh before dark. The fight had delayed us and we rode hard for the last fifteen or so miles. We made good time on the Roman Road but the last few were over a rough road covered with windblown sand.
The castle was well built and well sited. It lay at the end of a promontory which was surrounded on three sides by sea, sand dunes and boggy ground. There was but one approach and that was directly towards the castle across a neck of land. As we crested the rise I saw the mighty fortress rising ahead of me. It looked like the boss on a mighty shield. Even as we watched the last of the Saxons were hurrying along the road desperate to be within the walls of the stronghold of Northumbria. The walls were lined and King Eanred was ready for war.
Chapter 3
I turned to my men, "Take off your helmets and put your shields behind your backs. You four Saxons, ride next to me." I said quietly to Haaken, "Take my kin to the rear."
"Grandfather!"
Haaken snarled, "You heard him. If you wish to serve the Dragonheart you obey orders without questions. You get to groom all the horses tonight Ragnar Arturusson!"
We halted below the walls and waited. The entrance wound along the side of the salty swamp which would fill with the sea at high tide. The banners of Northumbria hung from the walls. Suddenly something was hurled form the walls. I dodged my head out of the way at the last moment as the lead ball thudded into the ground behind me.
"Leif, come with me."
I rode forward with my standard bearer and we stopped in the slippery dank water close by the causeway ramp. "King Eanred I come in peace. I come to talk and not to fight." There was silence. "If I had come for war I would have brought a mighty host and you know that."
His head appeared over the wooden walls. A younger version was next to him. He shouted, "If you come in peace then why do you have four Saxon prisoners with you?"
"They are not prisoners; they are witnesses." I turned and shouted, "You four Saxons come here." When they were next to me I said, " Coenred of Hagustaldes ham would not let me pass beyond his hall. He demanded a combat to the death. I brought these men so that they could bear witness of what occurred. You can take them within your castle if you wish and question them."
The heads disappeared. I turned to the Saxons. "You may dismount. I trust you to speak the truth." They nodded.
The heads reappeared. King Eanred shouted, "They may enter. You, Dragonheart, retire to yonder headland and camp. We will speak with these men first. Do not try any tricks, you will be watched!"
I nodded and led my men north. It was ironic. We had camped there when we had crept into the castle to slay our enemies. Now we would camp there and perhaps be admitted to the castle through the front gate. On the other hand it could be where we had Dragonheart's last stand!
We made a picket line and Snorri and Beorn led Ketil's men to make a rough barricade from gorse and bramble bushes. It would not stop a determined foe but it would slow them down. I did not believe that they would attack us. We were too intriguing a prospect. Haaken grumbled. "They will probably let us freeze out here tonight and then slaughter us in the morning."
Olaf Leather Neck said derisively, "You are getting too soft, Haaken One Eye. It is one night and when we return home think of the song you can create."
He nodded, "Aye, I suppose so."
Young Ragnar asked, "We just wait?"
"We wait. My life is not filled with sword fights and battles. Oft times it is dull. Now is such a time. You two may well lead men in the future. This is part of being a leader."
We finished off our rations and drank the last of our ale. If the mission proved fruitless and we were sent on our way empty handed then we would take from the Saxons and they would pay for their king's lack of manners. Snorri and Ketil made sure that we kept a good watch overnight. I slept little. I stared at the darkened shadow of the castle. I had slain Magnus the Foresworn there. One of my ancestors had slain a false king. Was my destiny tied up in the rocky fortress?
Aiden joined me. "You cannot sleep either galdramenn?"
He pulled his cloak a little tighter around his shoulders. "This castle is special. Myrddyn is reputed to have flown in here with one of your ancestors."
I cocked a cynical eye, "And you believe that?"
He laughed, "No. You and I know of enough tricks to have an idea how it was done. No my point is the legend that is created from such events. When we speak with King Eanred tomorrow he will be in awe of you. He will fear you. No matter how much he blusters remember that."
"He will admit us?"
"He has to. If not he will lose even more face than he has already. You have slain one of his mighty warriors and travelled deep within his kingdom. He has to speak with you. I have not dreamed but I can make a story from the pieces I see before me. When he asked us to camp here I knew that you had won."
"You could have told me and I m
ight have enjoyed a night's sleep."
