by Unknown
I took a piece of half burned wood from the fire which burned next to the forge and blew upon it. It flared. Bagsecg seemed satisfied that the axe was hot enough. “May Thor guide my hand.” He was a strong man and when he brought the axe head down it was with such force that it would have taken a head from a bull. There was a hiss as it sliced through the flesh. I held the brand against the wound for a count of four and pulled it away. There was the smell of burning hair and flesh but, apart from an involuntary convulsing of the Frank’s body, there was little sign of the effect it had had on him. There was no blood.
“Take him to our hall!”
I saw Gilles look at me and I shrugged, “Do as my lady commands.”
They did so and then she said to us, “That was well done. You may have saved his life. Now let us see if we can make him a man again.”
Chapter 10
Now that Heyannir was almost over we would have to think about gathering in our crops again. We had done well the previous year. Would this crop be as good? We now had many more mouths to feed. Our successful raids meant more slaves. Next year they would begin to pay for themselves but, for the present, we would have to make sure there was enough food for the winter. That afternoon, as I spoke with Arne Four Toes, Beorn Beornsson and Einar Asbjornson I told them of my worries. “We should raid again but if we do then the Franks will fall upon our farms.”
“Then wait until the Franks have been. From what we know of this Filjean he will not wait long. Your attack on Hugo of Ċiriċeburh will have worried him. I would expect him soon.” Einar was a thoughtful warrior and I agreed with his assessment.
“I hope that our knarr returns soon. I would have the drekar ready to raid.”
Arne laughed, “You are assuming that we will be able to defeat the Franks.”
“If I did not then I would take our people and return to Raven Wing Island. I am confident in the abilities of our men. From what I have seen the Franks of Valauna and Ċiriċeburh do not pose as much of a threat as other Franks we have met. Of course, if they both arrive at the same time then it might cause a problem.”
“How many men do we have who live within these walls? I mean men who can ride and fight. Which of our men have skills with a bow?”
Beorn said, “Perhaps twenty. If you count Rurik and Finni, then twenty-two.”
“Tomorrow we ride to Rurik. I want the twenty-two who can ride mounted, armoured and with their bows. I plan to forestall this attack and try to discourage them. I will leave Bagsecg and Erik One Arm in charge of the walls. Have a beacon built so that we can light it and summon in all of those who live in the outlying farms. If we do not discourage them then we will enrage them and they will attack us like hornets whose nest has been disturbed.”
When they went to tell the men, I sought Alain, Gilles and Bertrand. I told them what I had planned. “I would have us tempt the Franks into an attack on us. We will fall back and our men can ambush them in the woods. If we kill enough of their best warriors, then even the headstrong Filjean might reconsider.”
“Would you have us use your new tactic and charge together to break their resolve?”
“No, we will save that surprise. I want them to think that we are not very good horsemen. Your helmets and shields mark you as Vikings. Do not wear your blue cloaks. I am the one they will fear. I want them to think we are cowards who run away. This is a ruse we can only use once so play your part well. Today you are not Franks who can ride well you are Vikings who have just been shown a horse and cling on for dear life!”
We left before dawn to ride to Rurik. We sent their families back to the Haugr and then headed into the forest. I had taken Nipper with us and I led. We encountered no one. I took that as a sign of the inexperience of the new young lord. If I had thought that enemies were close I would have had the forest filled with scouts. When we reached the place I had chosen as an ambush site I had my men line the trail. They placed themselves twenty paces from the path but each had a clear view of the path. When the arrows began to fly, the Franks would not see their attackers. Of course, if they chose not to attack then this would all be for nothing. I took out my seax and marked a cross in each of the two trees at the side of the path. The white, oozing wound would be seen easily when I came back.
