by Griff Hosker
I pulled the carcass from the youth who stared up at me, his face bathed in the wolf's blood. "You live?"
He grinned, "I live! Is the wolf dead?"
"It is." I turned and made my way back to Finni. He had struck the back of his head as he had fallen and I saw that the snow had a pool of his blood. I put my ear to his mouth. He breathed. He was alive but he would not last long. I looked up at my hunters. It had not been a large pack and three dead wolves lay before us. The rest ran.
"Finni is hurt. We must get him to shelter. Olaf, How are you?"
"Embarrassed. I will make amends and carry Finni. He saved me."
I looked up and saw the sun setting to the west. We had taken longer than we should to find the wolves. We would have to spend the night up here. "Snorri, find shelter. The wolf's lair should be close!"
I hoped that they would have left but if not then we would kill them. I suspected it was just the pregnant females and the leader of the pack who were still alive. "Hrolf, stay close to me!"
"But my wolf!"
"Your wolf is going nowhere. It is dead!"
The wolves had found a cave and it would provide us shelter. The wolf's den smelled foetid but there was no growling. Already Snorri was gathering the twigs and fur which the wolves had used to make a nest. He crawled around in the dark gathering them. Gradually our eyes became accustomed to the dark but we would need light for Finni and warmth else we would die of the cold. We needed something dry to start a fire. The others were gathering fuel. Snorri took out his precious flint. He was our fire starter. I left the cave and found Hrolf. "Come young horseman. Let us fetch the animals."
We made our way back to the horses. It was a long walk and we were chilled to the bone by the time we reached them. The snow had been driven half way up their withers. The two of us managed to tie them into two groups and we led them through the snow. When we came to the dead wolves the horses refused to go further and I was stumped as to what to do. Hrolf spoke to his pony and blew into its nostrils. He began to sing. He sang one of Haaken's songs. Remarkably the horses calmed, "Sing, Jarl, sing." I joined him and, slowly at first, the animals moved up through the corpses to the relative shelter of the wall of rock above the cave. There were no obliging trees and so we hobbled them. As the wind had been blowing the snow was a little thinner and Hrolf swept an area clear so that the horses could graze on the thin grass which remained. He took off his helmet and began to pile some of the cleared snow into it. "They need to drink. I am fine, Jarl. Go into the cave."
I shook my head, "Thank you for the orders but I have much to do." I took out my seax and returned to the wolves. I ripped open their stomachs. It was still warm within. My blue hands became much warmer as I butchered the hearts, liver and kidneys from the beasts. They would cook quickly and give us sustenance which would keep us alive. The young wolf I dragged back to the cave. Hrolf look curiously at me. He had finished collecting the snow. It would now have to melt. I handed him the hearts, liver and kidneys. "Take these inside and give them to Snorri. He will know what to do."
The other Ulfheonar had returned with their wood. I took out my sword and hacked off the wolf's head. I then used my seax to skin it as quickly as I could. I had noticed that Hrolf was becoming blue already. The skin of the wolf might keep him alive. My cold hands meant it took me longer than I had hoped. When I entered the cave it was glowing with firelight. Haaken and Erik were examining Finni.
"He has a thick skull and the bleeding has stopped. We have turned him on his side as Aiden taught us and moistened his lips with water."
"Good." I threw the skin to Hrolf, "Here cover yourself with this."
"It is bloody and it stinks!"
They laughed, "And it will keep you warm," snorted Olaf. "Do as the Jarl tells you!"
He did so and then grinned, "Does this mean I am Ulfheonar?"
"A wolf cloak does not make an Ulfheonar, young Hrolf, but it is a start." Olaf's eyes twinkled in the firelight. This was a softer side to my hard warrior.
The young wolf's heart was the smallest and when the outside began to blacken I took it off the stick we were using to cook it. "Here Hrolf, you must eat the heart of the wolf you killed. You will gain his spirit."
He nodded and began to examine it.
"Just eat it and do not look at it!"
