by Griff Hosker
I smiled, “Believe me my lady I will forget your offer before we have reached the village.” I looked at the sky. “Now it is getting on towards sunset and the guards will worry. Allow me to escort you down the path.”
Aethelfrith stormed off but Morwenna paused and mouthed, “Thank you.”
That evening I explained to Butar and my mother what had been said. Butar shook his head, “You have done the right thing but I fear that this will come back to haunt us.”
I looked puzzled and my mother put her hand on mine. “Butar is Harald’s cousin and is older. He could be the leader of the village which is why he has to be wary of upsetting Harald. Harald is suspicious of Butar.”
I remembered Ragnar’s words and it all made sense to me. “But you are a loyal warrior.”
“I know and I have no ambitions to be Jarl but Harald is ambitious and believes all men are the same.”
My mother looked worried. “It will be dangerous for you both to be in the village for a while. Aethelfrith will allow this to fester inside. She will see your rejection of her idea as a rejection of her. She is a princess and was brought up with people just saying yes to her.”
“I could take the ‘Ran’ and trade. I have thought of this before.” Butar stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“Is the boat not Harald’s?”
“No, he and I shared the cost. I have a half interest in the boat. If we trade I could buy the boat outright and he would be able to build another. He sees himself not merely as a Jarl but a king with a fleet of ships.”
“What would we trade?” I was curious for we never appeared to have a surplus of anything.
He smiled at me. “You missed much when you spent that time with my father. We hunt seals and melt them down for fats. It is good for making boats watertight. Then there are the furs from the animals we hunt and there are the brown stones that we polish. We will have enough to trade.”
Mother frowned. “You can only trade if your cousin allows you to go.”
“He will sanction it, indeed he may even encourage it, for that way I will be gone and he will lure more warriors who will be loyal to him.”
“Does that not worry you?”
“No, I would rather have a man who is loyal because of what I am, rather than because I buy him. We will begin to gather our goods tomorrow. I will see Olaf tonight. I would have him with us on this venture. I think he will be glad to be rid of the settlement for a while.”
We soon found that all of the crew of the ‘Ran’ wished to be part of this venture. It would soon be autumn and there would be no more raiding. I put my weapons away for a while and became a trader. I returned to Ragnar’s house because I remembered that he had had a small chest with different objects within. Perhaps there would be something to trade. I found a treasure trove of the shiny brown stones called glaesum which Butar had said were valuable. I carried the small chest down to my stepfather who beamed with pleasure when he spied them.
“You will be rich!”
“They are Ragnar’s. They belong to you.”
“No, you shared the house with him. We will share the profits how is that? Then you will become a man with riches of his own.”
By the time Harald returned from his raid on Northumbria with the ‘Sif’ laden down with animals, slaves and plunder, we were ready to leave. Butar said nothing until we had had the obligatory feast and the sagas. Everyone praised the heroism and wisdom of Harald One Eye. Women were not allowed at the feast and so I did not have to worry about the evil looks from Aethelfrith. When most men were drunk Butar approached Harald with me at his side.
“Cousin I would take ‘Ran’ and show my step son a little of the world. I have gathered some trade goods and I would trade with the Franks for I hear they have fine goods.”
The chief was silent as though considering. “Which of the men would you take?”
“I have spoken with Olaf for he knows the places to trade but I thought I would take the younger warriors for the crew.”
Harald looked almost relieved. “Then I give you my blessing.” A cunning look came into his eye. “As half owner I would be entitled to some compensation. After all there is the risk that you might not return.”
I was shocked at the effrontery but Butar appeared to expect it. “Would you exchange your half for a tenth of the profits?”
I could see Harald weighing up the cost of the ‘Ran’ and the possible profits. It had not cost either man much to build the ship. The labour and most of the materials were from the village. The cost had been for the sails and the tackle. “I agree. When will you sail?”
“On the morning tide.”
That was the first time I saw Harald surprised and he looked around the long house and realised that Olaf and the younger men were not there. “You always were a good organiser.”
Mother looked sad as she stood forlornly on the wooden quay waving us goodbye. She had just started to show her child with a small bump and Butar assured her that we would return well before the child was born. I hoped that she would not be lonely. I knew that most of the other women looked to her for advice and counsel. It was the thralls and the Saxons who did not like her. She had attained real freedom.
We had our weapons with us but they were stored. The shields protected the trade goods and would mark us as a trader rather than a pirate. We headed south and I was excited. I watched my new home disappear to the north as we crossed the open water to the land of the Dane. They were a people who had many links to us. Like us they went raiding and they could be belligerent. Olaf had sailed on a Danish boat in his youth and we hoped that we would be able to use his knowledge to avoid any trouble.
He took us to a small inlet on the west coast of Jutland where they had the beginnings of a harbour. We approached slowly so that they could see we were not here for plunder. Even so, it was an armed delegation who met us. We stayed on board to confirm our peaceful intentions and Olaf and Butar went ashore. When I saw Olaf being embraced by the headman then I knew that we would not have to fight.
