by Griff Hosker
The giant glowered at the two Danes who picked themselves up and stared at him. I thought for a moment they would risk his wrath but instead they fled. Neither looked like warriors. A real warrior would not have left his sword behind. These were the hangers on who followed a warband in the hope of scraps. Leaving Rolf with the horses we followed the giant back into the ale house.
He sensed us and whipped his head around. I spread my hands, “No, trouble, Aksel. We come as friends and we have coin to pay for our ale.”
His eyes narrowed. “How do you know my name? I have never seen you before. In fact, I have not seen Norse Vikings in this burgh for many a year.”
I lowered my voice, “I am come from the Land of the Wolf. We met with Carr and Ase. They said we would be welcome.”
His face broke into a grin. “Why did you not say so! Mother; these Vikings know Carr and Ase!”
I saw something of Ase in Agnete. She wiped her hands on her apron and came from behind the table which served as a bar. “How is my sister?”
“She is well as is her son and husband.” I gestured to my companions. “There are five of us and horses. Have you rooms and a stable?”
Aksel nodded, “Aye and we will do you a good price. Mother will show you your rooms and I will see to your horses.”
She led us out of the back door and into a small yard. I saw the stables off to the right and she led us left to a small hall. She opened the door and I saw that there were three rooms each divided by a curtain. “You can have two of these. I like to keep the third in case we get late visitors.”
“They will do fine. Haaken, have the baggage brought around.” Left alone I said, “Carr said we could trust you.”
She gave me a shrewd look. “You are the one called The Dragonheart.”
I was surprised for I did not have my shield with me. “Yes, but how did you know?”
“The wolf and dragon you wear around your neck warned me but that sword with the distinctive stones, there can be only one. What brings you here?”
She was a clever woman. She would need to be to survive in Eoforwic. I decided to be truthful with her. “We are seeking news of a clan called the Skull Takers. They are led by five women.”
She clutched at a charm around her neck, “I have heard of them. They are dangerous. You are a great warrior but these Danes are to be feared. Their witches use magic and poison.”
“I know.”
She nodded, “When the inn is empty Aksel and I will tell you all that we know.” She shrugged, “It is little enough.”
The food was well cooked and Agnete was a fine ale wife. We sat in a corner and watched the busy inn. Patience was all. It proved useful for we saw many Danes enter and leave. Keeping to ourselves and being wrapped in our cloaks we did not merit much attention and we listened. Ulfheonar can do that; even the loquacious Haaken One Eye. We had the patience of a wolf stalking his prey. We learned much. We learned that there were many clans close to the city. Some plied the river as merchants. There was one drekar moored in the river as well. Despite what the prince had told us the Danes were back in numbers. I wondered if his master of the burgh knew of that. I felt I owed a debt to Athelstan and so I determined to find out all that I could. When we had arrived at the town gate we had seen a storm heading from the north. I doubted that we would be moving much for a few days in any case.
When the inn had been emptied, somewhat forcibly by Aksel, we sat with some fresh cheese and horns of ale. “The clan of the Skull Takers live to the south of here close by the old capital of Elmet, Loidis.”
“Does not the king’s man do aught about them?”
Aksel laughed, “Jarl they have five witches.”
“Four,” corrected his mother, “One was killed last year.”
I looked at Haaken. That was the one Snorri had slain.
Agnete leaned over, “Jarl, do not take on the Skulltaker clan. They are evil. Many families have lost children to this evil coven.”
“All the more reason to destroy them then.”
Aksel asked, “Why the interest? Loidis is their stronghold and it is far from the Land of the Wolf.”
I hesitated and then remembered I had promised to speak the truth. “I dreamed that they came and destroyed my people.”
Agnete nodded, “Then you must fight them.” She looked at her son. “We were taken by those who take skulls. They killed the brother of Carr. We are safe here but I can see that if they thought to have their claws in you… We will help in any way we can. We hear news in this inn. We do not rob and the ale is good. Warriors who drink too much have loose tongues. This inn is old and well frequented.” She smiled and patted Aksel’s hand. “My son keeps order and we prosper.”
