B01N5EQ4R1 EBOK Read online

  The later afternoon sky was already darkening as we headed west with furled sails and my warriors rowing. The wind helped us as did the seas. The ship’s boys had been kept busy all day bailing the sea water which crashed over the sheerstrakes and then racing up slippery sheets to trim the sails. Now, with the light fading behind us we headed menacingly into the small bay. We knew it had a shingle beach and that the people who lived there kept a couple of boats on the shore. We would be able to slide up onto the shingle. We would have eight miles to cover along the cliffs. An approach from the land might well catch the men of Cent unawares.

  When Ulf Big Nose had died, we had lost our best scout. I had been the scout he had trained but I was jarl. You did not create a good scout. You either found or improved one you already had. Einar Asbjornson had shown that he had scouting skills. He and I would lead the band.

  The huts were almost invisible against the cliffs which towered over them. They were a shadowy smudge against the land with the faintest of glows from fires lit inside the huts. Standing by the prow I saw the shapes of two boats drawn up on the beach. Siggi Far Sighted waited with us. He was ready to leap ashore and tether us to the land. Einar and I would be the next ashore. There was no sign of life. Knut the Quiet and four of my men would secure those who lived here. Once taken my crew would guard them on my drekar. The hiss of the keel on the shingle told us that we had landed. Siggi and I slipped into the water at the same time. The huts remained in darkness. No door opened to shine the light of their fires on to us.

  The water did not cover my seal skin boots. It had been a good beaching and I took it as a hopeful sign. I kept my sword sheathed and my shield around my back. I would not need either yet. I took off my helmet. It would mask what I could see, hear and smell. I headed south up and along the beach. The shingle sucked at my feet. When it gave way to sand and earth I made better going. I did not look behind me. My band would follow. Einar stood at my shoulder.

  “There jarl!” His eyes had picked out the path which wound up the cliff. We had known there had to be one and the gods had guided us to it quickly. The wind and the surf on the shingle took away any noise of the events behind us. If the men in the huts fought us they would die. If not, they would be taken as slaves with their families. Sven and Harold would tell me if they ought to be sold in Dorestad or kept as slaves for our new home. We ascended the path to the cliff top. It twisted and turned up the steep cliffs.

  Einar and I waited at the top of the cliff for my men to reach us. The icy wind whipped across the cliffs. The salt spray and drops of rain chilled to the bone. I was grateful for my cloak. Like the warriors of the land of the wolf I wore a wolf skin yet I was not Ulfheonar. I had killed a wolf but I wore the skin beneath my cloak. It was not a mark of honour. I wore it for warmth. I did not delude myself. I was not a warrior like those who followed Jarl Dragonheart. I had other skills. I think that was why the witch had given me my vision on Syllingar. Had she not I might have lived still in the land of the wolf. I would not have met Mary and I would not be leading my own warband. Wyrd.

  Once together, Einar and I led the band at a steady lope across the undulating turf. The well-worn path was clear to see. I guessed that this had been a path since before the times of the Romans. We spied no one. I did not expect to. Haustmánuður had ended and Gormánuður was upon us. By the end of the month we would be upon the shortest days and longest nights of the year. The Saxons sheltered in their homes making babies and trying to keep warm. We did not mind the cold nor the black nights. They would bring us riches.

  We came upon the half demolished Roman watch tower and I knew that we were close to the small port. Once again, we halted. This time it was to adjust our weapons and prepare for war. I donned my helmet, swung my shield around and drew my sword. I nodded to Beorn Beornsson and Arne Four Toes and pointed. They would bring up the rear. I had fought alongside the two since I had joined Jarl Gunnar. I trusted them above all others. They both made sensible decisions and would warn of any danger. It meant I could lead with confidence.

