by Unknown
Although we had not scouted out the port we had passed it before now. It had a wooden quay while the wooden town wall was barely forty paces from the water. We would rely upon surprise to enter the burgh. We hoisted the sail and headed west. The sun had almost set when we left. It meant we could see, by the glow from the western sky, what lay ahead while we were sailing from the dark. We did not chant and we kept silent. The only sounds we could hear were the cries of sea birds, the slap of the canvas and the rush of water beneath our dragon prow. Siggi Far Sighted was at the mast head and he used whistles and waves to direct Sven. Death was stalking the Saxons silently.
As we passed the end of the cliff which marked the start of the bay, the last light from the west went out as though someone had snuffed out a candle. Siggi whistled and Sven put the steering board over. My men were already lined up on the deck. Our shields were around our backs. It made disembarkation easier. As we turned I saw the glow from the fires which warmed the sentries. There was one at each end of the quay. All that we could see were shadows. When we were seen, we would know for there would be a shout. The longer they took to spy us then the more chance we had of success. We knew the sentries would not be mailed. Warriors who could afford mail spent their nights in warm beds and not huddled around fires watching the sea. But we also knew that they would see us.
We were less than a hundred paces from shore when the alarm was raised. As the cry went up Sven shouted, “Down sail!” He put the steerboard over and the wooden jetty which had been racing up to meet us was suddenly on our steerboard side. Two ship’s boys were ready to leap ashore. The jetty was not empty. There were ships tied there, end to end. Sven bumped us, none too gently, against them.
I stood on the sheerstrake holding the stay. Raising my sword, I shouted, “Clan of the Horse!” I leapt down onto the deck of the ship. A sleepy sailor stood. I punched him in the face with the hilt of my sword and in two strides was across the boat and leaping down on to the wooden jetty. Two sentries stood facing me while I saw another two running for the gate. I did not have enough time to pull my shield around and so I drew my seax and ran at the two sentries who stood before me. Their spears wavered. I knew what a terrifying aspect lay before them. In the glow of their fire all that they saw was a mask behind which burned two fierce eyes. Encased in mail I would appear bigger than I actually was.
I brushed aside the two spears with my seax and my sword and kept running. Behind me Arne Four Toes and Beorn Beornsson ended the lives of the two sentries with two sword strokes. I kept running. The two sentries who had fled were just a short way ahead and they had almost reached the gates. I heard men shouting from the walls and, inside Haestingaceaster was the sound of chaos and confusion ringing with shouts and cries. They might never have seen a Viking but they had all heard of us.
I heard someone from the fighting platform shout, “Close the gate!” It should not have been open. It showed their inexperience. Perhaps the two sentries who ran had friends on the walls who wished to save them. I know not but the gates were closing too slowly as those within tried to give their two sentries the chance of life. Spears and stones were hurled at us. We were in the dark and they were badly aimed. The last of the sentries had just managed to squeeze through the gates and they were about to close shut when I hurled myself bodily at them. Alone I would not have had an effect but Arne and Beorn were behind me and their bodies crashed into the back of mine a heartbeat after my shoulder struck the gate. It burst open. Three mailed Vikings are a powerful force.
As I stepped through a spear was rammed towards my head. Had it been my middle I might have struggled to stop it but my seax flicked up with enough force to deflect it above my head and Heart of Ice rammed into the Saxon’s middle. I pushed his body from my sword and slipped my seax into my belt. I pulled my shield around. Arne and Beorn flanked me. Their shields were already out and they protected me.
Rurik’s voice, behind me, told me that my men were there. “Ready jarl!”
“Then let us take them!”
Saxon burghs were all similar. The main path in the burgh would be wide and would lead directly to the main hall where the warriors and the thegn would live. We ran up it. It was wide enough for seven men and we formed an impromptu wedge. I was in the centre and flanked by six mailed men. Arrows were being loosed at us but our shields and our mail protected us. Distance is harder to estimate in the dark. A spear caught the top of my mail but the clasp which held my cloak deflected it. We were not in a solid wedge but moving quickly together to try to strike the Saxons before they had time to organise themselves.
Some brave Saxons hurled themselves at our advancing line. Without armour and without support they were not difficult to deal with. I took the spear on my shield and I lunged forward with my sword. Although the Saxon’s shield moved across to protect himself he was not quick enough and my sword slid deep into his body. I saw a thegn organising his bodyguard. There were five of them in mail. Around him other warriors clustered to form a rough shield wall. It was just two lines deep.
I shouted, “Shields!” The seven of us locked our shields. It meant we slowed down but we were just five paces from the Saxons.
Behind me I heard Gudrun Witch Killer shout, “Lock shields and help the jarl!”
I felt the reassuring presence of a pair of shields pushed into my back and a couple of spears jabbed over our heads.
“For Siggi White Hair!”
