Viking Raid (24 page)

As soon as it was dark I had Eystein throw the sacks of dung. They were thrown so that when the warriors stepped from the ram they would find the sacks.  We poured the liquefied fat onto the cobbles.  I waited a short time and then used the oil to complete the trap.

When the Mercians began to rain fire arrows at the walls I was surprised. We had plenty of water and they had few archers.  Many were woefully short and hissed in the water filled ditches. Others struck the walls but men leaned over and pulled them out before they could catch fire.  Had they aimed at the thatched roofs of the halls and buildings they might have had more success but they were releasing blind.

The failure must have spurred them on for we heard the sound of metal jangling in the dark. Their men were advancing. We readied ourselves but said nothing. It would plant the seeds of doubt in the mind of the attackers.  Were we awake?  Had we something planned? Not knowing was always hard.

We both saw them and heard their feet as they stepped on to the ram. The archers chose their targets and aimed for flesh.  Those warriors with open helmets and who were slow to raise their shields fell to their deaths in the ditch. The better warriors kept their shields high.  That was what I wanted. As they stepped from the ram they tried to move quickly.  The first warrior across slipped on the dung and fell flat on his face. Rolf Tryggson hurled a spear. We were just fifteen paces from them and the warrior was pinned to the ground. Although his body covered the dung it was awkward for the others to get by. Another two died before the body could be moved.

Someone in the Mercian ranks shouted orders, "Form a wedge and wait for my command!"

It was easier said than done for some had to form the wedge using the ram as a bridge and it was at an angle. Another died as he slightly overbalanced and Ulf hurled a javelin into him. They were patient.  The wedge had some forty warriors in it.  The formation was not a true wedge as it was only as wide as the ram but it afforded protection to the men for there were shields protecting them on all sides.

The archers who faced the right side of the advancing warriors began to shower them with arrows but the mail and the shields protected them. If we had not prepared our traps I would have been worried but as soon as they stepped on the pig fat and oil the leading warriors, all six of them, lost their footing.  Arrows would find it difficult to penetrate mail but my Ulfheonar were powerful warriors with spears. The leading Mercian was pinned to the ground by two spears; others lay writhing on the ground. The whole wedge was in danger of grinding to a halt. Even the arrows loosed by the Welsh were striking flesh. 

King Coenwulf lost patience.  He launched his line of warriors. We could see nothing for it was too dark but we heard the war cries from in front as the Mercian warriors raced forward.

"Llewellyn, prepare your men. They will attack along the whole of the wall."

It was what I had feared. He had overwhelming numbers and our archers could not see the advancing warriors. I drew Ragnar's Spirit.  The gatehouse was well defended but further down was not. "Haaken, stay here.  Snorri, Ulf, come with me."

  Llewellyn was to the left of the gatehouse.  I went to the right.  Some of my warriors were here bolstering the courage of the Welsh who fought with spear and shield only. I saw a mixture of fear and respect as I joined them.  I must have looked terrifying.  It was some time since I had trimmed my beard and with the red eyes, black armour and wolf skin I looked like nothing they had ever seen before.

It seemed oddly quiet at this end of the wall.  I could hear the wedge slowly dying by the gate but there was a dull roar as the other Mercians advanced. The Welsh looked afraid and this time it was not me.  It was the unknown of warriors they could not see; numbers they could not know.

"When they come they have to climb the wall.  Believe me it is hard to wield a weapon and climb. When you see them your spears will knock them to the ground. Stop them from attaining the ramparts and we will win.  Men will long sing of this day when the men of Dyfed and Gwent defeated the mighty Mercians!"

They cheered.

Snorri shouted, "Jarl! I see them!"

I saw them too as they approached the ditch.  Some had not seen it and plunged into its water.  Others tried to leap it. I saw one warrior crash with a leg sticking out at an unnatural angle. The timid and the less brave survived.  They entered the ditch slowly and they climbed the steep side cautiously over the bodies of their wounded and dying comrades. They still outnumbered us but these were not the reckless ones and that gave us an advantage.  The ones at the front threw their spears.

"Shields!"

One Welshman was too slow and he pitched over the wall transfixed by a spear.  Three struck my shield and two were thrown with such force that they stuck in the wood. I reached around and pulled them out.  I hurled one at an exultant Mercian and he fell back trying to tear the spear from his stomach.  The men with the ladders appeared.

"Stand firm!"

