The Land of the Northmen

by Griff Hosker

  “Have you eaten?”

  “I am too tired to eat.”

  I roused him, “A warrior eats for he needs his strength to make sure we win.” I sat him up and fetched him some of the bread, ham and cheese. Within a day the bread would be inedible save for mopping up soup. I handed them to him. “Eat and then drink some of the ale.”

  He reluctantly began to do so. “I am not a warrior! I am a ship’s boy. There is no one lower than me!”

  I laughed, “And that is true which means that you can only improve your situation. The next time you sail Eystein Golden Hair will have an oar and we will have a new ship’s boy and he will be the one who will be weary beyond words. Siggi Far Sighted began as a ships’ boy and soon he might captain his own ship. All started at the bottom. I did.”

  “I thought I would be fighting alongside you! I did not expect to be running up and down ropes like a red squirrel in a tree.”

  “You may well be fighting when we reach the land of the Arab. Until then we all work to reach there safely.”

  He had finished his food, “I wish we had sailed to Wessex! We would be there already!”

  “I know but they have begun to protect themselves against us. Their burghs are stronger than they once were and they have learned to keep watch. We will go there again when we have a second or third drekar. Besides the treasure of the Arabs is worth the journey.”

  He was silent. He had fallen asleep.

  The next day took us past Olissipo and the coast where we had rescued Erik One Arm. That had been in the days when Siggi White Hair had been alive and we had followed Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson. More than half of our crew had either not been born or had not been with the clan. We had changed and we had grown. Now we had a crew where almost two out of three had mail byrnies. We were not the rough warriors who were little more than bondi.

  The seas here were a little warmer but just as rough as further north. This was the time of the high tides and the winds from the west. It was another reason why I preferred the raids of harvest time. The wind was strong but, with plenty of sea room, it meant we did not have to row and Sven kept the coast a smudge to the east so that we would not be observed. He used his compass and Harold’s charts to estimate where we were.

  It was as the sun was setting behind us that we headed in towards the coast. The darkened land loomed up and all that the lookouts could see were rocks and breakers. There were no beaches.

  Eystein Golden Hair shouted from the mast head, “There are rocks. I see no beaches.”

  We needed a beach. With a westerly wind, we could not risk a sea anchor.

  Harold said, “Soon we turn west and sail past Zawiya. There are beaches beyond there but the crew are becoming weary.” He and Sven looked at me. They were thinking of my son. The warriors had not had to row.

  “We push on. The Allfather has sent us this wind for a purpose. Let us use it while we may.” They exchanged a look. “Do not worry about my son. He is a warrior. When I sailed with you as a boy then I was expected to do the same as the others was I not?”

  “Aye, Jarl Hrolf.”

  The ship’s boys were kept at it well after dark for the change in course meant they had to keep sails trimmed as Sven adjusted the steering board. I heard Ragnvald’s voice from the mast head, “Beach to the north!”

  When Sven gave the order to lower the sail and we took to the oars it was deep into the dark night. We would have cold fare when we landed. It was a warmer night. In fact, I felt warmer, as we stepped on to the sand, than I had during the summer at home. We were now, truly, in the land of the Arab. As we had landed without seeing the coast we set sentries and kept watch for our enemies. As I lay on my cloak I could smell strange aromas which came from the west. The trees and the land themselves smelled exotic. I wondered how this could be. I knew that a man could walk all the way from my home to here and yet it was a different world. What made the earth change so much? I knew that the Arabs worshipped a different god to ours. They, like the followers of the White Christ, followed one god. We had a choice. Perhaps their god was more powerful here. It was a worrying thought as I finally drifted off to sleep.

  The next day Sven kept us closer inshore. He needed to locate our position more precisely. His used his compass and studied the charts. He would recognise features that we did not. After noon, he smacked the sheerstrake. “There it is Jarl, Walbah!”

