by Griff Hosker
I saw Scanlan’s wife, Maewe, and she fell at my feet weeping. “My lord you are here; thank the Allfather.”
I lifted her up. “My son, Eurwen, my wife?”
She turned and lifted a blanket beneath which were my son, my half sister and Scanlan’s children. I looked around the room where other warriors were greeting their wives and sisters. Maewe shook her head. “Tadgh came in the night and took your wife. She fought him but they tied her. I promised to watch over the children.”
Blackness came over me. I wanted to slaughter every man woman and child in that Hibernian town. I think Haaken recognised the signs for he came and took my sword from me. “This is no time for revenge.”
I turned to him and spat out, “But Erica!”
“I heard and we will follow him. What you need, my brother, is to use your mind as Ragnar taught you. We need to discover where they have gone.”
I suddenly wished that we had not killed all the men. Would the women know where he had gone? There was one woman with a torc around her neck in clothes which were better than the others. I turned to Maewe, “Watch my children and go with the other captives. Haaken, come with me.”
Two of the ships would still be where we left them but mine would be approaching the village with a smaller crew and, more importantly, Seara who could question this woman for us. I grabbed the woman with the torc. Her eyes flashed angrily and she tried to rake my face with her nails. I still had my helmet on and she merely hurt herself.
“Now then, none of that!” Haaken grabbed her hands and her shoulders slumped in resignation.
I took off my helmet. I saw Prince Butar approaching. Lifting her chin so that she had to look at me, I asked, “Where is Tadgh? Where has he gone?”
She looked at me dumbly; she had not understood a word.
Prince Butar asked, “Where is Erica? I have seen Maewe with the children.”
“Tadgh took her. We came too late.” I could not keep the bitterness out of my voice. He had been close enough for me to kill and now he and my wife were lost to me.
“We will find her. Who is this?”
I roughly ripped the torc from her neck the edge drew blood. “By this token I take her to be the wife of the chief. I will ask Seara to find out where they have gone.” I saw a piece of rope on the floor. It had been used to tie the slaves to the walls. I tied it around her hands and then put a loop around her neck. “I will see if the ship is here yet.”
I yanked on the rope and she fell to her knees. Haaken helped her to rise, “Dragon Heart, calm your anger. You need this woman to answer your questions. She is not Tadgh.”
“No, but she and her people sheltered him. That makes them all guilty.” Then I realised he was right. I took a deep breath, “But you are right to chastise me. I will be calmer. Come, woman.”
I gave a half smile and she began to walk. Haaken was always the voice of reason. The captives were all at the side of the shore with six or seven of Prince Butar’s warriors. When they saw the chief’s wife they began to spit at her and throw stones. I let them do it for a few moments, it would not hurt to let her know how perilous her position was and then I shouted, “Enough!” and they all stopped. She gratefully sidled closer to me. I did not think I would have any trouble from her.
I went over to Maewe. She had rocked my son to sleep. I nodded my thanks. Eurwen clung to Maewe’s dress. I knelt down and picked her up. “Do not worry little sister. Your father will be here soon and you will be safe again.”
“Where is mama?”
I hugged her tighter. She did not know our mother was dead and I could not tell her. I was a coward; I would let Butar tell her. “Stay close to Maewe and we will sail back to our home.”
Haaken had brought the double handed sword with him. It was almost as tall as a normal warrior. He handed it to me, “Here, you earned it you mad berserker!”
I shook my head, “I was no berserker I knew precisely what I was doing.”
“You could have fooled me. Have you seen your shield?”
I hadn’t. I swung it around from my back and saw that the sword had gouged through the leather, ripped out many of the nails and had scored the wood beneath, Haaken was right. I had come closer to death than I had thought. I would have to repair my shield before I could use it in combat again. The trouble was I needed to pursue Tadgh as soon as possible. I looked at the sword which lay embedded in the sand, “What will I do with such a weapon?”
“Sell it? Trade it?”
