Viking Sword (10 page)

I pushed again with my shield so that the Dane could not use his axe and, as he stepped backwards, I hooked my right leg behind his left. The movement of his arm over his head with the axe was fatal.  He fell backwards to the ground.  This time there was no need for the women to finish him off.  We all heard the crack as his back broke.

The respite was momentary. The space occupied by the huge Dane was now taken by two smaller warriors with swords. Suddenly there was a whoosh from my left and an arrow transfixed one of the Danes.  As this companion looked to see the danger I stabbed him with my sword. I now had two bodies before me and I looked to the left.  Erik had brought the ships over to the northern bank of the river and he, his ships boys and the guards I had left were sending arrows towards the Danes who were ascending the walls. At the same time there was a roar of flame from the north wall as Haaken ignited the pig fat which had been thrown.  There was a collective scream as shields soaked in pig fat ignited.

A young half naked Dane ran towards me and, using his dead companions as steps, he launched himself at me.  I swung my sword which deflected his seax and then hacked into his neck.  His bleeding body fell to join his companions below. The Danes began to flee.  We had held them. I turned to Sigtrygg.  He had a bad cut along his lower arm and I saw him wincing as he moved.

"I will get you to Aiden."

He nodded as I took his weight.  "I knew they were up to something.  They used the boats from the jetty and sailed to the unguarded river.  There were not as many stakes there.  Had Erik not brought the drekar things would have gone ill." He smiled, "I owe you my life again, Jarl."

"As you have done before for me.  It is why we are Ulfheonar." Just then we passed the body of Bjorn Carved Teeth.  He too had helped save Sigtrygg and now he lay with a half severed head. The sword in his hand told me that he was in Valhalla.  It had been a good death.

After I had taken Sigtrygg to Aiden I went back to the north wall.  We had paid a price for their clever attack and we would have empty benches when we returned home.  I peered into the ditch.  Some of the bodies were still smoking whilst others were blackened, charred, corpses. Haaken had not escaped unscathed.  He sported a dented helmet and a hand which had been sliced by a seax. He shrugged, "I was lucky."

I looked into the forest where the Danes were dragging their wounded.  They had left behind many fine warriors.

Haaken laughed, "And you were lucky too, Jarl Dragon Heart." He tapped my shoulder.  I looked and saw the effect of the Danish axe. "A blow has almost cut through your fine Greek armour.  The spirits watched over you again."

"And I am grateful."

A slow, rhythmic banging of shields began as the men of Cyninges-tūn began chanting, "Dragon Heart" over and over.  It was taken up by the men of Wessex and only ended when I raised my sword and yelled, "Odin!"

Wyrd
!

My men went over the battlefield despatching those who were dying and binding those whom we could enslave.  There were not many of the latter. My warriors took the arms, armour and treasure of the vanquished.  We had paid a high price. Arturus, in particular, was upset by the loss of five of his young warriors. I left my men to continue their grisly task and sought Eorl Edward.  He had survived but his helmet and armour showed that he had done his part.  Leofric had a bad wound to his leg for he had worn a short byrnie. Aiden later told me that he would limp for the rest of his life.

"Well, Eorl Edward, we drove them off and the people of Lundenwic did not suffer."

We were walking through their village on the way to my hall.  "Aye but they will need to rebuild and repair some of them."

"Daub and wattle are easier to replace than lives. They will be stronger."

My drekar were tied up when we arrived. "Well done Erik, that was smartly done."

"It was young Karl who spotted the boats and he alerted us."

"You will all be rewarded and share in our success." I had wanted Edward alone to talk about our next move. I was not certain of the loyalty of all of the inhabitants.  Those who had fled might just be the ones we knew about and there could have been others. "He may be back.  We did not kill enough of his men to discourage them.  He has more and he can send to Denmark too.  There are many landless warriors who will fight for gold."

"I am not certain we could withstand another such attack.  They came perilously close to succeeding."

"We learn from their actions and prevent them using our own boats against us. I sent mine to Suthriganaworc."

It was a criticism and Edward acknowledged it.  "Perhaps this task is too great for me."

"No, you are a good leader and your father will be proud."

"Hopefully he will return soon."

"In the meantime if you have horses I will take some of my men and follow them."

"I am sorry we have but four."

"Then four will have to do."

I took Snorri, Bjorn the Scout and Cnut with me.  Arturus was disappointed when I told him he would be staying.

"I need you here for your warriors.  They had a hard fight and will need to recover."

"What you really mean is that I will need time to recover."

I shrugged, "I think that your mind will be on the dead for a day or two and besides I am taking scouts with me. That is the reason for their selection."