We stepped forward with three quick steps and we thrust at the same time. The enemy spears smashed into our shields or clanked off helmets. I heard a grunt from Arne Four Toes as a spear laid open his cheek. Then we were so close that spears would not help. We were face to face with the Saxons. I had kept my sword down and now I stabbed forward blindly with it. There was a solid line of Saxons before us and the odds were that I would strike something. I felt it sink into something soft and then grate along bone. The Saxon next to the thegn I faced gave a shout and his shield dropped a little. Beorn Beornsson had quick hands and the Saxon fell with a sword to the throat.
Beorn became the tip of the wedge as he broke their front line and stabbed a surprised Saxon who stood behind him. The thegn dropped his, now useless, spear and tried to pull his sword. The press of our bodies against theirs made it hard and his right hand became trapped behind his shield. I brought my head back and butted him as he tried to free his sword. He was a strong warrior but he took a half step back. It was enough and I stabbed across his shield. My sword went into the side of the warrior fighting Arne Four Toes. Arne pushed the body out of the way and stepped through the gap to slay the next Saxon. The thegn was now isolated. Beorn and Arne had started to work their way down the second rank of Saxons.
The thegn drew his sword and swung it at me. He now had space to do so. My shield came up and his blade clanged off my boss. “Pagan pirate! God will punish you!”
I did not try to swing. Instead my hand darted forward. It slid over the rim of his shield. His helmet was open faced and my sword slid inside it slicing through his cheek and then his ear. I twisted it as I tore it backwards and, before he could react stabbed again. This time my blade entered his mouth, already screaming a curse at me, and the life went from his eyes.
The thegn was the last of those who stood before the warrior hall.
“Seal off the gates. Stop them leaving!” If there were any warriors left they would be isolated and without mail. I was confident that my men could deal with them. I turned to Arne. His face was a bloody mask. Kneeling down I tore a piece of material from the dead thegn’s tunic. “Here, press this against the wound to stop the bleeding then go down and find the warehouses. Collect the grain. Beorn go with him.”
“Aye jarl.”
Rurik, Einar, come with me. We will search the hall. The rest of you, begin gathering weapons, mail and slaves!”
When we entered, I saw a priest standing with a cross protecting two women and a child. He was chanting in Latin. I said, “Priest if you try to fig
ht us then you will die! I promise you that you will not be harmed. We do not kill priests and women.”
He hesitated and Rurik took two strides, tore the cross from the priest’s hand and shouted, “You heard the jarl now sit!”
The priest said, “This is King Egbert’s niece! He will not rest until you are slain! This will not go unpunished!”
I smiled, “Thank you for that information. Einar, take the women and the child to the drekar. We have just increased our profits. Rurik, hold the priest.”
“No!” The priest tried to put his body between Rurik and the woman.
Rurik silence the priest with a back hand to the face. He fell, stunned.
I said, “You will not be harmed, ladies. You will be ransomed. If your uncle values your lives, then he will pay to get you back.”
The woman who was obviously the king’s niece glared at me, “You are savages!”
“Perhaps but you are our prisoner and life will be easier if you do not annoy us!” I gestured to the stunned priest.
As Einar led them away I said, “Knut the Quiet. If this is the home of the niece of King Egbert, then we can expect jewels as well as the books of the White Christ. Search everywhere. Asbjorn and Audun, help him.”
I sheathed my sword and headed out. The streets were remarkably quiet. Bodies littered the square before the hall. I saw that my men had already stripped them of mail, weapons and anything valuable. Harold Haroldsson and Gunnar Stone face came from behind me. “Jarl some twenty or thirty escaped out of the north gate.”
“Then they will seek help. Have the men hurry to load the drekar. Tell Sven we leave as soon as I arrive.”
When I re-entered the hall, I saw that my men had found some small chests, a couple of holy books and some fine linens and dresses. “Good, take them to the ship. Some escaped. We can expect enemies soon.”
“Aye jarl.” Laden, they left.
I saw that the priest was coming to. His face would bear a large bruise the next day. “Rurik, help him to his feet.” He roughly pulled the priest upright. “You will live, priest, and you will be free.” I saw incredulity on his face. “In return you will tell the king that we have his niece. If he wants her, the other woman and the child then he must send one hundred gold pieces to Dorestad. He has until All Saints Day. I choose a Christian date so that you will remember it. We have Samhain and that will remind us. His family will be returned unharmed. I will wait there for two days only. If the ransom is not paid by then I will sell them as slaves.”
“That is barbaric!”
“I do not debate. Do you understand or shall I keep you as a prisoner and find another to be a messenger?”
Shaking his head, he said, “I will do as you ask. And what is your name so that I may tell King Egbert?”
“I am Jarl Hrolf of the clan of the horse.”
He nodded, “I will remember and I am certain that the king will too!”
I laughed, “And if you think I fear his enmity then you do not know me! Now go!”
He scurried out like a frightened doe.
Rurik asked, “Was that wise, giving him your name?”
“Do you fear the Saxons? The day we fear them is the day we just farm and do not raid.”
He laughed, “You seem to gather enemies like a squirrel gathers nuts!”
“Then let us make a few more. Set fire to this hall and I will do the same to the others. It will slow down pursuit.”