“Who would want such an unwieldy weapon?”
He nodded at the chief’s wife, “The Hibernians. It would make a good bargaining tool.”
Haaken was correct and I was glad that I listened to him. It proved crucial in the next weeks.
It seemed to take an age for ‘Wolf’ to reach us. I felt guilty when the exhausted crew stepped ashore but I quickly forgot that as I grabbed Seara and led her to my captive. “Ask her where Tadgh has gone.”
She nodded and then began to speak. The chief’s wife shook her head. I had had enough of this and I drew my seax. I held it to her eye. She screamed and then fell to her knees and began to jabber. After she had finished I said to Seara, “Well?”
“They have sailed to Tara and the court of Áed Oirdnide; he is the high king.”
My heart sank. That would be the most defended place in the whole of Hibernia. My wife was lost.
Chapter 4
By the time Prince Butar had returned I had my men aboard my ship along with Maewe, Seara and a few more captives. I had the men preparing the ship for sea. I would catch them. ‘Wolf’ was the fastest ship afloat; she would catch them. My step father looked at me curiously, “Where are you going my son?”
“We have to get to Tara; Tadgh has gone there.”
“And you would risk my daughter and your son by taking them there?”
I had not thought this through. “But they are escaping. Each moment takes them further away from us.”
“And where is Tara?”
I looked around as though I might find the answer on someone’s face. I looked in desperation at Seara. “Ask her where is Tara?”
Seara asked and the chief’s wife shook her head. I drew my seax again but Seara held her hand out. “She does not know my lord! Her husband visited but not her. Please believe me!”
I knew how much Seara hated her former oppressor. The woman was telling the truth. Prince Butar put his arm around me. “Take some men back to our ships so that they can row around the headland and bring our ships here. Then we will sail back to our island. We will get your wife back but it may take longer than you think. She is alive and Tadgh will not hurt her.” I was not convinced. He added, heavily, “You have your son. Would you throw away his life too?” I shook my head and resigned myself to a further delay before I could sail after Erica.
It seemed to take forever to reach the other ships and land enough men to sail them back to the Hibernian’s home. As we sailed back I saw the flames licking the huts and the palisade of the Hibernian settlement. It was a warning to others that we were not to be crossed. We left the warriors lying where they fell. They had no honour and they deserved no respect. The crows and the foxes would destroy them.
We left for Duboglassio while the other two ships were loading the plunder, both human and animal. I let Haaken steer while I spoke with Maewe. “How is Erica?”
“She is strong my lord. She knows that you will come for her.”
There was an unspoken question in my mouth but I could not bring myself to ask it. Instead I asked how Eurwen and my son had coped with captivity. She spoke slowly and patiently. I could see she was afraid of upsetting me. All the time Seara was rocking my son who had fallen asleep. Eventually I was satisfied. I had all my questions answered but one. My son and my step sister had not been harmed and Erica believed in me still. I turned to Aiden. He had not said a word which was not surprising as we were all speaking a foreign language.
“Seara, ask Aiden about h
is father. Is he an honourable man?”
She asked the question and Aiden just shrugged. The concept was not one with which he was familiar. “Then ask him if he is a warrior. Has he a sword like mine?”
This time Aiden smiled and began to gabble. Seara nodded, “His father has a sword, a shield and helmet but none are as fine as yours.” She hesitated, “He would like to touch the hilt and see the blade.”
I saw no harm in that. The boy had not shown any attempt at escape and he had been docile and cooperative throughout. His interest was understandable. I drew the sword and held the hilt towards him. He touched it and shivered. He stared in wonder at the shining blade. I took it and sheathed it.
“Can I ask you, my lord, why did you ask the boy those questions?”
“I need to find Tara and the only way for me to do so is to get his father or someone from the village to show me. He may want that.” I pointed to the two handed sword lying on the deck.
She still rocked the boy in her arms. “Then you will still need me to speak your words for you.”
