Blood on the Blade

by Griff Hosker

  We stood as the doors were opened and the jarl walked in. He had grey in his beard and his hair but his eyes were bright. Behind him walked two warriors who had to be his sons. They showed what he might have been like twenty years ago. He smiled and held his hand out for me to clasp it. “I am Sámr Ship Killer.”

  “And I am Erik Larsson. This is my cousin Siggi. We come from the land of the Loyne.”

  He gestured, “Sit. We have heard of you. These are my sons Ragnar and Haaken.”

  “I am flattered, lord, but how have you heard of us? We have done nothing of merit.”

  He smiled, “You stood up to Harald Finehair when many others did not. You have fought against Mercians and Danes even though you were outnumbered. You have sailed beyond the northern sea. You have done much for a clan so young and a navigator who has not had a beard for long.”

  I was not insulted. “I am sorry, lord, but how do you know such things?”

  He leaned forward. “Ylva is the daughter of the great volva, Kara, and the galdramenn, Aiden. She has great power. She sees all that goes on around the Land of the Wolf. She dreams and she has seen you and your people.”

  I wondered why they did not come to our assistance but I said nothing.

  “So what brings you here?”

  “We are trading for pine. We need masts.”

  “You are building drekar or preparing for repairs?”

  “Preparing for repairs.”

  “Good.” He drank his ale and stared at me. I got the impression that he was trying to read my mind. “There is danger for you.”

  “The witch?”

  “Ylva did not tell me this. We trade with Dyflin and they know not to antagonise us. The King of Norway has them cowed but a war with the wolf warriors is not to be contemplated lightly. The Lord of Mann is gathering drekar to attack you. We believe they are almost ready. Even now they may be preparing to sail. If you are planning to protect yourselves then do so sooner rather than later.”

  I glanced at Siggi. Did I dare to trust this jarl? He seemed to know much. I closed my eyes and I thought I heard my father’s voice. Perhaps it was wishful thinking but the voice said, ‘Speak.’ I put my hands on the table, “The truth is, jarl, that we are too few to defend our land. We are going to go to the land of ice and fire.”

  He nodded, “Then you truly have courage for even I might baulk at such an undertaking.” I saw him studying me as though he was debating what to do. “You can always ask for our protection.”

  I nodded and smiled, “That is something we did not know. That may change the mind of the folk who live in Larswick.”

  “I offer this as solution but Ylva has told me that she has dreamed your future and it is not in the land of ice and fire.”

  “It is here?”

  “No Erik. It is in a place where the land turns red before the leaves fall; where mighty waters crash into rivers as wide as oceans.” He saw my look of confusion. “Ylva told me. She knows not where this place is except that it is west of here. She has dreamed it and she has seen you there. When she spoke to me, she sounded almost envious of you. She has never envied any that I know of. You are honoured. If any of your people seek sanctuary then they can have it but I fear that you will never settle here. You will only be happy on the sea. That is your destiny.” My face must have shown that I was confused. The jarl smiled, “The Dragonheart had a destiny. His was to make the Land of the Wolf a stronghold for the old people of this land and us. Yours is to find a new land. I envy you. I am destined to cling on to this land in the face of enemies from the east, the west and the north. My future will not be glorious. None will sing of my deeds in the future but if you succeed then all will know your name. We will watch the seas for you. Perhaps we can help but we do not have the numbers we once did. Wyrd.”

  We ate with the jarl and Coel ap Pasgen. It was like being transported to a different time. I wondered what it would be like to speak with Ylva. She was the witch queen of this land. Even as the thought came into my head, I dismissed it. I did, however, have the uncomfortable feeling that her spirit was in the hall watching me. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I learned much as I spoke with the two of them. The jarl told me that they had many mighty drekar. They still raided but did so judiciously. They were well off and did not need much. They both told all that they knew of the land of ice and fire. The visitors who landed brought the stories of the new land.

  “My drekar, ‘Dragonheart’, was built to honour my grandsire. She has twenty oars on each side and a red wolf for the sail. When men see her, the battle is half won for the warrior who wielded the sword touched by the gods still inspires fear.”

