by Griff Hosker
Push your arms
Row the boat
Use your back
The Wolf will fly
Ragnar’s Spirit
Guides us still
Dragon Heart
Wields it well
Push your arms
Row the boat
Use your back
The Wolf will fly
And so it went on. The rhythm could be changed by the addition or subtraction of a word. The men rowed better when we sang.
I looked astern and saw a glimmer of hope. The first ship was moving away from the other two which were less well sailed. If this continued then I would get Cnut to increase the speed of our rowing and try to lose them. It was easier to lose one ship than three. The jagged rocks of the land to the west would need care and caution; not speed. I had been pleased to see the daylight all those hours ago but now I prayed for the dark to consume us.
“Rocks ahead!” Eric’s shrill voice carried aft as he pointed to the south, the left of the boat. The land was to the right. I had a dilemma. I did not know if the rocks extended all the way to the land. The Saxons behind me might know that. I glanced astern and saw that they had not deviated from their course. They followed our wake still. I closed my eyes and listened for the voices. I heard the sound of the sea. It seemed to say ‘yes.’
I grinned at Snorri. “Let us see if Ran is with us. We will sail between the rocks and the land.”
The gap we were aiming for was about four hundred paces wide. I put the ship so that we would be the same distance from both dangers; the rocks and the shore. When I looked behind me I saw that the lead ship had followed us but the other two had headed out to sea to avoid the rocks. They would catch us on the other side of the danger. If I was wrong then the bottom would be ripped out of my ship and we would all drown.
Eric’s voice sent a chill down my spine, “Breakers ahead!” That could mean rocks or shallows. Both spelled danger to us. I saw Tostig suddenly pitch from his bench as his oar caught something and shattered. I felt a shudder under the keel and we began to move off course. I made a small correction on the tiller and waited from the grinding noise which would signify our end. There was nothing. Tostig quickly withdrew the broken oar and grabbed one of the three spares we carried. It seemed an age before he got the oar back into the sea. The delay allowed the Saxon to close with us and I could now see that there were twenty oars on each side. They would outnumber us if it came to a fight.
Snorri pointed down and said, “Look Dragon Heart.”
I peered over the side and saw the rocks below the surface. Our keel had barely passed over the tops of them safely. It was with some relief that I felt the extra surge as Tostig rowed once again and we moved away a little from the Saxon astern of us.
“Cnut, up the rate.” His face showed that he doubted my sanity but he did so. He dropped a word a line. Within a few strokes we had leapt forwards. I looked at the Saxon ship. It too tried to keep up. In his hurry to catch us the captain had not kept a good watch and it was though someone had grabbed hold of his stern. The ship stopped and then suddenly began to lean to one side. He had struck the rocks as we had. The difference was he was a deeper, larger ship. The mast leaned alarmingly and then, with a crack, it snapped into the sea. The boat began to sink and the men leapt from her decks to the water below. Some would make it ashore but many would drown. We had been fortunate.
“You can slow the rate again Cnut we have lost one of them.”
The crew cheered and Haaken said, wryly, “Try not to use up all your luck all at once, Dragon Heart. I would like to see my unborn children, however briefly.”
I glanced to the left where the two other ships now had a dilemma. They could either try to catch us or sail to the rescue of their comrades. I think that it was the distance we had put between us which decided them to help their friends and give up the chase.
“Well done Ulfheonar! We showed them.”
As we began rowing again Tostig shouted, “We are leaking. There is a hole!”
I could see that he was right. Water was sloshing around the rower’s feet. We had no choice in the matter. We had to head in to shore. Luckily for us the sky was darkening and we would be hidden from the Saxons who were already disappearing east to help their comrades.
“Snorri, Eric, lower the sail.”
With the sail lowered we would slow down and that would minimise the amount of water we would ship. This coast was a mystery to me. I knew that Saxons lived here but also that, further west, were people who had lived in this land since before the Romans had come. We would need to tread very carefully.