I led my horsemen towards the gates of Valauna. The ambush was a thousand paces inside the wood. The Franks had cleared the woods which lay close to their lands. They would see an enemy coming. I had my Saami bow with me. We stopped in the eaves of the wood and I took an arrow. It was never easy using a bow from the back of a horse but the Saami bow was easier than most. The range was less than a hundred and fifty paces and I was confident that I could hit my target. The arrow flew straight and true. The guard was pitched from the wall and the others looked around for the assailant. I sent another one. It clattered from the helmet of a second guard. I slipped my bow into the sheath I had beneath my saddle and I led my men out.
The alarm bell in the church sounded and the walls were filled with warriors. I arrayed my men in a single line. I took out my sword and pointed it to the gate, “Charles Filjean, your father has died and for that I am sorry. I know it was only your father’s command which kept your hand from your sword. He is dead. I would not have uncertainty between us. Come and fight with me. Let us decide this by combat. Your father was an honourable man and took the challenge. Will you do the same? What say you?”
In answer a flurry of arrows came my way. They were poorly made and the archers had no skill. I held up my shield and most bounced off. Two struck the mail covering my legs and fell to the ground. I laughed, “Is that the best you can do? Come, show me that you are a man. Your father was such a warrior and he had honour. Do you have none?”
I hoped that he would accept my challenge but I knew that he would not. However, my words would spur him into action. He had the men of his town listening to him. How could they follow someone who was afraid to fight?
We had to be patient. More arrows came at my men and they were dealt with in the same way. Alain of Auxerre shouted, “Why do you allow your women to use bows? This insults us!”
His men jeered at the walls. I saw that only half of the men who had first stood on the walls were still there. He had taken the bait. He was mounting his men and hoping to catch us unawares. I knew that he had four gates. He would use all four to try to encircle us. I felt the vibration of hooves on the ground. They were coming from our left and right. “Be ready to run.” I had told my men precisely what I wanted them to do. It went against their nature but they promised to do as I had ordered.
The gates of the stronghold opened and mailed warriors spilled out. Alain and his men took flight. They did so badly, affecting the manner of Vikings who were unaccustomed to riding. I shouted, “Come back you cowards! Do not leave me here alone!”
When Gilles and Bertrand joined them, I heard a derisory cheer from those charging towards me. I whipped Dream Strider’s head around when they were less than thirty paces from me. As I did so I saw a second column of men coming from the west gate. They had taken the bait. Dream Strider opened his legs and I soon began to catch Gilles and Bertrand. I glanced over my shoulder as though I was nervous. I saw that just one column followed us. The other two charged towards the eaves on either side; they were seeking the archers they thought I had brought with me. I was at the rear of the line for a reason. I wanted them to think they could catch me and I slowed Dream Strider down as though I did not know the trail. I heard their hooves thundering behind me. When I glanced behind I saw that they were less than twenty paces and catching me. They had formed one long column. The nature of the woods meant it was difficult for me to estimate numbers but there was enough to make it worth our while. They had taken the bait. Could we now hurt them?
I had marked the tree where the ambush would begin. I had to draw them to the last tree where Rurik and Finni Jarlson waited. They were the last men in the ambush. Alain of Auxerre was already leading half of his warriors ba
ck into the woods but taking them around in a long loop to catch the Franks when they returned home.
As soon as I passed Rurik and Finni I turned around and drew my sword. Even as the leading warrior saw me arrows thudded into them. Unlike the arrows the Franks had loosed at me, these were well made arrows with heads which could pierce mail. They were also less than thirty paces away from my archers. My men had both a horse and a rider to hit. Even so the first Frank managed to evade most of the arrows. One struck him in the leg but he hurtled towards me. He leaned forward with his spear, a triumphant look on his face. I kicked Dream Strider in the flanks and took him to the left of the rider. His spear struck fresh air. I brought my sword around in a long, powerful swing and it bit into his jaw and face. He fell backwards over his horse’s hindquarters. I carried on up the path with Gilles and Bertrand in close attendance. I heard the shouts and cries from those who had been hit by the arrows. A pair of Franks held their shields before them. Their horses danced skittishly showing the nervousness of their riders. Three of their companions lay dead or wounded. Another was afoot, his mount having been killed. The three of us rode between them. I stood in my stiraps and brought my sword down across the shoulder of one while Gilles despatched the second.