  “You have the sword?” I would dearly have liked to touch the legendary blade.

  Enigmatically he said, “The sword sleeps until it is needed again!”

  “And do you make war on the men of Mann?”

  “We have in the past and, if we have to, then we will do so again. We will put to sea in the next day or so and sail to Mann. The new Lord of Mann needs to know who rules these waters and it is not the King of Norway.”

  I enjoyed the meal although Siggi and I said little. We answered questions which were asked of us and we told them of our battles. We had the greatest compliment we could have when Sámr Ship Killer said, “You are truly Vikings. When you sail from this land may the Allfather be with you.”

  By the time we rose the jarl and his sons had left. Coel told me that he would ride to the cave beneath the Lough Rigg where he would speak with the witch. I almost said that she should know all that we spoke when I realised what a nonsense that was. The witch lived in a world of spirits. Sámr was her connection to our world.

  We set sail with all that we had been sent to acquire. The Allfather sent a powerful wind to help us and we reached our river as quickly as if we had flown. The pine was aboard the drekar and we would leave it there. I left the others to secure the drekar and I hurried, with Siggi, to the hall. We burst in and Snorri and Arne looked startled, “What is amiss brother? Did they not trade?”

  “The Jarl of the Clan of the Wolf was more than helpful. He gave us news. The Lord of Mann has a fleet and they are come to destroy us.”

  “When?

  “He did not know but soon.” Arne turned and I said, “One more thing. He is willing to give shelter to all who wish it. We do not need to go to the land of ice and fire.”

  Arne gave me a sad smile, “We do, brother, for we promised our father. I will summon the clan. We will prepare for departure. If the others do not wish to come then so be it.”

  “Come Siggi. We will tell our mothers. They will need time to prepare.”

  Gytha was philosophical about the impending flight but my mother was upset. Edmund comforted her as she said, “My husband’s body lies here. How can I desert him?”

  Gytha put her arm around her and waved us away, “You are not deserting him. He is there in your three sons. His spirit is in the Otherworld. You leave his body only. If you stay here then when the enemy come you will join him. Would you have that?” She shook her head and put her hand out for Edmund to grasp it.

  Siggi and I left. I understood my mother but Gytha was right. We had the living to think of. The horn had sounded and men rushed from the fields, their halls and their homes. I ran down the path to the river and I said to my crew, “My brother is calling the clan. He is offering the chance to go to the land of the Wolf to any who choose it. You may go and listen if you wish.”

  They grinned, “We are your men Erik Larsson. We go with you.”

  I looked at the six ship’s boys. “It may mean leaving your families.”

  Dreng nodded, “We decided while you were speaking with the jarl. We are Vikings and we would go with you.”

  “Then, Eidel and Dreng, you will sail on ‘Jötnar’ with Padraig, Aed and their families. You will lead the knarr if they choose to sail.” I pointed west, “It may be that the Lord of Mann and his fleet come for us. If the
y do then I will fight them and allow you to lead the knarr to Ljoðhús. You will wait seven days and if we have not joined you then it means we are dead and the clan is gone.”

  “We could stay with you!”

  “If we fight drekar then a snekke and two knarr will be a liability. Let ‘Njörðr’ do that for which she was built by my father, let her fight.”

  We had much to do. I had the decks lifted so that we could store all that the people would wish to take. We were starting a new life and there would be nothing where we went. While the clan spoke, we loaded the ships. The knarr would only be loaded if their captains chose to come with us.

  It was dark by the time that Arne descended to the river. “It is decided. There are eight families who wish to join the Clan of the Wolf. The two knarr come with us. They will carry the animals. When we leave on the morrow then the families who are travelling north will fire Larswick. If the Danes or the Norwegians come, they will have to start anew.”

  “Good. Padraig and Arne will lead the knarr in case we are attacked. I hope we will not but it is good to have a plan. We sail for Ljoðhús. There is an island there without folk and we can rest for a day before we head to Føroyar.”

