by Griff Hosker
"I see you have not changed your ways. Your Jarl was ever one for the knife in the back and it seems that you are just as treacherous."
"Old man, today you die and I will take your sword from your dead fingers!"
"First kill me and then boast!"
Bracing myself with legs wide apart I brought my sword over hard and high. It smashed into his shield. It was not a blow I would use on land but on a moving drekar it sometimes worked. As the blow hit he tried to adjust his feet and he slipped. He used his right hand to steady himself. I slashed at his arm and severed it. I brought my blade backhanded and ripped across his throat. His body fell at my feet. All around me the survivors were being slain. There was no mercy for those attacked at sea. I might have liked a prisoner to question but the men from Ljoðhús were in no mood for such mercy. They butchered them all.
I saw that Gunnar was wounded. He was lying close to the steering board, "Aiden!" I saw that he had a bad wound to his right arm and a savage cut across his lower jaw. Blood was everywhere.
He looked up at me. His damaged jaws gave him a strange grin."Thank you Jarl Dragonheart. You came for us."
I took off my helmet and knelt next to him. "I am sorry we came so late."
He had a puzzled look on his face. "Late? How could you know?"
"The spirits warned me and we came as fast as Odin's wind would bring us."
"We owe our lives to you. But they have slain more than half of my crew."
"They died with swords in their hands and they are in Valhalla. We have another drekar. The gods favour you, Gunnar Thorfinnson."
Aiden leapt to his side and began to tend to him. Gunnar winced as Aiden applied vinegar. "The arm is the most dangerous. I must sew it, Jarl."
He nodded, "I will bear it."
To keep his mind off the wound I told him of our experience. He stared at me with wonder on his face. "We only endured a short storm and then the winds died. We lost the other ships and wondered if any had survived."
Aiden nodded his gratitude to me and said, "Jarl I will make the stitches as small as I can but it will take longer."
He laughed and I saw him wince with the effort, "I am going nowhere. Stitch away."
"I will crew this other drekar with my men. Have you enough to crew yours?"
"Thrand Sigurdsson is a fair sailor." He pointed to the ancient warrior next to him. "He should get us home safely enough."
I shook my head, "You will come to Úlfarrston. We have treasure and booty to divide."
By the time we had transferred the crew they had stripped the bodies and thrown them over the side. It was almost dawn. The wind had died and it was a slow and stately progress north. Had we been attacked by any sort of numbers it would have gone ill with us. The gods smiled on us and we saw the welcoming mouth of Úlfarrston by noon. We had made it home.
I was happy to see the other drekar and knarr moored in the estuary. 'Red Snake' was on the beach and she looked to have suffered severe damage. The others all had the look of ships who have survived a storm. We were not the only ones to suffer.
Chapter 13
From the work being carried out on the other ships it looked as though we were the one which had suffered the least damage. The lost sail had been our most serious hurt. We edged towards the jetty. Aiden had refused to allow Haaken to move and, much to his chagrin, he was forced to be carried ashore on a litter. He showed great strength of character as he faced down the mighty warrior, Haaken One Eye. "When my wife says you may walk then you shall do so. Until then you are carried."
The younger warriors were quite happy to carry him. I went ashore first while they manhandled him to the land. My jarls rushed to greet me, "I thought I had lost my father!"
"No, Wolf Killer; we took a detour to see the witch! Her decision, of course." He and Asbjorn stared at me. They knew the importance of such a visit. "I will tell you all later." I looked at Gunnstein. "I know you will be keen to return to Dyflin but much of what the witch said concerned you. Would you delay your departure and come to Cyninges-tūn with us? Gunnar is wounded and he cannot travel for a couple of days. His crew were attacked."
"I saw the other drekar." Gunnstein looked worried, "It was not the men of Dyflin was it?"
"No, Jarl, it was the men of Man. They attacked him close to the Calf of Man. We will divide our treasure here so that it is safely on the ships before they sail."
