Viking Witch (Dragonheart Book 15)

by Griff Hosker

  Snorri and his men arrived late at night. They were tired. “We scoured the lands to the east of Ketil and there were neither Danes nor Saxons. We discovered that the Saxons had headed south with an army. It made our task easier. We headed south and crossed the Dunum. There were Danes there but they were farmers and fishermen. As we had made good time we went to Stanwyck. Using that as a base we searched as far south as Eoforwic. I spoke with Agnete. She told us that the prince had taken most of the fyrd and thegns south to punish the Danes.”

  This was getting worse. “Did you see any sign of the Skull takers?”

  “No. We returned here. When we head south next I will take us to Loidis. Perhaps the prince might win.”

  “When you spoke with Agnete did she talk of Saxon archers and many mailed men?”

  “No Jarl. She spoke of Housecarls who were with the prince but the majority were the fyrd. A bow was a good weapon, she said and she wondered why the Saxons had so few.”

  “Then you have answered yourself. He will lose. I hope he shows wisdom and lessens his losses by fleeing when things go awry.”

  Snorri shook his head, “He has seen you fight, Jarl Dragonheart. He has seen the odds against you and yet you have prevailed.”

  “Perhaps you are right. I should have spent time telling him how we won.” I nodded, “You have done well, Snorri. You have scouted more land than I thought possible.”

  “We now have a greater incentive to make sure we have many archers.”

  My scouts told the Ulfheonar of their discovery and the men were worked even harder than they had been the first week. At the end of the day I saw sweating exhausted men and I gathered them around me, “I know that you are tired. Your shoulders ache and your fingers bleed. You wonder at the madness of your jarl.” I saw men shaking their heads. “We need to be ready for our enemies. We have lost Elfridaby and Ulla’s Water. I would not add Cyninges-tūn to that list. What we do today and each of these war days makes us stronger.”

  As they wandered wearily back to their homes Bagsecg joined me. “I have ten swords ready. They are good swords. The iron had few impurities and the charcoal was the best that Ragi has ever produced.”

  “Good,” turning to Cnut Cnutson I said, “we will award them to the best ten warriors the next time we practice. It will give them an incentive.”

  I spent the next six days in my stad. I spent many hours each day visiting my men as they worked and talking to them of their training. I needed to know them better. Everybody asked me the same thing; they all wanted to touch the sword, Ragnar’s Spirit. There was a time I would have been reluctant to do so for I had feared it would lose its power. The cave had shown me that it was more powerful than ever. The blood of those it had slain and the spirits of the dead were now bonded into the blade. When I left the men, I saw fire in their eyes. The sword had that effect.

  I was heading back through the gate when a voice called me. “Jarl!”

  It was Siggi Olegson. He had been the brother of one of my Ulfheonar. Siggi had been wounded in a battle against the men of Strathclyde. He was lame and could not stand in a shield wall. He was still a powerful warrior. He was a bowman. He was also a tanner. He took the hides from the cattle we slaughtered and produced leather. It was an unpleasant job for the smell was pungent. For that reason, his workshop was outside the walls so that the smell was swept away from the houses by the prevailing winds.

  “What is it Siggi?”

  He lifted a hessian cloth. “I have been making armour for myself. I will not stand in a shield wall and I do not need mail. Nor do I need armour which stops my arms. This is a compromise and it works.”

  He handed me the leather tunic he had made. I saw that it did not cover the arms but the body would be protected. It would cover the waist up. The leather was supple but thick. The man had skill. However, what made it more impressive were the thin metal plates he has sewn over it. They did not completely cover it; that would have made it too heavy. It did, however, cover vital areas like the heart and the shoulders.

  “This is fine armour.”

  “I could make it for some of the other archers.”

  “This is your livelihood. You trade the hides for that which you need.”

  “The clan needs it. I will survive.”

  “You have a wife and sons. I will buy them. I will see Scanlan and he will give you coins for them.”

  “Thank you, Jarl, but you have no need.”