  He clasped my arm. “This is it brother. We begin the great adventure. I leave the ship to you. I will organize all else.”

  I dragged my chest close to the steering board. I attached the two ropes from the cleats to the rings on the chest. It was secured. Inside were all that I owned save for my weapons. I had old sea clothes as well as better ones for when we feasted. I had my better seal skin boots and my seal skin cape. My compass and hour glass were protected above and below by my clothes. I had spent every coin I possessed. I had bought arrows in the Land of the Wolf. I could make arrows but the Clan of the Wolf were renowned as archers. It was worth paying for the best. I had bought two spare knives and four bow strings. I needed nothing else. I placed my sword and Saxon dagger inside the chest. If it came to war, I could take them out quickly. I had bought a fur hat in Úlfarrston. When we had sailed north to the seal island, I had needed one. Going further north would guarantee that I would get good use from it. I laid my fur and sleeping blanket on the top before closing and securing the lid. I had had holes drilled in the thwarts to take spears and my bow. This was my drekar now and I would make it suit me. It was not normal to have a shield at the stern but I had my original small shield there. My other one was on the side with those of the rest of the crew. We would be undermanned.

  I then walked the drekar as the cargo was loaded. We put the sacks of grain in the hold. They were well tied and protected by barrels. We put some of the ale there too. I heard men grunting and looked as the anvil and blacksmith’s tools were brought as well as the scrap iron we would use. I had had some of the ballast taken from around the base of the mast and these heavy items were placed there. It would give her better balance. I did not discard the stones. They would be used to balance the boat better.

  Leif came from the hall. He had a bowl of steaming food. “Your brother said to eat! He knows what you are like.”

  I laughed, “I am hungry and no mistake.”

  Leif had brought his own food and he wolfed his down too. When we had finished, I pointed to a new chest at the prow. “That is the chest for bowls, spoons and horns. This will be our home for up to a moon. We need to be organised.”

  While the crew continued to load the hold, the items we would have on deck were stacked on the quay. They would be loaded once the deck was replaced. I had the spare masts and yards laid in the hold too; as well as the spare sail, pine tar and lanolin to grease the sails.

  “Captain, the hold is full!”

  “Right Sven. Replace the deck and then we can load the barrels of ale and food.” As well as meat and pickled fish we had dried beans, fruit and vegetables. The fruit and the vegetables would soon go off but we would consume them before that happened. When they were secured to the sides of the drekar I sent a message to Arne that the passengers could board before dawn. I knew that many would like some sleep on land before we set sail. For myself I curled up in a ball by my chest and I slept. It was not a deep sleep but I still dreamed.

  It was a silent dream.

  A beautiful white-haired old woman floated down from the top of my mast. She stroked my head and woke me. I was sailing through seas filled with large lumps of ice which were bigger than my drekar. I was terrified but the old woman just smiled and touched my hand. I wondered why and then I saw that she was helping me to steer the ship. A bank of fog loomed up. I went to lower the sail but she restrained me. As we sailed through a wall of mist, I feared we would strike a ship of ice. Then the mist cleared and I saw trees higher than any I had seen rising from the white sandy beach. When I turned to thank the lady, she was gone. I woke.

  It was dark but I heard the sound of voices as Arne led the women down to the drekar. It was time and I had slept longer than I had expected. Arne grinned as I stood and held my shoulders. “This is the great adventure brother. We will do what no other warrior from Orkneyjar has ever done.”

  “And I am glad to have you at my side.” I saw that Fótr clung on to my mother’s hand. he was almost five. “And by the time he is five we will have a new home and a new life!”

  Chapter 18

  As the last of the men came aboard, I could smell fresh bread. Gytha smiled as she and Snorri climbed aboard. She handed me a basket. “Here Erik. This is the last bread we will have for some time. Enjoy.”

  “Thank you, lady.”

  “And where is our home to be?”

  “The boys are rigging a shelter for you by the mast fish. It is the widest part of the drekar.”

