Housecarl (9 page)

We spent the next hour adding
metal to the shields.  The metal around the edge was easy as
there were hoops laid by for barrels and they fitted well. 
Then we found some circles of metal. The two of us took turns to
beat the metal disks until they were flat and then hammered them
across the surface.  When we thought we had finished Sweyn
handed us some iron nails.” Now finish it off by embedding nails on
the surface so that a blade striking your shield will strike metal
no matter where it hits. You want to blunt the edge of your enemy’s
weapon as much as you can. Try to make the pattern regular, it
looks better and protects you better.”

We had just finished when we
heard the clattering of hooves. “There is the Earl.  Get
cleaned up and we will go to meet him.” Gurt had returned, the
happy smile showing that he had enjoyed his ale break. “Gurt, watch
the spear head and the shields until the morrow.”

By the time we had tidied our
equipment and left the smithy, the hunting party had dismounted and
were greeting each other. I looked at Ridley and he had the same
expression as I did, what were we to do?  We just waited out
of earshot while the hunters stared at us making us even more self
conscious. People said of Earl Harold that he thought too much of
himself; I never saw that side of him.  I saw self confidence
and a belief in himself but I also saw someone who was aware of all
those around him, no matter how lowly a position they held.

As soon as he spied the two of
us he turned and opened his arms. “Ah my two young warriors. 
Come and join us.  I have been hearing good things of
you.”

We approached the large group of
men and I saw Aethelward’s smile reflected in that of Ulf. Harold
looked at Ridley who appeared to be taller than the tall Earl. “By
boy, you have grown since I last saw you. I think you could be a
shield wall all on your own.” Known for his jests and ready wit the
men all laughed and Ulf slapped the blushing Ridley on the back.
“And I hear young Aelfraed that you have killed your first man, a
warrior no less.”

I felt embarrassed as I
remembered the fat old bandit. “He was fat my lord and not
young.”

This time everyone, Ridley
included, laughed. “Fortunately Aelfraed we do not always get to
fight brave young warriors.  You take your victories where you
can. I am proud of you as I know your uncle is.” I wondered if my
head would burst at the all the praise from the greatest warriors
in the land. “Now then come with me for I need a detailed account
of the Welsh and you two young men are important for you may have
seen things that others have not.”

We were taken to a fine home,
that of Earl Godwinson, and there were just the four of us with
Sweyn and the Earl, it all added to my sense of awe that Ridley and
I were now moving in such exalted circles.  Two warriors
guarded the door and the Earl’s attention was focussed on our every
word.

“So, Aethelward, you say that he
is going to attack?”

“Without a shadow of a doubt
although not this year.  His newly conquered subjects are
causing him some trouble.”

“And would you advise an attack
from us?”

“You have a problem there my
lord for it appears that Aedgar of Mercia is his ally; it would
invite an attack from the rear.”

“This Cynan Ap Iago, I find it
hard to believe that he would countenance supporting the man who
killed his father.”

“He was an angry young man my
lord.”Aethelward gave a wry grin. “Perhaps more with me than anyone
for my part in defeating his father. I think he is looking for an
opportunity to regain his throne and the king keeps him close to
watch him.”

“Keep your friends close and
your enemies closer still eh?”

“Yes my lord.”

“We cannot have this sword of
Damocles hanging over us Aethelward.  Come now you have a mind
which sees things others do not. What is fermenting in that fertile
brain of yours?”

I now know that I had come to
understand my uncle as well as any man for I knew that he had
formulated a plan already and I found that parts of it had been in
my mind also. Perhaps the games of chess we had played had
helped.

He walked over to the chess
board and asked, “What is the aim of a game of chess?”

Ulf snorted his impatience, “Why
to win of course.  Even I know that old friend.”

“And you win how?”

Harold stood next to my uncle
and picked up the black king.  “You take the king.”

“Exactly. Now we could go
through all his warriors, his pawns and I believe we would defeat
him.”

“But we would lose many men in
doing so.”

