Viking Dragon (8 page)

"We have to do something about the cattle and sheep raids from north of the river.  Arne Thorirson is a good hersir but he is not a warrior." Raids and wars had taken my jarls from the northern borders.  I needed to put a warrior there who would be an effective leader.

My son and daughter had a way of knowing what I thought. Aiden said, "Ulf and Erik are both good warriors.  They have recently taken a wife each.  Perhaps one of them might like to rule the northlands for you.  Ketil has kept the east quiet. He was a good choice. Which one would you choose?"

"I think Ulf for he is older and Erik is close to Rollo and Rolf.  He has taken them under his wing. I do think it would be good for the Ulfheonar to separate them."

"Then make him Jarl. Arne will appreciate that.  He is a good farmer and a stout man in a shield wall.  You need an Ulfheonar to guard the frontier." It was an easy decision to make.  I knew why I had delayed in making it.  Ulf Olafsson was one of the most reliable warriors I had. He would now be many leagues north if he accepted my offer.

Macha and Deidra came through with freshly made bread and cheese along with a horn of ale. Although they had both been nuns of the White Christ and Christians, they had adapted well to our way of life.  I doubted that they would admit it but both seemed content in my land. If they chose to leave then we would not stop them.  Since my wife arrived they had a small community of Christians.  They found comfort in each other's company.

"Try this, Jarl we have flavoured the cheese with thyme and wild garlic."

Both were expert makers of cheese. I tasted it and it was delicious. "I shall have some of this for my hall if you would.  My wife would enjoy it."

"It was she who suggested it.  You have a good wife there, Jarl."

"I know." I wondered if it was her religion which made it so in their eyes.

Kara nodded, "And you have raided well father.  Those fine pots are better than any our potters can make."

"That is because we do not have clay hereabouts.  The gods gave us slate, iron and copper.  North of the Dunum, Jarl, close to where the Roman fort and bridge lie, there is fine clay.  Perhaps those who live there make pots."

"If not we could take the clay.  It is something to consider." There were always ways of improving the lives of our people.

After I had eaten and drunk I left and went back to my hall for my horse.  Ulf Olafsson lived close to the tarns.  He had a few sheep, although it was hardly a flock. It was something he could do when he came home and wanted to be the farmer. In his heart he was a warrior. He liked the privacy and that was something he would not enjoy at my stronghold to the north.  I would have to see if he was amenable to my offer.

It was a pleasant ride and gentle enough for my horse. The trail wound up through the trees towards the muddy bottomed tarns. I smelled the smoke from his home.  As I dropped down from the rise I saw him smoking some venison.  His wife, Anya, who was with child, was seated on a log watching him. She was much younger than Ulf and I had wondered, before he had married her, if he would ever take a wife. She stood as I approached.  "Keep your seat, Anya Olafsson. I need words with your husband."

"It is a poor wife who cannot entertain the Jarl of this land.  I have some freshly brewed ale."

She went inside as I dismounted.  My horse wandered over to the small tarn by which Ulf had built his home. "She is a good woman Ulf.  You are lucky."

"I know, Jarl Dragonheart.  I wonder how I managed without her for so many years."

She returned with the ale and some pickled pike for the two of us. "Here, Jarl.  These are just ready for eating."

Ulf and I tried them.  They had the sharpness I liked. She turned to leave us alone, "No, lady, please stay.  I have something to ask your husband and it will save him seeking your opinion when I have gone."

I could see that I had them both intrigued. She sat on the log again.

"I need a leader to be jarl in my northern stronghold, Ulf. Thorkell's Stad has been the subject of raids from the north and it needs a good warrior to command. Aiden and I believe that you would be the best warrior we could choose.  What say you?"

He looked surprised, "Me, a jarl? I am honoured.  Do you think I could lead?"

"I would not have asked you otherwise. It would mean, of course, moving and you would not have the privacy you enjoy now.  You would, however, have stone walls, good kitchens and men to protect your wife when you were away."

Anya's face had already given me the answer I desired.  She beamed and grasped her husband's hand. She nodded at him.  "I would be honoured to accept, Jarl, but I am sad that I will no longer be Ulfheonar."

"Wolf Killer and Sigtrygg are both Ulfheonar and jarls.  We have a bond which is not troubled by distance. You will always be Ulfheonar. I trust you to act in my name but I should warn you that you will need to keep the sheep and cattle thieves at bay."

