by Griff Hosker
Snorri joined me when I took the steering board. “Fetch the chart, Snorri. Erik is a good mariner and he has marked our last position on the map. I would estimate where we might land.”
I saw from the map that our course would take us close to the old Roman fort at Haestingaceaster. The Saxons had made it into a burgh. There were, however, many beaches close by and I knew that there were farms. I had taught my oathsworn how to read maps and Snorri pointed to a small bay marked with cross. “What is this, lord?”
I looked closely at it. At first, I could not remember. It had been some time since my grandfather had drawn the map. I closed my eyes to recall him. That often helped. When I saw him then I heard his voice and it came to me. “Bulverhythe, it is a safe haven. It has a shingle beach but it has two arms of sand and a ship can land there.” I smiled, “We told Guthrum about it and the Danes used it before they began to bend the knee to Alfred. You have a good eye Snorri. We will make for there. It is close enough to both Haestingaceaster and Hastingas to allow us to raid and to have a secure boat.”
“We could have brought more men. There was no shortage of volunteers.”
“I know but this crew will suffice.” I needed to confide in someone. “I fear that the Bretons mean us mischief. I hope that when we reach Saxbjǫrn that he has dealt with them but if not then this will mean war and that will take every warrior we have.”
“We are Vikings, lord. War is something we relish.”
Snorri was right but the world was changing. When my grandfather had been a young man a single crew could raid and be successful. The last raid I had been on had involved more than three hundred ships. We had unleashed the beast and now the Bretons and the Franks were organising to counter that threat. Alfred had already defeated Vikings on the island the Romans had called Britannia. We had a toehold on the river and the land around us. An alliance of the Franks and the Bretons could drive us hence.
“How many men from Rouen could we call upon if we had to go to war?”
He stared at the mast and then back at me, “That is a hard question to answer, lord. This is not like Norway. We do not have bondi. Warriors? Perhaps a hundred but many, like Siggi Svenson, live far from Rouen. The ones who are not warriors could defend walls but I would not put them in a shield wall.” I was silent and I think Snorri took that to mean I was not happy with his answer. “I am sorry, lord, but you asked me.”
“And you have given me a good answer. We are no longer Norse. We are a mix. The same will be true of Sven Blue Cheek, Bergil Fast Blade and all the others lords of my towns. We need a different system. I have this voyage to come up with one.”
I enjoyed such mental challenges and, after I had handed over the drekar to Erik, I sat and ruminated. Darkness fell and I slept a little. Harold Strong Arm woke me. “Lord, Erik says he can hear the beach. He has taken in the sail.”
I nodded, “And he wishes us to use oars.”
Harold’s teeth showed white in the dark, “Aye, lord, he is a good sailor but he does not know a drekar yet.”
I stood, “Run out oars!”
There would be no chant. It was the middle of the night but we did not want to alarm those nearby. If we were seen then that would be the work of the Norns but if we alerted our enemies then that would be our own carelessness. I donned my mail. When we landed I would jump ashore with the ship’s boys and the warriors who had yet to acquire mail. It would be enough of us to secure the beach head. With the oars manned Erik had the sail furled and the crew pulled to drag the drekar ashore. We had the tide with us and that helped. I placed my helmet at the prow and patted the dragon prow. It never hurt. The ship’s boys awaited me. Two had ropes and the rest would help to secure us. I could see the white of the surf and hear it as is shifted over the shingle. The land was just a black line. The wind took any smells of the land away from us. This was always the time when excitement and nerves coursed through my body in equal measure. I had missed this.
I pulled myself up onto the gunwale. The ship’s boys barely came to my waist. I spied the shingle. It glistened. I leapt into the black water. When I landed I realised that it came up to my chest I said, “Hold! It is too deep!” I waded ashore as the oars pulled the drekar closer. I heard the splashes behind me as the boys leapt into the sea. I was already on dry land seeking something to secure us. There was neither rock nor tree.
