Viking Wrath (4 page)

As I stood I howled again and it was taken up by my men. Eerily it was echoed from our right and the raiders began to look at each other. They had expected to fight farmers and fishermen and now they faced wolves. It was too much for some and they broke. The moment the pressure lessened Wolf Killer and his beleaguered men took the opportunity to reform their ranks and charge again. The decisive moment came when Sigtrygg brought another wedge into the left flank of the raiders. They broke and we tore into them as they tried to flee back to the safety of their ships!

They had the advantage that they had no armour and could run faster. We had weary arms and legs but we ran after them anyway. I heard a roar from behind me as the gates of Úlfarrston opened and Pasgen led an angry mob of villagers who were eager to get at these raiders. As I ran a hand clutched at my leg and I stumbled; as I fell my seax plunged into the chest of the warrior who had tried to stop me. I rose and sheathed my seax. It was time for Ragnar's Spirit to hew these warriors' limbs. Already one of the ships was pulling away from the shore. The second one looked to be covered in something alive as Wolf Killer led his men aboard. I stopped at the bank of the river. Behind me I heard screams as the people of Úlfarrston fell upon those either wounded or slow. The two ships which headed south rode high in the water. They had barely one crew between the two of them. I turned to shout for prisoners and realised that I was too late. The only ones who remained were my warriors and Pasgen's men.

I took off my helmet and felt the cold air begin to cool me. Bjorn the Scout and Erik wandered up. Their clothes and their weapons were bloody. Bjorn the Scout nodded, "We killed their sentries but we could not reach their ships."

I pointed to the one boat which remained, "It matters not. Wolf Killer captured one and we might learn more of their origin."

Snorri had taken off his helmet. "I heard both Welsh and Irish spoken Jarl but they had only one leader."

"Was he the one I slew?"

"No, Jarl; he had a mail shirt. His shield bore a crude dragon design. I think he was Welsh."

That puzzled me. We had many allies amongst the Welsh. We had helped the King of Dyfed to defeat the men of Mercia. There were, however, a number of kingdoms in Wales. This might not have been sanctioned by a king. "Collect the weapons and their treasures. Let us see if Aiden can fathom out where they came from. Cnut, see to our wounded. I will board this ship."

My son was waiting for me. He, too, had taken off his helmet. He looked grim. "I lost five warriors to these animals."

I nodded. It was hard to lose any warriors but that was inevitable. "Did you take any prisoners?"

He shook his head, "I am sorry but the blood was in my head."

"I know but it would have been useful to learn where they came from. Let us board and search for maps and the like."

"How will that help us? We cannot read their words."

I smiled. My son still had much to learn, "I know but Aiden can tell us the language and then we will know from whence they came and, besides, they will have plotted their course from their homes."

He shook his head, "I should have worked that out for myself."

We found maps. There were four of them aboard the ship which showed that the raiders had come from the south. Even I could see that their language was Welsh but they had not marked their point of origin. The nearest we had was that they had passed the Dee at a town they called Caer. I knew that was Chester but the last time I had been in the area it had been ruled by Mercia. We could do little about them now. A revenge raid would have to wait until after the winter.

"Erik, have a crew row this ship up the river to
'The Heart of the Dragon'
. It will be a useful addition to our fleet."

When I stepped ashore again Pasgen was there. He clasped my arm. "Thank you for coming so swiftly."

I nodded, "Let us go within your walls and you can tell me all."

As we returned I saw the devastation caused by the attack. Dismembered bodies lay scattered like leaves. The huts which had been burned were now charcoal rings with a family's life's possessions destroyed. "It was the sentries in our tower who saw them. They delayed sending a message to us for they thought that they might be traders. They were not long ships. They were almost upon us when they realised. I barely had time to send a runner to reach you before they swarmed ashore." He shook his head, "Many of my people were too slow and were caught before they could reach the safety of our walls." He closed his eyes at the memory. "We had to watch them being butchered like animals. We used our archers to halt them. They were not expecting that but it was heart breaking to watch them burning the homes of my people." He waved towards the river. "They even burned the fishing boats."

