Viking Treasure (15 page)

I heard the sound of axes behind me.  Olaf and his axe men were at work. We were no longer a solid mass of warriors.  Some of the other crews had paused to slay wounded men or to finish off men who still stood.  It was just the Ulfheonar warband which attacked the twenty men who had just stepped ashore. I had slain so many men that the edge had gone from Ragnar's Spirit. I was now using it as an iron bar.  As such it was still very effective. It could still break arms and render men unconscious.  As we hurried to attack these fresher warriors I sheathed my seax and drew my dagger. It was razor sharp and had a vicious point.

A wild warrior swung a long pole with an axe head on the top.  He flailed it at me in an attempt to keep me at bay. I ducked beneath it and lunged upwards.  My dagger tore him open from his groin to his gut. I sprang to my right as two Franks with swords and small shields tried to take advantage of my position. Franks do not know how to use a shield as a weapon and I blocked both swords with my dagger and Ragnar's Spirit. Stepping forward on my left leg I smashed the heel of my right boot into the extended knee of one warrior. He screamed as it shattered and his leg bent back.  As his companion stared in horror I swung my sword around.  It broke the skin but, more importantly, his neck too.

As I finished off the Frank with the shattered kneecap with my dagger I heard a crash as the tree fell and then Aiden as he shouted, "Jarl, back to the barge!"

The Ulfheonar were covered in blood and spattered with gore. Yet we were unbowed.  The Franks who remained had retreated to the water's edge fearful of another attack.  Behind me the rest of my warriors were advancing.  We had taken enough chances, "Back to the barge! That is an order!"

Before they obeyed every Ulfheonar began to howl.  The others banged their shields.  If anything it made the Franks recoil even more. As we made our way back to the barge I saw
'Heart of the Dragon
' as she sailed down the river.  Those on board also banged the shields in time to the ones on the shore.  It was an impressive display. I was the last one to board the barge.  The huge chestnut tree which had been felled was another reminder of the power of my warriors. Stepping on to the barge I raised my sword, "Ragnar's Spirit!"

The Frankish ships kept their distance but warriors watched us from the northern bank. Those on the south cowered as we passed. The five drekar had all managed to pull in to the bank and our men scrambled aboard.  After we had lowered the sail I waited with Aiden as he turned the barge so that it pointed north to south. He turned to me, flint in hand, "Jarl, climb the rope to the drekar.  You have armour.  If this goes awry I can swim."

I shook my head and shouted, "Throw down two ropes and be ready to haul!" I turned to Aiden.  "We will go together."

He nodded and lit the pile of seal oil and kindling.  The barge was bone dry and I did not doubt it would soon catch hold. Aiden shouted, "Run!"

We ran to the stern and grabbed a rope each.  With the strongest warriors pulling we were lifted to safety.  Erik shouted, "Let go the sail!"

The other four drekar were heading down stream.  We had no need to row for we had the current and with a wind from the south east we would have little need to tack too often.  I watched with Aiden, Ragnar and Gruffyd as the flames ran up the mast and ignited the sail.  It was afire from bow to stern and began to settle in the water. They would find it hard to follow us!

I sat down on my chest.  Gruffyd looked afraid, "Are you hurt, father? You are covered in blood!"

"And none of it mine.  No, my son, I am just tired. I am no longer a young man who can fight all day and all night.  I will just rest here awhile."

Erik did not look down but he asked, "Have you orders, Jarl?"

"Can we keep going until we reach the coast?"

He nodded, "If Aiden helps and does watch and watch about then aye.  You are probably right.  If we stop then we risk danger."

"Wake me if we find trouble."

"Aye Jarl."

Ragnar said, "And we will watch over you, grandfather."

I took off my sword, seax and dagger and handed them to Ragnar.  I took off my helmet and gave it to Gruffyd.  Then I took off my wolf cloak and placed it on the deck.  I would use it as a bed.  Finally I held my dragon amulet, "Thank you Allfather and the spirits of my ancestors.  You have watched over me this day."

Then I lay down and was soon asleep helped by the gentle motion of the drekar which ghosted down the river. I dreamed.

