Viking Treasure (7 page)

"Thank you Elfrida but a horn of ale will suffice for a while and then I will give my news."

Ragnar sat next to my chair between Haaken and me. I saw the frown flit across my son's face. Was he jealous?

Haaken saw the look.  "We have spoken with those who guard the beacons.  They will be vigilant.  If our enemies come then your beacon will bring the men of Windar's mere. They have many horses and ponies.  They can be here before you know it."

Wolf Killer nodded gratefully, "Then they will be coming this way?" Elfrida flashed an angry look at her husband.  "I ask Haaken, not my father!"

"And is not Haaken of an age with your father? Neither is getting any younger!"

I think Haaken took offence at that last comment but he did indeed have streaks of white hair as I did.  He smiled, "Do not worry, Elfrida, we have life left in us yet.  Aye, Wolf Killer, they come and they may come sooner than we thought. Raibeart is patrolling the sea ways. He told us that there could be ten or twelve boatloads of Frisians, Franks and Danes heading this way."

"If they come by land then they will have to pass here first."

I nodded, "They will and therein lies our problem. I have asked Sigtrygg to watch in case they take a southern route. You must send out your scouts to watch the high passes. Have you Hersir you can send?"

"Aye, I have.  They may not be Ulfheonar but they are warriors I can trust as you trust Haaken and the others."

"Good.  If you see them early enough then I can bring every warrior we can muster and defeat them but it is twenty miles to my home.  It would take longer for a message to reach us and longer to arrive here.  Your vigilance is the key."

"I see that now. This land seems perfect.  The fields yield much and we prosper but at times like this I see that the sword has two edges and one can cut."

"Aye. Cyninges-tūn is harsher and harder to farm but Old Olaf protects us." He nodded.  "I know that Bjorn Bagsecgson sent you arrows and spears.  If you have not enough then send for more.  Our archers may make the difference."

The next day I rode with my son, Haaken, my grandson and eight of Wolf Killer's oathsworn. Garth had been desperate to come but there was too much danger for that.  He was still young and the rocky wasteland that was Shap was perfect for ambush.. We rode towards the stone circle of Shap and the high passes. "This is Beorn Long Sight.  He is my best scout."

Wolf Killer pointed to a lean looking warrior who wore leather armour and just a short sword.  Hung from his saddle was a bow.  He bowed, "I am honoured to meet with you, Jarl Dragonheart."

We were ascending a track which led from the valley bottom alongside the tiny deserted farmstead of Low Borrow. "Do you know this land well?"

He pointed to the farm.  I was born there and lived there until the Danes came and slaughtered my family." I waited for he had not finished.  He answered my unspoken question. "I was away hunting.  I followed those that did this and killed them all.  It took a month but my family was avenged. It was then I journeyed west to serve your son. I know this land."

"You will need to keep a close watch on the high passes.  Are there others who have your skills?"

He gave me a serious look, "That is not for me to answer, Jarl.  If I say no then it sounds as though I am arrogant.  There are others who can scout but you ask me can they stand amidst a field of Danes and remain hidden as I can then the answer must be no."

"I have a scout like you.  Snorri is his name.  I am fortunate that he has another who is almost as good. Then you, Beorn Long Sight, will need to teach the other scouts your skills."

"I will do so but I think the gods gave me these skills where he gave others different ones."

We rode in silence on the road which followed, roughly, the Roman Road which had once stood here. There was little other evidence that those  ancient builders had left much of a mark on this land and it was both hard and unyielding. After Low Barrow we saw no sign of human habitation until we came to the Raven's Stone. Here we saw a shepherd's hut but no sign of the shepherd. We stopped for we had come as far as we could in one half day.

Wolf Killer looked east, "So they would come across here." He pointed to the sky.  "Already it is becoming colder and soon the snows will fall."

Haaken said, "I do not think they would come this way."

"It is the most deserted part of the land.  If they wished to reach us unseen it is their best route."

"And that is the very reason that Ragnar Ruriksson will not come this way.  He has a large army to feed.  On what could he feast? If the snows came then where would he shelter?" Wolf Killer suddenly saw the sense in Haaken's words.  Haaken turned to Beorn Long Sight.  "If you wished to attack Elfridaby and you came from Eoforwic which route would you take?"

"If I wished to stay hidden then this way.  If I wished to be fed there are two southerly routes. One comes over the big Roman Road which is longer. It has many farms along the route and some hamlets too. The shortest way is to the south, closer to the land of Sigtrygg Thrandson.  It is the road which passes through Sedde's  Burgh."

Wolf Killer whipped his head around, "But that is just ten miles from my home!"

"And who farms there Beorn Long Sight?"

"Seddes died many years ago. It is a mixture of our people, Saxons and a few who come from the old times."

"They have no hersir?"