  I looked to the north and saw that there was a town which rose on a piece of high ground just beyond a spit of land. The white buildings came as a shock. They seemed to make it stand out even more. I shaded my eyes to get a better view. We could not see into the harbour. I had no idea what lay there.

  Suddenly, from the masthead, Siggi Far Sighted shouted, “Captain, two ships are putting out from the harbour.”

  I looked at Sven, “Should we run out the oars?”

  Shaking his head, he said, “The wind is with us but I would have the men armed. Some of these ships are quick. They may try to board although I think they just mean to warn us off.”

  I nodded, “Beorn Beornsson, have the warriors with bows ready their weapons. We may need to discourage the men who come in their ships.”

  “Aye Jarl.”

  I went to my chest and took out my bow. I strung it. Unlike most of the men I had a Saami bow. It looked different and could send an arrow further than an ordinary war bow. It was an expensive item. I had bought it in Dyflin. Before trade had ceased with that port we had bought them whenever we could. Several of my men now had the weapon.

  We were just passing the entrance to the river and harbour when I saw the two lateen rigged ships burst forth. They were fast. I had thought our drekar was the swiftest vessel on the seas but these were as fast. The two ships were half the length of our drekar and they had two lateen sails. I could see black glistening bodies and the shiny tips of weapons. They were filled with warriors.

  I turned to Harold. “These are not here to scare us off. They are here to take us.”

  He pointed to the town. I could now see a white tower, “They must have had a lookout there. They would have seen us long before we saw them. That is why their ships were able to get to us quickly. You must stop them closing with us. They will be as hounds hunting a stag. They will attack from the rear and from two sides.”

  Harold Fast Sailing must have been a galdramenn for as soon as they cleared the harbour one of them used the west wind to begin to head south and cross our stern. The other edged closer to us. They had done this before. I had thought that we were the hunter and the Arabs the prey. I was wrong. These were the predators. This was what they did. They were pirates preying on merchant ships. They would have seen precious few dragon ships. They would learn that we had teeth.

  “Folki, have your men watch the steerboard side. The rest of you we will watch the landward side.”

  I took out a good arrow and stood by the rail. We knew how to fight at sea. I put my feet wider apart than on land and I watched the Arab ship as it raced towards us. I could now see that the helmsman wore clothes but many of the rest appeared to be half naked. They did not appear to have clothes on their upper bodies. They were black warriors. There were also some wearing the long flowing garments of the Arab. Some had helmets and I saw small shields. I had seen them before. They had more metal than our shields. I also saw the curved swords. One had nearly ended my life when I had just join the crew of the ‘Raven’s Wing’ . I would not underestimate these men. They believed they fought for their god. If they died they would go to heaven. These were not Christians. There was no forgiveness in these men. They were ruthless and cruel. If we lost, we would either be butchered or sent east to row as slaves until we died. Erik One Arm had told us what our fate would be if we were captured. With my son on board I would have to make sure that did not happen.

  The ship to the north was now less than a hundred and fifty paces from us. I raised my bow and let fly an arrow. The two sails billowed above the boat and partly obscured the view
of those within its hull. When my arrow plunged down into the crowded hull it struck the brown skinned warrior standing in the bows. I watched the white foresail suddenly spattered with blood as he was pitched over the side. My men with Saami bows began to let fly. The rest would wait to send their arrows over for the range was too great and they were loosing into the wind. One Arab and a second black skinned warrior fell to the Saami bows before their shields came up.

  The Arab helmsman tried to close with us. The closing of the range suited us for it brought every bow to bear. “Every archer, aim at the steering board!” I pulled back and sent a second arrow. I missed the helmsman but the boy next to him who was adjusting the sheet fell overboard. The sudden flurry of arrows caught them by surprise. Hitherto we had just used three bows. Now ten sent arrows their way and their shields did not protect the helmsman. He slumped over his steering board. The ship slewed sharply to the steerboard side and the wind caught the huge sails. The ship spectacularly heeled over and began to fill with water. The ones on board began to take down the sail and bail.

