by Griff Hosker
The two warriors next to him were joining forces to surround Gilles. He was doing well but it was only a matter of time. They both wore byrnies. I brought my sword across the top of the back of the legs of one of them. My sword bit through to the bone and I almost severed his legs. Gilles skewered the other one as the Frank collapsed in a pool of ever widening blood.
Jarl Sigtrygg and his men had finished searching the town and, when they emerged and saw the battle, shouted a war cry and raced to join us. It was the end of the Franks. The ferocious Cold Drakes were eager for battle and soon all that remained were the dead and the dying. Of Geoffrey of Thiberville there was no sign. He had fled. I looked for my son. I could not see him. Was he dead?
Alain of Auxerre came over. “I am sorry, lord, we have failed you. We did not expect them to attack.”
“What did you think the noise was?”
He shrugged, “We did not know. Bertrand was felled in the initial charge.” He pointed south. “Your son, Tadgh and Gurth followed the Franks.”
“Why did you let him?”
“Lord, they were mounted. Unlike us they were ready. He is your son and I could not stop him.”
“How is Bertrand?”
“He suffered a blow to the head. I think it was the flat of a sword. It was not a clean strike. Had it been then he would now be dead.”
I shook my head, “This is not a disaster but it could have been. We have much to thank the Allfather for. We will spend the night inside the walls. Tomorrow we collect our treasure, burn their dead and then head south to go to the aid of Rurik. I hope that the escape of Geoffrey of Thiberville will not come back to haunt me.”
I went to the horse which had saved us. He waited patiently by the gate and when I proffered a hand he nuzzled it. It was a good sign. I took his halter and led him inside the stronghold. I spoke to him as I walked, “I thank the Allfather for this gift and for this horse. I will name you, Allfather’s Gift.” He raised his head and whinnied. I smiled, “This is wyrd . You shall be one of my horses.” I tied his halter to the rail next to Dream of Freya. “Dream, this horse was sent by the Allfather. You are special and so is he. I would you be as shield brothers. With you two as my mounts we will make this land our own.” The Franks still had some grain. The siege had not gone on long enough for them to be forced to eat their horses’ rations and I filled the manger of the two horses. I took it as a good sign that they both ate and did not bicker.
Bertrand was not badly hurt. His helmet had saved him from a broken skull. As far as I could see he had merely been rendered unconscious. Now awake, he was angry with himself that he had allowed this to happen. We closed and secured the gates. The Franks had made a fine hall. There was however little food. It was fortunate that we had enough of our own with us. We used the half-built church to care for the wounded. I spoke with my jarls and captains. It was to help to clear my head and to stop me worrying about my son. He was chasing ruthless men. If he was captured they would use him to try to bargain with me. I would not bargain. He was my only son. If he died, then I doubted that I would have another.
“Bertrand, I would have you make this burgh your new home. You lived here once and I need a lord who can rule it well for me.”
He gave a wan smile, “I am pleased you still have confidence in me, lord, after my performance this day. I would be honoured.”
“Good, when I lead the others south tomorrow you will stay here with your men and the wounded. Erik Green Eye, I would have you and the other warriors who are on foot go with Jarl Thorbolt and Jarl Sigtrygg tomorrow. Return, by sea, to the Haugr and then lead the warriors from the Haugr south to Rurik’s stad. We will meet you there.”
Gilles said, “You would leave the Haugr undefended?”
“I have little choice, Gilles. The alternative is to abandon Rurik and sit behind our walls. I know my old friend can last out but he cannot last out indefinitely. We will not have more men if we wait a year. They can summon more for Frankia has many warriors. Our hope is that we can strike now before they have established defences around their siege lines. It will take time for them to do so. I will ride before dawn. You should be at Rurik’s stad before dark and you can march through the forest and meet me at Valognes. Let us use our knowledge of the lands there to our advantage. Henry of Carentan does not know Valognes. Geoffrey of Thiberville has only recently arrived. It is a weapon and we should use it.”