"Yes Olaf." His teeth sank in and blood spurted but he ate it all.
My warriors cheered. "Now you are a man! Now you are a warrior!"
We kept the fire burning but we had little wood and it did not keep us that warm. It did allow us to inspect the wolves' home. There were bones everywhere but other than that it was clean. We threw the bones on to the fire too. They would burn and give off a little heat, if not light. When the snow had melted in his helmet Hrolf watered the horses and then began the process again. I could see the Norns at work in his actions. He was a horseman. I heard him shout just before he returned,
"What is it?"
"Foxes trying to take my wolf! I have brought it closer to the entrance."
Olaf snorted, "Then watch for rats!"
Finni came to in the middle of the night. We were all relieved. Head injuries could be dangerous as Haaken had discovered. Haaken used what little light there was to examine the wound. "I doubt you will need a plate," he sniffed, "there is just one Ulfheonar with an iron head."
Snorri laughed, "Some would say you did not need a plate planting to make you that!"
When dawn broke the fire had been dead for some time and we left to return to our home. Our families would be worried. We draped the carcasses of the wolves over our horses. The skins would be cleaned and used as replacements by the warriors who had killed the animals. Hrolf had his. Mine would replace this, my second one. The snow had stopped and been replaced by a biting wind which cut to the very core. Hrolf was grateful for his new cloak.
Snorri counselled him. "It must be treated when we return to the jarl's hall. Piss is good but seek the advice of Aiden and you will need to scrape it until all trace of the wolf is gone!"
He took it all in and, I noticed, rode a little prouder. He remembered the words my men had spoken, he was a man and he was a warrior. He was growing up.
It took almost half a day to return to our home. I knew that Brigid would be worried. Kara and Aiden, however, would have known that I was safe. When I was in danger they sensed it. The warmth of the horses and pony warmed up the wolves' carcasses and they began to smell. We would need to skin them quickly and then cook the meat before they attracted other carrion. As we neared the gates I noticed that Hrolf was edging his pony forward. Normally the Jarl entered first. "Would you like to lead us in, Hrolf?"
His face gave me the answer before he spoke, "I have killed a wolf! Yes Jarl!"
"Then you may have the honour."
As he trotted in Haaken said, "He did not kill it Jarl Dragonheart, you did."
"I know but do I need the glory?"
"No and to be honest he did well. He is just a little older than you were when you killed your first wolf."
"And I was excited too. This is part of his education. It will, hopefully, make a better warrior of him."
Chapter 17
We were visited, a month and a half after Yule, by Raibeart. He had taken his knarr for another spying mission. The iron we sent with him would also fetch a higher price. This time he had not sailed to Northumbria. He went to other ports, closer to home where he could sell our iron and gather information. He rode, with his lieutenant, Garth of Úlfarrston. They were both animated. They had with them a pony and it had two chests. "Silver, Jarl Dragonheart. The price of iron is higher than ever. Your raids have made every king and warlord desperate for more weapons. If we were to take swords we could make an even greater profit."
I shook my head, as I led them indoors, it was wet and it was cold. My warm fire beckoned. "Our swords are for us. Bjorn can make ploughshares for you to trade but not swords."
He nodded, "We also found great news
. The men of Wessex have finally cowed King Mark and he is a vassal king. We heard that King Egbert is now turning his attention to Mercia."
That suited me. If he attacked Mercia he could not attack me. More importantly it would leave the back door to Mercia open and we could raid with impunity. "Good that is excellent news. And Man?"
"They have had a bad winter. The snows we had visited them. Some warriors left to find new homes. We passed one of his drekar heading south."
"Where does their jarl live these days?"
"Balley Chashtal, the place where Old Olaf lived."
"And is it fortified?"
"There is a wall around it but it is made of wood."
"And how many drekar remain?"
"One but there are many warriors on the island still. The Jarl holds his Tynewald there once at each new moon. All of his warriors come."
"Good. And will you sail again before you take over the 'Red Snake'?"
