‘Andres,’ said Conrad, ‘what did your scouts discover of events in the north?’
The thickset warlord from Jerwen rubbed his beard. ‘The crusaders spent many weeks at Lyndanise after their victory, strengthening their defences. But now they are on the move south. Many foot soldiers and men of iron on horses.’
The Estonians had come to despise the mailed crusader knights on their warhorses that they had nicknamed ‘men of iron’. The local warriors on their ponies could not withstand such heavily armed and armoured soldiers and even men in a shield wall had to have iron nerves to resist a charge of mounted knights.
‘How far are they away?’ asked Sir Richard.
‘Five days, perhaps less,’ answered Andres.
‘What of the Oeselians?’ said Peeter whose leg had now fully healed.
‘They make no moves but undoubtedly watch them like we do,’ answered Hillar.
‘What are you going to do, Conrad?’ asked Hans, who was busy eating a plate of cold sausages. Johann and Anton were tucking into rye bread and cheese, washed down by delicious honey mead.
‘Perhaps we could send a courier to the Danes,’ suggested Anton, ‘to request they turn around and go back to, what is that place?’
‘Lyndanise,’ said Andres.
‘That would make us look weak,’ said Peeter. ‘Strength should be matched with strength.’
Sir Richard nodded. ‘I am apt to agree with Peeter.’
‘Master Rudolf was quite specific concerning not provoking the Danes,’ insisted Conrad. ‘I do not wish to start a war.’
‘I have no intention of telling you what to do, Conrad,’ said Sir Richard sternly, ‘but you need to back up your words with force. We have gathered many men here and they should be used to enforce your will. The bishop intends that Saccalia should remain under his lordship, Jerwen too for that matter.’
‘And Rotalia,’ added Hillar.
‘So you see, Conrad,’ continued Sir Richard, ‘much depends on your actions in the next few days.’
‘Then what would you suggest, lord?’ asked Conrad, the burden of responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders.
‘Draw a line in the sand,’ answered the English lord, ‘from which you will not retreat and they will not be permitted to cross.’
‘And where would that line be, Sir Richard?’ enquired Anton.
‘The Pala River,’ said Sir Richard.
Located four miles north of Lehola the Pala flowed from east to west, meandering through the pine forests that covered Saccalia. It always broke its banks in the spring when the snows melted, flooding the meadows that flanked the river. In the summer the level of the river dropped by half as the current slowed and the floodplain meadows were covered in lush grass, gently sloping sand banks being uncovered as the water retreated in the heat of July and August. Even though it was now autumn and the days were shortening and getting wetter, the river was still shallow and slow moving.
‘That is where they will attempt to cross,’ said Tonis, his shield slung on his back as he stood with Peeter, Sir Richard and Conrad pointing across the Pala at the meadow across the river. ‘Down the ancient track that cuts through Jerwen.’
Conrad could see the rutted track that ended at the sandbank on the northern shore and that began just behind them to bisect the floodplain meadow before snaking its way through the adjacent forest.
‘How deep is the water here?’ asked Conrad, a buzzard flying overhead catching his eye.
‘Three feet, maybe less,’ said Peeter.
‘And around a hundred feet across,’ added Tonis.
‘But it is really no deeper either side of this ford,’ said Peeter, ‘so a whole army could cross the length of this meadow with ease.’
Conrad looked left and right at the river that curved north and disappeared around a quarter of a mile to the west and coming into view in the east at around the same distance. He spotted a pair of black stork flying over the slow-moving, blue waters of the Pala. Five years ago he was part of a crusader army that had laid siege to Lehola, fighting off a pagan relief force in the process. And now he commanded an army of pagans that sought to halt the advance of Danish crusaders. It was most strange.
‘So this is our line in the sand,’ mused Conrad to no one in particular.
Sir Richard heard him. ‘Just in case the Danes decide to cross that line, I have stockpiled enough supplies in Lehola to withstand a three-month siege. Snow will be on the ground by then and hopefully the Danes will not have the means or inclination to remain in Saccalia.
