by Griff Hosker
With the sword by Odin sent
In the dark the witch grew strong
Even though her deeds were wrong
A dragon’s form she took to kill
Dragonheart faced her still
He drew the sword touched by the god
Made by Odin and staunched in blood
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
With a mighty blow, he struck the beast
On Dragonheart’s flesh he would not feast
The blade struck true and the witch she fled
Ylva lay as though she were dead
The witch’s power could not match the blade
The Ulfheonar are not afraid
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
And now the sword will strike once more
Using all the Allfather’s power
Fear the wrath you Danish lost
You fight the wolf and pay the cost
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
We stopped rowing when we passed the rugged rocks of An Lysardh. There were few people who lived on this exposed headland but once we turned north then we would have to keep watch for the men of Om Walum. They had no love for Vikings. The daughter of their last king now lived with my son in the Land of the Wolf. It would take many ships but if they saw ‘Heart of the Dragon’ then they might think the risk worth taking. We stopped rowing and thanked the Allfather for the wind which sped us north towards the Sabrina. We were on the last leg of our journey home.
Our luck lasted until we neared the isle of the puffins; Ynys Enlli. The skies darkened and a storm came out of nowhere. With a swirling wind and seas as high as our mast we hove to in the lee of the island. We ran out sea anchors and rode out the storm. It lasted the afternoon, the night and into the morning. When it stopped we noticed a list. Erik said, “We have sprung some strakes. We need to beach her and make repairs. I am sorry, jarl.”
“It is no one’s fault. At least we are close to a beach that we know is safe.”
The only people who lived on the island was a colony of monks. These were not the rich monks of the Saxons. They came from Hibernia and lived a simple life. We did not bother them.
It took all of the crew to drag the drekar on to the beach. While the crew took out the cargo to make certain it was not damaged Erik and I went around the hull to inspect it. The strakes by the keel were the ones which had sprung. They were below the ballast and I hoped that our cargo had not been spoiled. Isaac had taken much of it but we had spices and the ingredients which Kara wanted not to mention the oils and fine cloth we had bought.
Erik looked relieved, “I have enough pine tar for this and we have the glue made from the goat’s hooves.” He pointed to the sheep which grazed on the slopes of the rocky hillside below the monastery. “And the Allfather has sent us the wool.”
I nodded, “We will not slaughter the sheep. Aiden and I will visit with the monks and we will buy the wool and not harm their animals.”
When I told Olaf Leather Neck he was surprised, “They are not of our people. If they complain then we kill them!”
I shook my head, “And what would that gain us?” He looked confused. “Since we have sailed these waters we have used this island. The Allfather has smiled on us by giving us a haven where there are birds and fish for us to eat. I know not why he allows these followers of the White Christ to live but I see no reason to hurt them. We have things to trade for the wool.”
Aiden nodded, “They lead a simple life but an amphora of wine would be welcome, I am thinking.”
We took Baldr with us and we carried the amphora up the hill as Erik lit the fire to heat the pine tar. Baldr asked, as we neared the simple conical huts, “Why do men live here? What do they do?”
Aiden answered, “They meditate and they pray.”
He looked confused, “Why? Do they not have families? Where are the women?”
It was a good question and I could find no answer. It seemed to me a pointless existence. I admired their hardiness and the simplicity of their lives but at the end of the day their line was gone. Their god could not possibly want them to be the end of their blood. I shrugged, “There are many types of men. They are just different from us.”
Despite my weapons they did not seem afraid of us. There were six who came to greet us. Four others continued to tend the garden. I saw there were beans which were being harvested as well some greens. They lived a simple life but with sheep’s cheese, fish, eggs and puffins, they ate well. Aiden spoke their language. He had been born in Hibernia which was their home too. The conversation went on for some time. He took the jug of wine from Baldr and gave it to them. I saw the ghost of a smile on the oldest of the monks. They gave a slight bow and then returned to their huts and their gardens.