He grinned, "Aye Jarl. If Wessex attacks Mercia then we can profit by selling iron to the Mercians. Who knows, we may make a profit from selling information."
"Be careful you do not get caught. I would not lose my spy."
"Do not worry Jarl we play a good part."
After they had gone I walked along the Water with Aiden. "Do I advise Thorfinn to attack sooner or later, Aiden?"
"I would send a message now, Jarl. You have the chance to rid us of all the warriors on Man. If Raibeart is right and they gather each new moon then that would be a good chance to get them all. They will drink and they will quarrel."
What he said made sense and I sent Snorri to Úlfarrston. Gunnar Thorfinnson had bought some swords from Bjorn and they were ready. When Siggi carried them Snorri could take my message. After he had gone I wrapped up and wandered Cyninges-tūn. The young warriors who had come with me were now men of substance, they were rich. The men who had daughters of an age to marry invited them to their homes in the hope that they would take an unmarried one from them. However when I walked among the halls and huts the young warriors sought me out. Their question was always the same, 'Will I be on your next raid, Jarl?"
I did not give answers. I would decide when the men from Ljoðhús let me know when they would raid. If they chose not to raid Man then I would. It was a risk but I had sworn an oath to myself and I would keep it.
I saw Hrolf with Rolf Horse Killer. There were just a few years between them and they were close. I saw that Hrolf had finally finished his wolf cloak. He was asking Rolf about the fastenings. I heard the end of the conversation. They were so engrossed in the examination of the cloak that they jumped when I spoke.
"If we had had the foresight, Hrolf, you could have saved some of the wolf's bones and carved them into two clasps for your cloak. However you still have coins do you not?"
"Aye Jarl. You gave me my share."
"Then if you are to be a warrior you should look like one. You may need to go to Bjorn Bagsecgson and pay one of his smiths to make one."
He looked at my cloak. He seemed to see the wolf clasps I had had made. "I would like those!"
"These are not cheap but a warrior never objects to such expense. And you will need a good sheath for your sword. You do not want it blunting."
His face fell. He had not thought of that.
Rolf said, "You need not pay someone for that, Hrolf. We can make one. You just need a sheepskin and some wood."
Hrolf grinned. I said, "Well what are you waiting for? I will not take a warrior raiding who does not have a scabbard."
They disappeared. Aiden had come along quietly and he said, "I thought you were not telling your warriors yet?"
"You of all people should know that Hrolf will leave us soon and he is part of this circle. If we raid then he must be with us."
"Aye, it is wyrd."
Snorri and Siggi returned far quicker than I would have hoped. Snorri wasted no time in giving me his news. "Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar will be here within days. He and his warriors have spent the winter preparing for this. They were just waiting for news from us." I looked at Snorri with a question written on my face. "I know Jarl, why could they have not sent scouts out as we did to ascertain the defences?" He shrugged. "They come."
"How many drekar?"
"They bring three. One is a threttanessa. "
"You have done well. How went the trade?"
"Siggi has taken his payment. I sent Bjorn his share and yours is on the horses outside."
"Good. Tell my Ulfheonar we ride to Úlfarrston." I needed to tell the warriors whom I had decided I would take with me but I knew that I needed to speak with Brigid first. She was organising the new clothes the women in Kara's hall had made for the baby. She had had a chest made and she was laying them inside.
"I leave for a raid."
Her back was to me but I saw it stiffen. I could hear, in her voice, that she was fighting tears. "How long will you be away?"
"It could be seven days but it may be less."
She turned, having controlled herself. Kara had taught her how to breathe to calm herself. The smile was back. "You do not go alone?"
I held her close to me, "No, my wife, Thorfinn brings three drekar. I may have nothing to do. I might be able to stand back and watch others fight."
She pushed me away and laughed, "Thank you for the joke, husband. You have made me smile." She shook her head. "The one thing you will never do is to stand back and watch while others fight. You will be in the heart of the fight. That much I know."
