Varangian

by Griff Hosker

  “Me too.” He turned, “Ready with your shields. They may try to use arrows. They look like sneaky bastards don’t they?”

  They all laughed. They were confident. Sure enough a flurry of arrows came but we had practised this often and we had a protective wall of shields above our head . Suddenly I head Isaac’s voice, as they readied for a charge. “Sir, a message from the commander!”

  “Take charge Droungarios.” I made my way through the ranks to the rear . “I will be back so don’t kill too many just yet.”

  There was one of the Commander’s bloodied aides. “Strategos, the Commander has rallied the men and he wants you to pretend to retreat. He has set up another ambush down the road.”

  “And the archers?”

  “They will also feign a retreat.”

  I hoped he knew what he was doing this time. “Very well. Isaac , ride to the strategos and tell him the retreat begins when I dip my standard.”

  I made my way back through the men and shouted . I was fairly certain that our words would not be understood by the Greeks across the river. “We are going to pretend to retreat. We do this in waves. The rear two ranks will retreat and form a line two hundred paces back from this position . The front rank will then go one hundred paces behind them and so on. The signal will be the dipping of my standard. ” I sensed despair creeping in. “We have not lost. The Commander is using us as bait. Let us hope we can catch a big fish eh?” I could see the enemy readying for a charge and I said to the standard bearer, Karl, “Now!” He dipped the standard and I heard the sound of hobnails running along the cobbles.”Steady lads.”I was watching for movement. The river was forty paces wide and they would be slower running through that than we would be on the road. As soon as the first spear moved I shouted, “Retreat!” We all slipped our shields on to our backs and walked quickly backwards. As we did so I saw Andronikos’ archers loosing volley after volley into the advancing line as they rode backwards. I saw Edward and the others in their lines. They had left gaps for us to slip through. We kept going until I had counted one hundred and then we turned. The second rank passed through our ranks and I yelled, “Retreat!” Edward performed the same manoeuvre. I turned to Egbert. “Take your line back one hundred paces. The Commander should be there.”

  When Edward’s men were behind us I could see that the enemy were less than forty paces behind them. “Let’s give them a bloody nose eh lads.”

  They were so keen to come to grips with the retreating axe men who had tormented them that they had not formed lines and we were a powerful shield wall. They fell back and I took the initiative. “Forwards!”

  To their horror we began to advance and I heard someone give the order in Greek, “Fall back!”

  “Halt! Right lads, let’s retreat slowly and get back to the others.” As we went back our men began a relentless drumming of their swords on shields and we walked back in time. Even I had to admit that it was impressive.

  When they came on again they had dressed their lines and we were presented with a solid line of shields and spears. Arrows rained down from archers behind them. This time they intended to end it. They hurled themselves at my front rank which had Egbert at the centre. I was confident that we could hold. Glancing behind me I saw Alexios moving forwards on one flank with the Thema and Andronikos on the other with the cavalry. “On my command I want each Kontoubernion to form wedge and then we will advance.” I paused and then roared, “Wedge!”

  The rebels must have wondered what was happening as the line before them ceased to be continuous and became, instead, ten arrows of men, all pointing at them. At the same time the two attacks on our flanks thundered in and the confused enemy became a defeated enemy. They fell back and we relentlessly drove them all the way to the river. For the first time in years I was not in the front rank but in the second, despatching those who lay wounded on the floor. We continued across the river and kept going until we came to a rise above the city. By then we were too exhausted to continue so we formed a shield wall and waited. Isaac brought my horse and I gratefully mounted. From his back I could see the remnants of Byrennios’ army fleeing in all directions pursued by Andronikos and his cavalry. We had won.

  I turned to look at my men. Ridley wandered over and joined Isaac and myself. “I am so proud of them Ridley. Their discipline and their courage was all that we could have hoped.”

  “I know Aelfraed, although we trained them they can still impress.”

  Isaac ventured, “How do they do that strategos?”

  “Do what?”

  “March back so calmly away from the enemy and then turn and fight and then, and I will take this picture to my grave, to charge four times their number.”

  “These are Housecarls. The finest foot soldiers the world has ever seen and these are the last of them. When they die then the world will never see their like. They have travelled thousands of miles to be here and yet they fight for Byzantium as fiercely as for Harold and England.”

  “Why are they the last my lord?”

  “Because the Normans now rule my land and the Housecarls all fled here. There are fewer left to make the journey but this is now their home.”

  We watched as some of the men went over to the standard which Karl still held unfurled, and they touched it and kissed it. This was what the Normans would never understand, this allegiance to an idea, a brotherhood of warriors willing to die for each other as I knew these men would die for me.

  The horse archers brought in Nicephorus Bryennios bound and bloodied. They reported to me. “Leave him with me, thank you.”

