Viking Warrior

by Griff Hosker

  Just before the first frosts Erica gave birth to our daughter, Kara. Erica gave her the name. “She is pure and I can see greatness in her already.”

  I smiled, “I am just pleased that she has the right number of everything; fingers eyes, feet…”

  Erica gave me an irritated shake of the head, “Men!”

  It meant that I grew closer to Arturus. Aiden had proved to be the perfect friend and guard for Arturus. He watched over him as though he was a precious object. He proved to be patience personified and would play with Arturus long after everyone else had thought of a reason to be elsewhere. My arm healed slowly which proved to be a good thing. It meant I could not use it. I watched Aiden and Arturus and I watched Snorri spar with Scanlan. I could not interfere, as I know I would have done had I been whole. I could not show them how it was done. I had to use words to make them better swordsman and I had to listen to my son speaking to understand what he meant. Perhaps the injury was sent by the gods to make me a better warrior and a good father. It worked.

  My arm began to itch when the weather turned wet and windy. Erica and Cnut agreed that it was a good sign but both were also in agreement that I should not use the arm. Instead, I had been using my right arm regularly and I had fought practice bouts with Haaken and Cnut. Although I always won I suspect it was because they went easy on me. I had had to learn to be more skilful with the blade and that was no bad thing either.

  By the time the winter nights began to shorten, not by much but enough to let us know that the worst would be over, we were planning my expedition to the land of Rheged. My men had built another drekar. I had become quite rich with the trades I had made and we needed a second. We had enough warriors now to man two of them. I would not necessarily take both of them for it would be useful to leave one patrolling the island and watching for enemies. We had just finished the sea trials when a storm wracked ship limped into Hrams-a. It was a fellow Viking from Orkney. He and his men had been caught in a storm far to the south of us and lost half of their oars. The wind had almost driven them on to the shores of Hibernia. It would have meant a savage end had they not managed to turn the ship and find Man.

  The captain was Gudrun Sweynson and he had sailed from Orkney to Frankia to trade. We had all been surprised at that and were unable to hide our feelings. You did not travel that distance until it was summer and the weather was kinder. Gudrun was a rough old warrior and I liked him; he laughed. “I know. You would think when you get to my age you would know not to travel those seas in winter but we had a good year and kept harvesting until the nights became longer. The journey was perilous and we found ourselves stuck in Frankia when the river froze over. Still we made a good trade and your port is a haven for traders such as us.”

  “Aren’t there any places where our people offer sanctuary to fellows such as you?”

  He spat into the fire in the warrior hall. I was glad I had not taken him home, Erica disapproved of such things. “You would think so wouldn’t you? No, some of them are worse than others. There is a nest of vipers just south of the river which leads to Frankia and there is a large band of pirates there who prey on all ships; even those of their fellows. They are treacherous and every warrior I have met curses Tadgh and Harald Two Face.”

  A chill crept over me and I saw that Cnut and Haaken were equally concerned. “This Tadgh, does he have a limp?”

  “Aye he does. He has the look of a Saxon about him.” He paused, “Why? Do you know him? Is he a friend of yours?”

  When we all burst out laughing he looked offended. I held my hand up. “Please take no offence. I have fought with both of them and it was me who made him lame.” Haaken then told the story of our encounters.

  Afterwards Gudrun shook his head. “The Weird Sisters have been spinning, have they not. I can see now that my coming was necessary. You will go after him?”

  “I will, but not yet. I have something else to do first but you have now given me another reason to find their lair and end this once and for all.”

  The sea trials for my new ship were fraught with difficulties. We had named her “Bear” and she proved to be as bad tempered as a bear woken from a winter sleep. It took us many days to balance her correctly and to rig her sail. The weather did not help and there were gales which curtailed trials and huge seas which stopped us sailing altogether.

