Housecarl (17 page)

He was right and, even though we
were overcrowded, we managed to fit aboard. Unfortunately we were
shepherded below decks and it was only the Earl, Sweyn and my uncle
who were allowed to stay above decks. We had no idea where we were
for there were no apertures through which we could see.  We
knew when we were out in the rougher waters for the boat wallowed,
dipped and rolled in the breakers.  We had eaten sparingly but
some of our comrades had had a hearty night and consumed much ale;
soon the deck was slippery with vomit and the smell made many
others bring back the contents of their stomachs. We found out
later that the winds were favourable and gave us a speedy journey;
even so it took the better part of a day to reach our destination.
As we tumbled from the boats we were all grateful that there were
no enemies to greet us for we were in no condition to walk, let
alone fight. Once ashore those of us who were able to were formed
into a skirmish line and we formed a wall of steel as the equipment
was offloaded onto the beach. Despite my experience on the ship I
was pleased that they remained at anchor for we had a way out; the
beach was surrounded by high and threatening peaks. As soon as I
could, I spoke with Aethelward and found that we had landed in an
unpronounceable place in the middle of Wales.  We were as far
from England as it was possible to be and were three hundred men
who were alone.  The ships were, literally, our lifeline.

The first night was the hardest
for those of us who were fit as we had to shoulder the sentry
duties. I had never had to perform such a duty and I found it
challenging to stare out into the dark seeking unseen enemies; it
was like the forest and the bandits all over again.  I could
see neither Ridley nor Wolf and I just hoped that they were close
by. Every noise I heard made me start and jump. When Sweyn came
around on his patrol I was relieved.  His white teeth gleamed
in the dark. “How is your first duty young boar killer?”

“I would prefer to face a boar
or stand in the shield wall.  I like it not lord.”

I heard his laugh. “You will get
used to it for this campaign will be more arduous than the one last
year.” He leaned in and I could finally see his features. 
“You have done well, Aelfraed, and we all think well of you but
learn to walk before you try to run.  Remember when you ran in
the wedge for the first time.  I thought then that it was a
valuable lesson not just for combat but for life.”

Enigmatically he left and I
wondered to what did he refer? It was only later, for I had a long
watch to keep, that I came to the conclusion that my intentions as
regards the Earl’s ward, Gytha, had been noted. Perhaps my confused
parentage had created an issue.  I had deduced that I was not
the son of Edwin of Medelai.  That in itself was not a
problem. I did not have any filial allegiance to him and his sons
but I wondered about my mother.  In addition it made me
illegitimate. That was not necessarily a bad thing, for Earl Harold
and Edith were not married and had children but Gytha was related
to King Edward and that meant that any suitor would have to be
vetted. I laughed to myself.  I had had one conversation with
her and already I wanted her for a bride. I had met one girl and
she was the one.  My friends were right to mock me, I was a
fool.

The next day, despite my red
eyes and tired head we shouldered our weapons and headed in land
towards the heart of Gruffyd’s lands.  Aethelward and the Earl
had had information that he was in the centre of his country where
the mountains were high. We knew that the Earl of Northumbria was
leading the bulk of the army south and we hoped to catch him
between us; like a piece of metal between the hammer and the anvil.
We saw ourselves as the hammer for we knew that we were the finest
three hundred warriors in England.  We had never been defeated
and that bred confidence.

Within a day of leaving the
estuary we found our first stronghold.  It was a small hill
fort called Maen Llwyd.  There was a small garrison but they
appeared to us to be poorly armed.  Sweyn lined us up in three
lines rather than two.  As usual we were to the right of the
second line. There was a small ditch and a palisade which ran
around the mound.  It was not steep and I suspect they had
chosen the site as it was close to the river and could watch rather
than protect. Sweyn walked up to the gate and called upon them to
surrender.  I am not sure that they understood him for his
reply was a volley of arrows. It was a warning to us for they all
struck his shield.  Holding it above his head he
retreated.

“Well my lord it looks like we
will have to take this little pimple.”