Sven Blue Eyes was close by. He had the hammer and the metal stake. “We will need another stake. Fetch one.” I strode further up the beach until I had passed the high-water mark. I began to hammer in the metal spike. To dampen the noise, I placed my cloak over the head of the spike. It did not ring but made a dull thud which I hoped would be masked by the sea. Lars brought a rope from the ship and when the spike was embedded he tied it. Sven brought the second spike and I took it thirty paces west. I repeated it. By the time we were secure my men had formed up. Lars gave me my helmet and shield.
“Tell the captain to keep a close watch on the ship!”
I raised my Long Sword and my men formed up on me. There was no cliff here and the ground just rose to a grassy area. I guessed that Haestingaceaster lay to the north of us and it that was so then Hastingas would lie ten miles to the north east of us. It would be dark for some hours and that would give us the opportunity to head into the inland areas and take as much as we could. When daylight came we would head up the coast to Hastingas. Although the wind was behind us I recognised that there was a church of some description ahead of us. It was partly the sound of chanting and also the smell of incense and candles. Both were clear signs of monks. I stopped and waved Harold and Haaken ahead to scout. Æbbi Bonecrusher organised my men behind me. He had my oathsworn in the front rank, then the mailed, experienced warriors and finally the untried youths at the rear. I was the only one without a spear. My long arms and Long Sword meant I had the reach of a spear anyway.
My scouts were only away a short time. Their smiles told me that we had found treasure at the first attempt. “Lord, it is a monastery. They have neither guards nor weapons but they do have animals.”
“You two go around to the other side. Take the untried warriors and stop any from leaving.”
I gave them a few moments to disappear and then I led the rest forward. I had twenty warriors with me and that was more than enough to deal with monks and priests. We soon heard the sound of prayers and the ringing of small bells. As we drew closer I could make out the words. They were in Latin. I sensed movement ahead, close to the gate which led to the walled enclosure. I held up my hand and my men stopped. They knew better than to make a noise. When I heard clucking, I knew that there were hens. These would be monks or servants collecting eggs. I frowned for the words I heard were Frankish. What were Franks doing in Cent?
I turned and waved Snorri and Æbbi Bonecrusher forward. I slid a finger under my chin and they nodded. They slipped down the wall and climbed over. The only sound I heard was a soft sigh as the two warriors slit the throats of the egg collectors. The gates were opened and we slipped inside. I smelled the animals. There were hens, sheep and at least one cow for I heard her lowing. She needed to be milked. We headed for the church. I waved for Siggi Svenson to go to the place they cooked. I could smell bread. He took two men with him. One was his brother. When we reached the door to the church I paused. I sheathed my sword for I would not need it. These were monks. They might flee but the door to the apse was guarded by my men.
I flung the door open. Faces turned and froze as I ducked under the door frame. I shouted, in Frankish, “Stay where you are and I promise that you will not be harmed. Offer us resistance and you will die.”
I saw Snorri frown at my use of a foreign language but I knew that I had been right to do so when the Abbot shouted, also in Frank, “Save the treasure!”
I sighed for it was not only futile it would show us where the treasure lay. Two friars began to move the altar. Another two picked up incense burners and swung them at my head. I batted them out of the way
and then punched one in the face. He fell backwards and did not move. I snarled at the other, “On your knees!”
When two tried to flee out of the back door they were stabbed by Harold and Haaken. When Æbbi Bonecrusher cuffed the two men who were trying to move the altar then all resistance ended.
“Harold Strong Arm take two men and escort these back to the drekar. They are Franks!”
Harold nodded and said, “You priests walk ahead of me. We are going for a paddle in the sea.”
The Abbot complained, “You said we would not be harmed!”
“And I also said if you offered no resistance. Pick up your priest and be thankful that I did not draw my sword else you would have ended your lives here.” While my men began to strip the church, I went out of the church to the sleeping quarters. I took Æbbi Bonecrusher with me. As I had expected the grandest quarters belonged to the Abbot and yielded a chest containing both jewels and coins. Æbbi collected all the fine linens too. “Search the other rooms and I will see you back at the drekar.”
