Viking Treasure (18 page)

We had lost almost as many men fighting the outlaws as we had in Neustria. Our aid to our friend had hurt us. We still had enemies out there and they had been increased.  I knew that Harald Black Teeth would remember me and seek revenge. As we headed south through stormy skies and seas I thought about the Jarl's words.  They were a warning but surely I had heeded them already?  I kept my family as close as I could. Even as the thought flitted into my head I knew that it was not true.  Wolf Killer and I still had a problem. If I was dead I could not resolve it.  The Jarl's words made me promise myself that I would spend time with my two sons and grandson.  Who knew how long I had left in the Land of the Wolf.

I would send a message to the Jarl's sons.  They should know how he felt. I owed it to him. They were successful and he was now alone.  Was one the price you paid for the other?  Would I pay a price for my Viking treasure? Time alone would tell.

Coen ap Pasgen was delighted with our news.  Raibeart and his battered crew would rest awhile and repair their drekar. I suggested that they use '
Weregeld'
if they needed to trade. Raibeart nodded, "When I am certain that the repairs are almost finished I will trade with Dyflin and then visit Blue Scar." He shook his head, "It is sad to see a man grow old so quickly."

Haaken said, "Mayhap that is why it is better to die young with a sword in your hand."

As we headed back to Cyninges-tūn I was not so sure.  I am not Norse born and I had had to learn the way of the warrior.  It seemed to me that it was better to live as long as you could, if you could for death was forever.  I could barely picture Prince Butar now and Old Ragnar was just a ghost who flitted in and out of my dreams.  When I thought of Olaf the Toothless it was the mountain which came to mind and not his toothless grimace.

Aiden and Kara both knew that something had affected me when I trudged through the gates of Cyninges-tūn.  I found it easier to talk to the two of them rather than my wife.  She was Christian and understood nothing of the way of the warrior and even less about the chasm between my son and me.  I sat and told them all.  Ylva plaited my hair for me and listened.  She was growing quickly and was thoughtful.  What else could be expected from the child of a volva and a galdramenn? Her time in Miklagård had matured her.

When I had finished Kara nodded, "You are right, father, spend time with the boys.  Aiden has told me your dream and I think it is to do with all four of you.  I cannot see how yet for there are too many parts I do not understand.  As for Jarl Blue Scar, it is sad but you are not him. What you have built here will endure long after you are dead."

"That is not what the witch in the cave said. She told me that Hrolf's legacy would live on but not mine."

"You were not listening father.  She said that his line would create kingdoms.  That is not the same."

I knew that she was sweetening the witch's words to make them more palatable.  I did not argue.  I was weary and I needed my home and my wife.

Winter came far quicker than we could have expected.  It came with the news that Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar was dead. I did not need to send a message to his sons now.  It would only upset them to know that they had not been with their father at the end and that he had needed them.  It also caught our new mason, Basil, by surprise.  He found that the slurry that turned to stone would not set in the cold.  He had never experienced that. Miklagård did not have snow and frost. Luckily Aiden knew how to do so and the two of them worked together to make the process work.  The new gatehouse was finished before the winter set in.  He promised that he could lay stones in winter, unless the ground was frozen. That had made Scanlan laugh for the ground was always frozen.

Aiden wagged a finger at him.  "Then we shall keep the ground from freezing!"

Poor Scanlan was terrified, "You will use magic!"

"Of a sort.  We will lay hay on the ground and that will keep the top pliable. There are such methods written in the books we found in Miklagård.  My time there was not wasted."

And so my town became stronger.  The stone gatehouse would be a strongpoint if we were attacked.  Eventually we would have a stone wall all the way around.  We were safe and even more settlers arrived. They came from remote hillsides subject to bandits or they came from further afield having heard of this land of promise. We had peace and we had prosperity and those with skills sought work while others sought land and we had both. As winter approached I took Gruffyd and headed for Elfridaby. The ground was frozen but the snows had not arrived.  The trees all had the gaunt look having just shed their leaves. I knew from Brigid that their black skeletal shape in the gloom of dusk terrified Gruffyd.  I sensed his nervousness as we passed through Grize's Dale. I could not remember what had frightened me when I had been his age.  Then it came to me, wolves.  That fear had disappeared when I had slain my first wolf.  Gruffyd could not so easily dispel his fear.

"How is the bow coming along? We might be able to hunt with Wolf Killer."

"It is more powerful than the one I am used to.  I can pull the string back but not as far as I should.  Snorri has been teaching me.  I can aim better now but I do not have the range the bow is capable of."

I was impressed with his knowledge of his weapon.  He had been learning.

"You are young and you will become stronger. When we hunt I will let you eat the heart of the first animal we kill.  You will gain its strength and part of its spirit will be in you."

"The Ulfheonar eat the heart of the wolf."

I nodded, "We are its kin and it is why we are the most feared warriors."

"My brother killed a wolf and I would too."

"You are not old enough nor are you strong enough." I said it flatly for there was little point in building up his hopes.

"I know. I tell you this, father, so that you know I will work hard.  I watched, when Ragnar and I sailed with you.  We both learned.  Men follow you into danger which would terrify most men.  I would lead men as you do."

I remembered Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar and his regrets. When Wolf Killer had said the same thing I had dismissed his words. I would not make the same mistake twice. "Good then you must watch but do not watch me only.  Haaken leads in his way as does Olaf Leather Neck.  Snorri is the master of scouts and all defer to him and his skill. A good leader knows how to use the skills of those who follow him." He nodded.  I smiled as he jerked his pony's head up.  His pony had a tendency to try to eat from the berry bushes.  He did not allow it. "And a good leader must have a heart of ice.  He cannot lose his temper nor can he fight wildly."

"Haaken said you went berserk once."