I heard a Frankish voice shout, “Fall back! Fall back!”
The damage had already been done. At least twelve warriors lay dead. I could see that some of those who fled before us also had arrows sticking from shields, saddles, arms and horse’s rumps. Many would not make the edge of the wood alive. They were clinging to life as their worst nightmare dawned. We were Vikings and we had caught them. As we approached the end of the woods I heard a cheer as Alain and his men fell upon those who thought they had reached the sanctuary of their stronghold. It did not matter that there were only eight of my men. They appeared from nowhere and men who were already shaken became totally demoralised.
When I reached the gates, I shouted, “You have seen what we can do, Charles Filjean! Stay within these walls where you are safe!” There was silence from the walls.
I turned and rode back into the forest. My men cheered. It had been an easy victory. The numbers we had slain were immaterial. It was the manner of our victory which would have the longest lasting effect. We were also ten horses better off as well as having more mail and swords. We could now consider a raid. I would decide where after I had spoken with Sven and Harold.
It was dark when we reached our home. Nervous wives watched from the walls as we trooped triumphantly through the gates.
“Gilles, see to the horses.”
The new horses we had acquired were good horses. The Franks knew their horseflesh. We now had a good herd. The days when I had just two stallions and two mares were long gone. Gilles and I could begin to breed bigger horses and we would be able to wear more mail. As I walked past his forge Bagsecg shouted, “A good victory, jarl?”
“Any victory where I bring back all of my men is a good victory!”
When I entered my hall, I saw that the wounded Frank was seated at the table and Mary was feeding him. When he saw me, he tried to push himself backwards. My wife restrained him and said, “No, Pepin, you are quite safe. This is my husband the jarl of this land. You will not be harmed.”
“It was he who wounded me! I lost my arm because of him!”
“And he saved your life by bringing you here and removing the arm which might have killed you. Be thankful that you have life. You can never be a warrior again. Let us see what you can become. Now eat. You need your strength.”
I was not happy with the Frank’s words, “He has one good arm. Why cannot he feed himself? Erik One Arm does!”
She scowled at me, “Just take off your mail and wash yourself. You reek of blood and sweat. This is not a stable it is our home! Leave this to me!” Her eyes told me to heed her words. I did.
When I returned, the Frank was no longer there. I sat at the table, “Where is he?”
She shook her head, “That was not kindly done! Just when I think well of you then you have to do something like that. I fed him because he saw no reason to live with one arm. He thought to take his own life and that is a mortal sin. It was my Christian duty to give him hope. Do not take it away!”
I felt ashamed of myself. My wife’s words had been gentle. “I am sorry. I will try to be a better husband.”
“You are a good husband. I would have you be a better man!”
“I will try.” I sat at the table and a slave brought me some wine and a bowl of food. “You say his name is Pepin?”
She nodded, “He is called Pepin of Senonche. He is the same ages as Gilles. He had only recently joined Hugo of Ċiriċeburh. He has barely had time to be a warrior and your blow ended that.”
“What will he do now then?”
“I do not know but I will try to find something that he can do. If we abandon him then he will die.”
“Erik One Arm manages.”
“He is a Viking.”
“Then perhaps you need to make him into a Viking.”
I laughed, “Easier said than done. I think the best we can do is make him fit into the clan although how we do that I do not know. He appears to resent me.”
“That will change.” She sipped her wine, “You attacked the men of Valauna today?”
“We made them attack us. There is a difference. We have dampened their ardour for battle against the clan of the horse.” I hesitated, “I will take the drekar and raid when the knarr returns.”
“Why? Will that not make us vulnerable?”