  The ground began to descend below the abandoned watch tower. I saw the huts and buildings huddled in the bay. The Romans had built this place and there were many buildings made of stone. They even had a stone quay. I saw the ships drawn up there. They were knarr and small vessels used to carry small cargo. An idea began to form in my mind. We went slowly down the slope watching for any sentries or watchers. Ulf’s training stood me in good stead. My nose caught the smell of a wood fire close to the ships. I held my hand up and we halted. I peered into the darkness. A shadow moved and revealed a fire. By its light I saw that there were three men standing watch by the quay. They were watching to sea.

  I tapped Gudrun Witch Killer on the shoulder and held up my hand showing five. I pointed to the sentries. He nodded and led four men towards the sentries. I led the rest down the path towards the other buildings. The ones closest to the sea would have what we wanted. They would store food and goods to be traded there. We went slowly. Gudrun Witch Killer and his men soon joined us, having dealt with the sentries. I had heard nothing for the sound of the sea masked most noises. I waved the five of them to the left as we approached the stone buildings. They would open the doors and begin to search for treasure. I waved to the right and other warriors went to search there. I headed toward the warrior hall with my most experienced warriors. At least I guessed it was the warrior hall. It was a Saxon building and had a ditch around it. Set back from the rest of the port it was not Roman. I had twelve men left with me. They would have to be enough to deal with the Saxon warriors who were in the hall.

  When we reached the door, I listened. I could hear the sounds of men sleeping within. Men were always noisier than women. I nodded to Einar and pointed, with my sword, to the ground. As I opened the door he moved quickly. A Saxon chamberlain was lying across the door. Einar’s sword ended his life before he could utter a warning. As he stepped in the Weird Sisters spun their web. It had been too easy. A warrior rose to make water. The opening of the door had revealed us.

  “Vikings!”

  Einar leapt forward to slay the man but the damage had been done. I ran beyond him as sleepy, half naked men rose and grabbed weapons. There were the glowing remains of a fire in the middle of the hall and by its light I could make out warriors. We had to strike quickly. “Clan of the Horse!”

  My men took up the shout and the clamour of our cries and screams as men died filled the hall. It added to the terror for those who were waking. A Saxon ran at me swinging his axe. He wore just a wooden cross and breeks. I dropped to my knee as the sleepy Saxon swung the deadly blade over my head. I rammed my sword into his middle. He was a big man and I had to cut through many layers. I did not find anything vital and he tried to batter me with the head of his axe as I tried to pull out the sword. The axe head rang against my helmet and his weight threatened to topple me. I twisted my sword in his body and changed the angle. I must have hit something important for my hand was suddenly covered in hot, sticky blood. He went limp. As the axe fell I pushed him from my body.

  I saw four men at the far end of the room. One was donning his helmet and mail. The other three were guarding him. That would be the thegn and his bodyguards. “Arne! Beorn! On me!”

  Without waiting for them I ran at those guarding the thegn. Gilles and Bertrand were on either side of me. The bodyguards had no mail but they had their swords and shields. I pulled my shield tighter to me and just ran at them. I used my shield as a battering ram. Their swords hit my shield and my helmet but I remain unscathed. One fell to the ground as the other two stepped back. My hand darted out and I skewered the one who wriggled on the ground. Before I could face the other two the thegn’s sword smashed against my shield. It was a long sword and the blow was powerful. I left the bodyguards for my men and faced the Saxon.

  He was bare footed but he had his byrnie on. His sword was longer than mine and he swung it to keep me at bay while he adjusted his shield. I lunged low down w
ith my sword and his hand flicked down to fend off the blow. He just managed to stop my blade from piercing his leg. The high roof on the hall meant he could bring his sword over his head. It would be a powerful blow, if it struck, but I knew it was coming and I stepped to the side swinging my sword as I did so. My arms were much stronger now. Using a bow each day had made my arms like oak and the blow I struck was so hard that I saw him step back. His left arm was numbed. I followed up, quickly, by punching at his shield with mine. He stepped back again. The fire was perilously close to his legs. When he made the mistake of glancing behind him my sword lunged at his throat. His numbed arm and inattention cost him his life. He fell backwards over the fire. I reached down to pull his body from it. As I did so I saw a golden torc around his neck. I snatched it and turned to view the hall.

