Blood on the Blade

by Griff Hosker

  “But the Danes!”

  “The Danes will be back in Jorvik over the winter. Remember what Snorri said; they have no women.”

  Although he said nothing, I saw that I had planted a seed in his head. We did not go to see Siggi. Gytha was working her magic. She and the other volvas were weaving spells to go with the medicine they had tried. We entered the church. It was now a hall. Mother had persuaded my father to leave the cross on the top. He had acceded to her request.

  As I entered Edmund held out his hands, “If you give me your chest, lord, I will dry your clothes and clean you weapons.” I nodded. He would not sharpen them. A warrior sharpened his own weapons.

  I washed my hands in the pail by the door. I had rinsed them after cleansing the drekar but mother had infused this water with rosemary and thyme. The sweet smell would take away the stink of pig muck. I really needed to change my clothes too but my stomach told me I needed to eat.

  Father beamed at me, “I hear from Arne that you and I have our own song!”

  “It was your song, father. I was just honoured to be mentioned.”

  My mother ladled food into my bowl and then she kissed me on the side of the head, “And you let a young warrior live.”

  I was aware of my father’s angry glower. I shook my head, “He was like the small fish we throw back when they are caught in our nets.” I tried to make light of it.

  “Unlike the fish, my son, when the Saxon grows, he may well hurt us. Better to kill all their men.”

  My mother surreptitiously clutched her cross. I ate and concentrated on my food. Arne managed to distract my father. “We found a good bull by St. Elphin’s burgh. Erik thinks we could go to fetch it once the leaves have fallen. We could go across the land. We have the cows. If we had the bull then our herd would grow.”

  He smiled, “You are too kind for your own good Erik but you are clever. I will speak with your uncle. How many men would you need?”

  “No more than ten or so.”

  He nodded, “First we finish our defences and our building. Now that you have the grain, we can build an oven and a brewhouse.”

  Arne picked up a pig bone which still had meat upon it. As he began to gnaw it, he said, “We need a smithy. Siggi’s helmet and the other damaged helmets will have to be repaired. The new men need shields and that means metal.”

  My father leaned back. I saw that he had to lift his left arm with his right and rest it on his lap. “The tree trunk is not a problem but the anvil is something else.”

  Arne suddenly leapt to his feet as though he had been stung, “When we raid for the bull, we could raid a smithy! A bull could carry an anvil!”

  My father’s smile was from ear to ear, “You are both clever. I hope that Fótr grows into such a clever warrior. The three of you could conquer the world.” His arm slipped down and, as he picked it up again to rest on his lap his face darkened, “Sadly, I will not be able to come with you when you take this bull and anvil. My days of adventuring are gone.”

  My mother came to his side, kissed him on the cheek and put her arm around him. “I will make a leather sling for this. It will be more comfortable. You have done well and it is only a small inconvenience.”

  He shook his head, “There speaks a Saxon and a woman. I know you mean well but I am now half the man I was.”

  In a short time, our world had changed beyond all recognition. Now Snorri led the clan and Arne and I were the future. Where would it end?

  For the next months, right until the end of Gormánuður, we worked to make our home secure and to gather as much food as we could. This part of Mercia was empty. When hunting parties went north, they discovered the graves and deserted homes of other Vikings. The roofs had gone and the turf walls fallen but we knew that they were Viking. My father recalled that in the glory days of the Dragonheart his people had colonised it. They were gone and it was now a debated land. We sent scouts to look for the Danes. They found deserted camps less then fifteen miles from us but there were no signs of them. We made the most of the time we had. The new men fitted in well and a couple married the widows of men we had lost. The men had lost almost a year of their lives as slaves and were keen to make up for it while the women liked the security of a warrior. Siggi recovered although he was sometimes a little vague and had trouble remembering things. His mother said he would recover. She was with child again and, that too, was a good thing.