  “Thoughtful as ever. You should be married!”

  I shook my head as a sudden flaring could be seen on the headland. Snorri said, “We are giving Larswick a Viking funeral. Already the women and children march north. When the walls are afire the men will join them. We have burned our old home. Let us hope we can find a new one!”

  I carried the weight of the clan on my shoulders. Cupping my hands, I shouted, “Padraig are the knarr ready?”

  “Aye, captain.”

  “Then follow us out.” It was dark but it was high tide and the thin grey behind us promised sun soon. I hoped for an empty sea. “Hoist the sail!” As the red and white striped sail was raised everyone cheered. “Cast off!” When the sail was tied off the ropes securing us to the land were untied and Halsten and Rek leapt aboard. We left the land and headed down the estuary to the sea. “Sven, prow. Stig, masthead! Halsten, and Rek man the stays!” The four ship’s boys scurried off. I braced myself with my feet apart. Once we left the land and entered the sea then there would be movement. We now knew the waters well. It was high tide now and the sands to the north of us would be hidden. They were, as we knew well, perilously close to the surface. We would head due west before heading north and west.

  I glanced astern and saw the snekke leading the two laden knarr. The knarr would determine our speed. Like our drekar they were shallow draughted but they were both wider to accommodate cargo. Padraig was a good length behind us and the two a further length back. I could see the flames flickering as the fire consumed Larswick.

  By the time we reached the sea, I saw the sky beginning to lighten in the east. The breeze was coming from the south and west. The smoke from Larswick headed back across the land. The wind would aid us as we headed north. The seas were black ahead of us but becoming lighter by the minute. I had my compass and hour glass already on my chest. When the sun shone, I would begin the hour glass. It was laid on its side and was as though time had stood still. There was power in turning the glass. It was as though I controlled time. I knew I did not but I enjoyed the feeling. The sun suddenly broke the land behind us.

  Stig shouted, “There is a sail to the north and west.” I looked up and saw him pointing to confirm.

  Arne came aft with Siggi and Snorri. My face told Arne that I was concerned but we seemed to k
now each other’s thoughts anyway. “You are the navigator. Can we outrun him?”

  “If he is alone, we need not outrun him. With the snekke snapping at him we could defeat him but he may not be. I would have the warriors arm themselves and tell the others to take shelter. The Jarl of the Land of the Wolf warned us of danger. We would be foolish to ignore it.”

  “Aye! Come warriors. Let us prepare for battle!”

  I turned and looked astern, “Padraig, there is a drekar. Lead the knarr to stay to the steerboard of us but keep well astern of us for I may need the sea room.”

  He waved his acknowledgment. I saw him and Aed don their helmets. Helga did so too. She might be with child but she was a warrior and she would fight. I opened my chest. I would not need the compass and hourglass for a while. I put them inside and, one handed while I steered, took out my sword and helmet. I saw the Saxon dagger. It drew my fingers to it and I picked it up and slipped it inside my sea boot. I closed the lid of the chest. Using my weight to hold the steering board in place I donned my helmet and strapped on my sword. There was a piece of rope ready to fix the steering board to the gunwale. I could fight while ‘Njörðr’ steered herself. I saw that the warriors were armed. We had fewer of them than we might have hoped. Others were on the knarr.

  “Captain, it is more than one drekar. They are travelling in line astern. Look!”

  I peered ahead and saw a line of drekar gradually filling the horizon. They were spreading out like hunters to encircle their prey. I looked at the sky and the pennant. The breeze would bring them quickly to us. I counted six ships already. I had said we could beat one in a straight fight but not six. I kept heading towards them. We had only one chance. I turned astern and shouted, “Padraig, bring the knarr land side of us. There are at least six drekar. We turn to steerboard soon. We will use the sands. Watch for my signal.”

  This time he cupped his hands and called, “Aye, Erik!”

  A seventh and an eighth ship appeared. They were rapidly approaching us. Arne came to the steering board. “You cannot do as you did with the snekke, brother. They will ram us and grapple.”