  Six warriors were still standing together holding off my men. Gunnar Stone Face entered the hall and, swinging his axe, roared, “Let us finish this!”

  He ran at the knot of men. My men parted as the wild man swung his long-handled axe two handed. They had no mail and he did. They fought bravely and struck his mail many times but his initial attack took the heads of two of them and then my men fell on the rest.

  “Well done, wild man! Now collect the weapons and treasure.” I held up the torc. “They are rich, it seems. Bring it down to the quay.”

  Beorn asked, “The quay?”

  “I thought we would sail the treasure, grain and slaves around the bay. They have ships there and we can sail can we not? Unless you relish the march back?”

  He laughed, “No, jarl. I do not!”

  Once outside we came upon a wild scene. The families in the port had woken and were fleeing as fast as they could. My men, led by Asbjorn Sorenson and his men, were dealing death to any Saxon who stood. Few did and most fled.

  I shouted, “Take all that you can carry and fetch it down to the quay! Arne Four Toes, take six men and choose the best two ships for us to take. Begin to load them.”

  Gudrun and his men emerged with many sacks. “There is much grain here, jarl! They have had a good harvest.”

  “Put it on the knarr.” He nodded. “The rest of you see if there is anything left to take.”

  Gunnar Stone Face came down, supported by Harold Haroldsson, “He took a couple too many blows, jarl.”

  “Is he hurt badly?”

  “He will live.”

  “Take him to the ships.”

  He nodded and added, “Rolf Arneson has found much treasure and they are bringing it.”

  I had five men with me and we moved deeper into the settlement. We had sown confusion and I had no doubt that our numbers would be exaggerated. I wanted to keep them moving. I only had seven men with me now but they would be more than enough. We had done what I wished. We had slaves and we had grain. The weapons and the gold were extras which I would not shun. As we moved further from the sea the houses became poorer. Sven Siggison opened a door and an old couple cowered there. “Leave them!”

  We needed the young and the fertile. The young boys would become Viking warriors in time and the girls would bear Viking children. We left the old. As we reached the end I heard the sound of hooves approaching. “Shields!” My men obeyed instantly and we formed a line across the old Roman road. Einar Asbjornson was to Gilles’ right and Erik Long Hair to Bertrand’s left. The sound of hooves drew closer. I saw shadows moving quickly. They were horsemen. I knew not how many but I knew horses. The first three loomed up out of the dark and I stepped from the line and shouted loudly while waving my sword and shield. I had stepped back between the others before the riders knew what had appeared. I had startled the horses. Two reared and one Saxon could not keep his saddle. The other barely did but his horse bolted away. The third spun his horse around as another three riders appeared.

  Einar stepped forward and despatched the fallen rider. From his unnatural position, I guessed he had broken many bones and Einar did him a favour. The four riders who remain did not have spears. They saw six armed and mailed Vikings before them. They did not know how to deal with us. One urged his horse forward and raised his sword to hit down. Sven Siggison blocked it with his own shield and then hacked sideways at the rider’s leg. The sword bit deeply and the rider wheeled away as his leg pumped blood.

  Then a Saxon shouted, “Back! Wait for the thegn and the others!”

  I said, quietly, “They have more men coming. Let us back down to the ships and leave.”

  The three horsemen who remained could only watch, impotently, as we moved back to the quay. We did not turn our backs on them. That tempted disaster. I saw them dismount to tend to their wounded. It was a waste for I knew the man with the severed leg would die. A horseman needs a spear to deal with Viking on the ground. A sword just invites death.

