by Griff Hosker
We headed west. “We will cross the river downstream from the Roman Bridge. I would remain hidden from the Eorls who live hereabouts. By now the King will know that we are abroad and when Magnus arrives at his castle I have no doubt that he will direct the King’s attention to us.”
Haaken smiled, “It is why you wanted just the Ulfheonar.”
I nodded, “We can hide if we have to. My young warriors did well. I would not have their lives thrown away because of me.”
“Where is this place of the Queen?”
“It was called Stanwyck but Aiden seemed to think it was close to the Saxon village of Aldeborough. The fort is supposed to be within a short journey from the Roman Bridge and the river.”
“Then we can be there by dark.”
“I hope so.”
I was silent as we rode east. There were just a handful of us but I trusted these warriors like no other men. They were like brothers to me. We were comfortable in our silence. I was thinking of the spirits and the way they worked. Since the day I had been born they had gradually pulled the curtain back on my ancestors. I had learned more and more. I had travelled back in time. Yet I was now certain that it was the Norns who were making me what I was, a legend. My ancestor had been a warlord and his name still resonated. The more I discovered the more I wanted to know. In discovery lay adventure. I would now be trying to find someone who had lived before the Romans had first stepped on to this island. That was so long ago it made my head spin.
We used the trail which ran along the river. I scanned the water, as did Beorn, for the place where we could cross. The sun was dipping towards the west and Beorn raised his arm. “There Jarl; it looks shallow.”
I nodded and he nudged his horse into the water. It came up to its withers but no higher and we all followed. Towards the middle of the river the current tugged a little but I dug my heels in and my horse surged up the other side and shook himself when we reached dry land. The bank looked flat and there were trees. I thought that we would be hidden from sight. “We will camp here and search for the fort tomorrow.”
We risked a fire for the cold river had chilled us. If there was to be a pursuit of us it would take some time to organise. We might be in danger during the coming days but this first night we would be safe.
Olaf Leather Neck sighed, “I could do with some beer.”
Vermund snorted, “There you go. Always wanting something we don’t have. Why not wish for a comfortable bed and two wenches to share it?”
Olaf sat up, “You have them?”
Vermund picked up a handful of grass and threw it at his friend, “Fool!”
The banter was a good sign. They were not worried about the dangers of roaming deep in the heart of enemy land. We had never yet met a Northumbrian we could not best.
Haaken lay down and stared up at the stars, “Like you, Jarl, I am intrigued but I know not what we seek or why.”
“You accept that it will be better and quicker for us to ride home rather than sailing home.”
“Aye.”
“And the route we have chosen is the shortest.”
“It seems that way.”
“Then as there are few enemies between us and home I believe the Norns wish us to travel this way and who am I to go against their will. As for what we seek; that is a different question. I do not know but there will be something. When I was trapped deep in the Welsh hillside I could not have imagined that I would discover a sword. When we found the cave I could not have expected it to be a tomb. There will be something at this fort.”
“You are right. And besides this is another great opportunity for a song from me. I have nearly finished the one about you with an arrow sticking from your throat.”
“But that is not how it was!”
“I am the song teller. I write what I know will make people listen.”
“But you write the stuff of legends and not what really happened.”
“I was there, Jarl. I know what happened and you were saved by the gods!”
There was no arguing with him. I did not sleep well for my mind was beset by Magnus. He seemed destined to ever escape me. Perhaps I could let him go. He would die from someone else’s hand, I knew that but at the back of my mind was the fear that he could hurt my family. I could not risk that.
We headed west until we came to the Roman Road. From Aiden’s description I knew that the fort lay somewhere alongside the road. I wondered how I would know it. I almost laughed, when an hour later I saw its ramparts rising like rolls of earth before me. I could not have mistaken it for anything other than what it was; an ancient monument to the ones who ruled this land before the Romans.
We reined in and Haaken shook his head, “Did men truly build this? It must have taken them lifetimes!”
There were concentric lines of ditches and mounds. A stream meandered along the lowest one. As we let our horses drink in the stream I saw that it had been cunningly made so that there was no one way in. Beorn pointed, “There is a gap, Jarl. I think there must have been a gate to enter at one time. I can see the holes in the ground where the posts stood.”
Dismounting we led our horses through the gateway and along the ditch. The entrance to the next ring was further along. We kept climbing as we entered this cleverly designed fort. We found two other gates before we reached the top level. There we saw the deserted and ruined huts. People had lived here. There was a palisade which ran around the top. It looked as though it needed repair and the gates at either end had been thrown down. I saw a number of mounds. We went over to them.
“Think you one of these is the grave of the Queen?”
“I know not, Haaken. I doubt it they are too small and mean. But I am not about to despoil the grave of a Queen.” I turned, “Beorn, you and Erik hunt. We will explore this today and stay here.”
As they went off Haaken said, “There is nothing here, Jarl.”
I swept my arm around the huge interior. “You call this nothing? Have you seen anything as impressive in this land? Even the castle on the cliffs in On Walum was a hut compared with this. I would sleep within the rings and dream.”