“No for I will leave Bertrand, Alain and Alain’s men here. They are no sailors.”
“And why do you need to raid?”
“It is the new slaves and the new men. They need feeding. Until we clear more fields to grow more crops we will not have enough from our harvest. Last year we were lucky. We had a good harvest. We will go to the land of the Saxons. They harvest their grain earlier than we do. We would only be away for three or four days. I do not think that any will attack in that time. However, even if an attack is made I believe the Haugr could hold out for four or five days at least.”
She nodded, “You are right. We have too many people now and we would not wish any to starve. There are more babies and young children to feed.” She patted her belly. “This little one will be here by the end of the month. If you go then go soon. I would have you here when your daughter comes.”
‘Kara’ arrived in the middle of the next afternoon. Sven pointed to the skies, “It was the weather which delayed us. We had some bad storms on the way there and we had to repair some strakes. We bought all that we need needed. We have spare sails and even a spare mast for the knarr. We bought as much rope as we could. We are happy.”
I took them both with me to my hall and I explained what had gone on in their absence and what I planned. They did not seem unhappy. “You are right, jarl. We can reach the south coast quickly. Where would you raid?”
“The land around Haestingaceaster. When we took shelter in that bay it was in my mind that we could use it to raid. We have never taken from that shore. They might not expect us. We just need more grain to augment our crop. Anything else we could take would be a gift from the gods. I thought to sail to the bay and then slip around to Haestingaceaster after dark. We were lucky last time we raided. Let us keep ‘Dragon’s Breath’ close by this time.”
“Then we will prepare the drekar.”
Alain and Bertrand were happy to be my eyes and ears while I was away. Perhaps it was the blue cloaks but whatever the reason Bertrand seemed happier about my captain of horse and his men. They divided the men so that they could keep watch on both of our enemies. Bagsecg and Erik One Arm took charge of the Haugr. I did not take all of my warriors. I took just forty. I did not think we would need more and that left twenty to protect my walls. With the other men in the Haugr that would be enough. Poor Mary was suffering as we left. Her back was aching. I secretly blamed Pepin for she had done too much for him. I c
onsidered taking him with me as a sort of punishment but Mary would have none of it.
“I had a bad back with Ragnvald. It will pass. It is a good thing that it is women who have babies. If it were left to men, then we would have none!”
We left and headed north. The wind was our friend. It billowed the sails and took us into the dark waters of the deep ocean. Our recent success had buoyed us all. If we could get enough food for the winter, then when the Franks came after the grass had begun to grow then we could meet them in battle and defeat them. As we sailed we spoke of their shortcomings.
“The bows they use are hunting bows and their arrows are as dangerous as a summer midge.”
“Their shields are too small.”
Rurik shook his head, “You are missing their greatest weakness. They have no leaders. The two we have seen are even worse than Ketil Eriksson was. We thought he was bad but at least he had courage and some idea how to fight. If all the Franks are as bad as this Hugo and Charles, then we can conquer the whole land with just ten boat crews.”
“I think you are wrong Rurik. We are lucky that the two lords who are so close to us are so poor. Charlemagne had a great empire. It still is. You do not get that with poor leaders. It is just that we have not met their good warriors yet. I, for one, am happy that is so. Do not let our little successes go to your heads. We are growing in number and I am pleased with what we have. This is just the beginning.”
Arne Four Toes said, “Aye you are right. Let us enjoy what we do! We are Vikings and we go to raid! Talk not of Franks for we go to fleece the Saxon sheep!”
The wind took us north and we saw the coast appear in the late afternoon. Sven adjusted the course we were taking. We would head for the bay we had found on our last visit. Knowing it would be empty made us bold and we did not wait until dark. Once we were in the deserted bay we donned our mail and put on our war faces. I had my old helmet with the face mask for I wanted to inspire terror. The wind from the south meant that we would not have to row the last few miles to Haestingaceaster.
