The Land of the Northmen

by Griff Hosker

  “I have heard of these storms. They come from the west and they make the wind spin around. Eventually the wind will turn again but until it does we sail west. If you are in the middle of one, then there is no wind at all. Old sailors have told me that they went from being tossed around like a leaf at harvest time to a flat clam and limp sail. If this was daylight, we could see the sky and know where the sun was. This is harder.”

  Harold said, “We could reef the sail and throw out two more sea anchors. The Arabs have gone and it might be better to sit out this night in the darkness.”

  “Jarl Hrolf?”

  “You are captain, Sven the Helmsman. You have forgotten more about the sea than I will ever know.”

  “Furl the sail and throw out the sea anchors!”

  When my son returned with the other ship’s boys I sat him close to me and wrapped my cloak around him. He was shivering. I held him close to me. His body was like ice. His teeth chattered and he was shaking.

  “Ragnvald, take off your clothes.”

  He could barely get the words out, “But I am cold enough already.”

  “I will get you your dry clothes and you will warm up quicker. This is a command. Obey your jarl!” When he was in dry clothes I forced him to eat some of the food we had taken from Qādis. He was reluctant to do so but, eventually he did and his teeth stopped chattering. Hot ale would have helped but we had none. He had to make do with water. Eventually I heard the heavy breathing of sleep. I kept him close to me. It was one thing to lose a son in battle, with a sword in his hand, but to lose him to the sea was not the death for one of the clan of the horse.

  Dawn broke, the rain had stopped and the sea was calm. Harald pointed to the west. Black clouds were gathering. “Jarl this is the calm. Soon the storm will come but it will be from the west. It will take us home.”

  “Then let us bury our dead here, at the edge of the world.”

  The spare sail was stored and, before the sea anchors were raised, the dead were slipped over the side. I spoke the name of each warrior as Ran took him. I promised to care for their families and to honour their memory.

  I was just about to order Sven to lower the sail when Siggi Far Sighted shouted, “Jarl, I can see wreckage! There is some to the west and some to the south.”

  I looked astern. Then I saw, some four hundred paces from us, the upturned hull of a ship. From the lateen sail acting as a steering board I knew that it was an Arab. The Allfather had protected us and the god of the Arab had lost the battle of the gods. I touched the horse token I wore about my neck.

  I looked to the west and saw that drifting towards us was what looked like a log. The wind was bringing it closer. I was intrigued. It seemed to be heading directly for us. Everyone on board was interested and we gathered at the side. I saw that it was not just a log. It was a hollowed-out log. It was a boat. Siggi was still at the mast head and he shouted. “There is something inside it, Jarl Hrolf! I see a hand!”

  “Eystein, when it is close, climb over and see what is in this strange craft the Allfather has sent to us.”

  “Jarl, the storm is coming.”

  I turned, “Sven does this not seem as though we were meant to find this… whatever this is? It is wyrd . We cannot run yet. We are meant to find this. Let us see why.”

  When the boat drifted closer, I saw that what Siggi had said was a hand was, in fact, the remains of a hand. The birds had picked the flesh from most of the fingers. Eystein jumped down into it. He gave a shout and clutched his hammer of Thor.

  “It is a body Jarl.” He held up a small war axe. The head was made of stone and it was fastened with leather. “He is a warrior, Jarl Hrolf and look what is on his head!”

  He lifted an animal skin and threw it on board. Harold caught it and showed it to me. The creature had been carefully skinned so that it could be used as a hat. “What is it?”

  I suddenly saw what it was. “It is a squirrel!”

  “But Jarl Hrolf, it is much bigger than we have at home and it is almost black. There is no such creature. I would say it was a rat but for the bushy tail.”

  “Then it is a squirrel.”

  Karl the Singer took the squirrel from me, “Jarl, this is almost black. Look at the skin of the dead man in the boat. He is darker than we. This has come from the land of the dead. We must be close to the edge of the world. This boat was destined for the Otherworld but the storm has fetched it here.” He pointed to the darkening sky. “If we do not leave then we will join him in the land of the dead!”