I knew I had not convinced him but I was Jarl and my heart told me to stay. In my heart I agreed with Haaken. There would be nothing here for me to find. It was not until dusk came and the sun set that I finally finished my exploration. As dark storm clouds had been gathering during the day my men had repaired two of the huts by putting branches over the half wrecked roofs. We ate well for Beorn and Erik had managed to hunt some game. Olaf still complained about the lack of beer but it was a fine meal, nonetheless. We had barely finished when the rain began. It didn’t just fall, it cascaded like a waterfall. The temporary repairs did not hold it back and rivers ran along the floors of the huts but at least we were saved from the worst.
When the thunder began and the horses became frightened Beorn and Erik went to calm them. The storm increased in intensity and the lightning lit up the skies outside as though it was daylight. The thunder crashed so much that even Haaken became worried, “Jarl, we have offended Odin by coming here.”
A bolt of lightning illuminated the interior of the hut and I smiled, “I have stood closer to the god’s anger before now, Haaken. Should I draw my sword for Odin to strike it again?”
That made my entire oathsworn drop to their knees, “We beg you not, Jarl! We are not you! We would be burned to a cinder.”
“Then fear not. We will not be hurt.”
I was proved right but I knew not how. The storm abated but not for a long time and the rain eventually stopped. We managed to find dry patches inside the hut and we lay down. I slept well but I was not certain that my men did.
I dreamed.
I was an eagle flying high above the land and there were Roman horsemen below me. They were advancing to fight a mighty horde of wild half naked warriors. They were outnumbered yet they advanced bravely. I saw that they had the standard of a dragon and it wailed as it moved. Their red horsehair plume
s and cloaks over their metal byrnies made them look like a long snake. The sun reflected from their armour and their swords. When they struck the line of the barbarians it was like an axe striking a tree. They broke the line asunder. I saw a Roman chief fighting a barbarian. They fought long and hard. The barbarian fell dead but the Roman had been mortally wounded. When he handed his sword to another red cloaked horseman I knew that he was dead. I watched as the Roman’s oathsworn carried his body. They went to a secret entrance to a long barrow and removed stones. I saw them enter with his body and then emerge without it. They replaced the stones and covered them with soil. It was only then I saw that there were two women standing weeping with the warriors. The sky became black and I lost sight of them. I flew higher hoping to get above the darkness but it became blacker and blacker and then I felt a pain in my chest and when I looked I was no longer an eagle and I was falling. I was hurtling back to earth.
I opened my eyes and saw light coming through the holes in the roof. I was awake and it was daylight.
When I stepped from the hut I was struck by the devastation. The only two huts which remained upright were the two we had repaired. There were blackened marks on broken parts of the palisade showing where it had been struck by bolts from the gods. I stood at the broken gateway and saw that we were now in the middle of what looked like a collection of tarns or rivers. Had we slept where we had the previous night then we would have drowned. Wyrd!
My men joined me as they woke and they too were stuck by the devastation. Vermund shook his head, “It is dangerous to be with you, Jarl. The gods toy with you. We are mere mortals and we have no magic sword to protect us.”
Haaken shook his head, “That is where you are wrong, Vermund. Last night I too was afeard and I should not have been Cnut was with Dragonheart when the sword was struck and he survived. When the Jarl fought to rescue Aiden it was his enemies who were struck by the anger of the gods. Aiden and the Jarl were unharmed. So long as we are true to our jarl then we will be safe.”
I laughed, “Haaken, do not make this into a saga I beg of you!”
He spread his arms, “I merely record what it is that happens to you, Jarl. I do not command their appearance.”
We spent the morning packing and waiting for the waters to abate somewhat. It was noon when we attempted to leave. Our horses had to swim the stream we had walked across. The land was like our home. It was covered in tarns, meres and waters. Were it not for Beorn’s skill we would have become lost but he led us unerringly out of the confusing muddle of puddles, water and mud. I was silent and distracted and I did not pay much attention to our surroundings. I trusted in Beorn’s skill. My horse suddenly whinnied and it arrested my attention. I looked up and I recognised the land from my dream. “Hold!”
My men stopped and their hands went to their weapons. I pulled my horse’s head around and rode up the slope to the jumble of rocks I saw on the skyline.
“Jarl! Where do you go? That is not the way home.”
Haaken’s voice sounded excited, “Peace, Beorn, do you not see. It is the work of the Norns!”
I knew where we were. We had found the place where the warrior had been buried. I recognised the entrance for the rain had washed away the covering of soil. Two huge stones stood like sentries guarding the entrance. The barrow had been like an upturned boat with rocks forming the side. I dismounted and dropped the reins of my horse. I took off my helmet out of respect as I walked into the tomb of the dead. I had not despoiled this tomb; that had been the work of the gods. I was intended to walk amongst them.
I recognised the bones of the warrior. They were close to the door. His armour had long rusted but I knew what it was. The horsehair had long disappeared as had his cloak but his skull looked to his left and there I saw the bones of someone smaller. Around the head was a small circle of gold studded with blue stones. I picked it from the skull and felt power race through me. A voice in my head told me what I already knew, this was the Queen I had sought. This was a Queen who lay with a dead Roman warrior.
