by Griff Hosker
“Is that wise my lord?”
I laughed, such an unnatural sound that every man looked at me as though I was mad. “Not wise? Tell me one sane thing that we have done since Fulford.” I put my hand on his arm. “I no longer know what is wise and I just do what feels right.”
The trail of William was clear to see as we neared Jorvik, dead bodies and burning buildings. We camped close to the western end of the city and I waited for my scouts to return. We approached the city walls and saw, immediately, the improvements they had made. The towers and gates had been strengthened; the ditches were deeper and there were sentries patrolling the length of its walls. It was obvious that Morcar was no longer in charge. We were seen when we approached for I wanted them to know who we were. Ridley was with me and I could feel his seething anger as he stared intently at the walls as though he could see through them into the black heart of William of Perci. One of their crossbowmen tried a shot but it fell short. I turned to Branton, the range was four hundred paces but I though he could attempt the shot. “Branton see if you can hit the walls, a man would be a bonus but the wall would be good.”
He spent some time selecting an arrow and only then did he string his bow. He pulled it back to his ear until I felt sure that the bow would snap and then he released it. We watched it arc high into the air and, amazingly, the Normans watched it too. They were so intent that the crossbowman who followed its flight had a real shock when it plunged into his upper arm and they all dropped from sight as though they had been felled by the blow. All of us, apart from Ridley, laughed with the relief of the tension. Although the other archers were not as good as Branton, we outranged the crossbows which they used.
The scouts returned the next day. Edgar and the Danes were moving towards Jorvik, taking the same route the other Norsemen had years earlier. I took Osbert to one side. “I would take you with me but I worry that Lord Ridley will do something foolish if left alone. You know how to handle him. I will take your brother and Edward. They both keep their wits about them.”
“I will watch him my lord.” He hesitated, “If you don’t mind me saying so my lord, Lord Ridley worried about you when the Queen died. You came through it and I am sure he will too.”
Osbert could be surprisingly gentle for such a bear of man and he understood people. I suppose that was what made him such a good leader of men. The three of us left the next day; we were lightly armed for if the Danes chose they could take us easily. Branton had been with me before and for some reason appeared confident when with me. Edward was a little more nervous, glancing at every bush and looking for enemies who were not there. I did not think that the Danes would bother with ambushes; their aim was to take Jorvik. We headed for the road south of Jorvik for that would be the route they would have to take. I had my helmet back from my face so that I could be recognised but the prominent shield told the world that I was Aelfraed Godwinson, Housecarl.
There were scouts who were out and they raced up to us with weapons readied. “Steady lads; just hold your arms away from your bodies.”
When they saw that we were not aggressive they took our reins and led us down the road. Edgar and Sweyn headed the army. Edgar had filled out in the last two years but he was still young to be leading such a force. Sweyn looked like a more rotund version of Hadrada and I knew the two had been great rivals. Sweyn’s warriors closed around their king and then Edgar smiled, “Fear not King Sweyn. This is my half brother Aelfraed. He fought at Fulford and Stamford.”
Sweyn’s face opened into a grin. His English was good, far better than Hadrada’s. “Ah this is the famous Housecarl whose men killed my great enemy Hadrada.”
I nodded. “And it is good to meet the man who has come to rid us of the hated Normans.” I was careful in my choice of words for I was still a warrior and would not lie. “This, mighty King, is Branton, the archer who slew Hadrada.”
Sweyn dismounted and turned to speak with his men. I signalled to the other two to dismount. Suddenly they all cheered and Sweyn strode up to Branton and grabbed him in a bear hug. “We owe you much Branton for Hadrada would have taken our land had you not killed him.” He disengaged himself and took a golden bracelet from his arm. I could see it was an intricately worked and delicate piece of gold. “Take this as a token from the Danish people. You will always be honoured in my land.” Branton looked at me as he held the object and I nodded. Sweyn then took my arm. “Come Aelfraed Godwinson, walk with me and we will talk.”
