Viking Blood

by Griff Hosker

  Ragnar and Gruffyd met me on the road, “Mother sent us to search for you.”

  “She thinks I cannot walk through my own land? Does she think I will become lost?”

  Gruffyd grinned, “She said you were old, father, and old men sometimes forget things.”

  I shook my head, “And you two, of course, could not defend your father and grandfather? You went along with it?”

  “No, we came to be out of her way! Her tongue was scolding and you know that it is best to be outside the walls when she is like that.”

  “What happened to Astrid and the captives?”

  “Kara took them into the house of women. She has asked Uhtric to light the fire in the steam hut. She said they have fleas and head lice. She has burned their old clothes and given them new.”

  “That is good. They were badly treated.”

  “Will they become part of the clan, grandfather?”

  “Of course. You do not need to have Viking blood to be in the clan of the wolf. If they choose not to stay that is something else.”

  “Why would they choose not to stay?”

  “I know not but when I was taken as a slave there were many of the captives who left the clan which captured us and joined other Norse clans. We will give them time to make up their minds.” We then spoke of the raid. They went over each detail. I smiled. I had been the same when Haaken and I were two such young warriors.

  Brigid was looking anxiously from the door of my hall as I approached. I had dallied with my son and grandson for I had enjoyed speaking of the raid. They had much to tell me and many questions to ask. When Wolf Killer had been their age I had been too concerned with other matters to listen to him and to hear his questions. We had grown estranged and I would not make the same mistake twice.

  Ragnar’s mother, Elfrida, joined us. “The captives you brought look much better for a wash. After they have been in the steam hut they will be purified.” She put her hand on mine. “It was a kind thing you did.”

  Brigid said, “You are a Christian, husband, and do not know it.”

  I feigned indignance, “Do you mind? I am about to eat! Do not insult me by calling me a follower of the White Christ!”

  Elfrida laughed, “He is teasing, sister. Do not mind him.”

  I drank some of the ale which Elfrida had poured for me, “I fear I have twisted Egbert’s nose twice. He may decide to do something about it.”

  Elfrida sat and nodded. She broke off a piece of the still warm bread and smeared butter upon it, “That may be but Kara did not dream danger from Wessex nor from the Saxons. Her dream and that of Aiden brought danger from another direction.”

  Brigid, thankfully, was still organising the servants and did not hear. We three leaned in and I said, quietly, “The Danes?”

  “Ireland!”

  I sat back. Gunnstein Berserk Killer had replaced Hakon the Bald. He had been a Viking and he had been a danger to us. I knew that Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson had helped Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer to defeat the Irish kings who had allied against him. Had they risen? There were many questions. It made my proposed visit to Dyflin even more important.

  Ragnar and Gruffyd could not contain themselves. They spoke for the whole meal. I was nervous that they might say something to upset my wife but they had heard my warnings. She tutted a few times and rolled her eyes but she also smiled with pride when Ragnar spoke of how my son would not give up even though he was tired from bearing the weight of the mail.

  “Husband, this church you raided. Where was it? Describe it to me.” I did so and she nodded, “The monastery of St. Cynfarch. My uncle gave money to help build it. It was a rich monastery and well endowed. You have made no friends amongst the men of Gwent.”

  “We rarely make friends. That is why we stay here my love in this idyllic place. Here we are safe.” Even as I said the words I could hear the Norns spinning. They were no friends of mine either. Erika’s words came to me again. ‘Keep close what is ours. Remember our home.’ How could I keep what I loved close and still raid? It was a dilemma.

  I slept badly despite being exhausted. I was haunted by my dead wife’s words. Her warnings were never to be ignored but this was so vague. I rose early to visit my daughter. She was pleased to see me and she embraced me. “It is good that you brought Astrid and her family here. The spirits approve. It is why mother came to you.”

  “Then explain it to me! I am confused. Elfrida said there is danger from Hibernia. What danger?”

