Viking Wrath (3 page)

Pasgen had seen us as we approached his walls. He had a soundly built fort. Because of his success many of his people now lived, as they did at Cyninges-tūn, outside his walls but his watchtower would warn of any danger and they could easily shelter within its walls.

"It is good to see you Jarl. What brings you here?"

"I came to see my long ship and I was curious about our visitors from On Corn Walum. The ones who left seven nights ago."

His face showed surprise. "They left but yesterday, Jarl Dragon Heart. They sailed on the evening tide."

My curiosity was aroused, "Did they have to wait for their ship then?"

"No, Jarl, it left them here and then returned a few days later. We did good business providing them with supplies. They were quiet but paid well. Your visitors returned yesterday."

"Our visitors left us seven nights ago where did they go?"

He shrugged and pointed across the estuary. "I know not Jarl Dragon Heart. They returned from the west all twenty of them."

My warriors and I looked at each other. "Twenty? When they reached us there were but six men and two women."

"It was two women and twenty men who left us to visit with you and twenty and two who returned yesterday."

I did not like the sound of this. I had been deceived. "Were all the men armed? Were they warriors?"

"Aye, Jarl. They hired four ponies. We thought they were for the ladies."

"But they did not ride them did they?"

"No, Jarl Dragon Heart. Did I do wrong?"

"No Pasgen. They had every right to hire ponies but I would have preferred to know where they were on my land and it would have been polite to ask my permission.

As we headed back to our home the four of us discussed the matter. Aiden was the first to voice his concerns. "I did not trust them and now I trust them even less."

Cnut had this habit of defending others, "They may have gone hunting. We would have heard if they were up to mischief."

Haaken shook his head, "The Jarl is correct it would have been polite, to say the least, to ask Jarl Dragon Heart's permission to do so, for he rules this land."

I waved away that argument. I was not worried about them hunting some of my deer. "I think they were not hunting but scouting."

Aiden nodded, "That makes sense to me too. But why? Their land is far from ours. Surely we are not a threat to them."

"Do not forget those pirates we met. The men of On Corn Walum are sailors. Aiden ride back and ask Trygg and Siggi to keep a watch for the ships of the men of On Corn Walum."

There was a nagging doubt now and it made an itch between my shoulder blades. In my experience when others took an interest in us then it normally resulted in danger at the very least. We would need to keep a close watch on our coasts. If they had been scouting then it might have been to make an attack. I could not fathom the reason but until the itch went away or I could scratch it then I would make sure that we watched our borders.

The itch lasted another month by which time the weather had worsened and winter had finally set in. Although we had no snow we had hard frost and when the temperature rose a little we had squalls of sleet and savage rain. I was happy to sit within my hall playing chess with Aiden. Inevitably he defeated me but I enjoyed the challenge of trying to get the better of him. My hall was cosy and my guards, Rolf and the other older warriors would occasionally join us to drink ale and watch the dragons in the fire. Rolf had served me for many years. The wound which stopped him leading my warriors had been well earned. He was still a good leader but he could no longer be a good warrior. You needed to be fast and strong to survive. He was strong but his lack of speed would put him at a disadvantage. I was happy for him to see out his years in my hall. He had served me well. The first month of winter was better than I could have hoped and we talked of old times and old friends. When that time ended it marked the coming of a long dark night.

We had kept a small boat at the southern end of the water. Arne the Fishermen lived with his wife and two sons there. Dwelling close to the outflow from the Water they were able to gather fish either with the boat, or at stormier times, with a net. I had had the boat built for him so that he could get messages to us at the north. He had lived there since Wiglaf had sent his killers to capture my sword some time earlier. The arrangement appeared to work.

Its value was shown when Osbert raced unannounced into my hall and disturbed us. "Jarl, it is Arne and his son. They are heading here."

I looked at Aiden who closed his eyes briefly. He frowned and then, as he opened his eyes, he said, "The spirits are troubled, Jarl, but I cannot see the danger."

"But you know there is danger. Osbert, get my armour." While Aiden and Osbert raced to perform my bidding I went down the slope to the side of the Water and the small jetty we had built there.

Arne's voice drifted over to me, "Jarl, it is Úlfarrston. It is under attack!"

He did not need to land. "Get over to my son and tell him to arm our men. I will be there shortly."

Arne nodded. The wind was blowing from the east bringing flecks of snow with it. He would fly across the Water. His son Arne Arneson was as good a sailor as his father and he leaned out over the side to get extra speed across the Water. This was danger. Our friends at Úlfarrston were better warriors than they had been but they were not strong enough to withstand raiders like we were. If this was a Viking raid then he could be in trouble.

My leather byrnie, which I wore beneath my mail, was ready as I entered my hall. Rolf had heard the commotion and joined me. As he and Osbert helped me to don my armour I told him Arne's news. "Keep my men here and arm them. Send a boy to warn those farmers on this side of the Water that there may be danger. It may be a good idea to bring them within my walls."

