Viking Treasure (16 page)

Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer was at home.  He rarely raided these days.  His tight control of the wild men of Dyflin was enough of a task for one of the most feared warriors in the west. "Jarl Dragonheart, it is good to see you and I can see you have had a successful raid.  Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson had one too.  The Allfather, it seems, smiles upon those who follow the wolf."

I shrugged, it did not do to make the Norns angry. "We are forced to raid in places which have not been raided yet.  Soon the Franks will be as the Saxons and learn to keep their treasures behind solid walls but for the moment we are successful and lucky!"

"What do you have?"

I waved Aiden forward, "My galdramenn can tell you."

The Jarl waved over his steward and he and Aiden headed for the drekar.  The other ships were unloading but my crew stayed aboard. "Do you stay, Jarl Dragonheart?"

"No we travel back as soon as we are unloaded."

"Then I would have come conference with you." He led me to a quiet corner of the crowded quay. "I have heard rumours of Vikings attacking other Vikings and taking their drekar."

"Do we know who?"

"It may be some of Thorfinn Blue Scar's men.  He had a drekar taken by some of his men who wished to raid.  They are outlawed."

"Are they named?"

"They are the followers of a warrior of Orkneyjar, Harald Black Teeth." The name sounded familiar. "He has renamed the drekar and we know not what it is now."

I clutched my dragon, "He risks the wrath of the gods.  You do not rename a drekar.  When we captured the ship from Magnus the Foresworn we left it as
'Red Snake'
.  We have prospered.  No good will come of renaming a drekar."

"At the present time he appears to be successful.  He is sailing in the waters around Orkneyjar and the northern isles.  He knows them well.  He takes the smaller threttanessa."

"And Blue Scar?"

"He has put a price on him but the warrior is cunning and knows the islands. The Jarl lost a second drekar in a sea fight."

"Then we will have to escort our knarr when they sail. Has Siggi been in port of late?"

"No, Jarl Dragonheart. Are you concerned?"

The hairs on my neck prickled again.  I could sense danger. "Each time I leave my land undefended then some disaster strikes. I hope that Siggi is safe. I will leave now.  The other four can travel back together."

He laughed, "It would be either a brave or foolish Viking who tried to take
'Heart of the Dragon
'."

"If this man is willing to risk the wrath of Blue Scar then I think he might do so."

I headed to my drekar, "Erik, prepare to leave as soon as Aiden returns." He looked puzzled but nodded.  I went to the other captains who were standing on the quay buying ale from a woman who pushed a handcart. "I will be leaving soon."

"Is there a problem, Jarl?"

"There may be, Raibeart. There are outlaw Vikings in these waters preying on other Vikings.  Siggi has not visited here.  I am worried.  Sail together and be wary of dragon ships.  They may be enemies."

They finished their ale and returned to their ships.  It would take some time to sell all that they wished to trade.  There might even be some goods they had to carry back. Jarl Gunnstein spoke with Aiden and he hurried back.  "The Jarl told me.  I have not felt danger, Jarl, but my mind has been on your dream."

We were soon under way.  When I told Haaken of the danger he and the weary crew took to their oars and we flew across the waters. The island of Man no longer seemed as threatening as we sailed close to Hrams-a. There would have been a time when we would have been wary of the Vikings who lived there but they would only attack solitary ships and never
'Heart of the Dragon'
.

"Sail ahead!"

"Aiden you have good eyes.  See if you can identify it."

He ran to the prow.  After a few moments he shouted, "It is Siggi and he is on a parallel course to us.  He too is heading for Úlfarrston!"

We had been lucky.  From now on I would send a drekar with every knarr which left our land. The pirates would not have one ship from us!

"You can take in the oars now.  Siggi is safe! We will let the wind take us in."

Siggi was unloading when we edged into the small quay. He seemed surprised to see us, "Jarl I did not expect you back so soon."

"We were worried.  We heard there were drekar hunting in these waters."

He nodded, "I heard the rumour when I was in Dyfed. I used the straits of Menaii. I know them well.  It would take a brave drekar captain to try them."

Aiden nodded, "That is why we saw them not.  We kept well away from the land of the Angles' Sea."

"Then when our ships have unloaded and we are refitted with a full crew we will go hunting pirates.  I will make them find waters which are less dangerous to our enemies!"

Coen strode over his face creased with worry.  "Is my brother safe?"