After he had gone I went to the table. Æbbi had taken the candlesticks but there were parchments. One was still sealed. I was intrigued. I might not be able to read them but Padraig could. I found a leather satchel and I jammed them inside. Siggi and his men were outside. They had a hand cart and it was laden with food. There were hams, cheeses, honey, a barrel of beer, two jugs of wine and bread.
Siggi looked happy. “With this and the animals lord we have raided enough and we can go home.”
I shook my head, “We need slaves too but this is a good start. The gods smile on us.” I was the last to leave. Normally we would have burned the church. We did it to show that our gods were superior to the White Christ but we did not wish to alert the burgh of Hastingas. We left it. I was still intrigued by the presence of the Franks. What were they doing in Wessex?
The animals were being loaded on to the drekar when I arrived. This was where Erik excelled. He knew how to load a ship. He had rigged a block and tackle. Turning the drekar beam on facilitated the process. I handed the documents to Lars, “Keep these safe and dry.”
“You wish them as kindling lord?”
I shook my head, “These are as valuable as coins! We do not burn them!” I saw a worried look flash across the face of the Abbot. I walked over to him. “Tell me, Abbot, what is a Frankish monastery doing in the land of Wessex?”
“King Offa of Mercia gave the land to the monks of Saint Denis. King Alfred has confirmed the land to us. You have made a grave error, Viking. The King of Wessex will punish you.”
I laughed, “Abbot, I do not worry about Saxons. I leave the worrying to them. I am Göngu-Hrólfr Rognvaldson. Even your Frankish master, Charles, fears me.”
He wagged a finger at me, “Your days are numbered Viking. Just as Guthrum now serves King Alfred so shall you serve King Charles!”
“We will see.” I turned to Erik, “I will leave you six men to watch these monks.” I changed to Frankish, “Abbot, if you and your friars help my men to load the ship then we will not take you to be sold as slaves.” In truth I had no intention of taking them back. Priests had lost value and we did not need them.
“You give your word?”
“I give my word and I am never foresworn.”
“Very well.”
“Erik, they will help you.”
I saw that dawn was on the horizon and I led the rest of my men north and east to seek slaves and more animals. We had no pigs yet. We halted at a small copse and examined the land which lay close by. There was a town further along the coast, Bexelei. As the sun rose I saw smoke from the houses. We could now see the fields. Animals which had been brought indoors at night were being brought out. Close to the shore was a stone tower. It was unoccupied.
I turned to Siggi, “Take the men with mail and the youths. Search the farms and capture the animals north of us. Return by noon. My oathsworn and I will go to Bexelei. It is not far and there is no wall.”
“Aye lord. Come men. We hunt for slaves.” I led just twelve men. It would be enough.
We turned and headed for the river we could see which meandered down to the settlement. It was lined with trees and bushes. It would afford cover and we soon discovered that it was fordable. I slung my shield over my back and hung my helmet from my Long Sword. I had a short sword, Hrólfr’s Vengeance I could use. We were just four or five hundred paces from the settlement when we were seen. A shepherdess was squatting in the river making water. She turned, saw us and screamed, “Vikings!” Her strident voice would carry to Bexelei.
I drew my short sword. “Get her. Capture as many as you can.” We ran down the river bank as Haaken grabbed the girl and slung her over his shoulder. She would be a perfect slave. She looked to have seen less than fourteen summers. I could hear the alarm, as people reacted to the shout. The wise ones would just run. The foolish, or the greedy, would try to take as much as they could before we arrived. They would be the ones we would capture or kill.
