by Griff Hosker
Haaken smiled, “So you would replace your father already eh?” He waggled a finger at me, “I told you, Jarl, that those grey hairs would make these youngsters think you are past it!”
“I did not say that Haaken One Eye!” Poor Gruffyd was appalled at Haaken’s words.
“He is teasing, cousin. Do not listen to him.”
Haaken ruffled Gruffyd’s hair, “It is what warriors do, Gruffyd, they banter.”
Gruffyd nodded and then said, “I would have a name like yours Haaken One Eye if I am to be a warrior.”
“You do not just choose a name. It must choose you. Mine was obvious and your father’s because he had the heart of a dragon. Ragnar’s father slew a wolf. We know not yet what you will do. Perhaps Gruffyd the Cub until then, eh?”
“I am more than a cub!”
Haaken shrugged as he lay down, “Then we will have to wait until the Norns have spun and they have shown us what you will become.”
As we rode down to the Water, the next day, I examined the land. If things went wrong, then the Danes would ascend the path. It was steep and it twisted. A shield wall could not advance quickly. “We need to make our own avalanche, Haaken. If we piled stones behind a wooden wall, we could release them. They would sweep away any who climbed.”
Haaken pointed to the bottom of the slope and the ruined building which were the only remains of Ulla’s Stad. “If your plan succeeds then the Danes will all die there.”
“The Norns play games with us. Let us plan for every eventuality. I will have Gruffyd, Ragnar, and his warriors behind the walls along with Snorri and his scouts.”
“You put all of your family in one nest.”
“It is the Eagle’s Nest and it is on Úlfarrberg. I pray the land and the Allfather will aid me against this clan of witches.”
I sent Snorri and his scouts east when I returned. I had had no news from Dyflin but I believed that the Danes were still in the east. I would only see my scouts when the arrival of the Danes was imminent. By then I needed all of my plans to be ready.
Chapter 16
Raibeart himself brought the news from Úlfarrston, “We have had a messaged from Dyflin, Jarl. Danes are flocking to join the Skull Takers. The power of the witches is what is attracting them. Many have tried to defeat you before, Jarl but Jarl Gunnstein said that the witches have promised that they can defeat you and your sword and the Land of the Wolf will be theirs.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Raibeart. Was there any other news?”
“I am afraid, Jarl, that the fact that your Ulfheonar wear golden wolves and the lands seems so rich means that many believe that the land of wolf has a hidden gold mine. The stories of you being buried beneath a mountain and emerging alive have been take to suggest that the cave is the secret lair of a dragon and you are harvesting the gold.”
I shook my head, “That is not true!”
“We know that for we know you trade to get gold but it is what people believe. The rumour has been spread beyond your borders. It draws Danes like moths to a flame. They are not farmers nor are they true warriors. They are treasure hunters. Those who live along the Sabrina and in Orkneyjar confirm this.”
“Did your captains know when they might be coming?”
He shook his head, “Our ships just visit the western coasts. You need someone who travels east for better news. What of Wighlek and his wife? They must visit Eoforwic and the land of the Danes.”
“Why do you say that?”
“They trade jet and that comes from Hwitebi. It is worked only in Eoforwic. It takes great skill.”
“Thank you Raibeart.”
I berated myself for not thinking of our traders myself. I would interrogate them when next they visited. They would have heard of a gathering of Danish warriors. I found my eye drawn to the jet necklace my wife wore. I asked, “May I see the necklace, my love?”
“Of course, but why?”
“I did not know how intricate the work was. Raibeart mentioned it. I would see it close up.” She untied it and gave it to me. I saw that the necklace was a dragon and was a bone stained dark red; it was probably cochineal. The scales were made up mainly of jet but the eyes were amber. It was beautiful work and the skill to make it was impressive.
“This must have cost a great deal to buy.” I handed it back to her.
She shook her head as she tied it, “Not particularly.” She smiled, “I pay less than most for I am the wife of the jarl. Wighlek and his wife like the patronage and when the other women in the stad saw me wearing it they asked for similar ones. It is why they return here so often. They make profits.”
I confess I did not know how many times they had come but it made sense. I was hopeful now that they would return again soon and I would be able to gather more information.
They had not returned seven days later nor had my scouts returned but Ragnar, Gruffyd and their men did. They looked happy and entered the stad with a swagger I had not noticed before. They did as I had asked and refused to answer questions about what they had been doing. Olaf Leather Neck and the Ulfheonar were there to greet them and make sure that no news slipped out. They took Einar and the hearth-weru to the warrior hall to celebrate the successful completion of their task and I led my son and grandson into the hall.
Brigid wrinkled her nose, “You two! Get to the Water and bathe! The smell offends me!”
I laughed, “Come, I will join you and you can tell me all.”
Once we entered the icily cold Water I found my thoughts clarified. As they used the soap Brigid had thrust into their hands I asked my questions. “I take it that it is finished?”
“It is. The hall is simply made. We have a ladder next to the door and the gate bridge works. If you wanted it more secure then you would have to ask Bagsecg to make a pair of chains.”
“But we did not think it necessary.” Gruffyd grinned, “I know why you have built this hall! It is there to protect Ylva and her family. It is their last refuge.”