"I can do that."

"Are there any you might take as oathsworn?"

"Anya has two brothers.  They came on the raid to Lundenwic and now have mail, helmet and sword.  They do not wish to farm but would be warriors.  I would like to train them. They would be the start of my garrison."

"Good, then we leave in six days.  Come to my hall and get carts for your goods."

He clasped my arm, "Thank you Jarl Dragonheart.  I will not let you down."

"You are Ulfheonar. You could not even if you tried!"

We returned to the town. I set about organising my trip. Uhtric had already cleaned my mail and sword. Brigid understood the need for my journey and she helped to prepare my clothes. Hunting the cattle thieves was not a quick task.  We would need to find them first. Some of my men came by when they saw me preparing. Haaken, Erik, Rollo and Rolf all wished to come with me. The others, however, wished to stay with their families. The barbarians we would be hunting were not worth much gold. The three who came with me did so because they felt obligated. They could not let their jarl risk his life without some of his oathsworn. For Haaken it went beyond duty.  We were the last of the original band.  Neither of us would be happy fighting without the other at his side.

Rolf said, "I owe everything to you, Jarl Dragonheart, I am only a warrior because you saw that I had potential."

"And you have fulfilled it, Rolf Horse Killer."

"Will this be enough men, Jarl Dragonheart?"

"Of course, we are only fighting barbarians. The Jarl and I could manage that alone," laughed Haaken.

Ulf and his wife brought her two brothers and their goods to Cyninges-tūn.  Sven and Einar were young.  Sven had seen just fifteen summers and Einar two more but I could see that they could both become good warriors.  They had broad chests and they had muscles.  Both would be tall. It would be expensive to make them mail but if they were trained well then it would be worth it. They had Saxon swords and that meant they had taken them in battle. That was always the best way.

Anya was not close to childbirth but, as we rode north towards the Rye Dale I worried about her. Kara had told me that there would not be a problem with the journey for she was a healthy woman but that did not stop me worrying. I smiled at the concern Ulf showed.  He was a fierce warrior and as ruthless as Olaf Leather Neck but Anya brought out a different side in him. Erik rode on the other side of Anya and she was as safe as though she was guarded by the bodyguard of the Emperor.

Einar and Sven had not ridden before and  Rolf and Rollo laughed as the two young warriors fell as we climbed the col close to the Scar of Nab.  It was not that long since they had been as poor.  Now they rode easily. We had learned that riding to battle was easier than walking.

"Instead of laughing why do you two not give them advice on how to stay on the horse's back."

"Yes, Jarl Dragonheart." Chastened they went to offer some help to the two young brothers.

I nudged my horse closer to Haaken and I rode at the front with him. "They seem good boys, Jarl. I am pleased you have rewarded Ulf Olafsson.  He has been one of the most loyal of your warriors."

"I know and we need a strong hand in the north.  It is lonely there."

"Did not Snorri wish to come?"

"I sent Snorri and Beorn to escort Wolf Killer's share to him.  They would have come otherwise."

"I know.  I was thinking of scouts."

"Rollo and Rolf are both Ulfheonar. They can scout.  Perhaps they are not as good as Snorri or Beorn but we will need others one day.  None of us are getting any younger."

He was right but then I remembered old Ragnar and Olaf the Toothless.  They had been ancient and yet they had still wielded a sword and defended their land.  We were neither Saxons nor barbarians.  We were Vikings!

As we had travelled slower than normal we did not reach the old Roman fort until evening. I liked the fort.  It was solid and had baths. They needed some work but I could bathe and feel clean.  It even had a fish pond which always made me sit by it and look at the water.  I had no idea why but when I was there I felt at peace. I doubted that I would have any peace on this visit but I had a haven to visit should I need it.

Arne Thorirson greeted us as we entered. "Jarl, I was not expecting this visit."

I put my arm around him and took him to one side.  Haaken knew me well enough to shepherd Ulf and his people inside the fort. "Arne, I have asked Ulf Olafsson to be jarl here."

"An Ulfheonar as our jarl? We are honoured."

"You are not annoyed?  He will be taking over the fine quarters here."

He shook his head. "To be honest, Jarl Dragonheart, I spend more time on my farm.  I am a hersir and not a jarl.  I can fight but you know well enough, that this fort needs a leader.  I am just sorry that I have let you down.  I have not stopped the raids from across the river."