I grabbed my shield and my sword. As ‘Wolf’ gently slid on to the sand I ran forwards and leapt ashore. “Snorri and Eric secure the boat.”
I left my crew to the ship while I raced along the beach. We had had little opportunity to select our landing site but we had done well. There was a low cliff which hid us from view and I could see a path leading inland. I made sure that there was no one around and then returned to the men.
Cnut was lying half in the water and half out. He spluttered as he lifted his head from the water. “We have sprung a couple of planks. What we could do with is some of that seal oil we just traded.”
Haaken shook his head, “Which we haven’t got. Wish for a workshop while you are at it!”
I could sense the tension. “Be silent! Bickering will get us nowhere. Do not bring me problems. How can we solve this dilemma?”
Oleg was a miserable warrior and one of the older Ulfheonar but he had sailed before. “If we had a spare sail then we could wrap it around the hull and tie it tightly. It would hold the water out. We wouldn’t be able to sail as fast but it might work.”
“That’s better. So we need another sail. We haven’t got one I suppose?”
Haaken laughed, “That would be real luck, Dragon Heart.”
“Then I will take some men to get a sail while the rest of you guard the boat and try to repair the sprung planks.”
“How?”
“We have candles. Melt the candles and used them. Even with Oleg’s sail we will still need all the help we can get.” They all nodded. “Haaken, Cnut, Snorri, come with me.”
Oleg said, “Snorri? Why not take a warrior?”
“Because we may need someone who can appear harmless yet who can sneak into places. We are in Saxon land. Every hand will be turned against us.”
Rollo gave his cloak to Snorri, “You damage that and you have to kill me a wolf to replace it.”
From the look on Snorri’s face he relished the prospect of killing a wolf so that he could join the Ulfheonar.
“Take the chests with the cargo out. It will help you to empty the water and stop the leaks.”
We headed up the path. I saw, once we crested the cliff, lights in the distance and the smell of wood smoke. There was life close by. I led the way with Snorri and his sharp ears bringing up the rear. I soon saw that it was a collection of small buildings with a low palisade around it. I was disappointed. I had hoped for fishermen but this was too far from the sea. Fisherman might have a sail. I was about to avoid it when a voice inside my head told me to investigate. The one thing we didn’t have was time. If we were not afloat by dawn then our bones would whiten on the sand. If I could not find a sail then I would have to find something else.
I waved my arm to spread the other three out on either side of me and I crouched as I ran. It was dark and our cloaks hid us from any prying eyes but it paid to be careful. I saw that there was a cross on the top of one of the small buildings. This was a church of the White Christ. I felt even more disappointed. There would be no sail here. Yet the voice still told me to advance. I heard voices from one of the huts and I halted to listen. It was the sound of a man and woman coupling. I saw Snorri begin to giggle and I flashed him a warning look. He ceased.
We moved towards the building which was the church. It was a wooden building but more substantial than the huts which surroun
ded it. I gestured for Cnut and Snorri to stand guard while we went inside. It was dark and I tripped on something as I entered. It did not seem to make much of a sound but we paused anyway. We needed light. I knew that the priests of the White Christ had a table at the end furthest from the door and they used candles to light it. We made our way cautiously through the church. As I had expected I felt candles and tapers lying on a table at the side. I took out my flint and eventually sparked a flame on the taper. I lit the candle and the church was suddenly bathed in a soft yellow light. There was the usual cross but, behind the table, was a large curtain depicting some scene to do with the White Christ. It provided an area of privacy behind the table but, more importantly, it was like a small sail.
Haaken realised its importance and we began to take it down, quietly. Once down, we folded it to make it easier to carry. It was when we had folded it that we saw the candlesticks and the platter which had been behind the curtain. They were metal; we could not tell the type but the jewels on them suggested they had value. We stuffed them in our belts and cloaks. The curtain was heavy and took two of us to carry it. I think that was the reason why we did not see the priest emerge from the cell to the side. He held, in his hand, a staff with a metal cross upon it. He swung it hard and shouted something. The end struck Haaken on the side of the head and he fell to the floor. I just reacted. Dropping the curtain I whipped out my sword and stabbed him before he could strike again.
