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  With Gilles and Bertrand I led the most warriors on horses that I had ever done. There were eleven of us. Gilles asked, “Should I bring your banner, lord?”

  “Not this day. We will wait until my new warriors have shields with the clan herkumbl upon them.”

  “Herkumbl?”

  I pointed to the horse on the helmets of Gilles and Bertrand. “It is normally a sign of the clan on the helmet but we use it for the same sign on the shields. Most Vikings use their own emblem on their shield. Many of my men choose the sign of the horse. As you are my first true horsemen I thought it appropriate.”

  Alain nodded, “That is good.” He smiled, “What is the word? It is wyrd!”

  “We will make a Viking of you yet.”

  We headed for Rurik’s stronghold. His slaves had not been idle and it had been finished while we were away. It would provide a refuge which would hold out until we could reach them. Alain of Auxerre was impressed and said so as we headed towards Valauna.

  “We do not know this part of the world. Our home is in Burgundy, far to the east. This looks to be a gentle, fertile land.”

  “It is. The Frankish castle we visit has an uneasy peace with us. I wounded their Seneschal in single combat and his son, Charles Filjean bears me a grudge.”

  “It was fair combat, lord?”

  “It was, on horseback.”

  He looked at me with admiration in his eyes, “Then you must have skill. We thought we had skill when we faced the Moors but they were agile. They outran us and used their arrows to great effect.”

  “My men are skilled archers. I have a bow from the far north which can penetrate mail.”

  “That sounds like the bows the Moors used; or some of them at least.”

  We were half way through the woods when Copper neighed and Nipper’s hackles went up and he growled. I drew my sword. “There is danger. Keep a close watch.”

  We did not move but waited. Whatever was coming would be coming down the trail. I saw that it was horsemen with blue kyrtles and shields. The gryphon on their shields told me that it was a patrol from Valauna. I said quietly to Alain of Auxerre, who was now behind me, “You may get a chance now to see the men who seek my death.”

  The Franks were unaware of our presence until they turned the bend in the trail and saw us waiting. Their hands went to their weapons. I sheathed my sword. I recognised the rider who led them. He now wore mail. It was Charles Filjean. “Unless you would have more blood on your hands keep your weapons sheathed.”

  “What are you doing in my forest?”

  “I thought it was King Louis’?” I saw that I had nonplussed him, “But it matters not. I come and go as I please. Today we do not hunt but, as I told your father, I hunt where I choose.”

  He had a scowl on his face and he did not move.

  “How is your father, by the way?”

  “He is a cripple now and it is your fault!”

  “If a man fights another he risks death or injury. All warriors know that. If you do not wish the risk, then become a priest.”

  “I am not afraid of you!”

  I smiled, “No, but you would not fight me, would you? The first time we met you fled like a frightened doe and the second time you tried to kill me while I fought your father.” I leaned forward and said quietly, “You have no honour.”

  His face reddened. He had been embarrassed before his men. He had but six with him. He neither could nor would do anything about the insult. He seemed to see Alain and his men. “I see you have hired renegade Franks! Do you not have enough warriors of your own?”

  Alain’s voice was cold as steel, “Lord let me rid you of this pup.”

  “Peace Captain.” I pointed to the young lord. “Do not insult my men. Now leave or we will make you and if we do then you leave without horses!”

  For a moment, I wondered if I had pushed him too far. He jerked his horse’s head around but gave a parting shot, “And the Leudes of Rouen has now heard of you. Those men you sent to raid his lands displeased him. You are fortunate that King Louis has him busy dealing with other traitors. When he has time, he will deal with you and I shall be there to see it.”

  As they rode off Bertrand said, “That is not fair, lord. You did not send Fótr and his men.”

  “No but I will not explain myself to him. Come the conversation has left a bad taste in my mouth. Let us see where this trail to the west leads.” We found it emerged some two miles west and we found the road from Ċiriċeburh to Valauna. We rode north and then headed east. “Tomorrow we will try a journey north to Ċiriċeburh. You will find that lord less unpleasant than the one we met today.”

