Outlaw (Aelfraed) (6 page)

“Got you now you scraggy wee shit!”

He pulled his head back and I knew he was going to head butt me, I had used the tactic myself but what he had forgotten was his height and I put my head forwards so that he connected not with my nose but the top of my helmet.  The spike Ralph had fitted on the top was no bigger than a thumbnail but it was enough to pierce his eye socket and as he roared back screaming, with blood pouring from his wound, I saw the remains of his eye drip to the ground.  The warrior charged with supervising the contest raced in to prevent me continuing, not that I would have done so and the crowd remained silent.  Suddenly I heard clapping, a single pair of hands and saw the King, on his feet applauding.  Next to him with shocked expressions were my wife and the Queen while Aethelward and Branton smiled and nodded. The King’s applause signalled the crowd that they too could show their feelings and they began to shout and cheer, the warriors banging their shields.

I felt a movement behind me and turned to see Duff lurch towards me his hand covering the mess which had been his eye.
  I was on guard for I knew not what he intended.  To my immense relief I saw him grin and hold out his right hand.  “Not such a scraggy wee shit eh wee man? I can see that your reputation is deserved and I will have to ask you about your weapons when we have the chance.”

“You are a brave and fearsome warrior.
  I was lucky.”

He shook his head. “No, for if we had had blades with edges I would have been dead long before.”

As he was led away Gytha and Branton raced over. “Aelfraed I was so scared.  I thought he was going to kill you.” As Gytha hugged and kissed me I felt her body shake with emotion. “Had I know that this was what combat was like I would never let you go to war.”

Branton removed my helmet. “Nice move my lord, I will get Ralph to put one of these on my helmet eh?”

When Malcolm arrived I bowed my head slightly and said, “I am sorry your majesty, I did not mean to wound your warrior.”

He looked puzzled.
  “He was engaged in combat as you were; he will not mind and he will bear his scars with honour and tell the tale of his combat with the English hero.”

I suppose that was the difference between me and Duff for I would have been annoyed to be wounded in an exhibition; combat is a serious business.
  I was, at least, happy that I had not lost the ability to fight. Gytha led me to our quarters with a protective arm around my shoulders and tears of relief still coursed down her cheeks. I was glad that she had not seen a real battle which would have reduced her to a quivering wreck. She continued to fuss and mother me as she dressed me for the feast. “You must look your best tonight for everyone wishes to speak with you.” I say dressed me but it was more a case of her choosing my clothes and then adjusting them to create the best effect.  For me I would have worn anything so long as it was comfortable.

The feast was magnificent as it marked the end of the summer games and also the arrival of the Queen of England.
  It was not only the lords who were intrigued and fascinated by their English visitors but the lord’s ladies were keen to speak with the woman who had been married to two kings. I was on the King’s left side with Gytha between us whilst the Queen and Aethelward were to his right.  It meant that I had no opportunity to speak with my uncle but in truth I would have had no opportunity to do so as I was inundated with questions from the other warriors. They were intrigued by my shield and when I told them that it was the first thing I had made when I became a Housecarl they became even more enthusiastic. All of them wished to see my helmet closer up and all of them regretted that I had not brought Boar Splitter, my spear and Death Bringer, my axe. Their eyes lit up when I told them of the forging of the spear and the mixing of the metal with my blood and with the stories of my two weapons.  Gytha, too, was entranced as she had never heard the stories. The evening ended perfectly when a minstrel sang the song of Aelfraed and Duff the one eye. I think Duff was even more pleased at his fame and he stood to take bows at the end, his head and eye now heavily bandaged.

After the feast when we sat before the roaring fire, for the midsummer nights were colder in the north, Calum, Lord of Fife, joined us.
  His eyes were aglow as he effusively praised me and my skills. Gytha and the Queen were quite taken with the Scottish lord and he told them of our connection. Both women were intrigued by the strange coincidence.  Ealdgyth nodded at the end, “It is
wyrd
.  Your life is being shaped, Aelfraed, by powers beyond this world.”

“I believe that my mother and grandmother watch over me and protect me.”

“No, there is more to it than this.  You are the thread which joins your uncle to me, to the Lord of Fife and to Harold. The Danes have beings they call the Norns who spin webs around men’s lives.  I can see their hand in this.”

“Is it good or evil your majesty?”

“It is
wyrd
and that can be good and evil at the same time. When my first husband was killed, that was bad for him but good for Harold and for me.”

Calum suddenly looked embarrassed.
  “Your majesty, my lady, I too believe that this is
wyrd
for I have wanted to find a way to repay Lord Aelfraed and now I believe I can.  The King has offered you his protection and I would like to do the same.  I have spoken with him and my castle, which is across the estuary, is even safer than the half built castle of the King.  I would be honoured if you would allow me to offer you my protection.”

Aethelward turned to Malcolm. “How does your majesty view this?”

“It is a good thing Aethelward for I know that the ladies will be safe and I can concentrate upon defending my kingdom as we have heard that the King of the Danes is beginning to look enviously across the waters at our land which is richer than his barren plot.”

Aethelward became interested. “He claims the English throne through Cnut and he is a powerful King.” He looked first at the Queen and then at me. “I believe that it is safer for you to be in Fife which is further from the Danes and the Normans majesty but it is, of course, not my decision.”

“We would always take your advice Aethelward for it is always wise and well thought out.”

Gytha looked to me and I nodded.
  “Thank you my lord and the debt which I did not think you owed me is now paid.” I was pleased for it meant that my wife and child would be safe.  I had doubted that the King would be able to give the two women his full attention but the Lord of Fife was keen to build up his lands and would stay closer to home.  As it turned out this was
wyrd
, and the Queen was right for both good and evil came from it.

