by Griff Hosker
A flurry of arrows struck a second Saxon horse which followed its companion and hurtled back to the Saxon army. The last Saxon did manage to rear his horse. Haaken and I ducked beneath our shields and ran at it. Its hooves flailed against our shields and then our weight knocked it over. The rider fell to the ground and, as he lay there winded Olaf Leather Neck ran up and took his head in one blow, “Come jarl, we have tarried long enough. The drekar are loaded.” The Viking and Saxon horde had formed up and were moving purposefully down the slope towards us.
The three of us ran towards the drekar. I could see Erik Ironshirt and his men. They lined the side of the drekar and had arrows ready strung. They released and a shower flew over our heads. I did not need to turn. I knew what I would see. Harald would hold his men. He would not risk losing others. He had almost caught me. He would bide his time. As I was hauled aboard the drekar I realised that my plans were now in disarray. The battle would not now take place on Man as I had hoped. War would come to the Land of the Wolf.
My legs did give way as I rolled on to the deck. I lay there like a beached whale. I began to laugh. Haaken put his arm out to help me up. “What is funny, Jarl Dragonheart?”
“Just this. I might think I am a young warrior still but the Allfather is reminding me that I am not!”
“Oars!” Erik Short Toes’ voice sounded our departure.
As my men went to their oars Aiden came down the drekar to me. I stared across the widening gulf of water at Harald. He had not joined the thegns in their fruitless charge. He had known the outcome. He stood next to his horse and stared at us. In this battle of alliances and secret plans did he know of the King of Munster’s attack on Dyflin? What would his next move be? I wished that I had managed to get a prisoner.
Aiden nodded, “We were lucky Jarl. If you had attacked then we would have lost many men. We have too few to waste. Like you I wonder what he will do next. He seems a little cleverer than most.”
Beorn the Scout nodded to a cloak covered form at the prow, “We have a prisoner Jarl. Aðils took him when we found their scouts. He is wounded and will not last the night but you can question him.”
Aiden took the cloak from him. I saw that he had a stomach wound. Aiden shook his head, “He is a dead man walking. It will be a slow death.”
The young warrior opened his eyes, “Then end my life now. I have failed Harald the Great!”
I nodded, “We will when we have some answers.”
“I will not betray my jarl.”
“I do not think that you will know the mind of your jarl. Who commands the men he left in Dyflin?” I saw him frown. I knew not if it was pain or if he wondered at the question. “Come the answer cannot hurt Harald.”
“It is his uncle, Sven the Troll-Burster.”
“And where did your jarl come from?”
“He came from Norway. His grandfather was a mighty warrior, Harald One Eye. Harald the Great was named for him and he would have your land! He hates you!” The effort proved almost too much for him and he closed his eyes.
“I know all that I need. Give him a sword.” When the sword was placed in his hands he opened his eyes. I smiled, “Go to the Allfather.” I took out Wolf’s Blood and the blade sliced into his throat. He died with a smile on his face.
“What is it Jarl Dragonheart? You did not ask him more questions.”
I stood, “That is because I know all that I need. This is a blood feud. He is using his family. They are the ones he can trust. His grandfather hated me and blamed me for splitting his clan.” We walked towards the steering board. I stopped near to Haaken. “Harald the Great is the grandson of Harald One Eye.”
Haaken’s hand went to his wolf amulet, “Wyrd .”
Olaf asked, “Who is this Harald One Eye?”
I said, “He is the Jarl who captured me when I was young and made me a slave. He fought with Prince Buthar and he was the reason we left to find a new home on Man. He will not be content with Man. Harald will want me and all of my family dead. He will not rest until the land of the Wolf is his.” I smiled, “At least we know where we stand now. We either kill him or he kills me. Viking blood will end this.”
Once we were away from the land we used the wind. I had so much racing through my mind that it almost befuddled me. I stood at the steering board with Haaken, Erik Short Toe and Aiden.