"Of course.  Why Coen ap Pasgen?"

"Our two knarr have not returned.  They left seven days before you sailed. They should have been back already."

"I fear that this pirate, Harald Black Teeth, has taken them.  Do not worry, Coen; if that is true we will compensate you for your loss."

He shook his head, "It is not the boats I care about it is the men.  How can you replace those Jarl?"

"You are right and it was a foolish thing for me to say.  I meant we will make sure your people do not suffer this winter because of their losses."

"I know, Jarl.  My nephew was on one of the knarr.  I have put off telling my sister for I hoped the knarr would return.  You have now dashed my hopes."

I had been so concerned with the treasure that I had left my land unguarded.  Who knew what calamity had struck my land too? I turned to Haaken. "The Ulfheonar will come with me now and we will get to Cyninges-tūn.  Cnut Cnutson, see to the unloading of the treasure.  Bring it to my hall."

"Aye Jarl.  I am honoured that I am to be entrusted with it."

"Cnut you have earned great honour this raid.  Your father would be proud of you!" He nodded and turned to order his men to unload.  "Erik, have the ship readied to sail in three day's time.  When the other captains arrive tell them that we hunt pirates!"

We borrowed horses and ponies from Coen and we galloped up the forest trail to Cyninges-tūn. Coen's words had worried me. Had the dream I had had been a portent of some catastrophe? The walls stood, boats fished and I saw the smithies at work by the Water.  The worst had not happened.  We were seen when we left the forest and the fishing boats brought the news.  It meant we had an audience when we reached the gates.

I saw anxious faces.  They were the families of the warriors who had sailed with us. Some of those warriors would not be returning.  Those families would be the ones to whom I had to speak later on. We would ensure that they did not suffer.  If a warrior gave his life for the clan then the clan took the responsibility for that family.  That was our way. Kara and Ylva engulfed Aiden. Their hall was close to the gate.  Leaving my horse there I went with Gruffyd and Ragnar to my home. Erika could now run easily and she raced to me.  I said quietly, "Gruffyd, greet your mother!"

It was not a lack of affection which stopped Gruffyd; he did not want to be seen to show himself up in front of his cousin. Ragnar said, "Go on Gruffyd."

He obliged and threw his arms around his mother.  I saw the gratitude in her eyes and then her nose wrinkled as she smelled him.  Days at sea mixed with the blood of wounded warriors did not make any of us smell pleasant.

I took off my wolf cloak and handed it to Uhtric. "Come boys, we will go to the Water and bathe. Let us purify and cleanse our bodies.  Uhtric, fetch clean clothes."

"Aye Jarl."

"Thank you husband!"

As I turned I asked, "Is Wolf Killer and his family well?"

"He is.  He has sent a rider every day to inquire after us."

"Good." My fears had been unfounded.  My dream was not about my home.

We had bathed, changed and eaten by the time that a weary Cnut Cnutson led my men and the treasure to my hall. He had also brought our chests.  I opened my chest and took out the Frankish sword I had captured.  "I give this to you Cnut Cnutson as a mark of my esteem and so that others will know of your bravery.  Take it and use it well."

"Thank you, Jarl.  I am honoured.  When you sail again in  three days' time I would beg a berth from you."

"Of course."

Brigid snapped, "Three days?"

"There are pirates raiding the sea lanes.  They have taken some of Coen's people.  We need to scour the seas of them."

"You will not be gone long?"

"A week at most. This is important. If the waters around our home are not safe then I have let down my people."

She relented.  "I would I was the wife of a simple farmer!"

"No you do not! We would not have such a fine hall and you would not have such luxuries as those pots and the linens.  Wait until you see the rich goods we have brought back for you."

"You cannot bribe me, Dragonheart! I would be happy with a simple life knowing that my husband is there to protect me."

Gruffyd said, "But he protects the land and the people.  Without him we would all wither and die."

I looked at him in surprise.  "Where did you hear that?"

"On the drekar when you slept.  The Ulfheonar said it so it must be true."

Further discussion was ended when Kara, Aiden and Ylva arrived. Kara made no apology.  "I have come to see this mountain of gold and silver you have captured father!"

I laughed, "We have yet to count it.  Do not forget that every man who sailed with me is entitled to a share."

Us too, Grandfather?"

"You too, Ragnar!"

