Viking Dragon (20 page)

"I will, Aiden, and I thank you.  You have done all that you can to save my friend.  He is in the hands of the gods now."

Aiden stood and looked to the land. "How far have we come?"

Erik shouted, "We are half way to the Humber.  We are not out of danger yet."

The bends in the meandering river meant that we travelled further than a man on a horse.  We had to travel sixty miles on the river to reach Gulle but a horseman only had to ride twenty miles. A rider could have left Fulford and ridden to Gulle. The huge loop in the river formed a natural barrier around Gulle.  It was a strong burgh. The lookouts reported that the walls were manned.  They had been warned. We avoided scrutiny before by travelling in the dark but now we had bright day with which to contend.

"Put shields over the wounded.  Get your bows and prepare to be attacked."

Erik said,  "If we man the oars we can pass quicker."

"Is the river wide enough?"

"It will have to be." He pointed to the walls of the burgh.  They were lined with archers and we saw the tell tale trail of smoke.  They had fire arrows.

Haaken began to organise the rowers.  He used the men who had no bows. He took a bench along with Olaf, Rollo and Rolf. Every oar was manned although it was just by one man.

I took the empty bucket and ran to the side.  I trailed it over and hauled up river water. We might need it soon. I donned my helmet. "Leif. get the dragon banner and go to the prow. Stand close to the dragon and hold up the banner.  Let it roar!"

"Aye Jarl!"

It would have been better at night but I hoped that the effect would stun the defenders. I donned my helmet and picked up my shield. I took out Ragnar's Spirit.  I would not be using it as a weapon but it gave my men confidence. The oars took us down the river much quicker and I saw more men man the burgh's walls. They had not released any arrows when Leif unfurled the banner. The speed of the drekar through the water created a natural wind and the dragon began to wail.  I smiled as I saw the men on the walls look around for the source of the noise.  It delayed the arrow storm which I knew would be coming.

"Snorri, we need your bow!"

"Aye Jarl."

Snorri and Beorn both had bows made by the Saami people.  Snorri could send an arrow far further than the Saxons on the walls of the burgh. Within the walls someone must have taken charge for the hiatus of the dragon's wail was ended with a few ranging arrows.  Most fell short and the ones that reached us were taken on our shields.

"Take in a couple of reefs on the sail, Thorir.  If they have fire arrows then I want a smaller target for them to aim at."

"Aye captain." He and the ship's boys swarmed up the ropes to the cross trees.

I saw Snorri pull back on his powerful bow and release.  The archer on the tower who thought he was safe from the drekar was plucked from the ramparts and fell from the walls.  The rest took cover until the mailed warrior shouted his orders again.

We were as close to the walls now as we would ever be. The wailing dragon and Snorri's bow had bought us time but now they used fire arrows. A fire arrow is harder to use accurately than a normal arrow.  The shaft has to be balanced just right.  Twenty arrows soared but almost all fell woefully short. Some did not even make the river.  Two struck the hull but the river's spray doused them. To do damage they needed to hit the sails or the dry deck.

The next twenty were more accurate but Erik's foresight meant that the ones that hit the drekar hit the deck.  They were doused by Aiden and his pail of river water. I raised my sword, "The sword that was touched by the gods defies you Saxons!"

It had an immediate effect on my men.  The rowers pulled harder and the rest cheered.  By a quirk of the wind and the river the dragon's wail became louder and, once again, the archers on the walls hesitated. Their leader shouted and pointed at me.  The next ten arrows were aimed at me.  I held up my shield and felt the impact as four of them thudded into it.  A fifth clanged off my helmet and four struck the deck around my feet. I felt the heat as the fire caught on the dry deck. There was a whoosh and a hiss as the flames were doused by three buckets.  I took Ragnar's Spirit and chopped off the hafts of the arrows in my shield. The heads continued to burn.

Aiden said, "Jarl, your shield!"

"Let it burn a little longer. I want them to see that I do not fear them."

It had an effect for the arrows became fewer as we passed beyond their effective range.  Olaf's drekar did not suffer as much for we had been the prime target. As we passed around the bend I allowed Aiden to put out the flames.  When I looked at my shield I saw that fire had burned close to the mouth of the wolf which was painted upon it. It looked like the wolf was grinning.