Aiden translated his words as we headed back down the hill, “He said we are welcome. He was surprised that we asked. The old one said he had been watching us come here since he was a young monk. He recognised our ship. When others come they hide. He did not say where they hide.”
We returned to the beach and sent six men to shear as many of the sheep as we could. Others hunted some of the puffins while the ship’s boys collected shellfish. Until we had the wool then Erik could do nothing. The pine tar was still heating. Erik shouted to the men who would harvest wool. “Bring back the wool as soon as you have some. I do not want to waste the tar.”
It was noon by the time they had cornered and shorn the sheep. Erik summoned his boys and they began the messy task of filling the cracks in the hull with wool and then coating them in pine tar. We were lucky that it was just down one side of the drekar. I realised it was the side which had hit the galley in the Blue Sea. We had won but there had been a price.
When we had finished and were waiting for it to dry we ate. Erik said, “I told, you, jarl, that we needed to maintain our ship. Had they sprung off An Lysardh then we would all be in the Otherworld.”
Olaf nodded, “Aye, the Allfather has protected us and now we just have a couple of days of hard rowing before we reach our home.”
Erik Short Toe said, “We have to wait until morning. I want this repair to be dried and watertight.”
We left in the third hour of the day. It took that long for us to pull her off the beach. We headed north and west. There was open water and the wind was from the west and the south. We rowed for a short time until we could turn and head north with the wind making our sail billow. We would pass between the Angle Sea and Hibernia. I held my wolf amulet tightly for, with luck and a continuing wind, we could head for the land south of the Land of the Wolf. It would give us a better approach to our home and allow us to see if the Mercians were on the march.
Chapter 17
It was dark by the time we had passed Man and reached the coast of the land to the south of the land of the Wolf. Once there had been many people who lived by the rivers here but after Sigtrygg Thrandson and his men had been killed there were fewer. Perhaps that would now change. We hove to. As much as we wanted to hurry home I wanted to ensure that the Mercians were not camped within marching distance of our home. We were a day’s march from Úlfarrston and Whale Island. If there was no sign of them then we had time. We did not land but used a sea anchor. As the sail was furled for the night I peered landward. A light appeared and then disappeared. It was night time and distance was hard to estimate. I waved over Galmr. He had better eyes than I did. “What can you see?”
“I think it is a camp fire, jarl. Men are moving in front of it.”
“Thank you.” I turned to Aiden. “Aiden?”
He closed his eyes. His power was returning. “I sense danger, Jarl Dragonheart. The spirits tell me there are enemies close.”
I turned and walked down the drekar. The sound of the surf on the shingle would mask any sounds from the drekar. “Olaf, Ha
aken, choose four men who have knife skills and can easily move in the dark. We are going ashore to investigate the fire yonder.”
Olaf stood and peered over the side. At first, he saw nothing and then saw the flash of light. “It is a camp fire. Mercians?”
“It could be. It will cost us wet breeks to find out.” As he went to find the men I turned to Erik. “Have us taken in close enough to wade ashore.”
He ordered the crew to man the larboard oars and he had the sea anchors raised. I went to my chest and took out my wolf cloak and Ragnar’s Spirit. Sámr saw me and came over. “You are going ashore?”
“There may be Saxons close by. If there are then I would question them.”
“I will come with you!”
“No, you will not. You have not the skills.” He looked hurt. “This is work for Ulfheonar. There are just three of us and so we will take other warriors who have knife skills. Do you have knife skills? Can you walk at night without being seen?” He shook his head. “You have done well on this voyage. One day, when you have developed such skills then you may well be able to sneak ashore, walk up to a sentry and slit his throat. But at the moment? I fear you might jeopardise the raid.” He nodded.
Erik said, quietly, “We are as close as we dare.”
“Then wait here. We will not be long.” Turning to the men I would lead I said, “If they are Saxons then I want one prisoner!”