Aethelward nodded at Sweyn,
“Precisely! So how would it be if we didn’t fight his army but just
captured the king.”

Ulf and Ridley looked confused
but I could see where he was going and I leapt to my feet. “By
going to Rhuddlan and his court.  There he only has his
guards!”

Harold slapped me on the
back.  “You are right Aethelward he does have a sharp mind. So
we go by sea. And attack him where he feels safest.”

“It would be simple enough to
march north, through Mercia, as though going to visit your brother
and then head up to the Dee and make the short crossing to
Rhuddlan.”

“We would need boats.”

“There are plenty on the south
coast.  They could sail around the coast to meet us. Remember,
we have almost a year to plan and put our pieces in position. 
It is too late in the season for an attack this year and we could
fortify the frontier forts in case he strikes early.”

“I like it.  We can train
the warriors over the next few weeks and strike early next year.”
He hugged my uncle and then looked at me.  “And we will have
time to see if we can make this cub into a true wolf.”

The next few months were amongst
the best in my life. Ulf was given the task of training us as
Aethelward spent most of the time closeted with the Earl planning
strategy.  We did not mind.  Ulf had told us that we had
to wear our mail shirts and armour each time we practised.  At
first we thought it was enjoyable but we soon tired when it
increased the length of time we had to spend cleaning and repairing
it not mention the weight of wearing it.  We did notice that
we were becoming stronger and knew that Ulf was a wise warrior.

When we began the training for
the shield wall Ulf took us away from the other warriors. “When you
are in a shield wall you are not fighting alone, you are with your
brothers and you are one.  You are one mind and one body.
There is a place of honour in the shield wall and that is to the
right for the warrior on the extreme right is in most danger. The
men at the rear also have to be able to push hard to allow those at
the front to fight and kill their enemies.” He looked at
Ridley.  “You will stand to the right and behind Aelfraed. The
two of you will be in the rear rank.”

I felt somehow cheated and I
wanted to be in the front rank. I was going to say something when I
saw that Ridley just nodded and accepted the decision and it made
me realise that I had killed one fat bandit and I thought I could
take on King Gruffyd.  I almost laughed aloud but instead I
nodded.

“Now we will rejoin the others
for Sweyn has decided that we need to work as one unit from now on
and he asked me to tell you your positions.  You will need to
get to know the warriors around you and work with them.”

As we returned I gripped my
spear.  I was immensely proud of that weapon for I had made it
and bound the head to the haft.  It had a fine balance to it
and was sharp enough to shave with. I never minded sharpening my
weapons for I knew their value in combat. I was even more pleased
that I had painted my shield, for my enemies, and my friends would
know who I was. I had taken the emblem of the Earl, a white horse
and married it to that of Gruffyd whom I admired and I had a red
horse painted on my shield.  Ridley had the same but while my
horse’s head was raised, his was lowered. I had been worried about
choosing an emblem so closely associated with the Earl until Sweyn
made a comment. He nodded to the house where Aethelward spoke with
the Earl. “Your Uncle has connections with the King and the Earl
you have chosen wisely, Aelfraed, perhaps even more than you
know.”

The others in the shield wall
had fought together before and we were amongst the replacements for
those lost in the last fight against the Danes who had raided the
previous year. We could see the gap in the rear rank and knew that
our places had been allocated.  I was to the left of Ridley
and to my left was a man not much older than we, he was called
Wolf. He nodded at me as I stood next to him and the chess player
in me deduced that the newer ones would be in the middle where they
could do the least damage to the integrity of the wall.  The
warrior to Ridley’s right was an older man with a long scar running
down his left cheek. “I am Osgar and you have been given much
honour.”

I looked to my left and right
and realised that we were but six men from the right, As Ulf had
said, the wing for the better warriors.  It showed the
confidence that Sweyn had in us. 

The field on which we found
ourselves was outside Winchester and, although largely flat had
plenty of rocks underfoot. We quickly found out that we had to
listen to Sweyn’s words for he did not repeat them. “Walk!”

