by Griff Hosker
I saw the tip of the dagger coming directly for my eye.
"Look up to the sky Jarl." I did so and saw just grey flecked clouds. I felt a really sharp pain and then the trickle of blood down my cheek. "It is done." I looked down and saw a pool of blood in the palm of his hand. He let it drain away and what was left was the tiniest piece of metal I had ever seen. "It is the tip of the spear head. The very end. Had we left it then your head would be poisoned and you might be in as bad a way as Haaken here. Hold still while I sew up the wound." He washed it again with vinegar. It hurt but I kept silent. Then he sewed it. I knew that he would take his time and use very small stitches. Kara would critically examine his work when we were back in Cyninges-tūn.
By the time he had finished we were close to the channel leading to the sea. The waves looked a little choppy. I saw Hrolf. He had been close by the whole time I had been seen to by Aiden. "Come young Hrolf and show me the treasure we took from the Eorl."
"He had fine mail and a good sword. He had a golden cross and he had this bag."
He took out a leather purse which bulged. "Have you looked inside yet?"
"No Jarl Dragonheart."
"Then let us do so for soon this weather will worsen."
He handed me the bag and I emptied the contents into my palm. There were six large golden coins and six jewels. The largest was a red one the size of my thumb. "A fine haul; we are rich warriors."
"We Jarl?"
"You carried my banner and you stood by me. Of course some of this is yours. We will share it out at Úlfarrston with the rest of the booty."
Erik Short Toe pointed to the black storm clouds above. "It seems the Norns may have something to say about that. I think we have a storm coming, Jarl Dragonheart."
"Secure Haaken. Aiden watch him." I looked astern. We were the last of the drekar. "Do your best, Erik."
"Aye Jarl. Tie everything down. Thorir and Cnut take in a reef or two on the sail. I would not risk our stick."
I had endured this before. The wind was a wild one from the north east. It came from our homeland, the land of the Norse. It was Ragnar's wind. Sometimes the old man did not know his own strength! We would not need the oars and my men hunkered down where they could. We rigged a cloak over two chests and placed Haaken within. I sat the Aiden with him. Hrolf clung on to the chest for dear life. He had little experience of ships. Most of his life had been ashore in Neustria.
Day turned to night as we were tossed and turned by waves and wind. The waves grew larger and larger as the day became darker.
"Captain, I have lost sight of the other ships!"
"Do not worry Thorir, they have good captains and we have only to worry about us."
We lost sight of the shore and the sun. We knew of the passage of time for Aiden kept turning the hour glass but we had only the hope that the wind had not changed direction. We were heading west. That was all that we knew. By the sand in the hourglass we knew we had been at sea for eight hours when disaster struck or perhaps the Norns were bored. The sail tore. We had a spare but it was below deck. Erik shouted, "Every man to his oar!"
I took Haaken's place. Only Aiden and Haaken were spared the oars and we rowed. We rowed to keep us into the waves and with the wind. If we had not then we might have turned sideways on and broached. We rowed. Dark day became night and still we rowed. My muscles ached. I felt as I had when I had been Hrolf's age and gone to sea for the first time. The flesh on my hands was red raw from the salt and the oars. And still we rowed. The storm showed no sign of abating. Then we heard. "Land Ho! Rocks and surf ahead!"
The Weird Sisters must have become bored with us. We were going to be wrecked at the edge of the world.
"Back water!"
We reversed our oars as Erik tried to stop us running aground on these sharp teeth. I felt us turn and, as we did so I felt the ship heel alarmingly. Then there was the dreaded sound of something scraping our hull. We were thrown up in the air and then the bow plunged into the sea. Water flooded down the length of the drekar. When we settled we were all sat in water. It came half up the chests upon which we sat and yet the sea was suddenly calm. We had stopped. The wind still blew but not as ferociously.
"Bail her quickly! We may be holed."
We used everything we could to empty the water out. My back and arms burned with the exertion. It seemed to take forever but, eventually there was just a puddle running the length of the drekar.
"Captain, I see a beach and a light!"