  By the time we reached the sea I saw the sun rising in the east. Gudrun and his men were carrying the last of the chests and boxes to the ships. I saw that Arne had picked two tubby Saxons ships. They could hold much but they were slow vessels to sail. They were built to carry bulk short distances and not for long voyages across the empty seas.

  “Get aboard! The Saxons come!”

  I stood with my five men and we faced the land as the last of the slaves and booty were boarded. In the distance, I heard a horn. It was the Saxons. The thegn had arrived and they were coming.

  “Ready jarl!”

  I was the last aboard as the two heavily laden vessels began to edge away from the shore. The fifteen mounted and mailed Saxons halted and waved their swords at us. They had no way to follow. The wind was still, generally, from the south and west so that, once we had sculled off from the quay we had the wind behind us. I looked in the bottom of the vessel at the booty we had garnered. There were sacks of grain as well as large clay jugs. I guessed they were filled with some type of liquid. There were a couple of goats and some chickens. The weapons, mail and helmets lay scattered around. They had been the last thing we had taken. Then there were the slaves. I saw that my men had been choosy. The women all had seen less than twenty summers. One was suckling a child; testament to her fertility. Then there were nine children. The youngest looked to be five summers old while the eldest was a girl of ten summers or so. We would keep them rather than selling them. It took until the sun had risen in the sky before we turned the headland and saw Addelam and our drekar. Sven would wonder what we were.

  Sigurd and Skutal were on the ship with me. Both were fishermen and good captains. “I want the two of you to choose two men and then you will each captain one of these tubs as we sail to Dorestad. It will save us having to offload the entire cargo of the grain and armour. We will carry the slaves on the drekar.”

  Sigurd groaned, “It will take forever, jarl!”

  I smiled, “You have something else you wish to do? Besides we will be going at the same speed. Perhaps we can sell the two vessels in Dorestad. We have no use for them.” Our own knarr, ‘Kara’ had been built by us on Raven Wing Island and she was a good ship. We needed no other.

  When we reached our ship, I had the slaves embarked. Had there been men then we might have had trouble but they were women and were compliant. The slaves captured at Addelam included two men. One was a greybeard but the other was in his twenties. I saw that he had a bandage around his head and was bound. Harold Fast Sailing shrugged, “He was too noisy and violent. I was all for slitting his throat but Sven said we could get coin for him.”

  I nodded. “We sail at the speed of those tubs and we had better be quick for I think there are Saxons coming.”

  Even as the two Saxon ships pulled away I saw the horsemen appear at the top of the cliff. The white horse banner, fluttering in the morning light, told me that this was a band of the king of Cent. He might be a subject king of Egbert but he still ruled. They began to descend the path to the beach. We waited until the two Saxon ships were well out to sea before we left. The two vessels would have to tack back and forth. The wind was now from the south and west. Sigurd had been right
. It would take a long time.

  Chapter 4

  We did not reach Dorestad until after dark. I had planned on staying the night anyway. But we would now have to guard our slaves as well as the goods we would sell. We found a berth some way from the main area of business. It helped for we were able to keep a better watch on the vessel. Dorestad attracted many captains. Not all were to be trusted. I went ashore with Harold Fast Sailing, Gilles and Bertrand. While we were away my men sorted the goods and weapons out. We would keep the best and sell the rest.

  We made our way to the official who took the charges for our mooring. In days gone by this would have been an imperial official but King Louis had lost some of his power. He had lost the taxes which Dorestad brought. The port was now filled with freebooters such as us. As we walked down the quay I saw Danes, other Norse, Frisians and even a lateen rigged boat. Harold nodded at them. “We will pick up news here. Perhaps even some charts.”

  “See if you can find a buyer for the two Saxon ships.”

  “We may not get much for them.”

  I shrugged, “Whatever we get will be more than had we not taken them. Do not worry what price we get, just so that we sell them.”

  “Aye lord.” He would leave us after we had found a tavern. He knew his way around Dorestad.

  “What will we do, lord?”