by Griff Hosker
We landed on the mountain which looks over Ulla's Mere. Here there was no fog, neither were there any ships. It was a land at peace.
"My son you have made a perfect land for our people here. Those who went before you are resting easy. So long as you hold this land then you need fear no enemies. What is was meant to be."
And then she was gone.
Erika took my hand in hers and kissed it, "Elfrida is right for our son. She is fey and has the blood of your mother's people coursing through her veins. She knows not yet what powers she has but Kara will teach her. In the darkest night, my husband, trust to your men, trust to our son but, most important of all, trust the sword. When the storm comes stand firm. You and the sword will have to go through fire and blood before our land and people will be safe. Your mother's spirit waits for you and watches over you. Remember that."
She lifted me up and we soared into the sky like an eagle and then, just as quickly as she had appeared, she was gone and I was spinning down to the earth. It grew closer and closer until I was sure that I would crash and die.
I opened my eyes. The fire was cold and the cave was empty. Arturus and Aiden slept still. I heard Arturus speaking, "Mother, come back to me, do not leave me, mother!"
I waited until he opened his eyes. Strangely, Aiden did so at the same time. They both looked around and took in the empty cave. I said nothing. Arturus' eyes were wide. "I saw mother and another woman I did not know. Aiden, you were with me and you saw."
Aiden nodded. "The spirits asked me to be your guide for they thought you might be afraid."
He nodded, "Who was the other woman who spoke with me? She was the one who said I would rule after you had joined her."
"That was your grandmother."
"It is good that you are to marry Elfrida. I am happy now." I hesitated. I did not wish to put a burden on Elfrida. I chose not to reveal all to Arturus. "Your mother wishes Kara and Elfrida to be close."
He looked up, startled, "She told me that too. Were you there, father?"
"No, but she spoke to me." I saw Aiden give the slightest of nods. He understood. "Now come, I fear your Elfrida will be worried or possibly bored with Haaken's stories."
When we emerged it was broad daylight. Elfrida threw herself at Arturus. "I thought you had been swallowed by the earth. I did not believe Haaken when he said you would be safe."
Arturus looked gratefully at Haaken. "You can trust any of our men with your lives. They are oathsworn and would give all to protect us."
"How long were we in there?"
"Half a day."
"You saw no-one leave?"
"No but when the smoke stopped rising then we knew you would not be long."
"We can sail home now."
Cnut pointed to the clear skies. "It seems the Norns say that we can go too."
Chapter 11
I was relieved to reach Úlfarrston without further incident. It was Midsummer's Eve when we saw the walls of the town. We had made good time. I was also pleased to see the knarr in port. I wanted to warn them about Lundenwic. We halted, briefly, at the wharf. I had to speak with both Pasgen and my captains. We would then sail a couple of miles up the river to shorten the journey we would need to make.
"So you are saying that Lundenwic may be closed to us?"
"No Pasgen. It will be closed to me and anyone who says that they serve me may well be treated badly." I looked at Siggi and Trygg. "It might be that all Vikings are so viewed from now on. I wish you two to trade with the Cymri for a while until we see how the land lies. As for your captains, Pasgen, so long as they do not speak well of me they may be safe. It is your decision."
They all nodded. Siggi said, "The new ploughs and wares produced by Bjorn fetch a high price."
"And you can ask for more. The merchant you sold them to doubled the price." I smiled. "And now on to more pleasant matters. Tomorrow is Midsummer Day and my son will be married. I shall hold a feast. I hope you will come."
Their faces gave me their answer.
The walk to Cyninges-tūn was not a long one but I was not certain how Judith and Elfrida would cope. I had no need to worry. They seemed excited. When Elfrida saw the Water she stopped. "This is beautiful." She looked at Olaf and his mountain. "I dreamed of this place. Before the beast took me I dreamed of such a place and an old man who looked down upon it." She frowned. "How can that be? I have never been here."
I looked at Aiden who smiled, "It means that you were meant to come here, Elfrida. This is a good sign."
