by Griff Hosker
Haaken waved the signal to halt us. We lay down like a flock of sheep in a field and we were as still as rocks. Haaken and Egill, who were closest, edged their way forwards and disappeared from view. We waited patiently. Eventually they returned and made their way down to the rest of us.
Haaken grinned, “They have an old hill fort.” I wondered why he looked so happy. We knew from the Hibernian experience that hill forts came with their own problems. “They have not occupied it but built their settlement lower down the hill, closer to the river. There is a palisade. It is as high as young Snorri.”
That told us all we needed to know. “Egill, return to Prince Butar and tell him what you have found. Cnut, stay here with half of the men. Haaken, bring the rest with me. We will go around the other side of the village.” This was a tactic we had developed. When we attacked then the tendency would be to flee. We prevented too many escaping.
We dropped down the valley and made our way through the undergrowth to remain out of sight. We used the cover of the many trees and bushes which littered the valley side. We had learned that having a small group such as ours beyond the walls captured those who fled. Usually they were fleeing with the most valuable objects that they possessed. I only had ten warriors with me but we would be more than a match for any fleeing Saxons.
Haaken moved his arm left signifying that we had travelled far enough east and we began to climb the hill. Without being told, we all swung our shields around and unsheathed our swords. We had all experienced surprise before and we wished to avoid having to react quickly. That was how good warriors suffered avoidable wounds. We had lost fewer men than might have been expected because we always prepared for the worst.
The wind was blowing from the west and we could smell the wood smoke from the village. We moved slowly through the undergrowth trying to avoid making a disturbance. We could hear the bleating of the goats and the sounds of chickens and ducks noisily scratching food. The sound that was absent was the sound of children and that was worrying.
When we were level with the village I left most of the men there and took Haaken higher up so that we could peer down into the settlement. I could see now that the people were all gathered around the centre of the enclosed village. The huts radiated out from a central cross. This was a village of the White Christ.
Haaken looked puzzled, “Why are they gathered?”
“I think this is their holy day; this is the day of the White Christ. See how they are all kneeling and facing the man with the brown tunic and hood. See how he has a golden cross of their god.”
Haaken shook his head. “These truly are sheep to be fleeced. Where are their warriors? Where are their sentries?”
I pointed to the open gate where two armed me faced, not outwards as they should, but inwards, watching the ceremony. “The gods smile on us today. Let us rejoin the others. We can close with the walls. There is no-one watching.”
As we moved our warriors closer we explained what lay ahead. The wind would take our voices away from the people listening to the priest. Our task was now to wait until we heard the shouts of panic as Prince Butar fell amongst the helpless Saxons. We reached the wooden wall. As Haaken had said it was little bigger than Snorri and would only serve to keep the sheep in at night. As a defence it was useless. I risked a glance over the top and saw that the backs of the people were still to me. I could see the priest’s head was bowed. As he raised it I could see his eyes open as he spied us but before he could say anything a spear suddenly erupted from his chest and he fell dead with a surprised look on his face.
“Over the wall!”
We scaled the wall easily and then raced towards the people, many of whom were still kneeling. They were mainly facing the warriors who followed my stepfather. Prince Butar himself led them through the gate. His sword took out one of the guards while Sweyn killed the other. The villagers leapt to their feet and raced away from the wall of warriors who hurtled towards them. We had the luxury of not having to kill indiscriminately for fear of being killed. These people were not armed. A couple of men ran to their huts for weapons. The rest ran towards us. They were so intent on escaping that they did not look up until it was too late. They saw this line of ten mailed and hooded warriors and fell to their knees sobbing for mercy. One of the men who had sought a weapon feebly swung it at Egill who casually decapitated him. That was the end of their resistance. Only four men had been killed the rest were our prisoners.
“Tether them together!”
I remembered what it had been like to be a slave and I said to my men, “Try to keep families together. They will be less trouble. Tie the men’s feet as well as their hands.”
While my warriors did that I went into the huts to see what they had hidden. Most Saxons liked to bury their valuables. I entered the nearest hut and I moved the bedding. I saw freshly turned soil. I took out my dagger and loosened it. I found a box which although crudely made, had a solid enough hasp. My seax broke it easily enough. Within were a few precious stones, some small pieces of silver and a metal cross with the figure of the White Christ. I tucked it beneath my arm and left.
Cnut grinned when he saw the box. “Lucky Dragon Heart eh?”
“No, my friend, but I know where to look. Move the bedding and seek soil which is not compact. They like to bury their treasures.”
It only took an hour or so to strip the village of all that was valuable. As we left, it was the Ulfheonar who, once again, led the way. We had no need for secrecy on the way back and I took us by the most direct route. We were close to the sea, for we could smell it, when I spied the walled settlement sitting high above the river on a small knoll. Haaken saw it too. “That looks to be better defended.”