  Olaf the Toothless had chuckled, “This will be a good drekar. Already you know how she will perform in every sea and she has told you of her problems now. The gods smile on you, Dragon Heart. Do not worry she was just not ready to be born. Now she is.”

  I was not so sure but I put the thought from my mind. Having fitted her out I needed to captain and crew her. I sat on the beach with Cnut and Haaken watching as the carpenter fitted her dragon prow. “It is a fine ship.”

  I nodded, “You are right Haaken. Would you like to captain her?”

  He laughed, “That is what I like about you, Dragon Heart, you do not beat about the bush. I am honoured but no, I am Ulfheonar and I sail with you.”

  Cnut shook his head while smiling, “And do not ask me. I suspect that all of the Ulfheonar feel the same.”

  “Then whom do I choose? The other warriors I have are young and lack the experience we need.”

  Haaken chewed on a piece of grass and watched as “Bear” was finally finished and the dragon head, painted green and red shone in the late afternoon sunlight. “There is always Rolf. Since he has arrived he has shown himself to be a good leader and the men like him. He is older than most of us.”

  I had already thought of Rolf but wondered if some of the warriors who had been with me for some time might take offence at being commanded by a new comer. I had hoped for an Ulfheonar but I was touched that they would all wish to take a bench with me.

  Cnut convinced me, “Ask him. He may not want to or be able to.”

  And so I sought out Rolf. That evening I took him to the new ship. I gave him no reason save the opportunity to view her.

  “What do you think of her, Rolf?”

  “I like small ships. They are nimbler and the crew get on better. They are easier to balance. Aye, she is a good vessel.”

  “You had one yourself did you?”

  “My first ship. We lost her in a battle with Frisian pirates and then I sailed in a big ship such as Prince Butar’s. It was a fine ship but I preferred my first. It must be like a first love. You may have other women but you never forget your first.”

  “Would you be able to captain her for me?”

  He looked genuinely shocked. “But you barely know me. Suppose I should turn out like the one known as Harald Two Face?”

  I smiled but it was a smile without warmth. “Then you would share the same fate as him and I would hunt you down and kill you.”

  He knelt, “I swear I will serve you unto death.”

  “Thank you and I believe that you will keep your word. As captain you get five shares and the crew one each. I assume Eric and Ham will serve with you?”

  “Aye, they are as keen as I am to get back to what we do best.”

  “I do not think that we can crew her completely yet but you should have sixteen or eighteen warriors.”

  “You will not split the men equally between the two boats?” It was a question without a hidden meaning.

  “The Ulfheonar are all sworn brothers.” I shrugged, “I offered “Bear” to them but they declined. They would rather serve on my ship.”

  “It is what I have heard. Men wish to follow you. I can see why.”

  By the time the first spring flowers were blooming on the hillside we were ready. Dargh and his ten men were ready to defend should a raider come and we had another ten men who worked in the village. Men like Bjorn would protect my family. All those who toiled in the village were also warriors who could fight any raider who was foolish enough to chance his arm at Hrams-a. Now that Jarl Eric held the western side, Olaf the south and Prince Butar the east, we were well protected and beacons would be lit
if anyone came again. We had learned our lesson the hard way, with the lives of those we loved. We would not be found wanting a third time.

  Snorri and Aiden were to accompany me but I left Scanlan at home. Maewe was with child and I knew that she would wish him to be close by. I gave him my old shield and a spare seax. “You have earned this trust. Watch over our families.”

  He knelt and touched the scabbard of Ragnar’s Spirit. “I will my lord.”

  It was strange the way everyone but me wanted me to be a lord. I was not ready and I would only accept the title when I felt that I was ready.

  We left Hrams-a under cloudy, damp skies, but the winds were propitious and that was more important. We did not rush across the water. Rolf and his crew were smaller in number and not used to their ship. I would rather we all reached our destination together than piecemeal.

