by Griff Hosker
“How do you know this?”
“We hide from his men but there are others who live close to him and suffer his privations, they speak with us.”
“Then, yes, we did.”
“If you return, Jarl Dragon Heart, then we will swear fealty to you.”
By the time we reached the river we had spoken with six such headmen. All of them wished to throw off the cruelty of their present masters. Haaken was sceptical. “Will we not become the masters they hate once we have rid them of these warriors?”
“Do we do as they say?”
“We have.”
“Aye, when we raided the Saxons or the Hibernians. We are changing.”
Cnut had more practicalities on his mind. “Word will get back to this Dál Uí Néill. Some of those we spoke with will try to ingratiate themselves with him by selling us out.”
“I know. I want to draw him out.”
“And how will we do that?”
“We have done it already. We only ever sent ten men into the settlements. If he hears of us he will think we are but ten. Despite the stories he spread about the loss of his brother and his men the fact that none returned will tell him that we are dangerous. He will not sit behind his walls; he will come to look for us. That suits us. We have the best scouts in the land and we will know when he comes. Were you afraid of his brother and his poor weapons?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why fear this one? He may outnumber us but that is always the case. We are Ulfheonar!”
Another advantage of bringing the boys with us was that they could spread out with Beorn, Arturus and Snorri, acting as extra scouts. It increased the warning we would have. We travelled along the river. It was flat land but the bank was lined with marshes and high grass. It made it poor land for farming but perfect for hiding us.
We lay up close to the river. The midges and the biting insects feasted well but we managed to avoid the attentions of any warriors. That night I sent out my three scouts to close with the fortress and the settlement.
Snorri brought news of the enemy. He had seen columns of warriors and they were scouring the land for us. They had reinvested the fort and he had twenty men guarding its walls. That was foolish for it lessened the men he had to find and kill us.
Arturus and Beorn reported much the same although they were able to tell us that there were three horsemen with each column and they looked to be searching south, west and east. It is strange the way ideas come to you. Instead of ambushing the columns one by one I saw a way to bring this Dál Uí Néill to us.
“We will take the fort.”
Even Haaken was surprised and he knew me best of all. “But that is madness! They will return to the fort and we will never take it.”
“Suppose we go now. How many men will there be within the fortress?”
Snorri grinned, “Twenty only.”
“If Aiden were here he would tell you that such a number means one, two or three sentries at the most on the walls. We watch until their attention is elsewhere and, one by one we close with the walls.” I almost had them convinced. “When we saw the gates Cnut, were they in good order?”
He laughed, “The boys with slings could bring them down.” I remembered that the last time we had seen the gates they had been lying in the ditch. I doubted that they had been repaired well.
“And it is the boys with slings and our archers who will ensure victory. They will watch the walls and at the first sign of alarm they will clear them.”
It was a bold though risky strategy. I was normally cautious. Something had changed in me.
We made our way along the river bank. We remembered the fort from our earlier visit. With wolf skins over our armour I sent the Ulfheonar around the four sides of the fort. Each had four boys with them. The remainder I left at the river. I took the southern gate. Arturus and Snorri were amongst my warriors. The other three parties were led by Haaken, Cnut and Thorkell. All could be relied upon.
The gate was, as I had expected, closed but it looked both worn and damaged. It had been attacked and breached before being repaired. The original builders had cleared the ground around the ditch. Since that time bushes and weeds had sprung up. The boys could easily lie hidden whilst our cloaks would make us dark shadows.
We watched the three men who were atop the wall. They moved up and down the wall a few times until we saw a pattern emerge. They would walk the walls and then stop in the tower where they would talk. Once they entered the doorway we were hidden could move and when they emerged we would stop. As soon as they entered the door we sprinted forward. We managed forty paces before we had to stop. Snorri dropped first and then we all joined him on the ground. Once in the gate house they would talk and occasionally peer out. They would see what they expected to see. When they moved again we sprinted, just twenty paces this time. We were now less than fifty paces from the ditch. Their eyes would be more likely to be viewing further away to watch for distant enemies.
They remained on the wall a little longer this time and I wondered if we had been seen. Snorri again saw them move and he ran, with Arturus, as fast as he could. They both reached the ditch before the sentries returned. The young boys and four other Ulfheonar then made it safely. There were just three of us left with a twenty pace run. As soon as they left the tower we ran as quickly as we could. Snorri and the others had not been idle. They had cleared a path of the accumulated rubbish and were now crouched beneath the Roman wall.
By keeping close to the wall we were safe. I waved Snorri and two boys to the other side of the gate where they could pick off the solitary guard who was there. I sent Arturus and two boys to deal with the sentry on the gate and I remained with Einar and one of the boys. We had to wait until all three had split up. I dropped my hand. Three arrows and four stones flew.
Even while they were in the air I had my Ulfheonar boost Sigtrygg and me up to the top of the wall. Sigtrygg was a strong young man and he hauled himself over. I was struggling until his ham like hand came over to pull me up. He grinned, “You are getting old, Jarl Dragon Heart!”
