by Griff Hosker
Snorri looked uncomfortable. "I would not be happy leaving my wife alone if there are Danes in the land."
"You are right. Then we will go there on the morrow."
Rollo and Cnut set off across the top of the ridge. They would tell Arne Thorirson and Harland Windarsson at Windar's Mere. Even though it was winter and few warriors would stir we still kept a watch.
I left Snorri at his farm. As he dismounted I said, "You have enough coin now to hire warriors of your own, Snorri. They could help with the farming too. I like not your wife being alone."
"She does, lord. When the door is closed and the fire banked up she nestles in my arms. She and Eystein had great plans. There will be a time when she is ready to face the world but it is not yet. I am new to this world of women but I am learning. She is like a wounded deer at the moment. She needs care and, I think, she needs me. As for the warriors. That is a good idea. Perhaps I will buy her a couple of slaves too."
I reached home before dark and told Karl One Leg my news. He nodded, "I will make sure we keep a good watch and look for anything which is unusual." He now had more warriors to watch the walls for I now paid for the old warriors who could no longer fight in the shield wall to be the watch. We also paid for some youths who would use the money to buy weapons and helmets and then they would become warriors. Karl made sure that they were well trained. The treasure might have brought unwelcome intruders but we used it wisely. No one wore golden armour! I used some of his watch to send messages to the Ulfheonar who lived close by. Snorri and I would not go alone the next day and we would go prepared for war.
Before I went to my hall I spoke with Aiden. He and Kara frowned. "We have not sensed danger. Perhaps they use magic to hide from us."
"Perhaps. We will have to find them the old fashioned way. Snorri and I will summon the Ulfheonar. The wolf hunt will be soon anyway. This will be a good opportunity for us to hunt men."
"Be careful, father. If they have magic then your swords might not avail you."
I held up the dragon charm, "But I have this and there is magic here too." I patted my sword hilt.
Aiden smiled, "True and I feel better knowing that the dragon is around your neck."
It was dark when I entered my hall. I had helped the stable slave to care for Storm Rider. He had done well. Brigid was worried when I entered, "Is there danger?"
I had learned not to lie to her. It always came back to haunt me. "There may be but the fact that we are aware of it means it is under control."
"Can I come with you?"
I looked at an eager Gruffyd, "Go where?"
"Tomorrow, when you go to find the danger!"
I was going to ask him how he knew and then thought better of it. He was a clever boy and could work things out better than any child I had ever met. "No for it is winter and we are uncertain where the danger lies. I cannot afford to have a warrior watching out for you." I knew not if that satisfied him but he was silent and argued no more.
The weather warmed just a little and we left under a sleet filled sky and clouds scudding in from the south. Olaf Leather Neck, Rolf Horse Killer and Erik Eriksson accompanied Snorri and me. Beorn lived along the way and we would pick him up as we went. Snorri waved a hand at the sleet which was almost horizontal. "This will hide the enemies' tracks. We will have to look for other clues."
Olaf Leather neck nodded, "And you have the nose and eyes to find them." He rode, not with his normal two handed Danish axe but a shorter skeggox. He could use it on the back of a horse. We wore no mail but all had leather armour studded with metal and we had two swords each.
Elter lived by a small Water in a remote valley. I could never work out why more people did not live there but, as our horses sank up to their withers in the boggy patches by the becks and streams I began to understand why. "There will be no tracks here Jarl but I see smoke ahead. That is a hopeful sign. Elter still lives." The grandfather came out to greet us. He was a rugged old man and seemed more like a rock than a Viking. He and his wife lived there with their three daughters. All three had been widowed in wars against our foes and there were eight small children there too.
"It is rare to see you in winter, Jarl."
"I think there is a party of Danes in our land. Have you seen them or any sign of strangers?"
He laughed and pointed at the muddy legs of our horses, "If they came here they would soon turn around. This land protects me and my family. I have been hunting every day and you are the first to have visited since the blizzards began. I know all that goes on in this land. I have lived here since I first came with you Jarl. I would know if there was danger."
"I am relieved. Send one of your grandchildren for help if there is danger or if you spy anything."