We set to counting.  The pile of gold appeared to be disappointingly small.  Aiden laughed, "It would be strange indeed if there were huge quantities of gold.  These taxes come from the people of Aquitaine and Neustria.  How many of them have even seen gold, let alone held it."

He was right and the gold and bronze soon mounted up. The division of the spoils was harder than the counting.  Aiden had kept a record of all who had sailed with us.  He apportioned the coins. There would be more arriving with the rest of the drekar as well as other goods to share.

That night, as I lay in a comfortable bed holding my wife in my arms, I wondered if I should tell her of my dream.  I decided not to.  Instead I spoke of how well our son had done.  She listened and nodded. "Was he in danger?"

I could not lie to her.  "No more than any other of the men I took with us.  But he never left the drekar.  I did the same when I was young."

"The other mothers seem quite happy for their sons to be in such danger. How can that be?"

"You were brought up differently to these Viking mothers.  Their job is to raise warriors to defend the land.  They are happy to do so."

"Happy for their children to die?"

"No, my love, but happy in the knowledge that if they do die then they will be in Valhalla with other heroes!"

"They are not Christian."

I smiled, "No, my love and that is why you cannot understand it."

She fell asleep in my arms and I looked up at the ceiling. I was not Viking born and I found the deaths of so many brave young men hard but I knew that without those deaths then the Land of the Wolf would not remain free.

The mixture of joy and sadness filled my town.  I sent gifts to my other jarls.  They had defended my land.  I sent a chest of bronze to Wolf Killer. He had kept my land safe. I sent Ragnar back to him with Snorri.  I would not take either my son or grandson on my pirate hunt. There was little point for they did not have the skills necessary for a seaborne battle. I personally took coins to the families who had lost warriors. Finally I asked for men to crew the drekar. We had more than enough.

It was four days later that we sailed from Úlfarrston. I left Aiden in Cyninges-tūn. He and Basil had buildings and fortifications to plan. I had asked Siggi to stay in port. We only had two knarr left now, Siggi's, '
Troll
' and '
Weregeld'
.  Until Bolli could make new ones I would not risk them. I had spent a day in port discussing how we might trap the drekar. Raibeart's
'Red Snake'
would be the bait.  We would sail between Man and Mercia and then head west towards Hibernia passing Ynys Môn.  We would turn and sail north as far as
Ljoðhús
.  I hoped that the threttanessa would prove to be a tempting target. It would also give me the chance to speak with Thorfinn Blue Scar.  He was the nearest thing we had to an older leader. 

We sailed ten boat's lengths from each other in four lines. Raibeart and his drekar were always in sight but sometimes was a mere dot on the horizon. We were able to test our new formation to the south of Man when, at dusk on the first day, two drekar slipped from Duboglassio to try to take it. We were like greyhounds let loose.  The crews had been eager to row and they took to their oars with a will.  We began to overtake the two drekar.  They could not turn to return to Duboglassio for we had a line of ships preventing them. When Raibeart began to turn his ship around they were almost trapped.  They were saved only by the proximity of their harbour at
Balley Chashtal.  There were two towers there which protected the entrance. We could have entered and captured the drekar but that would have cost us men and it was not the men of Man we sought.

We hove to between the Angles' Sea and Balley Chashtal
.  We had sea anchors and we rode out the waves.  They were gentler than I had seen them and I took that to be a good sign.  The Allfather favoured our venture. Next day we sailed west.  We saw no ships but Raibeart had told us, the previous night, that they had seen many small boats and knarr but they had fled at the sight of the dragon ship.  This Harald Black Teeth had become a terror on the seas. He had made everyone fearful.

We headed north, passing Dyflin. I wondered where Gunnstein Berserk Killer's drekar had been.  His harbour had been empty. I would ask him the next time I saw him.  It would not do to have us both raiding the same places.  The world was wide and there were enough sheep for us both to shear.

I was almost disappointed when we passed the mouth of the northern river.  It was where our land began.  I had hoped to find these pirates before now.  They were elusive. We sailed up along the coast of Dál Riata. They had been our enemies once.  They were still not our friends but they had learned the folly of fighting us.  We anchored in the estuary. We would be safe there where we slept aboard our drekar.  When we sailed north we passed the island ridden coast. This would be the place where Harald Black Teeth might hide.  We kept a good watch.  The seas were rougher than they had been close to Man and my captains needed all of their skills to avoid the rocks which were like shark's teeth guarding the coast.