  We held a Thing at the start of Ýlir. We had had our bone fire. Although we had had fewer animals to cull we still had the bones of many animals we had hunted. We had made salt on the sands just north of us and preserved meat and fish for the winter. Gytha believed that the winter would not be as harsh this far south but it would be as long. With a new bread oven and brewery, we felt as though we were here to stay and that was why we held a Thing. If any other than my father and Snorri had led the clan then there might have been a bid for another to be a jarl. That was not the case and, as the men gathered in the hall, we had freshly brewed ale and pickled fish to eat. Once the women had provided the ale and food they disappeared to Snorri’s hall where Gytha had laid on a feast for them.

  My father stood and spoke. He was now more comfortable with his leather sling, “We have been here at Larswick for half a year. We have lost warriors and some of us have lost…” he smiled and shrugged. “The gods spared my life and I should be grateful. They still have a purpose for me and that is good. We have to decide if we wish to stay here.” He sat. It was a sign that another could stand and speak. Finn the Scar and Butar Beer Belly both stood. Butar looked at Finn, grinned and sat down. He poured himself more ale.

  Finn said, “I like it in this land. Life is easier here than it was in Orkneyjar and I would not bow a knee to a king. The Norns may spin and send enemies here. Until then we stay.”

  Kalman Peacemaker stood. He had been thin and emaciated when he had come. He had married Reimund’s widow and she was a good cook. He smiled, “We are honoured that you allow us incomers to speak at your Thing. I speak for all of us when I say that we are more than happy to be part of the Clan of the Fox. You have not yet asked us to but we would all swear an oath to Jarl Lars.”

  My father shook his head and smiled. None of the clan had sworn an oath. We stayed because we wished to and not because we were bound by an oath. Kalman sat and my father nodded to Snorri. He stood. “When we raided Mercia, we were successful but there are still shortages. We need horses and a bull. We need an anvil. My nephew, Arne, has suggested a raid to fetch back those items. This would be a raid across the land which is claimed by the Danes. Our scouts say that there are no Danes but this is still a risk. Is it worth it?”

  As my father had expected this caused debate. When Snorri sat men spoke with their neighbours. Arne and I just drank. If any objected then we had arguments we would use. Gradually the chattering stopped. Snorri stood again, “There are no objections?” Men shook their heads. “Then Arne and Erik will lead the raid. It was their idea and I think that they are ready for it. This does not need mailed men who can fight in a shield wall. This needs clever young minds and quick feet.”

  Asbjorn stood, “I would go with them. I am not too old.”

  Men laughed and Arne stood, “Any can come but we take but ten men including Erik and me. We would not leave our home undefended and we need to be able to hide.”

  He was still standing when Butar Beer Belly burped and burst out, “You will find it hard to hide a bull and a pair of horses.” He thought he was being funny but no one laughed and everyone glowered at him. He had not obeyed the rules of the Thing. “Sorry.”

  Arne smiled and sat. Snorri said, “Then it is decided. The Thing is over!”

  Over the next days we chose our men and prepared to head through unknown lands to the land of the Saxons. It was as we were preparing to go that we realised we needed horses more than the bull. Horses would have meant it would have taken us just a day to ride far to the south, make the raid and be half way home. The jour
ney would take a day, perhaps longer for we would have to try to stay hidden. We took ale skins, rope, salted meat and two cloaks. The cloaks would act as blankets. It was becoming cold although not as cold as it would have been in Orkneyjar.

  A Viking farewell is brief. My mother was a Saxon and it was she who wept. The men just waved us off. Siggi was at the gate. He had wished to come. His mother had not been willing to sanction it and we were not happy to take him. We had few enough men and they had to be the best. Asbjorn was the oldest and the only one with a mail byrnie. He had taken one on our Saxon raid. As we began to run towards the ford I wondered if his mail might slow him down.

