The Land of the Northmen

by Griff Hosker

  I recognised the shield of Henry of Carentan and that of Geoffrey of Thiberville. I also saw the standard of Philip of Rouen. The Count of Rouen had sent lords to help his cousin. I quickly counted. There were eighty mailed warriors. He had almost four times the number I did. I had no intention of facing a charge. I would hurt him and then disappear into the forest. He knew what my men could do in forests. He would not relish the prospect. His men formed up in a line ten men wide and eight men deep. They began to trundle up the slope.

  “Ragnvald. I want your men to gallop down and hurl your javelins at the front rank. Wait for my command. When you have done so retreat to the forest. The rest of you, we charge after my son’s men and use our spears. Then we follow my son into the forest. We hit and run. If we have to ride back all the way to Bertrand we will do so.”

  “Aye, lord!”

  I waited until they were a hundred paces from us. “Now, Ragnvald!”

  My son and his men galloped off and I led my men after them. I saw the Franks raise their shields and their spears. I remembered how Bertrand had trained the men who now followed Ragnvald. The Franks were in for a shock. My son and his riders were young and they were reckless. More than that they were fearless horsemen. They wheeled to their left just ten paces from the front rank and they hurled their javelins. I feared that they would be caught but they were accurate. Eighteen javelins struck either men or horses. Wounded and dying beasts reared and bucked. Stricken warriors either fell or pulled their mounts up. It enabled my son’s warriors to escape.

  Then we reached the disordered and disorganized line. I wheeled Dream of Freya to the left as I thrust my spear at a rider who had just jumped a dead horse. It is hard to jump and keep both a spear and a shield steady. He did neither and my spear hit his chest. As the head entered his body I twisted and I pulled. He tumbled backwards and then, like my son, I turned and headed up the slope. I did not look back over my shoulder. I waited until I reached the top. I looked behind me and I saw carnage. The road was blocked with the wounded, dying and dead. We had not escaped unscathed. I saw two of my men lying there but the Franks had had enough. I saw them stop and gather up their wounded.

  I spied Geoffrey of Thiberville as he leapt from his horse and hacked the heads from my two dead men. He took one of the spears from a horse and rammed one head on it. He did the same with the other. It was a challenge. I rode down the slope and raised my spear, “So, Geoffrey of Thiberville, it begins. Watch for me for I will seek you in battle!”

  I whipped my horse’s head around and rode back up. My men all cheered.

  Chapter 13

  We waited until the Franks had retreated down the slope before we went to recover the bodies of our dead. We buried them beneath the eaves of the forest. We marked their graves with the spears the Frank has used for their heads. We watched as the Franks built defences to stop a repetition of our dawn attack. I did not mind. If they were doing that then they were not attacking the walls of Valognes. We saw them bury their dead. We counted sixty-two graves. They had been hurt in our attack. I had to hope that my two jarls were inflicting serious damage on their homes. The proof would come if the fyrd began to desert.

  We spent the day resting and healing the minor wounds we had suffered. I took off my mail. Horse stealing did not need mail. I needed to be quick and to be light on my feet. I took just half of my men. The rest would wait, under the command of Alain of Auxerre in case we were pursued. He would await us half way between our camp and theirs. After eating I led my men towards the south west just as the late afternoon sun began to dip beneath the western skies. We rode in a wide loop to the west of Valognes so that we would be neither seen nor heard. By the time it was dark, I headed towards the horse herd. I had twenty men with me. I had brought Ragnvald and Tadgh but the rest were all my most experienced of men. Gilles and I had done this before.

  I did not know this land as well as I might and so we stopped when I thought we were just a mile or so from their horse lines. I saw, by their fires, the lines of those who were besieging Valognes. There were glows from braziers which showed the newly erected palisade. They were guarding it and taking no chances. They did not want a repetition of our night attack on their ditches. We walked our horses in a column of twos. I smelled the smoke of their fires and their cooking. When I detected the acrid smell of their latrines I stopped. They were close. Gilles had scouted out the land and he pointed south. We turned and moved as silently as we could. The fact that we could smell their latrines meant two things: we were close to their camp and the wind was blowing from the sea. Their horses would not smell ours. They would not alarm their horse guards. I stroked Dream of Freya’s head. It calmed him and stopped him from whinnying.

