Viking Clan

by Griff Hosker

  Aethelflaed and Nanna came to my hall in the middle of the afternoon. They were ready to return home with Sámr and Baldr. As we parted at the wooden quay, Sámr said, “Be careful, great grandfather. You are no longer as young as you once were and your dreams have warned you of the dangers that lie close by. The Danes may not wait for vengeance. I remember the assassins. If it was not for Úlfarr I would be dead. They came in the night and we saw them not. That was many years ago and people are not as vigilant.”

  He was right, of course, people did forget and no sentry, save an Ulfheonar, would be as good as a wolf watcher. Our borders had not been crossed for some time. We had bested our enemies beyond them. “I will watch out for myself and I will be careful. I may have grey hairs but I am still Ulfheonar.”

  I bade them farewell and watched the boats take them across the Water. The hall to which they sailed rose above the flower covered graves of Erika and Aiden and it was good. The spirits would watch over the heir to the Clan of the Wolf.

  Aðalsteinn and Dagfinnr were more than happy to accompany me. They were real warriors and had wanted an opportunity to repay me for their rescue. They had said, many times, that they would pay me back the money I had given for them. I had dismissed it out of hand. I had done no more than I would have done for any of our people enslaved far from their homes. They had clothes now, there were the clothes of dead warriors in the warrior hall. They had no seal skin boots yet. They had leather boots they had found in the hall. I had helmets, swords and scabbards. They were all good ones. The poorer ones had been melted down and reused. I had two good metal studded leather jerkins and they took those. I also had many shields. Some belonged to warriors who had perished at sea and were not buried with them. They chose two good ones. They would repaint them before they used them. It did not do to use another warrior’s mark in battle. In my stables I had sturdy horses and we went to choose four. One had to be a small one for Erik and, after we had chosen one for him, Aðalsteinn, Dagfinnr and I gave him his first lesson in riding. When he did not fall off, he was delighted. We chose a steady horse. Maelgwn was an older mare. We had bred many small horses from her. We used them for the boys who rode between Cyninges-tūn and Whale Island.

  As Erik and I headed back to my hall, I felt weary, I had not travelled far and I had not fought yet my body felt as though it had. “Germund, light the fire in the steam hut,”

  Atticus looked pleased, “That is the right thing to do lord. It will be good for you and I can prepare the food.” He looked at Erik. “And it might be good for your young shield bearer to experience the steam hut.” He stroked his hair as he spoke. I knew what he meant. The steam would help eradicate the infestation in the young man’s hair.

  “Aye, a good idea, “Erik, fetch a good tunic and your comb. I shall induct you into the pleasures of the steam hut.”

  He was nervous but having braved the beast that was a horse then the steam hut seemed harmless. Leaving our clean clothes outside we entered. The heat was fierce and it took Erik’s breath away, “Lord! It is too hot! It is dragon fire!”

  “Aye and when you have endured this you can face a dragon. Trust me.” There were four wooden stools and I placed him on one and then sat opposite. “Your body will rid itself of all impurities. Do not speak, there is no need. I find it helps to close my eyes. Sometimes the spirits come and I enter the dream world.” I did not think that would happen for it only occurred when I was alone or in danger.

  I waited until the sweat was pouring from me. Atticus had carved two bone sticks he called strigils and I used one to scrape my body clean of dirt. When Atticus was with me, he did my back. That done I ran my comb through my hair and beard. I crossed to the other side and picked up Erik’s comb. It was well made but not as fine as mine. “I am going to comb your hair. I fear there are beasts living there.”

  He nodded, “Aye, lord, I have felt them. I tried to comb them out but I failed.”

  “If your mother had been alive then she would have done this. I will do it for you.” A mixture of my comb and Erik’s yielded results. I threw the insects onto the hot stones where they sizzled. “Now we go and plunge into the Water. Then we return. It will harden your body.”

  It was dark as we headed back to my hall. Erik beamed, “I feel clean, lord. That steam hut is like a miracle. When I felt the dragon’s breath, I thought I would die, but having endured it I would go in again tomorrow!”