  “The three of us dreamed and we saw Dyflin burning. There were Vikings and Hibernians fighting. Drekar were sunk.”

  I nodded, “That, at least is clear. I shall sail to Dyflin tomorrow and visit with Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer. If he needs help to fight these enemies then this time I will be able to help him. The last time I could not and I felt badly about that.”

  Aiden said, “He did not need our help. Perhaps that is why he may need it now. I will come with you. There are items we need and that is the best place to trade.”

  “Good.” Ylva poured me some honeyed ale. It had been warmed with a poker. The hiss of the hot metal made me salivate. It was one of my favourite drinks. As I sipped it I felt it warm me right through. It had been one of Old Ragnar’s favourites too. Was I getting old?

  “Astrid and the others, how are they?”

  “We let them sleep. It was late by the time they had been cleansed of wild life. We cut their hair to make it shorter. The girls’ hair was ragged. They will make a full recovery.”

  “Is it well that they live here in your hall? I can ask others to take them in.”

  Ylva smiled, “Astrid is of an age with me. I like her and I have not had the opportunity to speak with other girls my age. As a slave she has travelled. We thought to teach them.”

  “Make them volva?”

  “You do not make a volva! They are born. No, father, Deidra and Macha can teach them how to read. It is a useful skill. When the boys are old enough then they can become warriors but the five girls can stay here. Perhaps we can find a way to give Atla her voice back. I would like to do that. It would show me if my skills were improving or decaying.”

  I stood, having finished my ale. “We have silver and iron ore. We need not worry for some time about that.”

  “And Ragnar and Gruffyd?”

  “Your cousins, Ylva, are both warriors. They showed neither fear nor hesitation when we raided. If they can stay alive then one day they will both lead men. I have Bolli repairing the other two drekar. It is time we rattled our swords again and showed these enemies that we were only sleeping. We are awake now and ready to defend what is ours. Your mother’s visit was timely. My winter is over and my blood courses through my veins again. I am not yet ready to become an old man and fish on the Water.”

  I took my helmet to Bagsecg. He smiled when he saw me. “The iron ore you brought is of the best quality.”

  I handed him my helmet, “Then you might need some to repair that. It took a couple of blows.”

  Shaking his head he tossed it into the corner. “It has been weakened too much. A repair will not protect you. I will make you another. I have some blanks and I can use the new silver ore you brought to make it even more impressive.”

  “If you think that is for the best but I have been saved by this helmet more times than I care to remember.”

  “It is weakened, jarl. I have repaired it before. Are there any changes you would me make for the new one?”

  “I would have a mask over my eyes but I would have you make the eye holes bigger. Would it be possible to use the silver to make it look like a wolf. Perhaps with red eyes.”

  “I do not see why not. I have a young apprentice who can work with such delicate things. He has Aiden’s touch.”

  I retrieved my helmet. “Until you make a new one I shall use this one.”

  “You will be resting for a while will you not?”

  “Perhaps, but Kara has dreamed of trouble in Hibernia.”

&nbs
p; “Then it is wyrd that we have the new ore! I will get all of my forges working.” Bagsecg was now old enough to watch others labour but when needed he would be as hard working as he ever was. His forge huts lined the Water. It was a hive of activity when all six of them had smiths surrounded by fire and with hammers beating metal. With smoke rising, flames flaring and sparks flying it was though Thor himself had come to earth.

  I left the next day and took just Ragnar and Gruffyd with me. It was hard to get Ragnar away from Kara’s. When he had seen the transformed Astrid, he was smitten. When we had met her she had been dirty and dishevelled and looked like an emaciated girl. Now, with clean hair, clothes and having eaten well, she was a beautiful young woman. The girls in the village on whom he had cast covetous glances, now looked dowdy in comparison. As we rode south he could not stop speaking of her.

  Gruffyd was annoyed, “Father he has been like this the whole time! What is wrong with him?”