I shook my head, "That is my fault.  I should have rid the land of this problem myself." I turned him to lead him into the hall.  "Tell me how are the men?  Are they busy on their farms or can they fight?"

"We are all keen to rid ourselves of this problem.  The crops are in the ground and the animals are grazing.  We will fight and then Jarl Ulf Olafsson will teach us how to protect ourselves."

"Good, for I wanted no ill feeling between the two of you."

"And there will be none Jarl."

Arne and his family still lived in the farm which was within sight of the fort.  I had chosen Arne because of that. I saw now that I had made a mistake.  He was a good man but I had given him too difficult a task.

Our late and sudden arrival had meant there was no grand feast but we ate well enough. I was just happy that Ulf and his family got on with Arne and his.  They were two sides of the same coin.

"Tell me, Arne, where are these raiders coming from?"

"The Itouna can be forded in many places but the old river cannot be forded save far upstream. They cross the Irthing close to the place it meets the Itouna. From there they spread along the valley. They take the cattle there. Sometimes, if they are bold enough, they raid the sheep farms further south."

I looked to Ulf, "Then we know what we must do,  We ride, tomorrow to this confluence of the rivers and we cross and head north. We will not wait for them to come again.  We go to war and we teach them the price of stealing from our people.  It is expensive for the penalty is death!"

The force I led north was not the largest nor the best armed.  Excluding the men I had brought we had no men with mail. Only two had horses but they all had a shield, a helmet, a seax or sword and a spear.  It would have to do.  There were just twenty five of us. I decided that I would demand that every warrior in my land have a sword and a bow. That was the only good news about the warriors I led.  The men of the north all had a bow and knew how to use it for they were hunters. Seventeen bow men could make a difference.  I would have to use my eight mailed warriors to best effect.

We crossed the river into enemy territory and I saw just how easy it was for the barbarians to head south.  Even the men on foot waded across. This was no barrier. I had Rollo and Rolf as scouts.  They were not invisible like Snorri but he was unique.  None could disappear quite like Snorri. Five miles north of the river they returned, "Jarl, we have found a village. They have many sheep and cattle."

I knew that this might not be the ones who had raided us but the odds were that they were. I waved Ulf over.  He was now my second in command and I needed to teach him how to win. I halted the men.  As well as the twenty five warriors I had four boys. They would guard our horses.  We dismounted and I had the boys take our horses to the nearby stream.  With Haaken at my side, I took Ulf to one side.  "What is your plan, Ulf?"

"Jarl Dragonheart, I will do whatever you wish."

Haaken shook his head, "Ulf, when you are Jarl of the North then it will be you who has to decide. The Jarl and I are here to advise and to fight alongside you!"

He nodded. He smiled at me, "I will copy you, Jarl.  I will send Rolf and Rollo with two of my men to the far side of the village and then we will attack from this side."

The smile on my face told him that I agreed, "Good. Remember, Ulf you do not lead the Ulfheonar.  These are farmers with swords. Your men will only be as good as the man who trains them. Your wife's brothers will have to be your lieutenants and your rocks."

"I can see that now." He waved over Rollo and Rolf. When he had given them their instructions they loped off.  The two young warriors knew what to do and they knew where the village was as well. He turned to the rest.  "Today I will lead with my kin and my brothers from the Ulfheonar.  All that I ask today is that you follow close behind.  The next time we fight you shall be with me in the front rank.  Watch these warriors for they are the best that you will ever see."

The formation was too loose and the instructions too vague but it was a good beginning for his men saw Ulf take charge. As we moved forward I made sure that I was next to one of Ulf's kin. They had fought in Lundenwic but there they could hide amongst the mass of warriors.  Here they could not. We were seen when we were four hundred paces away from the village.  The boys watching the sheep fled from us screaming and shouting. It meant that the men of the village had some time to prepare.  It would not be enough.

The men of the village looked to have grabbed their helmets and shields quickly. Barely half had a shield and a third did not have a helmet,.  They had a variety of weapons from swords and axes to billhooks. Ulf roared like a berserker and he ran so fast that he outstripped all of us. I was more concerned for Sven and Einar than myself. I had no need to worry.  As the chief of the village lunged with his spear at Sven the young warrior dropped his shoulder and raised his shield to fend off the blow and then he eviscerated the man. It was as good a strike as I had seen.  Ulf and his men were ruthless.  They were paying these barbarians back for years of raids and they showed no mercy. I have to confess that it was my mailed men who did the most damage. The ones who tried to flee ran into Rollo and Rolf. They cut them down to a man. There were no prisoners.

