Housecarl (29 page)

Nodding he left to select his
men.  I peered down the road and could see no movement. 
If the men left now they would be gone before Hadrada arrived. I
turned to Ridley as we watched our men trudge north. “Whatever
happens I do not wish to be incarcerated in Jorvik.  Tostig
knows it too well and it will fall quickly.”

He looked at me in
surprise.  “You think we will lose?”

“Look at the way we are
arrayed.  The horses are trapped by the river.  They
cannot charge and the ground is boggy.  On the other flank the
secure swamp is a prison; it keeps the Earl there. They outnumber
us and I think that the Earl of Mercia is relying on Harold to come
to his aid.”

Ridley looked appalled. “But the
King is a hundred and ninety miles away.”

“Exactly.  Even if the
messenger rides his mounts into the ground he will take three days
to reach London and then the King will need the best part of a week
to reach us. I want to be free and not trapped behind the city
walls.  We can do mischief to their ships and we can cause
trouble so long as we have horses.”

“Which is why you have sent out
horses away.”

We marched down with the last of
our men and placed ourselves in the centre of the line.  I
knew that it was the place of honour but also that it was the most
exposed, if either flank fell then we would all die. I placed our
men at arms in two lines and behind them Branton’s archers. 
Behind that, in neat and ordered ranks, unlike the other fyrd I
could see, I placed our fyrd.  I felt proud that they looked
so military whilst the others looked like farmers out for trouble.
I called Branton over.  “I want you to conserve arrows. 
When you are each down to your last ten then tell me.”We had spare
arrows but I knew that mine were amongst the few that the army
had.  If we had to fight our way out then the archers might
just be the weapon which would save us.

I looked at the men around
me.  There was the Thegn of Scarborough to our left.  His
men were hardy farmers and fishermen and although he had few mail
shirts many of his men wore helms.  To our right was the Thegn
of Skipton.  He had mountain folk and some of them wore
mail.  Both men were older warriors, veterans of wars against
the Scots. Our shield wall in the middle would be the rock on which
the enemy broke, of that I had no doubt. I hoped that the
Norwegians would attack us piecemeal for in that lay our only
chance. I estimated that they outnumbered us by three thousand men
and, in terms of trained warriors, by over two to one for the fyrd,
although keen and brave, would not stand long against a
Northman.

This time Edwin had placed a
rider on top of the high ground we had vacated. I cursed the Earl
again for the high ground now aided the enemy rather than us. 
He would be able to see our numbers while we had no idea about his.
Suddenly the excited rider galloped down and yelled, “They are
coming, and I have seen Hadrada!”

He said it as though it was
Jesus himself who had appeared! “Well it looks like we will get to
fight today.”

Ridley laughed, “Was there ever
any doubt?”

I looked for Edwin to ride out
and encourage us with brave words but he and his riders sat behind
his spearmen and fyrd. That particular formation meant that the
cavalry would not be able to charge.  It would, however, have
easy access north, back to the city. I looked to my left and Morcar
waved.  He would not speak if his brother did not. His men
were arrayed like mine and his Housecarls formed two solid
rows.  Behind them were his spearmen and then his fyrd.

No-one was going to speak. 
I would have spoken to the army but it would have seemed
impertinent and a challenge to the Earls; right now we needed
cohesion and unity.  I turned to face the men of Coxold and
Topcliffe.  I spoke loudly enough for the men of Scarborough
and Skipton to hear me. “Men of Topcliffe and Coxold. You have
marched far from your homes to fight this invader from beyond the
seas and the tyrant who taxed you to starvation. These men from the
north are renowned fighters but I tell you, I Aelfraed of Topcliffe
who fought alongside Thegn Ridley against the Welsh king and killed
their champion,” There was a huge roar, not only from my men but
from those on either side, “that you need have no doubt that you
are all better warriors and remember this, they have never seen the
men from the north fight.  I have and believe me if you scare
them half as much as you scare me they will run back to their
dragon boats as soon as they can.” The men laughed and then
cheered.  I did not feel ashamed for having brought up 
my one victory, men needed to believe that the  man who led
them was a hero.  I saw Edwin’s sour look- it mattered not for
he had had his chance and spurned it.  At least the men in the
middle would stand. One effect of my speech, however I could not
anticipate. While I had my back to the hill Hadrada and Tostig had
appeared.  The cheers and shouts from the middle meant that
they saw that as the stronger part of the line, It saved us from
the first assault, but helped us to lose the battle.