The four horses were larger than the ponies we used at home but not by much. We deigned armour.  We had no intention of fighting.  That also made it much easier on the horses. We found the first dead Dane not far from the fort. He had fallen behind and just died of his wounds. He had been speared in the stomach.  That sort of wound was always fatal but rarely immediate. We took his treasures and weapons from him; he had no armour. There was a ditch nearby and we laid him in it and covered him with dead wood.  It would not keep the scavengers away but it afforded the dead Dane a little dignity. We found another five before we left the forest. All had laid down with their swords in their hands.

Snorri had shaken his head as we had laid the last one in a ditch by the road along which we travelled. "His brothers in arms could not have thought much of him if they left him."

"None of them were the oathsworn of Guthrum.  Many of these would have been hired warriors. Some would have come alone and many of the others might have lost their companions in the fight. We are lucky, Snorri, we fight for each other and we leave no man unburied and no warrior behind."

Once we had found our last body I sent Snorri and Bjorn the Scout ahead. Cnut and I followed more slowly.  Our two scouts did not need to be encumbered by our presence.  They would move faster and more silently without us. We were now able to speak.  "What do you intend next, Jarl Dragon Heart?"

"You do not think we should stay here for a while?"

"I do not like fighting for Saxons. We could go home now for Wiglaf and the other glory hunters know where we are."

"I know your reasons are good but it does not feel right."

"The spirits?"

"Aye and the Norns. When it is right then we will return home but let us wait at least one more moon. We can still make it home for midsummer."

"Or we could raid.  We have only found a few slaves."

I laughed, "Cnut, the treasure seeker.  Perhaps we will." I rubbed my chin.  "I have thought of raiding the east coast, north of the Dunum.  We shall see."

Snorri and Bjorn the Scout returned an hour after they had left us.  They pointed to the north.  "They have made a camp. I think they are awaiting reinforcements."

"I thought that they had given up too easily.  You have done well.  How many remain?"

"There are at least forty with mail and sixty or seventy others.  We saw that some had gone hunting.  We had best return to Lundenwic.  They might see us and I fear they have no love for Ulfheonar!"

Eorl Edward could not hide his disappointment when I told him that it was not over. "I had thought we had bloodied their noses."

"We did but not enough.  We will have to hope that your father returns. What of the fyrd? Could they be called to arms?"

"Perhaps.  I will send my men out to find more warriors but it is the season for sowing and working their fields." I said nothing.  That was their problem and not mine.  "Could you not raid Here Wic again?"

"There would be little point.  They will not have started rebuilding and the men who were there will be on their way to join Guthrum. And the traps in the woods will not work a second time. At least they will not come at night next time.  It will be dawn so that they can see the ditches and they will bring faggots and bundles to help them across. The Danes are quick learners."

"Have you no good news, Jarl Dragon Heart?"

"Your people did well even those that Leofric thought would not.  Use those too." I smiled.  "You might think of buying better weapons too."

"Where is the best place to buy them?"

I gave him an innocent look, "Cyninges-tūn."

It took him a moment to take in what I had said and then he laughed, "You make weapons?"

I nodded, "This armour, this sword and those of my men are all made by the Water. If you have the coin then we will sell them to you."

"I will ask my father when he arrives. It seems that hanging on to this town will be expensive one way or another."

We spent a quiet couple of days.  My men made arrows and repaired armour. There was little to spend their newly acquired treasure upon and they were in danger of becoming bored. To alleviate that I sent ten out each day, in pairs to watch for the return of the Danes or the Mercians. While we were waiting Siggi and Trygg arrived with two of Pasgen's ships to trade.  Although there was little which my warriors wanted the pots which were available were greatly sought after at home. The seal oil and the iron ploughs were highly sought after and I knew that our people would make a good trade. The seal oil, in particular, could now be used as a weapon.

"How are things at home?" I was worried for I was not certain if the ploy was working.

"It is peaceful.  We have more settlers and the land to the west of Windar's Mere is filling up.  He has reoccupied the fort of Arturus to guard from incursions.  We had many lambs and calves this year. Next time we come we will have fine animals to trade."

"Good, then tell Bjorn that Wessex needs to buy armour and weapons.  It will please him."

Einar Badger Hair, one of my men, had been badly wounded by a Danish axe.  Aiden could not help him further but he felt that Kara could. We sent him back with the knarr. The four ships all rode much higher in the water than when they had arrived.  Bjorn's iron and the seal oil were much heavier than the pots with which they returned.

One effect of the visit of the knarr was the sudden upsurge in trade. We saw merchants travelling from every direction to buy the fine ploughs and the ever useful seal oil. Not all were what they seemed.  Aiden had finished his medical ministrations and he took to watching the arrivals.  Some came by ship but others by road and we were well placed to see those who came from the north west and the west along Waeclinga Straet and the Roman Road to the heart of Wessex.

