by Griff Hosker
He grinned, he was still the young Viking who had once crewed my drekar, "Aye Jarl. We will guard this flank. If we are not on the drekar it is because we died doing our duty."
My Ulfheonar were already organising the men of Cyninges-tūn who would fight in the centre. I had not decided that, Haaken and my oathsworn had. I saw Wolf Killer's men on the right and Asbjorn's on the left. Gunnar and Gunnstein were not my men and my jarls would protect the Dragonheart.
Olaf pointed towards the woods. It was higher than the river and we could see Egbert organising his men. They were forming lines and readjusting their front for our defensive position. Had we had time we would have made the ground before us a death trap but we would have to rely on nature. We were on drier ground for there was much sand. The wind had made low dunes and that gave us solid footing. Between us and the Saxons was a low lying piece of ground. In places it was marshy. It would prevent them from picking up too much speed when they charged. I saw horses with the men of Wessex. They would not worry my men but our allies might not have fought them.
I stepped to the front of my men who were organising their lines. "If they charge with horses stand firm. Pull their lances and they will fall from them." I pointed to Rolf Horse Killer who stood with his two handed axe. "Young Rolf here slew two and today his axe will eat more horseflesh. Do not fear them. Make them fear you!"
They all gave a cheer and began banging their shields. I saw Rolf swell with pride. He had been mentioned before battle. Odin would hear his name and, if he fell, be ready to welcome him knowing him to be a hero already.
As I walked back to my men I heard the gates of the town slam ominously shut. Then there was the sound of hammering as Snorri made sure that the gates would not be breached. We were now reliant on Erik and the drekar reaching us and, more importantly, getting us off. If we did then warriors would have to sacrifice themselves for their friends. I had seen, on Man, the men of Harold One Eye as they had prevented us from closing with that snake. They had bled their lives away but saved their jarl. I looked along the ranks of men. I knew the Ulfheonar would make that sacrifice. How many others would choose that most glorious of deaths?
"How many can your one eye see, Haaken?"
"More than enough. This will be a battle worthy of a saga for they outnumber us."
"Aye and they have just marched the length of Corn Walum and Wessex to reach us. They must have marched since dawn and they think we are trapped. The odds are more even than you think."
The Saxons began advancing down the hill. I recognised King Egbert. He rode a jet black horse that was much larger than those the Saxons normally used. He was trying to make a statement to his men and, I suspect, us. It would not work. We rode a horse to get to a battle not to impress our enemies. When they were just beyond bowshot they stopped.
"What do they intend do you think?" Olaf Leather Neck hated precursors to battle. He expected the enemy to charge and then fight.
Haaken said, "They may wish to talk."
My oldest friend was right. King Egbert and three of his men rode towards us; they had taken off their helmets and their hands were held before them with an open palm.
"Haaken, Wolf Killer, let us go and see what King Egbert wishes to say."
I was happy for the delay. It gave Aiden more time to load the knarr and Erik Short Toe more time to reach us. I would talk all day if needs be.
We halted thirty paces apart. There was mistrust on both sides. We took off our helmets. The air felt cool. It was good. King Egbert's face was angry. He glared at Wolf Killer. An accusing finger jabbed out, "Wife stealer!"
I saw Wolf Killer begin to colour. I raised my hand, "If you are here to insult us then turn and fetch your men. We will fight! You asked for this truce not us. We have grown used to hewing Saxons. The eorls you left were not very good." I pointed to the walls of Hamwic. We had placed the heads of the dead leaders there.
The warrior next to King Egbert glared at me. "I am Ethelbert the brother of Eorl Beothild. I will have your heart for this."
I gestured behind me to my banner held proudly by Hrolf. "I will not be hiding. Come get me when the fighting starts. I will not run and I will gladly send you to your brother." I turned my gaze back to King Egbert, "Was this your only purpose in speaking? You wished merely to insult us and allow us to smell your horse's piss?" His horse had opened his legs and was urinating. The steam rose. Haaken and Wolf Killer smiled. The horse had squatted slightly and it was hard for Egbert to maintain his dignity in the face of such a basic need.