“He will come for you in your own land, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“I know Aiden. Erik, your home needs to be better defended and we need to have a quay. We will keep all of Erik Ironshirt’s men by the new shipyard and the men of Ragnar and Gruffyd.” I looked up at the sky. There were even more flecks of sleet and snow in the air. “Soon it will be winter and we may be safe but I will not relax my vigilance. When the new grass comes I will have Ulf keep watch on the pass at Lang’s Dale.”
Haaken shook his head, “I have spoken with Ulf. He will do as you ask, Jarl Dragonheart, for he is oathsworn, but the pass is many miles from his home. We need someone from our stad to watch it.”
“It is a bleak place. Many men would fear the ghost of Lang and his family.”
“Leave it with me, Jarl Dragonheart. We have the winter to find someone. I have an idea or two.”
Haaken had changed since his daughter had married. She was now with child and Haaken was convinced that it would be a boy. The thought of having a grandson had given him a new energy.
“Very well. I like not this alliance. Our allies will not send warriors to help us. Egbert is clever. He wishes an empire and he will use Harald to get it. He will make him king. It will be an empty title but Harald will take it.””
Aiden suddenly sat up, “He will make him Christian!”
Haaken shook his head, “Impossible! Harald is a Viking!”
“I think Aiden is right. All that we know of Harald shows him to be driven to get power. I have never heard of a Viking converting but this may be the one who will. If he does then Egbert will have him. He will be a client king like Eanred. Then he will turn his greedy eye to us.” I looked astern. Was this a splash in the pond which would send ripples all the way to my Water? The prickles on the back of my neck told me that it was.
Chapter 13
Ragnar and Gruffyd were more than happy to stay by the new shipyard but Ragnar added, “I would build a hall for my wife. It is not right that she lives so far from me.”
“Of course. But you know that the three of you have the most important of tasks. Raibeart will defend Úlfarrston but if we are attacked at the shipyard then we risk losing the drekar. It may be that, even though it is winter, Harald seeks revenge for the ships of his we sank. You will be putting your new bride in danger.”
“She is the wife of a Viking. She will understand.”
Erik Ironshirt said, “We will build a stone tower. We can use it to keep watch and as a refuge for the women. We can build it the same time as we build the jetty. We can collect stone before the snows come.” He smiled, “This will make us stronger and keep men busy. It is good, jarl.”
“Then make it so.”
The treasure was divided equally and my jarls returned home. Before they left I told them of my plans and warned them of the danger from Harald. “Now we know the reason for his war on us and our allies. Now we know that he will not rest until I am dead. I do not believe he will come before the new grass but we now know he will come with the men of Wessex.”
The three of them nodded. Asbjorn spoke for them all, “We will not fail you. We will train more warriors and put to good use the swords and helmets we took.”
I was weary when I reached my home. Dark clouds threatened snow and winter. The hard run had taken more from me than I would have liked and a ghost from the past had returned. Only Haaken and I knew Harald One Eye. I did not remember his children for I had been young when we had left. As I headed for my hall I said to Aiden, “If your family would dream then we might know what is in the mind of our enemies. I would have warning of an attack. My son and grandson are n
ow the ones who will first face the fury of my foe.”
“And we will, Jarl Dragonheart, but this Harald has a mind which is hidden from us. We will have to hope that the spirits help us.”
Brigid watched me enter my hall and asked, “Where is Gruffyd?”
“He is not hurt. He and Ragnar will be staying by the shipyard for a while. You can visit him if you wish. I am sending Astrid to Ragnar tomorrow. You will be escorted.”
She shook her head. “I do not relish the journey. Just so that he is whole.” She paused. “Is the danger gone?”
I would not lie to my wife. “No. If anything it has increased. The King of Wessex has allied with Harald. We have hurt him and he has fewer ships but he will come for us. There will be war when the new grass comes.”
She shivered. “I never thought I would appreciate ice and snow but if they keep the danger away then I am happy.”
“If you are not going to visit Gruffyd then I will escort Astrid. It does not seem right to send a stranger with Ragnar’s wife.”