  I laughed, “Once each seven days is enough but I am pleased you enjoyed it. I will let Atticus go with you next time. He is a Greek and he knows how to cleanse a body far better than I.”

  The next morning, we left Cyninges-tūn not long after dawn. Three of us were mailed although our helmets hung from our saddles. We were warriors and we would heed the warning I had been sent. If Danes were a danger then we would be prepared. We rode north towards the bridge of Skelwith. I had three who were new to the Land of the Wolf and, as we rode through my land, I pointed out features and gave them their names. I pointed towards the dale of Lang where Aðils Shape Shifter lived. I pointed to the mountain which dominated the east, Úlfarrberg, and I told them the story of the wolf, Úlfarr, which had saved my kin. When we crested the col, which led to Windar’s Mere, they were in awe of that piece of water, “Jarl Dragonheart, it is like a sea!”

  “Aye, Dagfinnr, it is and this is the richest farmland in the land of the Wolf. Many people live here. North of this place is the Rye Dale and we grow our cereals there. Asbjorn the Strong is my jarl here and we shall stay the night with him. We have no need to push the animals and besides Maelgwn is no longer a foal!” She whinnied as though she had heard me. Her placid nature had given Erik confidence.

  Asbjorn had grown old. That was not a surprise. What was a surprise was that he looked thinner than he used to. Old warriors grew fat. Even Haaken needed a bigger belt. I was the exception for I had had my illness. Asbjorn’s son, Eystein, had become a father. A grandfather now, Asbjorn would not go raiding with me. He welcomed me warmly. We were old friends as well as shield brothers. His men had been hunting and we had venison for our feast. I told him of the raid and our success.

  His son, Eystein, was envious of what we had done. “I would raid with you, Jarl Dragonheart. Riches such as you speak of would enable me to provide for my wife and son.”

  Shaking my head, I said, “I doubt that I will raid again.” I did not say never for I feared the sisters were listening. “Sámr Ship Killer will lead the clan and he will raid.”

  “But he is younger than I am!” Eystein was blunt. Other Vikings would be as blunt and this was why Sámr was not quite ready yet to lead the clan. Success in one raid was not enough. He needed to make a name in war too. Perhaps when the Danes came it would be the time.

  His father shook his head, “The Dragonheart led this clan when he was of an age with Sámr. This is wyrd, Eystein. Forgive my son, Jarl. He tries to run when he has barely learned to walk. He has much to learn.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. He does not know Sámr and cannot judge.” Abashed, Eystein remained silent.

  “And I cannot believe that you came all the way to my hall just to tell me that you raided. Interesting though it was, there is something beneath your words, Jarl.” Asbjorn might be older and thinner than he had once been but his mind was as sharp as ever.

  “You are right. Danger comes. The spirits have spoken to me in a dream and visited Kara and Ylva too. The Danes will come and they will come from the east.”

  “Across my land.”

  I nodded, “As they did when Wolf Killer lived here. We had signal towers once and I would have you build them again. Grize’s Dale and the farms around those valleys are where they will likely come or perhaps through the valley where Elfrida and Wolf Killer’s home lay. Prepare your defences. We both know that they are like fleas on a dog. Man for man we are better warriors but we need to hurt them beyond our homes before we meet them beard to beard.”

  Asbjorn looked to his son, “Here
is a task for you, my son. This might not reap the rewards of a raid but it will make your family safer.”

  “Aye father!”

  Later that night Asbjorn confessed to me that he had been ill. He had had the coughing sickness. Although he had recovered, he knew it was a warning and he had had to hand over many of his duties to his son. “He is learning, Jarl Dragonheart.” He smiled, “We are both training the one to follow us. You are the Dragonheart. I think you will do a better job than I do.” A wind flickered the tallow candles in the hall. The Norns were listening.

