by Griff Hosker
Haaken One Eye and Olaf Leather Neck swung sword and axe to clear a space around me. The wedge had now reached the breached line and my warriors each chose an enemy to fight. I only had eyes for Egbert and his son. King Egbert had aged. He was only about three years older than me but he looked ancient. His son ran at me. I punched with my shield at his sword hand and then his face. He fell back with blood streaming from both. I saw Egbert’s face. He was afraid. He wore an open helmet. It had been many years since he had fought and he dressed for show and not war. He was trying to back away. He knew my reputation and, even though he was a Christian, my sword would make him terrified. I swung my sword sideways. He was old and he was unused to fighting. Some instinct made him bring his shield up and he blocked the blow. He swung at me and I easily blocked it. I barely felt it. He had no power.
“Today, we end the blood feud. You had my son slain and I swore that I would have vengeance. Today is that day.”
“You cannot win, barbarian! I have named my son as king! He will rule when I am gone. Even if you kill me he will hunt you down and kill you.” I thrust suddenly and I beat his guard. His shield slightly deflected the blade but I scored a long wound across his leg. It came away bloody.
“You mean just as you tried to kill me? You cannot do it from your palace in Wintan-ceastre. If you want to kill the wolf then you have to brave his lair. Your son’s blood is already on my shield. I fear no whelp of yours!” The Saxon horde was now closing with their king. They were less than three hundred paces from us. I swung again at the king. This time he brought his own sword up. It did not stop the blow but it turned the blade. My sword rattled into the side of his head and he fell. I ran to him and raised my sword. I would end his life now and my dead son would be at peace. I sensed, rather than saw the spear which was thrust at me. I swung my shield around but I was too late. The spear head went into the fleshy part of my calf. I brought my sword around and almost severed the head of the Saxon with the spear. The Norns had spun again. Egbert’s men had reached him and were dragging him and his bloodied son to safety.
I heard Haaken One Eye, “Come, Jarl Dragonheart! We have done all that we hoped! Let us return to the ship. You cannot kill him now.”
He was right. I raised my sword and shouted, “Jarl Dragonheart claims this field! King Egbert and his son have been bloodied. Fear us Saxons! Fear the wolf!”
A shield wall appeared before me. I turned and walked back to my waiting men. I saw that the dead and wounded we had suffered were now being carried from the field. We walked backwards towards the beach. A handful of riders who seemed determined to have some glory, mounted horses and rode after us. They had spears and they charged towards our line. It was foolish. There were too few of them and they did not use stiraps. Olaf Leather Neck stepped out to allow himself a good swing as did Rolf Horse Killer. Both swung their axes. Olaf’s smashed into the skull of the first horse and it died instantly. The rider flew over his dying horse’s head. He landed before Beorn the Scout whose sword took his head in one. Rolf’s axe bit through the leg of another Saxon and into his horse. Both fell screaming to the ground where they pumped their life blood away. Two others tried to throw their spears and ended up on the ground where Einar’s men rushed at them and butchered them. The Saxons began to move towards us more slowly using a treble line of spearmen.
Aðils shouted, “Raibeart has turned the drekar.”
That meant we could wade out and the Saxons would not be able to follow. They stood in a line at the top of the sand dunes and waved their shields and spears at us. It was a pathetic gesture. They had ten times our number and yet they dared not attack us. They were just content to have saved the life of their king and his heir. When I looked at the sand I saw the trail of blood I had left. The Saxon had cut me deeply. Aiden’s skill would be needed. As soon as my wound was immersed in the salt water it stung. I slung my shield over my back and sheathed my sword. As I waded out to the drekar I saw the ship’s boys with ropes ready to haul us in. I had set us an almost impossible task and we had very nearly succeeded. My men made sure that I was the first aboard closely followed by the wounded.
I lay on the deck and Guthrum Arneson quickly wrapped a bandage around the wound. “I am no wizard, jarl, but I can staunch the bleeding until the galdramenn can work his magic.”
“Thank you Guthrum.” When he had finished I said, “Help me to my feet.”
“Jarl…”
“I wish the Saxons to see that I am still alive.”
He nodded and raised me up. When I put weight on the leg pain raced through my body. I took out my sword and raised it. My men began banging their shields and chanting, “Dragonheart! Dragonheart! Dragonheart! Dragonheart!”
Raibeart shouted, “Enough, “Get on your oars! This is not over yet.”
As I looked towards Pennsans I said, “It is now, Raibeart. Look!”
My men had fired the town. There was no way that the Saxons could stop us leaving. King Egbert’s attack had cost him every man woman and child from Pennsans. The men would be dead and the rest would be slaves. We did not row hard. The men were tired and there was little point. It would take time for Ragnar to load the two drekar and the Saxon ship.
Haaken looked up from his oar, “I thought you had him then, jarl. Perhaps his god protected him.”
I gestured west, “No Haaken One Eye, that was the work of the Norns. They have some other plot in mind. I will not fear Aethelwulf. He is no warrior. This battle has shown me that we can make Wessex our hunting ground. What need we fear? These are not warriors. They are Christians. They have fine swords but I have yet to meet one who knows how to use it well.”