I slipped over the side and the others followed. Olaf was an Ulfheonar but he was not as silent as I was. He would bring up the rear. Lars Long Nose and Ráðgeir Ráðgeirson would be behind me with Haaken One eye in the middle. That way the three Ulfheonar would be able to manage the other four. They had skills but we had the skills of the wolf. The water was cold and came up to my waist. None of us wore mail. It might make a noise and I did not think that whoever we found would be wearing mail. The dunes and the undergrowth hid the light from us but I had marked its position and I lead my men over the dunes and scrubland towards it. I could see the light better now. I spied the fire. Whatever had been in front of the fire had moved. By my estimate it was six hundred paces or more from us. I waved Lars Long Nose and Ráðgeir Ráðgeirson to my left and right. We moved closer and I was able to discern shapes around the fire. We were on track and so I held my hand up and paused. The sounds of voices drifted to me. I also heard the neigh of horses. That made it more likely that they were scouts and Saxons. Who else would be camping here? The wind was from our right and so I moved further east so that he would be able to smell them before they could smell us. As we approached the camp I saw one of the figures moving. They were not asleep yet but, from what I could see, there were no sentries. That made sense. We were more than thirty miles from the nearest of my people and that was just an isolated farm where Sigtrygg Thrandson had had his hall. I turned and pointed to Haaken. I pointed east. He nodded and touched Arne on the shoulder. He moved off. I pointed to Olaf and he led Galmr to the west. I drew Ragnar’s Spirit.
The three of us moved towards the camp. I had seen more than sixty summers but I knew how to move silently. I could hear the two warriors with me. I knew that they were trying to be quiet but they were failing. I held my hand up and gestured for them to stop. We were less than fifty paces from the fire. If they made a noise then the Saxons might grab horses and flee. I did not want that. I moved so slowly that I knew my movements would not alert the Saxons. They were all facing the fire and they would not be able to see me in the dark. It took time for eyes to adjust to the dark. The conversation around the fire had ended which meant that they would be able to hear me. The firelight illuminated the camp. I halted and counted. There were eight men. Four lay sleeping. I saw that they had their horses, three of them, tethered close to the fire. I had Olaf Leather Neck and Haaken one Eye approaching from the east and the west. I could count on those two. I waved my arm for Lars Long Nose and Ráðgeir Ráðgeirson to follow me. I rose and stepped towards the Saxon who had just risen with his back to me.
In two strides I was upon him and I swung the flat of my blade into the side of the head. He fell in a heap at my feet. Even before he had hit the ground I raced in and hacked into the neck of the man seated to my right. The other six leapt to their feet. Scouts were usually good warriors with quick minds. In normal circumstances they would have survived but they were facing Ulfheonar. Olaf’s sword came out of the chest of a Saxon who stared at me as though I was a ghost. Haaken’s sword was rammed into the side of a warrior who was drawing his own weapon. Galmr leapt towards the horses as Lars Long Nose and Ráðgeir Ráðgeirson charged into the camp. Within a few moments it was over.
The man Galmr had hit was still alive. I ran to him, “Who is your master?” I spoke in Saxon. He spat bloody phlegm at me. “Tell me and you shall have a warrior’s death.”
His hand went to his cross, “I am not pagan! I am Christian and….” The light went from his eyes and he died.
I turned and ran to the man I had struck with my sword. He was trying to rise. “Seize him. Haaken, fetch a brand. Lars Long Nose and Ráðgeir Ráðgeirson, take the horses back to the drekar. We will take them home with us. We cannot have them running back to the army.”
Olaf said, “You are sure that there is an army?”
“Why else would there be eight Mercians this close to the Land of the Wolf?”
The Saxon was not a big man. He was young. He had seen perhaps twenty summers and he looked fearfully at us as he was pinned. I took out Wolf’s Blood. I realised that Christians would not wish a warrior’s death. I had to offer something else. I would offer life. I did not press the dagger to his neck. I held it behind my back. I smiled, “What is your name?”