Edgar turned to me eagerly. “We heard that you had not submitted and you continued to fight.”
“Who told you that?”
“The warriors of Earl Morcar who joined us.”
I spat, “Then I would watch those carefully my lord for I have fought with them twice and both times they ran.” I shrugged, “That may have been their leader I know not but they could have joined me ere now had they wished to hurt the enemy.”
Sweyn and Edgar exchanged glances. Sweyn nodded, “I have heard Aelfraed that you were well trained by Aethelward and I see it now. You are known as a fearless warrior and a leader of men. How many men do you have?”
It was a blunt and honest question and I gave it a blunt and honest answer. “Not as many as the days following Stamford for we have fought, alone, against greater numbers. We number less than fifty but,” I added proudly,” I would back those fifty against any hundred others.”
Sweyn said something to the men behind and they laughed and answered their king. “My men say they would like to try such valiant warriors.”
I grinned, “Let us beat the Normans first.”
“Tell me Housecarl, how do you defeat the Norman knights? Are they not impregnable? Did they not defeat Harold?”
I shook my head. “No they did not defeat my father. He had too many untrained men with him, the fyrd, and when they became out of control, he was surrounded and my brothers died. And we defeat them by only using trained warriors. And we have a secret weapon. Show him Branton.” Branton took a knight killer from his quiver and handed it over. “This is Branton’s invention. It penetrates the mail. Of course you have to be a good shot for they use their shields for protection. And when you face them in a shield wall then use your weapons against the horses. Once they are on foot they are easy to defeat.”
Sweyn passed the arrow back to his men and translated. Edgar took the opportunity to speak with me. “My sister Margaret is now Queen of Scotland.” I had not heard that but it made sense and also gave Edgar a refuge. “I was sorry to hear about the Queen.” I looked at him sharply. He held his hands up. “I swear to you Aelfraed I had no part in the plot of my mother’s. The old bitch is deranged. I am sorry, genuinely.”
I relaxed a little, his words sounded like the truth. “In the end it was that bastard William who was responsible for their deaths but the men who killed her now lie dead.”
“I heard that they were murdered. They made you outlaw did they not? I would not like to be your enemy Aelfraed.”
“Then rid the land of the Normans and you will not be.” I think I saw him actually shiver at my words and their threat.
Sweyn was still talking and we walked north. He bit his lip and then looked at me. “I visited Fife and met your... I met the Lady Gytha.”
I gave a wry smile. “I am a warrior Edgar, you can speak openly with me. My wife Gytha now plays the Dane with Calum, Thegn of Fife.”
“Men speak truly of you Aelfraed.”
“Why what do they say? That I am someone without the gift of gilded speech?”
“No they say that you do speak the truth and men trust your words.” He smiled, “In my world that is a rare thing for all men flatter me and promise me everything.”
“You have to be true to yourself and true to your men. We are on this earth for a short time but our deeds live on after us. Our father Harold was a great warrior, betrayed by a brother but at the end, his men were still loyal to him and died in brotherhood. I lost many friends that day.”
Sweyn’s voice next to me almost made me jump as it boomed out, “And it is good for England that you did not die that day for you have kept the spark of rebellion alive. I have heard that William has a higher price on your head than either Hereward or Edgar here. He fears you, Aelfraed, for you are the undefeated and you have never submitted.”
We had reached Fulford and I recognised the hill from which Hadrada had launched his attacks. “If you would take some advice I would camp here. It is the field of Fulford and many brave Housecarls died here on that day but it is a good place to defend. You are close enough to Jorvik to smell the shit in the drains.”
Sweyn laughed and slapped me on the back. “I will take your advice and then we will eat and we can get to the bones of your visit and decide how to take this city.”
Branton was feted like a hero by the men of Sweyn’s bodyguard. An intelligent man he quickly learned some of their words and, with the aid of sign language, they began to communicate. I sat with the two leaders; Edgar wisely said little and listened much; Aethelward would have liked him.