"No, Jarl. Sigtrygg Thrandson and your son are the two nearest jarls. The burgh was destroyed by the Danes when they last came through.  There are walls no longer. They have been raided so many times that the people there flee at the first sign of an enemy. They are a fearful people. You cannot blame them."

We turned our horses and headed home. "Then, my son you need to ride to Seddes' Burgh on the morrow. It seems to me that if you had men there they could warn you quickly and, perhaps, hold up an enemy. I think your scout is right.  If that is the shortest route and if there are farms along the way then they will use that route." He nodded, "How far would you say it was to Eoforwic from Seddes' Burgh?"

Beorn was a scout.  He did not know Roman miles.  He looked over his shoulder and said, "A warband could march hence in three days or ride in two. There is a road and there are farms and animals there. They could be fed."

"They will not have enough horses to ride.  They will march. We have less time than I thought.  I will stay this night and then Haaken and I will return to Cyninges-tūn. We all have much to do."

Wolf Killer said, "Aye.  Beorn Long Sight, take your men tomorrow and ride towards Eoforwic. Keep watch on the road. I need to know in advance when they come.  Stay hidden and return as soon as you see sign of their scouts."

"Aye Jarl."

"If you have someone who can pass for a Dane then they might gain information from within their walls."

"I will ask my men but I doubt it."

I wondered if I should have sent Snorri and Beorn. Wolf Killer smiled as he read my thoughts, "You must trust others father.  The Ulfheonar cannot do it all.  Let my men emulate yours."

Little did I know what I set in motion.  We returned to Elfridaby feeling as though we had achieved something.  My son and I were a little closer and knowing what the danger was somehow made it less fearful. By the time we returned to the warmth of Elfrida's fire we had guessed that our enemy would come one of two ways. To get to Wolf Killer and to me they would both have to pass through Seddes' Burgh.  That insignificant huddle of huts suddenly became as important as Lundenwic.  It was so close that none of us had seen its importance. It was thanks to a lean and hungry warrior that we had.

Samhain was not one of our rituals and festivals.  It belonged to the old people who had lived in this land since before the Romans but we respected it. The passage of the dead and the change from harvest to winter were both important in our year. We noted it because the days began to become perceptibly shorter and the nights longer. The feast helped us to mark the change in our lives. It was three days before Samhain that the warband struck.

Raibeart had had no luck in finding the enemy and that was a good thing. It meant they were coming across the land. He did have my Saami bows and a boatload of warriors sent by Gunnstein.  They were the men who had fought alongside us in the recent wars. They had asked to fight and they were more than welcome. We left them, and their drekar, in the river at Úlfarrston. But of the horde who hunted us there was no sign.

Through riders who crossed from Elfridaby and Cyninges-tūn we learned that neither Beorn nor his scouts had returned and, as with Raibeart's lack of news, we too took that to be a good omen. It was Sigtrygg and his men who brought news of the disaster to us. It was fortunate that we were close to Elfridaby else the disaster would have been even worse. As Raibeart had not brought news of ships we had our men mounted and riding towards Úlfarrston.  Asbjorn and his men as well as those we had raised from Cyninges-tūn were all mounted.  Sixty warriors rode down the Water. Snorri and Beorn were well ahead and it was Beorn who galloped back.

"Jarl, it is Sigtrygg and his men.  They are riding hard towards us.  I fear it is not good news."

I cursed myself for not having Aiden with us. "Let us ride to meet them then."

We met them by the farm of Nib at the southern end of the Water. He held a hessian sack up.  It was bloody. "Jarl, we have kept watch towards Seddes' Burgh as you asked.  Yester night we came upon some Frisians heading for the road to Úlfarrston. We slew them all." He shook his head.  "I am getting old.  I should have questioned them.  I am sorry."

I was impatient, "That matters not. What could they have told us?  That Ragnar Ruriksson and his men are here?  Their presence told us that." I pointed to the sack.  "What is in there?"

"They had eight of them. We brought just one in case you knew who it was."

He reached in and drew out the skull of Beorn Long Sight.  His eyes had been gouged out and his tongue removed. Even so I still recognised the earnest young scout. "I know him and that explains..."

"Jarl! Look!"

Olaf Leather Neck pointed east.  There the beacon flared.

I nodded, "That explains why we had no warning and why the beacons were not lit until now." I turned, "Einar Audunsson, ride to Úlfarrston and fetch the men of Dyflin.  Bring them to Elfridaby.  We will meet you there."

The young warrior whipped the head of his pony around and headed south.

"Will Wolf Killer be there, Jarl?"

"I doubt it.  We have to make sure that my son's family is safe but I have a feeling they will still be at Seddes' Burgh.  Wolf Killer was going to fortify it.  I would rather we fight far from our homes; this was not how I planned it.  We waste time. Let us ride!"