He seemed confused that I spoke Saxon but he answered, “Ethelbert.”
“You are Mercian?” He nodded. It seemed I knew all the answers anyway. I spoke Saxon well and that had him confused. “Your king is Beorhtwulf and he has just subjugated the Welsh. He is at the fortress the Romans called Deva.” All of this was guesswork on my part. I was using the information we had already and joining it together. If I was wrong then his brow would wrinkle and his eyes would give him away.
“Aye lord.” He looked more bemused than confused. I seemed to know all.
“Then how many men make up the army?”
His eyes narrowed and he stiffened. “I will not tell you. I will die first.”
I nodded and brought out Wolf’s Blood and held it before him. The firelight made it sparkle. I moved it close to his manhood. “There are worse things than death. Haaken One Eye.” Haaken appeared with the torch. “We could take your manhood or your eyes. Then we could let you go. Imagine the terror of wandering in a world of dark with no manhood. If you tell me what I need to know then you shall be whole and you will be taken with us to our home. You will be a slave until your king comes and then I will sell you back to him if he lives. Is that not better than death?” He hesitated. “I know your king comes to the Land of the Wolf. He comes to my land.”
“You are the Dragonheart?” He tried to push himself into the earth.
I nodded. “And you know I can change into a wolf.” I played on the legend of the warriors who were shape shifters. Even the Christians were worried by that concept.
“The priest said you could not. He told us that you were just men with a wolf cloak.”
“Then how did we get so close without your guards or horses seeing us?” His eyes told me that he had no answer. “How many horsemen does he have?” I saw doubt in his eyes. “How can that hurt your king?”
He bit his lip and Haaken lurched towards him with the burning brand. “A hundred! I did not count them all! Do not blind me!”
“There, that was not so hard. And I assume he has called out the hundreds, the fyrd?” He nodded. “Then that would give him a thousand men.” He nodded, “And hearth-weru and thegns?”
“Fifty thegns and forty heart-weru.”
I nodded, “Galmr take him back to the ship.”
Olaf sai
d, “You will let him live?”
“I told him I would. He may yet serve a purpose. Arne collect the weapons. Let us go. Leave the bodies here. It will be a few days before the Saxon army reaches here and by then we will be at home.”
By the time we reached our ship they were loading the last of the horses. I stood in the water as the last one was hoisted aboard. I shook my head, “How did you load them so quickly?”
Sámr grinned, “Baldr. He spoke to the horses and they allowed the men to put the slings beneath them. He is a galdramenn for horses!”
Wyrd! The Allfather had sent him to us with a purpose. Perhaps I now saw that purpose. The men were all awake and there was little point in waiting. We had learned all that we needed to learn. The wind was from the east and so we rowed up the coast. This was our land and our waters. We were familiar with every rock, shoal and current. The wind helped us. We did not row hard. We did not chant. With one man in two resting it was just a way to reach home sooner. As dawn broke we saw, in the distance, the mountains of home. Soon we would be able to make out Old Olaf. Baldr and Sámr stood with the three horses keeping them calm. They were typical Saxon horses; small and hardy. We used horses more than most Norse. Now that we had Baldr we had someone who understood horses. They were in his veins. As we headed up the coast the wind veered slightly so that it was coming more from the south and we stopped rowing. Men prepared for our arrival. All had family waiting for them. Only Haaken and Erik had wives but there would be mothers, sisters and grandparents. Only a few would be at Whale Island. Our watch tower would see us before we saw them. Our drekar, with the wolf on the sail, was unmistakeable. I knew that Ragnar, Gruffyd and their families would be there to greet us. A rider would head to Cyninges-tūn. He would tell Kara and Uhtric that we were returning. It had been half a year.
Aiden stood next to me. “There has been trouble at home.” I looked at him. He nodded. “I felt it last night when you went hunting Saxons. Today it has grown. The spirits are sad. The people who greet us will be sad.”
