Viking Vengeance Read online

  Viking Vengeance

  Book 11 in the

  Dragon Heart Series

  By

  Griff Hosker

  Published by Sword Books Ltd 2015

  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

  My daughter Kara and my galdramenn, Aiden, were married in Cyninges-tūn, my stronghold in the Land of the Dragon.. Cyninges-tūn was my home and it was theirs. It was a place where we were safe; protected by the mountains and the Water. Both had seemed destined to end their lives as powerful wizard and volva but the Norns had determined otherwise and now my daughter was carrying Aiden's child. They had lain together and now a grandchild grew within my daughter. My people were both awed and overjoyed by the union. What kind of powerful shaman would come from such a union? The universal opinion was that it would be a girl. Normally such prognostications would come from Kara or Aiden themselves but the chatter in Cyninges-tūn was only filled with suggestions for the name of a girl. Of course we all knew that the child would eventually name herself. I had been born Garth but by deeds I had become Dragonheart. My son had been born Arturus but he had become Wolf Killer. It was our way. How did one know what a tiny pink bundle would become? My recently born son had been called Gruffyd. It had been Brigid, my wife's choice, and I liked the name but when he grew who knew what he would be called. That would be decided by the Norns, the Weird Sisters who spun and plotted the lives of men.

  The wedding of the two seemed to galvanise my people. There was purpose in their lives. This was exciting and it was a journey into the unknown. It was different from our normal lives. We had fought off enemies from the north of the old Roman wall and destroyed traitors from within who sought to take what was ours but we were stronger as a result. We had tried to live peacefully and use trade to prosper but that was not meant to be. We had young men who wished to go A-Viking. We would be true to our spirit. We would go raiding. 'The Heart of the Dragon' would have her figurehead placed at her prow once more; my Ulfheonar would oil their mail and sharpen their swords and the wolves would fall amongst the sheep again.

  Chapter 1

  We had a full crew as we headed south past the islands of Man and Ynys Môn. We were not raiding the old Roman province of Britannia. We had heard, through those who traded with us from afar, of unrest in the Empire. There had been a time when we had feared the Empire. When Charlemagne ruled he had done so with an iron fist. Since his death, a couple of years earlier, his son Louis the Pious had been Emperor. He was not the strong man his father had been and many neighbours and subjugated people rebelled. He had deposed one of our allies, Seguin I Lupo, in an attempt to establish his authority. It had failed and his authority and grip on the rich Empire were not as strong as they had been.

  We had suffered at the hands of Charlemagne. Now we would profit from his son's weakness. The Empire was rich. Its churches were full of treasure and it had long wide rivers up which we could sail. My men were keen for the adventure and, if I am honest, the chance of combat. Our home was secure and we could raid with impunity. Their lusty voices filled the air as they chanted while they rowed.

  The storm was wild and the gods did roam

  The enemy closed on the Prince's home

  Two warriors stood on a lonely tower

  Watching, waiting for hour on hour.

  The storm came hard and Odin spoke

  With a lightning bolt the sword he smote

  Ragnar's Spirit burned hot that night

  It glowed, a beacon shiny and bright

  The two they stood against the foe

  They were alone, nowhere to go

  They fought in blood on a darkened hill

  Dragon Heart and Cnut will save us still

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  The storm was wild and the Gods did roam

  The enemy closed on the Prince's home

  Two warriors stood on a lonely tower

  Watching, waiting for hour on hour.

  The storm came hard and Odin spoke

  With a lightning bolt the sword he smote

  Ragnar's Spirit burned hot that night

  It glowed, a beacon shiny and bright

  The two they stood against the foe

  They were alone, nowhere to go

  They fought in blood on a darkened hill

  Dragon Heart and Cnut will save us still

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  I stood at the steerboard with my drekar captain, Erik Short Toe and Haaken One Eye, the leader of my Wolf Warriors, the Ulfheonar. Normally Haaken would have led the song and the chant for he had composed it but we had more than enough warriors to row our powerful war ship. We did not have many Ulfheonar these days but we had many young warriors who were keen to sail with us. Back in Úlfarrston my other drekar, 'Red Snake' and 'Odin's Breath' were preparing to follow us. We would come back richer and with tales to keep us warm in the winters to come.

  "It will be strange not to have Aiden with us, Jarl Dragonheart."

  I tapped the chest which was next to Erik our captain. "His charts are within and now that Erik has learned to read Aiden's marks and make marks of his own we will have my galdramenn in spirit. Besides I want him at home when the child is born."

  "Aye; the young one will have incredible powers. Do you not fear such a powerful witch in your home?"

  "The child comes from my daughter and I do not fear her and from Aiden who is like a son. What should I fear?"

  "Remember the witch Angharad; she almost suborned Kara and turned her into a force against you."

  I laughed, "I thought Wolf Killer was the one who still harboured such fears. No, my friend, the child will be a force for good. I believe that she will be the spirit of my wife Erika reborn."

