The Land of the Northmen
Page 26
That night we had a different atmosphere in the camp. There were no stories. We were preparing for battle. Blades were sharpened. Men went to check the ditches and traps which lay before us. The men who would fight together ate and camped together. Shield brothers spoke with those who would be their neighbour. There was still laughter but there was less singing for they all knew that the next day many would lie dead. After their deaths would be the time for singing. You could see warriors looking at their comrades with new eyes. The older ones knew that a warrior only had so many battles in him and the younger ones looked at the scarred arms and bodies and wondered how they would fare.
When Michael of Liger did not ride in during the night I was worried and I had the camp roused before dawn and we stood to. The sun had burned off the dew when he rode in. He came, not up the greenway to the south of us but from the woods. He pointed behind him. “They came at dawn. Einar and Flambard were a shock to them. They slew the scouts. The main column had time to turn. They are heading here from the south. By noon it will be blood work, jarl.”
“Join Alain.” I had with me Allfather’s Gift, and Rollo waited with him. I mounted him and rode to Folki, Arne and the rest of my men who lay on the grass patiently waiting. They stood as I rode towards them. “They come and will be here by noon. Einar and Flambard will join you. Hold the line and all will be well.”
Arne Four Toes looked up at me. “I know you like the horse, jarl, but this is how a Viking should fight. I want the earth beneath my feet and shields locked on either side of me. This will be a good day. They will not shift us. Their horses will break like waves upon the rocks!”
His men all began banging their shields. I could see that they were more than ready for a fight.
“I know you will not let me down. When this Frank is defeated then we plan to take his town! We will take this land burgh by burgh!”
“Hrolf the Horseman! Hrolf the Horseman!” They kept chanting as I rode to the horsemen who waited for me.
Rollo and Erik were there, close to their father. They were mounted on small horses and they held my banner. They would not charge. The banner was there as a rallying point. In a battle, it is too easy to get carried away and to lose all sense of the battlefield. The small rise where the standard stood would be our home. We would return there after we had charged. I rode along the line of riders. They stood next to their horses waiting. I touched each shield with my spear. It made a clattering noise as I rode down the line. I saw many familiar faces and many new ones. The front line were the warriors with mail. Each held the new longer spears we had made. Behind them came the horsemen without mail. They had throwing javelins. When the battle started and we charged they would ride around the flank of the enemy and harass them. Theirs would be a dangerous task for many of those we were fighting were mercenaries. They would be less organized and more unpredictable. Ragnvald, although he had a mail corselet, would lead those warriors. I trusted his judgement. The horses they rode were well fed and well trained. He knew that they could not afford to fight the Franks sword to sword. They had to hit and run.
I returned to the centre of my line and dismounted. It was an hour before noon. Soon we would see their scouts. They would know we waited. What would Henry of Carentan do? He had chosen an open battle. He would not refuse. Once he knew we waited he would be able to see our numbers and know that he had the advantage. My aim was to charge him and break up the effect of his heavy warriors. His mercenaries did not worry me. It was his lords who were the better miles .
We saw his scouts gallop up the greenway. I had chosen a position just below the crest of a slight rise It meant that when they crested it they saw us five hundred paces from them. They stopped and the five of them held conference before three rode off.
I mounted and rode before my narrow line so that they could all see me. “Mount! It is almost time, Clan of the Horse. Today we will show these Franks that this is now our land and we will defend it. Look around and see your shield brothers. It may be the last time you see them on this earth but when they go to Valhalla they will speak of this day and the deeds we do!”
I rode my grey back to the centre of my horsemen. Erik rode up with my spear. He handed it to me and then returned to the banner. If the enemy was a clever general, he would try to use his horsemen to out flank us. I was tempting him to do so. If he did, then he would extend his line and would be able to bring fewer to bear on my thin line of warriors led by Arne and Folki.
We saw the banners approach. They would not advance to attack. They would be planted like a row of trees. I saw Henry of Carentan. His red shield had a lightning bolt upon it. His retainers had a similar device. Unlike the others his banner would be carried into battle. I saw that his warriors on foot did not advance. He would not have either archers or slingers. He intended to use his horse to sweep us before him. He shouted orders. I did not hear them. The mercenaries formed a line before the nobles. It was a double line seventy-five men long. He was not doing as I had expected. Instead of outflanking me he was going to make a charge on our front. He had confidence in his horsemen. I also realised that he was happily sacrificing his mercenaries. Many men would die and he would not have to pay them. His nobles would have an easier time of it when they came to fight us.
I allowed him to form his lines. I wanted him to move so that I could charge. I intended to charge obliquely across his front. That way my horsemen could disrupt his attack on Arne and the others. Once we had struck I had ordered my horsemen to enter the woods. There Einar and Flambard would cut down any who pursued us. We would then ride around the rear of Arne and his men and attack the enemy flank. By then my surprise should have been sprung.
The enemy moved.
“Remember your orders! Obey them to the letter. Ragnvald, today is your day! Forward!”