"We think that they came from the south; from the land of Cymru."

He nodded, "We will have to watch more carefully in future."

"I will have you a bell made for the tower. Your men should toll it whenever they think there is any danger. It is better to be safe than sorry. Have your people leave their homes as soon they hear it." He nodded, glumly. "It cannot help these but others might be saved in the future."

We walked around his hall where those who had been wounded were being tended to. He shook his head in disbelief, "This is almost as it was before you came, Jarl Dragon Heart."

I knew he was not criticising me but it sounded as though he was. "We will punish them but it will have to wait until after the winter."

He nodded, "I know. We should have built signal towers to let you know more quickly."

"We can do that when the weather is better. You will need to make arrangements for your people. Winter is coming and many have no homes now." He looked despondent. "Now your people will see what kind of leader you are, Pasgen. I have no doubt that you will come through this stronger than before."

He brightened a little, "It feels as though I have let them down."

"You have not. This is a setback only."

It was almost dawn by the time we reached our halls. I had been fortunate and lost none but Wolf Killer and his men carried back the bodies of their dead. They would be laid to rest with honour. My Ulfheonar had shown their worth. We had not lost a man. I was anxious to speak with Aiden and show him the map. His sharp mind might make a better deduction than mine had been. Kara had hot food and ale waiting for us. Before I ate I sought out Aiden, "Look at these maps and try to glean every scrap of information you can. I am going to the Water to cleanse my body of blood."

I walked to the icy Water and stripped off. I stepped into the bone chilling grey water. It took my breath away. I forced myself to sink beneath its surface. I opened my eyes and held my breath. I could hear my heart beating in my head. I forced myself to stay there as long as I could. When I rose from the water I no longer felt cold and my head felt clear. The Water had driven all need for sleep from me. I rubbed myself dry with my kyrtle. I looked up and saw Kara walking towards me with a fresh one.

"The last thing we need, father, is for you to fall ill. Put this on."

I did as she commanded, "The Water never takes my strength. It adds to it. You should know that."

She nodded and picked up my mail. "I can see this is damaged. I will have Bjorn repair it. Come you need to eat."

"And we need to talk."

We went into Kara's hall. I always felt slightly intimidated in this bastion of women, my daughter smiled as she sensed my unease. She dismissed her women and we sat in her hall alone.

"Why did you not see the danger from the south, daughter? Are you losing your powers?"

She looked worried and let out a sigh. "I know not. I sensed something but my thoughts were confused. I have not dreamed for some days."

I was on delicate ground and I knew it. "You are no longer a girl. Perhaps you are changing into a woman grown."

She suddenly brightened. "Of course, Angharad told me that I would become weaker before I became stronger. She gave me medicine to help the change."

"The change?"

"Yes, father. Snakes and lizards shed their skins. While they do so they are vulnerable. Angharad gave me a potion to speed up the process. I am becoming a more powerful volva. My body and my mind are changing. You will soon have me back to my full powers. Until then you will have to rely on Aiden."

I nodded and touched the blue stone which hung from around her neck. "Could we use this to enhance his powers?"

"It would not hurt but I had best stay away from Aiden. I would not like the changes in my body affect his. Sadly he is a man and will not undergo the changes I am enduring. Perhaps the blue stone will help him." She looked sad, "I miss my mother's dreams. I have not spoken with her for some time."

We tightened our defences even as the harsh cold of winter took hold. We had learned, long ago, to lay in as much wood and kindling as we could and to salt as much meat as possible. Now we also made our homes and our walls stronger. I was lucky there. I still had many single Ulfheonar who lived in my warrior hall as well as the garrison of Rolf and his old men. Walls still surrounded my hall and my building and so we made them stronger and added new towers while we could. Next time there was danger then my daughter and Arturus' family could shelter there. I would feel happier then. It had not been Vikings and it had not been the men of On Corn Walum who had attacked us. I had been wrong but this attack by opportunists had been a warning; a warning which we would heed. Bjorn cast a bell for Pasgen. He used our own iron and copper to do so. It was not a large bell but we would hear it.

