Viking Kingdom

  Viking Kingdom

  Book 4 in the

  Dragon Heart Series

  By

  Griff Hosker

  Published by Sword Books Ltd 2014

  Copyright © Griff Hosker First Edition

  The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

  All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

  Cover by Design for Writers

  Prologue

  Those who devoured the dead and the dying were gathering; carrion beasts were coming to my home. The human creatures which feast on the dying and the weak were closing in on us. Since the death of Prince Butar others, such as the ones the Saxons called the Vikings, had been sniffing around our island of Man to see if we were weak enough to devour. They could not believe that someone who had been a slave and born a Saxon could rule somewhere like our island haven of Man.

  The only things which kept the sea wolves from the door were my sword, Ragnar’s Spirit, and my resolute warriors. All the warriors who heard of the mystical blade both coveted and feared touched by the gods. No-one wished to fight an enchanted blade. It had never been beaten in battle. I hoped that the illusion would last. Since Prince Butar had been killed I knew that there were many who thought that they could rule Man

  As I sat, on Snaefell’s peak I pondered such matters. I no longer gazed to the west and the island of the Irish. We had struck fear into their hearts. Other sea wolves like us might take over that troubled land but the Hibernians themselves would not risk war with me. They had been hurt too many times and their women and children sold as slaves. I gazed to the east and the land of the Angles and the Saxons. I looked to the land where I had been born. It was a land full of riches. It was the land of my mother and her ancestors.

  Since my mother’s death I had learned much about her and her people. She had not been a Saxon. She had been descended from the last Warlord of Rheged. That had been the last vestige of the Roman Empire and the old land of the Britons. Rheged was now merely a name, a legend almost, but I had found the tomb of the warlord and his wizard, Myrddyn. I knew that it was real. Perhaps I should say I was led to the tomb for I know that the spirits from beyond our world wished me to find them. And then I was buried and found the ancient sword of the warlord. When I emerged from my earthly tomb I knew that I had been reborn. I had been dead and now I was alive.

  All of that had been some time ago but I had had time to reflect and to think. Once a month I would ascend, alone, to the soft top of Snaefell and I would think. My warriors and my family knew what I did and respected my vigil. I was as high as I could be on the island and I believed that those who had died before, Ragnar, my mother and Prince Butar, could speak with me. Their words filled my head. I was close to the Gods and I could see all of the lands which surrounded us.

  We had been visited by many Jarls over the last year: Ragnar Hairy-Breeches, Magnus Bare Legs and Olvir the Child Sparer. They had all come, apparently to offer us friendship and support but we had seen them assessing our defences and seeking weaknesses. We were not fooled. And then there were those that we knew were enemies: Harald One-Eye Butar’s cousin had driven us from our Norse home many years ago. He had hated him as he hated me. There were others too: Thorfinn the Skull Splitter and Sihtric Silkbeard who made no pretence of friendship but coveted what we ruled.

  They had all settled either in the land of the Angles or on the islands to the north. We, on the island of Man, were too strong for them. My warriors controlled the nearby island which had been the ancient home of the druids, Anglesey. My warriors there were protected by the holy mountain and it prevented others from using that rich island as a base from which to raid us. But I knew we could not just sit and wait for them to come. If we did that we would lose. The voice in my head, which had been Ragnar’s, told me so. The voice had changed of late. I still saw Ragnar but it was not his voice. No matter whose voice it was, the words in my head had never let me down and I would heed them. I descended the mountain happier than I had been for some time. I knew what I had to do.

  Chapter 1

  By the time I had reached my home at Hrams-a I was decided. I had the plan in my head. Of course, as with all things, I would speak with my wife, Erika. It was not to seek her approval; I did not need that. Rather it was to have her apply her mind to what I had decided. Oft times her sage advice had made the plan work better. I believed she might be a volva but she denied any such powers. The Otherworld worked in mysterious ways.

  My daughter Kara was now toddling and was proving a handful for Seara who watched over her. As I approached the hall I heard her squeals as she fled from her nurse and I heard Seara’s voice as she tried to control my child. Arturus my son had grown rapidly over the last year. He spent every waking minute practising to be a warrior. If Aiden was available then he sparred with him and if not he used his bow and the targets. At other times he would happily wield an axe to strengthen his muscles. He wanted to be an Ulfheonar and he knew that required a high standard of skill.

  Aiden was the Irish boy I had adopted. Although he used sword and shield he was no warrior. He was a fine worker of metals and had made the wolf charms for my oathsworn. He had become something of a healer for my warriors and could stitch the deep cuts they sometimes suffered. He could also read and had shown himself adept at conjuring cunning plans. I knew that when Erika had refined my thoughts Aiden would add his own opinion and ideas. I would welcome them. He was as loyal a man as any of my warriors and I was not arrogant enough to believe that I knew it all.

  Arturus ran to me when he saw me. I noticed that he was now as tall as my shoulder and was filling out. Another summer or two and he could begin raiding with me as a warrior rather than an apprentice. “You are back father. Did you dream the dream?”