"It will do no harm. We only arrived yester eve and your shipwright, Bolli is dealing with 'Red Snake' first. She barely made it home. It will take a few days longer to make our drekar sea worthy. We would enjoy your hospitality. Asbjorn has been singing the praises of your ale."
And so we divided the treasure. There was so much that I was surprised that any of the drekar and knarr had made it back. The slaves were penned at Úlfarrston. We sold many to Coen, his burgeoning town needed workers, and the rest were kept secure. We would divide those when the drekar sailed. We followed the wounded and the bulk of the men on the long march to Cyninges-tūn.
Our homecoming was heralded, as usual, by Grim the Fisherman and everyone turned out to greet us. As we were further down the road it was my younger warriors who received the greatest accolades. I was pleased. They had done well. King Egbert and the housecarls of Wessex were a formidable foe to have routed. The wounded, being mounted on litter strung between horses and ponies, had reached home first and I knew that Kara and her women would be ministering to their wounds. I daresay Aiden was looking nervously to his wife for her approval. He had worked miracles and I hoped she approved.
Winter had been a chilly suspicion in Wessex, here I could see its icy grip. The ground was hard and the air was sharp. We had campaigned later than normal but it had rewarded us handsomely. Normally, as we rode north, I would talk with Haaken. This time I could not. Wolf Killer had hurried on to see his wife and children and so I rode alone. It was no bad thing for I had much to occupy my mind. Hakon the Bald was the problem with which I wrestled. I believed the witch and the spirits. They had told me he was guilty of treachery. I had to consider what to do about him. Then there was the problem of Man. I had sworn to avenge Gunnar had he died. He had not but I still felt betrayed. The trouble was I had missed speaking with Aiden, Haaken and my daughter. The three of them gave me a perspective which my wife Erika had provided. I was my own man. I would make my own decisions. However Ragnar had taught me to listen to others. I would talk with Gunnar and Gunnstein. I would seek counsel from Aiden, Kara and Haaken and then I would speak with the spirits. Only then would I make up my mind.
When I reached the gates there was just Brigid with my son waiting for me. I saw a small bump which told me that the witch had been right. I had never doubted her for the spirits knew all. I wondered if Brigid had known before I left. Did she know it was a girl? My son recognised me now but, too young to articulate words which made sense, he just giggled and threw his arms around me. I felt dirty as I hugged him. I needed the waters of the Water and my sweat hut. Brigid hugged me and said, "I have sent Uhtric to light the fire in the sweat hut. It will take some time to reach the right heat."
I put my arm around her and, holding Gruffyd in my right arm led her to my hall. "We can talk. I have much to tell you and you, I have no doubt, have things to tell me."
She stopped and stared at me. She held her front. "You know?" I nodded. "How?"
"I saw the bump but I confess that I knew already and I sought confirmation. We landed at the island of the witch and she told me we were to have a daughter."
This time her hand went to the cross about her neck. "Kara said it would be a girl! I doubted her but now..."
We walked to my hall. I did not say that this proved the spirit world was stronger than the world of the White Christ. My wife was clever, she would work it out. There was ale and honeyed oat cakes, still warm from the fire, waiting for me. As I ate them I told her the events which had unfolded many miles hence.
"When Siggi returned with the knarr we were se
nt word and there was great celebration. Then when you were delayed in your return we worried."
"We were never going to return quickly but I must discover what delayed Siggi and the knarr. It almost cost us dear."
"Do you think that Egbert will forget Elfrida and your son now?"
"He will never forget us but that is different from will he try to hurt us again. We have much to do. I need my hut and your counsel first and then I will speak with the others."
"My counsel? I know nothing."
"True you know nothing of war but you lived in a poisonous world of intrigue and back stabbing. You survived. You may not know war with swords but you know war with words and insinuation."
"That I do."
Uhtric sailed us across the Water and my servants watched over Gruffyd. We stripped off and entered the hut. It was not perfect but the temperature was rising. I added more charcoal to the fire. We walked to the Water and immersed ourselves in its icy grip. We rubbed each other's hair and then went back into the hut. It seemed much hotter already. I sat with my arm around my wife. "Young Hrolf did well."