  He looked down at me, still looking arrogant, mounted on his white horse. He had magnificent armour but I saw that one of the horsemen had purloined his sword and another, his helmet. He had the superior look I had last seen amongst the Normans. I immediately disliked him. He sneered down at me, “So you are the Inglinoi. The one my men were so afraid of. You do not look like much to me.”

  Ridley’s hand went to his sword at the insult but I shook my head. “Appearances can be deceptive. Men have been making that mistake for as long as I have wielded Death Bringer.”

  He laughed, “Do you think you are in the tales of ancient Greece, naming your weapon?”

  “It seems to me that Ancient Greece was full of heroes. I would rather follow heroes than politicians who line their pockets with the lives of others. If I had my way your head would adorn a pole but my Commander is a civilised man and I feel sure that you will still be around in the future to annoy so hear this and hearken to my words. Do not cross me again for I do not follow the rules you Greeks have. I am English and I serve my own justice. If I wished you dead, you would be!”

  I didn’t realise that my men had gathered around and the Greek speakers had been translating. There was a pause and then a huge roar as the men heard my words. I gestured at them. “And, as you can hear, my countrymen feel the same!” I then became angry at this man looking down on me and my men. I reached up and, grabbing a handful of mail pulled him from his horse to crash to my feet. My men roared a cheer. I waved at Isaac. “Secure this snake! Make sure he cannot escape my justice!”

  Alexios arrived soon after and, for the first time I could see that he had been in combat for he was bloodied. He rode next to me and extended his arm. “Thank you my friend, you were right about the archers and were it not for your men’s stand we would have been chased back to the Emperor.”

  “No Commander, for the Pechengs were still a threat.”

  He laughed, “It seems they decided not to attack us but to loot the camp of this traitor.” He stared at Bryennios. “Make sure you choose your allies better next time.”

  I snorted. “Kill him now and then there will be no next time!”

  He shook his head and wagged his finger at a bloodied and unhappy Nicephorus. “You see, other nations are not as patient as we are. No, Aelfraed, we do not kill every one here who has a different opinion to us.”

  I stared at the hateful, spitefu
l eyes of the bound rebel and said, “Then more fool you for he deserves to die or he will return to bite you on the arse!”

  I cursed in English, Alexios and Andronikos burst out laughing but the rebel and Isaac looked confused. I saw Ridley translate and then Isaac allowed a small smile to play around his civilised lips.

  After we had settled the rebel city and installed the Tourmache and the Thema as a garrison, we took ship back to Constantinople. The cavalry went across the land rather than risk their horses on a perilous sea voyage but we managed to fit the Commander and his entourage and all of my men on three ships of the fleet and we enjoyed a pleasant voyage around the coast of Greece. I say pleasant, for I compared it with my voyages across the German sea. This sea was not even the same element. It was blue, it was calm and it was warm. It was like sailing in a bath and I, for one, enjoyed it. We had been on campaign for two years and the rest of the two week voyage did us good. We missed meat and we missed ale but we enjoyed the sagas and the songs. Eric would have made much of our battles and trials in our wars in the Balkans.

  Chapter 12

  Constantinople 1078

  There were no crowds to greet us as we stepped from the transports. Andronikos had garnered all the plaudits and praise when he had reached the city. Not that we wanted cheers and flowers from grateful Byzantines; we fought for each other and accolades from our commander was enough. We docked in the evening and we quickly made our way to the barracks. Alexios and his entourage received all the cheers from the crowds. We slipped quietly ashore. Ridley left me and went to seek his wife, the old days of the two of us sharing all our adventures was gone. His priority, quite rightly, was his new bride. I felt lonely and wondered if I should call upon Eric and Snorri. I decided against that and, instead, wandered around the barracks and palace. I first checked that my officers had seen to the men, Ridley’s new quarters in the palace meant that I kept my Droungarios’ chambers. When I had ascertained that all was well I wandered around the palace, enjoying the cool breezes which the original architects had built into their design.

  There was a small fountain close to the Imperial palace which had lemon and orange trees. It was pleasant to sit in the cool air with the perfume of the citrus fruits above me and I felt content. My mind wandered back to England and those I had left there both living and dead. How was my son? He would now be almost eleven years old. Had Gytha told him of me or was he now the son of the Earl of Fife? And what of the brothers, Osbert and Branton? Were they still waging a war against the Normans or did they have some woodland grave? My life had changed so much and yet I still felt that I had yet to fulfil my task, whatever that was.

  “A warrior who contemplates; now that is unusual and noteworthy.”

  I turned to see a smiling John, Alexios’ clerk. I had seen little of him in the last three years and yet he had not changed. He still looked the same, a little whiter and thinner but his eyes sparkled just the same. I rose but he waved me down and sat next to me. “Warriors do contemplate wise one but not on the battlefield. There we have to react and fight with our instincts.”