I stood and walked to the stern. Erik and I looked at Aiden, "Well?"
He closed his eyes. When he opened them he smiled. "It is the witch. She has summoned you again, Jarl Dragonheart."
I nodded. It was wyrd.
Erik said, "Let us get the drekar on the beach and we can see the damage in daylight."
The crew rowed with a will to get her on land. Any land was all that they craved. It was when the older warriors and the Ulfheonar began to have worried looks on their faces that the new crew members asked questions. Normally Haaken would have answered them but he lay unconscious still hovering between life and death, this world and the Otherworld. It was left to Olaf Leather Neck to tell them.
"There is a witch in these islands and she called our drekar here. She will speak with the Jarl and Aiden." He shook himself, like a dog trying to dry its fur. "But I will not venture into her den. I will stay above ground and hope that they are returned to us."
Aiden took me to one side. "We should take Haaken ashore and build a fire and shelter for him."
Perhaps it was because we were on the island but I knew what he would do. "You are going to cut his skull open."
"Aye Jarl. We were meant to come here to save Haaken. It might be that the witch knows the answer. I will ask her but she summoned us. I felt something when the storm was at its height. I said nothing for I knew that we would be safe." He pointed ashore. "That light tells me that I am right."
I looked up and saw a light on the land. "Aye, Olaf, get Haaken ashore. Light a fire and rig up a shelter."
He looked at me. Olaf feared nothing but I saw terror in his eyes. "You will descend to her cave?"
I smiled, "I am Jarl Dragonheart, it is wyrd!"
"Aye Jarl and it is times like this that I am glad that I just follow you. I would not change places with you for all the gold in Rome."
"We are each given a thread by the Weird Sisters and we follow it."
A small voice sounded besides me. It was Hrolf. "Jarl I would come with you."
He had surprised me, "You would come and visit with a witch. You would go into the bowels of the earth and leave this world behind?"
I looked to Aiden, he closed his eyes as Hrolf spoke. "I heard a voice in my head. It told me to descend. I am terrified but the voice was that of my father. He died when I was captured. I must go where I fear to go. Please may I come?" Aiden opened his eyes and nodded. He had spoken with the spirits.
"Aye Hrolf. You have courage I will say that."
We clambered over the side. Erik was not so afraid that he did not securely tether his ship to the shore. The fire was lit and the shelter rigged but every eye was on the three of us as we headed up the rocks to the light glowing from the earth. I had been here many times and yet each time was like the first. It frightened me. Only Aiden was not afraid. For him he was returning home to the world of the spirits.
I had not changed after the battle; I was bloody, sweaty and dirty, I still wore my mail and had my sword strapped to my side. I entered the cave first. I was Jarl. Hrolf held on to my cloak, as though it would protect him and Aiden followed behind. I heard singing. We descended to the cave where a fire burned and a pot bubbled. The witch was the same one I had seen each time I had visited. She did not look up but she said, "Another who is not afraid of an old woman. Welcome Hrolf son of Gerloc."
I had kept on walking but I felt my cloak being tugged. "Fear not Hrolf. You will not be harmed so long as your heart is pure and your mind clear."
/> The witch looked up at me. This time she looked younger than she had before. "You grow in wisdom each time you visit, descendant of the warlord. Your new bride must be good for you. Your two new babes testify to that."
"But I just have a son!"
She cackled, it was not a pleasant sound, "And now you have a daughter or you will soon have. You should heed the words of Brigid. She may not be a warrior nor a volva but she has a good mind. Use it. Her words are wise." She waved a hand, "Sit and eat. You must be tired after fighting the Saxons and the sea." She began to ladle the broth into wooden bowls. "The Allfather is pleased with you, Jarl Dragonheart. The followers of the White Christ fear you more than any other man."
She handed us the bowls of broth. I knew that there would be a potion in the steaming liquid and I wondered if I should warn Hrolf. I decided to taste it first. I held the spoon of steaming grey broth to my lips. It was too hot to drink and I laid the bowl down on the rock before me.
"Are we here for you to guide us?"