“They have begun a new castle and they have deepened their ditches. Their horsemen are within the walls but they cannot sally forth if you are closer to the gates. They have, however, improved the defences of their ditches and an assault would be costly. Their crossbows are deadly and can be fired so that you do not see the man.”
Sweyn nodded and chewed on the mutton bone he held in his huge fist. “Well strategos, what do you suggest?” I looked up sharply. “Yes Aelfraed I had heard of your uncle and knew his skill. You have such skill and you are, I can see, an honest man. Advise us.”
“If you have archers then use them to clear the walls. Have your men make shields which are oblong, like the ones the Romans used and man sized. They can shoot from there. Attack at night. They are vulnerable to those kinds of attack.”
He laughed, “We have heard that you and your men at called ghosts, what is it they call you, the men of the hood?”
I shrugged, “When you only have a handful of men you do whatever you have to. Jorvik has fine Roman walls but they stretch a long way and they cannot defend all of them equally. If you attack a gate on one side then men could climb over the walls.”
Edgar looked puzzled. “How, they are higher than a man are they not?”
“We have done it. You have two men hold a shield above their head and a third man climbs on to that. He can reach the battlements and pull himself up. Once you have a few on the walls it becomes easier.”
Sweyn shrewdly watched me. “You are a thinker Aelfraed. And how would you attack the gates, without losing too many men?”
“Cut down one of the oaks hereabouts. “I grinned, “you have axes I assume.”
“Aye and when we have a moment I would like to view Death Bringer for I have heard much about that weapon.”
“You shall. Cut down a tree and sharpen the end. Fashion four wheels and then have your men pull it towards the gates. I would suggest the Mickelgate, to the south west of the city. The road slopes down to it a little and should make it easier to pull. Have the men pulling it protected by men in mail with shields. You will suffer casualties but if it is night time there will not be as many as during the day. Remember you only need to draw men to the gate. You do not need to force the gate. Then when your men have captured another gate you attack there.”
“So I split my forces?”
“I would have my better, more experience warriors at the northern gate. You will need fearless men with the ram but…”
“It is an acceptable risk. And you Aelfraed where will you be?”
I smiled. “I will attack the western wall with my men.”
Edgar almost coughed up his food. “But you only have fifty men.”
“Aye Edgar but they are my men! Besides it increases the odds of success. With two attempts at a breach we may succeed.”
Sweyn laughed. “I like that plan. I am glad we met Aelfraed.”
“One more thing; the people of this land have suffered greatly at the hands of the Normans. They suffer them in their city they do not welcome them. Kill only Normans or,” I added darkly, “you will have to answer to me and my men.”
Edgar coloured and Sweyn went silent. “In other men I would find that boastful but in you, Aelfraed Godwinson, I heed the warning and you have my word, the people will be safe.”
We spent the next few hours discussing how we would coordinate the attacks. It would take the huge army some time to reach the northern gate and for the southern attack to manufacture its ram.
“Where is this famous axe?”
I brought out Death Bringer and Sweyn spent some time examining it with his men. “I know this blade. It belonged to Ragnar. He came to England on a raid forty years ago as a young man. He too was made outlaw in our land for he had killed a mighty lord. This was his axe. It is said to be a magical weapon and Ragnar was a fierce warrior.” He looked closely at my face, “How did you get it?”
I shrugged, “By luck. He and his bandits tried to rob us in a forest and I stabbed him with my dagger. I could just as easily be dead.”
“No my young warrior friend, it is wyrd. You were meant to have this weapon for we have all heard how you used it against Hadrada and his men. The gods would not allow the weapon to be used by anyone other than a hero. I envy you this weapon. There are few of its like left above ground.” He carefully and reverently handed it back to me. He grinned as he saw Branton. “Now king killer show me those arrows again.”
While Sweyn was asking Branton about his arrows I took the Aetheling to one side. “I understand why you have brought the Danish king to help you regain the throne,“ I did not mention that I had as much right to the throne as he had, perhaps more, “but when you are king, what assurances do you have that Sweyn will honour them?” He looked shocked but I continued, “I do not doubt that Sweyn is an honourable man, I like him but I also know that when men gain power they can change. Our father did.”