"I came here with an offer. If you and your men surrender Wolf Killer and yourself to me for judgement then the rest of your men may go free."
I nodded, "That seems reasonable. I will ask them." I turned, "King Egbert says that he will allow you all to go free with all of your treasure if your surrender my son and myself to his judgement. What say you?"
Their answer was to begin banging their shields and chanting, "Dragonheart!" over and over again.
I smiled. "I am sorry. We would be happy to come with you for I am certain that Saxon justice is fair. After all Elfrida chose to go with my son rather than bear the weight of an ox but my men have spoken. Unlike you I am no king. My men follow me because they choose not because their duty is owed."
"Then today you will all die!"
"That may be but when we sail away to my home remember this, King Egbert, the king who hires others to die for him, that if any more hired killers come to my land to do harm to my people then we will return and we will not leave. We will conquer Wessex and slaughter every Saxon that lives here. We are not Danes. We are Norse. We do not forgive and we do not forget. We are Vikings and if you hurt us then you risk Viking vengeance. I speak here plainly before you and your lords so that there will be no misunderstanding."
My voice had become gradually louder and my words echoed across to his army. They seemed to hang in the air.
"Then know this, Viking whelp; I will send no more killers to your land for all of you and your band of pagan brigands will die here this day and we will build a wall with your skulls as a permanent reminder to others that death is all that they will take from this land of Wessex."
He jerked his horse's head around and headed back to his men. As I approached Olaf Leather Neck he asked, "We fight?"
I nodded, "We fight."
"Good then I have not sharpened my sword in vain."
I made my way back through the thicket of planted spears and stood in the front rank. Our two rows of men looked too inadequate to face the horse who began to descend towards us but then I remembered, they were merely Saxons, we were Vikings!
Chapter 11
Their plan became clear as soon as they moved. They had their horsemen on their left and their heavily armed and mailed men in the centre. They would be the housecarls of the king. They would have been ordered to get to me. I saw that they were led by Eorl Ethelred and he had, behind him, the dragon war banner.
I shouted, "They come for me and Wolf Killer! That means the rest of you will have poorer warriors facing you. We hold and you slaughter!"
Once again the cheer was reassuring. I glanced to my left and saw the walls of Hamwic bristling with archers. Our left flank would be secure. I hoped that Gunnstein Berserk-Killer and his men from Dyflin would weather the storm of the horsemen. The heart of my line had the experienced warriors in the front rank. Even those in the second rank had fought many times. We would hold and we would be the rock upon which the Saxons would break.
As I had expected King Egbert and his banner of Wessex remained close to the trees. He was not committing his entire army. He had at least a third in reserve. If we showed weakness or we faltered then they would fall upon us and exploit it. The Saxons who advanced kept a tight line with shields held before them. As soon as they were in range Snorri and his archers sent arrow after arrow into their ranks. Those with mail largely survived but their shields were on the wrong arm and many with armour found their sword arm
struck by arrows. They began to edge and bunch towards the centre.
I hear Eorl Ethelred shout, "Hold your line!" Those around him heeded his command but the ones behind began to drift to their left. The horsemen on the left flank suffered. They had no room to manoeuvre. When the housecarls were fifty paces from us the Eorl ordered the charge and they ran at us. I presumed they had seen the spears planted in the ground and chosen to ignore them. It was a mistake. The cohesion of the line was destroyed as men dodged the bristling spears. I glanced to my right as I saw the leader of the horsemen decide to charge Gunnstein. They were the first to strike our line and I watched in admiration as the men from Dyflin held their nerve. The horses refused to strike the men and, as they reared and bucked their riders fell to the ground to be butchered. Others were pulled bodily from the backs of their horses and hacked to pieces.
Then my attention was drawn once more to Eorl Ethelred. He was keen for revenge and he and his oathsworn decided to eliminate the spears by hacking at them with their swords. It meant they had to hold their spears in their shield hands and when my men in the second rank hurled Saxon spears and javelins they could not protect themselves. Eight warriors fell. Others replaced them but I saw that they were not the Eorl's oathsworn; they were not housecarls.