“And if a place is well defended then it must have something to defend.” I turned to look at my men. All of them were laden with the fruits of our raid. There would be no opportunity to investigate this hill top enigma; not until we had divested ourselves of our treasure and our captives. It was no more than five miles from the village we had raided. When we returned home I would seek answers from the prisoners. We would return to raid but this time we would have a better idea of what to expect. The hardest part was loading the animals. I took the slaves for my boat was smaller and Prince Butar had more room for the animals. Of course he would also have a harder task to clean up after them. Luckily the voyage was a short one and we reached home before the sun had set.
Chapter 11
We had tied up and taken off the animals and slaves by dark. It had been the most successful raid ever for we had lost no men and gained many animals and slaves. There were too many slaves for us to use and we would need to sell them. There was a good market across the sea in the land of the Cymri on the island of Mona. Olaf would sail there and sell our surplus. We could afford to be choosy. Before we let Olaf take them away we questioned all of the adult slaves about the mysterious settlement. There were only five or six of us who could speak Saxon and it took some time. We discovered that it was what the Saxons called a monastery where priests, male and female lived. They were revered by those who lived around the area and even the Saxon kings paid homage and tribute to them. The result was that they had many rich objects within their walls. We also found that some of these priests were warriors too. This explained the defences. When Olaf returned we would raid again and this time we would be seeking treasure.
As I counted out my share of the treasure and animals we had secured I realised that I could afford to buy weapons and mail for four more warriors. None of the Ulfheonar needed my charity but some of the newer, poorer warriors might. I decided to purchase four swords and helmets first. Snorri and Scanlan both needed them and I could decide which other two would benefit. When I had enough I would buy the mail shirts. A warrior dressed in mail feared no man so long as he knew how to fight and I would make sure that all of my men knew how to fight.
Our raid emboldened all of us. Prince Butar called me to a meeting with Jarl Eric and Jarl Harald. T
hey had both raided the Hibernians but had lost warriors and not gained as much treasure. They had not acted together and both had met with resistance. Had they coordinated and attacked one place from two directions I think they would have succeeded. Jarl Harald appeared to have lost more men and captured little. He was not happy and looked jealously at the slaves and animals we had secured. They were both intrigued at our description of this monastery.
Jarl Harald looked to be almost sulking, “From what you say one boat could capture all from within the monastery.”
Prince Butar frowned, “That is probably true but why are you looking so unhappy about the prospect of easy hunting? I did not make you raid the Hibernians. I did not kill your warriors.”
From his face I could see that the jarl regretted showing his feelings so openly. “I know, Prince Butar.” He sighed, “I suppose that I just wish to raid this place and know that I will not be needed to accompany you. You will be able to gain all the treasure yourself.”
My step father spread his arms wide. “I did not say that I would be raiding this monastery. My warriors made much from our raid and we do not need to raid again but you would need help to find it.” Harald’s face lit up. For my part I thought that Prince Butar had dealt too kindly with the outburst. “First we need to ask, who would like to raid this monastery?”
Only Jarl Harald spoke. The rest of us knew that he wanted this prize himself. “I will say now that I wish to go with my oathsworn.”
Prince Butar looked at me and I gave the slightest shake of the head. Jarl Eric smiled, “I lost four warriors and this raid against priests will not regain the honour my men seek. We will plan a different raid.” He looked at me, “Perhaps I will ask Dragon Heart and the Ulfheonar to come with us. The gods seem to smile on him and give him good fortune. I would like some of that good fortune.”
“Whenever you wish it my brother I will come with you but I am not so sure about the luck.”
This made everyone around the table laugh and the atmosphere changed. “It was you and the Ulfheonar who found the monastery would you go with the Jarl?” The question from my step father was harmless. Had Jarl Harald spoken the words then I might have been suspicious.
“I will go with Haaken and Cnut. The rest of the Ulfheonar can train my new warriors. I still have unfinished business with Tadgh. My priority is to find him and kill him but I will show Jarl Harald where this monastery is.”
The looks on their faces told me that they had thought I had forgotten his treachery. I had not. I had merely hidden my feelings deep within me.
Harald’s ship, “Crow” was bigger than mine and had twenty oars on each side. He chose his crew from his best warriors. Cnut, Haaken and I were given an oar. Some men might have thought it insulting. This was not my ship. I did not mind. It did a warrior good to row. It gave him discipline as well as reminding him that he was still a warrior, even if he did steer the ship. What concerned me was the smug superior look on Jarl Harald’s face. He appeared to take delight in the fact that I had to row.
We left at night; Jarl Harald was keen to attack at dawn. Normally I would have objected but we had scouted out this place already and I did not think there would be any obstacles we could not overcome.
We landed at the mouth of the estuary. There was no moon; it was pitch black and the world felt empty. Jarl Harald had his own ship’s boys to watch the ship. We took our bows with us for we didn’t know if there might be sentries for us to take out. I led my Ulfheonar to the north. I had an image of the walls in my head. Jarl Harald and his men trotted behind us. After the debacle that was Hibernia they were relying on the luck of Dragon Heart.
