Viking Sword (3 page)

The inactivity of winter was replaced by the hectic preparations for a raid. I sent Arturus and Aiden to ask Thorkell the Tall to watch my land.  I had Bjorn working from dawn until dusk producing the weapons and armour we would need for the voyage and for those who would protect our lands. Siggi and Trygg, our knarr captains, were sent to trade with our friends in Cymru and along the Sabrina.  I wanted any enemies to think that we were unprepared for war and having our trading ships travelling unaccompanied would do just that. Haaken and Cnut had their hands full with the warriors who wished to be Ulfheonar. Along with Bjorn the Scout, they were the ones who made the final decision. They would be replacing brave warriors who had fallen. I spent as much time as I could with Rolf.  One of my oathsworn, he had been badly wounded and could no longer move as well as he would like.  He was the perfect leader to leave in command of my home.

The last of my jarls whom I saw was Windar at Windar's Mere. He was a good leader but he was now so fat that his name had become known as Windar the Fat.  He did not need a waist to protect the land to the east and he was happy to do so.  He also provided me with half a crew for the Josephus.  When we sailed in eight day's time we would have a full crew for both drekar.

Arturus and Aiden were still in the north when the handful of miners we had sent to the new iron workings rode into the stad, their horses lathered and sweating. It was one of Bjorn's youngest sons, Karl, who stood before me. He was not yet fourteen summers and yet he was built like an ox. I had no idea how the pony had managed to carry him. "Jarl Dragon Heart.  We saw Vikings heading from the sea."

A chill came over me despite the warm afternoon. "Were they dressed for war?"

He looked confused, "They had their shields over their backs."

That could mean they came in peace but equally it could be just making life easier for themselves.  I would heed the words of the spirits. They came from the north and we would prepare to meet them in battle. If they came in peace then I would apologise.

"You have done well, Karl.  How many were there?"

He held his hands up five times. There were fifty and that was a large number. "Rolf. Send messengers to Windar and the outlying farms. Tell them there may be danger and to prepare."

He looked troubled, "What is it Jarl?"

I held up Ragnar's Spirit.  "I fear it may be this flame drawing them on.  But we will see."

The commotion had attracted some of my Ulfheonar. "Is there trouble, Jarl Dragon Heart?"

"I think so, Cnut.  Have the Ulfheonar prepare and we will meet this new threat."

"And the ones we have not yet decided upon?"

"Bring them with us.  This may be the opportunity to see how they perform. Have the men bring their bows."

As I dressed I knew that Arturus would be angry to be missing this.  With him gone and the new warriors we would have just thirty warriors to face what could be a large warband. It would have to be enough. Kara came with Rolf as we assembled. "This may be nothing but we had better be prepared, if they are coming from Lang's Dale then they will come by Skelwith. I will meet them at the beck. Watch my home, Rolf."

"With my life, Jarl."

Kara kissed me on the cheek.  "It is the threat from the north, father."

"I know."

We made good time to the beck. There were many places where it could be crossed but the old Roman Road from the coast came this way and I assumed that these warriors would choose the easiest route.

"Sigtrygg, take six warriors and wait on the other side of the beck in the trees." I pointed, "There to the east. Watch for my signal."

"Yes Jarl."

"Bjorn the Scout, take six warriors and do the same to the west."

After they had gone Cnut nodded with a smile upon his lips.  "When they come they will see but eighteen of us here and they will outnumber us by more than two to one."

"They will be overconfident and, if they come for war will try to attack us. Erik Dog Bite and Bjorn Carved Teeth take three men each and stay on this side of the beck.  You go east, Erik and you go west. Stay behind the bushes."

My warriors nodded and slipped away. Cnut said, "They will see them."

"Of course they will and they will think that is my trap and not know that twelve of my best warriors are behind them."

Haaken frowned.  "And you have the six new warriors here with us.  That means that half of the warriors who meet them will be without experience."

I smiled, "Surely that is a good test of their skill, Haaken.  Can you think of a better?"

