by Griff Hosker
“They made him Christian.” He said it quietly for he was asking me if it had tamed me.
I nodded, “I took a Christian bath. I said what I had to gain land. Look in my eyes, Mauger. What do you see?”
He did as I asked and I saw him smile, “I do not see a priest. I see a Viking.”
We laboured across the sea and then when we turned north ‘Fafnir’ raced. Erik Gillesson had bred some horses which were incredibly fast. They could not carry a mailed warrior but if we had to send a message across my land quickly then they were as fast as the wind. So was ‘Fafnir’. She had no weed on her hull and she was well designed. Behind us, I saw the other drekar spread out like an eagle’s wing as they tried to stay with us. I had eaten fresh bread and drunk three horns of ale. I took my sleeping fur and laid it next to my chest. “Leif, I will sleep. Wake me when we sight the island.”
I saw Erik and Mauger exchange a knowing look. I did not care. I now enjoyed a sleep in the afternoon. I could still stand a watch in the night but I liked a short rest. As soon as my head hit the rolling deck I was asleep and I dreamed. My dreams no longer told me of the future. They visited my past. They were, in the main, pleasurable although sometimes Poppa, my former wife, would appear and the dream would be spoiled. When I woke, the sun was setting in the west. I looked up at Leif, “Well?”
“Not yet, lord. I see a smudge which is the land of the Saxons but until we are closer, I cannot say if we are near to our landing site or not.”
Some warriors were too impatient. We would get there when we got there. It was not as though there was an urgency to the task. The abbey was not going anywhere. “Aye, well I shall take a turn around the deck!”
I saw that my hearth weru were also sleeping. The younger warriors were talking or throwing bones. They would learn. I went to the prow and made water. Then I strolled back. I spoke to those who looked up at me expectantly. I saw that my other drekar had closed up. Night would be upon us and they did not wish to become separated. We had pot lanterns we could use but it was not ideal.
I had just reached the steering board when one of the ship’s boys shouted, “Land ahead! It is an island.”
Some of the men cheered. I shook my head. There were other islands and we had to determine which this was. It was Erik who identified it. “That is Wihtwara.”
“Good, then we are close.” Erik put the steerboard over to take us north and east. The wind from the south and west pushed us hard. I smiled. “And the gods wish us to get there before dark!” As soon as I had said it, I realised that I would have offended any Christians on my drekar. I could not control my mouth. I had always been outspoken. I was now too set in my ways to change.
“Galmr, come, it is time to don my mail!”
Being older meant that some things which had been easier even ten years ago now took more time. He brought my padded gambeson. It was lined with calfskin. It was still light but it afforded me a little more protection during battle. Then he slid my mail byrnie over my head. That in itself took time for I was the biggest man on the drekar. He had to stand on my chest to do so. He put my coif so that it was on my shoulders. I would not raise it until just before combat. The helmet and shield would be handed to me when I went ashore. He then strapped on my belt and hung my scabbard and Long Sword from it. Even my son, who was tall, could not have worn Long Sword from his belt. He also had a long sword but his weapon hung over his back. Finally, Galmr handed me a dagger and a seax. The seax was slipped into the top of my sealskin boot and the dagger in my belt. There was a second seax in a scabbard behind my shield. When you fought close, in a shield wall, then a long sword was not much use. You needed weapons you could insinuate into a warrior’s body.
In the time it took to dress we heard the cry from the masthead. “I see a small island!”
Erik nodded, “That will be the island which lies across from Hamafunta.”
I looked astern. The sun had almost dipped below the horizon. There would be just enough light for us to reach the island and take down the masts of our drekar. The mast, yard and sail would be placed on the mast fish. We would rest before we rowed around the island to land and take the Saxon settlement.
Chapter 3
We split into two groups of ships when we were ready to round the island. William led half to the west and I led the other half east. We rowed slowly around the island and saw the huts. They were lit by fires from within. The light flickered as people moved in and out of them. It was still relatively early. None would be abed yet. Our two small fleets would each land a mile to the east and west of the village and land our men. Those forty men, taken from all of the ships, would race to surround the houses. We would row slowly along the coast. There was no reason why they should keep sentries but I would send men ashore to make certain that they did not send for help. We wanted our presence a secret until we raided Newminster Abbey.