  When Gilles held up his hand we stopped. He and I slipped from the back of our horses and handed our reins to Ragnvald and Tadgh. I slipped my seax into my hand. This would be knife work. We crept forward seeking the horse guards. I could smell the horses and I heard them as they moved around. It helped to direct our footsteps. We both knew how to move silently. The sentries were on horses and that helped. Their eyes were drawn to movement higher than two warriors creeping around. They began to talk to each other. I waved Gilles to one while I went to the other. We did not need to neutralize all of the horse guards. So long as we had two eliminated we could drive the horses away. Even if we did not capture or drive off all of their horses any loss would be devastating to them for it was their lords and better armed warriors who rode. On foot, none were a match for us!

  I moved towards the Frank who was eating a piece of bread and talking to his fellow. Both would die for Gilles was heading for his companion.

  “We have the best of jobs, Raymond. The poor bastards by the north wall were butchered in the woods by those barbarians!”

  “You are right, Jean. Besides, if they come here we can ride away. My farm is looking more attractive by the moment. Even that shrew of a wife is preferable to a hairy arsed barbarian!”

  Raymond laughed and he began to choke. I stood and grabbed his right arm. Pulling him down I had his throat cut before he reached the ground. In one movement, I was on the back of his horse.

  “Chew your food you…”

  He got no further as he was slain by Gilles. I began to move the horse to my left. I sheathed my seax and drew my sword. I saw another rider thirty paces to my left. His back had been to me and he had not seen Raymond’s death. So long as he did not turn he would not be suspicious, I pulled my cloak above my head. I held my sword by my right leg. He would not see it. I was but fifteen paces when he turned his horse. He must have been in charge of the sentries for he shouted, “Raymond! You know the Count’s orders; we do not move from our allotted place.”

  I mumbled, “I have eaten some bad ham.” As I moved closer.

  He was suspicious, “Raymond?”

  I kicked the horse in the flanks and he leapt forward. I swung the sword at head height and it bit into his throat. One of the other guards had seen my sword and he shouted, “Alarm! To the horse herd!”

  I yelled, “Clan of the Horse! Ride!” I slapped the nearest horse on the rump with the flat of my sword. He whinnied and moved away. Gilles must have done the same. I shouted, “Ha! Ha!” I kicked harder and my horse moved the nearest horses to the west. The enemy helped us. There was a commotion in the camp and the noise from the north made them move west. They were confused and they panicked. It was dark and they did not know what to make of the noise. My men ghosted out of the dark, I saw Ragnvald leading Dream of Freya. They began to shout and to hit the horses’ rumps. They started milling around, nervously. When the Franks appeared with torches they took off. They had been spooked before and now they were terrified. They ran.

  Ragnvald rode next to me I shouted to him, “Take Dream of Freya. Head for the woods. I will follow!”

  They had ten guards and we had slain three. As I had twenty men with me the odds were in my favour. I heard cries as some of the Frankish guards were slai
n. The lords who had kept their horses tethered by their tents now tried to react. They had to saddle their horses before they could follow us. Had the situation been reversed then my men would have ridden bare back. That slight delay cost them half of their horses. Some of the Franks from the camp managed to make a human wall and drive some of the horses we were stealing back. I heard a scream as one Frank paid the price for his bravery. He was trampled. We disappeared west into the dark. I knew that they might follow. They might even know where we went but with only thirty horses left to saddle they would not risk the wrath of the Northmen in the woods. It soon became apparent that they had accepted their loss and were rounding up the horses we had not driven north.

  It was dawn as we wearily entered our camp. We had captured forty horses. It was a good haul but we had paid a price. Another two warriors had died. Both were young warriors who had followed Bertrand. I promised myself that I would make up for his loss by giving him some of the better mounts.