By Yule there was no movement across my land. The mountains and the meres were locked in the icy white grip of winter. This, however, was no wolf winter. The Water did not freeze and we were able to hunt in the month of the wolf. My son had four candidates for the Ulfheonar. Bjorn the Scout and Snorri had tested the many who wished to become the best of the best but in the end there were just four left. The final trial was the wolf hunt. They would have to kill their own wolf. Once that was done they would be Ulfheonar. I had done this so many times that I no longer enjoyed hunting myself but I would go with the six of them to gauge how they reacted in dangerous situations. The wolf hunt was dangerous. As Ulfheonar we respected the wolf more than hated it. The qualities of the wolf were the ones we desired in ourselves: a ferocious fight, a defender of a family and an animal which would fight for his fellows even to death. The month of the wolf was a good time to hunt for wolves. They had cubs and the cold seemed to affect their sense of smell. It was a ritual we held each year as young warriors tried to join the small group of elite warriors who served me. Many failed this test. It would not be easy for them.

The six of them awaited me before dawn. Ulf Bjornson was one of our smith's sons. He had tried to work as a smith and was incredibly powerful but he did not have the heart for such work. His father did not want a smith working for him who was not as passionate about his trade as he was. I think he was secretly pleased that his son had chosen to follow me. Ulf was the envy of the others for his sword, armour and helmet were already the equal of my richer warriors. He had the strength but did he have that extra special quality which he would need to be an Ulfheonar?

Siggi the Silent was an orphan. His parents had been killed in the Wolf Winter and only he and his two brothers had survived. Sadly his elder siblings died a month later of the coughing sickness. The shock had been so great that he ceased to speak the day they both died. His voice died with his brothers. He communicated using his hands but only his friend, Magnus Redbeard, could fully understand him. It was fortunate that Magnus had also passed his tests and he would be the third candidate.

The fourth to attempt the test was Harald Long Legs. He was a tall, willowy youth with the longest legs I had ever seen. He was incredibly fast when running but I had my doubts about him. He would stand above my warriors in a shield wall and would be an easy target for enemy archers. I also worried about his strength in the wedge. My two scouts were adamant that he would be a valuable addition to the Ulfheonar. I trusted their judgement. It was now in the hands of the gods.

It was even more momentous when Snorri told us that they would be hunting on the slopes of Olaf's mountain. We had never had wolves there before but Snorri had seen their tracks. It made the hunt even more meaningful. Our four candidates would be hunting under the watchful eyes of the spirit of Olaf the Toothless. I sensed their nerves as we made our way west towards the slopes of the mountain. The hunt would also, if successful, make life in the village safer. Wolves sometimes took young children as well as animals.

I wore mail under my wolf cloak for I had hunted wolves before. My son still had the name Wolf Killer to show how close he had come to death on the slopes of the Lough Rigg. I did not take my bow; instead I trusted to my boar spear. I had seen wolves trying to eat the spear which had mortally wounded them. I also wore mittens made from squirrel fur on my hands. Perhaps I was getting old; time was I would not have noticed the cold.

We used the track which wound up the slope in order to save time. We would not find wolves there but with the short days we needed to use every moment of daylight we could and we were able to walk up the trail in dawn's early light without any danger. Snorri had found the tracks just above the Blue Water half way up the mountain. The water looked as though it was poison but we had drunk before from it. It tasted of metal but it did not harm and Bjorn swore that it tempered swords better than the Water of Cyninges-tūn. The wolves also found it palatable for we found their tracks leading away to the summit. There had been no further snowfall and the hard frost had made the tracks, although a day old, easy to see.