As soon as
'The King's Gift'
passed out of sight of the burgh my men all began cheering and banging weapons on the deck, "Dragonheart! Dragonheart! Dragonheart! Dragonheart!" It echoed down the river as we headed for the safety of the sea.

Once we reached the sea the danger from the land was over but we now had to face the dangers from the sea. The waves were huge as we left the protection of the land. Erik had to sail on reduced canvas and we needed men constantly on the oars to maintain our position.  If a wave had struck us beam on there was a danger that we might have broached. Aiden had all the wounded brought to the centre of the drekar and he had a piece of old torn sail used as a shelter. The motion there was less severe and they were protected by the rowers. Beorn had still not awakened but Aiden was happy that he was breathing easier and a little colour had returned to his cheeks. I looked down at him and Aiden said, "The gods send us sleep to heal us, Jarl.  You have been in the land of dreams; you know that."

I did but that did not stop me from worrying.

The stormy weather continued all the way down the east coast. It was night as we did so and I wondered how Erik could steer and navigate when the coast was hidden from us.  We passed the Saxon Kingdoms but we were safe for none but a fool would have ventured out in such weather. At dawn the unpredictable wind took us too close to the Tamese for my liking.  I knew that we were seen from the burghs one on the , bank and, some time later, the one on the southern bank. Egbert and his warriors would know that we were abroad. Erik managed to drag us away from the shore so that we rounded the dangerous coast of Kent from a safe distance. I kept peering behind at Olaf Grimsson in
'The King's Gift'.
  It was a smaller drekar and suffered more in such weather.  My young captain appeared to be coping well. While we had lost warriors in the battle of Fulford, his boat had been lucky and he was still with a full crew. It helped.

When we began to head west the weather eased.  The wind came from the south east and Erik took the decision to stop rowing and rely purely on the wind. "We still have Corn Walum and Syllingar to contend with.  There we will need rowers.  They can rest along this stretch." Erik smiled at me, "And I think that you should rest too, Jarl."

Aiden had just finished examining Beorn.  "Erik is right Jarl, you should rest.  Beorn is sleeping and there is no change."

I nodded.  They were both right and I did need the rest but I feared sleep for I feared my dreams. My mother's words still haunted me. '
All of our family know when they are to die.  It is a gift and a curse.  You will dream your death
' I wondered if I would ever enjoy a pleasant sleep again. Her words appeared to have murdered sleep. However I lay down and covered myself in my wolf skin. I held my dragon as a protection against the dreams which I feared.

I awoke and could not remember a dream.  I had not dreamed of my death nor any death and I found myself smiling with relief. Behind us I saw the first hint of dawn. Thorir was in the steering board. "That is the Isle of the Wights ahead. Captain Erik told me to steer well to the south."

"A wise move." I picked up the ale skin and drank deeply. Most of my men, including Aiden and Snorri were asleep. I went to the stern to look for Olaf. There he was, two lengths behind us. He knew how to obey orders.  Like us he was just under sail and I guessed that most of those on board his drekar were sleeping too. I went to the rail on the steer board side and leaned over.  That was Wessex. We had cowed the Danes, at least for a while but I wondered if King Egbert had forgotten our raid on his prized Lundenwic? I was about to turn away when a movement caught my eye.  It was a sail.  It was ahead of us. Just then the ship's boy on the crosstrees shouted, "Saxon ships to the north!"

Erik was waking up as I shouted, "To arms!" I ran to the stern and cupping my hands shouted, "To arms!" Even as I looked astern I saw another two Saxons heading for Olaf.  They had learned from their mistake.  There were five Saxons and they had us between them. It was an ambush. The three ahead could cut us off for the wind was still from the north east and favoured them.  We might escape but I knew that there would be no chance for Olaf. I would not desert my men.

"Erik, steer towards them!"

Thorir said, "Towards them? That is suicide."

Erik snapped, "You still have much to learn.  By sailing towards them we take the initiative. There are two more coming astern of Olaf. With Olaf it will be two against three and that is better odds than five against two."