They told us all that they knew and we headed for bed. As we wrapped ourselves in our furs I said, “Tomorrow we will visit the river and see what ships are in port. Agnete hears news but there may be others who do not travel to the inn. Beorn, I would have you travel to Fulford and tell the thegn there what we have learned. They should know of the danger to the south of them.”
“Will you tell the Prince?”
“Aye Haaken but that will have to wait until we are returned home. The dream was a warning but from what we have heard the threat is closer than Aiden thought.”
As I curled up in my fur my mind was too busy for me to fall asleep quickly. Eggle Skull Taker had been hiding on the Dunum. We had rid ourselves of them. Now we heard they were at Loidis. Was the clan elsewhere? It seemed to me that this was a large clan. We had slain many when we had slaughtered Eggle’s band. Even as sleep began to come to me I sat up suddenly. Only Eggle had had a skull atop his helmet. He had had but one witch with him. We had not even touched the main clan. As I lay back down I saw the size of the problem we faced and the threat to our lives and that of the whole clan.
It was a grey, dank day as we wandered down the quayside. There were stalls selling goods brought up the river and there were a few hardy folk buying from them but the oppressive damp which hung over the water did not invite lingering. The four of us spread out. We had coins and we bought a few items. Some of them were even useful but the most useful thing we bought was knowledge. I had hidden the tokens I wore around my neck. Agnete’s sharp eyes had been a warning for me. I wanted none to know who I was. With a hooded cloak about my head I was just another Norse trader.
I spent some time talking to the Dane who had the stall close to the threttanessa. I learned that he and his companions were making their first voyage to the land of the Angles. The goods they had were from Frankia. I bought some fine pots which I knew Brigid would like. It was from him that I gleaned the most important information. I learned the name of the warrior who led the clan and the names of the four witches who ruled them. He knew of them from his homeland. The clan had left Denmark but they still traded with their homeland. The witches, it appeared, needed amber and other treasures which came from their homeland.
The Dane had been fearful and that surprised me for there were many warrior bands upon his arms. I had had to part with a gold coin taken from Neustria to loosen his tongue.
“The leader is Baggi Skull Splitter. He is the eldest of the clan. He had a younger brother, Eggle; he was slain last year. It made him angry beyond words and he slaughtered a whole village in Mercia in vengeance. It is said that they ringed his home with their skulls.”
This showed me the size of the clan. If they could raid Mercia with impunity, then they had large numbers indeed.
“The power lies with the four witches. The eldest is Asta and she is ancient. It is said she has not a tooth in her mouth nor a hair on her head but she rules the clan. Then there are her daughters. There were four but one was slain. Birte Twist-Breeks is the eldest of the three. Ellesef Ship-Breast is the youngest and the third is Dagh the Second Sighted.” He leaned forward, “It is said that Asta cursed the one called The Dragonheart and the people of the Land of the Wolf. Her daughter was slain by their warriors.” He shivered, “I would not wis
h to risk the enmity of that one.”
“How did you come to know so much about them?”
“One of my crew has served with them. He was blamed for the surprise attack which resulted in the death of the witch and he fled.”
“Could I talk with him?”
Shaking his head, he said, “When he found out I was coming back here to this river he deserted me. He is now in the land of the Franks. He is terrified that they will find out where he is. He only escaped because it was after the battle. His hair turned white and he has seen but twenty summers.”
After he had confirmed that they lived close to Loidis I handed him the coin.
“Why are you so interested in them, Norseman?”
I lied. It was not honourable but my people’s lives were at stake. “We had heard of them and as I planned on travelling through the land close to Loidis I thought it prudent to know of them and their ways.”
The Dane shook his head, “Avoid that land. There is little there anyway. The valleys, so I have heard, are steep and there is little to commend it. They live there for they are safe. They have hills and their stad are surrounded by wooden walls and ditches.”