I could see that only two sentries had survived and they were quickly despatched by Thorkell and Haaken. “Get the gates open and the men inside.”
It took a very short time for us to take over the fort. I turned from the southern gate. The town was not far away but there was neither noise nor reaction. They had not seen what had gone on and they assumed that we were the guards. All soldiers look the same to farmers.
“Get the men without armour on to the gates. I want this leader to see his men on the walls.” My plan was simple. I would let this Dál Uí Néill enter the fortress and then we would attack him from the ramparts.
A cursory examination of the interior showed that they had done little save to move their belongings into the old barracks. They had neither repaired nor improved the defences. The gates had only been crudely repaired.
“Snorri, take off your mail. You have good eyes. Become the captain of the guard.”
While he did that the rest of us took the opportunity to drink and to take off our helmets and cloaks. Haaken laughed, “Your adventures make for wonderful, if unlikely sagas, Dragon Heart. To take such a place with slingers is… well it beggars belief!”
“Perhaps we should do the unexpected more but do not forget, one of my ancestors lived and fought here. The spirits of the dead watch over the living!”
It was dusk when the first of the columns appeared. They trudged as though they had marched all day. That was good; they would be tired. As soon as Snorri saw them we were called to arms and I sent all of my men to the walls except for Haaken, Cnut and Sigtrygg. When the gates were open, by Snorri and Beorn they would just see us. I wanted them to be angry and charge us. My men and slingers would do the rest. We knew that there were twenty in each column. That was a reasonable number for us to handle.
I do not think it was their leader who entered first. He was not completely mailed and his sword was not wel
l kept. However, when he saw me and my companions he charged at us. There were three of them who were mounted. Their charge took them from the security of their men who were suddenly struck by lead balls and arrows. Snorri and Beorn raced to finish off any who still stood.
The four of us faced the horsemen. We held our shields out before us and our swords were ready to strike. Sigtrygg and I swung at the same time. His blade took the horse in the neck while mine severed the warrior’s arm. He flew from his dying mount and his life blood spurted across the old Roman parade ground. Haaken and Cnut killed the two others without hurting the horses.
I wondered if they would all be this simple.
Unfortunately, the next two columns arrived together and the last one was but a hundred paces behind. This would be a harder fight. “Einar, Sven and Ragnar Siggison, join us here.”
We waited, the seven of us, and we could not disguise the slaughter which had happened. We did not move the bodies and they would see them as soon as the gates were opened. I stood in the middle of the wedge. With Sigtrygg to my right and Haaken to my left I felt as safe as in my own hall.
This time, when the gate was opened and the men rode in, they halted. Dál Uí Néill himself was at their head and he was wary. I knew it was him from his armour and his weapons. He saw me and reached down for something hanging from his saddle. He held it up and I saw it was the head of the son of Osric of Thirl. He hurled it towards me, shouting, “You must be Jarl Dragon Heart. This worm told me your name. You are the one who killed my brother.”
“I am!”
“Then I will try out your blood eagle upon you. As for the rest of your men, their heads will adorn my walls before evening.”
I did not mind his words but I wished that he would fully enter. My men were unable to use their weapons from above until he and his men had all entered.
“Why not try me now, spawn of a Saxon whore!”
I could see that I had angered him. He drew his war axe. “I will Lochlannach but why should I deign to dismount when we have you outnumbered?” He turned to his men. “Forward, but move slowly. I do not want these rats fleeing!”
He was far too over confident. I knew not why he had a long handled axe whilst on a horse. He had as much chance of hitting his mount as me. He came with his eight horsemen in the middle. His other men spread out on either side like a huge wedge. I could count only ten shields between them. Their weapons were dull and, from where I stood, badly maintained. These were not warriors, these were bandits. When the last ones were in, Snorri and Beorn slammed shut the doors and the killing began. My men emerged from the towers and rained death on to the men milling below. Some turned and tried to get at them. The arrows and lead balls slew them.
Dál Uí Néill spurred his horse on and the eight charged at us. There were three spears held by those attacking and they would be the most dangerous of the weapons until we were face to face. I had my shield before me and those of Haaken and Sigtrygg locked alongside. As the spears struck the shields we leaned forward. I saw Haaken reach over and hack at the head of the spear; the wood was sliced cleanly in two. I saw the long axe swinging overhand towards my head. With the spears now useless I raised and angled my shield. I jabbed blindly with my sword as the axe came down. Dál Uí Néill’s mount turned its head to avoid the blade and the axe bit into the leather of my shield and snagged on an iron nail. Dál Uí Néill tried to hang on to the axe and the reins as his horse tumbled to the ground.
It was now every man for himself. Our small wall was broken. Dál Uí Néill rolled away from his horse and held his axe in two hands. He swung it around his head in a double loop and advanced towards me. Had I not faced one before I would have been worried. The whirling axe was at head height and it seemed impossible to avoid. I waited until it had swung over and then I stepped forwards and hacked at his head with Ragnar’s Spirit. The move took him by surprise. He tried to step back but the edge tore across his face and his chest. Blood spurted. He had a diagonal cut from one cheek across a ruined mouth and the mail on his byrnie was torn. He stepped back and spat out a ruined tooth.