Gilles said, “You would use the same trick we did last time? Draw them into the forest and ambush them?”
I nodded, “We have two weapons we can use. Our horses and our arrows. I will lead our men to harass them and make them chase us. Folki and Arne will use small numbers to make night time attacks and draw them into the forest where we can ambush them. We will rain arrows on them during the day. They will think that the midge season has come early. I wish to make Henry of Carentan bleed to death.”
Gilles smiled, “It will work and we can use my home and Rurik’s to house and feed our men.”
“Jarl Sigtrygg and Jarl Thorbolt. We will need your men for the final attack but for the next seven days I want you to land on the coast from Isigny to the east. Raid his villages. Take his animals and capture his people. The pickings will not be great but those who escape will flee to Carentan. It will weaken the resolve of his men. If he has brought his levy they will not wish their homes to be attacked. They will lose heart and drift off home. In a week, you can make the coast a wasteland.”
Their faces showed me that they both approved of the idea.
“We will do so, jarl. How did you become so wise and yet you are so young?”
I shrugged, “I have been taught well. The Dragonheart was a good teacher but so were Siggi White Hair and Ulf Big Nose. Now rest. The next month will decide if we stay in this land or are driven back to the sea. I have made it sound easy. It is not. We have one enemy we have not yet mentioned.”
Erik Green Eye asked, “Who is that, jarl?”
“The Norns!”
I led forty-five horsemen south the next day. I had Allfather’s Gift on a halter. I knew that the Franks who had escaped us would remember him. If they were superstitious then it would make them fear me. I guessed it had belonged to Geoffrey of Thiberville for it was a fine horse. He would not have used it in the night attack as it would have stood out.
We had but thirteen miles to travel. When we reached the last ridge, just a couple of miles or so from the town, I saw the siege lines. There was a wood close to the road and we halted there. I had been wondering why we had seen no sign of my son and his two men when they appeared from the woods. They were leading one horse. They appeared intact. “What happened, my son?”
“We followed the enemy, father. They heard us and turned to take us. We tried to outrun them but we could not. Tadgh’s horse fell and broke his neck. I turned Star Fall and he was killed by the Frank who thrust his spear at me. I slew him. We fought them off and, when they saw we were afoot they left. We spent the night by a small stream. Gurth had a wound to his arm.”
“Your courage is not in question, son. Nor that of your shield brothers but your judgement is. Why did you pursue the enemy? We knew where they were going. What did you think the three of you could do? Your horses can be replaced but you and your men cannot.”
“I am sorry, father. I will learn.” He saw the grey and asked, “Where did you get such a magnificent horse?”
“I have been given a gift by the Allfather. You and your men go back to the Haugr. Fetch fresh horses. I give you Lighting Bolt as a gift for your courage and hope that your walk back teaches you to use your head.” He looked to argue. “I have spoken. Go!”
Gilles chuckled as my son walked disconsolately toward the Haugr. “You would have done the same jarl.”
“I know and I would have had either Siggi or Ulf to chastise me. We have too few warriors to throw their lives away needlessly. I know that they did well but they could have died.”
I turned my attention b
ack to the siege. I saw that the Franks had surrounded the walls with a ditch. It was shallow and hastily dug but the spoil allowed them to erect a small palisade to save them from the defenders’ arrows. I could not see their horses. That meant they would be on the southern side.
“Gilles, take two of Ragnvald’s warriors and find their horse herd.”
“Aye jarl.”
He rode off and Alain nudged his horse next to mine. “You have a plan, lord?”
“I do. We build a camp here. It gives us the chance to overlook the walls and be safe from their attack. We will use this for our horses. I will ride to Rurik Stad and meet my warriors there. If we attack from the woods, we can draw the men from the walls. We attack their defences from this side. That way we have them watching from two directions. Then we make a night attack on their horse herd. We weaken them and, when the time is right, we fight them beard to beard and sword to sword.”
