by Unknown
“Jarl, Alain returns.”
I looked up and saw Alain and my men riding easily towards us. They were leading five horses. This skirmish was over but the war was about to begin.
Chapter 14
Leaving Rurik and Finni to guard their home I took the rest of my men and Folki’s warriors north. The wounded were on the horses. One of them would never fight again. Fótr and his men had paid a heavy price for his ambitions.
“These war machines which threw stones, what did they look like?”
“They had four wheels and had a basket. The men pulled back on them and then released them.”
“How far did they throw their stones and fire?”
“Perhaps a hundred and fifty paces. They had three but when one of the pots they used set fire to one and another broke down they just had the one.”
“Was that how they sent fire at you?”
He nodded, “They had clay pots and there must have been fire within them. They hurled them through the air. When they landed, they sent fire in all directions. I think they had oil in them.”
“I have seen them used that way.”
“Have they used them against you, jarl?”
“Not yet. I think, Folki, that your brother had ambitions and spoke loudly of them. You have Franks who lived with you?”
“Aye slaves. We used their women.”
“Did any escape?”
“Some. Others tried and we captured them. Fótr took the toes from one foot of those that did so to discourage the others from doing the same.”
“Then that is how the Leudes knew you would attack. He waited for you. He knows how Vikings fight. Or, at least, he believes he does. He expected you to use your ships and your men. He was ready.”
“Will he wait for you to attack him?”
I shook my head, “I have irritated him long enough. Rescuing you and slaying his own men will be the last straw. He will come.”
He nodded, “Wyrd.”
“And what of you and your men? I can have my knarr take you to Dorestad or Dyflin if you have had enough of Frankia.”
“No, jarl. With your permission, we would join the clan of the horse. All the advice you gave my brother was good but he chose to ignore it. I am no jarl. I will follow you as will my men. There are few of us but we have vengeance to extract. If we are to perish then it will be under the banner of the horse.”
“Good. We will be proud to have you in the clan.”
“Do you expect your warriors to ride?”
“Many do but many others do not. Let us see if you have the skill. If not, then you will fight in the shield wall.”
“That we can do.”
Our arrival was the cause for both concern and consternation. There were many who had seen the clan of the fox and thought that they would survive. They had more warriors than we had and yet they had been slaughtered. My older warriors, however, knew better.
Arne Four Toes said, “This is the clan of the horse. We do not break as easily.”
Einar nodded, “Aye and we do not take warriors we do not know. You are welcome Folki Kikisson but your brother took any who would follow his banner. We do not have great numbers because we only accept those who are of good heart. You will see Franks and Swabians, Norse and Frisian but they have one thing in common. Our jarl’s eyes sought their hearts and they were good. He has done the same with you.”
My wife also welcomed them. “It is good that they had no women to lose. It is what marks you as different from other Vikings, my husband. Your vision stretches to the end of the world and beyond. Others can see no further than the end of their sword.” She turned, “Pepin, you had better arrange beds for the new men.”
“Aye my lady.”
My wife had wreaked a great change in the maimed Frank. She had nursed his body and then healed his mind. She had given him more tasks each day and more responsibility. He was Ragnvald’s unofficial bodyguard as well as a sort of Steward who did tasks my wife gave him. He seemed happy and even carried a sword. It made him feel more like a man. When she had come into my life and become my wife, I had been lucky.
I sent for my warriors over the next days to convene a council of war. I sent Sven and Harold in the knarr to Dyflin to buy more bows and to tell Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer of the infidelity of the warriors who had deserted Fótr. The jarl was an honourable man. He would make sure that others who wished to join us were made of sterner material.
It was cool but pleasant and so we met under the skies which were filled with scudding clouds. I now had more men to address. “I think our respite is now over. So long as Folki and his brother held the land to the south of us then we only had the two local Frankish lords to worry about. I am now certain that Philippe of Rouen will come to, not only punish us, but also to wipe us from the face of the earth.”