  Chapter 8

  Alain and his men had already begun to build their hall. They had started as soon as I had given them permission. They had already dug the ditch and made a mound. The eight posts were in their post holes and they had cut the timbers for the roof. It would not look like our buildings but that did not matter. We would learn from each other. They were building it outside the walls. As Alain said, “We will be inside the walls defending it if we are attacked. We can always rebuild and we would like more room.”

  I approved. It was sensible. This way they could build a bigger hall. When they waited for me, the next morning, I saw that they had donned the mail shirts. “A wise move.”

  Alain smiled, “In light of yesterday we thought we ought to be prepared.” He had adopted the Frank’s method of organisation. The Franks used warriors they called sergeants allowing the leader to delegate. We had something similar but we did not bother with titles. My men would take orders from Arne Four Toes and Rurik One Ear in my absence. They were the most experienced. Gudrun Witch Killer gave orders to the four warriors he had brought him as did Knut the Quiet with the five he had brought. My men did not need titles but the Franks seemed to like them. I did not object to the system. When my new warriors rode, they did so in a line of pairs. Alain and his sergeant were at the fore. As he told me it made it easier when they broke formation. The two lines could easily separate and there would be two to give commands.

  We headed for the road and then rode north. I was anxious to see Hugo of Ċiriċeburh for I had not seen what he had done to improve his walls. When the Bretons had finished, there was little left of them. Our warm weather continued but I saw, to the west, ominous clouds far out to sea. That normally meant sudden summer storms. They would be laden with thunder and lightning. Hugo of Ċiriċeburh had cleared the trees and shrubs from beside the road. It was a sensible move. I saw, as we approached his walls, that he had added two wooden towers to his gates. Gilles said, “He must have copied us lord.”

  I nodded, “That is good. It shows that we have done the right thing. Had we not then we would not have been copied.”

  The gates opened and I saw the lord of Ċiriċeburh head towards us with ten of his warriors. They all had the same gryphon and blue kyrtles but Lord Hugo wore a mail byrnie. He reined in before us, “What is the reason for this visit?”

  His tone was both aggressive and insulting. It implied I had to ask permission. I put it down to the fact that he was a young lord. I smiled, “You visited me and, as I have some new men, I thought to visit here and see what improvements you have made.”

  “You are not welcome here! Your kin have raided the land of the Leudes and he is not happy. Any consideration I might have afforded you is now impossible. Do not come again. If you do, then we will be forced to take action.”

  I was not worried by his words but rather disappointed. I had hoped for peace and now it seemed I was heading for war. I said, “Very well. We will leave.”

  As I was about to turn Copper’s head Alain of Auxerre said, “Lord, may I speak?”

  “Of course.”

  He nudged his horse next to mine and took off his helmet. “Hugo of Lyons: do you remember us? We are the men you abandoned to the Moors. I see you have been rewarded for your dishonourable act. If my lord asks I will take your head now! We are the last survivors o
f those men you left. You did not pay us and you did not try to save us. If it was not for my lord here, then we would be galley slaves now.” His voice was as impassioned as I had ever heard and his hand went to his sword.

  I put my hand on his, “Peace, Alain. This is not the time or the place.” I looked at him, “Hugo of Ċiriċeburh, this is your decision. Reflect on it before you act for if you begin a war with me and my clan then make sure you win for so long as one of us remains alive your life will be in danger.”

  He looked shocked and he blustered, “You threaten me?”

  I laughed, “Of course I do! You are a pathetic excuse for a man.” I stood in my stiraps, “I warn all of you! Stay close to your home for if you venture close to my land then you will pay for that trespass with your lives.”