We edged toward the beach and I heard the tolling of a church bell. I saw some of the younger warriors look up anxiously, I smiled at those close to me, “They are monks at the abbey which lies close to the village. These men pray three or four times a night. It is a regular peel of bells. If it was an urgent sound then we would have been spotted.”
All of them were now armed. Some wore their helmets. The men from our boat slipped over the side. They were led by Halfdan. He was one of my hearth weru. As soon as they reached the beach, we backed water and then rowed down the coast. With neither mast nor sail, we were invisible. The mast and sail would remain on the mast fish until it was time to leave.
We had the harder row for my son and his ships had the wind with them. There were fishing boats drawn up on the beach. I pointed to an empty patch of sand close to the boat which lay the furthest east. Erik began to head for it. I heard a shout from ahead. My son and his ships had landed. Erik put the steering board over and shouted, “In oars!” The wind, tide and our momentum slid us on to the beach. As ship’s boys jumped ashore to tie us up the younger warriors leapt into the water. Gone were the days when I would be the first ashore. As I waded through the sea, surrounded by my hearth weru, I heard the clash of steel and the cries of men dying. It would not be a bloodbath. Once resistance ended then we would cease killing. These were hostages we took. Bergil Fast Blade and his men would already be racing to the church. That was a prize and would be the place we held the hostages securely until we needed them. As I walked through the huts, I saw that the resistance had not tested my men. Four Saxons lay dead and five others were nursing wounds. I nodded to my men.
“Godwin!”
Godwin Red Eyes ran towards me, “Aye, lord.”
“You know the way.” My son walked up to me. He was sheathing his sword behind his back. “William, take Godwin and your crew. Head to Drokensford. Keep us hidden and if you deviate from the path leave a man to guard it for us. Find horses for your scouts.”
I heard neighing and saw his men leading six small horses. My son grinned, “Aye, lord. We have already found some. Come, Godwin.”
I turned to Sámr, “Organise the men and follow my son. We can leave the village to Bergil Fast Blade. He has more than enough men. I will go and speak to him. Do not wait for me. I will catch you up.”
With my men behind me, I soon reached the church. I saw that Bergil had the priests all kneeling on the ground before him. He would be using terror to impose his will. They would expect to die. They did not know that they were safe; for the time being, at least. “I am searching the church for treasure before my men bring the villagers here. There are just two doors to this church. Once we have taken that which we need then we will bar the doors.”
“Good. You have to keep this beach safe for us Bergil. When we come back, we may well find ourselves pursued. Have your men ready with bows. Load the drekar as soon as the treasure is taken and the captives safe.”
He smiled, “You need not fear for me, my friend. I am not the whale you discovered wallowing in self-pity. Your words shook me from the dark p
lace in which I was hiding. I have already forgotten my wife. It is best if I assume my daughters died. That way I can mourn them. I am on the road to recovery. By the time we leave for the next raid, I will be back to my normal self.”
I clapped him about the shoulders. “I never doubted it for a moment.”
I headed after my men feeling much more confident. We marched up the road through the dark. It took all night to reach Drokensford. My son and his men had captured it. It was the same size as Hamafunta and there was a monastery there. King Alfred had been very pious. There seemed to be as many monasteries, priories and abbeys as there were burghs! By the time I reached the town the five men who had died defending it were being piled on a pyre. The monks glared angrily at us. The Prior pointed an accusing finger at me, “And you call yourself a Christian. May you burn in hell!”
I walked close to him. I spoke Saxon well. “Have you a death wish, old man? At the moment you live for I am in a generous mood. Annoy me and that state will end!” I turned to Harold Mighty Fist, “Find their treasure and send it back to Hamafunta then put all of the monks and villagers in the church.”
“Aye, lord!” He turned to his sons and said, “You heard the Duke, obey him.” They hurried off and Harold grinned. This was the life he was born for.
“We will eat and rest. We do not have far to go. Once it is dark leave sentries armed with bows.”