"Perhaps. You are becoming wiser."
"Is Hrolf supposed to be here. He believes he is."
"Then if he believes so it must be true. He is meant to be here."A cunning look came in her eyes. "Before I guide you there should be payment."
I looked at Aiden. There was normally no payment involved. I was suspicious.
She smiled and suddenly looked ten years younger. "You have a red stone you took from the Saxon. It is a pretty thing and I would have it."
Hrolf jumped up, "We do not have it! It is still on the drekar."
She frowned at him and I waved him to his seat. "Do not try to lie to the volva, Hrolf. She knows your mind."
As I took out the jewel he asked, "How does she know we have the precious stone?"
I handed it to her. "She reads our minds and speaks with the spirits. There are no secrets in here."
"Wise, wise, wise. How you have grown. Perhaps the spirits should have sent the Welsh girl to you sooner." She played with the stone in her hands and, holding it to the firelight shone its light in the cave. The dark cave suddenly became alive with shimmering red lights which danced and sparkled. Hrolf's mouth dropped open. The witch put down the stone and put her hand on Hrolf's. "You should eat the broth if you wish to learn what you will become." She looked at me. "You have saved this child and he has a line which stretches into the future. His family will be remembered long after you are dead, Jarl Dragonheart but they will not know that they would have been nothing without the Viking slave who changed the world. Your time with him is coming to an end."
I picked up my bowl and began to eat. "Eat Hrolf." He had been waiting for me to begin and he spooned the broth into his mouth. It was grey in colour but it had a pleasant taste. I tasted the sea and shellfish. There was something else, something aromatic. I could not quite place the taste. I emptied the bowl and laid it down. I began to feel incredibly sleepy. My eyes became heavy and I wished to sleep. I found a patch of sand and I laid down. I would rest for a moment and then ask the witch what was on my mind. Was our war with Egbert over? Who were our enemies? Was there a spy in my land? I only got as far as the third question in my head when I began to fall into the hole in the cave which had just opened before me.
I found myself in the cave beneath Din Guardi, the one the Saxons called Bebbanburgh. I knew the way out of this trap and I headed for the door which led to the kitchens. The door opened and I waded through the bodies of dead Northumbrians. Ascending the stairs I began to creep past the King's chamber but I heard a shout and many guards rushed out at me. I had no sword and I ran to the tower where I had thrown Magnus to his death. This time the steps seemed to go on forever. They went up and up, ever climbing. Hands grabbed at my feet and no matter how hard I ran I could not escape. Eventually I burst through the door but there was no tower, there was nothing and I began to fall.
The rocks below loomed up at me like the savage teeth on a shark. I braced myself and found myself flying. I knew not how but I heard Erika's voice in my ear. "Beware the face that smiles with the eyes that do not." I opened my mouth to speak but no words emerged. Who was this enemy? Was it one of my own men?
I saw that we were flying over the sea. I saw a sea battle beneath me. It was Gunnar Thorfinnson and his drekar was surrounded by Vikings who swarmed across his deck and then it was gone. I saw the three legs of Man flying from the drekar. I saw Dyflin in the distance. It grew closer and closer to me. The walls of the town were in front of me and I braced myself for we would crash into them but we did not. The walls disappeared and I saw that we were in the chamber of Hakon the Bald. It was empty and I found my feet were now on the ground. I wandered his chamber. His cloak, trimmed with fine fur lay on the bed. He had a sword laid upon the bed too and it was tipped with a red stone. It was a twin of the stone I had given to the volva. I went to the table and there were golden coins on them. Each one was embossed with a cross and four small birds. They had come from Wessex! In the corner of the room I saw a shield; upon it were the three legs of Man.