As we rode I wondered if I should have left Gruffyd at home.  His small pony was tough but it would struggle to keep up with us. We had twenty miles to ride and the only consolation was that we would be riding over flatter ground than had we left from Cyninges-tūn.  We would make good time. Sigtrygg and his men were suffering more than we for they had ridden hard already.  Their horses might make my son's hall but no further.

I was relieved to see the walls of Elfridaby standing yet.  The gates were whole and my son's standard flew.  We galloped through the sturdy entrance.  It was a small garrison which greeted us.  Elfrida came out, smiling.  It was a smile which masked her fear.  "Your son and Ragnar rode out when they saw the beacon from the south.  You have made good time.  Did Aiden work his magic?"

"No it was luck or perhaps it was
wyrd
." I turned in my saddle, "Sigtrygg.  You and your men stay here.  Your horses are exhausted and I want the garrison strengthened.  Gruffyd, stay with Elfrida and guard Ragnar's sister."

He bit back his reply and nodded.

"Keep a good watch.  The men of Dyflin will be here soon." I leaned down to Elfrida.  "We have been surprised and Wolf Killer's scouts have been killed.  You must command here with Sigtrygg."

"I am the wife of a warrior, Jarl.  I know what I have to do.  Do not worry about me or your son.  He will be safe here."

I smiled at Garth, "Today, grandson, you begin to become a warrior!"

He took out the seax I had given him and flourished it.  "I have named it Fox Bite!"

As I led my sixty men east I was grateful that Gunnstein Berserk Killer had sent his men.  With Sigtrygg's and the garrison Elfridaby would be safe; for a while at least.

We met the first of those fleeing our foes close by the tiny mere a mile from the town.  They were not warriors.  They were the frightened people who lived in the farms.  They cowered fearfully in the ditches when we approached.  I spoke to them quietly. "Tell me what happened."

An older man with a badly gashed head said, "Barbarians came from the east.    We had some warning of their coming for others fled before them.  We ran but they had mounted men and they rode us down. We did not understand their words. Many were killed but the Allfather smiled on us.  We fell down a steep bank and they thought we were dead." He held his hand to his head.  "I nearly was. We spent the day making our way west.  We knew that the Jarl at Elfridaby would give us shelter."

"Did you see him?"

He nodded, "We used logs to float down the Rawthey and we heard them.  They are fighting in the rebuilt burgh."

"Keep heading west.  You will find a welcome at Elfridaby." As they hurried away I said, "Snorri and Beorn, I need to know the disposition of the enemy."

"Aye Jarl." The two of them whipped their horses and disappeared ahead of us.

Asbjorn bring your men.  I will take you and the Ulfheonar.  The rest of you dismount here and make a shield wall.  We will bring the enemy to you. Cnut Cnutson you command."

"Aye Jarl."

I drew my sword and raised it. "We ride!"

Galloping down the gentle slope to the burgh I wondered if we would be in time.  My son could have no more than forty men with him.  Ten boat loads of our enemies could be as many as two hundred warriors.  My only hope was that there were some still strung out on the road from Eoforwic. Snorri met us.  He was dismounted. I could hear the clash of arms ahead.

"Jarl the outer wall is breached.  Wolf Killer and his men are outnumbered.  They are fighting their way back through the huts. That is the only thing preventing them from being overwhelmed. The enemy can only bring a few warriors to bear but they have horses and soon they will outflank your son."

"Dismount! Asbjorn go with Snorri and outflank them from the north.  Beorn lead us to the south." I swung my shield around as my tiny band of Ulfheonar tried to do the impossible; we would try to convince a larger army that we were a larger force than we actually were.

We left the road and headed across the fields to approach the enemy from behind. We kept low and our wolf cloaks disguised us; they hid the metal of our byrnies. Haaken and Olaf Leather Neck were on either side of me. The noise of the fighting had grown. Beorn pointed.  I could see the Franks.  Their helmets were rounded and had no nasal. I took in that many of them did not have armour.  I also realised that there were many of them. Our approach had been silent. 

I waved my sword left and right.  We formed a thin line. I saw Wolf Killer's standard. It flew still in the midst of his warriors but he was beleaguered. I waved my sword and we ran towards the rear of the Frankish warriors. It was strange to attack silently but I wanted as many men to die before they knew we attacked.  That would add to their fear. I brought Ragnar's Spirit down and hacked across the back of a Frank. My sword jarred on his spine and he died silently.  Others did not die so quietly.  I stabbed the next Frank under his right arm.  Twisting my sword out of his back it emerged covered in bloody gore.