I was walking through a forest with a bow and arrow in my hand.  I looked down and saw that I was not wearing mail.  I was hunting. Ahead I saw a clearing and a huge stag appeared.  I began to move to get closer.  At first I moved silently.  I was the wolf and I was hunting. Even as I prepared an arrow I felt my feet sinking into a muddy morass.  I could not move.  The deer turned and its face changed to that of King Egbert.  He laughed and I saw behind him was Ragnar Ruriksson. The Frisian pulled back on his bow and the arrow sped towards me.  I could not move.  When I went to raise my bow it had disappeared and I had paws and fur; I was the wolf. I braced myself for the arrow but it did not strike me.  Instead I heard a shout from behind me.  When I turned I was no longer in the forest but upon the top of Úlfarrberg.  As I looked out I saw hordes of Danes and they were heading for me. Racing to reach my home I fell.  I lost my balance and  tumbled over and over.  I sailed into the air.  It was impossible.  I was flying.  I tried to reach the earth but I could not.  I was heading for the moon. It grew larger and larger.  Suddenly it changed from a bight golden orb to a black hole and I fell deep within it.  I went down and down.

"Jarl!"

I looked up into Aiden's face.  I could see that he had dreamed too, "The dream.  What does it mean?"

He shook his head.  "I saw only glimpses.  Egbert and Ragnar the Frisian were there." He shook his head, "You were the wolf.  I saw that but as for the rest... I know not.  I am sorry."

I took his arm and raised myself up.  "These dreams are sent to warn us of the future.  We must become careful, Aiden.  Mention none of this to anyone until we have worked out what it means."

"Aye Jarl."

The drekar still slipped along the silent river.  I was awake now and I feared going back to sleep.  I saw my son and grandson curled up close by. I went to the stern and made water.  I turned to speak with Erik. A ship's boy, Siggi, ran up to me with a jug of wine. We had finished our beer and the wine had been in the barge already.  I suspect it had been the guard's supply.  I drank. It was rough and it was a little sour. As I handed it back I said, "Add a little water to it." It would not do to give my men unwatered wine.

"Aye Jarl."

Aiden stretched, "I will walk to the prow.  Perhaps I can see through the darkness of night." Turning to Erik he said, "I will relieve you when I return." Erik nodded.

Speaking quietly I said, "How goes it Erik?"

"We have not seen any other ships or boats but I think that they have been warned about us. I have seen fires by the side of the river and heard cries of alarm as we ghosted by."

I nodded, "A rider could have sent a message downstream.  I just hope that we do not meet another chain."

He laughed, "I am not sure your son and grandson could cope with you charging wildly at enemies armed with just a seax and a sword."

"Were they afraid?"

"Not afraid but it took Guthrum to contain them.  They wanted to help you."

"They are good boys both."

"They are and they fought as hard as any.  When they become stronger their arrows will fly further. It has shown me that I ought to bring my boys to sea."

"How old are they now?"

"One has seen six summers and the other four. Ships' boys do not cost much to feed.  They do not take up much space and they have energy to spare. I began when I had seen four summers."

"Aye, I remember. Your father was slain and your mother fell to the winter cough. It was the only way I could watch over you."

"And I have ever been grateful."

"You did not wish to be a warrior?"

"There was a time when I did.  Perhaps I would have been as Cnut Cnutson.  He was a ships' boy when his father died but he chose the warrior's path and he is now a leader.  It was Josephus who took me down this path and I think it was
wyrd
.  I can fight but here, with my hand on the steering board, I feel as though I am part of the drekar and part of the water.  I fear nothing whilst I am at sea. The Norns chose this path for me.  I had a choice and I chose the sea."

Aiden came back, "I can see naught." He pointed aft.  "The sky begins to lighten.  Soon it will be day."

Erik Short Toe stretched, "Then I will sleep.  Wake me when we reach the sea." He smiled, "It is hard to get lost in a river but at sea..." I took the steering board for it was a straight stretch of river.

"How are the wounded?"

"Many needed stitches.  I could not use fire but the wounds looked clean.  Audun Beornsson had some bones in his left hand broken.  I have put a splint on them and told him not to row."

"Will his hand heal?"

"It should but bones... we shall see."

When Aiden was comfortably settled at the steering board he said, "One thing is clear about your dream; your thread is still entwined with King Egbert and now his is entwined with Ragnar."

"I did not see that.  I thought that they were just two enemies."

"No, Jarl.  The spirits are not haphazard like that. Besides Ragnar Ruriksson took the road to Lundenwic. The world knows how much Egbert hates you.  He will be at the court of Wintan-ceastre."

"And we both know that the oath King Egbert took will not last long. He will come after us and Wolf Killer again."

"It will last a little longer.  There were priests there.  I have no doubt he will seek a way to find a flaw in the oath but he will not openly oppose you.  Ragnar Ruriksson gives him the chance to hurt you without being seen to have a hand in it."

"And I allowed him to escape!"