“I envy you Aelfraed for I did not know my father. You fought with him. What was he like?”
“He was fearless. The Housecarls loved him. Why else would they have given their lives for him? Did you know that at Stamford Bridge he rode alone to the Viking lines to speak with them for he was not afraid of anyone? And he was funny too. He made men laugh for he could talk with them as one of them.” I shrugged, “When he became king he became a little more distant. Power, you see.”
Edgar looked at me with suddenly wise old eyes, “It is strange Aelfraed but that is the description men give of you and when I saw you I shivered, for it was as though our father walked the earth again.” He stared directly at me. “Perhaps you should be king.”
I laughed and put my arm around him. “No Edgar, you say I am like my father and I am honoured that you think so for he and my uncle Aethelward are my models. But as much as I would like to be my father I would not wish to be king. No you can be king and I will support you but first we have to defeat these Normans and that will take iron from you. Can you do it?”
“Aye brother, with your help we can do anything.”
Chapter 13
Edward made sure that he told all of our company of the esteem in which Branton was held. The men at arms and the archers had a healthy competitive streak and loved to mock each other. Branton’s rank amongst the Danes put a sour look on his brother’s face. I took the two brothers and Ridley to one side as Edward regaled the others with tales of the Danes. Branton even allowed him to show the golden bracelet which impressed all. Branton himself cared not for such rich trinkets but he loved the sentiment which came with it.
“We are to attack the eastern gate in two night’s time.”
Osbert wrinkled his nose. “With fifty men?”
Branton smiled, “Lord Aelfraed told the Danish king that his men were worth two of any other warriors.”
“Huh, even with a hundred we would struggle.”
“I will happily charge!”
“
Yes Lord Ridley but the bolts would bounce off that thick hide of yours we are mere mortals who would die!” I could see that Osbert was trying humour to enliven Ridley to his old self; it was not working for Ridley just ignored the attempt at banter.
“Perhaps if you listened to my plan?” They nodded as they saw that they had dismissed out of hand what they had not heard. “The Danes will assault the Mickelgate while others scale the walls. The Danes will use a ram; we will not. Nor will we strike at the gate but at the walls to the side.” Even Ridley looked interested and intrigued. “Mickelgate is situated at a bridge over the river which concentrates the enemy’s men we, on the other hand will go to Petergate to the west. This is but newly built and is not yet stone finished. The upper parts are made of wood. Branton and his archers can shoot fire arrows at the wooden parts. They will catch fire.”
“But, my lord, they will douse them with water and put them out.”
“True Branton but if they are dousing them out, in firelight, they become targets for ordinary arrows and this will be night time. We will be shooting from the shadows, over the ditch. At the same time the rest of us will close with the walls and, using our shields we will send up the lightest warriors to scale the walls. If they fight the fire they cannot watch from the walls and defend against us.”
“How high are the walls?”
“Good question Osbert. If memory serves they are almost the height of two men. We may need to use three shields supporting two men and two shields held aloft.”
Osbert looked dubious. “Which means that we could only gain the battlements with eight or nine men. They would have to be good warriors.”
“Well as the three of them who will go over the first will be us, I should hope so.”He looked a little more pleased with that. Ridley just nodded. “The key to this is that they will send many men to the main gate. The Danes attack will be obvious for it will be a huge army. Branton’s attack on the gate will be annoying for them rather than dangerous but it will draw many guards to the gate where they think we will be attacking and, even if we fail, it should ensure that the attack on the Monkgate will have a greater chance of success.” I looked at each in turn. “Can anyone see a problem which I may have missed?” I allowed them time to think. I remember when I was a Housecarl, and had been asked my views; the questioner never gave me time to think. Eventually they all shook their heads. “The target for the men at arms will be the gatehouse. Branton and the archers can keep them busy so that we can slip down the stairs and open the gates.”