"No you would not for you feel Olaf's hand on your shoulder."
I whipped my head around, "You read my thoughts?"
"I know you have spent many mornings with Old Olaf much as you did on Man when you tramped to Snaefell when everyone else slept.. Your son's behaviour worries you for you see the end of your thread."
"Am I to die? Have you dreamed it?"
"No we have not dreamed it and I do not think we will. The Weird Sisters have been too kind to us and told us more than they should have. You are favoured by the Allfather but there are many gods in Asgard and some are jealous of you. Loki, for one, would resent someone who was not Norse born having the glory you have."
That thought depressed me. I had thought I would know of my own death for it would be dreamed and I would be prepared. Now I knew that it could come at any time and it was a sobering thought.
Dawn was worth the wait. The sun spread out like golden butter melting upon a deep blue sea. It lit up the seal islands which littered the coast. Aiden and I watched as the white light rose slowly in the sky. He turned to me and said, "This is a good omen, Jarl. I have never seen Ran have the sea so calm. This will be a good day."
It was mid morning when Rollo Thin Skin shouted, "Riders leaving the castle."
Haaken shouted back, "Do they come for war?"
Ulf walked into the camp and laughed, "There are but twenty of them. If they come for war we gain twenty horses and some fine mail." Shaking his head he said, "They do not wear helmets and their shields are on their saddles."
I nodded, "Then they either come to invite us within or to tell us to go home. Either way we should mount and be ready."
As the Saxons rode in they were greeted by a terrifying sight; fully armoured and armed Vikings. I knew how intimidating we were and this was our peaceful pose. The Saxons were led by the young warrior who had been at the walls the previous day. I hid my smile as I saw the fear on the faces of the men who followed him. Even our horses looked intimidating compared with theirs. The young man, however, seemed quite calm, almost pleased to see us. The warrior had golden hair tied in two pigtails. His armour was well made but only came to his waist. It seemed to be the way the men of Northumbria liked it.
"I am Prince Aethelred. My father King Eanred invites you to visit with him."
"In his castle?"
The Prince looked embarrassed, "No, Viking, he has had a shelter erected twixt the castle and here. It is close to the village of Bebbanburgh." Apologetically he added, "There is food and ale but I think he fears admitting warriors with such a fierce reputation.."
I smiled. I was here to make peace not to visit a castle. "That is satisfactory. Lead on Prince Aethelred."
"I will ride with you, if that is agreeable."
"Very well."
Haaken dropped back to ride with Aiden. As we rode the prince asked, "Why did you not wish to fight Coenred?"
"You spoke with the men?" He nodded. "They told you what happened?"
"Aye. They said you gave him many chances to leave the fight with honour and he refused. He was once my friend and I knew him. He would never have backed down. Yet they said you slew him with ease and could have done so far quicker than you did. Why?"
"I told your father. I come for peace."
We descended towards the houses of the village. "I find that hard to believe. You are a fierce foe and we have many empty hearths because of you and your men."
I stopped Storm Rider and looked at him. "Have my men ever invaded your land to conquer it?"
"You came into my father's home!"
"And killed renegade Vikings. The only Saxons I slew were the ones who tried to kill me." I kicked my horse on. "We have killed many of your father's men but they came to do us harm. I defended my borders. You do not poke a tethered wolf. I live in the Land of the Wolf. We wear the skin of the wolf and we are dangerous as the wolf. We choose whom we hunt and we hunt not outside our territory. If you fear us then that is not our fault. We have never tried to take your father's lands."
He laughed, "You are not what I expected, Jarl Dragonheart. We grow up with stories of how you will come in the night and eat us if we misbehave."
I heard his words but I was busy studying the men we would meet. I saw the King ahead with his oathsworn before him. There were six priests behind him. I think that one was a bishop but I am not well up on the different types of priest. As we slowed I said, quietly, "I was born to a Saxon father on the river they call the Dunum. I was born in Northumbria. Think on that."
I dismounted and handed my reins to Finni the Dreamer. Turning to Leif I said, "Stay here with my banner and the two boys." I saw the disappointment on their faces but they heeded the words of Haaken. "Aiden, fetch the sword. Haaken come with us."