Cnut came in. “Quickly, get Snorri to help Haaken and then grab this sheet.”
He ducked his head outside as Haaken rose, groggily. He saw the dead priest. “I thought they were supposed to dislike killing!”
I shrugged, “Perhaps that does not apply when we are stealing from them. Grab that staff, it might come in handy.”
Cnut and Snorri appeared and we picked up the curtain and moved outside. The noise had alerted the others in the settlement. Even though we were struggling to carry the curtain we held our swords in our hands, Haaken handed the staff to Snorri and then drew his sword.
As we passed the hut where the couple had lain they both ran out. The man had a sword and he swung ineffectually at Cnut who skewered him. I pointed my sword at the woman and said, in Saxon, “Go back inside and you live!”
She nodded and acquiesced. Two other men ran out of their huts but when they saw, in the moonlight, our weapons they fled. “That’s it then, the locals will be after us soon.”
“Back to the ship.”
Our journey back was, perforce, slower and I was acutely aware that the survivors would have raced to get help. As we descended the cliff path I tried to remember if we had passed any coastal settlements when we had sailed west and I could not recall seeing any. Those three Saxon ships had to have a port somewhere. ‘Wolf’ was half out of the water when we reached the beach.
I shouted to alert the men. “There could be trouble. The Saxons know we are here. We have to work quickly. Have you managed to do anything with the keel?”
Harold nodded, “We have used the oil and the wax. I am glad you have,” he looked at the curtain as Cnut and Oleg unfolded it, “whatever that is.”
“Get it secured around the keel and tightened.” I turned and pointed at the nearest ten warriors. “Come, we need to strip and pull ‘Wolf’ from the beach. Saxons will be here soon. Snorri, help me off with my byrnie.”
Snorri pulled the mail shirt from me and I handed him my wolf cloak and helmet. “Put these and the objects we gathered in the hold. Haaken and Cnut, keep your eyes peeled for any Saxons.” I saw that my warriors had stripped to the waist as I had and I waved them forwards. “Grab a rope and throw it to Eric.” Eric stood at the stern and waited for each warrior to throw his rope. I was the last one. “Harold, let me know when the seal is secured.”
I saw that they had succeeded in drawing the curtain beneath the bows. They had used the waves to do so. As each wave had lifted the bows a little they had pulled the curtain a little further towards the middle. I saw that Harold was tying the material as tightly as he could through the holes for the oars.
Suddenly Haaken shouted, “Saxons!” I could just make out a dark line of warriors descending the slope. Those warriors not with me and not tying the ropes ran to join Cnut and Haaken. There were just four of them.
“Harold we are going to have to launch the ship or we will die.” He waved and I shouted. “Ulfheonar, pull!” We heaved with all of our might and nothing seemed to happen. I waited until another wave struck us and then I shouted, “Pull!” At first I thought we had not moved it but then it felt easier. We pulled again and again. ‘Wolf’ was almost afloat. “Pull!”
I heard Harold shout, “Secured!”
“Get the sail hoisted and the others on board. Right boys, one more pull and then we go back aboard.” We pulled so hard that some of us fell into the sea. I sprang up, spluttering salty water but ‘Wolf’ was, at last, moving without our help. We began to wade back through the sea. To my horror I saw that there were warriors lying on the beach and they were Ulfheonar.
“Harold, take command. The rest of you get aboard.” I drew the seax from my leggings and forced my tired legs against the current. I could see that Haaken and Cnut were fighting seven Saxons. They were defending the bodies of two Ulfheonar who had fallen. As the pressure of the water lessened I raised my seax and screamed, “Ulfheonar!” I saw the sword of one of my dead men lying on the sand and I picked it up.