“But you are weary. Let your Ulfheonar go.”
“No. I will take Scanlan with me. Siggi and Olaf Grimmson can trade before the winter. We have coin.”
“With whom will you trade? Dyflin is closed to us.”
“We have new trading partners. I will send Olaf to Gwynedd and Siggi to Munster. They should not be away too long. I will see Karl One Leg and have extra men sent aboard the knarr in case they are attacked.”
Surprisingly Erika asked to come with me the next day. “I will be pleased with your company daughter but it will be cold and at this time of year it is not a pleasant journey.”
She smiled, “In truth, father, I am bored. I like Astrid. She has kept me company and if she goes I will be left to watch over Myfanwy.”
Brigid shook her head, “This is not right. All the young warriors are with Ragnar and Gruffyd! You are the daughter of a jarl. You should carry yourself as a lady. I forbid you to go!”
“She will be fine. She will be with me.”
“On your head be it and when I am proved right then I remind you of my words!”
Scanlan was waiting with our horses. He had a pack horse with the coin we would give to our traders. He rode behind us. He knew how to keep secrets. He and his wife had served me since I had been made a jarl.
As we headed down the greenway, Erika said, “Mother always wants me to be something I am not! To be truthful father I would stay with Astrid and Ragnar rather than returning home with you. If I stay beneath the same roof as my mother, then we will come to blows.”
“She is your mother!”
“Nothing I ever do is good enough for her.”
Astrid said, “I felt the same about my mother but now she is gone I wish I could undo all the harsh words I spoke to her. When I am in the Otherworld I shall say I am sorry. Your mother wants the best for you, Erika.”
Erika took the wrong meaning from Astrid’s words, “There! I will be helping if I stay away from my mother until I am older.”
“That is not what Astrid meant.” Astrid nodded and smiled at me. “If you are to stay with Astrid then you will behave.” She was a married woman now and had grown.
“Behave?” She adopted an innocent expression but I was not fooled.
“Do not try to get around me, Erika! I may be away more than I am at home but I know when someone is trying to manipulate me.” I turned to Astrid, “You are named Astrid Mother. I would have you be as a mother to Erika. You know what I am saying?”
She smiled, “I know exactly what you are staying and her honour will be as safe in my home as it would be under your roof, Jarl Dragonheart.”
Erika’s sagging shoulders told me that she had hoped for freedom. She had exchanged one cell for another.
I was pleased to see that my son and grandson had stripped to the waist and were working alongside Erik, Thorghest and the others. They would be our front line when Harald and the Saxons came. Working together would make their bond stronger. They stopped briefly when Erika and Astrid dismounted. My daughter was disappointed when they quickly returned to work. I smiled for she might regret her decision. The hall here would be crude compared to mine. She would not have her own sleeping area. She would have to sleep with the other unmarried women. And now she saw that the men were all busy working. She would have little of the attention she craved. It was the main reason I had agreed to let her live with Astrid for a while. I wanted her to see that my wife was not the evil person she thought she was. I guessed that by Gói she would be ready to return home.
I walked down to the shipyard. My captains and Bolli all had huts close to the water and the slipways. It was dangerous for a storm could wreck their homes and an attack would not give them much time to escape. They were putting the finishing touches to the quay and jetty walkways. Once they were finished then the backbreaking work of making a pair of breakwaters would begin. They stopped work when I approached.
“Siggi and Olaf, I would have you trade.” They nodded. “I know that you are ready to hand over your knarr to another but I would have you make this one voyage for me. It is important. Your first mate, Baldi Halfisson can captain on the next voyage.”
“Of course.”
“And the same goes for you, Olaf. You now have a drekar but I need a sailor who knows how to fight. I want you, Siggi, to go to Munster and you, Olaf to sail to St. Asaph. You will, of course, trade. Scanlan here has a chest of coins for each of you but I need you to find out how their wars go and to tell them of this new unholy alliance. Tell them that I do not expect them to fight my battles with me or for me but if they could hurt Harald and the Saxons in any way then I would be in their debt.”