We knew that he was right. 
We could not leave it as it could stop us leaving at some future
time. We prepared to attack. If they only had arrows then we
would  make short work of them. Aethelward and the Earl held
conference and my uncle cam over to us. “I want you thirty warriors
to attack the right side of the fort.” The warriors he identified
were the thirty of us on the right. I saw him go to the left flank
and do the same there.  It meant that the front of the fort
would be assaulted by over two hundred warriors and they would face
the main attack but our presence on the flanks would mean that the
Welsh could not place all of their men on one wall.  Once
again I saw the strategos that was my uncle.

As we edged around the side,
making sure that we were well out of arrow range I wondered who
would lead us.  Sweyn stood before the main band while my
uncle and the Earl waited behind. Soon it became obvious that we
would lead ourselves.  That was the first time I realised the
status of a Housecarl.  He was more than a mindless warrior
obeying orders; he was part of a machine and each part was capable
of acting independently.  In that moment I felt as proud and
as honoured as I had ever felt.

Sweyn roared, “Forward!” and,
holding our shields before us so that only our eyes peered over the
top, we marched towards the stronghold. As we marched we banged our
spears on the backs of our shields.  It helped us keep time
and it made a terrifying sound. The arrows began to thud onto our
shields as soon as we were in range. Some stuck in the wood but
many others pinged off the metal.  When the arrows struck a
helmet it was alarming for the warrior as it made a sound like a
small bell although none of the arrows penetrated, we all wore the
best helmets we could afford. When the front rank reached the ditch
we, in the second rank, halted to allow them to cross safely. The
Welsh had sown the bottom with wooden, sharpened stakes and I saw
three warriors fall backwards, their feet damaged by the pointed
sticks. The other seven climbed to the top and then hurried to the
wall where they stood with their shields above their heads to
protect them from the missiles and stones thrown upon them. We were
quicker across the ditch having seen the obstacles and we avoided
the traps.  Once we had attained the wall half of us protected
the seven warriors with our shields while the other half jabbed
upwards with our spears.  The Welsh had not built the wall
high enough and we were all tall warriors.  Our spears pushed
them back from the edge and the flurry of stones ceased.  The
seven warriors hacked at the walls with their axes their sharp
blades making short work of the wooden structure.  With the
third rank behind us we were able to prepare to assault. While the
third rank watched and cleared the ramparts we fell into a small
wedge formation. Gurt was in the front and Ridley and I were
second; with Wolf and Osgar on the left and right flanks we felt
secure.  As soon as Gurt saw daylight through the wooden walls
he shouted, “Push!” and we rushed the gap.  His shield struck
the hole and then the force of nine more warriors cracked it open
like an egg. We were through!

To our left we could see men
still on the walls holding off Sweyn and our comrades.  Gurt
turned us and we ran at the warriors who were attempting to
barricade the gate.  Even had we not been reinforced by our
comrades from the breach I am sure that the ten of us could have
seen off the pathetically poorly armed men who turned in horror to
see our spears and shields bearing down upon them. It was child’s
play.  I stabbed forwards and saw Boar Splitter rip into the
throat of the startled and surprised Welsh warrior before me. 
I did not penetrate far and, turning the blade, retrieved it to
stab into the unprotected side of a man who had been too slow to
turn and face us. By now men were coming from the walls to fight
off this threat to the gate. Gurt shouted.  “Wolf, Osgar get
the gate open!” Ridley and I turned to protect the backs of our
friends as they began to lift off the bars which held the gates in
place. Four warriors, armed with shields and swords angrily raced
towards us. I was to Ridley’s right and exposed but I had Boar
Splitter and the joy of battle was upon me. I stabbed forwards over
the shield of the man in the middle and felt my spear slice into
flesh. He fell back and I was able to deflect the sword of his
companion on my shield and then I used the edge of Boar Splitter to
slice across his unprotected head.  Its sharpened blade sliced
across his eyes and he fell screaming to the floor.  Ignoring
him I faced the man I had cut first and I saw fear in his
face.  He was terrified facing a mailed warrior a head taller
than he with a spear which outranged his short sword. Bravely he
came at me but without enthusiasm and with a flick of my shield I
knocked his sword aside and as he raised his shield to protect his
head I slid Boar Splitter hard into his midriff. He was not a big
warrior and the blade emerged from the back. I dropped the spear
for it would have been difficult to remove it and unslung Death
Bringer whilst sliding my shield to my back. Someone must have been
watching over me for as I did so I felt the thud of a spear thrown
from the walls which thudded into my shield and banged sharply
against my back.