  The next day we headed north for the long ride to Ketil’s Stad. We would have to pass Úlfarrberg and travel up the Úlfarr Water. There were fewer farms there but the folk who lived in that valley were hardier. This was, truly, the land of the wolf but not the wolf that was the clan. Real wolves still prowled. When we had had Ulfheonar then we would have come each Þorri to hunt them. It had been some time since we had had a wolf hunt and their numbers had grown. If we had another wolf winter then they would descend and the folk of Úlfarr Water would have to bar their doors and hunker down until the danger had passed.

  As we passed the brooding mountain, I sensed fear amongst my three companions. I laughed, “When we come back south, we will have to pass Myrddyn’s cave which lies beneath the Lough Rigg. That is a place which makes me fearful That is the true centre of the land for it is inhabited by the spirit of an ancient and powerful wizard who was here before any of our people. This mountain is the heart of the land. One day, Erik, we shall climb it.”

  “But what about the wolves, Jarl Dragonheart?”

  I took out my wolf amulet, “We will have one of these made and then Ylva will put a spell upon it. It will protect you.”

  Once we had left the valley, we followed the River Eamont north and east. We were now in Ketil’s land. Pennryhd had once been a huddle of humble huts before Ketil had established his control over the land. The newly built stronghold now boasted a palisade, ditch and a weaponsmith. One of his sons, Windar Ketilsson, was hersir here. We did not stop for Ketil’s Stad was just a few miles further on guarding the crossing of the Eamont. Pennryhd guarded the other. I saw, even though it was more than a thousand paces away, that he had sentries watching from the palisade. We continued along the river to the real heart of this land. Ketil had turned the Roman fort into a formidable fortress which would be hard to take. The village nestled in the loop of the river. They needed no palisade for if danger threatened then they could flee to the fort.

  I spied men on the walls and that was unusual. Normally there would be just a couple but there were eight and that did not bode well. Of course, my companions saw nothing amiss in this. They were just impressed by the stone wall made by the Romans and the wooden towers which Ketil had made. The double ditches around the outside had been sharpened and kept clear. They would break the ankles of any who tried to cross them.

  I recognised the sentry on the gate house, “Is there trouble, Sven Larsson?”

  He nodded, “Aye Jarl Dragonheart, there are raiders from the north. The jarl led his hearth weru to seek their tracks. He has ordered the bondi to be vigilant.”

  “Then I have come at a good time.”

  We dismounted to walk through the gates. Being an old Roman fort there were good stables and we took the horses there. Ketil had a warrior hall. I sent my two men to find a bed within and Erik and I went to find Ketil’s wife, Seara. She came to the door of the hall to greet me. I remembered her as a young woman. Now she was grey and a grandmother. Age came to us all.

  “A welcome surprise Jarl, you are well?”

  After I had nearly died that was the first thing which most people said to me. “I am and my family are well too. This is Erik Shield Bearer.”

  She smiled, “He is a little small to be a shield bearer.”

  He nodded, “Aye, lady but I shall grow. After seven days of my training and eating the food of Atticus I am already the width of a finger taller!”

  She laughed, “Come inside, my husband will not be long. The men of Strathclyde are raiding.”

  We entered the warm hall. “Strathclyde?”

  She shrugged, “That was Ketil’s first thought but he was riding abroad to discover the truth of the matter. He said he could not trust the reports of those who fled. The men north of the borderlands have been quiet for many years and we did not expect it. Carr normally gives us warning if the raiders come from the east but he saw no one.”

  I was not surprised that these were not Saxons. The Northumbrians were a beaten force. The Danes now imposed their will through kings they allowed to live. That was my worry, that the Danes might use the Northumbrian weakness to attack us through Ketil’s stad. He could withstand raiders but not an invading army. They could sweep down through Úlfarr Water and destroy all of the farms which were north of Windar’s Mere and Cyninges-tūn.

  Seara’s servant poured our ale and another brought in fresh bread and cheese. We spoke of my family and I told her of Aiden’s death. Like all of the people in the Land of the Wolf she knew of Aiden. “Then Kara is alone?”

  “She will never be alone. She has Ylva and Aiden speaks to her from the spirit world.”