I know not how long I stood there. I heard Haaken’s voice, as though from a long distance, “Jarl, is this the Queen you sought?” I nodded dumbly. “How did you know it would be here?”
I turned and saw my awestruck oathsworn. “I dreamed it last night. This warrior led warriors and defeated a mighty host. He died and was laid here next to the Queen.” I pointed to the jumble of bones which lay deeper in the barrow. “This is an ancient tomb. See there are many ancient dead. Take what you will for the gods have given this to us. Odin himself stripped back the top. We were meant to find it.” They hesitated. “You know I am not foresworn and I tell you that we were meant to come here. I will take this circle of gold to Kara for it belongs with the torc.”
They entered the long narrow tomb and began to pick up the pieces of gold and jewelled stones which littered the floor. I held the golden crown. It had dirt upon it and the dust of the dead but its quality was unmistakeable. I could almost feel the presence of the woman who had been dead for such a long time. Perhaps that was the power of the women in my family.
When the tomb had been cleared of all valuables Haaken asked. “Should we rebury the bones, Jarl?”
I shook my head, “The gods wanted them exposed and we will leave them. Soon nature will reclaim this barrow and it will be as though they never existed.” I held up the crown, “Save for this and the sword and now they will be reunited.”
Haaken’s mouth opened and closed as he took in the import of my words, “You mean the sword you found under the mountain?”
“I dreamt in the storm last night and I saw the sword in that warrior’s hand.” I pointed to the rotting armour. “He is here with the Queen. When we return to Cyninges-tūn I will ask Kara and Aiden if I have unravelled this riddle. In my heart I believe I have.”
We mounted our horses. Rain clouds rushed in once more and we fixed our cloaks over our shields. They needed protection as much as we. We now left the line of the river and headed south and west. This was not familiar country to us but the journey home would be easier for we would pass through shallow valleys which were not as exposed as the high moors. There would be woods and streams. If we rode hard we could reach Ulf’s Water by dark but we had tarried too long at the tomb and we would make a more leisurely journey.
Each of my Ulfheonar had become much richer as a result of the gods exposing the tomb but I doubted that they would part with them. We all knew the power of objects which had lain in Mother Earth for so long. She imbued them with her power. Allied to that was the fact that the gods had given them to us. We had experienced something few mortals would ever know. We had almost come face to face with the gods. The storm, the lightning, the rain and the tomb all pointed in one direction; we had been directed thence and we had been chosen. We had been a special band before that day but after we were bound by more than an oath, by more than blood, we were bound by the threads of the Norns.
We left the road at dusk and headed down to a clearing by the river. It was the same river which passed Arne’s Fort. It was comforting to know we were within a day of friends. Ketil’s fort lay less than twenty miles away. We would be there by noon the next day easily. The rain had not ceased all day. I regretted that we had no shelter for the night. We used our riding cloaks to make a rough roof between the trees. It protected the fire and stopped the worst of the rain from falling on us. Despite the conditions none of us was down hearted. We had been when Magnus had escaped but, since that time, we had had luck on our side.
We still had some of the meat which Beorn had hunted and we used some of the river water, herbs from the banks and berries to make a stew. Hot food was always more satisfying. We had just finished it when one of the horses whinnied. Most warriors would have ignored it but not us. We all looked at each other and, without a word being spoken we prepared for danger.
Beorn stretched and said, loudly, “I will go and make water.”
Haaken rose to head to the horse
lines, “The horses have yet to be watered come with me Erik.”
I walked over to the fire to put another dried log upon it. As I bent down I used my sword to poke around the fire. I did not know where the attackers were but I knew that they would be watching. The other Ulfheonar all slipped a weapon into their hands as they eased themselves into the shadows. I reached down, ostensibly to move a branch to a better position but I was preparing a missile. The attack when it came was sudden but we were ready. I sensed a shadow from my left and I hurled the burning brand blindly in the direction of the shadow. I turned and saw the warrior clutch at his face which had been burned by the brand. I stabbed him in the stomach with my sword.
There were more than a dozen of them. I saw that the man I had slain had warrior bands and the hammer of Thor; he was Norse but the one who had been felled by Vermund was a Saxon. These were bandits. I drew my seax as two men rushed at me. One held an axe while the other had a long seax. I fended both weapons off with mine and then twisted both my wrists at the same time. The seax and the axe were knocked to the side and I swung my seax and sword horizontally at the two men. They ripped through the throats of the men. Erik was being assailed by three men. I brought my sword down on the back of the skull of the largest of the three. The shattered pieces of bone splattered the two warriors on either side. Erik slew one and I rammed my seax into the side of the third.
And then it was over. We had killed the bandits. Olaf Leather Neck had suffered a bad cut to his left arm. I watched as he bound a rag around his elbow to slow down the bleeding. When all danger had gone we would stitch it.
“Beorn search for any others.” I kicked over the bodies of the three Erik and I had just killed. There was a Frank, a Dane and a Saxon. “Bandits and brigands.”
Haaken nodded, “It is not to be wondered at. So many have been slain by our forces that some must have stayed hereabouts to prey on the weak. It is like those who attacked you close to Wolf Killer’s home.”