  I went to the other side. The second ship had seen the fate of the consort and had turned. One on one was not an option. They went to the aid of the stricken ship. My men cheered. “Did you hit many, Folki?”

  “Our arrows hit three but we only had one Saami bow. We will have to buy more of those Jarl Hrolf. They are a wonderful weapon.”

  “They are.” I looked up at the sky. The blue was being replaced by grey as clouds scudded in from the west. “I think the Allfather was watching over us. He is sending weather from our home to help us. I think there will be rain. The murk may help disguise us.”

  I returned my bow to my chest and went to Sven the Helmsman. “How far do we have to go?”

  “At least half a day’s sailing. If we leave the coast and head east by south east then we can save time but it will still be a half day. When we return, if the wind has not changed, it will be a hard row for the men.”

  “The Allfather has helped us there. I think he now expects us to do something to help ourselves. Try to land to the west of Qādis. If we have to row, then the shorter the distance the better. The men we just sank will be out for revenge. They will watch for our return.”

  He nodded, “Aye, I know.”

  “When we have eliminated their watchers, you can bring the drekar, without sails, to lie in the shadows. We will see then how we are to take this Arab treasure.”

  “I will count to ten thousand and then sail. It will take time to lower the sail and the yard.” He smiled. “Your son will sleep well again!” I saw my son as he raced up the back stays. It was good for him. It taught him to be nimble and strengthened the muscles that would wield a sword and hold a shield.

  The afternoon’s voyage to the west was filled with the most interesting smells I could remember. It was the chief talking point amongst my men as they prepared for war. Swords, seaxes, daggers and spears were all sharpened. Mail was prepared. As soon as it was dark we would land and head towards Qādis. It was an island but we hoped that there would be bridges. Not all of the crew would land. I would leave enough men on board to help Sven and Harold sail the drekar down to Qādis.

  We followed the coast and, not long after the sun had dipped below the horizon, we found ourselves following a large sandy bay. It was perfect for beaching our ship. My men and I donned mail. Even those who would remain on board put on their mail. We were warriors. Although it was night we knew where Qādis lay. We saw lights from the houses. We slid up onto the beach and Eystein Golden Hair jumped ashore with the rope which would hold us there until we had disembarked. As soon as the last of the thirty men I would take had landed, the drekar floated higher in the water and Eystein jumped back aboard. Sven would take the boat a hundred paces off shore and use an anchor to slow down the drift of the ship. I slung my shield over my back and led my men east.

  We were, by my estimate, two thousand paces from the island. We followed the beach and headed east. When we had marched four hundred paces, I spied the watch tower. It was on the landward side. It was obviously intended to give warning of attack. I waved Folki and his fifteen men to the left. They would scout the land there. I waved for the others to follow me to the tower. I smelled wood smoke and saw the glow of a fire. I took out my seax.

  The tower was a wooden one with a stone base. It was the height of six men. I saw the men at the top. They were shadows and there appeared to be two of them. It had a simple wooden door and I knew that, inside, would be a ladder. While my men waited in the shadows at the bottom I quietly opened the door. In days gone by Ulf Big Nose would have ascended the ladder. He was the best scout I had ever known and that included Snorri the Ulfheonar. He had trained me. I had begun to train others but this was a job for me. While Folki scouted out the northern approach my men and I would need to approach from the sea. We would need to ensure that the drekar would be able to approach unseen. Erik Long Hair followed me. He had his seax out. Of all my men, he was the one who could move silently as Ulf Big Nose had taught me.

  The door opened into a dark space. It was night. Above me I heard voices. I did not understand a word they spoke. That did not matter for their words would mask any noise I might make. Two thirds of the way up there was a platform. Another ladder led to the top. I could now make out the night sky through the small opening. The voices were louder. I realised that I would have to be quick to avoid them giving a warning. Had this been in Frankia or Wessex I would have pretended to be a friend. Here I spoke no words of any of their languages. I would have to trust that I could be silent.