"Aye Jarl."
We turned around and I began to head back to my hall. Snorri halted. "Jarl, if we ride to the top of the fell of Lough Rigg then we may be able to see the Rye Dale."
"A good idea and it will save us having to go back through that bog!" We passed the tiny tarn beneath the gaunt fells and then headed up the twisting path which led to the top of the whale shaped hill. It was not a pleasant ride but at least it was drier than the boggy morass which acted as a moat around Elter's Waite.
It was the middle of the afternoon by the time we led our horses up the last few steps to the top of the windswept and desolate fell. We were thankful that the sleet and rain had ceased, at least temporarily. We could see across to the Grassy Mere and the Water of the Rye Dale.
Snorri had the best eyes and he said, "I see smoke coming from the farm of Audun Thin Hair. He must be safe."
Olaf took some dried fish from his saddle bags and gave us each a piece. It would keep us going. "Where else might they be Snorri? Think you they may have gone back?"
"If Wolf Killer's men saw them heading east and yet we found tracks close to Cyninges-tūn then it is safe to assume that they are determined and they seek something over here. They have skirted our walls. They are waiting for something or perhaps the sudden bad weather changed their plans."
Rolf Horse Killer asked, "Are they serving Ragnar Ruriksson? They could mean harm to you or your family Jarl."
"Karl One Leg has the walls and gates guarded. It would take a wraith to get through and with Aiden and Kara watching too then I doubt that even a wraith would manage it."
Leif the Banner spat out a bone, "Then why else? Revenge? We have hurt the Danes before now."
Snorri had been watching the east, "I would say the treasure drew them here. We have slaves in the mines who were warriors. Some were Danes. These could be kinsmen come to rescue their comrades and steal our treasure. It is known that you are generous, Jarl and that treasure is shared out. Think of the farms where they could reap a rich reward for a little work."
"Perhaps but we do not know! How can we guard every remote farm and home?"
"Over there, two riders moving towards us!"
We mounted and, drawing our swords rode down the slope to meet them. It soon became obvious that it was Rollo and Cnut. We urged our horses down the slope. We met them in the lee of a rock. The rain had begun while we were eating and was now hurtling at us from the east; it felt like ice.
"Jarl, my father is safe but his dogs barked three nights since. He found the signs of men passing to the west."
"Did he see anything?"
"No, Jarl."
I looked at Snorri, "We passed no one. Where are they?"
Snorri nodded slowly, "There is but one place. Myrddyn's cave!"
The one place I did not want to go was Myrddyn's cave. There the ancient wizard's spirit dwelt and these Danes had hidden there. I knew it now with every bone in my body. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I grasped my dragon amulet.
Even Olaf Leather Neck looked apprehensive, "Should we send for Aiden?"
Snorri shook his head, "They could be gone. They have sheltered there because of the weather. It is easing. They could move and we will lose them. Even I cannot tr
ack them through a bog and there is a bog between here and the iron mines. We have to face the cave." He looked at me and shook his head, "There is no other way, Jarl."
"I know. Let us go then and face our destiny."
As we headed down the slope I was just glad that I had not brought Gruffyd else he would perish along with his father and his oathsworn. The cave was a sinister place full of magic and the spirits. Aiden had warned me of the magic possessed by our enemies and I had ignored him. Would I now pay with my life?
The twisting path descended down the southern side of the fell. The cave had always been important to us. It had been there that Wolf Killer had killed his wolf and there that the spirit of the dead wizard had appeared. I found myself gripping my dragon as we descended. Men I could fight. There was no warrior whom I feared but spirits and magic were a different matter. All of my dreams had a cave in them and black holes into which I fell. This was not a dream; this was an actual black hole. The light was rapidly fading for days were never long at this time of year. I wondered if we would reach the cave before dark.