There was a wail from ahead as Asbjorn and his men struck the far side of their line. As we stabbed and sliced at the ones before us the shouts and cries spread to our side. Olaf's mighty axe sliced through a warrior's back and the arm of the man next to him. A chief was spattered by the blood and turned to face me.  He swung his sword back handed at me.  I blocked it with Ragnar's Spirit and our swords clanged and rang together.  Sparks flew from them. I did not give him the chance to swing again.  I punched hard with my shield.  His helmet had no nasal and his face took the full impact of my metal boss. His nose and mouth were struck and I heard bone and cartilage break.  His eyes were streaming when I plunged my sword into his bloodied throat.  He fell at my feet, dead. I sliced and stabbed three more warriors who tried to turn to face this new threat. My Ulfheonar had slain three lines of Franks and it proved too much.  They turned and ran.

"Turn and face them.  Form a shield wall! Asbjorn, bring your men!"

As the Franks were funnelled back through the gap, Asbjorn and his men stood behind mine to make a stronger wall. I yelled, "Wolf Killer! Take your men up the hill to my standard! Rally there!"

I did not hear a reply and I did not turn. Although the Franks were falling back some of the younger warriors sought glory and hurled themselves at our line.  It was a mistake.  They died. We were a solid line with warriors who knew how to fight on foot.  The Franks were horsemen. The biggest danger we faced was tripping over the dead beneath our feet.  I saw many of the warriors Wolf Killer had led from Elfridaby lying dead.  Their swords were in their hands.  They would be in Valhalla. We moved back through the congested body littered huts. Suddenly out of the darkening gloom of dusk I heard a horn.  It was a Frankish horn and it was rallying our enemies.  Soon they would reform and attack.  The survivor had said that they had horses.  We had to be away before they charged. Frankish horsemen were good!

There was no one before us and I shouted, "Back to the standard! Run!"

I was the last to reach the horses.  Wolf Killer, blood pouring from a gashed arm, stood with the twenty men who had survived.  I saw that Asbjorn had also lost six men.  "Mount. Those without horses ride double.  We have but a little way to go. Cnut Cnutson waits with a shield wall." I mounted Storm Rider. "Rolf Horse Killer, you and Olaf Leather Neck form the rearguard.  Listen for danger!"

"Aye Jarl."

I rode next to my son. "What happened?"

"My men were surprised. The enemy appeared without warning.  My men were still building the wall when their scouts fell upon them. They managed to light the beacon and I came as soon as I could.  By the time we reached the burgh there were but two men left and the outer wall had fallen.  I know not why Beorn Long Sight did not send me a message."

"I do.  He and his scouts were captured.  Their eyes were removed along with their tongues."

He closed his eyes and then opened them.  "I am sorry Beorn for cursing you." He shook his head.  "It is fortunate that you came so quickly." He suddenly started.  "My home! I left few guards there!"

"Fear not.  Sigtrygg has his men there as well as a drekar crew of the men of Dyflin.  Your home is safe." I was missing something.  "Why do you worry about your home? The enemy are behind us."

"This is not all of them.  Another band, with Frisians and Danes are heading there now.  The Franks were to pin us down. The only hope we have is that they are afoot. We are mounted."

We reached Cnut just as Rolf shouted, "Jarl! Horsemen!"

We stood no chance on horseback against Franks. "Dismount. Form a shield wall!"

Riding around the rear of Cnut's double line I dismounted and pulled four men who just had leather armour from the rear of the line. "Hold the horses."

Handing my reins to one of them I pushed my way to the front of the shield wall.  Olaf and Haaken joined me.  We stood with Cnut in the front rank.  Haaken said, "Your father's spirit will be watching us Cnut Cnutson.  He would be proud."

We could see little ahead.  Darkness was falling rapidly.  We could, however, hear the hooves of their horses as they galloped up the road.  My hope was that they could not outflank us.  There was a ditch running along both sides of the Roman Road. When they hit us, however, it would be hard.

Olaf Leather Neck shouted, "Shields!"  We locked ours at the front.  Those in the second rank brought their shields over our heads and warriors did the same at the side. We were a solid wall of wood and metal.  Those with spears poked them out, The ones in the second rank added their weapons to ours. Blades and spear heads bristled from the wooden wall. We were as prepared as we could be.

Once the shields were locked in place Olaf Leather Neck shouted, "Brace!" We all stepped forward on our left legs and awaited the crash when the horses hit us.

We saw a moving shadow at first which quickly became a line of horses.  They had spears and long oval shields. What they did not have was armour on their legs. I saw a glimmer of hope in the dark of night. The Franks had stiraps.  They could punch with their spears. We could do nothing for their spears were longer than our swords. The first ten hit our shields.  I heard a scream as one of my men was speared.  His shield had not been locked.  It was a mistake but a costly one.  The men in the front rank were largely the men from my home; they followed Cnut Cnutson. They were not Ulfheonar.