  I smiled, “Not this time my son, but the sky and the mountain cleared my head and allowed the spirits to talk with me. I cannot always dream but I can speak with those who have gone before.”

  “Will I be able to do that when I grow older?”

  I had no doubt that he would for his mother was fey too but it did not do to put such ideas in a boy’s mind in case it turned out not to be the way he would walk. “It may be. When I was your age the gift had not come. You will need to grow and see what the Allfather has planned for you.”

  His face showed disappointment tinged with resolve. He would still believe that he could be exactly the same as me. “I will continue to work then father.”

  “Good. The gods help those that help themselves.”

  Erika was a good organiser and she had finished the chores which needed completion. She was a master at ensuring that others worked hard. She was sitting by the fire weaving a new kyrtle for Arturus. He was growing rapidly and would need one when winter returned. She looked as I entered and laid down the spindle whorl and went to the barrel to get me a horn of beer. She did not need to say a word. She knew that I would speak when I was ready. I had chosen a good wife or perhaps she had chosen me; I was never sure.

  The ale was freshly made and refreshed me. It must have been made with the waters from the Garlic River; that always had a distinctive taste which I liked.

  “I have decided that I will not wait for our enemies to determine that we are weak and take this land from us. I will strike first.�
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  I drank some more of the ale and waited for her comments.

  “Would you leave us undefended?”

  “No, for I have done that twice and both times lost someone dear to me. The last time Harald One Eye nearly had you. No, I intend to leave Dargh with a healthy number of men. There are many who have fought with Prince Butar and are no longer fit to go A-Viking. I will gather them and they will guard Duboglassio and here. I will also ask your brother to use his drekar to watch for enemies here.”

  She looked up sharply. “Perhaps he will want to raid too.”

  I smiled, “I think his wife wishes him at home a little more. She is not you, my love.”

  She laughed, “And is that a criticism?”

  “No, I would take you over ten such wives.”

  “And where will you go first?”

  I thought back to the last raid which had come from Harald One-Eye. I had almost caught him but he had fled with many of his men. More left their bones bleaching the hillsides of Man but he would be rebuilding.

  “One-Eye is the closest and the one who needs the lesson first. It will serve as a warning to others that Dragon Heart and his Ulfheonar do not forgive treachery.”

  “And then?”

  “I would take my men south. Now that Eardwulf is no longer king, Eanred, his successor, will take time to gain control of his lands. It seems a perfect time to clear the land and join up with Jarl Thorkell. With that part of Northumbria under our control I could venture north.”

  She laughed, “I can read you as Aiden reads those Latin books. All this talk of preventing our enemies from attacking us is not the real reason you wish to go across the waters.”

  I looked to the ground. She was a volva.

  “You wish to visit and conquer Rheged. The sword you found in the water has haunted you since you brought it back.”

  I nodded. “It draws my mind to it. The sword belonged to a warlord who fought the Saxons. I was meant to find it and if I was meant to find it then, perhaps, I am meant to use it to drive the Saxons away from the land of my ancestors.”

  She nodded firmly and took my empty horn to refill it. “Good. You are being honest with yourself now as well as me.” She handed me the refilled horn. “There is nothing wrong with that. Who are the warriors you will take?”

  Apart from the Ulfheonar, Jarl Rolf and his men I do not know. I will just take ‘Wolf’ and ‘Bear’. When those are filled with volunteers then I will leave the rest to guard here.”

  “That is not many warriors. Will you have enough?”

  “It should be enough. I can always send back for more men.”

  “Then you will be away some time?”

  “I expect to be away for the whole of the summer.” I shrugged, “If I can get back by winter then so much the better.”

  “So you will use Alf and ‘Serpent’ to keep me informed of how you fare?”

  This was not a question it was an order. Our captured Hibernian ship was used to trade with other peoples. She could also be useful for ferrying messages and new warriors too. I laughed and kissed her on the cheek, “Of course, my love.”

  “Good, then I am settled and I look forward to all the treasure that you will send back to me.”

  We had much to do in a short space of time. I sought out my Ulfheonar. We were growing smaller in number as it was hard to replace such warriors. There were just eight of them left with me. Not all were dead. Some had opted to stay in Gwynedd but I only had eight of my elite warriors. I joined them in their hall. It was more spacious now. After explaining my plan I waited for their comments.

  Cnut nodded as did Haaken; they had been with me since we had lived beyond the seas in the land of ice and snow. “It will be good to pay back Harald One-Eye.”

  “Remember Haaken, he has no honour, as he showed when he fled our shores to leave his oathsworn to die for him. It will take more than just courage to defeat him.”

  “And in you we have that something extra. You have a mind as well as the sword touched by the gods.”

  Cnut asked, “What of the others? Will they oppose us?”