Haaken and the men were already armed.  I looked to Aiden.  "You had better prepare Dragon Fire.  Choose four men.  That is all that I can spare.  Snorri, organise archers and wait until I decided which shall be your target."

The three Saxons ships were all smaller than my drekar but they were bigger than Olaf's threttanessa. They were tubbier than a drekar and rode higher in the water. Most importantly we had many oars and, when we needed to then we could escape quickly.

I went to the stern.  "I want your drekar next to mine! Fighting platform!"

I saw the warrior at the prow, It was Eystein; he waved and he hurried aft. If
'The King's Gift'
was next to us then neither of us could be taken by two Saxons. As I looked astern I saw that the two Saxons were already losing ground as the swifter drekar flew through the water. They sailed reasonably well with the wind astern but this was from their quarter and they were as slow as a knarr. I donned my helmet and picked up my shield.  The blackened wolf still grinned at me. "Leif, let us try the dragon again. If it worries them for but a moment we can take advantage."

I wandered over to Erik. "Take us between the two which are closest to us. With Olaf we stand a chance of destroying one of them.  If it is two against two we might win."

"We will need an overhaul when we return home. We have taken damage already and three against two means we will suffer more."

"Then you believe that we will return home?"

"When I sail with Dragonheart I am always confident.  It is when I sail with others that I clutch the wolf about my neck!"

Olaf was bringing his drekar up to the seaward side of us. It was a fast drekar. I went to the rail closest to him. "We will engage the two end Saxons.  Tie your drekar to ours and we will destroy the one to seaward first."

Asbjorn waved, "Aye Jarl."

Aiden said, "This Dragon Fire is as dangerous to us as the enemy.  I have a plan."

"Go on."

"When we fight the Saxon to landward you will attack with your warriors?" I nodded,. "Then I will follow with my four warriors and we will attack the other Saxon.  He will do one of three things: support the ship you assault, attack your stern or attack your bow.  Whichever he does we will attack with Dragon Fire.  If it works that will be one ship out of the way."

"But?"

"But there is a danger that it may set light to the ship you attack and you will need to flee quickly."

"So be it." I turned to Rolf.  "When Aiden goes aboard the Saxon ship your task is to guard him."

"I will, Jarl Dragonheart."

The Saxons were turning towards us now.  They kept in a line to prevent us sailing past them. They could not know what we planned. "Now Erik, put the steering board over!" I turned and shouted the same to Olaf. Both ships turned, almost as one. We took them by surprise and the three of them tried to turn to stop us.  They merely succeeded in stopping themselves.  "Ready with grappling hooks!"

Erik shouted,  "Take in the sail!"

As our bows touched the bow of the middle Saxon we started to slide down the side, "Throw!"

The four men who held the grappling hooks sent them across to hold the Saxon tight. On the other side of our drekar men tied us to Olaf's ship. I took out my sword and using the grappling ropes climbed up the side of the Saxon.  Snorri and his archers sent their arrows into any who tried to cut the ropes.  It was only a climb of an arm's length and as Snorri felled the Saxon who leapt at me I clambered on the deck. We had to clear enough space for Aiden and his throwers to reach the far side of the ship. Already the third Saxon ship was coming to the aid of the ship we were attacking.

The decks were filled with Saxons but most had no mail. I hacked at the middle of a Saxon who was too slow to bring his shield across. I gutted him and as I withdrew my sword I ripped it across the side of a second Saxon.  Haaken and Olaf joined me and the three of us carved a path through the middle of the milling warriors. Had we not had the finest of armour, the strongest of shields and not the best trained warriors to walk the earth we might have died for we were assaulted on all sides. We took most of the blows on our shields and armour. They swarmed over us. A few spears were jabbed at our face but by turning my head I avoided them.  Those who struck us died. Olaf took two men with one blow.

We reached the steer board side of the ship as the other Saxon nudged alongside. As the ships were the same height the Saxon warriors just had to clamber over the side.  They had not seen Olaf and his axe.  He hewed limbs as though they were trees.  As warriors climbed over the sides their heads were smashed to a pulp. Their legs were hacked in two. Haaken and I used our swords to take those who tried to avoid Olaf's berserk attack. The Saxons moved to the bow of their ship to cross there.