Haaken shook his head, “You will be going nowhere for a while. I can see the wound from here. You may not be lamed or hamstrung but that will take some time to heal.”
We had too many crew and we needed to take our share of captives and treasure. We tied up next to ‘Odin’s Breath’ . Ragnar came on to my ship to greet me, “Grandfather that was magnificent. They were about to breach the walls when their horn sounded. Is Egbert dead? We saw him fall.”
“Wounded but not, I think dead, at least not yet.”
He suddenly saw my wound, “You are wounded. Aiden!”
“I have been wounded before. We will not make it to the island. We had better use the bay to the north of Tintaieol. It is safe.” I saw him frown. “I know this is your raid and that is just a suggestion but…”
“No, you are right. I just realised that I had not thought of a way home yet. I was still thinking of the victory.”
“Then you still have much to learn.”
Chapter 4
Aiden used the time we were loading the drekar to stitch me back together. He cleaned the wound with vinegar although he was happy with the scouring of the wound by the sea. He packed it with honey to slow down the bleeding and to help with the healing and then he stitched. The pain was slight. The vinegar and the honey seemed to numb it. He had just finished when the order was given to head out to sea. We would have the wind, at least for the first part of the voyage. When we reached Lys Ardh then we would have to row but the beach I had suggested was not too far to the north. What I was more worried about was Syllingar. Were the Norns waiting to trap us again? As we headed north I noticed that Aiden was chanting. Something made me clutch my sword and my three amulets. I closed my eyes. What came into my head was Úlfarr. I found myself back on the mountain ledge. Why had the cub been sent into my life? What was his purpose?
I came out of my reverie when Aiden took out the chest which I had taken from the hut in Pennsans. He looked inside and then said, “The man you slew was Saxon, you said?” I nodded. “And the woman who held the chest?”
I closed my eyes to picture her. “She was not Saxon. She had the look of Bronnen and Ebrel, why?”
“These treasures are not Saxon but from Om Walum.” I went over to look inside the chest. It contained beaten and etched metal. Each piece of bronze had a differen
t creature carved upon it. There were dragons and stags. There were deer and there were wild boars. All of them had a hold in the end. “These were meant to be worn around the neck.” I held out the dragon I had tied around my neck. “They are like this.”
He nodded, “The Saxons wear crosses. Before they became Christian they use to have wooden animals and symbols of fertility. These are from the old people. When we have time, I will ask Raibeart if he knows what they are.” He closed the lid.
I heard Raibeart shout, “Oars!” We had turned around Lys Ardh and the Norns had allowed us to escape. Was that because of their plan or had we used the power of the past to defeat them? Haaken began a song to lift the spirits of the men. They were tired and they had lost comrades but we had won.
From mountain high in the land of snow
Garth the slave began to grow
He changed with Ragnar when they lived alone
Warrior skills did Ragnar hone
The Dragonheart was born of cold
Fighting wolves a warrior bold
The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave
A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave
When Vikings came he held the wall
He feared no foe however tall
Back to back both so brave
A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave
When the battle was done
They stood alone
With their vanquished foes
Lying at their toes
The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave
A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave
The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave
A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave
The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave
A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave
The Dragonheart and Haaken Brave
A Viking warrior and a Saxon slave
It worked. The men rowed with renewed vigour and soon Erik was heading into the tiny deserted beach where we could rest. We could eat and we could sleep. The problem we had was the number of captives. We could not leave them aboard our ships and we had to have them wade ashore. One old woman drowned. The rest were chastened by her death and obeyed my men’s commands. We slaughtered eight sheep and cooked a rough stew to feed us all. By the time we had all had a bowl there was little meat for any of us but it was sustaining.
I sat with Aiden and Haaken. “How is the leg?”
“It hurts, Haaken One Eye what did you expect?”
“That will teach you to try to be a hero.” Haaken spread a hand towards the captives. “What do we do about the captives and the Holy Books?”
“Dorestad is the best market.”
“Will Ragnar go?”
“I doubt it. His wife is with child. Perhaps you Aiden?”
Aiden shook his head, “I have documents to study. Besides I tire of Dorestad.”
“I will go.”
I looked at Haaken, “You?”
“To be honest, jarl, I tire of grandchildren and daughters who talk of baby shit and feeding. I would go for you. It will be an adventure. You have inspired me. When you sought the wolf, you went alone. I will go in your stead. I may not have to use my sword but I will meet people I do not know. I will go.”
Aiden called Raibeart and Gruffyd over. He opened the chest, “The Dragonheart found this n Pennsans. What do you make of it, Raibeart? Do you recognise what they are?”
He took the pieces of metal out one by one. “They are all different. I have never seen them before and yet they seem familiar.” He shook his head, “I am talking nonsense. How can they be familiar if I do not recognise them?”
“It could be the past. You have memories in your heart which come through your blood.” He handed the box to Gruffyd. “Ask Bronnen and Ebrel if they know what they are. I am intrigued. I sense a link with the land of the Wolf but the picture is not clear.”