  Sven said, “He is right, Jarl Hrolf.”

  I nodded, “Put the dead animal back on this warrior. Place his hand on his weapons. I know not who he is but I think Sven and Karl are right. This is the edge of the world. We almost sailed over but this dead warrior has saved us. Our dead have not far to go. This is wyrd . Come back aboard, Eystein. Sven, let us go home!”

  With the wind behind we did not need to row and the crew gathered to watch the funeral ship drifting behind us. The forlorn looking boat drifted alone. One of my younger warriors, Leif the Red said, “Jarl, he was pecked by sea birds but I can see none. They only gather close to land. There must be land to the west.”

  Arne said, “Aye, Leif, the land of the dead.”

  “But living birds must live there! His skin was pecked away. They had taken his eyes.”

  “Then what about that squirrel?”

  “It comes from a different land. Perhaps it is like the black men from Africa.”

  “I have sailed many seas, Leif. I have seen many colours of men but the squirrels I have seen were all red. This squirrel was dead and came from the land of the dead. This is as far west as I wish to go!”

  I wondered who was right. It did not make any sense to me but the Allfather had made us stop there for a reason. We had seen that the Arabs had been destroyed and we had buried our dead. Was this, truly, the edge of the world? As I looked to the west I saw no land. I saw no birds. We had seen no fish in the sea. Perhaps, had we sailed a little further we might have seen the sea monsters which marked the boundary of this world and the Otherworld. As I turned to look north I realised that I was like Sven. I had sailed as far west as I would ever go. If there were lands out there then another could find them. We sailed home.

  Chapter 4

  I do not know how far west we had been blown but it took two days for us to reach the southern coast of Hibernia. The Allfather kept the west wind behind us all the way home. When we spied Bárekr’s Haven everyone on board thanked the gods who had watched over us and helped us destroy the Arabs. I watched Ragnvald. He was more confident now and he and the other younger ship’s boys sky larked as we turned into the haven by the church. It was late afternoon when we finally tied up at the quay. Olaf Ill-luck had sat by himself for the whole voyage home. He had been shunned. He never sailed with us again. From that moment, he stayed close to the Haugr. He fought in the shield wall but men would not trust to share an oar with him.

  We had not examined our chests whilst on the voyage and I had my men take them to the hall. The grain was taken to the granary. The clan would use that but the coin would be divided amongst those who had sailed. Even Ragnvald would receive a share. Half was for the clan. Half of what remained would go to Sven and myself. The warriors would all get an equal share of the rest while the ship’s boys a quarter of a warrior’s share. It was why Eystein Golden Hair was leaving the ship to become a warrior. There was more reward. Siggi Far Sighted was older but he was training to be a captain. When Sven and Harold grew too old to sail he would captain my drekar. We would divide the booty the next day.

  The men were still affected by the meeting with the corpse. The black squirrel could not be explained away. During the two days we had sailed east many theories had been put forward but none could be proved. The corpse could although those who knew such things said that they did not recognise the tree which had been carved to make the boat. Leif the Red was the most animated. From his words to me I knew t
hat he would seek his own boat and he wished to sail west. He would be alone from the clan of the horse. The rest of the clan were happy to stay in the land of the Northmen.

  I saw the worried look on Mary’s face disappear when she saw my son whole and, apparently, happy. “You were away longer than we expected. Did you have trouble?”

  I smiled. I would tell her all later but for now I allayed her fears. “Nothing we could not handle. More importantly we have, I hope, treasure.”

  We spent the night telling my wife and Ragnvald’s sisters of our voyage. Even Mary was both horrified and intrigued with the story of the skeleton in the log.