The Eorl, however, had now carved a path towards us. He came with his men tightly bunched around him. He held his spear overhand. I saw that he had a good shield. Not as well made as mine but better than those we had encountered up to now. He also had a mail coif under his open face helmet. It paid to notice minor details such as that. I had no doubt that he would be weighing me up but I had a slight advantage. I was cold and he was hot. I could goad him and make him act rashly. I heard the battle raging on our flanks but I had to concentrate on the man before me. One false move could give him the edge.
"Ready to join your brother? He lasted but two blows. Tell me you are a worthy opponent!"
My barbs struck home and he shouted, "I will do more than that I will take your head and piss in your empty skull!"
I shook my head and laughed, "And I took you for a Christian!"
He jabbed angrily with his spear at my head at the same time as the two men next to him tried to stab me in the gut. I had to do two things at once. I brought my shield across as I smashed down on the shaft of his spear. The tip of the spear came into the corner of my eyepiece before I managed to hack the shaft in two. I felt a prick as it caught my skin. A little more to the left and I would be like Haaken, one eyed!
He threw the broken spear away and reached for his sword. I had little space in which to move and so I brought my sword to clatter into the side of his helmet. At the same time I pushed with my shield. Olaf Leather neck had taken the head of one of the men next to him while Ulf Olafsson was smashing the second spearman's weapon in two. I had put my left foot behind me to allow me to attack with my shield before the fight had begun. Moving your legs and your feet could bring an advantage to two evenly matched warriors. My blow had stunned him a little and he was slow to draw his sword. I stepped forward on my right leg and brought my left knee hard into his groin. I connected and I forced him to step back. I smashed his face with the boss of my shield. He had no nasal and his nose broke. Blood sprayed everywhere. I had suffered such a blow and knew that your eyes watered. I shifted slightly to my right and brought my sword across his neck. He tried to block with his shield the sensed movement but my move had fooled him. The blade tore through his mail coif and came away bloody.
My Ulfheonar had not been idle. As I had stepped forward they had carved a clear path on each side of me and now formed a wedge. Haaken was to my right and Olaf Leather Neck to my left. The men who had swarmed to help the Eorl were not his oathsworn but they were brave men. Had they locked shields and come at us together it might have been different but Haaken, Olaf, Ulf and Finni were able to deal with each individual as they tried for glory. I narrowed my eyes. If I could kill this Eorl then it would dishearten the rest.
I now had my left leg before my right and I lowered my right leg a little. Holding my shield high I stabbed upwards, springing forward as I did so. He blocked the blow but with my weight behind it he found himself forced back. I brought my sword back and raised it. Stepping forward again I swung my sword at his weakened coif. His blow to my middle was easily blocked by my shield. His shield took my blow but my shifting weight meant he was forced back again and his right arm flailed as he tried to keep his balance. I was tiring but I brought my sword overarm again and brought it down at his neck. He too was tiring. His shield barely blocked the blow and he staggered again.
I used my shield as I stepped forward and hit him with the boss. My whole line, although smaller than the Saxon's, was moving forward. We were like five wedges as each boat's crew fought for their jarl. I had to end this before I became too tired and we were overextended. I punched again with my shield; this time at his shield. The edge of my shield hit his bloodied and damaged nose. It also pulled up the Eorl's shield. I seized my opportunity. I rammed my sword beneath his byrnie and eviscerated him. I twisted as the contents of his stomach fell along my blade.
He fell at my feet. I brought my sword's edge across his neck and severed his head. I held it high and yelled, "Ragnar's Spirit!"
Erik Wolf Claw took advantage of the shock it created. He leapt forward and stabbed the standard bearer in the neck before grabbing the standard and dragging it back towards the river. The Saxons before me recoiled at the sight of the gory trophy. The Eorl's oathsworn all lay dead and their dragon banner was taken. I had the chance to look down the line. The Saxon horse had been defeated. Snorri and Gunnar, along with Ketil had cleared our left flank. When I looked to the trees I saw King Egbert organising his men for a second attack. His eorls were rallying those who had fled.