He saw a couple of merchants who looked less like merchants and more like warriors disguised as merchants. He sought me out immediately.  "I think they are Mercian spies, Jarl.  They came down Waeclinga Straet and they both have long swords.  I think they are warriors."

Arturus was nearby and overheard.  "Let us follow them. We may discover news."

I was about to say no and then I realised that this would be like a slap in the face for my son if I allowed Aiden to do this mission and not him. I nodded and unstrapped Ragnar's Spirit.  The scabbard was unmistakeable and whilst I might be anonymous without my armour my sword would tell the world who I was. I handed my sword to Cnut.  He would guard it with his life. I picked up a Danish blade we had captured the other day.  We followed them.  I kept back from Aiden and spoke in Saxon to Arturus.  His Saxon was good but I had been brought up speaking it. We allowed them to head for the trading hall before we closed with them.

Their identity was confirmed when they only gave a cursory glance at the goods on offer.  We saw them head to the sign of the barley.  They tied up their horses and pack horse outside. We could not enter for Cwoenthryth would recognise us. Aiden said, "I will risk it.  Cwoenthryth is a clever woman.  I will speak with her quietly and try to overhear their conversation."

Rather than looking obvious we left Aiden to his own devices and we returned to the trading hall. We were able to see how much the traders were charging for the ploughs and the oil.  We would be able to tell Siggi and Trygg when we returned.  It was better for us to make the profit rather than the merchants of Lundenwic. They were popular items and the ploughs would not last the rest of the day.  As we left I said to Arturus.  "We can make even more profit next time."

We did not have long to wait.  The two spies left and headed towards Lundenburgh.  They did not take their horses. We followed them so that Aiden would appear less obvious. They walked very slowly towards the gates.  They looked more like two old men out for a stroll rather than merchants. When they neared the gate they turned right and headed towards the river.

"Arturus go inside and find the Eorl.  Tell him of our suspicions and then go around the far side of the fort.  You can cut off their exit." He nodded and hurried ahead. 

Aiden caught me up.  He spoke to me in Norse so that the Mercian spies would not overhear. "They asked about the battle the other day.  They seemed very interested in us.  They asked Cwoenthryth where you were.  I caught her eye and she feigned ignorance.  I will speak with her later.  She did well. They then asked which the drekar were." I was glad now that I had put the mast on the mast fish.  They would have to go down to the river to see them. 

We had enough information now and I decided to catch them up.  "Have your seax ready.  They may run.  I hope that Arturus and Eorl Edward are in place."

The two men had reached the river now and they looked upstream.  I knew that they would see the two drekar.  They did and they turned.  When they saw us they drew their swords and then ran east along the river bank. We did not hurry.  I hoped that there would be some warriors waiting for them.  If they saw them then they would risk the two of us.

I heard a loud shout from the river gate and the two Mercians looked up.  Suddenly Eorl Edward, Arturus and four of Edward's oathsworn appeared.  The spies did what I expected them to.  They ran at us.  I only had a borrowed Danish sword and Aiden had a seax.  We would be lucky to escape unscathed.

I heard the shout from the gate again, "Stop or we release our arrows!"

The two men hesitated then ran on.  The six arrows plunged into the ground at their feet and, effectively, stopped them. Arturus and the oathsworn reached them and then disarmed them.  As we approached I heard their complaints.  "Why do you detain us?  We have done no wrong.  We are law abiding merchants."

I smiled, "I heard that you were looking for me and I wanted to save you a wasted journey around the fort.  I am Jarl Dragon Heart."

They paled. One reached into his kyrtle and pulled out a seax. I stabbed upwards, instinctively, with the borrowed blade and transfixed his hand.  He gripped it with his other hand but the blood still flowed freely between his fingers. He gave me a look of pure hatred."Now we know you for who you are." Aiden picked up the seax while Arturus searched the other and pulled out his hidden seax. "So, you may now speak the truth.  Why are you here?"

"My friend told you before you stabbed him.  We are merchants.  Men must defend themselves from Vikings."

I smiled, "And you would swear to that?" He nodded eagerly, "You would testify?" The thought of losing his manhood made him shake his head rapidly.  "I thought not." I jabbed my Danish sword in the ground. "Now I will ask you two questions more.  Why are you here? I know I asked that already but I was not certain if you understood it.  You do understand the question do you not?" He nodded. "Then I would answer before your friend here bleeds to death.  Now the second question may be easier to answer. Have you heard of the blood eagle?"