I took the second spear and threw it towards one of the ladder carriers. It struck his thigh and, as he fell into the ditch, the ladder broke in two. The number of Mercians was such that we could not kill or wound all who approached.  This would come down to close fighting. "Snorri and Ulf spread yourselves out. These warriors will need support.  May the Allfather be with you!"

Snorri banged his shield, "Ulfheonar!"

I was proud to lead such men.  They made me a better warrior! The Welsh were doing better than I might have hoped.  They jabbed with their spears and kept the enemy from the wall. As more men appeared so did their archers and they began to pluck warriors from the wall.  When they did so it afforded the ones on the ladders the opportunity to scale the top. A warrior made it and his sword slashed across the middle of a Welshman who fell to his death below us.  Before the Mercian could strike the next man I brought Ragnar's Spirit around in a wide arc and it bit into his side.  It jarred against his spine and he followed the Welshman he had just slain. More Mercians were now on the wall. I had a sudden vision of that first fight when I lived with Ragnar.  Haaken and I had had to fight alone with Ragnar and yet we had won.

"Ragnar!" I ran down the narrow walkway.  I ignored the drop to my left.  I had my shield on that side and I raised my sword above my head. A Mercian saw me and swung his axe at me, two handed.  It was a mighty blow and it smashed into my shield.  I was moving forward else it might have sent me over the wall. I brought my sword over my head and it hacked deeply into his neck and chest.  My shield punched him to the side. I kept running , towards the gatehouse.  I could see that the Ulfheonar were being set upon by large numbers of warriors.

Behind me I heard, "I am with you Jarl!" It was Snorri.  My back was covered. Two warriors managed to stand side by side and they had locked shields.  Their swords faced me. I did not stop.  I kept running.  One sword tore down my mail.  I punched its owner with the edge of my sword and he fell over into the ditch.  The other was knocked to the ground.  I heard a loud crack which told me he was dead.

I saw Haaken and he shouted, "Jarl! The gate! They have breached it!"

The ladder was close to me.  I ducked beneath a wild axe swing and stabbed up into the armpit of a Mercian and then I descended the ladder. Haaken was right.  The gate had been broken.  There were four frightened looking Welshmen standing there with their spears.

"Stand behind me and keep all from me!"

I saw that the blocks had held.  A mailed warrior struggled to climb over them.  My blade darted up and found his unguarded neck.  He fell back and knocked some of his comrades to the ground. Then Snorri was next to me and there were two Ulfheonar who would face whatever came through the gate.

I heard a Saxon voice, "All together! Heave!"

The wedge of warriors all pushed together and the top two stones tumbled forward.  Such was the force that three Mercians came over with the stones. I brought my sword across the back of the neck of one mailed warrior and took his head.  Snorri stabbed a second. As the third tried to stand I smashed the boss of my shield into his face and as he opened his arms to regain his balance I slew him.

Two spears appeared above my head as a Mercian tried to clamber over his dead comrades. They rammed into his face and he fell back. There was a gap between the tops of the blocks and the bottom of the gate house but it was narrow.  If the Mercians wanted to enter they would have to widen the gap.  Beyond the gap I could see the faces of the Mercians as they debated their dilemma.  Haaken and the men on the gatehouse were hurling missiles down at them.  I saw bodies of dead Mercians thrown too.

The Mercians brought their shields together . They were going to charge the single stone at the top of the makeshift wall. "Snorri, lock shields and brace yourself!"

We put out shields together and, kneeling upon the fallen stones held them against the remaining top stone.  If the Mercians could knock it over all that they had to do would be to pull their dead comrades away and they might be able to breach our defences. The Mercians threw their bodies at the stone.  They had just one man at the fore and the others were pushing.  Even as they crashed into the stone I saw a warrior at the rear fall, transfixed by a spear. The leading Mercian was just the width of the stone away.  The Welshmen behind were jabbing their spears forward. I took my chance and pushed Ragnar's Spirit into the eye piece of the Saxon helmet.  He screamed as the blade entered his eye and I pushed even harder.  I felt the pressure from the stone lessen and I rammed my hand forward, twisting as I went. A Mercian spear came at me. I turned my head slightly and the edge rasped along my helmet.  The warrior I had stabbed was dead and I pulled out the gore covered blade.  The dead man was stuck in place.  The Mercians behind had a dead body, a stone and Snorri and me to push.  They could not do it.

Suddenly I saw a bright light flash beyond the gate and two Mercians at the back of the wedge burst into flames. The pressure lessened as the Mercians fell back from the stones to watch the two warriors burning. I pushed the dead Mercian away.  "Snorri, over the wall! This is our chance."