“Of course.” Olaf hesitated, “The seas are more dangerous.”
“I know. I will ask Erik Ironshirt to give you extra crew.”
They both looked relieved. I spent some time with them while they explained the way the new shipyard would work. Bolli had recovered from his wounds but he still had a pained look when he walked, “I am happier that you have the warrior halls. We will not feel as isolated as we did.”
“I have thought about that. When the new grass comes I will have the forest greenway widened and wooden beacons built. When danger comes they can be lit. A message could reach us far quicker than horse alone. If you sight a strange ship then we will come straightaway.”
I was invited to eat with the warriors in their new hall. I was honoured to do so. It was crudely furnished compared with mine. They had just split some oak trees and fastened them together to make their table. The seats were simply made benches. I did not mind. When you have grown up as a slave then you do not expect the best. Astrid sat next to Ragnar and they looked a fine couple. My daughter had made herself look as attractive as she could. There was a room full of young warriors to impress. She had tried to sit as far away from me as she could but Astrid was mistress here and she was seated between Astrid and Gruffyd.
I was seated next to my grandson. I had not had the opportunity to speak of the raid and the voyage. “How was the drekar?”
“She flies but Olaf has promised us that when time allows he will put her on the slips. He thinks we can make her even faster. He wishes to redistribute the ballast.”
“Good. And your crew?”
“They were all that we could have hoped but now we are warriors short. We will need more.” He looked at me expectantly.
“I will ask when I return home.”
“And we thought to have a new design on our shields. Your warriors have the wolf and Erik Ironshirt the wolf cub, We would have something to mark us as a band.”
“And that would be?”
“A red dragon’s head. You are the Dragonheart and Gruffyd and I are of your blood.”
“Is the dragon’s body red?” I could see I had puzzled him. “The men of Gwynedd fight under the banner of a red dragon on a green background.”
“We would just have the head. Perhaps the background coul
d be red and the eye red. That would mark us as different.”
Astrid had been listening, “Perhaps a golden or silver dragon. Then you could use metal to represent the dragon’s scales and it would afford better protection for your shield.” She smiled and stroked the back of his hand, “I would have my husband safe.”
Gruffyd said, “Do no worry, Astrid. I will be to Ragnar as Haaken is to my father and Thorghest to Erik Ironshirt. I will watch his back.”
Sometimes we plan things and they fail. At other times we do something because it feels right and it turns out to be so. Putting Ragnar and Gruffyd under the care of Olaf and with the guiding hand of Erik Ironshirt was one of the best decisions I had made. With Wolf Killer I had tried to keep him close to me and he had rebelled. He had formed his own clan and left me. I could see now that would not happen with either Ragnar or Gruffyd. They worked well together and for the clan. It was a pleasant evening. None became drunk and there was much laughter. Warriors who had fought with those in the hall had died. The laughter was tinged with sadness at the losses but the atmosphere was one of hope. We had a common cause and it was just..
Erik Ironshirt came to me as I left the table. I was tired and ready to retire. “I just wanted to say, Jarl Dragonheart, that this is good. My men are happy. We have begun to have vengeance and I can see that, one day, Harald the Great will be no more. You did well to temper our anger. You are not reckless nor are you complacent. I can see now that Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer had become too comfortable. We all had. We paid the price. He thought Dyflin was settled and it was not. You have a gateway here and I am honoured that we guard it with your family. It shows that you trust us.”
“Erik, all the warriors who fight with me are given my complete trust. I have been fooled before but never by my warriors.”
“I find that hard to believe. You must have eyes which see into men’s hearts.”
Ragnar had joined us. “That is true of warriors, Erik. Jarl Dragonheart knows warriors but a merchant and his wife were spies for the Danes and they nearly brought about the destruction of the clan. My grandfather spent a year searching Eoforwic and Lundenwic for them. He found them not.”