Hadrada was an impressive
looking warrior.  Aethelward had told me that he had made a
fortune when serving the Emperor in Byzantium.  He had
virtually bought Norway and had almost captured Denmark. His armour
was the finest that could be bought and gleamed as though gold. I
knew it was not gold for steel was better but he looked
imposing.  Tostig lurked behind him looking as furtive as
ever.  I knew that he would not be in the first ranks who
charged.  I looked for my brothers and my father for I assumed
they would be with their traitorous leader.

I saw the Norwegian King
pointing ahead, even though I could not see them he was
directing.  Suddenly it seemed as though I would get my wish
and they would fight piecemeal for the first band which rose over
the hill headed steadfastly in a wedge formation and they were
aimed directly at Morcar.  I had thought that the king would
have brought all his forces  up first and attacked on the
whole front.  This suited us.  As I watched the men
approach I saw that they only had shields, helms and spears. 
They were not armoured! These were not his best warriors; these
were the fastest. If this was his whole attack then Morcar would
easily defeat it.

The few archers and the slingers
hurled their missiles thinning out the wedge.  I could see
that they were not the best warriors for it took time to fill the
ranks of the dead. When they struck Morcar’s line it took barely a
step back before it began to move forwards. As son as Morcar’s men
began to move forwards the warband crumbled and began to edge back
towards the swamp. I could hear the roar of victory as Morcar and
his men pushed the defeated and demoralised warriors into the swamp
where they became easy prey for Morcar’s men and they were soon
despatched. 

Hadrada had seen his first
attack fail and he launched another with two larger warbands. They
headed for the gap which had now opened up between Scarborough’s
men and Morcar’s.  Morcar and his men were too exultant
pursuing the fleeing warriors to notice their predicament.  As
they closed I saw that these were better armed; these had axes and
mail shirts.  They marched purposefully and they banged their
shields. These were hardened warriors; these were like the
Housecarls.  One band veered right to strike at Morcar’s men
on their flank and in their rear whilst the other headed towards
the remnants of Morcar’s right side and Scarborough’s men. This was
where my uncle would have been able to see the whole picture and
move  troops around.  Our leaders were stuck on the
flanks, fighting their own battles.

“Angle left!” My voice pierced
the sounds of battle and the men of Topcliffe and Coxold, well
trained as they were, performed the action instantly.  The
others were slower but they fell in line and we had a solid shield
wall which was now at a slight angle to the rest of our line. “Rear
rank brace!!

Their wedge could not keep a
tight formation because of the muddy ground and some men
slipped.  They hit the Thegn of Scarborough’s line but the
line only went back two steps and then the other warriors pushed
forwards. Ridley and his well trained men at arms began to push
against the side of the shield wall and slowly overcame it. I then
saw, to my horror that our enemies had launched the rest of their
men against Edwin, Earl of Mercia.  Had I been on top of the
hill I would have done the same for I would have seen the
fyrd  and lightly armoured spearmen to the fore.  The
warriors now trudged towards them, relentlessly banging their
shields they were the elite; these were Hadrada’s own men, paid for
from his booty. “Topcliffe angle right!” My men and Lord Skipton’s
all turned to face this new threat.  It meant that we had an
arrow shaped line and Ridley and me were its point. 
Ironically no-one was attacking us- for the moment. “Branton, get
your archers and slingers to thin them out.”