We went ashore as a crew and we were made most welcome. Like us they had had a successful summer raiding and were in a generous mood. They held a feast for us. Butar counselled us all to watch what we drank. The last thing we needed was a blood feud. I sat with Harald Bjornson who was the son of the village chief. He told me that they had also raided the land of the Angles and it had made them rich. He became a little drunk and also told me that he had heard of Harald One Eye. He heard that he was the mightiest warrior in the north. I kept my counsel. I had seen him fight and thought him quick but as his opponent had been poor I would reserve my judgement. It was at that time when I came to realise about legends and reputations. I suspected the legend came from Harald himself who seemed to have many sagas about his prowess.
We left on good terms and with something more valuable, knowledge. Olaf had been told of a trading centre close to the land of the Franks in the mighty River Rinaz. This was the biggest river in the world and meant that we would be trading within ten days. All of us became excited at the prospect.
The sailing was easy as we hugged the coast. Most of the time the wind was with us and we did not have to row. It was quite pleasant to watch the land slip by and we all said what we would do with the fortunes that we would make. We were young men and we all had plans and ideas. We had an easy time as Olaf and Butar took it in turn to steer the ship. When it was Butar’s watch he had me with him so that I could learn how to sail a ship too. At the time I never thought that I would be able to learn but Butar was a good teacher. I suspect that Olaf would have taught me had I asked but it would have been more painful for me. Olaf believed firmly in the power of the knotted rope.
Seven days after leaving the Danish port we entered the estuary of the Rinaz. It was like a small sea. We now had to return to our oars and we rowed against the current into the heart of the lands of the Franks and the Germans. There were smaller settlements on the river but their gates were closed
to us as we rowed up that river. I do not blame the people for a dragon boat normally meant a raid and they were suspicious even of a boat which appeared to be a peaceful trader. When we reached Cologne I could not believe the size of that city. There were many ships there. We had seen huge ships heading down the river and there were still some of these tied up to the quays.
Olaf steered us to a small berth away from the larger ships. They all looked to be tubby little things and not the sleek dragon ship we rowed. I was not envious. He had the name of a merchant who might be able to supply us with what we required. While Olaf and the rest of the crew began to unload the trade goods Butar and I took our swords and headed towards the place where our contact lived. Olaf had his name from the Danes. Sigismund was a little old man who reminded me of Ragnar. He understood our language but he spoke Saxon which we did too and it made life easier. He was more than happy to be our broker and we negotiated a fee. We left his house and went to a large warehouse on the riverside. There were four heavily armed men outside.
“One cannot be too careful. Cologne is filled with foreigners such as yourself and not all are peacefully inclined. You would do well to keep your swords and wits about you.”
While he organised his warehouse Butar and I returned to the boat. We had more than enough men to leave a watch and transport the goods to the warehouse. I carried my precious chest.
Sigismund had a table ready for us. “So my friends would you like me to trade goods or would you prefer coin?”
We had already decided this. As each man had some of the goods as his own to trade as well as the items from the village we would take coins and that way Harald would not feel cheated. I hung at the back as the main items were all traded for coins which Sigismund counted out. Each man watched. Most used a piece of wood into which they carved marks to keep a tally of their own share. When I reached him he looked at the small chest with interest. I called it a chest but it was only a wooden box as long as my seax and about as wide but it was filled to the brim with the polished stones. When I had discovered them I imagined Ragnar smoothing them when he was alone in the house. It was the sort of painstaking activity which the old man would have enjoyed. He would not have needed eyes for that and his touch meant that they were perfectly polished.
I opened the box and not only Sigismund but my companions gasped. “I see you have saved the best until last.” He looked up at me. “You are young to have such a treasure.” He glanced at my sword, “Although I can see that you are a warrior and have killed three men. How did you come by them?” I must have looked angry for he added, hurriedly, “I mean nothing by that remark. I would just like to know if there is a likelihood of more.”
I glanced at Butar. “They were left to me by my grandfather. There may be more but it would take a long time to collect as many.”
Sigismund shook his head, “It would take a lifetime.” He began to examine them and scribbled on a wax tablet using a stylus. “Do you wish to haggle or shall I speak a price?”
Butar answered for me. “I do not think that you will cheat us for we will be returning here again.”
“That is true.” He counted out the coins in a separate pile from the others. It rose steadily higher until it dwarfed the rest which were on the table. He looked at me with a smile on his face. “Satisfied?”
“Yes. Thank you.” I put the coins back in the box and clutched it to my chest.
“Now you will wish to buy items and I will change my table.” He pointed to the front of the warehouse. “There are my goods. If you do not see what you want let me know and I will obtain it by tomorrow.”
All of the men from the crew had coins to spend. Olaf and Butar had the village’s share. Harald would have his share from my chest. I knew what Butar and I wanted and, while the men haggled and chose we took Sigismund to one side.
“Have you Frankish swords?”
He shook his head and then stopped, “I do not have swords but I have the blanks.”
I looked puzzled but Butar nodded, “That is better.”
“What are blanks?” I did not mind showing my ignorance to two such men.