“The plan is a good one, lord! You have no need to fear.”
I shook my head, “Harold, the Norns!”
“Sorry, lord!” He clutched his horse amulet. All of my older lords had them hung around their necks.
I did not sit and rest as I had ordered my men. I sent scouts out along the road, “If any come down the roads then stop them. Take them prisoner if you can, but if not then just stop them.” I then walked the line of sentries to make sure they were all alert. Harold’s men would have no further walking. They could endure a longer watch.
I sat with, Sámr, Ragnar the Resolute, Gandálfr and Harold Mighty Fist. My son and Godwin sat with their men for they would leave as soon as they had eaten. The monks had a good table and we had slow cooked fowl with local mead. I still had a good appetite and I retained most of my teeth. Others, I knew, were not as lucky. Sámr smiled, “Back in Wessex, lord. It is strange but this feels right. Why we waited years to raid again I know not.”
Ragnar nodded, “Aye lord, life has been dull.”
I shook my head, “If I did not know better, I would assume that the pair of you were criticising me!”
Sámr smiled, “Perhaps we are.”
“And you would be right to do so. At least Bergil had the excuse of a lost wife to make him indolent. I had no such excuse. That changes now.”
We had just finished the food when William walked up to our camp. “We have eaten. I have sent Godwin and the scouts ahead.”
I waved, “Go and we will follow. We are old men, William. We need to make water before we march!”
With Godwin and the scouts leading we headed the last few miles to the Abbey. The Abbey was close to the walls of the burgh. My plan was bold. The position of the Abbey, north of the walls, meant that a normal attack by Vikings would come from the south. That would give the Benedictine monks the opportunity to take their valuables into Wintan-Caestre. Of course, they could not take Alfred’s body with them. I was not a fool. We would not touch the body. It had no value to me. By attacking from the other side and surrounding the Abbey then none would escape and there would be no one to warn the burgh. It would not take many men to strip the Abbey of its treasures and make the monks captive. The majority of my crews would be ready to repel the defenders. The Saxons relied on their Bondi warriors, the so-called hundreds. This was the local levy and they would be led by a thegn. There were a number of thegns around Wintan-Caestre and when the bell sounded the alarm, they would make their way to the town. By the time they reached us, we would be gone.
We could smell Newminster Abbey before we saw it. The monks had candles and used incense. Even without our scouts, we could have found it. The monks rose early. They would soon rise but, when we arrived, they were all still abed. The discipline of my most experienced men came to the fore. There was no talking for there was no need. Gandálfr and his men silently surrounded the Abbey. He would take the abbey and he would be responsible for taking the treasure and the captives. The scouts secured the abbey’s stables and the rest of us closed to within a hundred paces of the walls. There was a watch but we were cloaked and we were silent. We arrayed in three ranks. The third rank was made up of the warriors without mail. They held bows and arrows were already nocked. I stood in the front rank with my hearth weru, William and his bodyguards, Ragnar the Resolute and Sámr. The rest lined up behind us. William and I drew our swords. The rest of the front rank used spears. We waited.
Inevitably there was a cry. It came from the abbey. I would have been surprised if there had not been one. What there was not was the sound of the abbey’s bell. Gandálfr was too seasoned a warrior to have overlooked that. The bell, when it came a short while later, sounded from Wintan-Caestre. We had learned, from a thrall at Drokensford that King Edward was in the north with his army. His family were in Lundenwic. Despite that, there would be guards in the burgh. It was an important town. They would be the town watch and the fyrd. The shouts from inside the burgh were accompanied by the thunder of feet running along the fighting platform. I glanced to the east. Dawn was still some time away. I smiled when torches were brought to the walls. They helped us and not the Saxons. Their night vision would be destroyed and they illuminated the wall. That would allow my archers to see their targets. By their light, I saw men peering over the walls as they sought to see the size of the problem. Our cloaks and shields would just be a dark shadow.
“Archers! Draw!” My voice pierced the darkness. I saw a spear pointed in my direction as the defenders identified me. “Release!” It sounded like a flock of disturbed birds as the forty arrows soared over our heads. I heard cries as the watch perished. They had not taken the precaution of having shields ready.