  The rain became heavier and the boys had to bail continuously to keep the rower’s feet dry. When Rolf’s ship began to drop astern I ordered the oars stacked and set all of the men to bailing. Gradually “Bear” drew closer. The inclement weather helped us as it hid us from prying eyes ashore. I was not sure if they had rebuilt the monastery at the estuary. If they had then we would be seen. I intended to moor in the river. According to the prisoners that was half way between the fort at Prestune and the monastery of St Cuthbert.

  We reached the river in late afternoon. I saw no sign of occupation but, as soon as we touched the shore I sent Egill and Olaf to investigate. Rolf arrived soon after. “I am sorry about that my lord. The new timbers shipped a little more water than I had expected and we had to bail quite hard.”

  “I thought it would be something like that. I will take my crew north to the monastery. You and your crew can make good your ship but both ships need guarding. There are Saxons a few miles upstream.”

  Rolf looked disappointed not to be going on the raid with us but he was experienced enough to know that my orders made sense. Egill and Olaf came back down the slope. “There is no one there; just the gnawed bones of the dead.”

  I wondered why they had not buried their dead. The Christians liked to honour their dead in that way. “We will be back tomorrow. I would place a sentry on the hill and he can give you warning.” Rolf raised his arm in acknowledgement. I suspect he would have done that anyway but, until I knew the man better, I would continue to make things explicit.

  Snorri was excited to be coming but his face dropped when I placed him at the rear of the column of warriors. I didn’t really have time to explain but it was his first raid and so I did. “We are Ulfheonar and we are good at what we do. You are not even a warrior yet. When you can track and trail as well as any of these then you can lead until then you follow and make sure that we leave little sign of our passing.”

  He looked contrite, “Yes Dragon Heart.”

  Haaken led the way. He had a nose for finding enemies. The trail we followed went close to the coast. The problem was it would, occasionally, emerge from a small wood and we would be on an exposed beach. I could not see any way around it. We spied the monastery. It was on top of a small cliff surrounded by beaches. It was still early afternoon and I suspected there would be priests working in the fields and we would be spotted.

  “Haaken, take half of the men and work your way north.”

  “How will I know when to attack?”

  “Have the men hide themselves fifty paces from the walls and you will hear our cry.” I would use the same plan which had been so successful so many times.

  He was satisfied and he silently led the warriors off. We worked our way closer until we were just a hundred paces from the gate. We found a ditch and a hedgerow. We were invisible and yet we could see the gate through the gaps in the undergrowth. It was fortunate that we had hidden for a column of brown robed priests with farming implements trudged past our hiding place. They were, seemingly, oblivious to our presence. They all looked weary. Cnut nudged me and drew his finger across his throat. I shook my head. Although I could see what he meant, there were just ten priests and we could have slain them easily, I wanted Haaken in position. The priests had tried to escape with the jewels the last time. I did not want to give them the chance to do so again.

  I heard a bell tolling within the walls and a short while later another four priests came driving some sheep before them. So far we had only seen males. This appeared to be a different type of monastery. There might be no females here. I scanned the walls and the gate but I saw no armed guards. There were just priests who appeared to act as gatekeepers.

  When the gates closed we knew that the priests were all within the walls. The sun was setting slowly behind us and I waved my men forward. There was no defensive ditch, just a drainage channel and it would not cause us any problems. As we moved forwards I began to wonder at the wisdom of storing such relics as crown jewels here. There was no defence unless there was something I could not see. I would tread warily. With our black cloaks and the sun setting I knew that we would be hard to see. I noticed that there appeared to be no sentries. As we neared the walls I heard singing coming from within the walls. I knew that the followers of the White Christ did this often. Perhaps that explained the lack of sentries.

  I reached the gate. I could see that it was barred from the inside but the wood on the gates was not a tight fit. I slipped a seax between the gates and began to lift the bar. It was heavy. Sweyn and Cnut saw me struggling and they helped me to push it up. Suddenly there was a crash as it fell from its resting place. We pushed the wooden gates open and shouted, “Ulfheonar!” The cry was to alert Haaken rather than announce our arrival.