Branton’s men rained flight
after flight on the mailed and armoured axe men who thundered
towards the spears and fyrd of Mercia. As well as the arrows the
stones from the boys peppered them and soon they were edging even
further left, towards the river.  Had Edwin had his armoured
men in the front rank we might have been able to push them in the
river where they would have drowned in their heavy mail but we were
unable to do anything until Morcar defeated his foes. So far
neither Boar Splitter nor Death Bringer had drawn blood and it
seemed that they never would when Morcar’s men broke and ran into
the swamp, much as they had driven the first warband there. 
The Norwegians pursued them to continue their slaughter.  The
second warband now turned all their attention to the fragment of
Morcar’s men and those of the middle.

“Skipton, watch those near the
Earl. Branton , continue to thin them.  Topcliffe, angle
left.” Our only hope was that we could break this warband and then
turn to support Edwin, if he survived.

Osbert and Aedgart were to my
left and right.  This was my first battle without Ridley and
Wolf at my side but I was confident in my sergeants. I began
banging my shield with my spear and my line took it up.  I
could see the rear ranks of Ridley’s men moving back slightly as
more warriors turned from the pursuit of Morcar to attack the
centre. “Run!”

We hit the Norwegian line at an
oblique angle. They had been so preoccupied with the left that they
had ignored us.  Their left side was unshielded and our spears
found no obstacles.  I had taught my spearmen to aim for the
vulnerable part under the arm and they did so. The men before us
died and fell to a man and we were on to the next line.  I had
withdrawn Boar Splitter from the first victim and he continued to
slice into unguarded flesh.  Eventually I heard an order
barked out in an unintelligible language and the Norwegians slowly
turned to face us. The ease of our victory had given us confidence
which meant that my men were not worried about the mailed warriors
who faced us.

I yelled , “Fyrd! Push!” And I
felt the reassuring pressure from the shields behind me. 
Because we had approached as one and the Norwegians had turned from
their battle we had the advantage. I sought out the fiercest
warrior who faced us.  A mighty warrior wielding an axe. Most
men feared advancing against the axe but I used one and knew its
weakness.  There were no others slicing in unison and, as the
axe head slipped down I thrust Boar Splitter at his unguarded
neck.  With a surprised look he dropped his axe and fell to
the floor. I stepped into the breach and I was now the point of a
small wedge. The next warrior had a sword and a shield.  I
could see from his face that he anticipated defeating me. His
grinning face seemed to mock me. As I pulled back my spear I
punched with my shield. He had covered his face with his own shield
to protect himself and did not see the blow which struck his hand
and knocked him to the  ground.  As I stamped down on his
face I heard his scream as the warrior behind me speared him. It
was then close in work.  The Norwegians were brave enough but
we had had a cohesive shield wall at the start and we had
maintained it.  I know not how long we fought but I knew that
I had never fought as long before.

And suddenly there was no-one
before me. As the wounded were despatched I quickly looked around.
Morcar and his men were fleeing north to Jorvik pursued by exultant
Norwegians. I spun around and saw, to my relief that the Thegn of
Skipton was still there but of Edwin there was no sign. Branton
pointed North.  “They have all fled my lord and are heading
for Jorvik.”

I looked and could see that the
bulk of the Norwegian army, led by Hadrada and Tostig were racing
after Edwin’s horsemen.  On the ground close to the river lay
the fyrd who had been sacrificed to allow the horse to escape.
There were four lords left on the field, which was littered with
bodies, the remains of their commands and the few men of Morcar who
had sought protection from us.  In all we numbered less than
two hundred. Thankfully I could see Scarborough, Skipton, Ridley,
Osbert and Aedgart. We had survived.

“Branton, throw your archers out
ahead and see if there are any men there. Make sure the road south
is clear.”

The Thegn of Scarborough looked
at me as though I had lost my mind.“But Jorvik and the Earl are
North!”

“And so are nearly ten thousand
Norwegians.  South there should be none and within a week King
Harold or Aethelward of Medelai should be coming up that road.” I
raised my voice, “Any who wish to go north be my guest but I go
south. I do not relish fighting my way through that horde and then
be trapped behind stone walls.” I saw Osbert grin as no-one
moved.  “Aedgart, get the fyrd to take any weapons and armour
they can but be quick.  Osbert get the wounded together.”