The door burst open and many guards surrounded me. I tried to fly but I could not. Erika had forsaken me. I was grabbed and dragged down a narrow corridor. I heard growling and howling. There was a pit before me and in it were ten hungry wolves. I was hurled into the pit. As I fell I saw the laughing face of Hakon the Bald. The red eyes of the wolves waited for me and their hungry mouths opened to devour me. As my head entered the mouth of the largest I felt no pain. I just saw a large black hole opening before me and then a light, a red light. I headed for the light and it grew brighter. I rushed towards it and, as I leapt out saw that I had claws and my arms were covered in fur. Hakon the Bald cowered before me as I leapt, with the rest of the pack, to devour him. Before my teeth sank into his flesh there was a blinding light and then darkness.
I slowly opened my eyes. The cave was dark but there was a dim light coming from the entrance. The fire was long cold and there was no sign of the witch. Aiden sat watching me and Hrolf slept yet. He smiled and handed me a skin of water. I drank. It felt cool and refreshing. He said, "We should get the boy to the surface."
We carried Hrolf, who was heavier than he looked, up the passage to the cave entrance. The light almost blinded me for the sun was bright. It was cold but the sun was shining. We laid Hrolf on the rocks and I shaded my eyes. I could see my men on the beach. They had a fire going and there were men in the water working on the drekar.
"You saw?"
"I saw you both."
"Hrolf dreamed too?"
"You heard her words before you dreamed. The Norns have used you to save Hrolf and shape him into the man he will become. His people are destined for greatness."
"But not mine?"
"Your greatness will die with you. You will be remembered but as a legend only. Your sword and your deeds will live on in the stories men tell."
I felt as though the air had been sucked from me. "You dreamed this?"
"Kara and I dreamed this when our daughter was born." He smiled, "It is better this way. Our family is safe in the land watched over by Olaf the Toothless and the Water. When you go to the Otherworld the world will forget that our people exist. When the rest of the land is in turmoil they will live and grow in peace. For generations to come it will be as though Cyninges-tūn is hidden from the world. The spirits will hide it from the gaze of men."
I nodded. What else did I expect? I was a tool of the gods and the Norns. In many ways this was better. Old Ragnar who had brought me up and made me the man I had become was remembered by few. Had I not named my sword Ragnar's Spirit he would not be known at all. Aiden was correct. This was better.
"And what of Hrolf? What is his destiny?"
"He will leave us soon and follow another. It is not because you are a bad leader but he needs to wander for a while and you are a rock now. Your heart is in Cyninges-tūn. He will settle his own lands when he has learned how to lead." Aiden smiled, "I was granted a view of the future. His descendants rule the
land of Egbert and Eanred; every Saxon king is nothing compared to the fruit of his loins. He must return to Neustria and conquer it but that will be many years hence when he has sailed the seas and learned to be a leader.
"That is good."
"It is meant to be. You came into his life so that he could see what a good leader is like. It is now up to the Norns to shape him into someone who can conquer nations."
It was almost as though he had heard us. He opened his eyes and looked around, startled. "How did I get here? The horses!"
"We carried you here. What is this about horses?"
"I saw me leading many mailed men on horses and we were attacking a shield wall of Saxons who were on a hill. They had axes and they were hewing my men and horses as though they were trees." He shook his head, "That cannot have been me. We do not fight on horses."
I smiled, "Ask Aiden. He dreamed what you dreamed."
"Truly?" Aiden nodded. "What was the dream?"
"It was your future."
"I will lead horsemen?"
"Apparently so. I saw that in my dream too. You had long shields which covered half your body."
"Aye I did! But I could not see you there, Jarl."
"That is because I am not in your future. The Weird Sisters have spun and their threads determine that we part."
"But I owe all to you. I would serve you. I wished to be your oathsworn!"
"I told you once that you had to make that decision when you were older. Now you can see why. Do not give an oath which binds you until you are certain it is the right one. Now come. Gunnar Thorfinnson is in trouble."
"How do you know Jarl Dragonheart?"
"I dreamed as you did. He is being attacked and I think I know where and by whom."
Chapter 12
My men all stood as we approached. Even the Ulfheonar, who had witnessed this before, were curious. I had worked out that we had been there all night. I saw Erik up to his knees in the water. "Any damage?"
He grinned in a mystified sort of way. "There is nothing but I was certain I heard us grind over something. There should be damage."