When I smelled the smoke of their fires I halted and waved the others to wait. This was the time for the Ulfheonar to do what they did best- disappear. The three of us slid up the slope towards the walls. We were thirty paces from each other. When I came to the ditch before the walls I stopped. There was something not quite right about the ditch. The side before me looked to be very steep. I gingerly lowered myself, somewhat ungainly, down the sides. When my foot struck something hard and sharp then I was glad that I had been cautious. The bottom of the ditch was filled with spiked stakes. The other side appeared gentle but I still went slowly. It was gentle but it had been slicked with water and something else which was slippery, possibly oil. I used my seax and my dagger to drag me up the muddy morass to the walls.
The palisade was made of thick tree trunks and was higher than me. This was designed to keep people out. I managed to walk along the side of the wall until I heard voices. I pressed myself into the wood. I still held my dagger and seax. I could defend myself if I had to. They were talking in Saxon and I gathered from the drift of conversation that they were priests. I heard mention of something called a bishop and then the voices faded as they moved away.
I had enough information for Jarl Harald and I slipped back down the bank being careful to avoid the spikes at the bottom. Cnut and Haaken waited for me and I waved for them to follow me. We soon reached the waiting warriors. Although we were far enough away not to be heard we still whispered. Sound travelled long distances at night.
“There is a ditch around the walls and it has spikes in the bottom. The bank is slippery and the walls are high. There are sentries who are patrolling. They had something worth guarding within those walls.”
I saw Jarl Harald licking his lips and grinning almost in anticipation of capturing it.
“I saw that they have four men at the gate but there is no ditch there.” Cnut just reported those things that I had not seen.
“Could we attack the gate?”
I shook my head, “It would alarm those inside and they would be able to defend it or even escape.”
Cnut nodded, his head glinting in the moonlight, “They have another gate at the rear.”
Jarl Harald turned to his warriors, “Ulf, you take ten warriors and wait by the rear gate. Cnut will lead you there.” He looked at me. “Can you and Haaken get inside and kill the guards?”
Haaken nodded, “We could.”
“We will wait by the gate. If you could open the gate then we will have this monastery and all its treasures.”
As Haaken and I returned to the walls I now knew why Jarl Harald had not been successful. He let others do the difficult tasks. Jarl Eric or my stepfather would have offered to do one of the harder tasks and not wait for someone else to do it for them. I hoped that we could succeed but he was relying on just two warriors.
The return was easier for we knew where the traps were and we could help each other up the bank. Once we reached the walls Haaken stood with his back to the wall and I stood on his cupped hands. I peered over the wall and saw the two sentries I had heard; they were at the far end and talking. I tapped Haaken on the head and he pushed his hands up. I slipped over the top and then reached down to haul Haaken up. He used the wall to support his feet and he slipped over too. The sentries were still at the far end of the platform some fifty paces away. They appeared to be looking at something in the woods beyond. We slipped our bows from our shoulders and each notched an arrow. I aimed at the sentry on the left. I used his spear as a guide. I whispered, “One, two, three.” On three we released our arrows. There were two soft thuds and then the two men disappeared over the side of the wall.
Slinging our bows we drew our swords and ran towards the gate. There were two men on the gatehouse and they were looking out to sea. All the sentries had made the classic mistake of staying in the same place and looking at the same spot. It cost them their lives. The two on the gatehouse heard our footfall and turned. The one closest to me swung his sword. My shield was still around my back and so I used my mailed hand to push the blade away as I stuck him with the sword. He screamed as he died. Haaken’s opponent had stepped back to yell, “Vikings!” That was all that he managed to get out as Haaken ended his life.
We raced down the stairs to the gate. Two more sentries stood with spears. I saw the spear head jab towards
me. I could have allowed it to hit my mail for I could see that the head was crudely made but that was not a good habit to get into. I jinked to one side and brought my sword down on his neck. I left the other to Haaken and began to lift the bar on the gate. It was halfway off when I was pitched against it by the arrow which thudded into the shield on my back. It took both of us to lift the bar and open the gate.
Jarl Harald’s men flooded in, their bloodcurdling screams filling the night. Haaken and I stepped back to allow them through. It was not a battle, it was a slaughter. The priests fought hard, with whatever they had to hand. There was neither honour nor glory killing these priests and so the jarl’s men subdued them and the women who wailed and cried. One or two of them tried to attack the warriors with their nails and they were knocked to the ground by men who had no time for such things. I was disappointed in Jarl Harald and his men. Prince Butar would have captured more for they were not warriors. I did not think I would want to come raiding with Jarl Harald again.
Cnut joined us. “We caught a few trying to escape but there was another door, a side door and we saw three of their priests escaping.”
“Well that could not be helped. We did what was asked of us.”
As dawn broke to the east we saw that Jarl Harald’s men had only suffered minor wounds. Apart from the sentries we had killed there were just five dead priests and the rest we gathered in a forlorn huddle. There was excitement amongst the jarl’s men. They had found much treasure as well as animals. They were about to discard the books of the White Christ when I restrained them. “They are valuable.”