I had not thought that far ahead but she was correct. “I would. Are you willing to return to the village with me?”
“Aye my lord but I would beg a boon from you.”
I wondered what she meant and I was wary of a trick. “If I can then I will.”
She sighed, “The Hibernians hurt me when I was with them. I cannot have children. I would, if you would allow me, nurse your son. Perhaps when you have his mother returned to you I could work in your hall.”
Her eyes pleaded with me and I could see how tenderly she held young Arturus. I could see no harm in it and if it brought Erica to me a little quicker then perhaps it was ordained. Certainly I could see the weird sisters’ hands in this.
“I think that would be a good idea. You must learn to speak our language though. My wife does not speak Saxon” I nodded to Maewe. “Maewe can teach you.” Maewe had been listening and she nodded. Her smile showed me that they would get on. Now I just needed to prepare to find my wife.
Olaf had had men watching from the hill top and he was waiting for me when we reached Duboglassio. He smiled when he saw the two children. Scanlan, too, was waiting and Maewe and his children rushed to his arms. He frowned when he saw there were no others.
“Where are Butar and Eric?” Olaf came directly to the point. He was a blunt man.
“They are following with the other captives.”
He smiled, “And Erica is with them?”
“No, old friend, Tadgh has taken her to Tara. She has been taken to the High King. My search for my wife must continue.”
He put an arm around my shoulder. I noticed then how stooped and old he was. His voice was sad as he said, “Ragnar will watch over her and you will find her.”
“I hope so. I think that Prince Butar will want to begin rebuilding Hrams-a soon.”
“I am not so sure, Dragon Heart. This is an easier place to defend and a better harbour.” He pointed to the small hill above the beach. “We could build a good warrior hall there with a stout wooden palisade.”
“I cannot think of such things as yet. Is there somewhere for my family?”
He pointed to a hut. “Scanlan has made that for you. It is sturdy and will suffice until we know the Butar’s mind.”
When we reached the hut I had Scanlan help me off with my byrnie. “I am going down to the sea to bathe. This Hibernian blood is beginning to clog my nostrils. I need to cleanse myself.”
Just as I was leaving, Haaken arrived with the Hibernian sword. “If you are going to use this then it had better be cleaned.”
I took it from him and handed it to Scanlan. “Seara will come with us when we return the boy. I will see if it buys us favour.” He nodded, “Scanlan, clean the sword and watch the captive. He has behaved so far but we will need to watch him. Seara can speak his language.”
I reached the sea and took off my tunic. I waded out. The water chilled me and I lay down so that I was completely immersed. It was true; I needed to wash away the blood and the smell of death but I also found the sea water and the waves soothing. I had grown up next to an estuary and each morning I had had to wade out to remove fish from the nets. This was something similar. The water chilled you and then made you sleepy. I closed my eyes and saw, once more, my mother. This time she was on the river beach when I was a child and she was calling me. When I heard her voice in my head then I knew that I was not alone. Ragnar was there, as he always was, but now he had been joined by my mother.
Then the voice changed and this time it was Haaken. I opened my eyes and saw him on the sand shaking his head and laughing. “What in the name of the Allfather are you doing?”
“I find it soothes me.”
“Well get out and get dried. The other two ships are approaching.”
I needed no further urging and I dried myself on my tunic and hurried back to the harbour. I saw the two drekar as they edged their way to their moorings. The whole of Duboglassio had turned out to greet the returned captives. As was his custom, Prince Butar stepped ashore first to be greeted by cheers. This time there was no speech for we were not yet successful. When Eric landed, the three of us headed, with Sweyn and Olaf, for Eric’s Hall.
We sat around the table and a slave brought us ale. It was for refreshment and not for toasting. I was keen and eager to begin the plans for Erica’s rescue but it was not my place to initiate the discussion. Prince Butar still ruled.
“It is good that we have recovered most of the captives but it grieves me that Erica is still a prisoner and Tadgh remains at large. How do you propose that we secure her release?”