  “You lost your brother and you were wounded fighting for the clan. This is the least we can do. I have spoken. You will be paid for the archer armour.”

  I felt better as I went in. My people were becoming stronger through adversity. I wondered if we had a chance to defeat the Danes.

  When Snorri next returned, it was with dire news. He had seen the Saxon army and it was south of Eoforwic and moving towards Loidis. “It moves so slowly, Jarl Dragonheart, that the Danes will know exactly where they are.”

  “But they have not come to battle yet?”

  “Not yet but I fear that if we go again then it will be over.”

  “You will need to. We need to know the outcome for good or ill.”

  We were helpless in our Land of the Wolf. We had not the men to go to Athelstan’s aid. It was now out of our hands. What would be would be. After Snorri had left I was summoned to Ylva’s bedside. Kara was weeping and I thought it meant bad news. “Has she worsened?”

  She shook her head unable to speak and Aiden said, “She opened her eyes and looked at us. She did not speak but her mouth opened. Then her eyes closed again but it is a sign that she is fighting hard. Tonight, we dream again.”

  I could not keep the emotion from my voice as I said, “That is good. It has been a long journey but perhaps the end is in sight.”

  “I am sorry we have not been of any help with the Danes.”

  “If they bring the witches then we may need your help but, for the present, Athelstan is occupying them. I do not think it bodes well for him but we, at least, have a respite.”

  Snorri and his scouts had not returned when we held our next practice. I was concerned but not worried. I decided to hold a mock battle. We would not use slingers and archers. I wanted our two shield walls to go against each other. It was one thing to march up and down raising and lowering shields but it was another to charge at an enemy who was armed in the same way. We used ash staves with neither metal nor point. They would not need their swords.

  The two bands were of a similar number. There were fifty in each one. My Ulfheonar stood with me to assess the strengths and weaknesses. We had appointed one warrior in each warband to shout out the commands and to keep the pace. Sven Bjornsson led one and Leif of the Woods led the other. I was impressed with their movements. They did not move as smoothly as the Ulfheonar but they were in step. Both bands used the same chant. It sounded strange. The problem came when they charged. They both moved too quickly and their formation faltered. They came together piecemeal and Leif’s band managed to break into the centre of Sven’s. Had they been fighting Danes it would have been a disaster.

  We allowed them to spar with their spears for a while and then I nodded to Olaf Leather Neck.

  “Hold!”

  Olaf could not keep the look of disappointment from his face but I was less unhappy. “You have all come a long way. That was far from perfect but that is my fault. I did not tell my men to show you how to charge. Remember this, it is better to approach slowly and keep your formation than run and lose it. Form your shield walls again!”

  “You heard the jarl! Move!”

  I waved Olaf to my side. “Olaf, they are trying.”

  “And I do not want them to die in their first battle.”

  I shouted, “Hold firm. The Ulfheonar will attack you!” I gestured for my men to come towards me. “Let us try to jump on to the shield wall. It will show them what may happen on the field of battle.”

  They all grinned. This would be a game. Haaken and I stood to the s
ide as my warriors leapt into the air and landed on the shields. They used the flat of their swords to bang on the shield wall. It took a few blows but, eventually both were broken.

  “Good. You held for longer than I thought. If an enemy does that then you need to use your swords. A battle between shield walls is even. You push together and move the enemy gradually. A clever enemy will have men try to climb on top of the shields.” I pointed to the archers. “They are our secret weapon. When the enemy attempt that then the archers and slingers can slay them. Now go back to your practice.”

  With Snorri, Aðils Shape Shifter and Beorn scouting I took the archers to train with them. Siggi had made four new suits of leather armour and I allowed him to choose the men who would wear them. “With this armour you can fight with a bow and, if needs be, with a sword. Our enemies will receive a shock. When you fight, you will be standing behind the rear rank of the shield wall. Each of you will have a small shield around your back. If you are threatened, then you can join the rear of the shield wall. You slingers, you will climb under the shields. You protect the shield wall and it will protect you!”