"And Windar's Mere?"

I shook my head, "It might be a waste of a rider. I wish to find out how many men attack our friends first."

Aiden returned. He did not wear mail but he had a leather byrnie. We had learned its value when he had been taken captive. He cocked his head to one side. "Think you it is the men of On Corn Walum?"

I had not thought of that but he was right. Their suspicious behaviour when they had left had made me uneasy for a while. The worry had abated slightly but this news fanned the flames. "I am not sure. They have been mighty quick if it is but we waste time in idle speculation." Once I had wrapped my wolf cloak around my shoulders I was ready. I carried Ragnar's Spirit and my seax. They were the only weapons I would need. Others had saddled our horses and we galloped around the Water. I was thankful that there was no snow and we made good time. The dark clouds around Olaf's head made him look as though he was wreathed in smoke. I hope it was not a sign.

Haaken and Cnut had organised my Ulfheonar and Wolf Killer had readied his men. We had sixty warriors. As I dismounted my son came to me. "I will leave six men to guard the halls."

"Make it twelve." He gave me a surprised look. "This may be a ruse to lure us from Cyninges-tūn. Have your people come within the walls." He nodded, "I had said,
'your people
' for he needed to take on that responsibility. "Snorri, Bjorn the Scout, take ponies and ride hard to see where the danger lies."

They waved and ran. Both were my best scouts and neither needed unnecessary instructions. Aiden and I would ride our small horses as would Wolf Killer but we would fight on foot. I waited impatiently while my son took his leave from Elfrida. My daughter put a thin white hand on mine, "Take care, father. I am sorry I did not see this."

I smiled, "It may be nothing. Perhaps Pasgen saw a drekar and feared for his life." Even as I said it I did not believe it. Pasgen did not frighten easily. If the message was that he was under attack then there were enemies close by. I turned to Aiden, "Prepare your potions here and help with the defence. This may be a drekar raiding or it may be something more serious."

He nodded, "I will speak with Kara. Perhaps we can communicate with the spirits if we work together." Kara seemed to have lost her powers of late. I knew that Aiden was as concerned as she was.

The nights were closing in earlier these days and the light was already fading as we neared the end of the Water. I knew from experience that raiders liked to attack at dawn. That made sense. It would have taken that length of time to get a message to us. I hoped that the people of Úlfarrston had managed to get behind the secure walls. We had built the walls strong enough to withstand at least a three day assault. Unless these raiders had prepared well they would not have brought siege engines and there were few trees big enough to make into a ram close by.

Bjorn the Scout met us just a mile from where my drekar was resting. Erik rode double with him. "It is a raiding party who came with three ships."

"Norse?"

"No, Jarl. These are the tubby boats the Hibernians, Welsh and Saxons use. We have not seen much mail."

Erik pointed to the west. "I saw fires to the west. There are settlements there. We took
'Heart'
out into the middle of the river."

"Good, you have done well." I turned, "Sigtrygg, take ten Ulfheonar and head west see if any people remain and kill any raiders."

He nodded and led his chosen men off. Cnut shook his head, "We may need all the Ulfheonar we can get."

The last of Arturus' men had just arrived and my son was organising them. I knew what Cnut inferred; my son's men were not my elite. That was true but my Ulfheonar grew smaller each time we fought. They were hard to replace. Already we were down to just twenty of us. "Wolf Killer and his men will soon need to shoulder the burden of defending our land. If these were Norse we faced then I might worry. As it is we shall see." I waved over my son. "It is not Norse. Sigtrygg seeks any who are rampaging. It is down to our men to deal with these raiders. There are three boats of them." I turned to Bjorn the Scout. "Does Snorri watch them?"

"Aye, Jarl. They have burned the huts which were outside the walls and were trying to fire the wooden walls when we left."

I nodded. Then we had time. The sea soaked walls would be hard to burn and there was plenty of water within the walls. "Then let us go. Bjorn the Scout, take Erik and find their ships. Use Erik's boys and discover if we can take them." Once more Cnut shook his head. Bjorn the Scout was one of my best and most experienced warriors. Cnut was a good warrior but he was no leader. Bjorn the Scout could do a better job than one of the other warriors who had less experience than he had.

I gave my horse to Erik and hefted my shield around. I led my men at a steady trot down the track, through the forest to Úlfarrston. I smelled the burning before I saw the glow in the distance. As we neared Úlfarrston I began to hear the chants and calls of the raiders. I detected Hibernian and Welsh words although I could make no sense of what they were saying. That was an alliance I had not seen before. Even before I saw them I was calculating their numbers. Three ships such as the ones they were using could hold up to forty warriors. They seemed not to mind overcrowding. That meant that we would, in all likelihood, be outnumbered. I knew that Pasgen and his men, while not warriors such as we, would be able to give a good account of themselves. Timing would be all.