  Just at that moment we heard noises from outside. Seara smiled, “It is my husband. If you will excuse me, I will go and prepare a bed for you and food for this evening.”

  Ketil had changed little. He was a little greyer and broader but he was not the huge, bloated man that his father, Windar, had been when he was the same age. He clasped my arm, “Jarl, are you galdramenn that you come when we have great danger on our borders?”

  I shook my head, “I came to warn you of danger but not from the north, from the south and east. This is wyrd.”

  “Let us talk for we have news to share.” We entered his hall and while we drank, I told him my warning first and I told him of the raid on Portus Cale. He supped his ale. It gave him time to think. “Then I think that the two are linked.” He put down his horn. “Over the last twenty days or so there have been raids from the north. Isolated farms were attacked. The men were slain and the rest enslaved. They took animals. In all eight families were taken. Because they were isolated it was not until five days ago that we realised we were under attack. Carr came to tell us that he had seen Picts and the men of Strathclyde. They were heading north and driving cattle and captives. By the time we reached the farms the raiders were gone.”

  “There is an alliance I like not. The Picts and the men of Strathclyde fought each other more than they fought us. What did you discover today?”

  “Over the last three days we went to all the outlying farms. We discovered the extent of the attacks. My son, Windar’s, settlement had not been touched nor any to the west of him but the attacks had all been to the north. The land south of the Roman Wall is now lost to my people. We went today, with my son Windar and his men, to the north west of Pennryhd. I gambled and I was proved right. We came upon a warband about to attack the farm of Arne Svensson. We managed to halt the attack but there were too many of them for us to defeat. The majority escaped us. We killed just four of them. I planted their heads as a warning.”

  “How many were there?”

  “More than a hundred. Had we not been mounted then they might have risked a battle with us but they respect horsemen here. The old people speak of the Roman horsemen who patrolled the border. I do not think they know that we cannot fight from the back of a horse.”

  “What makes you think that the attacks and the Danish threat are linked?”

  “I spied, in their ranks, not just the men of Strathclyde. There were also Picts with their limed hair and half-naked tattooed bodies. In addition, I saw three Danes. They kept to the rear of the warband but I saw them and their Danish axes.”

  “Then that means that they were either observers or, more likely, paymasters.”

  “That was my thought, too. If the Danes do intend to attack the Land of the Wolf then they would wish us to fix our eyes here in th
e north. An attack would draw men here and weaken us.”

  The Norns had been spinning. I had been sent here for a reason. War had come already and, for once, I was in the right place, at the right time.

  Chapter 15

  Ketil and his hearth weru sat with me as we decided what we would do. This was Ketil’s land. He knew it better than I did. I was Jarl Dragonheart but I would listen to my leaders. Perhaps I should have brought Sámr to see how I worked with my jarls. “What are your plans?”

  “Before you came, I intended to take my men and those of my son, north to find this warband and destroy it.”

  “That is a good plan but we do not want to leave your family and your son’s without defence.”

  “I have sent riders to summon the families of all of my people within these walls. We have arms enough for the women and boys to fight and I will leave ten of the older warriors. This Roman fort will not fall easily.”

  “And Pennryhd?”

  “I will order my son to leave fifteen men there.”

  “Then it just remains to find them.”

  “Carr’s son, Oswald, and two of Carr’s men are already scouting for them. They are hill men and know the land well.”

  I turned to Erik, “It looks like you will see your first battle and you will see it soon.” His face was a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Stig, his best friend, had died to a random arrow in the heat of battle. He knew how dangerous battle could be.

  We spoke of the numbers we would have to defeat the warband. We would have rough parity of numbers. I contemplated sending to the Stad on the Eden for their men but if we were being attacked here then they might also be threatened. We would have to use our superior warriors to win the day. The men from the north were brave but most fought with bare chests and many did not even own a helmet. We both realised that it was unlikely that we could recover the ones who had been taken captive. The lands of the Picts and Strathclyde stretched as far north as Mercia did to the south. The captives and animals would be lost in the remote valleys and villages. We would extract vengeance from all those that we found.