There were rumblings from my men and Rurik One Ear spoke for them all when he said, “Let them come! I relish the prospect!”
“Do not expect an easy victory such as we had over the men from Valauna. This is a cunning lord. He has war machines. He has a mind and will devise strategies to trick and trap us.”
Einar Asbjornson said, “But you have a plan, do you not?”
“I do. We now have sixteen warriors who do not farm. Most of you will need to sow your crops and tend to your animals. You cannot watch for our foes. Alain of Auxerre and his horsemen will stay with Rurik and Finni. They will watch for signs of the enemy heading from the south. Folki and his warriors will live with Erik Green Eye and Rolf Arneson who live a short way to the north. When Sven returns, we will use the knarr to watch the coast. I have no doubt that this Leudes will try to stop us going about our daily lives. He will see that as a way to weaken us. We saw his patient approach with Fótr.”
“Will he not try to exploit his victory and attack sooner?”
“No, Folki. He lost men. Your brother and your clan killed many. We took and slew horses. He cannot just follow us. It will take time. He has no slaves who will be deserting us to tell him what we plan and so he will send scouts. If we cut off his information, then he will be the one who will become worried.”
“When will he come jarl?”
“If I knew that then I would be a galdramenn like Aiden but I am just a warrior who knows how to use his mind. Bagsecg and his family will make arrows and spear heads. We will be ready.” I pointed beyond the walls. “We will mark the range of our arrows with disguised stones. They will not be ready for our bows. We now have a number of Saami bows. I have sent for more. Our best archers will all have a weapon which the Franks do not know. We have a greater range than their war machines. They will not find us such an easy target for it is we who will watch their coming and we will be the ones with surprises.”
There was, as there always is, much discussion and refinement of my plan but everyone was happy with it and the clan was united. The part which I had not told them involved me and my two warriors. We would go to annoy and irritate the two lords who lived close by in an attempt to draw them out. I counted on their hatred for me to override the orders given by their Leudes. I had more hope with Charles Filjean who was a firebrand with a temper but I was confident that we could weaken the young Hugo of Ċiriċeburh.
It did not take long to position our stones and then my two sets of warriors left. I went with Alain of Auxerre. I told him what I had planned. He smiled, “That may work. If you wish to annoy Hugo of Ċiriċeburh then mention his brother. Guiscard was a noble warrior who died bravely fighting the men of Cordoba. He and his oathsworn died to the last man.”
“Thank you, I will. Be wary in the woods. They know we have skill and they will try all sorts of tricks. Do not believe any message which comes from them.”
“I know my own people, lord. I am not easily fooled.”
Instead of riding through the forest we rode to the road and thence to Valauna. I had my bow with me as well as a spear. Gilles and Bertrand both knew what we were doing. I had explained in detail what I would d
o and what they should do also. We fought well together. The two of them almost anticipated my moves and actions. It saved time. We were about a mile from Valauna when we came upon two riders. They were heading north from Valauna. I heard the sound of their hooves approaching and had an arrow ready in my hand. As the two riders emerged around a bend I sent an arrow, at no more than one hundred paces range, to pitch one rider from his saddle. They were not expecting trouble and our attack took the survivor by surprise. As Bertrand and I kicked our horses in the flanks he whipped his horse’s head around and sped back to the town. Gilles galloped after the riderless horse. They were too valuable to allow to wander in the countryside.
We were gaining. The rider’s head turned in terror as our horses drew closer. I heard his shout as we approached the gates, “Northmen! It is the devils from the north!”
I almost laughed at the panic which ensued. The warriors at the gate moved so quickly that the harbinger of their doom was almost cut off outside their walls. I could hear a bell tolling within and warriors appeared on the fighting platform in great numbers. We reined in two hundred paces from the walls.
Bertrand chuckled, “We nearly had him, lord.”