He feigned flight and spun around. The axe head had tremendous speed. I raised my shield to take the blow. My arm was numb from the force of the strike. As he tugged the head free I darted forward to stab him. The blade ripped through the mail and into his side. It came away bloody and he roared his pain as he finally freed his axe.
I lowered my shield to gauge his next move. I would not be able to take too many more blows. He was moving a little more slowly now and his breathing was laboured. The loss of blood was weakening him. I took in that we were the only ones left fighting. I could see my warriors despatching the dying or watching us. They would not interfere.
Instead of a swing he pulled the axe back over his head. He would be able to generate tremendous power from such a strike. I took a step forward and swung Ragnar’s Spirit horizontally. It tore open his throat. The axe fell from his hands and his body slumped to the ground. He died in a widening pool of his own blood.
My men cheered. We had won!
Chapter 13
The horses which had not been killed were captured. “Get to the settlement and capture the villagers before they flee.”
The six who had fought alongside me grabbed the horses and galloped off through the southern gate. Arturus ran to me. “I thought he had you with the axe!”
“They look more dangerous than they are. He was a fierce warrior.”
Suddenly one of the boys from the north tower shouted, “Jarl Dragon Heart! A ship is sailing towards the sea.”
I ran to the north wall and ascended to the ramparts. Someone must have escaped and warned the villagers. I saw a small ship, a little bigger than our knarr heading west along the river. My men would find poor pickings in the village. I took the opportunity of walking along the wall to view the land we had now taken.
Dál Uí Néill had held this land with just a hundred poorly armed men. He had oppressed and abused the people. We could do it with fewer men and a more enlightened approach. Arturus joined me as we walked. “It was a great victory, father. You outwitted him!”
I shook my head, “In the battle of wits my opponent was unarmed. These were not true warriors my son. Those men of Navarre, they were warriors. When you fight warriors who are true warriors then you will be lucky to escape a battle unscathed. You either win or your bones bleach on the battlefield. Remember that. You choose your battles wisely. I never had any doubt about the outcome of this one. Once we gained entry then victory was assured.”
There were a few prisoners. Most were old women and men. None of them would fetch much at auction. They were bound until I could decide what to do with them. The metal was gathered together and stacked near a cart we recovered. Bjorn would be able to use those. After we had bathed in the river and a meal was cooked we sat in the old Roman barracks. I knew my men now and understood their dreams and desires.
“Thorkell, Sven and Einar, do you miss the mountain of Wyddfa?”
Thorkell grabbed his amulet as though I had read his mind. He knew me well enough to tell me the truth. “I do my lord. I like being my own man.”
“What think you to this land?”
“It is good and the mountains, while not so high, are solid.”
“Would you be jarl here and hold this land for me?”
His face answered before his voice. “Aye my lord.”
I stood and waved towards Thorkell. “If there are others who wish to fight here with Jarl Thorkell the Tall then they can do so.” I knew that they would talk with each other, as men do and I would not get a real number until the morning. There was a hubbub of noise as they began to discuss the choices. I turned to Thorkell. “When I return to Úlfarrston I will have a threttanessa built for here. This will be our rock of the north!”
He nodded, “Thank you, Jarl Dragon Heart and this will not be like Cymru. I will make sure that this time my men will be vigilant. We will not lose this stad.�
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“That was not your fault; that was wyrd.”
Twenty men wished to stay. Ragnar Siggison, Einar, Sven White Hair and Harald Green Eye asked to follow Thorkell. I was happy for the five Ulfheonar would hold together the others. I was happy that many boys wished to stay but I told them they would have to prove themselves as warriors first. When my new ship was finished we would return with their women and their belongings. The captured slaves would tend for them until then.
“Do we repair the fort?”
I shook my head. “We do not have enough men for that. Destroy the doors. We can use the buildings for protection in the winter but build wooden walls yonder.” I pointed to a small hill which rose above the river. “It we prosper then we can always build new gates. I do not think that the enemies who come will be in great numbers.”
We left Thorkell the Tall to view his land. We gave him two of the captured horses. He would have the whole summer to establish himself and build his halls. The turf on his roofs would be well established by winter and they would be warm. I did not think that they would suffer as we had for the river was close by. I felt happier as I led my men south.
When we reached the flatter ground I sent Haaken with most of the men to sweep west and along the coast. “We need the people to accept our rule. Be gentle with them but firm. I would know what there is along the coast.”
“And you, Jarl Dragon Heart?”
“I will take Arturus and Snorri. I will visit with Osric of Thirl. I shall tell him that the man who killed his son is now dead.”
We took three of the small horses we had captured and headed down the valley. Osric and his family, as I had expected, hid from us. We dismounted close to their cluster of round huts. We watered the horses and waited. Eventually Osric and his son, Osgar, emerged from the trees.
“We were not sure if you were the others or not.”
I nodded, “They will come no more. We killed them all. My men now control the land to the north. You can farm in peace.”