  “Ragnar Hairy-Breeches is as slippery as an eel. When he smiles then you watch your back for the dagger. He has based himself around Caerlleon. We will be heading in that direction to reach Thorkell. I will approach him as though he is on our side but I will expect him to betray us.”

  “That is a dangerous game to play, Dragon Heart.”

  “I know, Beorn, but when he does betray us and attempt some underhand trick it may work against him. He has good warriors with him. He has warriors who have honour. They may join us. I am only taking two drekar.”

  There was a gasp from one or two of the younger Ulfheonar. “A small number then.”

  “Yes Ragnar Siggison but I will not leave our people undefended. We all know what happened the last time we did that.”

  Many of them had recently married and they nodded as the import of my words sank in.

  “You will take Rolf and his warriors then?”

  “Yes Haaken. They are now well trained and a doughty band. We know that we can rely on them. Many now have a mail byrnie. We will be as well armed as an army five times our size.”

  “And when do we leave?”

  I smiled. “When I return with Rolf and his warriors then we will sail east. Say your goodbyes soon for I already have.” I took Arturus and Aiden with me when I rode to speak with Jarl Eric. He had to be willing to watch over my family or we would not be able to leave. He had changed over the years I had known him. There was a time when he wanted to sail with me and raid as much as any warrior. He had even wintered in Gwynedd and raided the Saxons and the Welsh. His wife, however, had fallen pregnant. He was besotted with his child and when she was with child again he lost the urge to raid. I hoped to use that to protect my family and his sister.

  I smiled when I saw his new defences. This was a warrior watching over his home. When I told him of my plans I saw the look of fear flit across his face. He wondered if I would ask him to come with me. He had sworn an oath to me but I would never take a man, even oathsworn, if his heart was not in it.

  “I do not need you to come with me, brother. I need you and your ship to protect my island and, most importantly, my family.”

  The relief on his face almost made me smile. “Of course. I swear that I will give my life to protect Erika and your children.”

  “I hope it will not come to that but you should know that I take Rolf and any of the younger warriors from Duboglassio who wish to join me. Remember Sihtric Silkbeard is now carving out a kingdom in Hibernia. He may decide to expand east.”

  He smiled back at me, “Brother I have learned much from you. Look at my walls. I promise that I know how to defend.”

  As I left with my son and Aiden I felt happier knowing that my family had a guardian. Of course bad things could still happen and he might fail but I knew that he would try with every fibre of his being.

  Arturus said, as we rode through the pass to the east, “You promised that I could come with you on your next raid.”

  I closed my eyes and cursed my own promise. He was right and I would have to keep my word. “And I will keep my word but you will not be fighting. You will be on ‘Wolf’ and you will be working as Aiden worked and Snorri too. The fact that you are a Jarl’s son will not give you an easy berth.”

  He seemed relieved, “I know and I will not let you down.”

  When we reached Duboglassio I felt the same sadness I always did when I visited the scene of Prince Butar’s death. Many of my people said that I should live there for it had a better location and more lived there. I preferred Hrams-a and I left Duboglassio to the warriors who had followed Butar. They had all sworn allegiance to me and I knew that they were reliable warriors.

  Ulf the Squint-Eyed now administered my justice. He was older than I was and was one of the warriors who had sailed around the island of Britannia when we had first settled here. He had, like me, survi
ved. There were not many who remembered that voyage in the ‘Ran’.

  He greeted me as an old friend. We had once shared a bench and rowed together when I was a mere youth. “Good to see you Jarl. You do not visit nearly enough.”

  “I know but I keep seeing the ghost of the prince and it brings back sad memories.”

  He looked at me askance. “Why? He had a sword in his hand and he is in Valhalla. He is talking with Old Ragnar and your mother even as we speak.”

  “You make it sound like a good thing.”

  “It is. We all must die and it is the manner of our death which is important. Prince Butar had a good death. Just think of him as though he is still alive but somewhere else.”

  “I tried that but when I return here I see the empty throne…”

  “Everyone would like it if you became prince and occupied the throne.”

  I shook my head. I have no wish to be prince. When the jarls have enough of taking my advice I will retire to my hall.”

  “They will never tire of your advice Dragon Heart. So, tell me what brings you here.”

  I explained my dilemma. He understood it immediately. “There are many young warriors who would dearly love the chance to raid with you for you are lucky and that is as important as a good sword. And I will find warriors to help guard your stead. All love the Lady Erika and will defend her with their lives.” His voice became hard. “Were I not beyond my warrior days I would come with you and slay this treacherous One-Eye myself.”

  Although he wished us to stay I knew I had to speak with Rolf. I could not refuse to stay with Rolf. He would know it would be a long journey home. It would have been too much for both Aiden and Arturus. “Besides,” Rolf said, “we can sail back in ‘Bear’ and save time.”

  He, of course, was quite happy to be raiding again. The quiet life of a land bound jarl was not for him. He had many men who he could choose from and all were sound and hearty warriors. When we left, the next day, we would be taking the very best warriors from the southern part of the island.