  When I was just below the wooden fighting platform I waved for Erik to stand on the platform. I waved him to the shadows. I moved my body to the side. Holding on to the ladder with my left hand I began to scratch with my seax at the floor of the platform. As I expected they stopped talking and listened. I made the same sounds again. I wanted them to think it was an animal. One of them said something. I kept scratching.

  A foot appeared on the ladder just by my head. As the next foot came down I jerked it. The sentry overbalanced and tumbled down. Even as he fell to land at the bottom in an untidy heap and his companion said something I pulled myself through the opening. The sentry had a leather jerkin but no weapon in his hand. He saw me and for the briefest of moments wondered what he saw. I doubted he had seen a Viking before. In that heartbeat of a moment I lunged and slashed with my seax. It tore across his throat silencing any shout he might have made. He fell to the floor. I glanced down and saw Erik finishing off the other sentry.

  They had a brazier at the top and it was filled with kindling. I wondered why they had not lit it. I picked up some of the food they had had in bowls. It tasted hot and yet it was cold. I left it there. When Erik joined me I stood and peered over the top of the tower. I had a good vantage point. I saw, just ahead, a river. Folki and his men would not be able to cross it but, as I looked north, I saw small boats a little like the ones which had attacked us. They were tied up at a small quay and there looked to be buildings close by. Looking across to Qādis I saw that they had no wall around the town. They relied on the tower to warn them and the sea and river to afford them protection. We could raid them!

  I turned to Erik, “Find Folki and tell him to secure those ships in the river. Take any treasure he can find from them and bring it back here to the tower. He is then to hole the ships and sink them.”

  “Aye jarl.” He held up a golden medallion, “If even the sentries wear such as this then we will be rich indeed.”

  He descended and I followed. I waved my men to the beach. Our drekar ghosted up. As we had not seen her and the enemy were not expecting us it gave me hope. I waved my men to the drekar. We had to work quickly. We only had a few hours until dawn. Those in Qādis would be asleep; all save the town watch. As my men boarded I pointed to the oars and then I waved to Erik. We sculled across the water to the quay by the town. It was only four hundred paces from us and we covered it quickly. I now had more m
en at my disposal. Eystein Golden Hair had his bow ready and, as we approached the quay, he sent an arrow into the chest of the only sentry we saw. He gave a small cry and fell, with a splash into the harbour.

  It was unfortunate. Someone would have heard but I hoped that it would not raise the alarm. I saw my son leap on to the quay with a rope and, with Haldi alongside, secure us to the island. I jumped ashore, swung my shield around and drew my sword. I ran up the slope towards the nearest building. The streets looked to be Roman for they were straight. Arne Four Toes and Einar Asbjornson were close behind me as I ran up the cobbled surface. I ignored the houses. I was looking for larger buildings. There would be official dwellings where they kept gold and silver. Having come this far we did not wish to take a few coins from old men. We wanted the riches we hoped this fine city would have.

  The Emir had his officials who ran and controlled this port. We had learned that, although we called them Arabs, they called themselves Umayyads. The Franks called them barbarians but these people were sophisticated. They minted their own coins and they taxed the Visigoths who had lived here before they came. They knew how to guard what was valuable and that helped us to find their repository of riches. There were two mailed warriors standing outside.

  Even as I heard, behind me, the sounds of shouting as we were discovered, the two sentries pulled their shields up and shouted something too. I guessed it was a cry for assistance. With Heart of Ice in my hand I ran at them. In the dark they thought there were just three of us. I ran straight at the guard to the right. He jabbed his spear at me but I brushed it aside contemptuously with my shield and kept running. I hacked my sword into his side. He wore mail. The mail stopped me slicing into flesh but I broke something in his body and severed some of the metal plates. I punched my shield at his face and, as he fell, hacked him across the throat. Arne killed the other.