by Griff Hosker
I saw a heated debate on the gatehouse. Now that the sun was fully up I saw that the gate would not offer much resistance when we attacked. There were two small wooden towers and there was no ditch before it. If they chose to fight then I knew we could take it.
I watched as a warrior took his helmet from his head. He shouted, “I am Lord Robert of Beauvais. You killed my younger brother and I would have vengeance.” He let his words echo. “They say you are a warrior and a man of his word. Let us settle this blood feud like men. I am the champion of my people and I would fight you to let God decide this. If you win then my people will surrender. When I win your men will disperse and return to Rouen.”
This was an easy decision to make. “Agreed. And we fight here between our men?”
“Aye and I will ride my horse for I am a noble and do not fight on the ground like a peasant. What say you?”
Egil started, “That is not fair, my lord. He will ride you down!”
I turned to Egil, “He will think that he will. Fear not. I am happy with this.” I took my helmet from him and shouted, “Agreed!”
I turned to Gandálfr, “Make a wall of shields. Egil return to the others and fear not. My grandfather was a horseman. I have ridden to war. This arrogant Frank thinks that he will win but he has yet to fight a Viking with Long Sword.” I took off my cloak and handed it to him. My shield was on my back and I was content. I had a plan.
I walked forward so that the distance between myself and the walls was halved. When he emerged, he would have a short distance to reach me. His horse would not be travelling as quickly. I held Long Sword in two hands and kissed the blade, “Allfather, help me this day. Show the Franks that you are stronger than their White Christ.”
The gates creaked open and Robert of Beauvais emerged. He was wearing a full-length byrnie. He had a shield but it was smaller than mine. He held, in his right hand, a spear. It looked to be eight feet long and had a pennant on the end. He had a sword and it was hanging from a scabbard on his saddle. He had stiraps. The horse was magnificent. It was as big as Gilles. Robert of Beauvais must be a big man for he did not look small upon its back. He wore a helmet and, at first, I did not know why. Even with my Long Sword I could not reach his head. Then it came to me. He was less confident fighting on foot. This was a horseman. There was a difference between us. I was more than a horseman for I was a warrior who could ride!
He did not wait but dug his heels into the flanks of his horse and charged directly for me. I had a balanced stance with Long Sword held above me. It was a big horse and it struggled to get up to speed quickly. Had this been an open battlefield he would have been able to increase his speed gradually. The horse was labouring. I ignored the spear. The first enemy was the horse. His spear was on his right and he rode at my left side. That was his first mistake. I had a sword held in two hands and I could strike from either side. The ground vibrated as the horse came closer. I saw the Frank pull back his arm for he thought me transfixed. I spun around to my right when the horse and rider were five paces from me. He could not shift his spear in time. It was on the wrong side of his horse’s head. I brought Long Sword around in an arc. The spin increased the speed and power of the blow. My blade hacked through the left hind leg of the horse. It stumbled for three more strides and then fell, its life blood pumping away. My men cheered and I heard a wail from the walls. I ran towards the warrior.
Robert of Beauvais pulled his legs from the stiraps and rolled away as my sword swept down to where his body would have been a moment earlier. He was quick and drawing his sword he was on his feet in an instant. I saw that he favoured his left leg. His right had been hurt. I swung at his shield. He held it before him but my blow was so hard that I saw him wince and heard a crack. The shield was damaged. I switched my attack and swung at his right side. He tried to step back on his right leg as he countered with his sword but his leg was weak and he stumbled. His sword did not stop my strike it merely slowed it and the end of Long Sword bit into his leg. I was now using my speed to defeat him and his wounds, the fall and the speed all confused him and slowed his reactions. He should have been trying to attack me but, instead, he was merely defending. I was in command.
I changed my strike and used both hands to lunge at his chest. He brought both sword and shield up to protect himself. The tip of my sword hit his shield and he took a step back. He had the wit to step back on his left leg. He held his sword before him. I lifted my sword high above my head. He pulled his shield up. I spun to my right and brought my sword around in a long sweep. He tried to bring up his sword but it was not enough. Long Sword swept aside his weapon and ripped through the mail links on his coif. Had his sword not slowed down my blade then he would have lost his head. As it was my blade tore into his neck. I struck an artery and blood fountained from the wound. He remained upright for a moment and then the life left his eyes. He sank to his knees and then fell backwards. He was dead. I took off my helmet and raised it.
“Göngu-Hrólfr! Göngu-Hrólfr! Göngu-Hrólfr!”
I waved Egil forward. “Come let us see if they will honour their Lord’s word!”
We marched close to the gate. It was a risk for an arrow could have ended my life but I think they were in shock at the speed with which I had defeated their lord and champion.
My voice was filled with steel. I still held my bloody sword. “Lord Robert is dead! Open your gates and admit us!” There was hesitation. I roared, “If the gates are not opened immediately I will put every man, woman and child to the sword! I will raze Beauvais to the ground!”
There was a shout from the walls. It was a woman’s voice, “Open the gates! The barbarians have won and God has forsaken us!”