Alain said, “It is a gamble lord. If we fight their horsemen and lose then we lose this land.”
“And I did not wish it to come to this, not yet anyway. The Norns have forced it upon us. They sent the plague to Ċiriċeburh.”
“Aye, I can see now what your people mean about the Weird Sisters. There is much to be said for the belief.”
“I leave you to make our camp and to watch the enemy. There may still be riders escaping from Ċiriċeburh. I will ride to meet with Folki and the men from the stad. Have some of your men ride to the Haugr when you have searched the woods and bring spears and javelins.”
I took with me my new horse, Allfather’s Gift. I would leave it with Gilles’ people at Rurik’s stad. I rode warily but I was confident enough to leave my shield over my left leg and my helmet hanging from my saddle. The road I took was the same one my son had taken. As I turned off to take the greenway to Rurik’s Stad I saw him in the distance. I was pleased to see that all three of them walked and led their last horse. They were learning to be brothers in arms.
I saw the camp my men had made as I approached. They looked to greet me. The ships had made quick time and Folki and Erik had wasted no time in marching my men south. I dismounted. “Is all well here and at the Haugr?”
“Aye Jarl Hrolf. Bagsecg and Erik One Arm have organised the old men and those who are unfit to fight. They will watch the walls with the boys.” Erik Green Eye smiled. “The boys were most unhappy to be left at home when there was fighting to be done.”
“Their day will come. Now gather around, here is my plan. At dawn tomorrow, I would have a small band attack their siege lines. I want their attention here towards the woods and Rurik’s stad. I need them to pursue you into the woods where the rest will ambush them. Hit and run. We will then attack their lines to the north west.”
“And after?”
“You will use archers to annoy and harass them. If we can draw them into the woods, then so much the better but I do not wish to risk a full attack until they are weakened. I will lead my horsemen to attack their horses. With our two drekar raiding their coast and stopping supplies they will either give up the siege or try to bring us to battle. When I judge the time right then we will fight them. It will be on my terms and not the Count’s. Do you understand?”
“Aye jarl.”
“Good. I want no lives thrown away needlessly. This war has been forced upon us and we cannot afford to lose it. The Allfather has given us a gift. He wants us to show that we deserve it. This is our chance to show that we have more right to this land than the Franks.”
As they prepared for war I led my horse the mile or so to Gilles’ farm. His wife, Baugheiðr, greeted me, “A fine horse Jarl Hrolf. How is my husband?”
“He is well.” I gestured for Rollo and Erik to approach. “This horse is a gift from the Allfather. If I leave him here with you do you think that you can care for him?”
They nodded eagerly and Rollo the eldest, said, “Aye jarl!”
“Groom him and feed him. He should be exercised each day but not ridden. I will be using him in the next few days for war.”
“I understand. He is magnificent.”
“He is and his coming is a sign from the Allfather that what we do here meets with his approval.”
It was evening by the time I reached the camp. Gilles pointed to a pile of weapons. “We found four Franks wandering in the woods. They were lost. We helped them to find the Otherworld.” I nodded. “Their horse herd is by their main camp. It is to the south of the town. The Count and his lords have their horses tethered close to their tents. They are building a machine to hurl stones at the wall.”
“It was to be expected. Have sentries readied but I do not think they will venture from their lines. I want us in place, before dawn, so that when Erik and Folki begin their attack we will be ready to fall upon their men when they respond. We take spears. This will also tell Rurik that we are come to his aid. Tomorrow night we take his horse herd.”
My son and his two riders came after dark. They were with the men who had fetched the weapons from the Haugr. Ragnvald approached me, “You were right about my motives, father. I just wanted to do a great deed so that Karl the Singer would make up a song about me.”