  Once through we could see the buildings were neatly laid out. There was a large, well lit, central building with a cross outside. That would be their church. The other buildings were evenly spaced within the stockade. Some must have been alerted by the noise for a number of priests burst from the church. One of them ran back inside as we hurried to get to them before they could escape. The ones outside grabbed the stacked farm implements from the outside wall and bravely launched themselves at us. It was foolish for they all fell to the blades of my men. We did to need to kill them but disarmed them and ensured they would not attack us again. When we reached the church it was empty. There was another door at the far end and they had fled that way.

  None had gone to any of the huts which suggested that they had treasure with them. Suddenly I heard a cry ahead of, “Ulfheonar”. Haaken had arrived. When we reached the rear gate there were three huddled bodies lying on the ground and six elderly priests looking forlornly at their comrades.

  “Have you searched the bodies yet?”

  Haaken nodded at his men. “They are just starting.”

  I saw that the oldest priest had a golden cross about his neck. I put my sword beneath his chin. “Where are the crowns of Rheged, old man? Where is the treasure you guard?”

  He seemed surprised at my Saxon but he smiled, “Where you will never get it Norseman. It is safe behind the walls of the fort. They will guard it with their lives. You can do what you will with us; you will never have that treasure.”

  “It is not your treasure to steal, priest.”

  “No, it is the symbol of the pagans and so long as we have it then God will win and you pagans will perish and die.”

  I laughed, “You old fool. I am a young man yet I know that God always wins. The only difference between us is that you have only one god to call upon.” I turned to Egill. “Tether them but do not harm them.” I took the golden cross and tucked it inside my tunic.”

  “Nothing here, Dragon Heart.”

  “Let us go back to the ships then and decide what to do next.”

  We had collected a fine haul of precious metals and jewels. Oleg had even found himself a leg of mutton which he had tucked into his bag. I was the only one disappointed for I had wanted the jewels. I was also disturbed by the lack of religious books. Most of the monasteries seemed to spend all their time writing down the works of their White Christ
for others to read. It was a mystery to me for you could just as easily tell the stories and you did not need to read to do that. This monastery appeared to be different from the others.

  When we reached the boat I ordered the priests to be tethered aboard “Bear”. I gathered the men around me. “It seems the real treasure is in the fort just up the river. Cnut, take three men and scout it out. We will attack at dawn.” He nodded, pointed to the men he had chosen and left. I turned to the waiting Rolf. “You will leave half a dozen of your men here to watch the ships and the priests. The rest will come with us. Your warriors will get some action.”

  We ate and I made sure that the men who had been to the monastery rested. Rolf and his warriors were more than happy to stand a watch. I could not sleep for I was too busy wondering if I would get the treasure and if it was worth the lives of my men. This time we were going against warriors and we could not afford to be gentle. Some would die, that was inevitable.

  Cnut and his scouts arrived back a few hours later. “The fort is six miles upstream. It is mainly wood but they have used some of the Roman stones to make a tower and to make the walls stronger. There is a ditch and this time it serves a purpose.”

  “How many men?”

  They looked at each other. “It is hard to say. It was dark. We counted six sentries.”

  I nodded. We could take those out with arrows but the number inside worried me. Cnut saw my dilemma, “They are Saxons. They have not fought us before. They will not stand against us for long.”

  Haaken couldn’t help adding, “And the alternative is to turn and go back to Man with our tails between our legs.”

  I had already made up my mind but my two friends had convinced me. We would try.

  We made good time running swiftly through the flat land which ran alongside the river. We could all smell the Saxon settlement long before we saw it. I did not think that the Saxons would flee when we attacked and I did not wish to dilute my warriors. We would all go in together. They had cleared the land around the ditch but only for a distance of thirty paces or so. Our bows would strike easily at that range.