by Griff Hosker
“Tonight you are a man and a warrior and you will tell the Emperor. Remember, Tostig, Viking blood courses through your veins.”
He nodded and translated. The Emperor seemed to accept it but the Hetaereiarch said something. “The Hetaereiarch says we must leave him and the captain and get the Emperor to safety.”
I grinned and said, “So long as I am in charge we will do it my way!” I turned to my son. “Come, Arturus, I know it is asking much of you but you are Ulfheonar and you are my son. If this is our time to die it will be a glorious death. Even if you are struck continue fighting and we will prevail.”
“I will not let you down, Jarl.” We both picked up a second weapon from those lying with the dead men. I had a spear in my left hand. It was better than the sword I had had and easier to use in my left hand.
We moved quickly across the open space. Two of the guards had the rhompeia while the other four had swords. None had shields. We had trained to run without making a noise and we were just ten paces from them when they saw our shadows emerging from the dark. The barbers’ attempts to tidy our appearance had not worked and I suspect we must have terrified them. They froze for just a heartbeat. It was enough.
I swept my spear to the left to keep the two men there at bay while I slashed down with Ragnar’s Spirit. The edge was still sharp enough to rip across the neck and throat of the warrior with the rhompeia. I felt a sharp pain in my side as a soldier from my left jabbed his spear at me. I jabbed forward with my own spear and felt it sink into the other warrior and, dropping the spear I grabbed the spear which had just scored a wound on my side. He did not expect it and he kept hold of the weapon. I brought my sword around and struck him on the side of the head just below his helmet. I cracked into his skull and he dropped like a stone.
Arturus had felled one and the other two were trying to surround him. I saw his second sword fall as I struggled to reach him. The gods gave my legs a power I did not know they possessed and I stabbed one of my son’s assailants through the back while he despatched the other.
“Go and fetch the others while I check the gate.”
As he padded off I opened the huge gate. Outside there was darkness and silence. I fully opened the gate as Arturus and Tostig helped the two wounded warriors across the open space. The Emperor reached me first and said something. I had no idea what. I waved him through; he needed to move quickly.
Suddenly there was a shout from the palace walls and an arrow thudded into the gate. “Hurry!”
The Emperor left. Arturus followed with the Captain. It was when Tostig reached me with the Hetaereiarch that arrows began to rain down. I saw a shield and picked it up. As I did so one of the men I had hit before rose to his feet and stabbed at me with his spear. Tostig tried to come to my aid. He weakly waved his sword at the guard. I watched, in horror, as the spear came through him. I took the head from his killer. Waving the Hetaereiarch to follow the others I knelt.
Tostig was smiling, “I will not see my home after all, Jarl Dragon Heart, but I died with a sword in my hand and I will go to Valhalla. Thank you for giving me the chance to be a warrior and to gain some honour. At the end I remembered my Norse blood. May the Allfather…” He died. I put both his hands around the hilt.
“I will see you, my friend, in the Otherworld.” As I stood two keener warriors had raced across from the palace to reach me. I took one blow on the shield which I had just picked up. I swept my long sword in an arc and felt it bite on flesh. I punched with my shield and as the surprised warrior reeled back I skewered him with my sword. The spear from the other warrior bit into my leg. I sliced down and his right arm fell to the floor. He dropped to his knees and tried to halt the spurting blood with his left arm. I turned and ran from the gate.
Ahead of me, down the slope, I saw the others as they struggled along. I found the Hetaereiarch sitting on a water trough. He tried to wave me away. I dropped the shield and sheathed my sword. I hoisted him across my shoulders and followed the others. Had there not been a slight slope I would not have managed but I saw hope when a gate opened and Arturus, the Emperor and the Captain of the Guard were admitted. I could hear footsteps behind me but I could go no faster. I waited for the blade in my back but then the Hetaereiarch’s men erupted from the barracks and hurtled towards us. Two of them took him from me. The wounds I had suffered had taken their toll and I slumped to my knees. I could go no further.
I had travelled to Miklagård and seen wonders. Was I doomed to die here? Arturus grabbed me and helped me to struggle the last hundred paces to the safety of the barracks. We had survived. The weird sisters were still weaving their webs.
Once safely inside the building we were totally isolated. We had no means of communicating with the others. Their healers came to look at the Hetaereiarch and the Captain of the Guard. The Hetaereiarch said something in a sharp voice and another healer came to dress my wounds. They removed all my clothes and I saw that the two wounds had been deeper than I had thought. The tunic was sodden with blood. The healers gave me something to drink. It warmed me and eased the pain. I began to feel sleepy and the next thing I knew I was in the dream world. I heard nothing but I saw my mother and Erika as they drifted in and out of view. I did not need their words; to see them was a comfort. I wondered if this was the start of the journey to the Otherworld.
When I awoke Aiden and Arturus stood over me with one of the Greek healers. I could see the relief on Arturus’ face. “You had us worried. They were deep cuts. The healers had to use many stitches.”
“How are Haaken and the others?”
