Viking Raid

by Griff Hosker

  Llewellyn came down the ladder. He was grinning. "We have thrown them from the walls. They fall back."

  I nodded, "Unless I miss my guess they will not attack again this night." I pointed to the fire. "That is better than any gate. Whoever came up with the idea saved us."

  "It was your man, Haaken. He sent for warmed pig fat and threw it down. When he threw the torch it ignited the oil and pig fat soaked ground and the ram caught fire."

  "Put some of your men to watch down here. These four warriors saved you too. They are good men all."

  Chapter 14

  As dawn began to rise it was obvious that the Mercian attack had failed. The clouds which had aided the Mercians by making as black a night as I had seen were blown away by winds from the east and the day promised to be fair. We saw the defeated army as they trudged back to Mercia. It became obvious that, just as Gwynfor Ap Rhys had lost the best warriors of Dyfed, so the finest Mercian warriors had fallen at the gate. Their blackened, burned and butchered bodies bore testament to that. They were the ones wearing mail and wielding the best weapons. They were the shock force which King Coenwulf had hoped would defeat even the mighty Vikings of Cyninges-tūn. We cleared the stones and I sent Snorri and Bjorn to confirm the departure of the enemy. My Ulfheonar took the opportunity to loot the bodies of those that we had slain. The Welsh might be able to reclaim the mail but my men took jewels, amulets and weapons. We had held the gate and it was our right.

  The King and his sons appeared when it became obvious that we had won. We were still clearing the entrance and he spoke with Llewellyn. I had taken off my helmet and wolf cloak. I had done with fighting for a while. The King approached me and clasped me. "Thank you, Jarl Dragon Heart. You have saved us."

  I nodded, "You have good men here but you need to make this a stronger place."

  "I agree and I will leave Llewellyn to do so when I return to my home in the west."

  This had been too dangerous for him. I would speak with Llewellyn before we left. He was a good warrior and deserved a better king. "We too will leave."

  He hesitated and put his arm around my shoulder, "The servant, Brigid…."

  "Your daughter wishes to travel with us. That is not a problem is it?" I narrowed my eyes as I spoke.

  "My wife…"

  "Your wife is your problem. Your daughter is no longer. She wishes a new life where she is not treated so badly."

  I could see that he was troubled, "You do not understand her mother was a slave and…"

  "And my mother was a slave too but the man who looked after her was a Viking and he cared for her. The world thinks of us as barbarians. We are not. Think on that King Arthfael Hen ap Rhys and if you wish some advice, father to father, then make your sons toil as warriors. It will make men of them. They should look to the likes of Llewellyn for inspiration."

  His shoulders dropped, "I will…" He shook himself, "You will trade again?"

  "I will send for my ship. If you give Aiden a list of the goods you need then we will send them."

  "You will not come again?"

  "I do not need to. My knarr will be able to sail safely from my home without my drekar. We will do as the world expects. We will raid."

  We clasped hands and he departed. At noon Snorri and Bjorn returned. "The Mercians are heading home. We saw their horsemen. They are the rearguard." Snorri laughed, "I think King Coenwulf fears that we might follow!"

  "Siggi, Ragnar, go west and find the drekar. It is time to go home."

  We had not suffered any deaths but the piles of dead Welshman showed that they had fought hard. As Llewellyn viewed their corpses and shook his head I said, "Get them helmets and better shields." I pointed to the heads of many of the dead which showed terrible wounds. "Had they had helmets they might have lived and if you cannot get mail then use hide armour. Your archers are good but they cannot win a war for you without protection. You need men to stop the enemy getting to your archers."

  "You are a good man to fight alongside, Jarl Dragon Heart. We have learned much."

  "And now you command this part of the King's kingdom. You can make a difference."

  The sight of my drekar with the setting sun behind it made me feel happier. We could go home. We had been lucky but I tired of fighting for others. It was time to go home and for my men to be with their families and enjoy the fruits of their labours. We loaded the drekar with our treasure.

  "Erik, is it safe to sail this night?"

  "Aye Jarl, the tide and the river are with us. The skies are clear now and the wind from the east."