If you have never tried to walk
in armour, carrying a shield and a spear, making sure that you are
touching both men on either side of you then you have no concept of
what it is like to fight in a shield wall.  We were in the
wedge formation with Sweyn at the front and then Ulf and another
seasoned warrior, then four men and so on back to us the sixteen
men at the rear. I could not believe how hard it was to walk. 
It was only when Osgar said quietly, “Use the same foot as the man
next to you.”

Ridley glanced down and used, as
Osgar did, his right foot. I copied him and nudged Wolf so that we
were all in step.  It struck me that had we been told this
then life would have been easier but once we were in the rhythm it
was easy. They say that pride comes before a fall and so it was
with us.  The command, “Run!” brought an increase in pace and,
as I looked down to the right to check which foot I should use I
tripped on the spear butt of the man ahead.  Had I fallen
alone it would have been bad enough but I brought down Ridley and
Wolf as I crashed to the ground in an ungainly heap. “Halt!”

Before we could struggle to our
feet the grinning warriors around us had split into two groups and
made a passage for Sweyn to walk down.  He towered over us as
we shamefacedly stood to face him.  “I am sorry sir, it was my
fault.”

Sweyn just shook his head. “The
three of you are at fault and we have a punishment.” I glanced over
to see Osgar sadly shake his head.  I noticed that the rest of
the warriors had reversed their spears and that the passage was now
but two paces wide. Sweyn pointed to Ulf at the other end of the
passage of spear butts. “You have to run down the passage to Ulf.”
The grin on his face told me that it would be painful.

I turned to Wolf and
Ridley.  “I am sorry.  I will make it up to you.” In
answer Ridley set off roaring as he raced down the passage his
shield held high and his head tucked in. He took me and the
warriors by surprise and he was half way down before the first blow
struck.  Wolf immediately followed and he was five paces down
the alley of spear butts before he was hit. I knew, even as I
started running, that they would be ready for me. I did as Ridley
had done and also I wrapped the end of my cloak around my knuckles;
this was partly to protect my hand but also to stop me tripping
over the garment. My comrades did not hold back and I was eternally
grateful for the helmet and leather cap which dulled the
blows.  Some of the warriors were quite vicious and one
stabbed his butt at my nose and I felt something crack.

By the time I reached Ulf I
could barely walk and I could feel the blood dripping from numerous
wounds. Ulf leaned over and said quietly, “It is a mistake most men
only do once.  Next time don’t fall.”

As I took my place in the rear
rank I saw Ridley smiling at me; he looked to have only suffered a
couple of bruises. Wolf on the other side had a gash in his cheek
but he did not look angry. I vowed to be more careful the next
time. When I heard, “Run!” I was ready and I did not look anywhere
but ahead. I felt proud of myself until I heard, “Charge!” and we
went even faster. All those games of chasing came into play as
Ridley and I kept pace for pace with each other.  Suddenly I
felt Wolf lurch towards me and his hand gripped my shield for
balance.  I was terrified that I would fall and I lifted the
shield higher.  Miraculously it helped him to regain his
balance and then we heard, “Stop!” Fortunately the three of us
managed to stop in time but two unfortunates ran into the backs of
the warriors in front of them who stabbed their spear butts down on
to their feet.  Obviously that was a lesser crime than
falling.

The afternoon was filled with
more of these exercises.  I noticed that Sweyn and Ulf took it
in turns to lead and when not leading they would stand in the rank
behind us.  I later discovered this was part of the strategy
for it gave a leader before and behind and that way we could react
to events not visible to the front rank.

After a short rest we were
divided into two smaller wedges.  Ulf led ours and Sweyn the
other.  We faced each other a hundred paces apart and then Ulf
roared, “Walk!” After a few paces he shouted, “Run!” and finally
roared a, ”Charge!”

The two wedges met in an
almighty crash. That was not the end however, that was the
beginning for Ulf shouted, “Push!”

Osgar turned to us.  “Push
your shield into the back of the man in front of you and dig your
spear butts into the ground.”