I was not even certain if this band of warriors represented any danger.  If they were travelling down the road which the Romans had built then they were not hiding. The main reason I had brought armed men was because of the warning of the spirits. I strung my bow as we waited. I did not have hunting arrows I had arrows with a head like the ones on the boar spear.  If they had armour it would penetrate the links. Bjorn had discovered the method when one of the warriors had loosed an arrow without a metal tip.  It had managed to penetrate the links easier. Bjorn liked them as they were easier to make than barbed ones.

I heard the whistle of a blackbird from across the beck. It was a signal from my men. "They are coming, prepare."

I recognised the design on the shield and I relaxed a little.  It was Jarl Harald Blue Eye from Hrossy in Orkneyjar.  We had parted as friends when I had helped to rid him of some usurpers who fancied his land. However as they approached the bridge I noticed that, whether by accident or design, they were making a wedge formation. My hair prickled. 

"This may be a warband.  Watch for treachery and keep your bows to hand."

I heard Cnut growl, "You new warriors listen for commands and do as Haaken and I do!"

I saw, as they approached that the front ten each had a metal byrnie but the other forty appeared to have either leather armour or none at all.  Only half had a helmet. I was about to speak when the Jarl swung his shield around and shouted, "Have at them!" So much for the help I had done him. They were here to catch us unawares.

"Loose!" All eighteen of my men loosed their arrows.  The wedge formation meant that some of the arrows struck shields but at least three of the mailed warriors were felled and two of those behind.  We managed a second flight before we had to discard our bows and swing our shields around. The men of Jarl Harald Blue Eye had to descend into the water and then climb out.  While they had been in wedge formation it had helped to protect them from arrows.  The loss of the warriors and the descent into the beck meant that they no longer had a cohesive front.  They were easier to hit.

"To the bank." My new warriors had their spears with them as did many of my other warriors.  The warriors from Orkneyjar struggled to cross the water, still icy from snow melt in the hills. They were jabbed and struck with spears. I wanted them in the beck before I committed Sigtrygg and Bjorn the Scout to the attack. Bjorn Carved Teeth and Erik Dog Bite were still able to use their bows and the warriors towards the rear were being struck as they loosed arrow after arrow at men without armour.  It bunched them in the middle as they tried to avoid the missiles. It was futile; my men were too good and many warriors fell. I saw two of the band turn and prepare to run back up the road. That was time enough for my reserves.

"Sigtrygg, Bjorn! Now!" I waved my sword above my head as a signal.  Perhaps it was an accident but a sudden shaft of sunlight shone and lit the blade making it seem alive and afire. The first warrior who climbed the bank came directly for me. I swung Ragnar's Spirit diagonally across his neck.  He held up the shield to protect himself.  As he placed one foot on the bank I punched him with my shield and he fell backwards. He made a spectacular splash as he landed in the water, knocking over two other warriors too.  I saw that my men were now approaching.  I heard Jarl Harald Blue Eyes yell, "Back to the ship!" His trick had failed and he saw that he was surrounded.  He had always been too cautious as a jarl.  Sven Knife Tongue had nearly out manoeuvred him.

At least a handful of his warriors shook their heads and stood their ground.  They had lost barely ten warriors and they still outnumbered us. The rest formed on their jarl and made a wedge which was able to negotiate the other, lower bank. Sigtrygg and Bjorn the Scout ran at them and there was a mighty clash of metal on wood as they met. My men were outnumbered and the men from Orkneyjar had the incentive of the safety of their ship to motivate them. Sigtrygg and Bjorn the Scout could not contain them without help from the rest of us.

"After them!"