  I had my compass with me. I had no hour glass and there was little sun but when the sun did shine then I would be able to estimate our position. For that reason, I led. My helmet hung from my shield. A scout used all of his senses. Without the sun I was forced to use the landscape to help me. The high ground was to the east. We knew that from our voyages down the coast. The high ground had always been visible to the east. So long as we kept parallel to it then we were heading roughly south. I was also aware of the streams. We passed many which flowed north, towards the Loyne. Then we found others which headed in the opposite direction. They had to feed the Ribble. We halted at the Ribble. We were half way to our destination. It was just after noon and we had seen few people. We drank from the river to save our ale skins. The beer would help us sleep! We ate from our salted meat and I took out the hare skin which had been dried and cured. I used charcoal to mark our route. It was crude but by putting marks indicating how long it took us to reach a point we could use it on our return to estimate distance.

  Olaf chewed on the salted meat and looked around him. “This is good land to farm. I am no farmer but look at the trees and bushes which grow here. Yet we have only passed one deserted farm and one village.”

  Asbjorn said, “Men have fought over this land. It is far from the heart of Mercia and the Land of the Wolf is to the north of us. The Danes from the east now begin to pick over the bones of this land. It will take Vikings to settle it.”

  As we moved south the land became flatter. We saw one or two villages but they were small and we needed one with a blacksmith. Nor had we seen any bulls or horses. The raid had shown us that we had managed to find somewhere which was relatively well off. We passed through a wood and there was a spring in the middle. We rested there and ate. It was a brief rest and then we headed south once more. We found a greenway. They were the paths used by ancient people. They were not Roman and had no stone upon which we would tread. The grass upon them was easier on unshod animals and the trees gave shade in summer. In winter they made for shelter and a little more warmth than in the open.

  The Norns had been weaving. Nine miles or so south of the wood where we had rested, we began to climb a little as the setting sun showed us where the west lay. Arne had just said that we should find a camp when I heard the sound of cattle. We were not on a road. It was a greenway. I looked and saw signs of cattle. There was dung and hoof prints. I waved my hand to stop the others and took my shield and helmet from around my back. The greenway obviously led to a farm of some description. Asbjorn and Arne joined me. I pointed to the dung and cupped my ear. A few moments later we heard the lowing of cattle demanding to be milked. Then I heard the sound of a bell. There was a church nearby. It was not dark yet. Perhaps the church had some service. I did not understand the religion of my mother.

  Arne pointed down the greenway. He gestured that we should be cautious. This time he and Olaf led. Asbjorn brought up the rear. The sound of the bell grew closer as did the sound of the cattle. Then I smelled the smoke of a home. The ground was still rising as the trees lining the greenway ended. I saw a movement ahead and dived to the bottom of the trees. I heard voices to my left. They were Saxon. The land rose there and I could smell cattle. The sound appeared to be coming from inside a building. Arne hissed and pointed. He wanted me to investigate. I dropped my shield, helmet and spare cloak. I drew my dagger and crawled around the side of the hedge. The sun was almost setting. It was low in the sky and was the thin sun which gave no warmth. I crawled towards the building which I knew was to my left. There was a small orchard and I crawled into it. The fruit and leaves had gone but the branches broke up my outline and I was able to move through it easier. It was a farm. The path which led to it was muddy. I saw that it was rutted and covered in the marks of animals. The ground was already hardening as the frost set in.

  I saw two thralls. Their heads were down and they had yokes about their necks. They were not Viking and did not look like Saxons. I wondered if they were of the Walhaz. One headed into what looked like a barn. The other carried two wooden pails into the farm house. It looked substantial. This was a Saxon lord or perhaps a thegn. I took a chance and ran back through the orchard to the track which led to the farm. There was a mound covered in thin saplings on the other side and I crawled up it. I saw, to the south, a village. There was a church. It stood on another mound. Both mounds looked to be man-made. The church had a cemetery and an arch of yew leading to it. I saw a house close by the church and I heard the whinny of an animal. The priest had a horse. There were five houses and I saw a glow from one of them. It was a smithy. I had seen enough. I turned and made my way back to the others. Picking up my shield, helmet and cloak I gestured for them to go back up the greenway so that we could talk.