  Suddenly the warrior behind Hugo took his spear and lunged at me. Bertrand and Alain had quick hands. Their swords stabbed from both sides of the errant warrior. He affected a quizzical look and then his corpse slid from his horse. I think Hugo realised that he was outnumbered and outnumbered by better warriors. He turned his horse’s head and galloped back to his walls. Alain’s men had been waiting for the chance and they hurtled after the other warriors. They were too slow to move and they had spears which hampered their movement. Only three escaped to follow their lord.

  “Stay!” My voice brought back Theobald and Stephen who were racing after the three fleeing. “Gather their weapons and horses. We have done enough.” As they did so I turned to Alain of Auxerre, “I am sorry. I should have realised.”

  He gave me a wan smile. “I can see that serving you will be interesting, lord. We have been here but a couple of days and already we have two enemies to fight!” Roger of Dijon threw a handful of coins to Alain. He had found them in the purse of the man Alain had killed, “And already we are in profit!”

  As we rode back home I contemplated our predicament. Nothing had changed save that I had thought the Hugo of Ċiriċeburh was a possible friend. That was not true. Alain had assessed it correctly. I was not worried about attacks from either Ċiriċeburh or Valauna. They could send as many mounted men as they liked. We could hold them off. My worry was that the Leudes would come with an army and war machines. That might defeat us.

  When we reached our home, I was greeted with good news. The men who had been digging the well approached me grimy but happy, “Jarl! We have water! The well is dug. All that we need to do is to line it.”

  “Then we celebrate! The Allfather is good to us.” I decided not to give them the bad news that we had two enemies. It would do no good. I wanted them to enjoy the moment. We celebrated and my new warriors fitted in well for they had something to celebrate too. We finished lining the wells and made a roof for it. The well could be a life saver if we were besieged. The hall for my new Frankish horsemen was also finished. They hurried to do so for they anticipated that their swords would soon be needed.

  It was Sólmánuður when Fótr and his brother returned. This time they came with two other threttanessa. Both were smaller than the ‘Flying Fox’. Fótr had heeded my warning and they came without shields. When he bounded ashore I saw that he had a brand-new byrnie. It looked to be well made.

  “Jarl! It is good to see you!” he waved an expansive hand at the ships. “See, I have a fleet now! I thank the gods each day that I met you. I went to the Land of the Wolf and bought a suit of mail from the finest smith there is. We sailed to Orkneyjar and Dyflin and found two other captains who wished to follow me. We now go south to do as you did and find a land of our own. Would you join me?”

  I smiled, “We are happy here but I am pleased at your success. Where is it that you go?”

  He leaned in conspiratorially, “When we last raided we scouted out the river you mentioned, the Orne. It is fertile land and the Franks do not have a stronghold at the mouth of the river. There is a small village only. I could have taken it with one crew. We go there now to capture it and build our walls. While we build them I will take my men to raid the harvests and steal the women. By this time next year, we will be as prosperous as you.”

  I did not like the way the conversation was going. It sounded to me like he thought it would be easy and I knew it was not. “I urge you to be cautious. It took some time for us to establish the Haugr. We were aided by the Breton attacks. Caen is close to you. That will be well defended.”

  He laughed, “I plan on having that as my home within a year or two. I went there with two of my men. I have scouted it out and I believe I can take it.” He shook his head, “Not yet of course but I have almost trebled the men who will follow me. When I have my new home then I will have even more. If you joined me then we could easily take it.”

  “I confess that I face dangers here for there are two Frankish lords who wish to sweep me back into the sea. Until I have dealt with them then I cannot offer any aid to anyone.”

  He nodded, “A shame. The two of us could have cut a swathe through this land.”

  “You will stay the night?”

  “Of course. Your wife’s company is always welcome.”

  After they left, the next morning, I spoke with my men. They had been hospitable towards the three crews. Now I wanted to know what they thought.

  “What did you think of their plans?”

  They were silent. “Come, I want to know. I have my opinions but I may be wrong.”

  Arne Four Toes said, “They are doomed to failure, jarl. They look at this and think we walked in and took it over. They ignored our words about the battles we fought and the men we lost.”