‘I will order the evacuation of all the women and children to Fellin today.’
‘It would be best, though, if they could be evacuated from Saccalia altogether if the worst happens,’ continued Sir Richard.
‘To Wenden?’ said Conrad.
Sir Richard nodded. Conrad looked into the sky that was beginning to fill with light grey clouds. Soon it would be raining every day and getting progressively cooler. Not ideal conditions for a large number of women and children to undertake a long trek.
‘There will be no need for that,’ said Conrad, trying to convince himself. ‘The Danes will see reason.’
Sir Richard said nothing as he stared across the river, deep in thought. He and the others looked round when they heard hooves on the grass and saw a lone rider approach on a brown pony. Like Tonis he wore chainmail armour, a helmet and had his shield slung on his back. He brought his pony to a halt and raised his hand to Sir Richard.
‘They have arrived, lord.’
Sir Richard glanced at Peeter and smiled.
‘Time to return to Lehola,’ he said to Conrad. ‘You should welcome the new arrivals.’
‘What new arrivals?’ queried Conrad.
Sir Richard hauled himself into his saddle. ‘You will discover soon enough.’
They rode back to the fort with the messenger, the forest gloomy and cool as the sky continued to fill with dark clouds. By the time they reached Lehola a light drizzle filled the air and the guards in the towers were wrapped in their cloaks. The ground to the south and west of the fort was filled with tents and temporary shelters but now the area beyond the eastern ramparts was filled with long lines of ponies and warriors erecting tents. Conrad looked in surprise at Sir Richard who had a wry smile on his face. In the inner compound they dismounted and servants took their horses to the stables. They entered the main hall and Conrad heard happy voices and laughter coming from the feasting chamber. Walking through the open doors he saw Hans, Anton and Johann standing near the fire with Andres, Hillar and another long-haired individual who had his back to him.
‘Here they are,’ said Hans.
The stranger turned and clapped his hands together.
‘What’s all this I’ve been hearing about a warlord of Estonia?’
Conrad could not believe his eyes. ‘Lord Kalju!’
He locked Conrad in an iron embrace and slapped him hard on the back. ‘I heard stories of an Army of the Wolf and a man I knew being created lord of all Estonia so I thought I had better come and see for myself what all the fuss is about.’
He shook the hand of Sir Richard. ‘Good to see you again.’
‘And you, my friend’ replied the nobleman.
‘I trust Eha is well, lord,’ said Conrad.
‘She sends her affections,’ replied Kalju.
They sat and slaves brought hot broth from the kitchens. The Sword Brothers diplomatically avoided all reference to the last time they had seen the Ungannian chief as they talked about the Danish incursion to the north.
‘News brought by traders is that Jaak, Edvin and Alva are dead,’ said Kalju, broth dripping on to his beard. ‘I was worried that these new invaders would attack Ungannia but it appears that they are heading this way.’
‘So the rumours about Lord Jaak are true,’ said Andres glumly.
Kalju said nothing but Conrad looking at him, realised that he was the last surviving Estonian leader. The others were dead and their kingdoms occupied by foreigners. How long would Ungannia remain free? He was about to declare that the Sword Brothers would always be the friend of his people but stopped himself. It was doubtful that Kalju wished for the friendship of the organisation that had been responsible for the death of his eldest son. And yet here he was, come to lend his support. It was a riddle.
‘Your presence here is most welcome, lord,’ said Conrad. The other brother knights uttered their agreement.
‘I came because Sir Richard sent me a message explaining that you had been made the defender of Estonia, Conrad. You, and Sir Richard, once came to fight by my side when my kingdom was threatened by Russians and Oeselians.’ He tactfully neglected to mention that Lembit had also attacked his homeland. ‘I thought it only right that I return the favour.’
He dipped a huge chunk of bread into his bowl of broth.
‘That said, I do not do it purely for honour. If these Danes take Saccalia then I have no doubt that they will also invade Ungannia. And that I desire not.’
He looked at Sir Richard. ‘You have scouts out looking for them?’
‘Some of my best wolf shields,’ replied Sir Richard.