“Be yourself, Ragnvald. Do not try to be me or any other warrior. Do not try to be Alain or Bertrand. They took many years to learn those skills. That is what you are doing. When you attacked the flank of the enemy in the dark then you had success. Tomorrow you will do the same. Alain, Gilles and the older warriors will break their lines and you and the others will use your throwing spears to pick off the weaker ones. We need to kill numbers of them and make them fear us.”
I was weary but I could not sleep. Events had moved on even faster than I had thought. All of my eggs were now together. We would face the Count of Carentan. No matter what the outcome I would not have peace with the Franks again. It was not meant to be. Perhaps Fótr and Folki had been right and war was the only way to carve out a land we could own. They had gone about it the wrong way. Was mine the right one? I hoped so. I finally drifted off into a sort of sleep.
Alain shook me awake. “It is time, lord.”
My men prepared themselves for an attack. I mounted Dream of Freya and held the long spear in my right hand. I would not need my shield. We would not be attacking horsemen but I still took it. I hung it over my left leg. When we were ready, I led my column of men down the road towards the enemy position. We used the grass at the side of the road to deaden the sound of our hooves. There was cover two hundred paces from their lines. We had already scouted it out and we intended to wait there. I knew that Folki and the rest of my men would not let me down. They did not fear the levy which manned the siege works. Even the horsemen held little fear for them. We had practised fighting men on horses. To my warriors this would almost be a game.
I saw the first hint of dawn and I prepared myself for combat. I slid Heart of Ice in and out of its sheepskin lined scabbard. I placed my seax in the sheath I had fitted to my saddle. With no shield, I had a spare hand. I then rested my spear across my saddle. I waved my men into a long line. They did so silently. We waited.
When the attack came it almost made us jump. The sky was lighter and we could make out the men who were waking. I saw them as they peered over towards the walls. The night sentries took the opportunity to relieve themselves. Then the screams and shouts from the south made every eye turn in that direction. A mailed warrior ran from a tent and shouted orders.
“One in two of you, grab your weapons and follow me! The Vikings are attacking!”
I watched as half of the Franks rose and ran to follow the lord who was in command. I raised my spear and used my heels to let Dream of Freya know that we went to war. I held my spear in my right hand and the head was resting on the neck of my horse. It was my young riders who drew first blood. As the enemy heard our hooves and the light improved they looked around. One Frank was squatting with his breeks around his ankle. Tadgh’s spear impaled him. Perhaps his White Christ would welcome him into heaven
. The Allfather would not! I thrust my spear into the chest of a Frank who turned in time to see his death. I pulled it out and, as another Frank began to pull his sword out, I had Dream of Freya rear. As the Frank lifted his sword to protect himself I thrust my spear into his neck.
Wheeling my horse to the right I joined my men as we galloped along their defensive ditch. With my left leg protected by my shield I used my long spear to thrust and stab at those who dared to stay on their feet. The wiser ones dived into the ditch. They were then slain by my young warriors who had throwing spears. We rode all the way around their lines. I saw Rurik’s men cheering from the walls as we turned to reach the main camp of Henry of Carentan. We had achieved what I had wanted. The camp looked like a disturbed ant’s nest. Bloody bodies littered the ditch. I raised my spear and shouted, “Fall back!” I wanted the enemy horse to mount and to chase us. It would be a futile chase and it would frustrate their horsemen. My men wheeled with me and we rode back in a column of twos. I saw faces peering from the ditches. The warriors who had raced to the forest were now edging back to their ditch. We had had a victory but the war was not yet won.
We regained our camp and we turned. I wanted Henry of Carentan to see my line of horsemen. I was tempting him to attack. My young riders replenished their supply of throwing spears and we waited. I saw the column of mailed men as they approached the road. The survivors of our attack pointed up the road. We were visible. Had I wished to hide then we would have done so. I wanted him to see us. Our horses were regaining their wind. The enemy would have to labour up the slope. It looked innocuous enough but it sapped and sucked energy from legs.