  Snorri arrived late the next day. Their horses were lathered and his face told me the worst. “Jarl the Saxons had been routed. They fought south of Eoforwic. They were drawn into an attack on a small warband of Skull Takers. Then Baggi Skull Splitter launched an attack on their flanks with two huge warbands. The fyrd broke and Prince Athelstan and his housecarls were slaughtered.” He shook his head, “They died well and took many Danes with them but they died and Baggi now wears the prince’s skull.”

  “What happened to the fyrd?”

  “Some escaped. Those that reached the Dunum swam and reached the village of Stocc. Others were caught and butchered. Eoforwic holds out still. The Danes have made no attempt to attack it. They are too busy pillaging and plundering.”

  “Then they will come.”

  “They will.”

  “Tomorrow send Aðils to Ketil and let him know the extent of the disaster. I am guessing he will know that the prince has lost if not the extent of the disaster. I will go to Asbjorn. He may be in as much danger as we are.”

  I held a council of war with Aiden, Haaken and Olaf Leather Neck. “They will come soon. I believe we have a month at the most. The men we have trained are better now than they were but I do not believe that they can face a Danish army in the field. We will have to weaken it.”

  “We?”

  “The Ulfheonar. We leave in four days. We will terrorise them in their own land. While we are gone Finni can continue to train the men. I know that the farmers will be gathering in their crops and that must continue. I would not starve in the winter but we needed the women and the girls to do more. Aiden, I want more animal pens built to the west of the stad. I want every animal taken there when we get word of the Danes.”

  “Ylva…”

  “You said she is getting better. Divide your time between her and the work on the defences. If the stad falls then she dies along with the rest of us.” It was a stark comment but this was no time to mince words.

  I saw Brigid and Elfrida and told them what I had said to Aiden. “I need you two to organize the women. I know that Kara would normally do that but…”

  “But she has her daughter to care for.” Elfrida nodded. “We will carry the burden, Jarl. This is our time.”

  As I went to organize what I would need I saw Ragnar and Gruffyd approach. They had a purposeful walk and I knew why they came. “Before you speak know that you cannot come with me. This is work for Ulfheonar. This is knife work in black of night. You have to stay here.”

  Gruffyd looked disappointed but Ragnar nodded, “I know but we would be of more help than waiting here behind the wooden walls. I know that we have no skills for what you do but we have eyes and we can ride. We would ride the borderlands. We would hunt their scouts.”

  I looked at Ragnar anew. He had changed. It was not only the burgeoning beard nor was it his broadening shoulders it was something else. His eyes showed a steely detonation which was echoed by the confidence of his words. I remembered young Hrolf who had gone off to become a horseman in Frankia. He had been younger than Ragnar when he had led men. I too had been younger when I had taken responsibility. It was his time.

  “Aye, it is a good idea. Scouts may slip by us. There will be only seven of you.”

  Ragnar shook his head. “No, grandfather. There are four of the young warriors in the stad who wish to follow my banner.”

  “Are they oathsworn yet?”

  He hesitated, “I was waiting to ask your permission. You may want them to swear an oath to you.”

  “That shows you are growing, Ragnar. Take their oath. But you must keep both Asbjorn and Finni informed. Do not let them worry about you. If you scout, then it is not for glory it is to keep the land safe.”

  “Aye, we will.”

  I rode with Haaken to visit Asbjorn. As I did I thought about my son and grandson. Ragnar now looked like his father. I hoped I had made the right decision. Arturus had begun to grow distant from me. I now believed that had been my fault. I would not make the same mistake.

  Part Three

  The Viking Witch

  Chapter 12

  We took four horses with us to carry our mail and our meagre supplies. I had told Finni that we would be away for a month at the most but that we would, in all likelihood, return in half a month. We headed south, towards the land which had been ruled by Sigtrygg. It mirrored the route the Danes had taken to reach us. I calculated that their eye would be fixed north and the Saxons. I hoped that an approach from the south and west might prove to be more secret. The first day took us to the high divide. Here the moors and fells were less exposed than those closer to home and we found a sheltered dell in which to camp. It was high summer and the nights were short. We kept a watch all night. The second day we meandered south and east. Snorri was leading us to where the battle had taken place. When we saw the fires of farms we deviated from our course. Aðils Shape Shifter rode at the head of our column. Even Snorri and Beorn now deferred to his unbelievable skills.