King Eanred frowned as we approached and two of his oathsworn stepped forward. One of them was a huge warrior with a split nose and a scar which ran down his forearm. He wore many battle bands and he held a double handed axe. He said, "I am Osric and the King's champion. Approach no closer."
I smiled, "I am here to make peace and not to fight."
Prince Aethelred said, "I have spoken with the Viking, father, and I believe he comes in peace."
"I will believe that when the sun rises at midnight!" He waved a finger at me, "I warn you Viking I have sent riders seeking your warband and I have called up the fyrd. The army you try to sneak through our lands will be destroyed!"
Aiden said, "Your men would be better working in the fields. It will be a hard winter and our army consists of the men you see here before you.."
King Eldred recoiled as he recognised the wizard; his priests made the sign of the cross and began to chant. "It is a wizard! Do you seek to enchant me?"
Aiden frowned, "If you do not believe in magic then how can it hurt you? Surely your god and your army of priests will protect you."
"Sorcerer! I will not speak in the presence of this man! Get him gone."
Osric put his hand on Aiden's chest. I removed it firmly saying, "Do not lay on hands on my friend or peace or no peace I will give you another scar that will not heal in this world." I spoke quietly but he saw that I meant my words. He stepped back. "Aiden you had best go. It seems they fear that which they neither understand nor believe." He handed the sheepskin covered sword to Haaken and nodded.
Aiden had a wicked sense of humour and as he turned he flapped his hands at the priests and mumbled gibberish. They fell to their knees. Haaken could barely control his laughter. Even Aethelred had a smile.
"This is not the beginning I wished, King Eanred. Let me start again. As I said to your son I have never invaded your land and the only Northumbrians I have killed came to harm me." I saw him start to speak and I forestalled him, "When I entered your castle it was to kill a renegade, Magnus the Foresworn and I apologise for that breach but he had to die. Now I come with an offer of peace. I am ready to swear an oath and as you have your priests here assembled we could make it binding."
"I do not fear you or your barbarians!"
I did not mention Coenred and his tongues but I could see that Aiden was right. He did fear me. "That is good but would you want a peace which would stop your men dying and your cattle being raided? We would. For that is our aim to live in peace with our neighbours and you are our nearest neighbours. Those who were here before the Saxons are our allies. Coen Ap Pasgen is descended from the kings who ruled here in the times of the Romans. They are our allies and they prosper. Why cannot you?"
"We do not raid." He said it almost petulantly. It seemed wrong for a king to speak thus.
I shook my head, "King Eanred your thegns do try to take slaves and cattle. Coenred of Hagustaldes ham did. Ask his men. They told you the truth of the fight. They will tell you the truth of that also."
He turned and beckoned over a priest who was slightly better dressed than the others. His fingers were heavily ringed. After he had spoken he said, "How do I know that you will keep
your word? What assurances do I have?"
My eyes bored into his. "You have the word of Jarl Dragonheart of Cyninges-tūn. I have never broken an oath in my life. Even my enemies admit that, if I give my word, then it is so. I swear that if you agree to this treaty then we will not raid your land or take your people. More if the Danes or the Hibernians cross your border to raid and try to cross our land we will capture them and deliver them to you for punishment. And if you wish I will swear on this sword. You have heard of it I know. You may not believe the story but to us it is the truth."
Prince Aethelred could keep silent no longer, "Take the offer, father!"
"Silence or leave us. This is the work of men and not striplings." He stood and approached me. There was still fear in his eyes but also curiosity, "It is a reasonable offer but I am suspicious of your motives. Why?"
"I will be honest. I have many enemies. King Egbert is an enemy of mine and although I have defeated him I have no doubt that he will come again to attack me. The Hibernians always raid for slaves. The Danes at Eoforwic trouble not only you but me also. I need my northern and eastern border secure so that I can face my enemies and defeat them when they come. I have no desire to rule this land. I am happy with the Land of the Wolf."
"Which was once Northumbria."
"And which was lost in years gone by. And before that belonged to King Coel and before that..." I waved a hand as though rolling back the years. "You must look to the future, King Eanred. The time of the Dane is coming. If you waste your anger on me they will take the whole of your land not just Eoforwic."
He returned to his seat and pondered. "This should be written down."
"Why? If a man's word cannot be trusted why should a piece of paper. I am willing to swear and shake your hand."