“Aye we did. Let us wait here and see what they do.” We both leaned forward to stroke the manes of our horses. I heard hooves behind and turned to see Gilles with the messenger’s horse. He reined in next to me and I saw a leather tube hanging from the saddle. “What is that?”
“I know not. I took his sword but I did not examine the saddle.” He took it from the saddle and opened the end. Inside was a document. I could see the seal hanging from it. He held it out to me. I unrolled it. The writing was in Latin. The seal, however, I recognised. It was the gryphon.
“Bertrand, you have an education. Can you read it?”
He took it, “I can try, my lord.” I saw him frowning as he struggled with some of the words, “It is from the Leudes of Rouen. It orders Hugo of Ċiriċeburh to raise the levy and await orders. He is also ordered to discover the defences of the stronghold of the barbarian.” He read a little more and laughed, “The last part is interesting, lord. I think it says that under no circumstances is he to engage in military activities against the barbarians.”
I nodded, “Replace it in the tube. I will have my wife read it too. There may be hidden meanings in the words.” He did so. “I am guessing that Charles Filjean also had the same message. I cannot see him venturing forth. A pity; still at least we know that what I deduced is what will happen. The two lords will wait for Philippe of Rouen. We might as well ride to Ċiriċeburh. He has not received this message and he may decide to react. I hope so. I woke up this morning ready for a fight.”
We were seen a half a mile from the walls and the gates slammed shut. I rose close enough to shout but far enough away to be safe from arrows or slings. “I would speak with Hugo of Ċiriċeburh. Is he within?”
A moment later a head, encased in a full mask helmet, appeared over the top. “I am Hugo, lord of this burh. What do you wish, barbarian?”
“I once offered you the hand of friendship and you spurned it. For a warrior like me there are only two kinds of people: friends and enemies. Having said you are not my friend then you must be my enemy and as my enemy I am here to fight you.”
“Three of you would fight us?”
“That would not be a problem, but I had in mind a combat between you and I.”
“Like the one which maimed and ultimately killed Jean of Caen? Do you think me a fool?”
“No, I think you a coward. You abandoned the men who fought for you. When I attacked your men, you fled and left them to be captured and killed. One of them now serves me. Pepin of Senonche may only have one arm but he has more courage than you. Perhaps all the courage in your family lay in the blood of Guiscard, your brother. It is a pity that he died and not you. Your family might not have to live with the shame of a cowardly son.”
I heard him roar, “Kill him! Kill him now!”
I turned and winked at Bertrand, “So it works eh?”
I waited until the gates opened and twenty horsemen galloped out. When they were a hundred paces from us I turned and we cantered down the road. They came hard and I heard their hooves thundering. We urged our horses to go a little faster. I knew that we had good horses. I realised that some of those who were following would also have good horses but others would not. Glancing over my shoulder I saw that they were already strung out and we had covered barely half a mile. I let the leading riders get to within twenty paces of us and then I had Dream Strider open his legs. The leading riders kept pace with us and, from their faces, I saw glee that they thought they were catching us.
I kept the speed so that they remained twenty to thirty paces from the rumps of our horses. I wanted them to follow me. I needed them to chase us to Erik Green Eye’s home. I said, “Now Bertrand, abandon us. You know what to do.”
“Aye lord!”
Gradually Bertrand opened a gap between him and us. I heard a shout of triumph from behind. They had the illusion that they were catching us. They were not! The twenty men were now spread out in a long line. They covered almost six hundred paces from the eager leading riders and the laggards at the rear. We knew our land well and they did not. Our patrols had kept them from our borders. When the leading riders began to drop back I slowed Dream Strider so that they kept contact. We still had some miles to lead them. Our two strongholds were less than eighteen miles apart and Erik Green Eye’s walls were just fifteen miles from Ċiriċeburh. When we passed the burned-out farm from the Breton attack I knew that we had just a mile to go.
“Are you ready, Gilles?”