  "Then we sail. Let us go home."

  Aiden was at the stern and I saw a cloak covered figure by my chest. Aiden came to me, "It is the woman, Brigid. She worried about you until Ragnar brought the news that the Mercians were defeated and you were safe." I nodded. "She is a good woman, Jarl. It was not just the Mercians who treated her so badly. Her mother was slave."

  "I know, the King told me."

  "She came from Ynys Mon. She was also the daughter of a slave from Hibernia. She has hair a little like mine."

  "Wyrd."

  "Aye. When Brigid was born the King was already married to Nesta. Nesta had Brigid's mother whipped. She said she had stolen something. She had not. The slave died. The Queen encouraged her sons to abuse Brigid. I know not how she survived. She has steel within her."

  "Then we will take her to Kara. My daughter can work her magic on her and heal her from within."

  Aiden gave me a curious look and said nothing but he nodded. I curled up close by the slave and, wrapping myself in my wolf cloak, fell asleep. My dream, that night, was of my mother. I saw my father beating her and heard her crying in the night. I saw her as we were taken by Harald One Eye with her arms wrapped around me and a defiant look upon her face. And I saw her with love in her eyes as she and Prince Butar were married.

  When I woke I looked up and saw that the day had dawned and Brigid was standing above me with a horn of ale. "You slept a long time, my lord." She hesitated, "And you were speaking in your sleep."

  I stood and stretched, "I was dreaming." I took the horn and looked to the east. There was the coast of Wales, a smudge on the horizon. Erik was keeping us well out to sea. I drank the ale in one. "You are still happy to be sailing into the unknown with a band of barbarians?"

  She laughed. It was the first time she had done so and she suddenly looked much younger. I had only seen a sad and serious face before. "There are some barbarians who wear fine clothes." She pointed to her heart, "It is in here that makes a barbarian."

  I handed her the horn and went to the prow to make water. What did my dream mean? Perhaps it meant nothing and was just a dream. There was nothing in the dream which I did not know already. It had just been memories but I knew that, because of my mother, dreams meant something. I would speak with Kara. I needed my sweat hut and I needed my Water. I walked down the drekar and my men called out greetings.

  I paused when I reached Eystein, "I think that we misnamed you. Perhaps you should be Eystein the Clever and not Eystein the Rock."

  He shook his head, "I am happy to be your Rock, Jarl. It is ever the honour to fight for you and look," he took out the gold and silver he had taken from the Mercians. "Now I am rich enough to marry and build a farm!"

  All of my warriors were now rich. Those who had come from other jarls would return and make those who had not ventured forth, jealous. A raid with Jarl Dragon Heart could set a man up for life. There would be no shortage of takers the next time that I raided. I wondered when that would be. It was not that I was weary of fighting but I wanted to spend some time in my land. I needed the Water and the mountains to put back the strength into my bones and my heart that this voyage and these raids had taken from me.

  We passed between Ynys Mon and Hibernia. I joined Aiden and Brigid. Aiden said, "Your two homes. This is where your mother came from." He pointed to Wyddfa in the distance. "That is a holy mountain."

  She shook her head, "My moth
er was converted to Christianity. She was told that such things are blasphemous. Mountains cannot be holy."

  Aiden said, "And yet a piece of wood which was used to kill a man by crucifying him can be?"

  I saw her look to the east and reconsider her ideas.

  I smiled, "You will have much time to consider what is holy when you see my land for it is as near to perfection that you can get on this earth. There you will be safe."

  She appeared lost in her thoughts as we headed north. I had always found it hard to read women. Erika had known me far better than I had known her. Kara was still a mystery to me. Men and warriors were easier to understand. Haaken, for example; I knew that he was already composing the story he would tell when we feasted. Ulf Olafsson would be deciding how to spend his gold and how many arm rings he would buy. Ragnar would be thinking of the sword he would commission Bjorn to make for him. And me? I would use some of my gold to improve my drekar. Bolli would benefit. I would have my helmet and mail repaired. My needs were small.