  Snorri rode next to Haaken and me, “He is as I was when I was young.” He stroked his grey flecked beard. “I thought age just brought white hairs. I did not expect to lose some of my skills.”

  “You are still more skilful than any other warrior I know, save Aðils.”

  “I know and it was wyrd that he chose to come down the mountain and seek to be Ulfheonar.” He turned and gave me a wry smile. “Has it escaped your attention Jarl Dragonheart, that he came to us after I had returned from the cave and after I had slain the witch? The Allfather sent him. I fear my time is almost done. But at least I now have a son.”

  “I am pleased for you. What have you named him?”

  “Bjorn, after my oldest friend. I hope that he will be as good a warrior as his namesake.”

  “His father is one of the finest I have ever fought alongside and that is a good name: Bjorn Snorrison.”

  “It is what we all hope.” He nodded to my son and grandson. “Gruffyd is growing, jarl.”

  I nodded. The thought had crossed my mind. “And I have noticed a change in Ragnar too. Perhaps the Allfather has decided that we have led the clan for long enough.”

  “When Prince Butar died we were already warriors with reputations, Jarl. I do not think our time is yet.”

  “No Haaken One Eye, but that day is coming.”

  We had left before dawn. I was still acutely aware that there were spies in my land. I did not want to let them know my whereabouts. My three scouts left us after we passed the ruins of Elfridaby. They were seeking the Danish army. The Danes had destroyed the Saxons and would have pursued them. I guessed they would stop at the Dunum. With Eoforwic under siege they could afford to pillage the land. We were seeking the bands which would be enjoying the fruits of victory. We could, hopefully, pick off the smaller bands. It would weaken our foes and make them look over their shoulders for the wolv
es who hunted them.

  The land through which we travelled was wild. There were sudden steep sided valleys and some precipitous drops. Within a few thousand paces the land could change to high pasture and forest. We went carefully. We found a well-worn path which headed towards Eoforwic. We joined it and the going became easier. Beorn rode back not long before noon. We had just watered the horses at a stream which cascaded through the trees. We were safe from observation although the greenway ran through the small wood. I guessed that we were, perhaps, twenty or thirty miles from Eoforwic. Certainly, I knew that the wide vale would begin soon.

  “Jarl, there is a band of Danes ahead.”

  “How many?”

  “Thirty, perhaps, forty. They have six captives with them. They look like Northumbrians.”

  “Warriors?”

  “Aye they have their hands bound. They are heading in this direction.”

  “Are they Skull Takers?”

  “No Jarl. They have different clan markings. Snorri and Aðils are shadowing them. They are travelling slowly.” He looked up at the sun and pointed to the right of it. “We have until the sun reaches there.”

  I looked around. We were on a well-used greenway. They would be coming this way. “We will ambush them here. They must be on their way home. Take the horses into the woods and hobble them. Bring bows.”

  While my men did as I had commanded I walked down the path. I wanted to see the trap I was planning from the point of view of the Danes. Their better warriors would be at the front and the prisoners would be at the rear. If we could I would save the Saxons but we needed surprise if we were to remain a secret. I found the edge of the wood and I peered down the valley. I could not see them. That meant we had time. Snorri and Aðils would be behind the Danes. They could slam the door shut when I sprung my trap. I wanted none of the Danes to escape. I headed up the trail. It turned sharply after it entered the wood. There was a huge ancient oak. I guessed that when the tree had been young then the path had been straighter but the branches had spread and small saplings sprouted around its base. It had made men make a turn in the path over the years. The tree was mighty and I saw that the branches would support warriors. I wondered if the ancient people had ambushed Romans here.