I went to the large fire and picked up a log. Half was already on fire. I left the hall and went into the darkness. Next door was the church. My men had already cleared it. I threw the burning log beneath the altar. Made of wood it soon began to burn. The next two huts had fires within and it was easy to spread the fire and set them alight. Eventually, as I emerged from the fourth hut, the settlement was ablaze and thick smoke filled the air. I hurried down to the quay. Rurik and I were the last two to arrive.
Sven shook his head, “We thought you were going to stay!”
“No but I wanted to leave our mark. Let us go!”
“Man the oars!”
With the wind against we would need to row home. My men took off their helmets, placed their shields on the sheerstrake, and took up their oars. After Siggi used an oar to push us from the land we began to head south. Our chant was a joyous one for we had done well. The two dead men we had suffered now lay by the mast and we would mourn them when we were home but for now we were happy.
Siggi was the son of a warrior brave
Mothered by a Hibernian slave
In the Northern sun where life is short
His back was strong and his arm was taut
Siggi White Hair warrior true
Siggi White Hair warrior true
When the Danes they came to take his home
He bit the shield and spat white foam
With berserk fury, he killed them dead
When their captain fell, the others fled
Siggi White Hair warrior true
Siggi White Hair warrior true
After they had gone and he stood alone
He was a rock, a mighty stone
Alone and bloodied after the fight
His hair had changed from black to white
His name was made and his courage sung
Hair of white and a body young
Siggi White Hair warrior true
Siggi White Hair warrior true
Siggi White Hair warrior true
Siggi White Hair warrior true
The journey home was slower than the outgoing one. The slaves wept and moaned all the way back. The exception was the thegn’s wife who glared at us. Had she been Viking then I would have sworn she was laying a curse or a spell upon us. If she thought to intimidate us she was wrong. We had six other women we had taken and four children. It soon emerged that the woman with the thegn’s wife was her servant and the child, her son. I was not certain if I had asked too much or too little. It did not matter over much. There were men in Dorestad who would pay more for a slave who had been a lady. I would prefer to sell them back to Egbert but that all depended on how he viewed them.
We arrived back after dark and Sven had the difficult task of negotiating the rocks around the causeway. It meant that we had many hands to help us unload. I saw that Bertrand and Gilles were there. “Escort these two women and this child to my hall. Guard them well for they are to be ransomed.”
The other slaves were taken to our slave pen. They would be yoked; at least for a while. Once they realised that there was no way that they could return home they would accept their life. I had. We would have to be their hosts for two months. My home would not be the pleasant place it had been. Alain strode over to me. “It looks like you had a good raid, lord. We had no trouble here. We saw no signs of our enemies. I did not expect any.”
“Why not?” I was curious. If the situation had been reversed, then we would have wreaked revenge quickly and decisively.
“The Leudes. Both lords will have to tell their liege lord of the attacks. He will decide what they ought to do. He is the embodiment of King Louis in this part of the world.”
I nodded, “Thank you, I am relieved.”
“Do not be for if the Leudes of Rouen comes it will be with a mighty army and Philippe of Rouen would not have been given such a responsibility if he was not a good general.”
“Thank you for the warning. We have more weapons, helmets and mail. Some of the swords will be better than the ones we have. Give them to the men who have good skills.”
Eventually I went to my hall. I had put it off as long as I could but I could delay no longer. When I entered, I saw that my wife had managed to deal with the situation well. Even though she had had no warning she had managed to use screens to make a sleeping area for the three Saxons. It was a small thing but I saw that the Thegns wife was happy.
Mary smiled, “I have told the Lady Aethelflaed that she will be treated as a lady here. She was not impressed by your men. She thought th
em barbarians.” She was speaking openly and I guessed that the Saxons could not speak our language. I could speak at least three.
“Good. And how is our other guest?”
“Pepin is in better spirits. I have had him watching over Ragnvald. He seems to like our son.” She winced, “And I fear that my time is almost here.”
“And I am home. All will be well.”
She laughed, “You have done what you always do. You have triumphed!”
Chapter 11
Our daughter was born in the middle of Tvímánuður. We named her Matilde after the Frankish lady who had held her people together for so long. The lady Aethelflaed and her woman, surprisingly, helped with the birthing. I suspect it was something to do with a common understanding of birth. My people celebrated. The jarl had a son and it was right that he should have a daughter too.
Just after she was born I sent Sven and Harold, along with Bertrand, to Dorestad. I wanted news of Egbert and we needed to sell the holy books and spend some of the treasure we had taken. We had captured great quantities of grain. We were now well supplied with food but the women of the Haugr all wished for more and better pots. The ones we had found in Haestingaceaster had been of poor quality. We used them for the slaves. We also needed wine for I wished the upcoming marriage to be a great celebration for our people. It would double as a feast of the harvest. Since we had hostile relations with the Franks we would have to go further afield.
I resumed my horseback excursions around my land. We had stretched out a little further. More trees had been cleared. They were used for building and for timber. The ground was used by pigs and sheep. When the new grass came, we would plough it and plant crops but the animals could graze and fertilize it at the same time. Each month saw me having a longer journey to meet all of the clan. I did not mind.