My eyes flickered to Ragnar, “I said nothing, grandfather. He worked it out.”
“I can remain silent!”
“Good. For the lives of our family depend upon your silence. But you have not finished. In two days’ time, we will return with the Ulfheonar. I have thought of another device which might help.” I explained what I needed.
“Who will defend it grandfather?”
“You will be there with your men.”
Gruffyd looked disappointed, “But I thought we would be fighting Danes!”
“You might be but is not protecting your family more important? Ragnar’s mother will be there too. Would you leave her unprotected?”
He looked deflated, “Of course not but…”
“None of us know what the Weird Sisters have planned. I can plan and I can plot but I do not know the outcome. I want my family protected by the best.”
“Then you use the Ulfheonar.”
“Ragnar, the Ulfheonar are good but they are like the wolves we slew to wear the skin. We do not fight well behind walls. We are better in the open and when we are attacking. You two have grown much but I would not have you face a Skull Taker yet. Your Eagle’s Nest is both well named and well made. An enemy will be tired when he reaches the top. Archers can find gaps when warriors are tired. You could well face Danes but you would have your own walls for protection.”
Ragnar nodded, “There is no dishonour in this, Gruffyd.”
Brigid questioned the two of them throughout our meal. Elfrida did not but she kept watching me. Elfrida could read men’s thoughts. I did not think she divined mine but she was suspicious. Eventually Brigid shook her head and snapped, “I asked a simple question! My son has been missing for almost a month! Why the secrecy?”
I smiled enigmatically, “It would spoil the surprise.” I left it at that knowing that she would take it to mean a Yule present.
When Snorri did not return, I took the Ulfheonar to Eagle’s Nest. They were impressed with the work of Ragnar a
nd Gruffyd. Olaf Leather Neck tapped the stones around the base of the wooden palisade. “A clever idea! Well done!”
We then stripped to the waist and toiled to make two cradles to hold stones. We took some old ship’s rope to make a net and then filled the cradle with stones. They were not put in haphazardly. I wanted the stones to create an avalanche. We needed two such devices. The Danes could try to divide the arrows of the defenders. The stones would be released when the ropes which tethered them was cut by an axe. It was dark when we finished and we stayed the night in the new hall. It was cosy although we were a little cramped. When we left, the next day, we were filled with optimism. My plans were coming to fruition.
The day of training was a cold, sharp one. The air was dry but the ground was hard. There had been a frost. When we trained our bondi I allowed Ragnar and Gruffyd to work with the second shield wall. I did it for a number of reasons: firstly, it allowed my son and grandson to give them their newly refurbished helmets with the symbol of the wolf but, more importantly, it gave the two of them a connection to the warriors they might be leading. The second shield wall had many young warriors. If they survived this battle, then they might become the warriors who followed Ragnar and Gruffyd as my men had.
One warrior was late. If was Erik Finnison. We watched him as he rowed across the Water. Olaf Leather Neck strode up to him and stood, his hand resting on his axe, towering over the young warrior who lived on the eastern shore of the Water.
“You have kept your shield brothers waiting! I hope you have a good excuse!”
“I am sorry, I found tracks. There are Danes in the forest below the How.”
Olaf Leather Neck turned to look at me and the Ulfheonar, close enough to hear, all stopped too. Snorri and his scouts had not sent word back and so I did not think this was the Danish army. It would be scouts and they had got close. “Ulfheonar to horse.” I turned to Karl One Leg. “You keep training the men. Ragnar and Gruffyd you and Einar take charge of the second shield wall. Train them well for I feel the day is coming when we will need them.”
The days when Gruffyd would have argued were gone and they nodded. Rolf Horse Killer had my horse ready for me by the time I reached the gates. I said to him, as I mounted, “Where does Erik Finnison live exactly?”
“Just south of Fir Island. His house nestles beneath Crow Brow. He is a hunter.”
“Then he knows how to track?” I waved my men north around the Water.
“If he said they are Danes then they are. There are few people there now. Erik’s family were slain at the same time as Wolf Killer. He stayed there. He is like Aðils Shape Shifter. He is solitary but he likes his life. Snorri has hopes for him as an archer.”
“Then when we return I will give him my Saami bow. He has done us great service already.”
The ride up the hill on the far side of the Water was taxing. The journey across the Water was shorter but we would not have been able to transport our horses. As soon as we crested the hill which lay above the ruins of my former home we halted. “Cnut Cnutson, take Rolf and Rollo. Cover our left side.”
My three riders would keep a thousand paces to the east of us. If these Danish scouts were any good they would use the shelter to the forests rather than the greenway we used. My three riders would see them if they hurried away from us. We rode slowly now. If Erik had seen them and they were heading north, then they could be within sight soon. On the other hand, if they had been moving south there was less urgency. I missed Aðils’ nose. I was forced to use my own. I sniffed the air. There were few smells. It was winter and it was cold. The little wind there was blew in my face. I was seeking the smell of men. There was nothing; not even the smell of fox piss. I waved my men left and right and we moved south.