The Saxons I struck had their right sides to me and there were no shields. My blade sliced through the first one and severed his body in two. I reversed the swing and sliced down to decapitate the second warrior. The other Saxons turned to face me. I yelled to Haaken. “Get them on board!” I did not wait for a reply but hacked aside the blade that sliced towards me with my seax and stabbed its owner in the throat. A spear came at me and raked across my middle. I grabbed the ash shaft and pulled the warrior onto my sword. I reversed the spear and threw it towards another warrior who ducked out of the way.
“Dragon Heart, down!”
I trusted my companions and I dropped to my knees. The air filled with arrows and the remaining warriors cowered behind shields. “Run!”
I turned and ran towards ‘Wolf’. It was thirty paces from the beach. I sheathed the borrowed sword and dived into the water. I began to swim. The weight of the sword threatened to drag me down. I was relieved when the rope snaked towards me and I was dragged to safety.
Cnut and Haaken threw my wolf cloak about my shivering shoulders. “That was foolish, brave and honourable, but foolish.”
I pointed at the bodies of the two men they had fought to save. “And this was intelligent?”
“We could not let their bodies and weapons be despoiled. And the Ulfheonar leave no man behind. It is not our way, is it Dragon Heart?”
I nodded. I could understand that. We had lost two Ulfheonar and two others were wounded but we had defied the Weird Sisters and survived. “Let us go home.” They nodded their agreement and, as they took their places at the benches I walked to the stern. “How is your repair holding?”
Harold handed the tiller to me, “We will only know that once we turn north. If we manage to do that then the repair has worked and if not then we will all be joining Sweyn Three Fingers and Gotfried.”
Snorri and Eric brought around some ale and dried meat. I was not hungry but knew that I needed to eat. We still had a long way to go. We had been lucky I knew that. The voices in my head had made me go into the church and we had been rewarded. I determined to listen to the voices more closely the next time they spoke with me.
The rocks around the savage tip of land we had to pass before turning north were wild and stormy. Had our ship been whole we would have sailed further out to sea but we did not have that luxury; we needed to get home as fast as possible. Even Snorri and Eric grabbed one of the spare oars as we fought the sea and the wind. At times we appeared so close to the rocks I thought that we would rip the bottom out of her again. Either Ra
n was with us or I was a more skilful steersman. We survived. As dawn broke I saw that we were finally heading north; we had completed the worst part of the journey. We just needed Harold’s repair to hold for another day or two. The waves were now smaller but, more importantly, were not striking us in the bows where the hole was. We were shipping less water.
Harold grinned up at me, his beard rimed with salt. “I think the White Christ might like us. His shroud appears to keep out the water!”
That made all the men laugh. We knew that the Saxons were largely followers of the White Christ. We felt that weakened a warrior but we knew that their priests feared and hated us as the wolves of the sea. They might show charity to many but any Norse or Dane suffered a cruel and painful death. We had heard of one who was thrown into a wolf pit and another who suffered a snake pit. That was not the way for a warrior to die. It was ironic to think that a relic from a church of theirs had saved us.
Chapter 10
All of us thanked the gods for our safe return as we edged the wounded and sluggish ‘Wolf’ into the harbour. The last half a day had seen us become slower and slower as water gradually entered the hull. The curtain had done its job but we had barely made it safely home. The ports for the oars were only just above the water. I could see the concern of those on the harbour as we threw them the mooring ropes.
Egill and the others we had left guarding our families trooped down to inspect the ship. He looked at the water sloshing around the ankles of the rowers. “It looks like there is a tale to tell here.”
“We were pursued by three Saxon ships and Dragon Heart thought that we could fly across rocks.” Cnut laughed at his own joke, “He nearly succeeded.”
We quickly removed the benches and then the deck so that we could reach the cargo. Luckily we had chests in the bottom of the hull otherwise much of our trade goods would have been ruined. Once the chests came ashore the boat rose a little in the water. Harold stroked his beard. “We will have to put her on the beach to work on her. I will get some men to take down the mast and we will drag her yonder.”