Although I was not eager to leave my wife and the Queen, the news of the Danish King worried both of us and we bade farewell to our hosts. Whilst we were sad to be leaving I was happy that we had, at least, made friends.
  We had somewhere safe should the Normans or the Danes make life unpleasant for us.  I suspected that the good times were over and I wanted to be as prepared as we could be.

The return journey was swift without the women and their baggage.
  Once we reached Topcliffe I could see that Thomas and Osbert had worked hard during our absence.  The men were drilling in the courtyard and there were more towers around the wooden walls. I was also relieved to see no sign of Normans. I had seen some of the early crops being harvested and knew that Thomas, my steward, had also played his part. During the journey back from Scotland we had discussed visiting Edwin and Morcar to determine their plans.  I was all in favour but Aethelward was not; eventually I persuaded him that we needed firm information for up to now it was hearsay and conjecture.  They had both submitted to William but we did not know what pressure had been applied.  When we heard that the Earl had returned to Jorvik it made our decision simple and, together with Ridley, Osbert and my men at arms we descended upon the city. Aethelward had insisted upon a show of force and, as we rode south he kept a wary eye out for ambushes. “I know you like Morcar, nephew, but he has been under the influence of his brother and Edwin has always been an astute politician.  We need to tread warily. I want the Earl to be under no illusion; you and your men at arms are the most formidable force in this part of the world.  The Earl cannot muster as many hardened warriors as you possess.  I hope that their presence may inject a little iron into his backbone.”

He was right of course.
  I did like Morcar but I had been disappointed when he had deserted us at Fulford and so many men had died needlessly. What depressed me the most was that without a figurehead like Morcar, Earl of Northumbria, I could not see how we could fight the invaders.  Thankfully we had heard that William was still in Normandy dealing with rebels there and it was Odo who was ruling in his name.  The north seemed to have escaped his notice but he would, eventually, realise its potential.  The excuse we were going to give for our visit was the news of Sweyn, the King of the Danes and his intentions. We attracted attention as we rode through the gates of the city.  The red horse on our shields was recognised and I was pleased at the smiles and the occasional cheers we received.  What none of us was happy about was the sight of kite shields for that meant only one thing, Normans.  They had reached Jorvik, and all of us kept our hands on our swords as we rode up to Morcar’s hall.

We were too many men to be housed safely in the hall and Osbert sent his men at arms along with Ridley’s to the warrior hall whilst the four of us went to speak with the Earl. I noticed some embarrassed and some furtive looks from the guards who admitted us.
  Many of them were known to us from Fulford and Stamford but none of the ones we saw had covered themselves in glory. I had to keep an eye on Osbert because he was itching for one of them to say something so that he could start a fight.  The behaviour of the Earl’s men at Fulford still rankled with him and the loss of Aedgart at Stamford meant he resented those who had cowered behind Jorvik’s walls while brave men had died. I leaned in to speak quietly to him, “Osbert hold that temper of yours in check or you can join the other men at arms.”

“Sorry my lord, I forget myself.”

Morcar had aged a little in the year since we had seen him.  He had put on weight and was developing multiple chins. It showed that he had let himself go and not trained as a warrior.  It was a mark of the man, demonstrating his brother’s influence. “Lord Aethelward, Aelfraed, Ridley.  It is good to see you.  It has been too long.” He embraced each of us. “How is my sister?”

“You are now an uncle my lord, Harold.”

I detected the hint of a frown but he quickly hid it.”It is good to have old friends to visit us and what brings you here?”

It was strange that he should ask that for we were the leading Thegns in the Earldom but I let it pass.
  Aethelward began to tell him of the danger from King Sweyn whilst I scanned the room. There were too many unfamiliar faces for my liking and the three Normans who hovered behind his chair were distinctly sinister and they eyed us equally suspiciously. When Aethelward had finished I could see that Morcar was worried.  His eastern coast was the closest point for the Danes if they chose to invade and he remembered Hadrada and the drubbing he had been given by them.

“This is serious news.” He turned to one of the Normans. “You will need to tell the king this news Lord William.”

The young knight sneered.  He spoke English but it was heavily accented. “The King does not fear these Danes.  We have beaten them before and we shall beat them again and we would not fear a naked man with an axe.”

The smile told us that the insult was intended and a reminder of the brave berserkers who had held us up at the bridge.
  I felt Osbert and Ridley stiffen and I restrained both of them. “I am sorry my lord you have the advantage of us.”

He turned to face me and when I saw his arrogant and superior look I knew that I did not like him.
  “I am William of Perci.”

“Well ,William of Perci.
  I do not consider myself a coward and yet when I faced those berserkers at Stamford Bridge then I feared them as any warrior who faced an enemy who is unafraid of dying.  Or are you not afraid of death?”

He looked confused. “Why should I die? I am a Norman knight and no man is my equal.”

Aethelward spoke.  “I heard that Harold’s Housecarls slaughtered many Norman knights at Senlac Hill which means they were your equal for they were outnumbered and still held off many charges.”

His hand went to his sword and Morcar nervously interrupted. “Come let us not rake over old wounds.
  Not with Danes on the horizon.  Take your hands from your swords I command it.”

He sounded like a petulant child and I smiled and spread my arms.
  “It is not we who have our hands on our weapons my lord for we understand the laws of hospitality.  Perhaps Norman knights are not taught such manners.”

William reddened and, without bowing to the Earl, stormed out, followed by his countrymen. His lack of respect for the Earl worried me as did his presence. Morcar looked at the door ruefully.
  “Well that could have gone better.”

Aethelward looked at the courtiers and then back at Morcar.
  Morcar was many things but stupid and slow were not characteristics of that Earl and he waved away his courtiers. “Osbert, guard the door.”