  The knarr were in the estuary as we reached Úlfarrston. Despite our delay along the Sabrina they would not have beaten us home by much. The cargo they had carried would have barely reached Cyninges-tūn. As soon as I stepped ashore I knew that bad news awaited me. Coen Ap Pasgen came along the jetty to greet me. His face showed pain.

  "I have bad news Jarl Dragon Heart; my father has died."

  "I am sorry I was not here at the end I would have liked to say farewell for he was ever a faithful friend to my people."

  "He loved you like a son, Jarl, but he knew no one at the end. Your daughter came to minister to him and she eased his passing but I said my farewells. He is with my mother now."

  "And you are headman?"

  "I am and I will sail no more but I wanted you to know that nothing changes. I am my father and we are still your staunchest allies."

  I looked at him. He looked older somehow, "But I suspect that you will do some things differently." He nodded, "Like better defences."

  He laughed, "You are become like Aiden, Jarl. Aye, unlike my father I have sailed with you and seen the world. It is a dangerous place. I have also seen towns which are grander. We will use some of our gold to buy your stone. We will have solid walls."

  "Then your father will be happy for you have learned and you will be a better leader. All fathers hope that their sons will be better than they were."

  The drekar had been emptied and we loaded the cargo on to carts. Brigid showed surprise when she was offered a seat on one. "If you allow, Jarl, I would like to walk with you and your men and see this new land with you."

  As we walked the fourteen miles to our home I told her how we had come here and our life before, on Mann. I told her of Erika and how her spirit lived in the Water. I pointed to Olaf and explained how his spirit protected us. I knew that I was making her question her own beliefs but she had to know with whom she lived. I did not mind having a woman of the White Christ living among us. We had had two nuns of the White Christ who had been much loved by Kara and our people. A woman could be a Christian but it would not do for a man. How could a warrior turn the other cheek? A man's job was to fight for his family and his people. He could not do that and be a Christian.

  When we reached the Water her eyes lit and her face beamed. The sun was setting and the golden reflection of Olaf shone on the still Water. "You are right, Jarl, this is heaven. I can see why you made your home here."

  Kara and my people awaited us when we entered the gates. They had seen our approach and food and ale were waiting. Kara did not seem surprised to see Brigid. She hugged her as I told her that she had chosen to live with us. I did not explain why. That would have been rude with Brigid there. I would tell Kara in private.

  "Come Brigid, we will find you a sleeping place in my hall." She looked at the rags which Brigid wore. Until then I had not noticed them. Kara shook her head at me, "And then we will find you better clothes! Men!"

  The first thing I did was to go to the Water, strip off and bathe. The blood, sweat and grime of many weeks away were washed away and with them came peace. I lay on the water and felt the spirit of my wife. It was good. When I had dried and returned to my hall to dress I felt like a new man.

  Aiden and Bjorn Bagsecgson came to see me. Both looked serious. "Trouble?"

  Bjorn Bagsecgson nodded, "Word came from Sigtrygg while you were away. His farms were attacked."

  "Saxons?"

  "No Jarl Dragon Heart, they were Vikings and they were led by Magnus the Foresworn."

  My kindness had come back to haunt me. I should have killed him when I had the chance. Any chance of peace we might have had disappeared with the sound of his name.

  When I spoke at greater length I discovered that only a few of Sigtrygg's people had been slain and my Ulfheonar warrior had not suffered too many losses.

  "It is as well he did not send warriors with me then."

  "Aye, Jarl, it is wyrd."

  "Then we must find where this viper nests and rid the world of him.

  That night as I ate with Kara and Aiden I reflected, sadly, that my life was not destined to be peaceful. I was silent as I ate. Kara sighed and came to sit next to me. "Why the silence, father?"

  "I had thought to have peace and I come home and find that my past comes to haunt me again. Will we never have peace?"

  "You are a Viking warrior; do you really expect peace? Would you be able to live with peace? Is there danger and war here now or have you peace?"

  "I have peace for this moment aye. But it will not last."

  "Then enjoy it while it does." She stood and kissed me on the head before returning to the other end of the table. "I have spoken with Aiden. I know of the manner of the meeting with Brigid."