  Alain and his men stood guard while we slept. When we awoke just after noon, I had all the younger riders take the herd to Gilles’ gyrus. Gilles led them. I took the rest of my men down the road. I wished to see the effect our arrival would have. There were just twenty two of us but the Franks stood to. They presented their shields and their weapons. We had, at least, taught them respect. We turned and headed back up the slope. We had no need of our camp any longer and, once we had reached the trees, I led my men to follow Gilles and my young warriors to Rurik’s Stad. It was time to end this siege.

  Folki and my warriors waited to greet me. “We saw the horses you captured. Is it over? Have they abandoned the siege?”

  “Not yet, Folki. That will come the day after tomorrow. We rest for the rest of the day. I want you to have archers in the woods. Harass the enemy all night. I want them to think that we attack them from the east.”

  “We do not?”

  “No Folki. We march south and attack them from that direction. I have seen their camp. It is poorly protected. As we have driven off their horse herd they will think it is safe. They will look to the north. When your archers harass them, they will believe we try the same as on the first day. We have unhorsed most of their men. They still outnumber us but I believe that we are better, man for man. We will put our horses on the flanks and you will advance. We will show them what a Norse shield wall can do.”

  “What about Sigtrygg and Thorbolt? How will you make contact with them?”

  “I cannot. I should have made some arrangement. We will do this without their warriors. I think that we have made them lose confidence. They have been attacked three times now and left many men dead. We have lost but a handful.”

  I had Rollo and Erik bring me Allfather’s Gift. I wanted to use the horse to antagonise Geoffrey of Thiberville. I would make him come for me. I needed the horse to make him try to defeat me. I would make myself the bait with which to catch a rat! The boys had groomed my new horse well. I reached into my pouch for coins. Rollo shook his head, “No, Jarl. If you wish to reward us then allow us to ride with you. We would go to battle with you tomorrow!”

  “You are too young to fight! You mother would never forgive me.”

  Gilles was next to me. “Nor would I. This is foolish!”

  Rollo stood defiantly, “Let us hold your spare horses. Your mounts may be hurt in the battle. We will bring you spares. We cannot fight; we know that but we are Vikings and we know horses.”

  I turned to Gilles, “They are your sons and it is your decision. He is right, we may be unhorsed. I am happy to fight on foot.”

  Gilles shook his head, “I am being overprotective. They have Viking blood. It is right that they be given the chance to spill it. They can bring spare horses. Go and choose two horses that you can ride.”

  Folki’s archers spent the night sending arrows into the enemy lines. We wasted many arrows. However, we could collect the spent shafts when we had won and they served a purpose. They made the enemy think we would attack there. I wanted every eye watching the wood. Aiden the galdramenn had once told me that there was much magic that any clever warrior could achieve. I had seen Ulf Big Nose perform such magic. He could appear and disappear at will. We would do the same.

  My men rose before dawn. We left the archers in the woods and took the rest south to the road from Carentan. My horsemen led our horses. It was quieter that way and we had many men marching on foot anyway. As we neared the coast I saw mist rolling in. By the time we had covered half a mile, we were engulfed in it. “The Allfather smiles on our plan, Gilles! This is good.”

  Alai of Auxerre and his horsemen were the only Christians amongst us save Tadgh and Gurth. He was walking behind Gilles and myself. “How do you know, lord? This could aid the Franks just as much as us.”

  “No, Alain, for it will hide us. I had planned on forming up with the enemy watching us. This means we can form up and advance under cover of the mist.”

  “It will burn off before we attack.”

  “Perhaps but I think not.” I turned to Ragnvald who walked to my left. “Remember that, today, you lead not only your young horsemen but those of Bertrand. You have a great responsibility. I will not have the eyes to see if you make a mistake or become endangered. You are a warrior now and must bear that responsibility.”

  “I know and I know what we must do. We guard the right flank and we stop the enemy from outflanking Folki and our men.”