We finally descended close enough to see the cave. We had some shelter from the rain as we moved along the side of the rocky rigg. Whatever sun there had been was disappearing to the west. Snorri dismounted in a jumble of rocks and scrubby bushes. He tied the reins of his horse to one and drew his bow. The rest of us emulated him. We had no bows but we were all well armed. I drew my sword and seax. Cnut and Rollo were the only ones with their shields. They stepped forward and followed Snorri. The wind was still coming from the south and east. It would not take our smell to the cave. It would sweep it back up to the top of the Lough Rigg. If the Danes were in the cave they would have a sentry. Any sentry would wait beneath the overhang of the rocky roof, sheltered from the worst of the weather. Snorri edged around the path which led there.
Suddenly he stopped and he handed his bow to Cnut. Drawing a dagger he slipped to the ground and disappeared from sight. Cnut, Leif and Rollo moved slowly forward and we followed. Snorri reappeared and took his bow. He waved us forward. The sentry lay with his throat cut. I could see a faint glow from inside the cave. I knelt to examine the warrior. He had four warrior bands and his face was tattooed. It confirmed that he was a Dane as Snorri had surmised. If the others were the same then these were not just a band of young warriors out for an adventure. These knew what they were doing. These were experienced warriors and here for a purpose.
Snorri silently entered the cave. It turned back on itself. The Danes would be at the far end. I glanced to the left where I saw firelight flickering off the dark black pool which stood there. That was where the spirit of the ancient wizard had risen and I found myself pressing into the opposite side of the cave. The rocks beneath my feet were treacherous and I had to put thoughts of the dead pool from my mind as I concentrated upon keeping my feet. The sounds of the wind and the sleet abated and I could hear the murmur of conversation ahead. They were within. The dead sentry had confirmed this but their voices told us that they were still awake. Snorri paused and we all stopped. I sniffed the air. I could smell wood smoke but not horses. The men had come on foot.
Snorri readied an arrow. He slid to the ground and Cnut and Rollo stepped up to ready their shields. Leif and Olaf Leather Neck were at my side. We moved across the stones to stand behind our men with the shields. We could see nothing but it was obvious that Snorri could. He stood and released first one and then a second arrow. He turned and nodded. Cnut and Rollo ran. We followed.
There had been nine Danes. Two now writhed on the floor of the cave with arrows in them. The others were grabbing weapons and helmets to face us. I had no time to think of magic for we had Danes to slay. As we ran towards them I shouted. "A prisoner if we can!"
The seven who remained stood with their backs to the fire. They would sell their lives dearly. These were warriors and surrender would never enter their heads. Cnut and Rollo used their shields to drive a wedge between the Danes. As a Dane swung his axe at Cnut Cnutson's unprotected right side I lunged forward and my sword deflected the axe to the ground. I stabbed at him with my seax. He brought the haft of his axe across his body to block the strike. I swung my sword sideways. His left leg was unprotected and my sword bit into his upper thigh. It struck bone and stopped. I ripped it back and he fell to the ground.
A sword came at me from my right. I sensed rather than saw it and I barely had time to bring my sword around to block it. The Dane bundled into me and we both fell to the ground. He stank of stale sweat and old seal oil. His lank and greasy beard pressed into my face. He turned his head and opened his mouth. I knew what he intended, he would bite off my nose. At the same time he was trying to bring his sword up. It was still locked with mine and our hands and swords fought for space to slide a blade into the other. His breath stank worse that he did. I noticed that he had filed his teeth to make them look frightening. He raised his head so that he could bring it down on my nose and tear it from my face. As he did I lowered my chin. His blackened teeth struck my face mask. He roared in pain and his back arced a little. I brought my seax up and began to worm it under his right armpit. He tried to wriggle away but our swords were still locked. I felt flesh and I pushed harder. He roared again and I twisted as I pushed. It slid past a bone and my hand stopped at his armpit. I pushed even harder, driving the seax as far into his body as I could make it go. Suddenly his body went limp. I pushed him from me and stood.
Rollo was lying injured but the rest stood. The Danes were finished. The one whose leg I had had hacked lived yet. His hand tried to creep across to his axe so that he could die with a weapon in his hand. I walked to him and put my foot on his hand. "Before we send you to Valhalla you will talk. Leif, tie something around his leg!" I did not want him bleeding to death before he had talked. Leif tied a leather thong he had hacked from a shield around the top of the Dane's leg.
