Viking War Read online

  Viking War

  Book 6 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

  Dedication

  Thanks to all the Time Team programmes! You keep me straight on most things. And thanks to my readers who also make sure that I am as accurate as possible. Thanks to the British Museum for the excellent exhibition of 2014.

  Prologue

  I am Jarl Dragon Heart of Cyninges-tūn. I was born to a Saxon father who enslaved my mother, the daughter of one of the last Warlords of Rheged. I had never had an easy life. After being taken as a slave from a river in Northumbria I had become a warrior. I had become one of the Norsemen feared in Britannia and called a Viking. I had raided and I had fought both Saxons and Hibernians. I had sailed to the farthest isles and I had also visited Constantinopolis. There the Norns, the weird sisters who weave our destinies, set me and, my son Arturus, in place to save the life of the Emperor Nikephoros. Wyrd. It had not only saved his life it had made my fortune. I wondered what the Weird sisters had planned for me now!

  Chapter 1

  The first seven days after leaving Constantinopolis saw a rapid improvement in my health. The wound I had suffered defending the Emperor completely healed. We were anxious to get back to our home having trade well in the richest city in the world. We had gold, we had weapons and we had spices. Our hold was full. Below the deck of the long ship our shipwright had constructed a large space where we could hide a healthy cargo. When we reached the land of the Franks we would trade for those things we could not make ourselves.

  Josephus had been a slave we had rescued. Although we had returned him to his home in Constantinopolis he had chosen to journey with us to our home. He was a fine captain and I felt it was wyrd that he had so chosen to be one of us. He had kept us safe on more than one occasion for he had knowledge of the seas, the currents and, most importantly, the pirates who preyed on lone ships. Of course our ship was not a tasty morsel to be easily digested. We were a drekar, a long ship and we had the finest warriors on board. However, we were well laden and I knew that we had to keep our wits about us if we were to survive the long journey home.

  When we made it through the Pillars of Hercules and left the balmy blue waters of the inner sea and were entering the grey stormy seas of the west, I felt a huge sense of relief. These colder waters were what we knew. There had been the danger of Barbary pirates and Moors when we had sailed the blue waters of the Inner Sea. As our ship moved with the motion of the larger waves I knew we were on the way home. The Allfather was smiling on us for the seas were gentle and the waves did not threaten to engulf us. The winds were favourable and the men did not need to row. I was at the steer board with Josephus, Aiden, Arturus, my son, and Haaken. Josephus was watching young Erik Short Toe as he steered. The young sailor was becoming quite a skilled navigator. Josephus and I intended him to become captain of ‘Heart of the Dragon’ when Josephus left the sea.

  Haaken idly rubbed the socket of his empty eye. He did it when thinking. “I am not sure that we should return to Frisia. Rorik will not forgive us for the destruction of his boats.”

  “I know but I do not fear him!” Rorik was a Norse like us but there the similarities ended. He was without honour and had tried to capture us in his port. He then pursued us as we left to make the journey east. He was desperate to defeat us. The Allfather would not let such a man defeat us.

  Haaken laughed, “No one would dare to say that Jarl Dragon Heart but it may be prudent to avoid returning there. Rorik rules and at the very least we would be cheated.”

  “Why go there anyway?”

  We all looked at Aiden. The young Hibernian was something of a galdramenn. When he spoke he was worth listening to. He read well and had spent every spare moment when were in Constantinopolis examining objects and books in the many libraries there. My warriors had spent their time drinking and wenching!

  “Carry on with your thoughts, Aiden. They are normally worth listening to.”

  “We know that we do not have good trades there. They rob us and we only went there for convenience. They are pirates and they only act as middlemen for others. We need to ask ourselves what is it that we need.”

  “Weapons?”

  Aiden shook his head, “No, Haaken One Eye, for Bjorn Bagsecgson makes weapons which are now as good, if not better than the Frankish ones we used to buy. We can supply our own iron ore from the lands of the Saxons. We need not weapons.”

  He was right. “We need pots for cooking. We know that they make good ones in the land of the Franks and the Al-Andalus.”

  Aiden nodded and looked at Josephus. “Then do we know of a port close by where we could trade gold for them?”

  “Aye Olissipo is a fair port and they trade with the people of Britannia. It is a few days up the coast.”

  Aiden seemed pleased. “And what else do we need?” He smiled, “Not want, but need,”

  The question perplexed me for I needed nothing. I had my weapons and my armour. We had plenty of gold. That seemed to me to be enough. Haaken, too, looked lost for words. Aiden, however, had the answer. “We can grow rye and oats in the land to the north and south of Windar’s Mere. That is not enough for our farmers for most of our land is not suitable for crops. It needs animals. I come from Hibernia and there we prize cattle. Why do we not get a good bull and a cow? We could use the low land for those.” He grinned at Haaken, “I know that Haaken One Eye enjoys his meat.”

  “That is true but we have more land which is higher up and only suits sheep.”

  Aiden shrugged, “Then trade for better quality sheep with finer wool.”

  This all made sense. “You have spoken wisely, Aiden. Where would we trade for those?”