My white horse would mean nothing to the mercenaries save that it was mine and I was to be avoided. The nobles, on the other hand, would try to get to me and have the honour of slaying me. Sure enough, the mercenaries kept heading straight for my men on foot. As I neared them I saw that they parted. I remembered the two mercenaries in the inn. They had said I was to be avoided. They divided like a river around a rock. I was suddenly the tip of an arrow. I had not planned a wedge but we had one and I would use it. I couched my spear. We had found that by resting our spears on the front and rear cantles of our saddles we could keep the tip straighter. Our spears were longer than the Franks.
As the gap opened up before me I saw Henry of Carentan and his household warriors. Sometimes the boldest and the most reckless of moves is the most successful. I rode directly at him. We had the slight slope with us and were moving faster down it than he was up. My horse was powerful. I pulled back my arm to punch at Henry of Carentan. One of his warriors urged his horse between us. His shield was on the wrong side and my spear rammed into his middle. The blow was so powerful that the head stuck in his saddle. As the warrior fell, he broke my spear and, letting go I drew my sword.
My instructions to my men had been clear and I now followed them myself. I jerked Allfather’s Gift to the right. We were now riding towards men whose shields were on the opposite side. I slashed at Henry of Carentan. His hand was slow to rise and my sword bit into his upper arm. His sword dropped. My line of eighty warriors was now tearing through the left flank of the enemy. Speed was our greatest weapon for we knew what we were doing and they had had their own plan disrupted.
Some of the Franks managed to crash into each other as they turned to face us. The mercenaries saw us as an easier opponent than the wall of warriors who stood facing them. I took a spear thrust on my shield. I ignored that warrior. Alain of Auxerre could deal with him. Instead I swung at a Frank whose spear wavered up and down as he tried to hit me with it. My sword slid along the top of his spear and tore into his mail and his middle. It came away bloody and he clutched his stomach as he tried to flee. As I neared the wood I saw one of the two warriors who had been in our lodgings. I am not c
ertain if he recognised me but he tried to get out of my way. His back suddenly arced as an arrow, sent from the woods, erupted out of his chest.
Once in the wood I wheeled right and slowed down. The last thing I needed was to stumble over a tree root. I saw empty saddles following me. Most were Franks but some were ours. I forced myself to ignore them. I would think about the dead later. I saw Einar and his men as well as Flambard and his sons. They were ready to cut down the enemy. Any Frank who followed us into the woods would not emerge alive. Behind me I heard a horn. The Lord of Carentan was rallying his men. Although wounded he was being tended to. I doubted he would ever hold a sword again. His men formed their lines and began to advance again.
I saw my lines of warriors waiting for the attack. As soon as I had passed the archers I wheeled right and left the woods. As I rode behind the rear rank my men began banging their shields and chanting.
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
Hrolf the Horseman with gleaming blade
Hrolf the Horseman all enemies slayed
I reined in by the banners. Rollo rode over with Dream of Freya; he carried spare spears with him. “Do you need a remount, lord?”
“No, this one still has fight in him and he frightens the Franks.” He handed me a fresh spear.
I saw the Frankish horsemen as Henry of Carentan marshalled them into another two lines. I wondered where my two jarls were. I stood in my stiraps and saw the two drekar as they closed with the shore. The winds must have been against them. It would have been better if they had already landed but the sudden arrival of the two crew might be the decisive act which would win the battle for us. My men formed up behind me. I saw that Ragnvald had survived as well as Bertrand, Gilles and Alain of Auxerre. They led fewer men.
While our horses recovered and the last of my men joined us I waited behind my shield wall and watched the attack on the shield wall. The Frankish leader sent up his first line of horsemen. He had a second in reserve. My men waited patiently. They had faced horses before and knew how to deal with them. Arne and Folki had locked shields and they were singing a song of death.
Fótr and Folki were brothers free
Seeking fortune they sailed the sea
The Norns brought them to the land of the horse
They sailed they thought a charmed course.
Clan of the Horseman
Warriors strong
Clan of the Horseman
Our reach is long
Clan of the Horseman
Fight as one
Clan of the Horseman
Death will come
Lying Frank and treacherous Dane
Proved to be Fótr’s bane
They fought as men all shield brothers
None fled, none left the others
Clan of the Horseman
Warriors strong
Clan of the Horseman
Our reach is long
Clan of the Horseman
Fight as one
Clan of the Horseman
Death will come
And now Folki is the last of his line
Revenge is sweet like aged wine
The Franks have paid a fearful price
There slain by Heart of Ice
Clan of the Horseman
Warriors strong
Clan of the Horseman
Our reach is long
Clan of the Horseman
Fight as one
Clan of the Horseman
Death will come
The archers and slingers sent arrows and stones towards them as they advanced. Horses and warriors were struck. From the woods came javelins and arrows as Einar and his men attacked the Frank’s left flank as it advanced. The Franks were riding closely together. I knew that I had warriors who were as strong as their shields. They would not break. Suddenly ten of the Franks kicked their horses on and the galloped hard towards the centre of our shield wall. It was madness! The horses would stop and the warriors would be slain. Three of them fell to the arrows, stones and javelins but seven closed to within two paces. I was about to order my horsemen to charge them. I believed that the battle would be over soon for we would attack the right flank of the enemy. Then the ten horses and riders leapt at the shield wall as though it was a wall or fence to be jumped. Two of the horses cleared the front three ranks for they were closely packed. They clattered into the archers and the slingers. Four were crushed. I urged Allfather’s Gift at them for the two riders would be able to inflict slaughter on the unarmed boys and archers. I hacked across the chest of the first warrior and the second almost tumbled over his horse’s head. As he struggled to regain his saddle I cut his back in two.