“Itching to be at your side and defend you against your enemies.” Aiden looked up. “I have spoken with the Emperor. He is pleased with you. We are no longer prisoners.” He leaned and said, “I think that he will ask you and our men to become his personal guards. The two of you impressed him last night. He said he had never seen two such ferocious fighters before.”
I smiled, “You were able to talk with him then?”
“Josephus was a good teacher.”
I tried to get to my feet. Arturus held his hands to restrain me. “Where do you think you are going?”
“I am Jarl and I have to see to our men.” As I stood I felt a little dizzy and I put my hand on my son’s shoulder. I saw that we were in a small room with a tiny window. “Where is the Hetaereiarch?”
“He is next door.”
“We will see him and return to our ship.” A sudden thought struck me. “The insurrection?”
“The men of the Hetaereiarch’s thema retook the palace and reinstated the Emperor. Before they were executed they admitted that they had been paid to kill the Emperor by Bardanes Tourkos. Loyal troops now guard all the gates.”
“Good.” Tostig had not died in vain. His sacrifice had enabled us to escape. The guard at the door of the Hetaereiarch frowned as we approached. Aiden said something and he smiled and opened the door for us. The Hetaereiarch was sat up in bed.
He spoke and Aiden translated.
“The Hetaereiarch says that you should be resting as he is but he says you must be a wolf and cannot be caged.”
“Tell him that I was not meant to be imprisoned behind stone walls, no matter how beautiful. I would return to my men.”
As it was translated I saw him nod, “He says that he owes you his life and the Empire owes you a great debt. He will try to repay it before we leave.”
I limped over and clasped his arm in the warrior’s handshake. I used my limited Greek. “You are my friend. I would fight alongside you again.”
He smiled and spoke again, “He says that the Emperor wishes you and your men to serve him. He will pay you each a fortune.”
“Tell him that I am honoured but I must return to my people. It is no Empire but it is mine and my people need me.”
He nodded and we parted. As we made our way out of the barracks we had to endure many questions but as soon as Aiden mentioned who we were the scowls changed to smiles and we were accorded bows
.
It was daylight when we emerged and the brightness almost blinded me. We had had limited light for three days in our little cell and I had forgotten where we were. As we wound our way down to the harbour I noticed that there were far fewer people around. I suppose a rebellion makes everyone nervous. The sentries at the gate recognised us and bowed. As soon as we stepped through I saw that the guards had gone and my men were taking advantage of their freedom and were strolling along the harbour wall. As soon as they saw us they raced towards us.
“Have I enough material for another saga, Jarl Dragon Heart?”
Arturus laughed, “At least two and they will be requested over and over my friend.”
“Then let us get you back on board and then we can sail home.”
“You forget, Haaken One Eye, that we have yet to trade and to be paid for our treasures. We did not sail all the way around the world just so that I could gain another two wounds. We came for profit.”
Once I was aboard all that I wanted to do was to sleep. Magnus and Aiden rigged up a shelter at the stern and I slept. I slept a sleep without dreams. I just fell into a deep black hole and when I awoke I felt refreshed. It was just turning from dark to light. I must have slept all day and night. I was starving. As I rose Aiden appeared at my side with a candle. “The gods send sleep to heal warriors. You have a better colour, Jarl Dragon Heart. I will get you some food.”
I relieved myself over the stern and watched the sun rise over the turrets and towers of the city. I was pleased that we had seen it but I would be glad to leave. When I had eaten I felt much better. I rubbed my hands, “Now we can begin to trade!”
Arturus and Aiden laughed. “I am afraid, father, that we have already done so. Haaken and the crew were so desperate for activity that they went to the spice market yesterday to buy some of the precious powders.”
Aiden laughed, “The merchants were terrified for the story of the two wolves that defended the Emperor had spread. There was a mixture of gratitude and terror when we bartered. We bought a huge quantity and did not spend much of the gold. We have the money from Bardanes Tourkos and we have been told that the Emperor will give us our payment for the bones later today.”
“Then we can sail tomorrow?”
“We can indeed. Haaken and Cnut just need to provision the ship and then we can sail west.”
“Go with them now, Aiden, I would that we were ready to go sooner rather than later. I miss my cold northern home. You will need to use your new maps.”
After he had gone I asked Arturus to get us some coins. “I think we will go and buy some more of these fine garments. We will be comfortable while we sail the Middle Sea.”
“But the language?”
“We will use the language of gold!”
Snorri insisted upon accompanying us. “You are still injured Jarl and although he will not tell you, Arturus was also wounded in the fight.”
“Is this true? You were hurt?”
He nodded, “I took a spear thrust to the leg but it was a scratch only.”
I nodded. Each day my son became more of a man and less of a boy. “Magnus, take charge of the ship.”
It must have been wyrd, for as we entered the gate to the city we saw Josephus standing there. He bowed, “I am pleased that you live, master. The talk all over the city is of the foreigners who saved the Emperor.”
“And you Josephus, did you find your family?”