  “Gwened, it is the land of those who fled Britannia when the Romans left.”

  I was suddenly interested. “Did they not return to Rome?”

  Josephus shook his head. “No they live still with the same language as the Welsh and the Cornish and they have a small part of the land of the Franks which Charlemagne cannot get his hands on.”

  This was getting better and better for Charlemagne had closed his ports to the Dane and the Norse. It was wyrd. “And what would we trade with them? Gold?”

  “No, Jarl, the spices. They are more valuable than gold to those who have not the access to Charlemagne and his trade.”

  I looked at Aiden, “Well galdramenn, is there anything else?”

  He smiled, “No, Jarl Dragon Heart. For myself the gold and silver we have been given by the Emperor is more than enough.”

  When we reached Olissipo it looked like an African port. There were many dhows amongst the larger traders. We were the only long ship and we attracted much attention when we entered the harbour. The men had taken their shields from the side to show that we came in peace and no one made any threatening moves towards us. Had we seen this city first it would have seemed exotic but we had visited the most exotic city on earth and it just seemed interesting.

  Although Aiden and I had some Gree
k we took Josephus with us. He had been a sea captain for many years and could speak many languages. Haaken and Snorri came as guards for we took both gold and silver with us. We were of some interest to the locals. The Angles and the Norse did not often venture this far south and we looked unusual. I had learned that a smile made us a little less intimidating. I wondered about shaving off my beard for Aiden seemed to look much like the locals did. I had oiled it and trimmed it when in Constantinopolis but my men looked like hairy bears.

  As with Frisia and Constantinopolis, there was a market area where you could buy whatever you wished. There we were welcomed, especially when we started spending our gold. Although we were looking for fine pots we were on the lookout for anything we could not make ourselves. Aiden found some fine needles which were expensive but could be used for his and Kara’s healing as well as sewing. Josephus recommended we buy some of the orange fruit which was in abundance as well as the lemons. “They keep men healthy on a long voyage and they remain fresh for some time.”

  They cost us copper only. When we did find the pots I let Aiden haggle. He was very good at it. I would have given in much earlier than he did but he negotiated not only a good price but delivery to the ship. He gave one small gold piece only and the rest would be paid upon delivery. The fine clothes we had bought in Constantinopolis meant that we had little else to buy, although I did buy some lace for Kara. Her mother had always had an eye for such things and I suspected that my daughter would like it too. Our last visit was to the wine merchant. They did not make good beer here but the wines were acceptable and we bought several amphorae of them. The containers themselves would be useful when the wine was gone.

  By late afternoon we were done and we made our way back to the ship. Snorri had sharp eyes. “We are being followed, Jarl Dragon Heart.”

  I was not surprised; we were strangers and we had shown that we had money. My men’s hands were full but I did not think they would try anything in a public street. There were guards on the street corners; each of them was armed with a wicked looking sword.

  However I was relieved when we saw the drekar. My men were stretching their legs on the jetty. Although they were not wearing armour I knew that their size would intimidate those who were following us. I wanted to see who they were. We lowered the amphorae and fruit to the jetty. Josephus knew how to store it so that we were well balanced; he and Erik would see to the loading. The goods we had brought from Byzantium were neither heavy nor bulky and we had plenty of room in the hold. My ship builder had done a good job with the last ship he had ever built. His spirit was in the hull even now.

  I stretched and turned so that I could see the men Snorri had spotted. They were not Arabs. They had the olive complexion of someone who lived in the Inner Sea. There were four of them and they were sailors. I knew then that it was not only our cargo they coveted, it was ‘Heart of the Dragon’ herself.

  The pots arrived just before sunset. Aiden checked every item before handing over the gold. The merchants left happy and Aiden was also pleased with himself. My men were disappointed when we did not have the night in port. They knew better than to argue and we planned to sail just before darkness fell.

  Haaken and Cnut stood by me at the rail as Josephus and Erik Short Toe prepared the ship for sea.

  Cnut pointed to two small ships across the harbour. They both had a lateen sail and a second, smaller one. “I think the men who followed you are on those ships.”

  “Aye, they look like greyhounds, do they not?”

  Arturus had been listening. “Then why do not we not leave quickly and sail north as fast as we can?”

  “If we do that, my son, then they will know that we suspect them. This way we will leave and sail slowly north. They may become overconfident thinking that we are unaware of their intentions.”

  Haaken mused, “What I cannot understand is why they would risk taking on a dragon ship. Are they mad?”

  “It may well be that they do not recognise us for what we are. Perhaps they think they are tougher than barbarians like us.”

  “All set, Jarl Dragon Heart. We are ready to put to sea now.”

  “Then set sail.” I waved and smiled at the men who were hanging around the harbour. We looked like satisfied merchants who were heading north having had a successful trade. We were the only ship leaving harbour. However, I knew that the ships with the men we had seen would follow us out. They were set on piracy. They would learn to their cost that you do not hunt the wolf unless you are a cunning hunter.