Ulf looked around and said, "Is anyone hurt?"

"Oleg and Olaf have cuts."

"Harald is lying on the ground."

"He tripped and knocked himself out!"

"Sven, secure the animals.  Einar secure the villagers." He pointed to three men.  He did not know their names yet.  "You three search the huts.  Look for loose soil.  It is where they will bury their treasure.  Arne, take some men and search the dead.  They look piss poor to me but who knows, they may have a coin or two." He could not help but look to Haaken who nodded his approval.  I had chosen a good jarl.

Even so I could see him debating what to do with the captives. He looked at me but I kept my face like a stone and gave nothing away.  Eventually he said, "Go! Flee! If I see you here again then you will be taken as slaves!"

Of course they did not understand a word. His gestures were obvious and so he grabbed a brand and lit the roof of a hut, "Fire them all!"

As soon as the village was ablaze he walked up to the women and roared, "Go!" He pointed north.  This time they understood and they fled.

He turned to me for approval.  "Well done, Ulf, but if you are to talk to your neighbours, you had best learn their language!" He had the good grace to smile.

We herded the animals and set off for the boys who were guarding the horses. Arne and the men from the Stad were animated as they each described what they had done. Ulf shook his head, "They are getting quite excited about killing a few farmers! You and I could have dealt with them all on our own, Jarl Dragonheart."

"We could but your men have made a start. Had you not been here would Arne have led them?" Ulf shook his head. "And yet now he talks as though he can take on the world. Take small steps, Ulf.  The men you lead are poorly armed and armoured.  The men I sent up here had mail and it now lies with them in their graves or adorns the back of some barbarian. This is the beginning; it is small enough but you can build upon it."

The boys with the horses greeted us noisily and they took over the herding of the animals. As we mounted Ulf said, "I can see that I have much to learn about being a leader."

"Anya's brothers did well. They obeyed orders and they did not lose their heads. They may be younger than the others you lead but they show the benefit of our raid in Lundenwic and the mail.  When a man wears mail and a helmet he feels more like a warrior."

It was getting towards dark when we neared the fort. "When will you leave Jarl Dragonheart?"

"We will stay with you for seven days.  We can ride north again, tomorrow. If we do that for three or four days then your neighbours will realise that you mean what you say."

He laughed, "Even though they did not understand a word of what I said?"

"Your actions spoke for you."

The animals were divided up amongst the victorious warriors. It was not much of a haul but as it was the first time they had taken from the nearby raiders it was a start.  Although the men from north of the river had not been mailed some had swords and axes.  I recognised the quality of some of the weapons.  They had been taken in battle.  There was even a decent Saxon sword amongst them. The arms of Ulf's men also improved.

We left the next day and crossed the ford. Rollo and Rolf led us towards the river they called the Esk in these parts. We saw the town which guarded the crossing from a mile away for we had the higher ground. We were, of course, seen and this time the men of the north had time to prepare. We rode closer to them this time before we dismounted. We would have to fight the enemy in battle lines.  This would be a sterner test of Ulf's new warband.

As I handed my reins to the boy I asked him, "Can you use a sling?" He grinned and took one out."And you others?"

They nodded eagerly and the eldest said, "Aye Jarl."

"Then hobble the horses for today you will get to kill your first enemy."

Once again I had to leave the orders to Ulf.  I owed him as much.  I smiled when I saw Haaken speak into his ear.  Haaken could never keep his mouth shut.  He had often done that with me. I watched the men of Strathclyde as they formed up.  This time there were two warriors who had mail.  I suspected they had been taken from Vikings; perhaps even my men. Some of the helmets they wore certainly had.  We were evenly matched in numbers.  They might have actually outnumbered us. I hoped that Ulf would use a wedge formation so that the Ulfheonar could bear the brunt of the enemy weapons.

Ulf turned, "We fight in a wedge.  I will be the tip." He frowned when he saw the five boys who held slings.

"I thought the boys might be blooded, Ulf Olafsson."

He nodded, "Aye for we are a warband this day."