"Tell me again what the witch said. I was thinking of you when you told me that part. I will comb your hair and beard and trim your hair while you do so." We kept combs and a knife for shaving in the hut. She sharpened the edge and then began to comb my hair.
"He is to serve another lord who will take him raiding and enable him to become lord of Neustria."
"You raided there."
She was right. It had gone from my mind. What did that signify?
Brigid was thinking too. "Perhaps that means that your spirits do not want you to raid so far afield."
I kissed her. "You are right and I was blind not to see it. I cannot help Hrolf and he must seek others who can but why do the spirits want me to stay closer to home? Wessex will be harder to raid now. Egbert will close that door and bar it too."
"There must be other places you could raid. Or perhaps they wish you to stay at home and look after your wife and your daughter." She giggled.
I kissed her again, "Perhaps you are right. We could still raid your former home, Mercia and," my voice hardened at the memory, "those snakes on Man."
I could feel my thoughts taking order. When I had walked up the road I had not known what to do. Having spoken to someone who knew nothing of war I had learned what to do.
We then talked of other things; what we might think of calling the baby, what Gruffyd had done since we had been away. They were inconsequential and yet vital all at the same time. The flap opened and Aiden appeared. "Could I join you, Jarl?"
Part of me resented this intrusion into a private world I was enjoying but I knew that Aiden would not have asked if it were not important. "Aye, it is now hot enough."
He went outside to shed his clothes and then re-entered. Brigid said, "You knew it was a girl too?"
He shook his head, "Not until the witch told us. Kara knew because she was here and the spirits of her mother and Olaf the Toothless spoke with her."
I saw my wife taking that in. I was thinking of Haaken. "And what did my daughter say of your handiwork?"
Aiden laughed, "You are becoming fey too, Jarl. You know why I came here! She has examined both Gunnar and Haaken. They will both heal." He grinned and suddenly looked like the young Irish boy again. "She was impressed with my skill. She looked at Haaken's head and said that he may walk around but he should not risk war until the winter is passed and gone."
Brigid said, "As winter is here already or at least the first frosts have come, you will not fight again." I remained silent. She looked at me. "Surely you will not need to fight again?"
Looking at Aiden I said, "What are your thoughts on Hakon the Bald?"
"We will need to speak with Gunnstein. I trust him but I wonder what he knows. The attack by the men of Man could only have been prompted from two sources, Dyflin and Ljoðhús. Of the two Jarls I trust Blue Scar more and I cannot see him risking his own son's life. Odin would never forgive such an act. The men of Man could not have predicted which of our ships they would catch. We were just lucky that it was Gunnar and not the knarr." Then, almost as an afterthought he added, "Siggi was nearly captured on his return south. That is why he was delayed. It is lucky he is suspicious and knows the waters. He avoided their trap and sailed between the island and Wyddfa."
"A dangerous route."
"Aye but the gods were with him. He managed to evade his pursuers but it added two days to his journey."
"I need to speak to all the others." I turned to Brigid. "Have we food enough to feed the jarls?"
She stood, "Aye but I needs must be at our hall to organise!"
I detected criticism in her tone if not her words. "I am sorry but this is my land and I must make such decisions."
She nodded, "I know but I would have you as my husband and Gruffyd's father at home; at least for a time."
"And I promise that I will be home at Yule and until the first green shoots spring from beneath winter's cloak."
She smiled until Aiden said, "If the Weird Sisters allow!"
The smile changed to a frown, "Then I curse the Weird Sisters!"
I was shocked, "You must recant those words!"
Aiden said, "She is of the White Christ. The Norns ignore such curses but your husband is right, my lady, it does not do to provoke them."