  The chests were brought out the next morning and I had my men bring forth a table. I made sure that I unloaded the chests before them. We were one clan and we shared. As we opened the chests and boxes the eyes of my warriors and their families widened. We must have discovered the chests containing the Emir’s taxes for there were many coins. My men divided them into piles: copper, silver, gold. Then there were the golden and silver objects. They were put with the gold and silver coins. The cloths and fine linens we had found were given to my wife. She would see to their distribution. She was known to be a fair woman. I was reminded that Gilles and Agnathia needed fine cloth. There was olive oil, lemons, oranges and, of course, spices. Finally, there were jewels and rings. As Sven began to divide up the treasure I looked in the last boxes. They had papers within but they were not in the writing of the Romans. They were made up of squiggles and strange lines. We would use them for kindling. Had they been Roman writing then we would have read them and then passed them on to Aiden of the Wolf Clan. He had a voracious appetite for such writings. As we could not read them then they were of no use to us.

  After the clan’s share was divided between all of the families of the stad and Sven and I had taken our share the warriors all waited patiently for their share. The families of the dead warriors received their first. I was pleased to see that each of the families had a boy or man who remained. Their sons or their brothers were given the dead men’s sword and helmets.

  Ragnvald’s eyes widened when he saw his share. He carried it, almost like a baby to me, “All this is for me?”

  “Aye and yours to save or to spend. You have sailed with my warriors and my sailors. What is it that you need?”

  “A sealskin cape and boots!” I laughed. A short while ago it would have mail. Now he was more practical. “Where do I get them from?”

  “We used to buy them from Dyflin but since the Hibernians took it there are few men from Orkneyjar there. Perhaps when we go to Dorestad we may find them at the market there.”

  “You will go soon, father?”

  I shook my head, “First we need to buy the stone for the masons. That is not cheap and we will have to travel into the land of the Franks to buy it. We used the Bretons but they charge us too high a price and the stone is not the best. We could go to the land of Dyfed for they have good stones there but the sea voyage can be treacherous. We have to sail along the coast of Wessex and Corn Walum. The Franks are closer. I will speak with Father Michael. He appears knowledgeable about such things.”

  I took my mail from my chest and placed it in a tub of vinegar. After I had spoken with Father Michael I would place it in a sack filled with sand to remove the rust. When Gilles had lived with me he had done this for me. I was happy to do this for it meant I could examine every link as I cleaned it. Any weakness would be repaired by Bagsecg. Going into my hall I stripped off and I doused myself in cold water from our well. It cleaned away the blood, sweat, salt water and dirt. I felt better once I had done so. We had found some garments worn by Arabs and brought them back with us. I had one. It was long, almost like a dress but it was very fine and very colourful. I donned it. I liked the way it felt. I wondered at its practicality but I would wear it until it became damaged.

  I left my hall to speak with the priest. Father Michael was in his church. My wife sent his share of the treasure. It was substantial. He looked pleased with it. I told him of the black squirrel and the dead man. He was more interested than I had expected. “There are some who say there are lands to the west of Hibernia. I have spoken with monks who have sailed west and seen seabirds. That means land. There could be whole lands lying just beyond the horizon.”

  “And it could be that we sail off the edge of the world or are consumed by dragons and sea monsters.”

  “Do you know they exist?”

  “Sven has sailed in many places. He has seen a dead whale, the size of a drekar, and about its body it bore the marks of many teeth. What kind of creature could kill a beast the size of a drekar?”

  He nodded as he considered the information, “I should like to sail there one day.”

  “It will not be with me or my men. We do not lack courage but a warrior does not willingly throw himself from the edge of the world.”

  “Perhaps. And now you wish to know about stone.”

  “Are you a galdramenn that you can read my mind?”

  “No but the coin you sent me was from your share and it is far more than I dreamed. You must have made a successful raid and so you can buy the stone. You need to know where to buy it?”

  “I do.”

  “If you sail up the river you call the Rinaz then you will find a place called Swabia. It is high in the mountains and has a rock which is so hard that it can support great walls. It comes from the fires of the deep earth, from volcanoes.”

  “That seems a long way. There would be many enemies twixt here and there. What about Frankia?”

  “Aye, there are quarries there.”

  “Perhaps you could come with us. It might allay the fears of the merchants there.”

  He smiled and nodded as though he liked the idea, “That would be good and Father James can look after my flock whilst I am gone. It is good to see the outside world now and then; if only to appreciate what we have at home.”

  “Good then we shall leave on the morrow. You can ride?”