  “Good. I will ride along our front before we attack. I want Geoffrey of Thiberville to see his horse. I want him to know I ride his gift! That way the full weight of the enemy horse will fall upon us.”

  Gilles said, “Should you not have your banner with you, lord?”

  “Today we will be outnumbered. I need every warrior to have a weapon. I will be riding the only grey. My men will know where I am.”

  We knew the greenway well. The mist made it less easy to see where we had to turn but the ancient rock, called a maen hir in the language of the ancient peoples, confirmed that we were at the correct place. The mist seemed to follow us as we marched west. I looked behind but the mist hid the dawn. The sun would rise but it would struggle to pierce the gloom of the mist. We had a couple of miles to march before we would be close enough to form our lines. We marched in silence. The noise we made was that of leather creaking, horses snorting and men breaking wind. The mist and fog seemed to hold in the noises.

  I waved forward Beorn Fast Feet. He disappeared into the gloom and the grey murk. It was, marginally, lighter. The sun might have already risen but I could not see it. Perhaps the grey was a shade whiter. Beorn came running back a short while later. He did not speak but used sign to tell me that the enemy were a thousand paces from us. If the fog had not been there we would have both seen and heard them. I raised my hand and I mounted. My hersir and jarls used signs to marshal their men into lines. When we were all ready, I sat and listened. I could now hear the Frankish camp. They were waking. Their horses neighed. Ladles rattled against cooking pots. Men called to one another. There was the sound of men making water. Horses neighed as they were readied for the day. I raised my spear and began to ride north, towards their camp and their ditches.

  Alain and Gilles were on the left flank. Folki, Arne and Erik Long Hair led my warriors. They were in three lines. The first line and most of the second had mail. Everyone carried a spear while the third rank carried javelins. I would have liked to have had archers but they had been occupying the enemy all night. They would join us but I suspected that the outcome of the battle would be decided long before they arrived.

  I saw that the mist was now beginning to thin. I saw shadows ahead. Each step took us closer to their lines. Each step, hidden by the fog, meant that we had surprise on our side. The lords would be preparing for war. They would arm and they would decide which part of the wall they would assault. The Count and some of the lords might have their horses saddled but the majority would not. None would wish to risk riding his valuable horse close to the walls w
here one of Rurik’s archers might send a deadly arrow towards them. I was thirty paces ahead of my men and I was alone. I was seen when I was a hundred paces from their lines. They saw just me, a single horseman riding a grey horse. I would have appeared as spirit or will o’ the wisp in the fog. The man who saw me must have thought he saw a ghost for he made the sign of the cross and ran back to their lines shouting. I could not make out his words.

  Holding my spear behind my shield I kept riding. I could barely see the men behind me and I knew that, as I had only just been seen, we could get even closer to them. The Allfather was, indeed, watching over us. Men began to form up ahead of me. They were not preparing for battle yet. I was just a single horseman. They were peering at me to identify who I was. I stopped and held up my sword. The men behind me stopped. They were still hidden by the fog and the mist. It was, however, clearing and the sun was beginning to burn it off. I raised my sword and kicked my new horse in the flanks. I galloped towards the Frankish warriors. My sudden movement left them in no doubt as to my identity. I was the enemy!

  Behind me, my men had begun to advance. As I neared the Franks I saw them hurriedly try to form a shield wall. I realised that the men before me were the only ones with weapons and able to fight. There were three mailed warriors and the other ten were the levy. They had small wooden shields, no helmets and crudely made spears. The rest were still forming up closer to the camp. The mist was clearing as I closed with them and I saw the camp more clearly. Horses were being saddled. Men were grabbing weapons and were being marshalled into lines. I pulled my horse’s head around and galloped along the line of warriors who had come forward to see the lone horseman. Leaning out I swung my sword sideways. My blade bit into the neck of one of them. The others hid behind their shields. I think they thought I was a ghost. As I turned away I sheathed my sword and took my spear from my left hand.