“They are the swords without hilts and pommels. They have not been sharpened or polished. They are normally much cheaper.”
Sigismund nodded, “That is so. These were ordered by a king of Frisia who was murdered and his heirs did not want them.” He shrugged, “That is a risk we take.”
“How many do you have?”
“There are ten of them.”
“Then we will take them all!” They shook hands and I could see that everyone was happy with the outcome. We could spend the winter finishing off the swords which would make them even more valuable for trade.
As the men were finishing their own trades we spoke with Sigismund. “How is it that you speak our language so well?”
“Many of your fellows came to Frisia and the Frankish lands close to the sea. They liked it and settled there. They are powerful warriors but they like to trade here. There are some Danes and some from your lands further north. It is fine farmland. I have heard it told that that you perch on rocky cliffs and inlets. Is that true?”
“Aye it is.”
“Then I can see the attraction of the land along the coast. The kings and chiefs around here are all too busy fighting each other to do anything about it.”
It was food for thought as we left Cologne. Sigismund would be happy to deal with us in the future. I do not think he robbed us but I suspect he came out of it more in profit than we did. The purpose had not been to make money but to get me and my stepfather out of Aethelfrith’s way.
The journey back down the mighty river was much easier as we had the current with us and it had been swollen by the autumn rains. Our offerings to Njoror and Ran had worked for the winds were in our favour as we headed north. Haaken and Cnut spent long hours on the journey back asking me about my fortune and how I had come by it.
Haaken shook his head and idly scratched the socket of his missing eye; it itched a little in the salt air. “You have been singled out by the gods for you were a thrall and now you will be one of the three richest men in the village.”
Cnut shook his head, “By my reckoning the richest for he is Butar’s heir. We shall be your brethren Dragon Heart. I see much profit in associating with you.”
“I don’t know about that but I do feel I am lucky. As we approached Ulfberg we did not know that that luck was going to change or perhaps it was the Wyrd Sisters who were spinning their threads. Whatever the reason those last peaceful hours on the boat were soon to be forgotten within a few days of reaching our home.
Chapter 7
We were welcomed like returning heroes but that was merely the calm before the storm. Mother threw her arms around the both of us and hugged until I thought her arms would break. Harald One Eye also greeted us warmly. We had seen his new ship being built. I noticed that she was the same size as ‘Sif’. He was ambitious; he must have had more volunteers. We unloaded ‘Ran’ and we all went to our own families. That was the way of the raider and the trader. My mother could not believe the coins that her husband and son had collected.
We took Harald his tithe. There were other warriors there, such as Olaf, to witness the payment. When he had his sword blank and coins Harald nodded and clasped Butar’s arm. “’Ran’ is now yours cousin. You have your own boat.”
There was something about Harald’s words which I did not like. He had a sly look about him and he had given up his share far too easily. I put it from my mind as we left to celebrate our return. I noticed, at the feast, all the new faces. This was not just the slaves but many new warriors. Harald’s success was attracting those who wished to go a-Viking. I did not drink heavily and I rose early to visit Ragnar’s home. I did this to be close to the spirit of the old man. He had lived alone in the house and cave for so long that he seemed to ooze out of the very stone of the walls.
I decided to finish searching for the objects he had hoarded for
so many years. I knew that his sword, now with him in Valhalla had been stored on the stone shelf above his bed. I stood on the bed and reached up to see what else was there. It seemed empty until my fingers stumbled upon a piece of cloth. I eased it out and unwrapped the linen. I found inside a piece of carved wood. It was about the size of my hand and it was a wolf. I felt a shudder run through my body. What did this mean? Why had I not found it earlier? I decided to thoroughly search the house for any more treasures. They were no longer safe in the house all alone. I found his warrior bracelets, a long knife and, best of all, his war axe, his skeggox. He had had an ordinary axe which I still used to fell trees and he had a throwing axe. The war axe was finer altogether with a blade inlaid with runes. It had been under his bed! I left the house and returned to Butar’s hall.
I showed Butar the treasures. He remembered the axe but knew nothing about the wolf which he too found strange. “I feel the past at work here.” My mother was said to have the gift of second sight and when she spoke as she did we both heeded her words.
We sought Olaf who was now the oldest warrior in the village. He was lost in thoughts for a while. “I have not seen one of these for years but remembering your battle with the wolves, all this begins to make sense.” He handed it back to me. “This was meant for you. I am in doubt about that.”
“What does it mean?”
He took a large swig from his beaker of ale. “You have heard of Berserkers?”
Butar nodded. “Aye the men who get the madness of battle and throw off their cloak and armour to fight bare chested. It is said they are invincible.”
“They are not. The last berserker we had was Bjorn the Bear. He killed many Danes but they finally took him down. The Ulfheonar were a similar cult. They wore only a wolf skin as their armour. They were fierce and had more control than the berserkers. I did not know that Ragnar was one such.”
Butar looked amazed. “And I had no idea.”
“It was a secret cult. In battle their heads were covered by a wolf’s head. He must have been one somewhere else for I have never heard of any here.”