As I rejoined Haaken and the others I realised that it sounded like a similar land to mine. We headed back to the inn and shared what we had learned. From the others, I discovered that the clan was growing in numbers and was becoming bolder. They were making the old kingdom of Elmet their own. Taking the women of the ancient people they were growing each year. That worried me. The ancient peoples had powers. It came through their women. This was my dream. The dragon we had seen was a symbol of their new power. The sign of the Walhaz, the name the Saxons called the old people, was a dragon. When I had fought the people of Cymru I had often seen the dragon on their banners. They were not a threat but this clan was.
When Beorn arrived at the inn he confirmed some of what we had learned. “They are a problem. Asser told me that many villages had young girls stolen. They suspected slavers but as the trail always led to the land around Loidis they now believe it to be the Skull Takers. They were going to send word to Athelstan.”
“Should we not scout out their stronghold?”
I shook my head, “No, Rollo. I have no intention of attacking them.”
“You fear them, jarl?”
I flashed him an angry look and then shook my head. He was young and he did not lead our clan, “No my young headstrong warrior. What would we gain? We would lose warriors attacking their walls and we would not have the power to fight their magic. If they do wish us harm, then they will come to us. We are safe so long as the ground is as it is but once the green leaves emerge then there will be the need for us to be vigilant.”
“You will let them come to us?”
“I will, Rolf. We have time to make our walls stronger and prepare our defences. Aiden has told us that Ylva is gaining in power. A delay helps us.”
We told Agnete that we would be leaving the next morning. “The weather is not good, Jarl Dragonheart.”
“We are hardy men and our horses are well rested. It will be good.”
“And we will gather information. When Carr and Ase next visit we will tell them what we have learned. They come at the time of the feast of Eostre.” She smiled. “We close the inn for three days and are a family once more. If you send to Carr after Eostre he can tell you all that we have learned.”
I pressed a gold coin into her hand. She tried to refuse saying it was too much. “No, for you have given us something money cannot buy, friendship. Besides this is money we took from a greedy Frank who hoarded his treasure. Each time I spend a coin I feel better inside.”
Just before we left, as dawn was beginning to break, Aksel said, “Jarl beware on the road. Our slave heard some Danes outside. They spied your horses in the stable. I fear they mean you harm.”
Haaken said, “Good for my sword arm thinks I have forgotten how to use it. We will be ready for them.”
As we entered the stable I heeded Aksel’s warning. “Don your mail beneath our cloaks. Better to be ready to fight. Hang your shields from your backs. If danger comes then we fight.” Once ready for a dangerous journey, we left.
The dank, damp weather of the previous day remained and hung in the air making visibility poor. We left by the north gate and headed north west towards the Dunum. I knew this road well. We would travel north on the Roman Road and cross the Dunum by the abandoned Roman fort. Then we would follow the Dunum’s north bank until we came to the Force which rushed the river down from the high ground. We could cross there and be at Ketil’s stad in two days.
There were many houses lining the road as we headed north, but eventually they gave way to scrubby bushes and straggly trees which had encroached since the time of the Romans. No one maintained them and soon, unless they were repaired, they would become a greenway. The dank air masked sounds but Beorn the Scout had sharp ears. He was aided by his horse which flicked its ears up. He turned and held up his hand in the signal for danger. I moved my cloak so that I could reach my sword and then donned my helmet. The others did the same, silently, and we kept moving up the road.
I nudged my horse so that I was close by Beorn’s mount’s hindquarters. I still held the halter for my spare horse in my left hand but I was prepared to let it drop the instant we found trouble. I heard Beorn’s sword as he slid it from his scabbard and I released my horse and then drew my own sword. The Danes came at us from both sides. I whipped my horse’s head to the left for Beorn could deal with the ones from his right. I brought my sword over in an arc as the Danish spear rammed at my side. My movement had made him miss. The spear head caught on my mail and then struck the rim of my shield. My sword struck him on the helmet. It was a powerful blow and the Dane crumpled, the life leaving his eyes.