  I smiled, “You will discover soon enough my son. When women get under your skin it is easier to remove a bad tattoo.”

  I was happy for Ragnar to be taking an interest in a girl. We needed more warriors and the clan would only survive if my warriors made more. I had seen, from our last two raids, that our enemies had far more men than we did. They were growing in numbers. We had to grow as quickly.

  Our journey took us past Raibeart and Yngvild’s home. We stopped for this was the first time I had seen the young bride since her wedding. I took from my leather pouch one of the rings we had taken from the priest of the White Christ. “Here, Yngvild, a wedding present. I forgot to give you one on the day. I was preoccupied.”

  “This is a wonderful gift, Jarl, thank you.”

  “You have a fine home here, Raibeart.”

  “It is, is it not? Yet Yngvild thinks it is too far from others. She does not like it to be so lonely when I am away.”

  “You have servants and slaves?”

  “Aye, I have old Lann who served my father. He likes the quiet life. He has his wife, Asa and they help my wife.”

  I saw her roll her eyes. I put my arm around Raibeart, “Perhaps a slave or servant who is the same age might help.”

  His face showed the relief that he had a solution, “You are wise in the ways of the world as well as the ways of war, Jarl. I will do so.”

  We continued into Úlfarrston. I saw Coen standing looking anxiously to sea. “Is there a problem headman?”

  “My knarr did not return yesterday as I had hoped. I fear she might be in danger.”

  “What of your other ships?”

  “None are due back. They have been trading further afield.”

  I was disappointed for I had wished to talk with the captain and, perhaps, arrange a passage to Dyflin. “Then I will visit with you. As we have horses I can be back in my home in a few hours. I will wait.”

  We walked around Coen’s rapidly growing town. He was a popular leader. His sons and daughters were all involved in the various enterprises he had taken on. His brother, Raibeart, was younger but he had been the one who yearned for adventure. Coen had been more like his father Pasgen. He was a merchant and man of business. He liked profit and gold.

  One of Coen’s sons was responsible for the warehouses where goods came in and left. Our two communities used much of what they traded but there was still enough to send further afield. The seal oil we traded from Orkneyjar and did not need would be traded with the Welsh and the Saxons. The wool and the hides we did not need would be sent to the land of the Franks. The wine we did not need was popular in Orkneyjar. All of it brought coin into Coen’s coffers.

  Another son made salt. The tide and the waters were perfect for salt and they harvested it and used it to salt the fish. The silting of the river might be bad for the shipyard but it helped to make good salt. We had taught them that skill and now they were our equals. A third of Coen’s sons managed the fishing boats which plied the waters. One of his daughters and her husband prepared the fish when they returned. The latest venture was the conversion of cloth and wool, imported from the land of Flanders to be made into clothes and then traded on. What Coen’s people did not do was to farm as heavily as my own and that made for a happy and healthy relationship. Together we made a whole. As we went around his people were keen to tell me of their prosperity and to thank me for my protection.

  We had eaten and the sun had passed noon. We were about to return home when I heard a shout from the watch tower. The lookout pointed to sea and I saw a knarr on the horizon. She was heading to land.

  “At last! I had been worried. Come we will greet my captain and discover what kept him.”

  As the knarr drew closer I saw that she was heavily laden. The water lapped over the sheerstrake and I saw hands bailing the water. Yet I could see no sign of damage to the knarr. When the sail was lowered to allow the captain to close with the quay I saw that there were people, rather than cargo, in the knarr and I recognised the five warriors bailing water; they were Vikings. Here was a tale.

  We had to be patient and allow the boat to be tied up. The captain, Tadgh ap Coel, leapt ashore. He bowed to Coen, “Lord, tragedy has struck Dyflin. We found these shipwrecked and we could not land in Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer’s port. They have been attacked and the jarl is dead. His head adorns the gates of the town.”