William laughed, “You know, father, we could take this burgh!”
“And what would we gain? The treasure is in the church. We let Gandálfr set off down the road and when it is daylight, we follow him and his men.”
My son sounded disappointed, “I had hoped to hew some heads.”
Sámr sounded the voice of reason, “We will have to draw our swords before we reach our ships, William Longsword. This is the tomb of their great king. We have offended them and honour will be at stake.”
“Aye, son, Sámr is right. Use your head. Save your passion for the Bretons!” I allowed five flights of arrows and then shouted, “Hold!” I had heard arrows striking the wood of shields. There was little purpose in wasting arrows.
I heard, from the south, the sound of hooves. As I had expected, they had sent for help. Dawn was breaking when Sven, one of Gandálfr’s men, found me, “We have the treasure, lord, and we found a wagon. There are thirty monks. Five died resisting us. Lord Gandálfr had no choice.”
“I know. Head for Drokensford. When you reach it leave the monks there and carry on to Hamafunta.”
“Aye lord. It is a mighty treasure. We have six chests not to mention the candlesticks and church ornaments. The Abbot had fingers adorned with gold and silver rings.”
“You have done well. We will follow.”
William asked, a short while later, “And how long do we wait?”
“It will take our men some hours to reach Harold Mighty Fist. Let us wait until the Saxons try to shift us.”
We had no hourglass and we had to rely upon the sun to gauge the passage of time. I guessed that three hours had passed since Gandálfr had left us when the gates opened and men began to spill out. As the gates began to swing open, I shouted, “Archers!”
A thegn wearing a full-face helmet and a long byrnie led men out. I saw ten housecarls. They also had good helmets, mail byrn
ies and axes. The rest had a variety of helmets and shields. These were the burghers of the town. I would not underestimate them. King Alfred had trained them well enough to defeat my friend Guthrum.
“Release!”
My archers sent their arrows as the Saxons formed up. We had archers and the Saxons did not. Their slingers were scurrying before their shields when the arrows struck. Some slingers fell as did some of the men who were slow to raise their shields. Once the shields formed a wall I shouted, “Hold!” Turning to Sámr I said, “Let us see if we can make them charge us, eh?”
He chuckled, “Aye lord!”
“Men of Rouen, fall back fifty paces! Keep facing the foe.” I paused, “Now!” We walked backwards slowly. As I had expected, it made the Saxons, who now outnumbered us, think we were retreating. The thegn held up his sword but the burghers saw us backing towards their precious abbey. They thought we were fleeing and they charged. As soon as they charged, I shouted, “Shield wall!” I slipped my shield around my back and held Long Sword in two hands. William did the same with his own long sword. The rest of our men swung their shields to lock them with their neighbours and then poked their spears over them. Spears appeared over the shoulders of our front rank. In the case of William and I, they came through the gap. None were tall enough to rest their spears on our shoulders. It was not bravado from my son and I. Our swords were so long that they would strike the enemy when our spears did. We were also helped by the fact that the Saxons ran at us wildly with no order. The thegn and the housecarls had only managed to form a hundred or so of their men into a shield wall.
My archers thinned out the numbers. Even so, there were so many that some reached us. The first to try to kill us were burghers with helmet, shield and spear. I brought my sword from over my head. The Saxon who thrust at me with his spear thought he had me and jabbed his long spear at my chest. The tip had just touched my mail and his face had lit up with the joy of killing a giant when my sword came down and split helmet, skull and the upper body of the man. Even as he was falling William’s scything, sideways strike had taken the head of the man next to my victim. I saw, behind these Saxons, the rest of the line of charging men slow a little. They chose not to run at William and me. Instead, they ran into a wall of spears held by hearth weru; the best we had. The Saxons thought they had avoided the long swords of William and myself but they were wrong. We swept them into the sides of the Saxons fighting the warriors to our side. A Saxon horn sounded and the chastened survivors ran back to the safety of the shield wall. Their retreat cost them another fifteen warriors as arrows struck them.