I turned to look to the river. Erik and the drekar were fast approaching. It was time to take what we had and leave. "Snorri! Fire the town!" I saw him wave his acknowledgment. I shouted to my men. "Get the wounded aboard the drekar. If you want treasure now is the time to take it. We leave!"
I realised I still held the head of the Eorl and I threw it away. I turned to Hrolf. He was spattered with blood but I think that was Saxon blood. "Take the treasure from the Eorl, Hrolf!"
"Aye Jarl Dragonheart."
I saw Olaf on his knees. "What is it Olaf? Are you wounded?"
He shook his head, "No Jarl but Haaken took a blow to the head. He is breathing but he is unconscious."
I suddenly saw that it was Haaken lying beneath Olaf. "Get him to Aiden!" If aught happened to Haaken I would never forgive myself. He was my rock. Always on my right I knew that I was safe in battle so long as he was there.
I saw the Saxons as they advanced towards us. They had many more left than we did. Smoke began to billow from my left as Snorri fired the town. Soon it was as though a fog had descended upon the battlefield. My remaining Ulfheonar formed a protective wall around me and Hrolf. We backed towards 'The Heart of the Dragon'. Already my men were being pulled aboard the drekar. When I felt the river lapping around my ankles I stopped. I would be the last to board.
"Hrolf, get my banner aboard."
"Aye Jarl." He struggled to do so for he was laden with the Eorl's mail and sword. I saw Cnut Cnutson helping him aboard. It had not been long since he had been a young warrior like Hrolf. He would remember what it was like to be the young one on a raid.
It took time to board the drekar, Erik had brought her in bow forward and the was the highest part of the drekar. The thick smoke from the burning town of Hamwic was now so thick that I could barely see my hand before my face. There was just Olaf left in the shallows with me when three warriors suddenly hurled themselves at us from the murk of the mist. Luckily for the two of us we had not dropped our guard and our shields were still held high. Their spears struck my shield. I slashed my sword horizontally and had the satisfaction of feeling it strike flesh. Olaf Leather Neck brought his sword from high over his head and smashed t
he skull of one warrior to a pulp. I saw shadows in the smoke. I lunged forward and my sword tore into the stomach of one of them at the same time as Olaf finished off the last one.
We waded further into the water. Spears were hurled from the prow of my ship as the hands of the Ulfheonar hauled us aboard. My men were at the oars and we backed out into the river. Had the Saxons used bows which were any good then they might have made life difficult for us. As it was we had all the time in the world. I saw the flames licking high into the sky as Hamwic burned. The men of Wessex would know the consequences of attacking the family of Jarl Dragonheart of Cyninges-tūn.
I went to the stern where Aiden was tending to Haaken. "How is he?"
"The blow was to the side of the face where he has his good eye. The wound looks close to it." He pointed to a long scar which ran down the side of Haaken's face from the corner of his good eye.
"You think he may be blind?"
He nodded, "There is a possibility. But when I took off the helmet I found a depression in the skull on that side too."
I shook my head. "I am confused."
"When I read books in the libraries of Miklagård I read that the part of the head which is responsible for the eye is the side opposite to the eye." My confusion must have shown. Aiden shrugged. "I know it makes no sense to me either. We will know more when he awakes. He breathes and it is regular."
I took off my helmet. "Do we know how many we lost?"
Aiden's hand went to my eye. "You are wounded!"
"A scratch. It will heal itself."
Aiden shook his head. "If anything is left in a wound it can become bad and poison the whole body. Turn your head to the light." My Ulfheonar had gathered around Aiden. "Give me room!"
He used some vinegar to clean the wound. It stung but I had borne worse. "Give me your new Roman knife." I handed him my pugeo and he poured vinegar on it. "Finni hold his head and do not let him move."