Chapter 18
The town was emptied of treasure, food, mail and animals. We harmed not a single person. The whole attack had cost them but two men and yet the Franks were hurt. We stayed for three days. My men raided the land to the east of Beauvais and we took more animals and food. With laden wagons we headed home. We had done all that I had intended. We picked up that which we had left at Bárekr’s farm and, after a week of slow riding reached Rouen. Our homecoming was announced before we reached my town. People lined the road. There were no captives but the wagons and carts were testament to our success. Padraig had to order more warehouses to be built to store our surplus.
Over the next months the lords from south of the river sent news of their successes. Although not as spectacular they had defeated all that the Franks had sent against us. We held the land west of the Epte and Risle rivers. Already I had warriors seeking to build strongholds closer to the border for the land was rich and fertile. I refused. I told each one the same. “Until I say so the land west of the Epte and Risle rivers will be as a wasteland. I want it empty. We have not yet won. That day will come but we need patience.”
One result was an influx of drekar filled with warriors. Leif’s visit to Bruggas had begun the trickle and it soon became a flood. They were eager to benefit from our success. None could go upstream for our barrier remained in place. We spoke to all of the captains and their men. Those we thought would help us we allowed to stay and to build a hall. The rest we sent downstream. We had learned our lesson from Godfrid and those we sent hence were escorted by two of our drekar to the river mouth.
Six months after Beauvais we received a delegation from Paris. They had travelled by boat until they reached our logs and then walked to Rouen. It was humiliating for them. Count Richard of Paris and the Bishop of Paris were there along with Lord Robert’s wife, Matilda. When we had occupied her town, she had shown herself to be a strong woman and had not been afraid of me when she faced me. Her men quailed but she did not.
I greeted them in my Great Hall. I had had a large chair made. It fitted me but it dwarfed all else. I sat in it flanked by Padraig, Gandálfr, Haraldr, Leif, Lars and Æbbi Bonecrusher. The two men bowed but Lady Matilda glared at me.
“What brings you to my home? Was the barrier across the river n
ot warning enough that you are not welcome?”
The Bishop smiled, “Lord, that is one of the reasons we are come here. King Charles of the West Franks wishes peace. He wants the river re-opened so that we may trade down river again. He knows not why you broke the peace.”
I pointed a finger at the Bishop, “You know the reason better than any! You conspired with your spy in Rouen to bring about my downfall. Your King wrote letters to Alfred of Wessex and Alan of Brittany to form an alliance against me. I am not a fool! You think because we are pagans we are barbarians. That is a foolish mistake to make. Lady Matilda will tell you that we have behaved with more constraint than barbarians normally show!”
“You killed my husband!”
“He challenged me!” I shook my head, “If this is all that you are here for then you waste my time, leave!”
Count Richard spoke, “No, Lord, we have an offer. King Charles will pay ten thousand gold pieces if you cease making war on him.”
“A generous offer but as Guthrum of the East Angles discovered taking gold can result in defeat. I will have the gold but I will also have the title Duke. Not only that, your King will give me the title and deed of the land between the Cotentin and the Epte River as my domain.”
I saw the Count shake his head, “That is too much.”
“That is my offer. Take it or leave it.”
The two men looked at each other, “We will have to take the offer back to our King.”
“Then do so.”
“And you will stop your war until then?”
“Of course not. We have yet to taste defeat and we like the gold we take from you. Until I am Duke and have a secure land for my people there will be war.”
After they had gone I sent riders to Siggi Olafsson. It was time for the men of Djupr to make an attack. A second rider went to Bagsecg and a third to Sven. Padraig said, “You do not give them time to speak with their king.”
“Exactly. I wish them to see how serious we are.”
“And the title, Duke? You have not been bothered by such titles before.”
“Nor am I now but the Franks are. Godfrid’s father was made Duke of Frisia. He was given a land the same size as that which I wish. I am giving the Franks an offer that they understand.” I was learning to play this game like the Franks. They valued crowns and I would use that.
Over the next months my three warbands raided the Franks and then withdrew. They and we became richer with the Franks weakened. They were haemorrhaging their men and their gold. When I wondered why the Franks had not responded Padraig gave me an answer. “Some of my brothers had been on a visit to Rome to speak with the Pope. They passed through Rouen on their way home. We had hoped for a reconciliation of our churches. They failed but while they were there they saw emissaries from King Charles. He is trying to enlist the aid of the Pope to rally all the Christians and drive you from this land.”
“If he succeeded then that could hurt us.”
Padraig nodded, “Luckily the Pope has his own problems and there is a lack of support for King Charles. You should know that it is your beliefs which might bring your downfall.”
“What do you mean?”
“When the Moors came to Spain they represented a threat to the Frankish way of life. All petty disputes were put aside to fight them. You have confused the Franks for you look much like they do but there is talk of Christians joining together to drive the pagans into the sea. They want you Christian or dead!”
I tapped my chest. “How can you change that which is in here?”
“It has happened, lord, men who had stronger beliefs than you became Christian.”
“Then we will have to defeat the Franks sooner. I want to be ready to attack Paris and Chartres by next year. Make certain we have enough grain and weapons.”