I felt myself reddening.  Sometimes I cursed the songs of my friend.  They highlighted my mistakes. "I did not go berserk.  I fought hard to protect my oathsworn."

"Olaf Leather Neck goes berserk.  I have seen it."

"No, you have not.  You have seen Olaf lose his temper.  That is why he would not make a good jarl but if you need a warrior to face overwhelming odds and not flinch then have him lead your men."

"Did you choose your men or did they choose you?"

My son's questions showed that he had been thinking. "At first I fought alongside those who were Ulfheonar and we followed others.  Haaken and Siggi are two such.  Then it was the warriors who became Ulfheonar."

"No, I mean others like Ketil and Raibeart.  Many jarls would not make them leaders."

"How do you know?"

"Raibeart told me.  He said you were the only Jarl who would have made him a jarl and Ketil said the same."

"I judge all men as I see them and how they act.  Sometimes I make mistakes and that can be costly."

"Like Magnus the Foresworn."

I shook my head. He had heard all of these songs on our last voyage. "Aye like Magnus the Foresworn. If you are a leader then men lose their lives because of such mistakes."

I was grateful as we crested the rise and saw, in the gloom of dusk, Elfridaby.  I would  have some relief from the interrogation. Ragnar ran out to meet us.  I had not seen him since we had returned with the treasure.  He had grown again. Garth followed behind.

"Grandfather! I can send an arrow two hundred paces!"

I saw Gruffyd hang his head.  He could not manage that yet. "Good.  You must show Gruffyd how to do that.  He is younger than you but he is catching you up."

Ragnar grinned, "Of course cousin!"

Garth said, "And I have learned to use a sling shot, grandfather."

"Excellent! I have three young warriors to serve me!"

Ragnar looked up at me.  "Do you stay long, Jarl?"

"I have no reason to hurry home."

"Good, then we can hunt! Father has new men and there are some good hunters amongst them.  They are like Snorri and can smell game!

"Then we shall hunt!"

Elfrida was no longer the waif like girl who had been taken from King Egbert.  She was now a woman grown.  She had been the best wife that Wolf Killer could have chosen. I thanked the Norns and their threads. They had woven well. She waited outside her hall for me. When I dismounted she threw her arms around me.  "Thank you, Jarl for looking after my son. He has not stopped talking about the raid and how brave you were." She lowered her voice, "You showed no favouritism to Gruffyd and I think he appreciated that."

I looked at her, "He is my grandson.  He is of my blood.  I treat them all the same."

She looked up as Wolf Killer approached and mumbled, "Not all see it that way."

Wolf Killer inclined his head, "I was sorry to hear about Jarl Thorfinn Blue Scar."

"Aye, he was treated badly by some of those who were supposed to serve him.  A jarl must choose his men wisely."

"I know I have learned that to my cost."

Elfrida put her arm around Gruffyd and said, "Come, let us go and see where you shall sleep this visit."

She knew that her husband and I needed to talk. "Ragnar says you have new men."

"And you are wondering if they can be trusted?"

"Let us say I worry having seen the results of a single bad apple. Magnus the Foresworn, Harald Black Teeth and Hermund the bent are three such."

"And I have been cautious. The frontier is now Seddes' Burgh. Einar Thordson is master there.  His men have to constantly watch for enemies.  I sent the new men to serve with him.  He had two slain whom he thought were not to be trusted.  There are six of whom he approves. I intend to bring three of those into my hall for my warriors are fewer in number these days."

I nodded, "That is wise. Ragnar says that there are some good hunters amongst them."

"There are.  They are the three I would have here for they remind me of Snorri.  There is a forest to the south of Seddes' Burgh and we have hunted there."

"I would hunt with you and Gruffyd too but I would not travel that far.  My bones feel the cold more than once they did and I do not relish sitting astride a horse for that long."

"You need not.  When I was told that you were coming I invited Einar Thrandson to visit.  He will bring the new men.  He has not sworn an oath to you yet."

"He is your man."

"And I serve you, Jarl Dragonheart. I know that we butt heads sometimes.  That is in the nature of fathers and sons.  I see that now with Ragnar.  But I serve you and know that I would have nothing if it were not for you. You rescued me when I was a child and you helped me take my wife. I am loyal."

"I know, I know."

He led me into his hall.  He had improved it over the years but mine was both bigger and more comfortable. Perhaps I was getting old. The fire, however, burned well and I warmed myself beside it. A slave took my cloak and Wolf Killer poured us some ale. "Is Aiden not coming?"

"No, for he and our new mason are busy making our walls stronger.  He is turning them from wood to stone. The attacks by Ragnar Ruriksson made me look to my own defences.  I do not have the swamps and low lying land that you do.  I have the Water and the mountain. It will not be cheap to make us stronger but it will be worth it."

"Have you heard where the Frisians fled?"

"The last we heard he was heading for the court of King Egbert. I do not think we have heard the last of him."

"Einar has made the walls of Seddes' Burgh harder to scale.  There is a double ditch and a step for archers to use.  These new men who have come are good archers.  Two of them are the equal of Snorri."

"That is high praise indeed."

"I know. I hope they can teach Ragnar when they join me."

"When will that be?"

"At Yule, if the roads are still open. So far they have always been passable even in the worst winters but I know that it is a mistake to make assumptions."

"You are learning my son."

The four of us went hunting before Einar and his new warriors arrived.  We went with Siggi Flat Nose.  He was the most senior of Wolf Killer's oathsworn. He was to Wolf Killer what Haaken was to me; his oldest and most trusted warrior. I noticed that he viewed Ragnar almost as his own child.  His wife had been taken by the coughing sickness before they could have children and he had never remarried.  He was rarely more than three paces from Ragnar all that day.