Snorri led with the four young warriors following. Bjorn the Scout and I brought up the rear. We were now following the tracks made by the wolves and we were off the well worn trail. Now we could be attacked. When females had cubs then the whole pack became that much more ferocious and protective. We would not interfere unless one of the young men looked to be in danger. That would, of course, mean that he had failed the test. I worried that Harald Long Legs would be the one who would not succeed. I also worried about Siggi the Silent. How could he shout for help? Perhaps we would only return with two successful Ulfheonar.

I was, however, impressed by their skills thus far. Each walked in the steps made by Snorri. When we were in enemy territory this would disguise our numbers. I also saw that they each had an arrow nocked. Their eyes scanned the land on either side in case of a surprise attack. So far they were doing all that I could have expected. Of course there was little danger yet. The land before us suddenly blossomed into light as the sun climbed over the Hawk's Head to the east. Snorri's sharp eyes and keen sense of smell detected something and he held his hand up. I smiled as the four young warriors spread out in a defensive half circle before Bjorn the Scout and me. Bjorn the Scout turned to me and nodded approvingly.

Snorri pointed to a small pile of rocks and some scrubby undergrowth; it was some hundred or so paces above us. The wind was coming from the west and even I detected the pungent smell of wolf. I could not see but I guess it must be the entrance to a cave. It was just the sort of place wolves would choose. They liked the dark for their dens.

Snorri stepped to one side. It was now up to the four who wished to be Ulfheonar. I had not had to endure this when I had killed my first wolf. I had been much younger than they were and I was defending Old Ragnar. Then I had had no time to think; here the four of them had to work as a team and then each would kill their own wolf. It would not be easy. Snorri nocked his bow as did Bjorn the Scout. I pulled my shield around from my back. I felt a sudden cold flash as I did so. The cold was biting. I trailed my spear on the ground and I walked slowly behind the four youths who were moving stealthily towards what they hoped was their prey.

Dawn had not brought any warmth with the sun. The wind, which still came from the west and the north chilled me to my bones. None of the four had a helmet on. They needed all of their senses about them. They were just thirty paces from the muddle of prints which Snorri thought marked the entrance to the den. I caught a slight movement from my right. As I turned I saw a wolf leap towards Magnus Redbeard. He had quick reactions and he turned and released his arrow in one movement. It was well aimed and it plunged into the chest of the beast. The arrow did not kill it. He was quick thinking and he jammed his bow between the jaws of the wolf which tried to eat its way through it. He reached down and pulled out his seax. He ripped it up into the chest of the wolf and the flood of blood told us all that he had his kill.

The death of the wolf seemed to be the signal for half of the pack to fall upon the four of them. Snorri, Bjorn the Scout and myself were thirty paces back and we all raced forward. There were just too many wolves for the four young men to deal with. Magnus threw the corpse of his dead wolf to one side and drew his sword. The other three all released their arrows. Harald was the only one who made a clean kill. He then quickly nocked an arrow and sent another to the wounded wolf which was trying to get at Siggi the Silent. I saw that Ulf was in trouble. It was a huge he wolf which had attacked him and Ulf's arrow, while it stuck out from the wolf's chest had failed to find a vital organ. It was his strength which was saving him. He was holding the wolf's jaws apart but he was being savagely raked by its legs. Soon the claws would find flesh and Ulf would die.

Bjorn the Scout and Snorri were running to the aid of the others and I ran up the slope. I pulled my boar spear back. I had already decided where I would strike; just behind its eye. I would plunge my spear into its brain. Even as I punched forward and felt the tip strike flesh I was being thrown to the ground by the she wolf who had leapt at me from behind a rock. Luckily my shield stopped her teeth from sinking into flesh but my hand was torn from the spear. The strike had been a good one and, as I fell backwards, I saw the wolf which was trying to kill Ulf slump to the ground as his seax ended its life.