Gruffyd took the chest but he appeared distracted. Someone was causing him worry and doubt.
We had buried our dead at sea. Ran would take their bodies and wash them back to their homes. As we sat around the fires on the beach we drank the beer we had brought from Pennsans and toasted their memory. I went to sit with Gruffyd. He had been quiet since we had landed and avoided me.
“What is in your mind, my son?”
He put on a false smile. I had seen it when his mother had asked for a comment on something he did not like but feared to offend her. “Nothing.”
I nodded, “That is good. Did you lose men?”
“I lost three and Einar five.”
“Is that what concerns you? Or is it something to do with the priory?”
His face betrayed him. That was it. “I saw the Saxon king. He was behind five of his warriors. I could have slain him but I turned and I ran. Am I a coward?” I opened my mouth to speak and he snapped, “And do not say that you would have done the same for I know that you would not. You almost killed him and yet you had to fight through his whole army. I had but a handful of hearth weru before me and I did not strike.”
“You would have been killed had you tried. The hearth weru would have stopped you. I succeeded because I did not rush in. We attacked knowing what we were doing. We did not go to kill Egbert, although we almost succeeded. We went to make the Saxon army turn. That was my intention. I sought to extract our drekar while losing as few men as possible. The gods gave me the chance to kill him and then he was saved. I cannot explain it.”
“Then I am not a coward?”
“No, you are not. This raid has been good for both of us. You have led and I have seen that you can lead well. Your men will now have mail and you can find others to replace the ones you lost. You have gold to share and you can choose how you spend it. Some will be to make life for Ebrel, and your unborn child, easier. Some will make your home stronger and some will buy you warriors to fight alongside you.”
He looked relieved, “Thank you, father.” He nodded over to Ragnar, “And I have seen that Ragnar is the one to lead the clan. When we stood on the walls he was calm and he made the right choices. Burning the walls gave us time to escape. I will follow him. You made the right decision.”
“I know but it takes a man to admit that. You are growing, my son.”
I wandered over to Ragnar. He and the other jarls were talking with Aiden. “We have just been speaking with some of the prisoners. I know why there was so much treasure on the island. King Egbert had just visited there. He is visiting the main churches throughout his land. He is giving money to them to ensure that they support Aethelwulf and ensure that he becomes the next King of Wessex.”
My mind was still distracted by my conversation with Gruffyd, “Aethelwulf?”
“Aye, Jarl Dragonheart, when Egbert dies then Aethelwulf will be the next king.”
“Is the king ill?”
“According to the priests he is hale and hearty,” Ragnar laughed, “although you have put that condition in question!”
“Then that explains why his army was so close.”
Aiden nodded, “They were heading back to Wintan-Ceastre. They had stayed in Om Walum scouring it of Danes who had survived the battle. It was the Weird Sisters, jarl. And I have read some of the documents. The king has had written down that the churches will support Aethelwulf. If he has written it down then you know the reason.”
Erik Ironshirt asked, “What does the writing down tell us?”
I had an insight into this would-be King of Wessex. “That there are those who would not support Aethelwulf as king and that Aethelwulf is no warrior. If he was a warrior then he would take the throne for himself. I saw that he was no warrior. He could not even defend his father.”
Ragnar stroked his beard, “I spoke with some of the captives before we left Pennsans. They fear Aethelwulf. Some said that many of those who had opposed him had disappeared. He uses gold to get what he wants.”
“That explains the gift of gold to the monastery. You say his opponents and rivals disappeared?”
“When he wa
s nowhere near them. I think he hires killers.”
“His father did that too.”
“Like father like son. He may not be a threat across a battlefield but he will use others to do his work. I am just pleased that there are so many leagues between us. I do not mind facing a man in battle but I hate looking over my shoulder for a knife in the night.” He seemed to have a sudden thought, “Perhaps he wanted you to kill his father. He could have used you as a killer. That way he would get the throne sooner.
I had not thought of that but it did not seem likely. “The point is, Ragnar, that we can now raid and raid freely in the land of Wessex.” I took my dagger and drew a map in the sand. I pointed as I spoke, “This is the land of Wessex from Om Walum in the west to Cent and Essex in the east. We can strike anywhere we choose. If King Egbert is travelling his land bribing priests then the churches will have even more gold and silver in them. We spend the winter preparing for a year of raids. When your children are all born and you have seen the future then the raids can begin.”
Ragnar nodded, “Some of the captives said that Egbert has disposed of the kings of Essex and Cent. He has Eorledmen who rule the kingdoms for him. That is another reason for the bribes. He fears that when he dies one or other will claim the thrones of Essex and Cent. Mercia pays homage to Egbert and, now, Aethelwulf. They are as weak as they will ever be. We need to curtail Aethelwulf’s power before he becomes strong.”
We make plans and they are good ones. We try to shape the future to make a better world and then the gods and the Norns fight amongst themselves and the future changes. So it was with us. There was great joy when we returned for we had lost few men and brought back great treasure. When my warriors had taken the slaves they wanted, the women and children were taken to Dyflin to be sold. Haaken went to Dorestad with the priests and the holy books. The world seemed well.