“Aye lord.”
“Then when I give the word slap the spare on the rum and turn. We will give these leading riders a shock.” I slowed down Dream Strider. It would give me more control when I turned. “Now!”
I turned to my left and, after slapping its rump and sending the spare horse down the road, Gilles turned right. My sword was out already. The leading Frank had his shield hung over his saddle as I did and his sword was in its scabbard. I swung my sword hard and it hacked deep into his arm. I wheeled my horse to the left and rode across the front of the third Frank in the line. His horse baulked when my mount passed before him and the rider found himself thrust forward. My sword hit him on the side of his helmet and he fell to the ground. Gilles had slain the second Frank and I yelled, “Enough, Gilles. He wheeled too.
As we resumed our ride I saw that our attack had bunched up the Franks which was what I wanted. One lay dying, two others were wounded, one looked to be serious. I wondered if they would decide to retreat and flee for their stronghold but when I looked back they did not. Now they rode in a column of twos. Whoever had taken over from the man I had wounded had more sense than he did. We were catching the spare horse and I saw the spiral of smoke which told me we were close to Erik’s hall. There, ten warriors and Bertrand awaited them. There would be four boys with slings. I was confident.
As we crested the rise I saw that Erik and Folki had formed a shield wall. It was less than thirty paces from the rise. Bertrand waited on one side. Gilles and I wheeled our horses to the other. As the Franks came over the top they were galloping. They had two choices, try to stop or try to wheel out of the way. They tried to stop. They did not manage it. A wall of spears jabbed and poked at them. I saw two horses rear as spears plunged into their chests. Stones clattered from the helmets of the warriors as four boys enjoyed themselves hurling lead balls at them. The three of us who were mounted urged our horses forward. We had a perfect killing platform. With the spears preventing the warriors from advancing we pressed into their sides. I brought my sword over and smashed into the shield of a Frank. It hurt him. I swung again at head height. Although he ducked beneath his shield my sword knocked his helmet from his head. Gilles lunged forward and his sword found flesh. As Bertrand slew another a third was felled by lead balls and the ones at the rear turned and fled.
There was little point in exhausting our animals and I shouted, “Halt! We have done enough!”
Gilles and Bertrand dismounted to calm the four horses who remained alive. I dismounted and, taking my seax, ended the misery of the two wounded horses, “Go to the Allfather. You died as warriors. He will welcome you.”
Folki led the rest of my men to despatch the wounded. None would have lived above an hour anyway. There were five dead Franks. I knew that others had been wounded. We had accounted for eight Franks and I was satisfied. Now that I knew the plans of our enemies I could act accordingly.
Folki had a cruel smile on his face as he wiped his sword on the tunic of dead Franks. “It felt good to be able to fight these Franks on our terms. I can see now, jarl, why you are successful. You know how to fight and you adapt to your enemies. We did not do so. My brother paid with his life.”
“I think that your tactics might have worked. I have fought that way before. This Philippe of Rouen, though, he is clever. If we do things the same way with him then we will get the same result. When we fight, he will see our shield wall and think that is all we have. He will find that he is mistaken.”
The three of us led our five horses home. The day had not ended as I had planned but it had gone well. I held the leather pouch in my hand. Had the Norns spun again? Were they responsible for putting this important letter in my hand? Who knew?
Chapter 15
When my wife read the letter, she frowned. “Bertrand misread a couple of the words. Hugo of Ċiriċeburh is supposed to send men to get into our stronghold rather than just discover our defences.”
“That does make a difference. He had the Franks who fled Fótr to tell him what the plans of the clan of the flying fox were. As Hugo has not received this news then we must expect something similar from Valauna.”
“It does not change the fact that we will be attacked and, from the sound of this letter, before summer is out.”
“My warriors and I knew that.”
“But Rouen has many soldiers. This is the representative of King Louis. He can call up the levy for the whole of this land.”