In those days, we did not use the stiraps much and I slid my leg over my saddle. I would fight on foot. I drew my seax as I did so. There were four Danes facing me. Haaken appeared at my side. I did not worry about the others. They were Ulfheonar. They could handle the other Danes.
The four were armed with axes and spears. The worst thing we could have done was to wait for them to attack and I leapt forward deflecting the waiting spear with my sword. The Dane was taken by surprise. He wore no mail. Perhaps he hoped to take mine. As Ragnar’s Spirit ripped into his middle he discovered that would not happen. One of the Danes who had an axe had stepped around my sword side and I felt a crack as he swung it at my back. My shield was still slung there beneath my cloak. I saw the look of surprise from behind his helmet as I turned to face him.
“You do not catch an Ulfheonar like that, Dane!” I swung my blade at head height and it bit deep into his neck. The blood spattered the spearman behind him. Even as he prepared to stab at me Rolf Horse Killer swung his own axe and hacked through to the Dane’s spine. I turned and looked. Our horses had wandered a little way off but eleven Danes lay dead. They had thought that odds of more than two to one favoured them. They were wrong.
We searched them and took what little treasure they had. We searched for clan markings. They were not the Skull Takers. The paucity of their weapons had told us that. Their tokens told us they were the clan of the otter. We took the best of them and left their bodies for the carrion. In winter this would be a feast. Rollo Thin Skin had a cut cheek but that was our only wound.
As we headed north again Haaken One Eye said, “There are more armed Danes in this land than Athelstan thinks.”
I nodded, “At the moment they appear to be isolated bands but it would not take much for a leader to unite them.”
“You think this Baggi Skull Splitter is such a leader?”
“If they have made a stronghold in Elmet then perhaps he is. The ones we slew were looking for horses and mail. If the Skull Taker clan could offer them weapons, mail and horses then who knows. The sooner we are home and can speak with Aiden the better. He may know our news but something tells me he does not.”
Rollo asked, “Why?”
I pointed at the moist and misty air around us, “If they have four witches they can hide their thoughts and actions. Aiden and Kara protect our people in the same way.”
Beorn chuckled, “Sometimes, Rollo, a pair of eyes is as valuable as a galdramenn or a volva.”
“Just do not say that in Kara’s hearing. She would not like it.” Haaken had known Kara since she had been born on Man.
Our journey to Ketil’s stad was uneventful. We took shelter in the deserted Roman fort by the Dunum. It was half way to our land and we were safe there. We made a sacrifice at the shrine on the island in the river and the ancient walls protected us from the worst of the weather. Ketil had men riding the fells and they spied us as we approached.
After a night in the open the hall of Ketil was a welcome relief. We told him our news and of Carr. “He is a good man. Visit with him Ketil. He is a Dane but his heart is true. They are hardy but lonely.”
“I will, jarl.”
“And when the weather improves visit with Athelstan. I have no doubt that Asser and Alfred will send him news but we owe it to our ally to keep him informed. War is coming, Ketil and we must be ready!”
Chapter 4
As we were heading back to my home we met Wighlek and Vibeke. “Jarl Dragonheart, we missed you when we visited your home. We have had a good trade. We go now to see Asbjorn the Strong but we can return if you wish to trade with us.”
I smiled, “Thank you Vibeke but I have no need to trade. Did my wife trade?”
The grey-haired woman laughed, “She always buys!”
“I will see you when next you visit. May the Allfather be with you.” I knew that my wife would be pleased with the news of the outside world that they brought.
Everyone was relieved to see us return. We had not been away for long but, with Þorri upon us, we were in the depths of winter. We gathered in my hall. Olaf Leather Neck and Snorri joined my family to hear our news.
I saw fear on Brigid’s face when I told them what we had learned but my warriors nodded. Olaf said, “You are right, Jarl Dragonheart. It would be foolish and wasteful to attack their home. Better we wait here. We can slaughter more of them.”