Unsurprisingly Kara met us to the south of the western Cyninges-tūn. I knew now that she would have dreamed. Elfrida saw her approach and she shivered. "Who is that lady? She is beautiful and I can feel her," she tapped her chest, "in here."
Arturus looked delighted. "She is my sister and she is a volva. You two will be friends."
Kara hugged her brother first. "This is good, my little brother. This is wyrd!" She turned to Elfrida, "And you shall be my little sister." She put her arm through mine and said, "Come, I have made the preparations for the marriage."
Elfrida stopped, "How?"
Arturus laughed, "I told you, she is a volva and she is fey. You will get used to her reading your mind."
While Arturus showed Elfrida and Judith the settlement I took Kara into the hall and told her of our journey and trials. None of it surprised her. Then I gave her the golden torc with the blue jewels I had taken from the dead Danish warrior, Guthrum's son, Cnut. Her eyes lit up as she touched it. She squeezed my hand. "This belonged to an ancestor. I can feel its power. It speaks to me. This is a good sign. It has come home."
I wondered how she knew and then I remembered; she was a volva and her mother's daughter. It was good to be home. My dream suddenly all made sense. I needed to stay closer to home. I knew I would raid again but I had to protect the land of Cyninges-tūn.
That midsummer festival was one of the best that anyone could remember. Perhaps because we had lost six warriors and all of us had come close to death we celebrated the marriages and the hope that they brought with exuberance and joy. We celebrated long into that shortest of nights.
I left with Aiden on the day after the weddings to visit our new mines. I wanted to walk my land. The Ulfheonar and Arturus' men would be building a hall for Arturus. I knew that it would be finished by the end of the day and they would not need me. Kara spent the day with Elfrida and Judith and her world of women; the cheese and ale makers, the clothes makers and the weavers. I led the warriors and Kara led the women much as her mother had.
I was just grateful to be back in my own land and not to have to be beholden to any man. It was just a couple of hours march to reach the mines. I saw that Scanlan had had huts built for the slaves and the three overseers who ensured that they did not run whilst feeding and caring for their needs. It was a poor master who neglected his slaves. They were like horses and ponies. They were an investment.
It was quite a pleasant spot in which they lived but the mine was not. Although it had barely delved far into the earth the cramped and dirty conditions would not have pleased me. I felt the walls closing in upon me. I made a point of speaking to them all. Perhaps because we had had such a celebration I had brought a haunch of venison which I gave them for their meal and a firkin of ale we had left over. The smiles on their faces pleased me. I had been a slave. I had always tried to be a happy yet diligent one. If these slaves worked hard then I would grant them their freedom. We could always get more slaves.
I was almost reluctant to return to my hall but I knew I must. Aiden spoke to me, on the way back, about how me might use the iron. He had taken a great deal of interest in both metal working and in mining. "We can use far more of the stones and metals we have. Perhaps we could find more slaves and look for other stones we might use. The roof stones from Olaf's mountain are much longer lasting than turf. They will save work. Then there is copper. That is to be found on Olaf's mountain. We can mix that with iron and make bowls which will last long
er than the pot ones. It will also mean we have to trade less for them."
We halted to look on the water at Rye Dale. "You are thinking of our dream."
"Aye Jarl. We can become reliant just upon ourselves. We have salt and fish from the sea. We have abundant timber. We have stone and metals. The less we need to find from outside the better."
We walked on and I remembered Erika and her love of lace. "There are things that the womenfolk might like which we cannot make ourselves."
He looked at me, "We have forgotten Byzantium. They have finer cloths and clothes than anywhere in Britannia or Frankia. If we send our ships further afield they will be away longer but they will return with greater riches. Each time we sail we have the problems of Mann and the stormy coasts. One voyage a year will minimise that. We could even afford to send a drekar to escort the knarr. Remember how they prized objects we took as ordinary. We can forget Britannia and Frankia. It is Byzantium where we shall make our profit." He was right. His mind had been planning since our visit to the witch. Perhaps my days of fighting were gone.