I shouted, “Ridley” and, his
opponents having been killed, he took out the spear and, in one
easy motion threw it back at the man who had thrown it at me. His
shocked eyes stared at us both as he tumbled from the walls. Osgar
and Wolf had the gates open and our men poured through. The
garrison immediately surrendered.  We had won again.

As we consolidated our gains I
looked around and could see few warriors who had fallen. Unusually
Earl Harold had not had the prisoners killed as was our normal
practice, instead the ten survivors were being herded by a group of
Housecarls led by my uncle. One of the newer Housecarls was
punching the air in joy although I noticed his spear was clean, he
had not drawn blood.  “This is easy. If the rest of the Welsh
are like this we will be home in a week.”

Ulf loomed up behind him. “Boy!
These were not warriors, they were the men of the land, the fyrd,
here to defend their country.  When you meet real Welsh
warriors then you can judge. Until then clean up the bodies.”

I smiled at Wolf. “Were we ever
like that?”

Osgar sniffed as he cleaned his
axe. “What do you mean were?”

Osgar always had a way of
bringing you down to earth.  I retrieved Boar Splitter and
cleaned my weapons.  I searched the fort and found the
well.  Drawing a bucket I drank heavily.  Battle always
made my mouth dry.  Ridley and the others joined us. “Those
stakes were nasty.  The lads who were wounded have to go back
to the ships; they cannot walk.”

“Let us hope that we do not have
too many forts to assault then.”

I was intrigued by the prisoners
and wandered over.  My uncle was using one of the Housecarls
who spoke and understood a little Welsh. To my ears its sounded
like someone clearing their throat and spitting but apparently it
made sense to the warrior. “Hobble them and tie their hands. 
They will be sent back to the ships with the wounded.”

I felt sorry then for the
captives.  Their lives had been saved but not their freedom,
they would become thralls, slaves probably working in the tin mines
of Cornwall.  Better to die fighting than live as a slave. I
was close enough to my uncle and the Earl to hear their
conversation.

“I believe that the king is
close to Rhuddlan, on the border.  There is a valley which
runs north eastwards and emerges close to Rhuddlan.”

“That is close to St Asaph and
the dragon mountain is it not?”

“Aye.  If he retreats from
your brother he could go three ways, west to his court but we have
men there, south and that would bring him to us or towards the
mountain stronghold.”

The Earl looked northwards
although there were many mountains between the dragon mountain and
us. “Then I hope he comes towards us for it would take a year to
winkle him out of that mountain.” My uncle nodded his agreement and
I prayed that Gruffyd would retreat from Tostig and come towards
us. In those days I believed I was invincible and the thought of
fighting the whole of the Welsh army with but three hundred men did
not worry me.

Now that the Welsh king had
fewer options Harold sent two ships back with the wounded and the
thralls and the rest to meet us off the northern coast of Wales. It
seemed likely that we would have to fight him close to the heart of
his dragon kingdom but we were in good spirits.  Victory gives
men that confidence and a confident army can defy any odds, well as
we were to find out a couple of years later, almost any odds. In
deference to his leg Aethelward rode a horse as did Harold. 
We did not mind for we were Housecarls and marched proudly with an
axe o’er one shoulder and a spear on the other.  We marched in
mail now for we were in enemy territory. As we marched I told my
companions of the Spartans who had numbered three hundred, as we
had and they had defied and held up the largest and greatest army
the world had ever seen, the Persians and they had done so for ten
days.