Three warriors stood in the middle of the beck.  Their jarl might have had no honour but these three would go to Valhalla when they had killed some of us. Three of my new warriors ran, bravely but recklessly at them. I jumped into the water to go to their aid.  The three they fought had the death wish upon them. They were not the opponent for a novice.  The first of the new warriors, Oleg, still held his spear.  He jabbed it at the middle warrior who imperiously swept the head aside and then brought his sword around backhand to slice deep into Oleg's neck.  The beck flowed red with his blood. I pushed through the icy water.  I wanted no more of my young men to die needlessly.  These three were going nowhere.  We could finish them with arrows if we had to. As the second, Sven the Wild, died, I swung Ragnar's Spirit over my head.  The warrior who had killed Oleg held his shield above his head.  My blade made it shiver and he had to step back.  I punched with my shield as he was off balance and he had to take another step west, towards the bank.   I used my sword backhand and, this time, when he brought his shield up it was not quite quick enough and the tip of my sword sliced through some of the mail links.  He was still going backwards and his blow with his sword was weak. I pushed it aside with my shield and, seeing a gap, plunged Ragnar's Spirit into the tear made in his byrnie. I twisted as I withdrew it.  He fell into the beck and my blade was covered in his entrails. I turned and saw that Haaken and Cnut had despatched the other two.

"Erik Dog Bite, take your men and pursue them." I looked and saw that Oleg and Sven the Wild had been joined in Valhalla by Harold Sigisson. Their deaths had been unnecessary and I felt Haaken's accusing eyes on my back. He had known they might die.  Had this been the fault of my arrogance? Did I think we would always win and always survive unscathed? Perhaps so.

On the other bank were two wounded warriors. I waded through the water to question them. I chose the one who was about to die anyway. "Why did Jarl Harald Blue Eye forget our friendship and come for war?"

The elder of the two, a warrior with white flecks in his beard gave a wry smile. He had a stomach wound and was not long for this world.  "He came not for war, Jarl Dragon Heart.  He came for the sword touched by the gods.  He was convinced," he winced in pain, "he was convinced that, with it, he could conquer Orkneyjar.  He would become as invincible as you."

Haaken shook his head, "Then if Dragon Heart is invincible how did he expect to take it?"

The man shook his head, "We were oathsworn and we followed." He winced again and gripped his seax. "I am in pain.  End it Jarl with Odin's sword.  I will join my sons in Valhalla."

I nodded, "You were faithful to the end. Go to the Allfather." I slid the blade across his throat and he died with a sigh.

We placed our dead on cloaks which were supported by the spears and I had my warriors take the five of them home. Taking off my helmet I joined Haaken and Cnut to burn the fourteen raiders who had been slain. I wanted to wait for the return of my warriors. We watched the smoke rise from the pyre and said a prayer for the dead.  I wanted no blood feuds in Valhalla. We occupied the time sorting through the items we had taken from the dead. 

Haaken shook his head as he held up a mail shirt torn by my strokes, "Dragon Heart, if you would just take their heads then Bjorn could use the armour.  This is another byrnie you have ruined."

I laughed, "I will remember that next time."

"These were not impoverished warriors, Jarl.  Look at the warrior bands and the fine amulets. Perhaps we should raid Orkneyjar."

"No, for I would not wish Norse slaves who could try to run home or whose families could try to rescue.  The people of Frankia will forget their lost ones and the slaves will forget their home."

"But think of the treasure."

I sat on a rock and took off my wolf cloak. "I fear that we will have treasure enough for it seems my sword draws men on. They seem to forget everything in their desire for Ragnar's Spirit."

Cnut watched the water of the beck begin to clear as the blood was swept away to the sea. "And you think that if we go to Frankia then it will draw the sword seekers there."

I nodded, "And if we go to Lundenwic and spend some time there it will draw them south too. By the time they have come to seek us in the south we shall have sailed for home again."

Cnut nodded his approval but Haaken said, "I can see a flaw in the plan.  It delays them, that it all.  They will still come."

"But by then it will be winter and nature herself will protect us."  I held up my hand.  "We are alone and I will tell you two for there are no secrets between us; I intend, next winter to travel to Jorvik and to slay Wiglaf. If we stop his tongue then we limit the threat."