We headed back to Cyninges-tūn in high spirits. We had extracted ourselves from a difficult situation in Wessex. My son was wed and the spirits approved. We had a strategy to trade more successfully and we were home. The world was in balance once more.
Our world was shattered when we returned to Cyninges-tūn. Thorkell sent an urgent message. The men of Strathclyde had a new king and he had invaded our lands. Thorkell was besieged within his walls and war had come to our home once more. The Norns had held out a hope of peace and then snatched it away just as quickly.
I sent for Windar and gathered Scanlan, Kara, Rolf, Arturus, Haaken and Cnut for a counsel of war. Unlike that held by King Egbert mine would, at least, allow everyone to have an opinion. We would begin to plan and then allow Windar to give his views. Most Vikings would not have included a woman but a volva was special. It gave us an insight into the spirit world. None would gainsay Kara.
It was Einar Boar Slayer, one of Thorkell's oathsworn, who came to speak with us. "They came, four days ago across the river. They learned from us and built rafts. They captured our fort and slew all the warriors who guarded the eastern end of the river. Jarl Thorkell managed to bring all those who lived nearby into the stad but I saw many marauding bands heading south. Some are close to Butar's Mere. They are slaughtering our people and stealing the animals."
"You are an experienced warrior, how long before they reach us here?"
"Two days at the most."
I nodded. We would need to get to the col north of the Grassy Mere. There we could hold them and then drive them back. "Any thoughts?"
"Unless we strike quickly then we will lose all that we have built up."
"You are right Rolf." I drummed my fingers on the table. "I will take the Ulfheonar and we will stop them at the col. Arturus you will need to gather every warrior who can be spared and march them in the morning to the col. If we are not there then carry on cautiously north until you find us."
"What of Windar?"
"I want a warband from Windar's Mere and Ulla's Water to head north and meet me on the old Roman Road."
They all nodded.
"Kara, what of the spirits?"
"They warned of the danger which was coming." I gritted my teeth at the mischievous spirits. The warning had been vague at best. "We will prevail."
"Is that a wish or do you know?"
"I believe."
"Then we must trust to the iron of Bjorn Bagsecgson and the arms of my warriors." I stood, "Kara and Rolf watch over my people." I hesitated, "Watch Elfrida. This will make her feel afraid. Her new husband will be away and I know that she will find it hard."
I saw the look of gratitude on my son's face and I was pleased that I had said what I had said.
I gathered my armour and my weapons. Bjorn Bagsecgson had put the sharpest of edges upon Ragnar's Spirit. We took a pony each and left my fort and my refuge. The days were as long as they ever would be. Night would be but a few hours long. My twenty eight warriors had had some rest and we would teach these raiders that the punishment for invasion was death. I would slaughter all; even those who surrendered. I would make them fear to cross the river again. I wanted their wives and children to be terrified of the wolves who came from the south and tore the hearts from their warriors.
As soon as we passed the Rye Dale I waved Bjorn the Scout and Snorri forward. "Find them!"
Animals skittered from our path as rode relentlessly north. I had no doubt that they would have to stop at night but I wanted to be at the col before them. We would have the advantage of height and the land. The pass leading to it was narrow and lined with trees. It was perfect for a small band such as ours to ambush an army; no matter how large. It was not arrogance which gave me such confidence; the men of Strathclyde had come from Hibernia. They shunned armour and fought with their hearts, recklessly. They were also incredibly superstitious. The wolf warriors would increase and aggravate that fear. The spirits had been right. We had to defend this land by all means possible.
We reached the col shortly after dusk had fallen. Neither of my scouts were there but I did not worry. We tied the ponies to some scrubby trees which the lined stream meandering along the scree covered valley. "Spread out on either side. String your bows and wait for my command."
Snorri and Bjorn the Scout returned, leading their ponies. "They have camped by Leathes Water."
"Have they sentries?"
"A few."Snorri grinned. They are, like the others, drunk. They must have brought some of their fiery spirit with them."