We formed up and the front six were Ulfheonar.  Sven and Einar were in the fourth rank at the end of the left and right.  They had proved that they were reliable. Ulf gambled that our weight of mail and our skill would win the day.

The men of Strathclyde formed a shield wall.  I saw that it was just one rank deep and that the shields were all of different sizes.  They could not lock them. We could not run as we might if this was a wedge of veteran warriors.  We would approach at the walk. We did not have spears at the front.  My Ulfheonar preferred their swords except for Rolf Horse Killer who wielded his axe.  He was behind me on the right and his shield was slung behind his back. The men from the village would have a shock when he swung that deadly Danish weapon.

I saw the mailed leader in the centre of their line as he shouted orders and they tightened their line as stones flew over our heads. Ulf shouted, "Right boys, let's see if you can do better!"

Stones clattered off my mail.  I would have bruises but no more. Ulf's boys, in contrast, were hitting farmers and warriors without mail. I saw one struck on the hand and he dropped his spear.  Even though he picked it up again he was wounded. And then we hit. Ulf had aimed our wedge directly at the one who had shouted the orders. I concentrated on the man to his left and I swung my sword over as his spear struck my shield.  I was aware of a movement behind me as Rolf swung his axe and the man to the left of the mailed warrior I fought was hacked across the middle by a double handed axe swung with all the force of an Ulfheonar. It ripped him in two and he fell, leaving a hole in the line. Rolf stepped next to me.

My sword had been stopped by my enemy's shield but the blood from the man next to him has spattered his face and I could see that he was shaken. We were too close for him to use his spear. If Rolf had not stepped next to me then I would have been able to swing my sword but I could not and so I stepped forward and head butted the man.  He reeled back and, as I moved into the gap I was able to bring my sword over and the blade caught him on the helmet and face. Ragnar's Spirit sliced through both and into his skull. I saw that the leader of the men of the village had been slain by Ulf and his shield wall was in disarray.  Rolf swung the axe with the freedom of a warrior who knows the enemy has no mail.  The boys with the slings continued to rain them on the enemy.  Sven and Einar fought with wild abandon and, in the centre, the Ulfheonar carved our way through the heart of the enemy line.

The survivors broke.  It was then the men from Ulf's Stad wreaked revenge on their former tormentors.  Without mail they hurtled after the survivors and they found unguarded backs.  The boys with slings grabbed knives from the dead and hurried after to slit throats and despatch the wounded.  That day they went from boys to warriors. Their lives would never be the same again.

The Ulfheonar had borne the brunt of the fighting and we stopped and took off our helmets. Ulf was grinning. "That went better than I thought."

I nodded and turned to Rolf, "A fine stroke with the axe."

"Thank you, Jarl Dragonheart."

"Next time do not break the wedge.  You stopped my swing and if the enemy had been better then you might have fallen.  A wedge is only as strong as each individual part."

"I am sorry Jarl.  I felt the joy of battle in my hands."

Haaken said, "That is but a step away from a berserker! The Jarl himself is not immune from such reckless acts but a good warrior controls his blood."

We moved into the village.  The women and children had fled and this time they had managed to drive some of the animals with them. But it was a larger village and we were able to collect more that Ulf and his people could use.

Arne and the others were euphoric when they returned.  All were blood spattered but, apart from minor cuts, unharmed. "We could conquer the whole of this valley if we chose."

I was about to speak when Ulf snapped, "Fool! You have six Ulfheonar who destroyed the enemy! You would have lasted two strokes against those two mailed warriors.  They had fought before. When the Jarl and my brothers return to Cyninges-tūn it will be we who have to fight! Now gather the weapons and the mail.  We have made a start and I am pleased but it is only a start. When each of you wears mail and knows how to fight then we might think of conquering this valley!"

Arne nodded, "Aye Jarl.  You are right.  Come let us do as our Jarl says!"

I turned to Haaken and said quietly, "Ulf was a good choice."

"He was and he led well." Both of us had picked up on Arne's words,
'our Jarl'
.  He was now their leader

As we rode home I said, "We will not need to ride tomorrow Ulf.  We will stay another three days and then return home. What think you?"

"I think you are right.  The farmers have work in the fields and I need to organise my defences.  I had yet to look at my walls."

"And you have potential in those boys. They were the difference today. Their shower of stones discomfited the enemy."