We rolled over the wall. Had we not been defending the wall then the Mercians could have done the same. As we landed the Mercians turned to face us. Behind them the ram had begun to burn and prevented more warriors joining those who faced us. I stabbed forward with my sword and the blow was blocked by a shield.  My opponent tried to swing overhand with his sword and he caught the top of the gatehouse.  I punched him in the stomach with the boss of my shield.  He gasped and I stabbed again. My sword hit his mail and I kept pushing. I heard a crack as it began to break the mail links and I pushed harder. A spear came over my shoulder making the warrior move his head out of the way. It allowed me to step forward and push harder. The sword broke through the mail and into the warrior.  I roared, "Ulfheonar!" and used the weight of my shield and my body to push the dying man backwards. Snorri had slain a second Mercian and I could see just four warriors before us.  They were holding their shields above their heads for my men were hurling objects from the gatehouse and they were clattering on their shields.

The corpse I was pushing struck the leading Mercian hard and I was able to withdraw my sword and then swing it horizontally. Two of the Mercians at the rear fell backwards into the inferno of the burning ram in the ditch. Their screams made the last two turn and that was their last mistake. I plunged my sword into the throat of one while Snorri took the head of the second. There were no more Mercians before the gate! We had beaten off the attack.

The six of us climbed wearily back over the stones into the fort.  I faced the four Welshmen who no longer looked fearful.  I nodded.  "You fought well and we are grateful."

One said, "It was an honour to fight with two such warriors who feared nothing. When we saw you facing so many and not flinching it gave us courage."

Llewellyn came down the ladder.  He was grinning.  "We have thrown them from the walls.  They fall back."

I nodded, "Unless I miss my guess they will not attack again this night." I pointed to the fire.  "That is better than any gate.  Whoever came up with the idea saved us."

"It was your man, Haaken. He sent for warmed pig fat and threw it down.  When he threw the torch it ignited the oil and pig fat soaked ground and the ram caught fire."

"Put some of your men to watch down here.  These four warriors saved you too.  They are good men all."

As dawn began to rise it was obvious that the Mercian attack had failed. The clouds which had aided the Mercians by making as black a night as I had seen were blown away by winds from the east and the day promised to be fair. We saw the defeated army as they trudged back to Mercia. It became obvious that, just as Gwynfor Ap Rhys had lost the best warriors of Dyfed, so the finest Mercian warriors had fallen at the gate.  Their blackened, burned and butchered bodies bore testament to that. They were the ones wearing mail and wielding the best weapons.  They were the shock force which King Coenwulf had hoped would defeat even the mighty Vikings of Cyninges-tūn. We cleared the stones and I sent Snorri and Bjorn to confirm the departure of the enemy. My Ulfheonar took the opportunity to loot the bodies of those that we had slain. The Welsh might be able to reclaim the mail but my men took jewels, amulets and weapons.  We had held the gate and it was our right.

The King and his sons appeared when it became obvious that we had won. We were still clearing the entrance and he spoke with Llewellyn. I had taken off my helmet and wolf cloak. I had done with fighting for a while.  The King approached me and clasped me. "Thank you, Jarl Dragon Heart.  You have saved us."

I nodded, "You have good men here but you need to make this a stronger place."

"I agree and I will leave Llewellyn to do so when I return to my home in the west."

This had been too dangerous for him.  I would speak with Llewellyn before we left.  He was a good warrior and deserved a better king. "We too will leave."

He hesitated and put his arm around my shoulder, "The servant, Brigid…."

"Your daughter wishes to travel with us. That is not a problem is it?" I narrowed my eyes as I spoke.

"My wife…"

"Your wife is your problem.  Your daughter is no longer. She wishes a new life where she is not treated so badly."

I could see that he was troubled, "You do not understand her mother was a slave and…"

"And my mother was a slave too but the man who looked after her was a Viking and he cared for her. The world thinks of us as barbarians. We are not.  Think on that King
Arthfael Hen ap Rhys
and if you wish some advice, father to father, then make your sons toil as warriors.  It will make men of them.  They should look to the likes of Llewellyn for inspiration."

His shoulders dropped, "I will…" He shook himself, "You will trade again?"

"I will send for my ship.  If you give Aiden a list of the goods you need then we will send them."

"You will not come again?"

"I do not need to.  My knarr will be able to sail safely from my home without my drekar.  We will do as the world expects.  We will raid."

We clasped hands and he departed.  At noon Snorri and Bjorn returned.  "The Mercians are heading home.  We saw their horsemen.  They are the rearguard." Snorri laughed, "I think King Coenwulf fears that we might follow!"