The tattooed warrior spat out a gobbet of blood, "Just kill me and end it."
"Why are you here? Who sent you?"
He laughed although it was a weak laugh for he was dying, "You steal the greatest treasure, the tax gold of the Franks and you ask why we come? I thought you were clever. For the gold!"
Snorri asked, "How did you think you would steal it? There are nine of you."
"We managed to hide from you for half a month did we not?" He grinned. He too had blackened teeth which had been filed and stained. "You celebrate the feast of the White Christ. Then we would have had your gold!"
"Who is your leader?"
"I am the leader. I am Sven the Merciless."
"Who is your Jarl?" He said nothing. I reached down and tore open his tunic. There he had a golden wolf such as my Ulfheonar wore. I ripped it from his neck. "Where did you get this?"
For the first time he looked worried. "Give it back to me and end my life."
Olaf Leather Neck snarled, "What if I take your balls first and then hack off your right hand! Answer the Jarl. Who sent you?" He took out his seax and knelt next to the Dane's groin.
"Ragnar Ruriksson gave us the golden wolf and said it would protect us against your magic. It had a spell laid upon it by a witch. He told us we could keep the gold if we stole it. I have told you all now keep your word, Jarl and let me die."
I nodded. Olaf put the axe in his hand and then ripped his seax across his throat.
I turned to Snorri, "How is Rollo?"
"The cut was to his leg. It will heal."
I pointed to the fire. "Let us be certain. Use a brand to seal the wound."
Leif and Olaf held Rollo as Snorri pressed the red hot piece of burning wood into the wound. There was a hiss and the smell of burning hair and flesh but Rollo gritted his teeth and said not a word.
"We will leave as soon as Rollo can stand. We will spend the night at his father's farm. Tomorrow we will search the bodies."
Erik Eriksson came over to me and took out his own wolf. "The two are close, Jarl."
"Aye but not identical. Aiden did not mak
e this." I took out my seax and began to scrape at the gold. Ours were made of solid gold. I soon discovered that this one was a thin layer of gold on top of iron. "This is a cheap copy."
Snorri finished bandaging Rollo's leg and said, "Yet it had enough magic to hide them from Aiden and Kara."
"You are right. This Ragnar Ruriksson must be dealt with."
Snorri rode ahead to warn Audun Thin Hair that we returned. They were ready for us with hot food and ale. Rollo's mother had prepared a bed for him. Rollo was soon asleep but we sat around the fire talking of the Danes. Rolf Horse Killer asked, "What did he mean the feast of the White Christ? Why would that be a good time to take the gold?"
Olaf Leather Neck added another log to the fire, "The Ulfheonar would all be in their own homes at the shortest time of the year. Men would not wear armour and the Jarl and his family would be celebrating in his hall. The Jarl's lady is Christian and it is known we give gifts and celebrate."
Snorri said, "There is something else, Jarl. Those Danes made for that cave. They avoided all but Audun here. They knew about the Yule celebration and the gifts that are given." He held up his golden wolf. "And there is this. Someone has examined a wolf amulet or seen one at least. When we fight they are not seen and we never leave an Ulfheonar, dead or wounded, on the field. The only time someone can see one of these is at a feast. Whoever described this to Ragnar Ruriksson has seen one."
My scout was right. When we had celebrated our victory over Hakon the Bald and King Egbert we had feasted. My Ulfheonar had worn their finest clothes and their wolves were displayed for all to see. Many men had examined the wolves with interest for they were wonderfully made by Aiden.
"Then it is someone who sailed and fought with us but now serves Ragnar Ruriksson."
Rolf Horse Killer said, "When we were in Dyflin did I not hear that some men had gone outlaw and left Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson?"
Olaf said, "Aye I heard that. If a man murders his own clan and becomes outlaw he would end up serving a man like Ragnar Ruriksson."
Leif said little but when he did it was important, "Hermund the Bent served Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson. He saw the golden amulets we wore. I remember he asked if it was made of real gold. It was only now that I remembered this. I did not like him." The others nodded at the memory of the man.