It was dusk on the fourth day when we caught a glimpse of a drekar. We had sailed up the craggy coast slowly looking for the masts of a drekar.  If we found one then we might find more. A sea fret had crept in with the tide making it difficult to see anything. Guthrum Arneson's sharp eyes spotted it for he was slightly above the sea fret on the top of the mast. "Jarl, there is a drekar.  It has a winged bird for its prow."

"Where away?"

"It is north west,  Jarl.  It was only there briefly. I think it was heading north west."

"Keep watching for it." I turned to Erik Short Toe.  Sail towards the north west."

"The fog and the rocks are a dangerous combination, Jarl." He was ever the captain and concerned for his drekar.

"We will take it steadily. Haaken, shout to the other drekar and tell them what we intend."

"Aye Jarl.  I shall ask for Ran's permission too.  I would hate for him to take offence!"

The tension on my ship was almost unbearable. Suddenly Karl, the ship's boy at the prow, shouted, "Rocks, dead ahead!"

Erik put the steering board hard over and said, "Jarl this is madness. What good will it do to rip the hull from the finest ships in the northern seas."

He never spoke to me like that.  I relented, "You are right.  Let us head for
Ljoðhús.  Perhaps the Jarl can enlighten us and give us more knowledge than we have."

"I am sorry I spoke out Jarl."

"No, Erik, you are right. The weather and the rocks are a bad combination." We led my line of ships away from the treacherous rocks and headed north.

As darkness fell so the fog cleared.  The rocks and white water became easier to see than they had with the fog.  We reached Ljoðhús two hours or so after our near disaster. The port was a natural harbour for it was protected by two islands which gave it calm waters.  There was but one drekar at anchor.  It was Thorfinn Blue Scar's ship. Although as big as mine I could see, even in the dark that it had not been well maintained.  There was weed on the strakes and the dragon needed paint.

Erik noticed it too, "I would not sail across the harbour in that ship.  Even from here she looks ridden with weeds and weevils."

"Aye it might explain his laxity. Anchor as close to the shore as you can." Here they had no quay but had built a jetty which jutted out into the bay.  Ships tied up to it and then disembarked before the ships were anchored in the harbour. "Haaken come with me.  The rest of you stay aboard."

Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar had aged since I had last seen him.  He was white and bent over.  He looked like Olaf the Toothless not long before his death. Was another jarl about to die? When he spoke his voice sounded weak too, "Jarl Dragonheart, an unexpected but pleasant surprise.  Come, join me in my hall."

When we entered I saw why Harald Black Teeth had got away with his raids.  The hall was filled with old men. If this was all that the Jarl had I was surprised that the outlaw had not taken his land and title from him.

I sat with the Jarl and Haaken at the long table.  When last we had been here the hall had been thronged with warriors.  In those days Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar had been a powerful jarl. He had ruled these waters with a fist of iron.  He was now a shell of his former self. I had been silent too long and my face had given away my thoughts. He gave a sad smile, "You are disappointed in the old man you see before you." I opened my mouth and he shook his head, "Do not deny it.  I have always liked your honesty no matter how unpleasant it is. You are now as powerful as I once was.  I believed I would rule for ever and when I fell, in battle, I would leave a land ruled by my sons." He shook his head. I had three and now I have none.  Two are carving out a land for themselves and the third was killed trying to catch an outlaw who betrayed me."

"Guthrum is dead?"

He nodded, "He sailed after Harald Black Teeth.  He was ambushed and slain along with his crew." Sweeping a hand around the hall he said, "I have these ancient oathsworn and one drekar crew left.  They hunt the spawn of Loki, Harald Black Teeth."

"I am sorry.  That is why we are here.  This Black Teeth has destroyed two knarr and their crew and I will have revenge."

His eyes brightened, "Then the gods have sent you.  If any can end this pirate's reign it is you."

"Does he wish your land, Jarl?" It was a brutal question but I had to ask it. If he did then I could lay a trap here in this bay.

"I think he has greater ambitions." He looked at me.  "Some of my men think he wishes to be jarl of the Land of the Wolf."

Haaken snorted, "And he could do that with just a couple of drekar?"

Thorfinn Blue Scar said, "He has three drekar but he draws the scum of the seas to his banner. Every outlaw and homeless Viking flocks to his banner. He is clever, Jarl Dragonheart, and he is cunning."