Although the question was asked of the whole table it was aimed at me. I took a deep breath. “I would take Seara and the hostage back to their village. I will ask the headman for a guide to take me to Tara.”
Eric laughed, “And you think he will?”
“He might for the chief’s sword I captured. His son says that his sword is a plain one. Now that we have destroyed that village it struck me that his village might be the next most important.” I shrugged, “If that fails then I will think of something else.”
They all nodded. Prince Butar said, “That is a sound strategy.” He looked around the table again. “And who shall go with Dragon Heart?”
I saw that Eric looked uncomfortable and shuffled in his seat. There was silence around the table. I would not make anyone join me unwillingly. “It is my wife and I will take the Ulfheonar for they are sworn to rescue her.”
Eric looked embarrassed, “I would go but I am afraid to leave my family unprotected again.”
Olaf snorted, “I thought that she was your sister; is she not family?”
Eric coloured and his hand went to his sword. Prince Butar’s voice roared, “No one touches a sword in my presence.” Eric nodded and put his hands on the table again, “And, Olaf, you are an old comrade but do not presume too much.” He looked at me. “I, too, think that I should stay here. We need to make this stronghold even stronger.”
“I understand, Prince Butar, and I do not blame anyone who does not wish to journey with me. We will be going into the unknown and we do not know what kind of reception we will get.”
Olaf drank his ale and said, “I will be your steersman Dragon Heart. I have one more adventure left in me.” He flashed an angry look in the direction of Prince Butar and Eric. “And I still believe in honour.”
Prince Butar’s voice growled, “Olaf!”
“So a man may not speak his mind here? I thought that was why we left Harald One-Eye’s town? Or was I wrong?”
I had to smile, Olaf was the only one who could stand up to Prince Butar and get away with it. Butar smiled, “You are right, old friend. Put it down to the fact that I feel guilty about this. Perhaps a smaller band might succeed. I promise you this, Dragon Heart, I will watch over your family until you return.”
“I know. We sail on the morning tide!”
I had little to do as we se
t sail from Duboglassio. Olaf steered and I stood with Seara and Aiden watching the land recede. He was a strange child. He had never cried or shown any distress since being held hostage by us. He seemed curious and interested in all that surrounded him. Strange as it might seem I would be sad to be returning him to his family. My son, Arturus, was little more than a baby compared with Aiden.
We sailed directly to the village. I knew that they would be wary. ‘Wolf’s’ sails would seen from some distance. As I had expected the gates were barred and the palisade had armed men on its fighting platform. I took only Seara, Aiden and Haaken who carried, hidden by a sheepskin, the two handed sword. We stood beyond bow range and waited. Eventually Aiden’s father and five other warriors emerged. I almost laughed when I saw the poor quality of their arms. The way that they strode towards us you would have thought that they were encased in mail with mighty weapons.
I had told Seara what to say and she began without preamble. “As the lord promised you your son is returned to you unharmed.” She looked down at Aiden, “You can return to your father now.” He reluctantly let go of Seara’s hand and then smiled at me and gave a slight bow before he trudged towards his father. They were about to turn and re-enter their village when Seara continued. “The lord would like one of your men to come with us and show us where Tara is. We would speak with the High King.”
He turned, laughed and then said something. Seara nodded and translated, “He says it might be worth taking you there to watch you die but neither he nor his warriors have the time to spare.”
As they turned again I said to Haaken, “The sword.”
As soon as Haaken unwrapped the sword from its protective sheepskin the warriors crowded round and excitement filled their faces. They began to jabber amongst themselves. Seara smiled and translated, “It is the high sword of the tribe. It is only wielded by the chief.” She paused and listened, “They are saying that Murchad should take it and then he will be chief of the tribe.”
“Who is Murchad?”
“He is Aiden’s father.”
Murchad went to touch the sword and I put my foot on it. “When I have a guide and I have reached Tara then the sword will be his.”