The damage was done. The other horses and riders had crashed onto and into the shield wall. Men could not break it but horses and mailed men could. My best warriors lay crushed beneath a veritable mountain of horseflesh and mail. As the surviving riders were hacked to pieces the Franks flooded towards the gap. Even as they did I saw Jarl Sigtrygg the Left-Handed and Jarl Thorbolt fall upon the Frankish foot. They would be too late to help us for the shield wall was not only broken, it was shattered! There was no time for an organized attack, “Charge! Let us aid our brothers.”
There was a gap in the middle where men and horses lay dead and dying. While Alain, Bertrand and Gilles led my men around the shield wall I picked my way through the middle. I would face the Franks, alone if necessary. It was then that Einar Bear Killer and Flambard led my men from the woods. They fell upon the warriors who were trying to exploit the gap in the wall. I made for Henry of Carentan’s men. He was not there but his oathsworn and nobles were.
I couched my spear and, putting my heels to Allfather’s Gift’s flank, rode at the warrior who was exhorting his companions to slaughter us. I pulled back my arm and aimed for his horse’s head. He was travelling quickly as my grey was. At such speed action happens in a blur. The Frank’s horse saw the spear coming towards his head and self-preservation took over. It jerked its head to the side. The movement took the Franks’ spear to the side but, more importantly, allowed my spear to enter his middle. It knocked him from this saddle, taking my spear with him.
I drew my sword as I pulled my horse to the right. That way my shield protected me from the Franks who were trying to get at us and my horse blocked the charge. My shield wall was still reorganizing. A spear struck my left leg. Pain shot up it. My horse’s speed prevented it from penetrating too deeply but I was bleeding. I was slightly behind the mercenary who raised his spear to skewer Erik Green Eye. He never knew I was there and my sword bit into his side. It scraped off his ribs and was only stopped by his backbone.
I pulled the grey to the left. My jinking movement was taking me towards the wood. I knew that my own horsemen would be coming to my aid. I had to slow down the attack in the centre. I was without a spear but so were the Franks who charged towards me. Three warriors with red shields and a lightning bolt converged on me. My horse was spent. He could not move quickly any more. They wore open face helmets and their faces showed that they thought they would be able to defeat me. My horse was no longer able to run but he could turn. I feinted left and went right. It took one Frank away from me. I took the sword blow on my shield as I swept my sword at head height towards the other. He took it on his shield but the blow was powerful and he reeled.
I was angry. I knew that I had lost some of my best warriors. The blood lust came upon me. I ignored the wound in my leg and stood in my stiraps. I brought my sword down on the reeling Frank. I hit his helmet and it was split asunder. The sword of the other Frank hacked down at my leg. My mail stopped it drawing blood but the leg was already damaged and I would not be able to stand again. The Frank I had taken out my with move now came behind me. I had taught Allfather’s Gift a few tricks and I pulled back the reins to make him back up. It to
ok the Frank by surprise and I swept my sword backhand, blindly. It took him in the throat. The move, however, put me at the mercy of the last of the three Franks. He stood in his stiraps and brought his sword down. I raised my shield but it would not be in time. Suddenly the sword seemed to halt in mid-air and then a puzzled look appeared on his face. Then the head of a spear sprouted from his chest. As he fell from the saddle I saw Ragnvald, Tadgh and Gurth behind him.
“Come father, one more push and we have them. See Sigtrygg and Thorbolt are coming.”
I looked behind them and saw the two drekar crews running towards the rear of the horsemen. My son was right. We had to keep the horsemen occupied until my fresh warriors could fall upon them. The strength of a horseman is also his weakness; it is his horse. The warriors would simply hack the legs from the horses. When the warriors fell, they would be butchered.
I raised my sword, “Clan of the Horsemen! Rally on me!” Ragnvald and his two riders flanked me and we moved towards the next horsemen who were moving toward us. It was their reserve but they were all fresh warriors and we were spent. I had stopped them exploiting their attack in the centre but they had many more horses than we did.
I heard Alain of Auxerre shout from my left, “We have them! The jarl has shown us the way! On!”
Gilles and Bertrand added their voices from the right and I knew that I had my best warriors with me. Blood was oozing from my wound and we had to finish this quickly. I could not kick with both legs and so I slapped my horse’s rump. He moved forward and once the other horses were moving he fell into their rhythm. Our movement drew the horsemen to us. Coming up the slope they were not moving quickly and I saw a wall of wild warriors hurtling up the slope after them. My two jarls were making up for their lateness. I made for the leader of this line. He had a yellow shield with two red stars. I had not seen him before. He had a lance and he was shouting something to his men. It was lost in the cacophony of the battle.