  I told them what I had seen. When I had finished, I said. “I do not know that there is a bull but I believe there must be one. There is a smithy.”

  “What are you saying brother?”

  “I am saying that the Norns led us here. We do not need to go further south. We wait until dark and steal the anvil. We go back to the farm. It is a big one and look for horses and a bull.”

  Asbjorn said, “You make it sound simple. What if there are armed men here?”

  “This is smaller than St. Elphin and its burg. We would have to fight further south too. We might have to fight for what we take but we might have to do that further south with a longer journey back.”

  “The clan appointed me to lead and I will. I like Erik’s plan. When it is dark and all are asleep, we crawl back and take the anvil. We go to the farm and we find horses and, if they have one, a bull. If we have to, we fight. Make water, eat and drink. When the moon has risen we go.”

  We were lucky that it was almost winter. No one came down the greenway. We heard Saxon voices in the distance as the people left the church. Arne looked up into the clear sky. The moon had risen. He rose to his feet. I slipped my shield over my back and Arne and I led the small band down the greenway towards the village. The air was so cold that our breath could be seen in the air before us. Not a creature stirred. Doors were shut and fires were banked. People slept. This was winter. Candles were expensive. This was the time to make babies. While we had waited Arne had suggested that Leif and I see if there was any treasure in the church. When we reached the village Leif and I headed to the church while the rest went to the blacksmiths’ workshop.

  The door of the church was not locked. I had seen a house attached to it. That would belong to the priest. We opened it silently. It was pitch black and so I opened the door wide and used the light from the moon to illuminate the interior. The altar was simple but there were good candles in candlesticks. They stood on a good piece of linen. Leif picked up the candlesticks and I made a bag from the linen. He put the treasure inside and I gave it to him. When we went outside, I pointed to the smithy and I strode to the yew trees. I selected a branch which was as long as I was and I used my dagger to saw it off. I would strip the leaves from it later. I had my bow stave. The Norns had sent me here!

  The workshop was simply a shelter over the forge. The anvil embedded in the tree trunk was to one side. When I reached it, I saw that Arne and most of the men were ready with weapons while Gandálfr and Faramir, who had secured ropes underneath it, were lifting it. They nodded. They could take the weight. Arne nodded and they moved towa
rds the greenway. The village slept. The hard part would be to take the animals. We headed up to the farm. I stepped in the frozen ruts but Sigismund stepped on a raised piece of mud. It crunched and cracked. Arne held up his hand and we stopped. Our frozen breath rose before us but there was no other sound. We had not been heard. Arne waved his hand and we moved on.

  Arne reached the barn. He waved for Asbjorn and Sigismund to follow him and he pointed to the door of the barn and me. I nodded and put my shield, helmet and yew stave on the ground. The door was closed but not barred. I slowly opened it. I hoped that it would not creak. It did not. A wall of warm air hit us as we slipped inside. I heard the animals within as they moved. There were stalls to separate them. Then, as I sniffed, I smelled humans. There were men in the barn. I waited until my eyes adjusted to the dark. I saw two forms which lay close together in the straw. They were the thralls. There was no way we could move any animals without waking them. I took out my dagger. It was the Saxon one. I tapped Leif on the shoulder and pointed to the animals. I tapped Olaf and pointed to the two slaves.

  We moved closer to the two men. I looked at Olaf and nodded. In one motion we had our hands over their mouths and a dagger above their eyes. As they opened them and stared in terror I said, in Saxon, “We will not harm you. Do you understand?” I moved my hand away.

  The one I held croaked, “Yes master.”

  I stood, “Then rise but make no sound or you will die.” They stood. I saw that they were a little older than me and were very thin. I could see better now. I saw that there were two horses. Neither were particularly big but they were horses. “Leif, fit reins to them.”

  “Aye Erik.”

  “We are going to take the horses. Is there a bull?”

  The one I had spoken to said, “Yes master, Peter. He is in the stall at the end.”

  I was relieved, “Would you two like to be freed?”