"Siggi, Ragnar, go west and find the drekar.  It is time to go home."

We had not suffered any deaths but the piles of dead Welshman showed that they had fought hard. As Llewellyn viewed their corpses and shook his head I said, "Get them helmets and better shields." I pointed to the heads of many of the dead which showed terrible wounds. "Had they had helmets they might have lived and if you cannot get mail then use hide armour. Your archers are good but they cannot win a war for you without protection.  You need men to stop the enemy getting to your archers."

"You are a good man to fight alongside, Jarl Dragon Heart.  We have learned much."

"And now you command this part of the King's kingdom. You can make a difference."

The sight of my drekar with the setting sun behind it made me feel happier.  We could go home.  We had been lucky but I tired of fighting for others. It was time to go home and for my men to be with their families and enjoy the fruits of their labours. We loaded the drekar with our treasure.

"Erik, is it safe to sail this night?"

"Aye Jarl, the tide and the river are with us. The skies are clear now and the wind from the east."

"Then we sail.  Let us go home."

Aiden was at the stern and I saw a cloak covered figure by my chest. Aiden came to me, "It is the woman, Brigid.  She worried about you until Ragnar brought the news that the Mercians were defeated and you were safe." I nodded.  "She is a good woman, Jarl.  It was not just the Mercians who treated her so badly. Her mother was slave."

"I know, the King told me."

"She came from Ynys Mon.  She was also the daughter of a slave from Hibernia.  She has hair a little like mine."

"
Wyrd
."

"Aye. When Brigid was born the King was already married to Nesta. Nesta had Brigid's mother whipped. She said she had stolen something.  She had not.  The slave died. The Queen encouraged her sons to abuse Brigid. I know not how she survived.  She has steel within her."

"Then we will take her to Kara.  My daughter can work her magic on her and heal her from within."

Aiden gave me a curious look and said nothing but he nodded. I curled up close by the slave and, wrapping myself in my wolf cloak, fell asleep. My dream, that night, was of my mother.  I saw my father beating her and heard her crying in the night. I saw her as we were taken by Harald One Eye with her arms wrapped around me and a defiant look upon her face. And I saw her with love in her eyes as she and Prince Butar were married.

When I woke I looked up and saw that the day had dawned and Brigid was standing above me with a horn of ale. "You slept a long time, my lord." She hesitated, "And you were speaking in your sleep."

I stood and stretched, "I was dreaming." I took the horn and looked to the east.  There was the coast of Wales, a smudge on the horizon.  Erik was keeping us well out to sea. I drank the ale in one. "You are still happy to be sailing into the unknown with a band of barbarians?"

She laughed.  It was the first time she had done so and she suddenly looked much younger.  I had only seen a sad and serious face before. "There are some barbarians who wear fine clothes." She pointed to her heart, "It is in here that makes a barbarian."

I handed her the horn and went to the prow to make water. What did my dream mean?  Perhaps it meant nothing and was just a dream.  There was nothing in the dream which I did not know already.  It had just been memories but I knew that, because of my mother, dreams meant something.  I would speak with Kara.  I needed my sweat hut and I needed my Water. I walked down the drekar and my men called out greetings.

I paused when I reached Eystein, "I think that we misnamed you.  Perhaps you should be Eystein the Clever and not Eystein the Rock."

He shook his head, "I am happy to be your Rock, Jarl.  It is ever the honour to fight for you and look," he took out the gold and silver he had taken from the Mercians.  "Now I am rich enough to marry and build a farm!"

All of my warriors were now rich. Those who had come from other jarls would return and make those who had not ventured forth, jealous. A raid with Jarl Dragon Heart could set a man up for life.  There would be no shortage of takers the next time that I raided. I wondered when that would be.  It was not that I was weary of fighting but I wanted to spend some time in my land.  I needed the Water and the mountains to put back the strength into my bones and my heart that this voyage and these raids had taken from me.

We passed between Ynys Mon and Hibernia.  I joined Aiden and Brigid. Aiden said, "Your two homes. This is where your mother came from." He pointed to Wyddfa in the distance.  "That is a holy mountain."

She shook her head, "My mother was converted to Christianity.  She was told that such things are blasphemous. Mountains cannot be holy."

Aiden said, "And yet a piece of wood which was used to kill a man by crucifying him can be?"

I saw her look to the east and reconsider her ideas.

I smiled, "You will have much time to consider what is holy when you see my land for it is as near to perfection that you can get on this earth. There you will be safe."