  “I was born a Frank, Jarl Hrolf. I can ride.”

  As I re-entered the Haugr I saw that Alain of Auxerre’s men were there. Was this trouble? I hurried over to them. I saw no sign of Alain. I spoke with his second in command, Stephen of Andecavis. “Is there something amiss?”

  He laughed, “No, lord. Alain is here to get a bride.”

  “A bride?”

  “He has come to ask Arne Four Toes if he can marry his daughter, Thora. We were riding by Rurik’s farm yesterday and saw your ship arrive. He has been awaiting your return.”

  I felt relieved, “She is a beautiful maiden.”

  He nodded and then frowned, “I think he is worried that Arne may not allow it for Alain is Christian.”

  “There would have been a time when that might have been true but we have all seen more Christians among the Franks. He is a reasonable man.”

  “Did you have a successful voyage?”

  “We can pay for more men such as yourself for the Arabs are rich. I will need you and your men to ride on the morrow. We go to buy stone.”

  “Will you not take you ship, ‘Kara’ . It is easier to move stone by water.”

  “We will but I need warriors to escort Father Michael and me. If we have passengers, then the knarr cannot carry as much.”

  I saw Arne come from his hall with Alain. They both looked happy. Arne waved me over, “Jarl Hrolf, my daughter is to be wed! This is good news.”

  “It is Arne. I am pleased. I shall find a fine wedding present for your daughter.”

  “You need not, jarl.”

  “Perhaps I want to. She is the daughter of an old friend and shield brother. There are fewer of us these days, Arne. I shall enjoy giving the gift and my wife will enjoy the feast. When is the day set for the marriage?”

  Alain said, “I thought to have it at the end of Lent, lord.”

  I could not remember when that was. My wife would know. “Good then you have time to ride with me to the land of the Franks. Stay the
night in my hall and we shall leave on the morrow. I shall go and speak with Sven the Helmsman.”

  Although we had not been back long Sven was already at work on the drekar. “Sven how is ‘Kara’ ? Can she be sailed?”

  “I can have her ready for sea in two days. Where do you wish to sail; Dorestad?”

  “No, Sven, up the Issicauna. I am going to ride to the quarries which lie close to that river.”

  “How will I know where you are?”

  “I will ride tomorrow. We can be at the river in two days. I intend to ride the river road with Father Michael until we find a quarry with suitable stone. I am taking Alain and his men. I will have one of his men waiting by the river bank when we find somewhere.”

  “It may take another two days for us to reach you.”

  “It matters not. I want the best stone we can find. That is why I am taking horsemen. I am certain that any decent quarries will be well away from the river. Father Michael knows the land and he will find a suitable quarry.”

  Sven nodded, “And with your permission I will let Siggi Far Sighted captain the knarr. It is time he learned to become a navigator. This way I can watch him and he cannot easily wreck the knarr.”

  “You will retire as a captain?”

  “I think so. The last voyage was hard and that skeleton….” He clutched his hammer of Thor. “Let us just say that I think I can build better ships with my knowledge. Harold will be there to watch over Siggi when next you take the drekar out.”

  “And when I return from the stone hunt I will be sailing to Dorestad. He could try his skills there too.”

  “Good. This is wyrd .”

  Ragnvald was a good horseman and as soon as he discovered we would be travelling more than a hundred and thirty miles he went to see to both his horse and mine. He might have been a novice at sea but Ragnvald was, like his father, a horseman and Gilles had taught him well. I safely left the preparation of Dream Strider, Dream of Freya and Lighting Bolt to my son. He would also choose the spare horses we would take. Alain was able to tell me of his patrols whilst we had been away. It had been quiet. It was spring and farmers and lords were busy ensuring that they would have crops to harvest in the autumn and animals to eat over winter. War was for summer. It was another reason why I was going by horse. I wanted to feel the land as I crossed it. I wished to see my neighbours’ eyes as I spoke with them. Men might smile with their mouths but glare daggers with their eyes. We had had peace for six years. I would only know if it was to continue if I relied on my own instincts and not those of my warriors.