We crashed to the ground. This was a large wolf and the wind was knocked from me. I reached behind my shield and pulled out my seax. The fall had opened my chest and the wolf fell upon it and I saw her jaws as they widened. This was like a moment in combat which seemed to take forever. I brought my right hand up to hold her throat and it seemed to take an age as the teeth drew closer to my face. I still wore a helmet and I think that is what saved me. Her teeth ground on the metal. A wave of foetid breath washed over me and the wolf's slobber dripped into my mouth as I ripped my blade across her throat. A flood of warm blood washed over me and then her body slackened as she died. The slope of the mountain took her body from mine and I panted as I looked up at the sky.

I could hear snarls and roars. I had no time to lie and thank the Allfather for my survival. I struggled to my feet just in time to see Magnus and Snorri sink their swords into the last of our attackers. More of the pack remained in the cave but they would not risk a second attack. I saw that all six of my comrades had been bloodied but they all stood and none appeared to have a life threatening injury. There were eight dead wolves. I nodded and shouted, "Ulfheonar!"

The four youths grinned and joined Snorri and Bjorn the Scout in repeating the call. We would not risk the wolf howl. That would be tempting
wyrd
and the Norns just a little too much. I smiled. "Let us get these wolves down from the mountain before the rest decide to finish off what their brothers have started." I looked up at the mountain and shouted, "Thank you Olaf! You have saved us one again." I took my sword and ripped open the chest of the she wolf. I tore out its still warm heart and laid it on a rock. "Here, Olaf, one of your favourite meats; the heart of the wolf!"

After we had picked up the beasts we descended and I heard a rumble of rocks in the distance. I smiled; it was Olaf's way of showing his gratitude.

The four new Ulfheonar were greeted like heroes when we returned to Cyninges-tūn. There was neither animosity nor jealousy from those who had not achieved their status. They would try again. The ones who had not been good enough for the wolf test would hone their skills. The success of these four merely fuelled the desire of the failures. Each one of the youths butchered their own wolf for they would need the skin. Unusually I did too for the cloak I wore was now old and did not keep out the rain as it once had. I would use it before my fire as a reminder of my youth and Ragnar.

As I was skinning it Ulf sidled over to me. He said quietly but with a voice heavy with emotion. "Jarl Dragon Heart, I owe you my life. I would be dead but for your swift strike and then you, too, were nearly killed. I am your man unto death."

I tried to put my arm around his shoulders; it reached half way. "We are brothers and we fight for each other. One day you will save my life."

I went to my horse and slung the wolf skin over his rump. I had much work to do on the skin before it would become a cloak but I had some months before I would need it again. As I passed Bjorn the Scout and Snorri I saw that they were speaking with Siggi.

"We know you cannot speak, Siggi, but can you whistle?" I knew that Bjorn the Scout was being kind.

The orphan looked at them frowned. He shrugged.

"Try." Snorri showed him how and Siggi screwed up his face as he watched and tried to copy. Amazingly a long pure note emerged and his face lit up. "There, you can practise over the winter and by the time we sail you can have a whole range of whistles."

It was another mark of the acceptance into the Ulfheonar. My men were as one. We were a pack. We lived, fought and died as the wolves who skin we wore did. We were the Wolf Warriors.

Although I had not planned on killing a wolf I was pleased that I had. For one thing the cloak I made was larger than the one I had retired and the head was bigger. This one was much easier to fit over my helmet. It also gave me something to occupy my hands during the long winter nights. I played chess, and lost, to Aiden and I worked on my cloak. Our other occupation was to discover how to harness the power of the blue stones. Aiden had a small one and I had the larger one on my pommel. Infuriatingly Angharad had not told Kara how to use the stones but Aiden gradually learned what to do to increase his power. His thoughts became clearer and his visions more accurate. We found that the closer they were to the Water the more Aiden could use his powers. When we discovered that he smiled his satisfaction. "That makes sense, Jarl, for the spirits of Olaf and your wife are here and close by."