A long line of women and children on foot, the elderly and infants in carts and an escort of warriors made its way south from Lehola after breakfast, on their way to Fellin. It had been the same for the past two days as the fort was emptied of non-combatants and prepared for a possible siege. Conrad stood on the timber wall and watched them go. A few of the children looked up and saw the mailed knight in his white surcoat and neatly trimmed beard and waved at him. His fame as
Susi
, the reincarnation of the ancient wolf guardian of the forest, had spread and they believed him to be invincible. He waved back. He was beginning to like these people.
He heard footsteps and turned to see Kaja coming towards him, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders, her shapely figure wrapped in a green tunic and brown leggings. She had a dagger tucked into her leather belt and leather boots on her feet.
‘Hello, Kaja. Have you come to say goodbye?’
She looked quizzically at him. ‘Goodbye?’
He turned, rested his hands on the ancient wooden trunk that formed part of the wall and nodded towards the column of women and children.
‘Will you not be leaving with them to go to Fellin?’
‘No,
Susi
,’ she said firmly. ‘I stay here to fight.’
He smiled at her. ‘How many other women have decided to stay and fight?’
‘At least a score,’ she said, her pretty face a mask of steely boldness. ‘You mock me for wanting to defend my homeland?’
‘Why would I mock someone who saved my life?’ he answered softly. ‘But I think that perhaps you should concentrate on more womanly matters, like getting a husband.’
Her face suddenly became a veil of sadness. ‘I had a man who was going to be my husband. He was a farmer like my father and he had blue eyes and light brown hair and we loved each other. But then my village was attacked and…’
Her shoulders slumped and her head dropped and Conrad thought he heard a sob.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘you want to fight then you should be taught how to do it properly.’
He walked to the wooden steps that led down to the ground and descended them, Kaja following. Conrad picked up a stick from one of the piles of firewood stacked around the inside of the outer wall and turned to face Kaja. He drew his sword and handed it to her.
‘Have you ever handled a sword?’
‘No,
Susi
,’ she replied. ‘Only village headmen are rich enough to afford one.’ She grasped the black leather of the handle. ‘It is lighter than I thought it would be.’
Her eyes, moments before full of sadness, were now sparkling with excitement.
‘Now I want you to try and hit me with the sword,’ he said.
She looked horrified. ‘I could never do that,
Susi
.’
He gripped the stick with his right hand. ‘It is quite all right. You want to learn, do you not?’
The fire returned to her eyes. ‘Oh, yes.’
‘This is your first lesson,’ he told her, ‘the first of many. So pay attention. Now, attack.’
She swung the sword clumsily in his direction, like a farmer scything crops. He sidestepped to avoid the blow and tapped her lightly on the side of her right leg with the stick.
‘Many who use a sword concentrate too much on striking an opponent and neglect thinking about where the enemy’s blow will fall. Do you know what the first rule of combat is, Kaja?’
He lunged and struck her again on the leg, a glancing blow that annoyed her rather than hurt her.
‘Keep moving. Keep moving so you can get out of the way of an opponent’s sword.’
He moved to the left and she duplicated his manoeuvre, swinging the sword at him again. He leapt back to avoid he point and then flicked his right wrist to whip the end of the stick against her left arm. She winced with pain.
‘If your free hand isn’t holding a shield or another weapon,’ he told her, ‘then keep it behind your back. Otherwise it becomes just another target.’
Kaja was becoming more annoyed as she jabbed and swung the sword at Conrad, who always remained out of reach. Their mock duel was spotted by groups of warriors who had also been drilling and they began to drift over to take a closer look. When they saw Kaja was a woman they began to whistle and jeer at her, encouraging her to press her attack more forcefully. The result was that she grasped the handle with both hands and launched a series of downward and sideward strikes at Conrad, the result of which was to tire her out as he ducked, dodged and stepped back to avoid them, tapping her legs and arms with his stick as he did so. The circle of warriors gave a great cheer every time she attacked him but her efforts were in vain and after a few minutes she stood panting before him.