"No you did not, Jarl. From what you say he has warriors who are there to protect him. You could do nothing. The Weird Sisters began this web when you first met Rurik of Dorestad.  It brought us Josephus and that brought great rewards for us all. There is a price to pay."

I pointed to the deck.  "And there will be a price to pay for this treasure."

He nodded, "I know not what it will be but we both know that nothing is free. I told you of this treasure and encouraged you to find it.  I am as responsible as any."

"This treasure was earned by the blood of my men!"

"True but the way we discovered it was not.  It was no accident that Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson found the parchments and could not read them. He had the treasure from the monastery.  Had the Weird Sisters wished it they would have pointed him towards this treasure too.  They did not.  They sent it to you. I have no doubt that Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson will pay a price for his treasure.  When men follow a jarl such as you they know that there will be honour, reward and riches but they also know that there may be death." We both glanced at the cloak covered bodies by the stern.  "They know that and accept it."

As the dawn slowly broke I considered his words. Suppose I had not sailed for the treasure? That was a foolish question.  Suppose I had not been born?  Not taken from the Dunum? Not met old Ragnar? We begin our first faltering footsteps alone but they are directed by others.  We think we make decisions but we do not. When I had told Haaken that I gambled I had been wrong. I just tried to deal with the problems the Weird Sisters put in my way and hoped that I was doing the right thing. I glanced down at my young son and grandson.  My thread and their threads were entwined.  One day one of them, perhaps both, would have to lead our people. They would be standing, as I was, at the stern of a drekar deciding what was best and making choices which could cost men their lives. I suppose the difference was, between me and those like Ragnar Ruriksson and Egbert, that I cared and fretted about the men I led.  I suspect they did not.

It was noon when we reached the sea.  We woke Erik and then my men gathered for we would send our dead warriors to Ran.  It would not have done to leave their bodies in Frankia; better that they lay in the sea and when we passed this point we would remember them. Wrapped in their cloaks their bodies were slipped over the side.  We all spoke silent prayers for them.  I saw Ragnar and Gruffyd as they saw each of the bodies, some young and some old, drop beneath the waves to the ocean floor.  It was good that they did so for they had to know that our lives were filled with death as well as glory.

Once we headed north and west we resumed our formation. 
'Red Snake'
led with us in close attendance. I had decided to head for Dyflin. The other drekar had no gold but goods.  Dyflin's market would be the best place to sell them.  Until we had more friends it was the only place to make profit from them. Rather than risking an attack by the men of Wessex we kept well out to sea.  It meant sailing close to the islands of Syllingar but that could not be helped.  If the witch wished to speak with us there would be nothing we could do about it.  She did not. Aiden was silent the whole day we came close to the deadly little string of islands but when we had passed them he smiled and returned to me from the dragon prow. "She has no message for us." He saw my face, "You look disappointed."

"I had hoped she would enlighten me about my dream."

"And if she did so then you would stop thinking about it and you need to try to fathom out the answer yourself."

"You mean Egbert and Ruriksson?"

He nodded, "We need not raid again.  We have lost warriors and we could not raid again; not soon anyway.  We have gold to pay Basil the Mason to build.  Our time in Cyninges-tūn will be occupied.  You will need to turn your thoughts to the dangers from outside. You need to wrestle with the danger."

The course we took added two days to our voyage. It did, however, mean we sailed far from land. Corn Walum was far to the east and Hibernia stood to the north west.  Ragnar watched the sea to the west. "Grandfather, what lies over there?"

"Some men say the edge of the world and if you sail too far then you fall off.  Others say that there are terrible seas and rocks.  They grind drekar and their crews to a pulp."

Gruffyd said, fearfully, "Is that true?"

"I know not but none who ever sail west return." The both looked open mouthed at the blue grey water which was now, suddenly, dangerous. "On the other hand they may have found a paradise so great that they do not wish to share it with others."

"Would you wish to sail there, grandfather?"

"I have a family.  There are grandchildren and children.  I could not leave them.  Those voyages are for young men who are reckless and wish to have adventures which are the stuff of legend.  When a man takes a wife and sires sons his world changes.  One day a young jarl will sail west and he will return.  Then we will know.  Until then we sail as far as Hibernia and no further."

The island soon hove into view. The southern coast was a wild place and not worth raiding.  The monasteries were on the west coast.  It had been many years since I had raided.  I doubted I would do so again. The coast on the east was now peaceful.  It was Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer's peace. When we reached it we saw that Dyflin harbour had few ships at the quay and no drekar.  This was the summer and the time of raids.  That meant even greater profit for we had goods to trade and a market which would be eager for them.