I wished I had brought Aiden for he would have seen the plan of this dangerous warrior. If he thought to take my land Haaken was right, he would need more than three drekar crew.  Even with me away there were still more than enough to stop him.  Ketil, Ulf, Wolf Killer, all would come to my home if danger threatened. He sought me.  He had drawn me out.  Now I knew why he had taken the knarr. He was tempting me into waters he knew and he would find some way to ambush me. I think Haaken was becoming more like Aiden for he gave me a knowing look.  I gave the briefest shakes of the head. I did not want to speak openly of my suspicions. Who knew if Black Teeth had left spies in this hall of old men?

"Who commands your last drekar?"

"My sister's son, Halfdan Larsson.  He sails the islands looking for him."

Haaken said, "But if Black Teeth has three drekar is that not a risk?"

"We cannot sit back and wait for him to come."

"Where should we hunt for him?"

"Badhl to the south of here.  It is called Beinn na bhFadhla by the Hibernians. My sister's son will be close by.  It is a flat island with many small bays.  They keep a watch from the small hill in the middle.  Halfdan will use the island they call Uist.  You ask how he will catch him?  My nephew hopes to take one drekar at a time.  He hunts the hunter."

"How is his ship named?"

"
'Storm Bird'
.  It has a white bird on a dragon's head at its prow." For the first time he smiled, "With you to aid him then my kinsman has a chance. He is brave.  I would that my sons had stayed.  Then this dog, Black Teeth, would never had been able to do what he did. I lost my sons.  They saw what you had achieved and chose to copy you."

"I am sorry for that."

Shaking his head he said, "It was not of your doing. The Weird Sisters punished me for my arrogance.  When we defeated those on the mainland I thought I was king.  I was wrong. Keep your sons and children close, Jarl Dragonheart. I feared that they would take my land from me.  I was wrong and now they are gone."

I stood, "Never fear, Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar.  We will aid you in this. Your sons will return.  Gunnar has an island of his own now. He has captured a mighty treasure from a church of the White Christ in the land of the Franks."

"I had heard.  And now my second son Gunnstein joins him. It is
wyrd
. Will you not stay?"

"No, Jarl. We came here to let you now we were in your waters.  We sail before dawn. We spied a dragon ship as we came north.  It had a bird at the prow.  Perhaps it was Halfdan."

"Was it black?"

"I know not."

"Beware then for Harald Black Teeth sails
'Eagles Heart'
.  It is a black heart!"

"We will return when we have news."

We went to the jetty and hailed our drekar.  As we waited Haaken said, "He tries to trap us.  That was why we saw his drekar and it disappeared. He knew the waters and hoped to tear the keel from us."

"He is clever.  If he has more than one drekar then he could take us one by one."

"Even so, Jarl, there are still warriors enough in our land to defeat him.  Wolf Killer and Ketil not to mention Ulf Olafsson could defeat him on land no matter how many of these outlaws he leads."

As the drekar nudged next to the wooden jetty I said, "And what of Ragnar Ruriksson?  If he joined with Black Teeth..."

"And we hunt the outlaw here leaving our home vulnerable. We should go home.  We can wait for him there."

We clambered aboard the drekar, "No, Haaken, I have to trust our warriors at home.  They have Aiden and Kara to help them and to use the spirits.  We will end this and then return."

I had Erik row us close to the other drekar and told my captains what I intended. I just hoped that Halfdan had not been drawn into danger.  I needed his knowledge.

We left as the sun began to rise.  These waters were too dangerous to risk at night.  I had
'Red Snake'
at the rear this time. She was no longer the bait.  She was fast and Raibeart ap Pasgen was a clever captain. His orders were to take advantage of any mistake our enemy made. We sailed under half furled sails.  When we needed speed then we would release our dragons. By noon we were close to the island which Jarl Thorfinn had told us of.  Karl was at the mast head and he shouted.  "Jarl I see a drekar, no, Jarl, there are three.  There is a sea fight!"

"Where away?"

"To the south, in the next bay!"

"Erik we will sail with
'King's Gift'
.  We sail directly to the next bay."

"Aye Jarl!"

I went to the other side of the drekar. "Olaf Grimsson, you will sail with us to the next bay.  Tell Asbjorn and Sigtrygg to sail south and cut off the escape of the three drekar." I was aware that as we were the closest inshore only we could see the ships.