Rolf appeared next to me.  His blood spattered armour was testimony to his passage.  Behind him came Aiden and his throwers.  Olaf and Haaken stood on one side and I stood with Rolf.  We held off any who were foolish enough to challenge us.  Aiden had all the time in the world to light his Dragon Fire and hand them to his throwers.  They threw them to the bow and the stern of the packed Saxon ship. The men who stood there merely lifted their shields. When the missiles struck there was a flare of flame which shot into the air.  The shields which were ignited became infernos.  The deck caught fire.  One missile hit the sail and the flames raced up.  Aiden had another eight deadly packages and his throwers plenty of time to spread their fire around the Saxon ship.

Aiden turned to me and his face bore a worried expression, "I would order the retreat, Jarl.  This ship will be engulfed in flames by the time we return to ours."

I yelled, "Fall back!"

We charged the angry Saxons and as they fell back to the other side of the ship we moved backwards and dropped down onto our own drekar. 

"Cut the lines!"

There was panic on the Saxon ship as they realised that there was a fire ship next to it. A gap appeared as the fire ship drifted away.

"On to
'The King's Gift'
!"

I led my men across Olaf's drekar.  He had fewer men and I knew that he would be struggling. The Saxons had filled their ships with warriors.

As we tumbled over the side I saw that Eystein had led half of the warriors to take the bows while Asbjorn had taken the others to the stern.  Eystein was having the worst of it. He was outnumbered and surrounded. I shouted, "Snorri, clear the bows.  Rollo, Erik, Finni, with me!"

I brought sword diagonally across my head and it swept across the backs of three warriors trying to get to Eystein and his beleaguered warriors. I did not kill them all with the one blow but they were wounded and injured enough to be out of the battle. Rollo and Finni hacked and slashed at my side. Two warriors guarding Eystein fell and a mailed Saxon with three oathsworn fell upon my Ulfheonar. He slew one with a blow which took his head but then the other three attacked from three sides.  Eystein fought courageously.  I saw a wounded warrior reach up with his seax and hamstring Eystein the Rock. One leg crumpled and, as it did so the mailed warrior hacked at Eystein's shield arm. He managed to swing and hack into the mailed warrior's leg even as half his arm drooped.  The other two fell upon Eystein and hacked him to death.

It was too much for me. I roared like a dragon and brought my sword down with such force on the warrior who had taken Eystein's  head that I cut him in two, slicing through to the spine.  He shivered as he fell. Rollo and Finni slew the mailed warrior and the last Saxon.  The wounded warrior held up his hand and said, "Mercy. Spare me lord."

His treacherous blow had slain a great warrior.  I brought my sword up and laid him open from the crotch to the chest.  He was not dead yet but some time later he would die and in pain.

"Get Eystein aboard his ship.  Fall back! Aiden, destroy this ship!" I waited until Eystein was carried to safety and then I backed away, daring any Saxon to face me.  They did not. They were terrified. When I reached the side of the Saxon I turned and jumped down into Olaf's ship.

"Cut the ropes!"

As the ropes were severed Aiden had his men throw the last of the Dragon Fire high into the air. They landed together and the flames leapt high to set the mast and the sail on fire. We hurried back to our drekar and let loose the ropes which bound us together. As Olaf and Erik lowered our sails and pulled away I saw three Saxon ships burning.  The two which raced towards us would pick up the survivors, that was all.

We watched, as we headed west, the efforts of the Saxons to save their comrades.  The sea was on fire.  There would be few survivors. "Well Aiden, the Dragon Fire worked."

Erik shook his head, "And I pray that our enemies do not get the secret for there is no answer Jarl, to this Dragon Fire. It spells the doom to every ship afloat."

We had left Eystein's body on his ship.  Asbjorn had fought alongside him his whole life.  He would find it hard to fight in the future. We, too, had lost warriors.  There were homes in Cyninges-tūn which would wait in vain for their sons to return. It was not even as though we would be bringing home treasure. Any treasure was now at the bottom of the sea. All that we returned with was security and honour. Yet I knew that none of my warriors who had died would regret their deaths.  They had died for their families. That was all a warrior could do.