  Haaken nodded. He had lived with me through all my trials and tribulations. He was the questioning voice which made me examine my actions. He was good for me. I know not what I would do should he fall in battle. Both of us had outlived all those with whom we had first fought. The ones around us, even Snorri and Beorn the Scout were little older than my son, Wolf Killer. We were the grizzled warriors with whom we had first stood in the shield wall. Soon we would look to the younger warriors to take on our mantle. Wolf Killer would now be the protector of my land. He had fine warriors to guard the borders; my jarls: Ketil Windarsson, Sigtrygg Thrandson and Arne Thorkellstad

  Erik pointed to the southern sky; it was clear. "The Gods have given us fine weather. Considering it is so early in the year we are having a fine voyage."

  Haaken shook his head, "Do not tempt the Norns, Erik. They have a nasty habit of upsetting well made plans."

  "They will do what they will do, Haaken One Eye. You of all people know that you cannot foretell what they have planned for us. When they tire of playing with us we will be discarded. Until then we do what we do." I stretched, "And now I will rest and I will plan what we do when we reach Frankia"

  As I lay down and closed my eyes I knew already what I would do. Seguin
I Lupo had told me when I had last visited with him, before he had been deposed, that there was a mighty river which the men of Frankia called the Seine. It was like the Ouse, it wound deep into the heart of the rich land of Neustria. We could sail deep within the Empire and attack and raid at will. No nation and no Empire had a fighting ship like the drekar we sailed and all three of my drekar were the fastest afloat. Whilst on the water we had our own stronghold and could fend off all foes. We would use the river as a seax into the heart of the Franks and my Ulfheonar would wield that weapon.

  When I awoke we were passing the wild Welsh coast. We had been allies in yesteryear but now they were enemies. My wife Brigid had come from these lands. We knew them well. Once we had passed them then we would have to negotiate the sharp teeth that were the savage coast of Corn Walum. I walked down my drekar. The sleep had refreshed me. The wind was coming from the west and my men rested. I saw those who were awake speaking with my handful of Ulfheonar. I knew that each of them yearned for the mail which my wolf warriors had won. You could see those who had experience for they had helmets and mail shirts. Most had been captured in the last battles with the men of Northumbria and Strathclyde. The new warriors hungered for such prizes. To gain the mail you had to kill the man. That was the first test for my young warriors.

  I saw young Rolf Eriksson. He had incurred my wrath by fighting with Olaf Grimsson over a young girl the previous year. However since he had joined my crew he had changed. He had become a good warrior and now he sported a fine helmet, a mail coif over his shoulders and leather armour. Even now he was advising some of the younger warriors. That was how we prospered. We took raw young men and turned them into fighting machines. We were Vikings and we were unstoppable.

  We pulled in, as darkness fell, in the islands called Syllingar Insula by the Romans. For Erik and my Ulfheonar they were a magical place. We had been lured into a cave on three occasions and we had met with an ancient witch who had foretold events in our lives. We did not fear her but we respected her. We often stopped at her island home but the only times we saw her were those times she chose to appear. This time was not one of those. The small bay was a safe anchorage and we ate hot food on shore.

  "When will Asbjorn and the others arrive?"

  "They should be sailing even now. It is young Olaf Grimmson's first voyage without Erik's guiding hand. I suspect that Snorri will watch him carefully and Asbjorn keep him close company."

  Snorri was an Ulfheonar but he had been a ship's boy with Erik Short Toe. I had given him command of our newest drekar, 'Red Snake', captured from Magnus the Foresworn. They also had Cnut Cnutson on board. He was the only son of Cnut who had been with me when the Gods had touched my sword and made it the most feared weapon in the Viking world. It would be an experienced crew.

  Erik laughed, "I would like to bet a silver piece that they reach the river in Frankia within a tide of us! Olaf will be keen to impress and Snorri will not wish to miss any treasure and booty we might find."

  I guessed he might be right.

  The next day would be the most dangerous part of our voyage. We would be sailing along the coast of Wessex and its king, King Egbert, hated my family. My son had run off with his young wife and, as if that was not enough of an insult, we had bloodied his nose more than once. It had given him an implacable hatred of all Vikings. He waged war on us whenever he could. I was not worried about his ships; we could easily defeat them but I knew that if we landed on his shores then he would move heaven and earth to get us. By the time we had passed Kent I breathed easier. It was dark when we left the coast of Britannia and headed across the water to Frankia. We knew the coast but not well. We had seen the River Seine but never travelled it. We were in uncharted territory and we had no galdramenn with us. We were Viking warriors and when the world was against you then all you could do was fight back and die hard!

  We reached the mouth of the estuary before dawn. Even Haaken had to row against the current. Once the wind could hold us against the flow we stopped. Erik kept us in the middle of the enormous estuary. It was like a sea, it was so wide. We prepared our war faces. We had no idea what defences they had but before we could venture upstream we had to make sure our way home was secure. I smeared the red cochineal around my eyes and donned my helmet. One of the ship's boys, Thorir Svensson helped to attach my wolf cloak. Normally Aiden did that for me. These were my preparations for a raid, they were a ritual. We had smelled wood smoke from the northern bank and so, when we were ready Erik took us inshore. Dawn was breaking to the east. Those who lived close by would be opening their gates and be ready to go about their daily lives. They were in for a shock that morning.