We had dropped to the clearing made by charcoal burners many years earlier when my nose caught the faint aroma of unwashed bodies. It was not our smell. I looked to my left and saw Leif the Banner nod. He had smelled it too. I drew my sword, silently. Others did the same. We kept the same pace but I peered into the trees. These were pine trees and did not shed their leaves but they were so close together that there were few branches lower down. It also meant that a warrior could not climb them to hide. I moved my head slowly watching for something which was not natural.
To my left, forty paces from me a conifer branch moved and I saw something which was not the white of frost but was lighter than the tree behind which it sheltered. It was a hand. Once I recognised the hand then I saw the sword which rested on the ground. There was a Dane and he was lying behind a tree. I halted. Was he the lead scout or had we walked into a trap? The Ulfheonar stopped too. They were all doing as I did. Having found one the second was slightly easier to spot. He lay on the ground with his cloak over him. I might have taken it for a shadow save that it was too even for ground which was littered with pine cones and branches dropped there in the last storm. I kicked my heels into the flanks of my horse and started him forward.
When a deer is hunted, it moves as soon as it senses a hunter. With a man, he waits until he thinks he is discovered. My movement towards the two Danes I had seen was enough to make them, and the other five scouts, move. The two I had seen were the ones at the front. As they rose and ran south and east their five fellows jumped up and joined them. I was already moving and I kicked harder. My horse leapt forward. I leaned slightly forward for using a weapon from the back of a horse was hazardous. The only one I had seen do so easily was Hrolf the Horseman. I did not have his skill.
Using my hands and knees I guided my horse after the first Dane I had seen. He had a cloak on his back made from the skin of a wild boar. I saw no shield and I guessed that would be under his cloak. The sword I had seen was in his right hand. He twisted and turned as he sought to evade me. My horse was nimble footed. He avoided the tree roots and stones which could have sent us both skittering to the floor. The Dane’s helmet, while it gave him protection also impaired his hearing. He could feel the hooves of my thundering horse but he could not know where I was. He was an experienced scout. He did not turn his head. Such a move invited disaster. Instead he ran an erratic course. He did not always turn the same way. I would be patient.
The ground was falling away and that caused his downfall; quite literally. He ran down a slight slope which still had thick frost upon it. Running on packed frost had left a slippery sole to his boot. When he struck the fresh, hard frost he lost his footing. He was on his feet in an instant and turned but I was ready. I brought my sword in an arc to hack through his arm close to his shoulder. The movement meant I was not knocked form my horse. Even as I reined in I saw the other six turn east to run through the forest away from us. I saw, coming through the forest, Cnut and my other two Ulfheonar. Their appearance was enough to cause the Danes to hesitate. It was enough. Olaf, Haaken and the rest galloped towards them. The six stood, like brothers in arms in a circle but they were slain. They had no mail and they had spent nights out in the open. One lasted long enough for Olaf to question him before he sent him to the Otherworld.
We took their bodies back to Cyninges-tūn. I wished to examine them. Were these the Skull Takers? Haaken rode next to me, “We were lucky that Erik has such sharp eyes, jarl.”
“We are indeed. I cannot see how we can guard our land against such intrusions.”
“If they need to scout does that not mean they do not have spies in our land?”
I shook my head, “I am more convinced than ever that there are spies in our land. It was not just that Sigtrygg said they knew his passwords it was the familiarity with our stad. They chose to attack from the side which afforded the greatest chance of success. No, Haaken, we have spies. I have my own thoughts on that but it does not change our plans. We have to wait now until Snorri tells us that the Danish worm is slithering towards us and then we can put my plans into place.”
The bondi all stood as we rode into the training ground and deposited the bodies on the earth. Ragnar asked, “Is this all of them grandfather?”<
br />
“I know not. Take your hearth-weru and ride to Asbjorn. Warn him that there may be scouts about.”
Olaf dismounted and said, “Tell him they are of the clan of the snake and that their jarl is Ragnar Halfdansson.” I looked at Olaf. “The one who was wounded asked to be sent to Valhalla. This was the price.”
Ragnar nodded and led his men towards the stables. I pointed to the bodies and said, “Second shield wall take what you wish from their bodies and then burn them.”
Gruffyd wandered over, “Does this mean they are coming?”
Haaken and Olaf were by my side and I saw them listening for my comments. “I think this is like the attack on Sigtrygg. They send small bands in before the main attack. They strike where we do not expect it. Remember the band we found?” They nodded. “I would have the Ulfheonar ride the Grize Dale and over the Hawk’s Head each day looking for sign.”
“The ground is frozen.”
“We can still see signs.”
“Aye jarl.”
“And Gruffyd, fetch my Saami bow.”
He did not question me but went. Karl One Leg joined me. “They will be ready Jarl. When Erik brought the news, it made them realise that this practice has a purpose.” He pointed to the corpses being piled on to a pyre of kindling and driftwood. “They have seen their enemy.”
I nodded. The Danes were obviously experienced warriors. They all wore warrior bands on their arms. Their weapons were those of men who valued arms. These were the men they would be facing across a shield wall.
Karl turned to them. “You have your weapons! Back to training!”
I wandered over to the archers. I waved Erik Finnison over. “That was a timely warning. We are in your debt.”