My long legs meant that I reached the settlement first. As I had expected three men had decided to slow us up to allow their women and children to escape. Holding my short sword in my left hand I drew Long Sword from over my back. I saw the fear on the faces of the three Saxons as they saw the size of my sword. With their small shields and spears they held their ground. I wore mail and I did not hesitate. I swung Long Sword in an arc. One of them made the mistake of misjudging the length of my swing. He jabbed forward with his spear. Although the spear head hit my byrnie he was already dead as my sword tore across his neck. I instinctively parried with my short sword as the other two tried to jab at me and step back at the same time. One stumbled as he stepped out of the range of the now bloody Long Sword. I changed to overhand and brought my sword down from on high. The second Saxon thought his hands were quicker than mine. They were, almost. His spear struck my mail even as he twisted to break the mail. My Long Sword came down between his neck and his arm. I ripped his upper body into two parts. He fell screaming. The one who had fallen was bespattered with blood. He regained his feet and hurled his spear at me before running away. I batted the spear out of my way with my short sword.
I whirled around to see if any other men survived. Two more lay dead. They had small chests with them and the rest had shown common sense and run. I knew that they would head to Hastingas. They would raise the fyrd and we would soon have company. Snorri and half of my men were guarding the twelve or so captives. The rest were ransacking the huts and homes.
“Anyone wounded?”
Æbbi Bonecrusher laughed, “You fought the only ones with weapons lord. You are too fast and your legs are too long for your oathsworn!”
“Aye well we had best hurry for they will run to Hastingas and there will be warriors there for it is a burgh.”
I walked to the two dead men and wiped my swords clean on their kyrtles. Their weapons were of poor quality. I left them.
“Ready lord!”
I looked up at the sky. It was almost noon and Siggi Svenson and his men would be back at the drekar. “Get the captives and the captured animals moving. Harold, Æbbi and Siggi, stay with me. We will be the rear guard.”
I picked up the two spears the Saxons had used. They might come in handy. I saw that my men had managed to get a cow and a calf as well as eight sheep and two goats. Four dead fowl hung from Haaken’s spear. They would be made into a stew.
“We found coins in the chest. Farthings and halfpennies mainly but enough pennies to show that they were doing well.” He shook his head. “They should have had a wall.”
I pointed to the empty tower. “They have that instead. I am guessing that it should have been manned and that there is a fire at the top. They had them on the river by Rouen when we first arrived. When warning came they would have fled to Hastingas. Their lack of vigilance has cost them dear.”
Æbbi Bonecrusher shook the second of the chests. It rattled showing it was far from full. “These folks are not as rich as the Fra
nks.”
Shaking my head, I said, “I told the Franks that so long as they left me in peace we would not raid. Do not worry, Æbbi Bonecrusher, the Bretons will prove a worthwhile source of coin.”
Siggi looked behind us, “It seems they have lit signal fires.” I looked back and saw a beacon burning on the headland to the east of Bexelei.
“We must have a four or mile start on them. We should make the ship.” Then Harold pointed west. Another column of smoke rose. It looked to be coming from beyond where we had moored our ship. “Then let us see how fast the animals and the captives can move.” We started to run and I shouted, “Make them move!”
Haaken roared in Saxon, “Move! I have an itch in my pants!” He leered at the women. “I am a Viking and I am ready for a woman who is too slow to move!” It was all an act of course. Haaken was like all of my men. He had honour but his threat worked and the women ran. The animals were harder to move. I saw one Saxon woman glare at Haaken and then speak to the others. They listened to her and they moved faster.
We saw the mast of the drekar at the same time that we heard the thunder of hooves behind us.
“Haaken, take the women to the drekar. Use the priests and monks as a shield before us while we load. Petr, go with him and the rest of you with me!” I had ten men with me. “Shield wall. Five men with me and the rest behind. We stop the horsemen and get back to the drekar quickly. There is little in this battle for us.” That was confirmed when we saw the twenty horsemen riding the little horses the Saxons like to use. None of the Saxons had mail save for the leader who had a short byrnie and a helmet with a plume. They had round shields and none had stiraps. We knew horses. We could ride to war and a few of us could fight from horseback. That was because we used stiraps. As we waited I saw that they had raised the fyrd and a warband was some way behind the horsemen. The horsemen were there to slow us and then the fyrd would slaughter us. It was an ambitious plan. Perhaps when the men who had escaped us had reached Hastingas they had reported just thirteen men. Even now they would spy my drekar.