I saw his eyes well up with tears. “My brother died many years ago but my wife finally gave up hope and passed over less than a month ago. Even as we set off from Frisia she was in the Otherworld.”
There was little I could say. I put my arm around his shoulder. I understood his pain and his loss. I had suffered the same. “And have you a home?”
He shook his head, “No master, and I am here to ask to be your slave again.”
“No Josephus, that is not possible.” His face fell as though I had struck him. “You can be part of the crew and share in the profits.” He dropped to his knee and kissed my hand. “Enough of that, my men kneel to no-one! Come to the market and you can help us to strike bargains.”
When we returned we had had to hire men to carry all the goods that we had bought. I traded for all the things I thought Erika would have liked. Kara would enjoy them. Then we found a stall selling medicines and we bought those for Kara too. Finally we bought the finest weapons that the city had to offer. When the gold I carried was gone we returned to the ship.
A messenger awaited us. We were expected at the palace. I took Aiden, Arturus and Josephus with me. We dressed in our new clothes and I left Haaken to prepare the ship for sea. The palace guards cleared our way but we were recognised and cheered all the way to the palace. This time it was no antechamber we were taken to, it was the large hall where we had addressed the council. The Hetaereiarch was seated and I saw that there were four heavily armed warriors behind the Emperor. As we entered we were applauded.
I stood before him and bowed. He began to speak and Josephus translated. “The Empire owes a debt to Jarl Dragon Heart and his men of the Norse. They will ever be welcome in Byzantium. He pays his debts first.” Two slaves carried a huge chest. Their straining muscles told me of its weight. “And to the two heroes who fought off an army he gives these suits of mail.” Two more slaves brought forth complete sets of mail. I had seen them on Bardanes Tourkos and knew of their efficacy.
The Emperor smiled and descended to speak with me. I knew that I was still a barbarian in his eyes but he took my arm as a warrior would and spoke some Greek. The whole crowd applauded and cheered.
I looked at Josephus, “He said, Jarl, that the Viking wolf will ever be welcome in Constantinopolis!”
I nodded, “Then we can sail home. I have fulfilled my destiny!”
The End
Glossary
Áed Oirdnide –King of Tara 797
Afon Hafron- River Severn in Welsh
Bardanes Tourkos- Rebel Byzantine General
Bebbanburgh- Bamburgh Castle, Northumbria
Blót – a blood sacrifice made by a jarl
Byrnie- a mail shirt reaching down to the knees
Caerlleon- Welsh for Chester
Casnewydd –Newport, Wales
Cephas- Greek for Simon Peter (St.Peter)
Chape- the tip of a scabbard
Charlemagne- Holy Roman Emperor at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th centuries
Cherestanc- Garstang (Lancashire)
Cymri- Welsh
Cymru- Wales
Cyninges-tūn – Coniston. It means the estate of the king (Cumbria)
Drekar- a Dragon ship (a Viking warship)
Duboglassio –Douglas, Isle of Man
Dyflin- Old Norse for Dublin
Ein-mánuðr- middle of March to the middle of April
Fey- having second sight
Frankia- France and part of Germany
Garth- Dragon heart
Gaill- Irish for foreigners
Gladramenn- wizard
Glaesum –amber
Gói- the end of February to the middle of March
Haughs- small hills in Norse (As in Tarn Hows)
Heels- when a ship leans to one side under the pressure of the wind
Hel - Queen of Niflheim, the Norse underworld.
Hetaereiarch – Byzantine general
Hoggs or Hogging- when the pressure of the wind causes the stern or the bow to droop
Hrams-a – Ramsey, Isle of Man
Itouna- River Eden Cumbria
Jarl- Norse earl or lord
Joro-goddess of the earth
Knarr- a merchant ship or a coastal vessel
Kyrtle-woven top
Lochlannach – Irish for Northerners (Vikings)
Legacaestir- Anglo Saxon for Chester
Mammceaster- Manchester
Manau – The Isle of Man (Saxon)
Marcia Hispanic- Spanish Marches (the land around Barcelona)
Mast fish-
two large racks on a ship for the mast
Melita- Malta
Midden- a place where they dumped human waste
Nikephoros- Emperor of Byzantium 802-811
Njoror- God of the sea
Nithing- A man without honour (Saxon)
Odin - The "All Father" God of war, also associated with wisdom, poetry, and magic (The Ruler of the gods).
On Corn Walum –Cornwall
Orkneyjar-Orkney
Pillars of Hercules- Straits of Gibraltar
Ran- Goddess of the sea
Roof rock- slate
Rinaz –The Rhine
Sabrina- Latin and Celtic for the River Severn. Also the name of a female Celtic deity
St.Cybi- Holyhead
Scillonia Insula- Scilly Isles
Seax – short sword
Skeggox – an axe with a shorter beard on one side of the blade
Sheerstrake- the uppermost strake in the hull
Sheet- a rope fastened to the lower corner of a sail
Shroud- a rope from the masthead to the hull amidships
Stad- Norse settlement
Stays- ropes running from the mast-head to the bow
Strake- the wood on the side of a drekar