She appeared lost in her thoughts as we headed north. I had always found it hard to read women.  Erika had known me far better than I had known her.  Kara was still a mystery to me.  Men and warriors were easier to understand.  Haaken, for example; I knew that he was already composing the story he would tell when we feasted.  Ulf Olafsson would be deciding how to spend his gold and how many arm rings he would buy. Ragnar would be thinking of the sword he would commission Bjorn to make for him. And me?  I would use some of my gold to improve my drekar. Bolli would benefit. I would have my helmet and mail repaired. My needs were small.

The knarr were in the estuary as we reached Úlfarrston.  Despite our delay along the Sabrina they would not have beaten us home by much.  The cargo they had carried would have barely reached Cyninges-tūn. As soon as I stepped ashore I knew that bad news awaited me.  Coen Ap Pasgen came along the jetty to greet me. His face showed pain.

"I have bad news Jarl Dragon Heart; my father has died."

"I am sorry I was not here at the end I would have liked to say farewell for he was ever a faithful friend to my people."

"He loved you like a son, Jarl, but he knew no one at the end. Your daughter came to minister to him and she eased his passing but I said my farewells. He is with my mother now."

"And you are headman?"

"I am and I will sail no more but I wanted you to know that nothing changes.  I am my father and we are still your staunchest allies."

I looked at him.  He looked older somehow, "But I suspect that you will do some things differently." He nodded, "Like better defences."

He laughed, "You are become like Aiden, Jarl.  Aye, unlike my father I have sailed with you and seen the world.  It is a dangerous place.  I have also seen towns which are grander.  We will use some of our gold to buy your stone.  We will have solid walls."

"Then your father will be happy for you have learned and you will be a better leader.  All fathers hope that their sons will be better than they were."

The drekar had been emptied and we loaded the cargo on to carts.  Brigid showed surprise when she was offered a seat on one. "If you allow, Jarl, I would like to walk with you and your men and see this new land with you."

As we walked the fourteen miles to our home I told her  how we had come here and our life before, on Mann.  I told her of Erika and how her spirit lived in the Water.  I pointed to Olaf and explained how his spirit protected us.  I knew that I was making her question her own beliefs but she had to know with whom she lived. I did not mind having a woman of the White Christ living among us.  We had had two nuns of the White Christ who had been much loved by Kara and our people. A woman could be a Christian but it would not do for a man.  How could a warrior turn the other cheek? A man's job was to fight for his family and his people.  He could not do that and be a Christian.

When we reached the Water her eyes lit and her face beamed.  The sun was setting and the golden reflection of Olaf shone on the still Water. "You are right, Jarl, this is heaven. I can see why you made your home here."

Kara and my people awaited us when we entered the gates. They had seen our approach and food and ale were waiting.  Kara did not seem surprised to see Brigid. She hugged her as I told her that she had chosen to live with us.  I did not explain why.  That would have been rude with Brigid there.  I would tell Kara in private.

"Come Brigid, we will find you a sleeping place in my hall." She looked at the rags which Brigid wore.  Until then I had not noticed them.  Kara shook her head at me, "And then we will find you better clothes! Men!"

The first thing I did was to go to the Water, strip off and bathe.  The blood, sweat and grime of many weeks away were washed away and with them came peace. I lay on the water and felt the spirit of my wife. It was good. When I had dried and returned to my hall to dress I felt like a new man.

Aiden and Bjorn Bagsecgson came to see me.  Both looked serious. "Trouble?"

Bjorn Bagsecgson nodded, "Word came from Sigtrygg while you were away.  His farms were attacked."

"Saxons?"

"No Jarl Dragon Heart, they were Vikings and they were led by Magnus the Foresworn."

My kindness had come back to haunt me.  I should have killed him when I had the chance. Any chance of peace we might have had disappeared with the sound of his name.

When I spoke at greater length I discovered that only a few of Sigtrygg's people had been slain and my Ulfheonar warrior had not suffered too many losses.

"It is as well he did not send warriors with me then."

"Aye, Jarl, it is
wyrd
."

"Then we must find where this viper nests and rid the world of him.

That night as I ate with Kara and Aiden I reflected, sadly, that my life was not destined to be peaceful.  I was silent as I ate. Kara sighed and came to sit next to me.  "Why the silence, father?"

"I had thought to have peace and I come home and find that my past comes to haunt me again. Will we never have peace?"

"You are a Viking warrior; do you really expect peace?  Would you be able to live with peace? Is there danger and war here now or have you peace?"