His words had worried me. I rode with Egil, Godwin and my son along the river. We now had settlements east of us. These were the recently arrived warriors. We would be going to war and I now had enough men and, if I needed them, ships. How would I hold it? From what Padraig had said I was the problem. I was a pagan and the Christian leaders who were my neighbours could not accept that. Britannia was now Christian. Only the lands of the Norse and Danes were not. That did not make us wrong and the followers of the White Christ right. How could a man change? I still did not understand Guthrum’s conversion. Had his defeat by Alfred torn the belief from his body?
William had grown. Boys his age now came to war with our armies. They slung stones at our enemies and fetched and carried for the warriors. He had a good leather byrnie. It was studded with metal and would prepare him for the time, in a year or so, when he would wear mail. He had a metal helmet and a short sword. He rode easily as though born to the saddle and I knew that next time we went to war he would not have to hide in the woods with Godwin. He also took more interest in war and the way we went to war.
“Father, how will we use these new men?”
“The last time we attacked Paris we had too many leaders. There were too many voices making decisions. This time I command and I will direct each warband.
Egil said, “I was a boy when you raided Paris. I have grown up hearing warriors speak of the raid. There were many hundreds of drekar were there not?”
“There were but some were small. Every warrior who had a sword and a leaky ship flocked for the treasure. It was doomed to failure. We will not fail for I do not wish to capture Paris.”
William asked, “Why not?”
I laughed, “How would I hold it? Taking Paris would surely bring every Christian leader to try to retake it. It is the threat which will secure that which I want.”
“And what is that, lord?”
“Simple, Egil, a homeland which is ours. We will defend it but I would have the world acknowledge that it is ours.” I looked at William. “The rest is up to you and those who follow you.”
“I do not understand.”
“Your grandfather visited a witch in a cave far to the west, Syllingar. There the witch, Skuld, told him that one day his descendants would rule half of this world in the west. She said that their influence would ripple through the ages. Your grandfather did his part. He gained us a toe hold on this land. Thanks to the curse my brother almost lost it until I was sent to the bottom of the ocean to be reborn. My part is to secure the land you will inherit. When I am gone then your oathsworn and your lords will help you to make your land greater than it is. I will watch from Valhalla with my grandfather and all will be well.”
I am not sure if my words intimidated or inspired him but whatever effect they had they resulted in silence and deep thought. We visited each of the new warbands and I spoke at length with their lords. Without divulging too much of my plan I told them what I expected. I gave each of them permission to raid upstream as often as they wished. I told them that whatever they took would be theirs but they were to give me all the intelligence and information which they could gather. One of them, Ragnvald of Dorestad, asked, “Why lord?”
“Why what?”
“You let us raid and offer a home yet you do not ask for anything in return.”
“But I do. I expect loyalty and obedience. Your raiding will bring you profit and will serve my purpose. When I call upon you then your service will be the price you pay.” He nodded. “All that I will say is that if I were you then I would speak with the other captains so that you do not step on one another’s toes. The land close to the river has been raided often. If you were to ask my advice then it would be to sail up river and then head inland. Beauvais has nothing left to give. Seek other places.”
Over the next months the new warriors along with my lords continued their raids. The thirty days service was proving effective although I had not needed to use my coins again. I knew we were eating into the resolve of the Franks. I knew we were having an effect when, four months after the Bishop and Count had visited, Bagsecg sent a rider telling me that the Franks were sending an army south of the Seine. They were moving slo
wly. I knew what they meant. They were avoiding being ambushed.
Our men had rested well. I sent a rider to Sven Blue Cheek and Bergil Fast Blade. I asked them to bring their best men as quickly as they could to Evreux. I then took my six drekar and headed up stream to Elbeuf. We would march south and meet with my horsemen and Bjorn the Brave. We returned with the rider who had brought the message. I interrogated him as we rode.
“Where do you think the Frankish army began?”
“That is easy, lord, Paris.”
“How do you know?”
“The standard of the Count of Paris and the presence of the Bishop of Paris. We saw many standards and banners of the French lords we fought last time we attacked Paris.”
“But not the banner of the King.”
“No lord.”
Now I understood this game. The King was still reluctant to fight me but Richard of Paris was trying to emulate the exploits of Odo. If so he was making a grave mistake for he was bringing his army to meet mine and that gave us the advantage. The road west went through Evreux. There were minor roads he could use; we often did but a large army had to use the main road and we could block it. By coming through Evreux, the Franks could swing north and attack the men guarding the logs across the river. They could cut my lines of communication with Caen and the Cotentin. While the Pope dithered, they had discerned a pattern. They thought I had split my army in two. I had but not to my detriment.
As we had had to cross the river by ferry my army was spread out along the road. My oathsworn and forty other warriors rode horses and we would reach Evreux first. Sven Blue Cheek would take a whole day to reach us. Bjorn and his men were already at Evreux when we arrived. This showed that he was a warrior who could think for he had hewn timber and placed logs across the road. He had dug a ditch and embedded stakes.