We sailed back to our home and Brigid became a whirlwind. Aiden and Uhtric went to inform the jarls and Kara. I dressed in my robe which I had brought from Miklagård. It was my one piece of luxury. I was not vain enough to wish to impress my young jarls but I knew that it would. I wore it for it made me feel better. I enjoyed the soft smoothness against my skin. I knew that my jarls would have eaten in the warrior hall. It was later than we normally ate already. Brigid, however, managed to find some food which could be cooked quickly and I still had a few amphorae of Vasconian wine. It would suffice. Hospitality was important. There should be food and drink when we talked.
I greeted them when they arrived. It was only when they walked in that I realised how I must have smelled when I had greeted my wife. They smelled of blood, sweat and the sea. I felt slightly guilty about my own appearance. Elfrida had come too. She hugged me and then went to find Brigid. Kara kissed me on my forehead, "I heard the witch approved of your actions, father."
"It appears so."
"And you need this counsel to make a better decision?"
"I do."
"It is good." She lowered her voice, "Aiden and I will listen more than we speak. We will try to read men's minds."
"I trust them all."
"You trust most of them but you have some doubts." I nodded. "We will listen."
This was the first time that three of them had been in my hall. I saw them look at the old sword of my ancestor which I had discovered in the cave close to Wyddfa. This was not the time for that story.
"I have asked you all to remain with me because we were separated by the storm and you do not know what transpired in the cave with the witch." I saw Gunnar and Gunnstein clutch their hammers. It was a natural reaction for a warrior. "What she said concerns all of us to a lesser or greater degree. Aiden and I have spoken of the dream and we have our own interpretation. My daughter will listen now and she will tell us what she thinks. I have fought alongside all of you and I think I know your hearts. I would welcome your views."
Wolf Killer nodded, "Did the dream speak of Egbert? Did the witch mention him?"
I smiled. Like my son I would have liked to have slain Egbert and ended this feud. It was not meant to be. "Be patient my son." I told them of my dream and that of Hrolf. I did not offer my interpretation but I watched Gunnstein.
It was Gunnar who spoke first. He looked drawn for he had two bad wounds but anger burned in his eyes. "I thank you again for coming to our aid, Jarl Dragonheart and I see that the men of Man owe me for my dead warriors."
I nodded and there was silence and then Gunnstein spoke quietly, "You are missing th
e point, Gunnar Thorfinnson; how did the men of Man know that we would be sailing with laden ships? It is not the raiding season. If we had not come on this raid then my drekar would have been laid up for the winter, having her hull cleaned."
Gunnar was still angry about his own men and he could not see through the fog. He shrugged, "An accident! Wyrd!"
Wolf Killer said, "The men of Man are treacherous and they are lazy. In the summer they keep a close watch for traders. We escort our knarr and they have learned to avoid them."
"Then that is a good reason for them not to attack us for we had five drekar!"
Ketil was the youngest of the jarls and had the least experience of sea warfare but he was a clever young man. "When we left to make war on King Egbert I said goodbye to my kin in Brougham. I gave my younger brother the power to rule in my stead for I did not expect to return. The King of Wessex is the most powerful king in the land and we were going to fight him with a handful of warriors. If the men of Man knew what we intended then they would expect us to have lost many men. It would be the perfect time to attack the warriors of Cyninges-tūn. If they could defeat the Jarl Dragonheart then this land would theirs for the taking."
Wolf Killer nodded, "So how did they know?"
Gunnstein looked at the horn of wine before him and then downed it. "I have listened to the words and I have thought of your dream. There is a connection to Wessex and to Man. It is Hakon the Bald. We wondered how King Egbert could have reached Hamwic so quickly. He arrived two days before we expected him. He was warned. In the Dragonheart's dream he saw the red stone such as we found in Wintan-ceastre. There were the coins of Wessex. It is clear to me that Hakon the Bald was connected. I know not how for he did not know where we raided. I only discovered that when I arrived here."
I glanced at Kara and Aiden who both nodded. I said quietly, "And you suspected before the dream was revealed to you. Is that not right, Gunnstein Berserk-Killer?"
Every eye was on the warrior from Dyflin. He kept his head down and then raised it, to look me in the eye. "I am sorry. I apologise to all who lost warriors. I suspected something but I had no proof."