I halted us while still in the shelter of the forest. Úlfarrston was just four hundred paces away. The ground sloped towards the river and I saw their three ships. Two were beached while the third rode in the centre of the estuary. A handful of men guarded them. There looked to be a hundred warriors. The fact that they had Welsh with them meant that they had archers. I saw flights soaring over the walls. We had not brought our own bows. I now regretted that.

I turned to my men. "Wolf Killer, make a wedge and charge the heart of the enemy." He nodded, appreciative of the honour I did him. "Ulfheonar, we will attack those closest to the gates. If we can relieve the pressure there then Pasgen might be able to aid us. They have Welsh archers. Be careful."

My wedge was a pathetically small one. There were just eight of us. I led; Haaken and Cnut were on my shoulders and the other five brought up the rear. We would have no weight behind us but we would have surprise. Then Snorri appeared from nowhere and stood next to Haaken. He said, "They have slaughtered all those who were outside the walls." He paused, "Women and children." I felt my heart harden. Normally women and children were reserved for the slave market. It was not much of a life but it was a life. Whoever led these was making a statement; he was trying to instil fear into the men of Úlfarrston.

Arturus and his larger wedge began to trot towards the enemy. We were well trained in this manoeuvre. Poorly prepared warriors usually fell over when trying to run. We ran in a loose wedge formation. We were few enough to form ranks quickly. Although Wolf Killer had the place of honour for he would be attacking the bulk of their warriors, we would be attacking the best; those who assaulted the walls. As we moved from the dark of the woods we were in darkness while the raiders were highlighted by their own fires. It enabled us to cover two hundred paces before they were alerted to our presence. I had time to choose our targets.

They had thrown a makeshift bridge over the ditch. The ditch, I knew, would be filled with stakes and spikes. I would use that to our advantage. I spied a warrior who had deigned armour and was bare chested. He held a long sword and had a small shield. His helmet had a spike on the top. It was for show and to make him bigger. His long sword would be hard to wield one handed and his shield was more a buckler than a shield such as mine. I would go for him.

As we ran I said, "We go for the leader, Cnut, I want those on your side pushing into the ditch. Let the stakes do their work."

"Aye, Jarl!"

Now that we were in action then Cnut was as committed as any warrior. He had left his doubts in the forest. They had still to see us but Wolf Killer and his wedge had been spotted and I heard the consternation from my left. I did not look. I did not need to. My son and his men were well trained. We needed to free up the men of Úlfarrston to aid us. As we closed, as yet unseen, I speculated on their reaction when they saw us. All of us wore a cloak made of a wolf skin. The head was draped over our helmets and our eyes were painted with the blood of beetles. They would not see Vikings, they would see wolves!

Two raiders saw us and raised the alarm. As soon as we were seen I let out a howl. My Ulfheonar took it up and I saw the terror on the faces of the men who were now just fifty paces from us. We tightened our ranks and covered the last few paces in a short time. Those before us helped us by running back to their leader. It slowed down their attempts to defend themselves.

I punched my shield into the face of the terrified warrior who tried to bring his spear around. The leader brought his long sword over and I barely had time to bring Ragnar's Spirit up to block it. His sword slid down my helmet and off my mail. It had been a hard blow but my helmet, sword and mail were stronger than his sword which I saw was bent a little. His balance would be off. I heard screams as Cnut and two of my men pushed raiders into the death filled ditch. My shield was held tightly against my chest and before the long sword could be raised again I smashed the boss of my shield against his hand. He was strong but I knew he was hurt. I gave him no chance to recover and slid Ragnar's Spirit deep into his midriff and out of his back. I felt it grate along his spine and I twisted the edge. He screamed in pain. I ripped my sword out and saw his entrails following. His eyes rolled into his head and he died. A sword clattered into my shoulder and I swung my sword horizontally. It sliced a long red line across the warrior's stomach. As he tried to hold in his guts I pushed him backwards into the ditch.

My Ulfheonar were around me in a protective circle. "We have cleared the bridge, Jarl. Are you hurt?"

"No, Haaken, but my mail will need work. Form up for we go to the aid of my son."

I could see that Arturus' wedge had been surrounded. His men now had a shield wall and were fighting desperately. There were just eight of us but the enemy we saw had their backs to us. "Wedge!"

I slid my sword back into its sheath and picked up a spear. I put my seax in my left hand. When we closed with them it would be close in work.

"Ulfheonar!"

The enemy were just thirty paces from us and we did not have far to run. I pulled back my arm as we approached and punched with the spear as hard as I could. It was a good strike and I speared two men. The long weapon went through one man's back and into the side of another. I dropped the spear and took the short seax from my left hand. All before me were enemies. Bare flesh meant an enemy and my seax was sharp enough to shave with. I stabbed to my left and as I withdrew the bloodied weapon slashed across the midriff of the warrior who had turned to face me. This was not war for the men we fought were bandits and brigands. They had not spent hours practising and honing their skills. They were chancers; they were men who preferred to strike in the night. I took the blow from an axe on my shield, dropped to one knee and tore up into the groin of a warrior who tumbled to the ground screaming.