  The ship's boys raced ashore and tied us to the trees which were along the banks. We used plenty of rope. We did not know how much the river rose and fell with the tide. I left four of the younger warriors with Erik Short Toe to guard the drekar and then I sent Beorn the Scout off north to find a settlement. The Ulfheonar led; it was our right. The rest formed a band behind us. Most of them carried a spear. Some had good swords but most had one they had taken from a dead warrior. When they returned to Cyninges-tūn the first thing they would do would be to pay Bjorn Bagsecgson to make them a good one. I held Ragnar's Spirit and felt its power race through my body. I was ready.

  When we reached the top of the bank we saw that there was another, smaller branch of the river. Across, on top of the other bank, lay the palisades of a small settlement. I saw the fishing boats drawn up on the small beach below the bank. It explained why they had not built on the other side. This would be easier for them to launch their boats. The river was narrow and looked shallow but I did not want to risk mailed men. Beorn The Scout awaited me. "It is but thirty paces across, Jarl Dragonheart."

  I nodded, "Rolf Eriksson."

  The young warrior eagerly ran towards me. "Yes, Jarl?"

  "See if the river can be forded."

  "Aye, Jarl."

  He was about to run straight into the river. "Take off your helmet and coif in case you have to swim."

  I could see he was reluctant to lay down his treasures but he complied and then he stepped into the water. I had chosen him because he was not the tallest of warriors. He only came to my shoulder. If he could ford it then we all could. He reached half way successfully. The water was just above his knees but, as he neared the other bank it came first to his waist and then to his chest. I feared we would not be able to ford and then he began to rise as the water became shallower and he stood on the other bank waving.

  I was the jarl and I led my men across to Rolf. I handed him his coif and his helmet. "You have done well. Rolf Eriksson. I will not forget this."

  Beorn overtook me and ran, with my Ulfheonar, towards the palisade. It was still dark but growing lighter moment by moment. I drew my sword and waved my men forward. There had been a time I would have scouted carefully but I now knew that surprise was a better weapon. No one could have seen our drekar approach and they would have no idea that Vikings were about. We headed up the bank toward the wooden walls. They had no sentries upon the wall but they had a shallow ditch which ringed it. It was not a defensive ditch but one to drain off water when it rained. I joined Beorn in the dead ground below the gate. He pointed behind me at the rising sun. He whispered, "The two guards left the gate not long ago. They will be going to open it."

  I went back to the rest of my men. "Erik Wolf Claw, the Ulfheonar will secure the gate. Once it is open then bring the rest in."

  Erik had failed the test to be an Ulfheonar but he was a good warrior. He stood a little prouder, "I will not let you down, Jarl Dragonheart."

  Leaving him to organise the warriors I led the Ulfheonar to Beorn. With Snorri missing there were now just nine of us. It would be enough. I doubted that there would be warriors within and if there were then they were not very good ones for they had not kept a full watch. I knew that my warriors who remained at Cyninges-tūn would not relax their guard until dawn had fully broken and the gates b
een opened.

  We moved forward. There was a bridge across the shallow drainage ditch. With no one on the walls we moved over the bridge and stood waiting for the gates to open. I stood with Haaken on one side and Olaf Leather Neck on the other. We were a formidable threesome. I knew that we would terrify them. Haaken wore an open helmet and had long since deigned to wear a patch. His empty eye socket terrified enemies. Olaf Leather Neck had the broadest shoulders and thickest neck of any man I had ever known. Added to that he had no front teeth. Unless they were made of stone we would have the advantage over the gate men once we burst in.

  I heard voices approach. Had Aiden been with us he would have translated their words. As it was I just knew they were approaching the gate. I heard two voices. Behind us the sun's rays were now spreading west. I hefted my shield a little higher. I was in the middle and I would be the first one inside the walls. I held my sword slightly behind me. I heard the bar removed. I needed no words from my oathsworn. They had followed me often enough. When I heard the bar being rested against the walls I barged forward with my shield. In two strides I was inside. A sentry had been knocked to the ground. I skewered him with my sword. The other two sentries lay butchered by Haaken and Olaf and none had made a sound. We raced into the heart of the huts. Already people were emerging but it was not because of us. They had neither seen nor heard our entry but when they looked up from their tasks they did scream. They saw nine mailed warriors racing towards them. The women and children ran while the men looked for weapons. We fell upon them. Ragnar's Spirit spilled much Frankish blood that day.

  When Erik Wolf Claw led the rest of my men to race through the oppidum it was all over. The women realised the futility of fleeing and they gathered their children around them like mother hens with their chicks. The old women wrung their hands and the old men glared hatred at us.

  "Erik Wolf Claw secure the gates."

  I took off my helmet. I was sweating already. I shook my head. It was a sign that I was getting old. In times past I would have barely noticed my exertions. Haaken said, "There will be no saga here, Jarl Dragonheart. My wife and the women of Cyninges-tūn could have captured this."