  We progressed with just the sail and I let my men rest. I had a feeling that we would be fighting before too long. I had seen no need for armour but we all donned our leather byrnies and wore our cloaks. The Ulfheonar fought better in the wolf skin! We had all eaten well and we lounged on the deck as we headed into the sunset. Our two pursuers would wait until dark to leave and approach us from the darkening shore.

  I strapped on Ragnar’s Spirit. For the first time since the fight in the palace it felt comfortable and my wound was itchy enough to tell me that it was healing well. I slipped a dagger inside my boot and checked that I had another in the sheath on my shield. I suspected that we would be outnumbered when the would-be robbers arrived.

  The wind came from the land and was pleasantly warm. It also sped us on our way north. Josephus was an experienced captain but he would not wish to risk the rocks on this coast. Erik was seated on the top of the mast and looking astern and not ahead. He had sharp eyes and he would spot the two ships first.

  “I will be glad to be home, Dragon Heart.”

  “Did you not enjoy the east, Haaken?”

  “I did but I miss my wife. She should have given birth by now and I may have a son to greet me.”

  I felt guilty. I had lost my wife and baby on my last trip away. I forgot that my men had their women to return home to. “We can stay at home until the winter is finished. I see no reason to go raiding.”

  “We have done well, Jarl Dragon Heart. If the Allfather wills it then we will have a good harvest of grain and we can hunt.”

  “Unless, Cnut, we have another wolf winter.”

  He shuddered despite the warm breeze. “I have never been as cold as that winter, Jarl. I think that the gods were punishing men.”

  “Punishing for what?” Aiden was ever the thinker.

  “As a punishment for those people who follow the White Christ.”

  I laughed, “I do not think the gods would punish all for such an act. Besides he punished us and we did nothing wrong.”

  “All I am saying is that the winter was the worst I had ever known. The ones in Norway were not as bad.”

  “We survived and we are stronger. The ones we lost are still there.” Kara was not meant to have children but she had become a volva. She spoke with the dead. When we had returned from our last voyage we had found a mystic on the islands off Cornwall and I had learned much about myself. I was happy that the gods and the spirits still spoke with me.

  “I see them, Jarl.”

  “Where away, Eric?”

  “One is inshore and the other is to the west. They mean to attack on both sides at once.”

  “You have done well; now come down.” As he slithered down the stays I said, “To arms, we will have company soon.”

  We did not have a full crew. We had been on a voyage to trade and not to war but, even so, I had enough warriors on board to defend both sides if attacked. What I would do would be to make the odds come in our favour. “Josephus, I want some sea room. When the inshore ship comes close then make it look as though we are going to head in shore too. As soon as he begins to turn put the steer board hard over and we will go across the bows of the other one.”

  “That is risky, Jarl Dragon Heart. I would not wish to take out the hull on the rocks.”

  “Do not worry we watched this ship being built. She has a lower draught than you think.” He nodded and spoke with Erik. “Archers to the side of the ship. We will cross the bows of the boat
to the west. Take out the warriors gathered in the bows.”

  The archers moved to the left side of the ship. Arturus asked, “What will the other ship do?”

  “Why she will try to attack our stern. That is where we shall be. Josephus, on my command head north again.”

  “Aye, Jarl Dragon Heart.”

  Erik said, loud enough for me to hear, “The inshore ship is closing.”

  “Ready Jarl Dragon Heart!”

  “Archers prepare.”

  I knew that this would all take place really quickly. Even though I was expecting it, the turn to steer board was so severe that I thought I might lose my footing. I kept my eye on the inshore ship. He did not wish to ram us and so he began to lower his lateen as he turned to steer board too. A moment later and Josephus put the steer board hard over the other way. I saw that the other ship had turned in to shore, too, to match our move. There was confusion as we suddenly appeared across his bows and the captain of that ship took in some sail. No-one was paying us any attention as the archers released their arrows and flight after flight sailed towards the ship which was less than fifty paces from our stern. The deadly missiles fell on to men who were not wearing armour. The pirate ship almost lost way as the sailors who were hauling on ropes fell to our arrows.

  “Now, Josephus!”

  We turned north and caught the wind again. We leapt like a spurred horse. The second pirate had put on more sail and was now less than forty paces from our stern. His companion had almost stopped and would take some time to catch us. “Archers, rain death upon them. The rest of you come to the stern and protect the crew with our shields.”

  The second ship closed to almost touching distance. I picked up a javelin and hurled it at the large warrior who was whirling a hook attached to a piece of rope. They hoped to grapple us. The javelin threw him back into the others. The arrows began to pick off the pirates in the boat. They had all gathered close to the prow and there must have been almost thirty men there with more behind. At that range, and with my superb archers aiming at the bows, it was almost too easy. Two hooks did catch the stern rail and we slowed slightly. Had the other ship been closer then we might have been in trouble. As it was the four men who tried to climb along the ropes fell to their deaths when Haaken and Cnut severed them. As soon as we were released we began to move away from the pirate. More pirates fell to the arrows and I saw the captain realise the futility of pursuit. He put his tiller over and headed south to his consort. They were defeated.