The choice of crew was an easy one. Some I might have chosen were now in the Otherworld. Two were now settled into families and farms. It was the young ones I chose; the ones like Rolf Horse Killer, Cnut Cnutson and Einar the Reckless. I took Erik Wolf Claw for he led them well; although he had never become Ulfheonar he had all the qualities that a wolf warrior needed. I chose but thirty. We would have a crew of just forty for 'Heart of the Dragon'. It would be enough. The voyage was short and four drekar would be more than enough. I did not need Aiden, or, at least, I hoped that I would not need Aiden. I needed no insight into the minds of men. We needed to teach the men of Man that they might raid others and they might attack the ships which plied their waters but they did not attack the ships of Jarl Dragonheart or his allies. Egbert and Hakon had learned that the hard way and now it was the turn of my nephew.
Haaken and I rode ponies while the rest of the crew marched. This would be Haaken's first fight since his injury. I would not insult him by mentioning it again but I did comment on his new helmet. "Bjorn has done a good job with the helmet. I like the face."
Bjorn had cast eyebrows and a realistic looking forehead on the metal piece which covered the eyes on the new helmet. It continued cunningly around to a pair of ear shaped pieces of metal. It protected the sides of Haaken's skull with extra metal.
"Aye I am pleased. It is not as heavy as you would think. If I were to criticise it then I would say it makes my head look slightly bigger than it used to."
I heard Olaf snort behind us, "You have always had a big head! I think Bjorn has made one the perfect size for you!"
My men laughed. It was a good start. They were in the mood to banter and that boded well. The insults continued to be traded all the way to Úlfarrston. There was no sign of Thorfinn but Erik had my drekar tied to the stone and wooden jetty. Each winter Coen ap Pasgen improved the port a little more. We now had tree stumps embedded into the jetty to facilitate our tying up. I saw Finni Foul-Fart as he waved away his knarr. He turned to me, "Another season to be making profits." He gestured towards my drekar. "And you too will be away soon I am guessing."
"Aye, time and tide, Finni, they wait for no man,."
Haaken took charge of the loading of the boat. The chests were placed where the men would row, that was now the job of Olaf Leather Neck. Food had to be stored below the deck as well as spare weapons and spears. I went to speak with Coen. As I neared the walls I saw that he had heeded my words before last year's harvest. He had a new sto
ne tower. It was too high to be climbed using shields and I saw that eight men could man its top. It guarded the south east corner of his walls.
He strode to greet me and saw my gaze. "We will build a second at the southwest corner. My men feel safer fighting behind stone and they are good archers. When I spoke with Snorri he showed me the bow he had from the Saami. We would buy some."
"They are expensive and hard to obtain but I will send Siggi to their land when the ice around their coast has melted." The Saami lived so far away that the only time we could trade was when the sun burned over their land without setting; midsummer.
He nodded and led me to his hall. "You take no knarr?"
"Anything we take we bring back on my drekar. I do not expect this to reward us much. You brother told us that they had had a hard winter. If Thorfinn wishes slaves then he can take them. I would not have any from Man. They may be our enemies now but many of their fathers fought shoulder to shoulder with me and with Haaken."
"Your nephew rules there now." He made it sound like a question. I knew what he inferred.
"There is no blood which links us. My wife's brother betrayed me. His wife was a bitch and although I have not seen him since he was a child I remember Erik Eriksson as a cruel little bully. He used to tease and torture Wolf Killer before my son learned to bloody his nose. I am just surprised that the men of Man follow him."
"He is not a good leader. He knows not how to trade and he likes to live too well." He shrugged, "I have never met him but Raibeart is a good judge of character. He has traded many times with him."
We stayed the knight in Coen's hall and saw the masts of the three drekar as they sailed up the channel the following morning. We bade farewell, boarded our drekar and rowed out to meet them. We stopped within hailing distance of Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar's drekar. He had put on a little weight since I had last seen him. He cupped his hands and shouted, "Hail, Jarl Dragonheart. Thank you for coming to the aid of my son and his crew. I owe you a life."