  “I think you do yourself a disservice, strategos, for I have heard that you do use your mind on the battlefield. I believe you play chess?”

  “I do.”

  “Which explains your success on the battlefield. The Commander has told me that, but for your stand at Kalavrye, we would still have rebels in the west.”

  “It is what we do, my men and I; we stand.”

  “Hm.” We sat in silence for a while. “Do you enjoy serving in Byzantium?”

  “As long as I can still wield my axe and lead my Saxons then I am happy.”

  “Ah but I sense that you still have the need to fight Normans.”

  I gave him a quick look. “You are perceptive. Yes I would, for they are a greedy and voracious people. They wish to impose their way on the world.” I waved my hand around me. “It is one reason why I like this place and your people. You allow people to choose how they want to live.” I laughed, “But I cannot understand how your Emperors come and go with such speed.”

  His face became serious and he edged closer to me. “We have had many Emperors and there are many with a claim to the title of Emperor. You have to be in the right place at the right time to achieve your ends.”

  “As Emperor Nicephorus was.”

  He put his hand to my mouth, “Ssh! Walls have ears but what I will say is that the Commander and his family will need you and your support sooner rather than later and if I were you I would watch out for Olef and his thugs as the word is out that you have annoyed them too many times.” He rose. “You have good friends in Eric and Snorri. Your friend makes good furniture and I enjoy Eric’s songs. I often visit their home.” His eyes bored into me and I could see the message they were imparting. Eric’s was a safe place to talk.

  “Yes I will visit them soon for I miss them.”

  “They are a delightful couple and they sing your praises. You are lucky to have such loyal friends.”

  My walk back to the barracks was tinged with suspicion as every shadow became a killer waiting to murder me. When I reached the safety of my chambers I felt relieved. A battlefield was one thing but to worry about a knife in the back in your own home was another. I spoke to the sentry at the barrack’s entrance before I retired. “Let me know if anything untoward occurs this night.”

  He looked at me with a puzzled expression, “Strategos?”

  “It may be nothing but I have an uneasy feeling; humour me.” I shrugged, “Wyrd.” He nodded for he understood what I now meant and I slept easier knowing that extra care was being taken by my sentries.

  I awoke the next day without any knives sticking from my back but, before I could visit my friends, I was summoned to a meeting with Alexios. Andronikos and the other senior commanders were there. As soon as I arrived I knew that there was trouble afoot.

  The Commander gave me a weak smile. “It seems strategos, that not all of the rebels were quashed after our battle. Nikephoros Basilakes decided to wait until we had left before raising another rebellion against the Emperor.”

  My heart sank to my boots. “Not another campaign to Dyrrhachium.” I dreaded the long walk in the hot sun of summer.

  “No strategos. He has obliged us by raising the men of Thessalonica, which is less than seven day’s march from here. It seems your rest is to be a short one.”

  I shrugged, “We had a pleasant sea voyage which rested us and I think they will be eager for war once more. I suspect that they will grumble about not being able to spend their back pay but after this campaign they should have even more!”

  Andronikos slapped me on the back. “Are all Englishmen as confident as you? You always believe you will win.”

  “Normally we do!”

  In the end it was just Ridley who grumbled for Anna was heavily pregnant and he was loath to leave her. “She will have the best of care in the palace old friend and, in my experience men are of little use when babies are to be born!”

  It was the same army which had won at Kalavrye. The other regiments had been brought up to full strength but we only had fifty recruits to replace the hundred and thirty men we had lost, still, we set off in good heart. Andronikos rode with Ridley and me some way ahead of Alexios who was closeted with close advisers. “It seems that there are many rebels who do not like the Emperor.”

  Andronikos shot me a worried look and then another at Ridley. Ridley saw it and grinned. “I may be related to the Emperor by marriage but I took a blood oath to Aelfraed! He knows where my loyalty lies.”

  “I am not being disloyal Ridley. I just wonder about these rebels.”

  “And there are some rebels who are not yet open about their rebellion. This rebel waited to see which way the wind blew and the fact that our commander almost lost will have heartened him.” He leaned over to me. “Keep your own counsel Aelfraed and be careful for those Norns you talk about are nothing compared with the intrigue and treachery at the court o
f the Emperor.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Have you met Anna Dalassene yet?”

  “No, who is she?”

  “The mother of the commander and she is a shrewd lady who is more of a politician than any man I know. When we return to the city you should meet her.” And that was all he would say but I began to ask around and found that she was close to the wife of Michael who had been Emperor and that, in itself, spoke volumes. It was what Andronikos did not say which intrigued me. There were obviously plots and, perhaps, that was another reason why Olef and his Varangians were intended me harm; it was known that I was loyal to Alexios and could not be bought. It was a pity I had not had time to speak with Eric.