  Alain of Auxerre nodded, “I was not here then but they talk of defeating my people as though it was easy. They will be taking on Franks who have solid walls and horsemen who can control large areas of land. They may be good warriors but are they that good?”

  Beorn Beornsson shrugged, “It cannot hurt us. If they fail, then we will still continue. Out life will be no different.”

  Rurik had said little but he spoke up then, “Do not be too certain. If they are defeated, then it may make the Franks believe that they can beat us. So far, they have not. Could we stand against the whole of the Frankish army?”

  “But why would they come against us?”

  “We have annoyed them. We pay no taxes and we do not respect their laws. Ask Alain of Auxerre.” Einar Asbjornson had spent hours speaking with Alain of Auxerre and respected him and his opinions.

  Alain nodded, “The Empire is fragile. The King’s sons wish more power and there is insurrection in the air. If the king so commanded, then he could direct all of his forces to quash this little island of rebellion. It would teach his sons a lesson. I think the jarl should be wary and prepare for war.”

  And so we did. We had no need to raid and we could concentrate on making every man and boy ready to fight. Now that he had seen the land I was able to send Alain’s men on patrols to watch our borders. Harold Fast Sailing went to Dyflin to trade and to find warriors who wished to join us. He brought back six. He also spent some of my coin to buy some cloth. I wished my Franks to look the same. It would help them to fight as one. The rest of us improved our defences and became better warriors. Alain of Auxerre and his men had skills we did not and they taught us. They also learned from us. The result was that we had twenty of my warriors who could fight from the backs of horses. I did not think we could match the best of the Franks but we could, at least, hold our own. If either Valauna or Ċiriċeburh sent their horsemen against us they would not have it all their own way. Our small number of horsemen and our shield wall would hold them. Sadly, that was all I thought that we could do; hold them.

  My wife, before I had married her, had been a seamstress and I had her sew my Franks’ new cloaks. The material was dark blue. I had chosen the colour because it would help us to stay hidden in the dark and yet it was a bold colour which matched the black cloaks my men wore. I forgot to ask her to sew a horse on each tunic and cloak. She could not help sewing a white cross. When I asked why she smiled,
innocently, “They are Christians, husband. It will help them to fight.”

  As Alain and his men did not object then I did not. It looked so smart that Gilles and Bertrand asked for one too. “Are you Christian, Gilles?”

  “No, lord but I am a horseman and I see it as the sign of the sword and not the cross!”

  At the beginning of Heyannir we had a pair of riders from Fótr. One was Folki, his brother. They brought good news. “We have our new home, jarl. It was not as easy as we thought. The men who lived there fought hard but we slaughtered them and their heads served as a warning for others. We have built walls such as yours and made our home strong. We have granaries full of their grain and we have many slaves. My brother is now jarl and he is building towers and ditches which will be soon as strong as yours.”

  “Then I am pleased.”

  “I bring silver to buy swords. We have no smith and yours is a good one.”

  “You have my permission to ask him to make them for you but I fear it is not a quick process.”

  “Winter will be upon us soon and we do not expect an enemy until the new grass comes. We have the start of a land of the North men here in Frankia!”

  After he had gone I confided in Mary, “I fear this will not end well. Am I being small minded or jealous?”

  She kissed me, “No, for he is not doing as you did. You did not take heads. You did not enslave all who faced you. You joined two peoples together and you did not look for war. I am not blind, husband. I know that you have sought, when you could, the peaceful way. I know that we will have to fight to cling on here but this Fótr is trying to be you. That can never be. There is but one Hrolf the Horseman and he is mine!”

  Although Alain and the new warriors were good horsemen they were no archers. If you could not use a bow by the time you had fought in your first battle, then you never would. It took years to build up the strength to use the weapon. Well over half of the men in my clan could use a bow well and the rest knew how to use one. The men of Burgundy, it seemed, did not have that skill. They would have to use the spear and the sword.