  I turned to look north. The words from Erika’s spirit made a little more sense now. I could see that we now had fewer friends and more enemies. As I watched the refugees step ashore I wondered what would be their tale.

  Chapter 5

  The quay was not the place to speak. It was obvious that the women, children and five warriors who stepped ashore had had a hard time. Coen waved his hand towards his wooden wall. “Come to my hall.” He shouted for his slave, “Karl, have food and drink prepared. Tell my wife we have guests.”

  I walked with the warriors. I vaguely recognised them but without their shields and their mail it was hard to put a name to them. They knew me. I had been to Dyflin often. “You survived the sea?”

  “Aye Jarl Dragonheart. Ran was kind to us but she took most of those who sailed with us. We were chosen. It is wyrd that we came here to find you.”

  I nodded, “What are you called?”

  “I am Erik Ironshirt and these are, Thorghest, Arne the Grim, Gunnar Longsword and Sven Thorirson. We are of the clan of the red deer. We are all that is left. The rest either perished in the battle or at sea.”

  The one he had named Gunnar said, “It was treachery. They…”

  Erik Ironshirt said, “Let us wait and tell the story in order. This is not the place.” It was obvious he was the leader. We were passing through the gates and Coen’s people had come to stare at the bedraggled strangers who passed by.

  I stood in the doorway to watch them head indoors. I noticed that the children and the women shivered. They looked thin and pale. Some had skin which was almost blue and translucent. Coen’s wife was a caring woman. As they entered I heard her shout. “Blankets for these bairns and their mothers! Fetch that soup. Some are near to death!”

  Coen and I waited while the refugees were attended to. It was a maelstrom of activity as women fussed around the women and children. Coen sat the men around the table with my son, grandson and the knarr captain. “Tadgh, speak your tale.”

  “We headed to Dyflin as you had commanded, lord. As we approached we saw a pall of smoke in the sky and wondered what was amiss. Nearing the mouth of the river we saw many drekar in the harbour and the burning hulks of others. As we neared the quayside my lookout spied heads atop the gate. He also saw Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer. He was in the open gate and he had been given what do the Vikings call it…?”

  Erik said dully, “The Blood Eagle.”

  “Aye that is it. We would have landed but suddenly Vikings I did not recognise hurled spears and loosed arrows at us. Aed the lookout was slain. We turned around and headed out to sea. A drekar set off after us. We could not sail east for the winds were a
gainst us and so we headed north. My ship is well built and she is lithe. With no cargo aboard we flew through the water. After half a day the drekar ceased to follow. We hove to in order for us to decide what to do and that was when I spied the wreckage and found these and others floating on the water.” He took the ale which was proffered and sat back. His part in the tale was done.

  I nodded to Erik.

  “This was treachery Jarl. You know Jarl Gunnstein.” He took a deep breath, “You knew Jarl Gunnstein, Jarl Dragonheart. He was a good jarl. A couple of drekar entered the port from Orkneyjar. They said they wished to trade. They had seal oil and the jarl welcomed them. They were threttanessa and they only had a small crew. Our jarl was Faðir the Fair. We were due to sail to the land of the clan of the horse in Frankia. We were preparing to sail two days later when more ships arrived. You know how busy it is when you are leaving port. We were occupied but we were able to see what went on.”

  “From what you have told me you were suspicious of the two crews who had claimed to come from Orkneyjar?”

  “I was but I was not jarl and no one asked my opinion but I did not trust them. By then the two crews had made themselves a camp, close to the west gate. There were those in the jarl’s hall who spoke up for the two drekar and their crew. They were allowed to roam freely within Dyflin’s walls. It was a mistake. Jarl Gunnstein was suspicious of the six drekar which appeared in the river for they were large ships. They were not from Orkneyjar. He sent for his jarls and he arrayed them before the gate. The six ships did not have shields! There was only enough space for one drekar to tie up and so the others tied up next to that one. They used the drekar as a bridge and they poured ashore to attack the Jarl.”