"How many are there?"
"It is a warband of fifty. They have two warriors with mail."
Bjorn the Scout nodded his agreement. "To be truthful jarl the two of us could have disposed of them but we thought Haaken might be unhappy if he missed the chance to compose a song about it!"
When my warriors all laughed I knew that all was well. Leathes Water was less than two miles up the Roman Road. It was a narrow valley and they would have had to camp by the Water. We knew exactly where they would be. "Bjorn the Scout and Snorri, take your bows and take care of the drunken guards. The rest, we use blades and we strike silently. Let them think we are ghosts or wolves."
We trotted along the road. I had my wolf cloak over my helmet so that I looked, especially in the dark, like a wolf. Bjorn the Scout and Snorri had long disappeared into the darkening dusk. I was confident in their ability and they would stop us from blundering into their camp. If we could destroy this warband then we might surprise the rest. My two scouts appeared from the dark like wraiths. Had I not been expecting them then I might have been afeard. They signalled to the left and right. I waved off Cnut and Haaken. Snorri and Bjorn the Scout came with me.
I heard the men of Strathclyde and I smelled their fires before I saw them. They were celebrating. The screams of the young women told me that they had captives. I drew my sword. They would pay. As we descended towards the water and the trees thinned I saw the warriors. There was a huddle of them despoiling a girl. Another group were having a drinking contest. The three of us did not pause. We ran into the camp. The four men raping the girl were dispatched in four blows. I swung my sword and took the head of one then backhanded a second across the throat. They died silently. I could see, from the firelight, the rest of my warriors as they fell upon the men of Strathclyde.
We did not stop; delay was unthinkable. We raced to the next three men who were raping a girl. This time they stood as they saw us. I ripped Ragnar's Spirit into the naked groin of the rapist. The other two fell to Bjorn the Scout and Snorri. The warband was now terrified. We had sprung from nowhere. While one or two warriors tried to grab weapons and fight us, most fled. They were half drunk and they were panicked. We began to overhaul them. There is little satisfaction in killing a man who had his back to you but we needed to teach a lesson. I slashed Ragnar's Spirit across the back of one warrior. Bjorn had put such an edge on the fine weapo
n that it sliced through the back bone and almost cut the warrior in two. It was all over in a very short time.
"Haaken I want every head taking from the corpses and bring them with us."
He knew me too well to question me. Then I found the girls. Sigtrygg was comforting them. "Tostig Wolf hand, escort them back to my home and then rejoin us. Take the two horses the men of Strathclyde brought with them."
"Aye Jarl." Tostig might have wanted to continue on the journey with us but my tone told him to obey and he did.
After they had departed and the heads were collected I said, "We get a little sleep and then push on. We did well."
Unprompted the men began to howl and even I got shivers down my spine as the call of the wolf echoed through the narrow valley. The Ulfheonar were coming.
We reached the northern edge of the hills by dawn. The last barrier before the river lay before us. We waited there in the woods which lined the road. There was a stream which bubbled towards the water we had left earlier and we drank from that. We chewed on dried venison as we waited for Arturus.
He must have left our home before dawn for he reached us when the sun had still to give any warmth.
"My men saw the bodies of the dead raiders." He nodded towards the grisly heads strung over the ponies' saddles. "You do not usually take trophies."
"These are not trophies. I shall use them as weapons. Come we head north." I did not elaborate. There was no need he would know the reason soon enough.
We made our way in single file through the hills. I saw that the one or two farms we passed were burned out and the animals were gone from the hills. The raiders had been here. What had been bothering me, since we had heard the news, was that two years earlier we had raided and destroyed the forces north of the river. Were these the same people or had another invader come to take the land and to push south? The men we had killed the previous night had been the men of Strathclyde. They had the same clan markings and the same weapons. I knew that, in the old days of Rheged, the Kingdom of Strathclyde had been a large and powerful one stretching all the way north to the land of the Picts. Perhaps it was rising again.