  "And?"

  "And we both know of your dream; the dream of your mother."

  "How?" They both laughed and I felt foolish. "Do I have no secrets?"

  Kara shook her head. "This was not a chance meeting. The Norns planned for you to save Brigid. She is part of your future."

  "That is foolish."

  "Remember my brother when he met Elfrida? That was the Norns. Be happy."

  "But your mother!"

  "My mother is as happy as any as is your mother."

  "How do you know?"

  She looked at me with those huge eyes of hers which were like deep pools. "Because the Spirits speak with me. Angharad was right in one thing; my powers have grown and I have learned to use them. I do not need to dream for the spirits to speak with me. Do not fight it father; it was meant to be. It is wyrd. Brigid was sent to you. You had a hole in your heart. I know that this rift between my brother and me pains you. We can do little about that. This Brigid is a good woman and she was sent by the spirits to heal you. She will give you the solace my mother did." She smiled, "This is a good thing, father. You know better than to fight the Norns."

  Aiden nodded, "And I have seen, in her eyes, that she admires you, Jarl. There is much in common between you. Surely you must have felt something."

  I looked from one to the other. "I did but…"

  "Then do not fight it. This was meant to be. This is wyrd."

  I nodded, "You are right, this is wyrd." I was the plaything of the Gods, the Norns, and the Spirits. My life would change again.

  The End

  Glossary

  Afon Hafron- River Severn in Welsh

  Bardanes Tourkos- Rebel Byzantine General

  Bebbanburgh- Bamburgh Castle, Northumbria

  Beck- a stream

  Blót – a blood sacrifice made by a jarl

  Blue Sea- The Mediterranean

  Bourde- Bordeaux

  Byrnie- a mail shirt reaching down to the knees

  Caerlleon- Welsh for Chester

  Caestir - Chester (old English)

  Casnewydd –Newport, Wales

  Cephas- Greek for Simon Peter (St. Peter)

  Chape- the tip of a scabbard

  Charlemagne- Holy Roman Emperor at th
e end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th centuries

  Celchyth- Chelsea

  Cherestanc- Garstang (Lancashire)

  Corn Walum- Cornwall

  Cymri- Welsh

  Cymru- Wales

  Cyninges-tūn – Coniston. It means the estate of the king (Cumbria)

  Drekar- a Dragon ship (a Viking warship)

  Duboglassio –Douglas, Isle of Man

  Dyflin- Old Norse for Dublin

  Ein-mánuðr- middle of March to the middle of April

  Faro Bregancio- Corunna (Spain)

  Fey- having second sight

  Firkin- a barrel containing eight gallons (usually beer)

  Fret-a sea mist

  Frankia- France and part of Germany

  Garth- Dragon Heart

  Gaill- Irish for foreigners

  Galdramenn- wizard

  Glaesum –amber

  Gleawecastre- Gloucester

  Gói- the end of February to the middle of March

  Grenewic- Greenwich

  Haughs- small hills in Norse (As in Tarn Hows)

  Heels- when a ship leans to one side under the pressure of the wind

  Hel - Queen of Niflheim, the Norse underworld.

  Here Wic- Harwich

  Hetaereiarch – Byzantine general

  Hjáp - Shap- Cumbria (Norse for stone circle)

  Hoggs or Hogging- when the pressure of the wind causes the stern or the bow to droop

  Hrams-a – Ramsey, Isle of Man

  Icaunis- British river god

  Itouna- River Eden Cumbria

  Jarl- Norse earl or lord

  Joro-goddess of the earth

  Knarr- a merchant ship or a coastal vessel

  Kyrtle-woven top

  Leathes Water- Thirlmere

  Legacaestir- Anglo Saxon for Chester

  Lochlannach – Irish for Northerners (Vikings)

  Lothuwistoft- Lowestoft

  Lundenwic - London

  Mammceaster- Manchester

  Manau/Mann – The Isle of Man(n) (Saxon)

  Marcia Hispanic- Spanish Marches (the land around Barcelona)

  Mast fish- two large racks on a ship for the mast

  Melita- Malta