Viking Raid Read online

  "Wyrd."

  We headed south with the wind and the impending snow threatening our backs. We rode hard. When we reached the pass it was still open, but only just. As we dropped down to the valley of the Grassy Mere beneath Úlfarrberg a blizzard blew. The snow rolled from the north and cascaded down the slopes of Úlfarrberg. I heard the wolves howling and it was only then I noticed that Eystein was wearing a wolf cloak. He was a modest man and had not boasted of the kill. He would be a good Ulfheonar.

  I just said, "Welcome to my oathsworn Eystein. Was it worth the wait?"

  He glanced up at Úlfarrberg and nodded, "Aye Jarl. Now I can look Asbjorn in the eye. I know what it is to look at a wolf's gaping jaws, feel his hot breath and kill him. I now understand why the Ulfheonar are feared as they are. I was right to wait until I had killed my wolf."

  "Aye you were."

  Chapter 11

  Two other warriors had tried to kill a wolf but both had failed. One had a long scar, the marks of a claw, running down his face. He was proud of his new name, Erik Wolf Claw. Poor Audun had no visible wound to see. He had been knocked down the mountain by a large leaping male and only Eystein's bow had saved his life. Both took heart from Eystein the Rock's success. It had taken him a year but he was now totally accepted.

  I too had changed. My visit with Sven and the others had shown me that I was in danger of becoming like they were and living in the past. I was not old. Prince Butar had remarried my mother when he was older than I was. He had fathered a child too. I wondered where my sister was now. She had married a warrior and left us. Perhaps she wanted to forget our mother's death. I too had left the land of Mann but I could still visit my mother's grave. I knew not where she lived or even if she lived.

  I would find a woman. I was not meant to live alone. Aiden and Kara were company but even with them I felt that I was alone. It is easy to be by yourself; to sit with your own thoughts. You are always right for there is no one to gainsay you. You choose what to do or not to do and that is not always the right thing. Sometimes someone needed to tell you that you were wrong. Erika had never been afraid of that. And, perhaps, I would become a father again. May be the next time I would get it right. I could not undo the mistakes I had made with Wolf Killer.

  The snows did not last long. It was just nature reminding us that she ruled and we only survived if she chose. I visited with Erik and Siggi. I knew that it would have been hard for them all in the small community which lived by the river. They had lost men. We warriors were used to that but for them it was a rare occurrence. In addition I wished to speak with Erik about those Ulfheonar who had died. He had served with them and he deserved to know of their death.

  The first thing I noticed was how much Karl had grown over the winter. He had been a youth and now he was a man with the beginnings of a man's beard. Perhaps the responsibility of captaining a knarr had helped him to grow. I also noticed that Siggi had gone grey. He looked almost like Sven White Hair. That may have been his cousin's death. Trygg's wife broke down and cried when I entered their hall. I walked up to her and put my arms around her.

  She sobbed and through the sobs said, "I know you did all that a man can do Jarl Dragon Heart and I am grateful but I miss my husband and my sons."

  "I know and if I could bring them back from wherever they are I would do so." I held her at arm's length and thought about my own talk with myself. "You are still a young woman. There are warriors out there who would make a fine husband."

  She shook her head, "It is too soon, Jarl."

  "It is not." I told them how Sven White Hair's son had left and how Sven's wife had died. "It is a lesson. We need to live. The Gods expect it. When there is death we carry on. That is what makes our people strong and helps us to survive. Think on it."

  As I enjoyed some ale with my captains I asked, "Have you heard aught of Sigtrygg? How did he fare in the winter?"

  "He has sent messages. They survive and they did not suffer as much as we did."

  I was relieved. "I intend to take ships to Italy later this year." I looked at Siggi. "If any do not wish to come then I will understand."

  Siggi's jaw tightened, "I will come but my crew will be armed as warriors. These sharks will find us an unpleasant morsel to swallow."

  We all laughed, "King Arthfael Hen ap Rhys wishes us to fight alongside him this year. I know not when."

  Siggi asked, "Do we delay our voyage until we know?"

  "No. We will call in at the Sabrina on our way south. I will tell him of our voyage and that we will fight when time allows. We sail soon in any case. The drekar which attacked Thorkell's Stad showed that the seas are navigable, even in winter. Prepare your ships."

  When I returned to Cyninges-tūn I summoned my Ulfheonar. "This year when we raid I am going to offer an oar to any who follow our jarls."

  Haaken frowned, "They may not be the best warriors. We are Ulfheonar and we sail with the best."

  "Not any longer, Haaken. The young men from Thorkell's Stad left because they wanted adventure. That led, ultimately, to the deaths of Sven, Einar and Ragnar. I would have young men have the chance to sail and to raid with us. It might get it out of their blood but, if not then they become better warriors who will sail with us again."

  Snorri nodded, "That makes sense. We only take one drekar and it will not be a large number of warriors we take."

  Haaken shrugged, "I hope you are right."

  I smiled, "If you wish to stay in Cyninges-tūn and make your wife pregnant again we will understand won't we?"

  Everyone laughed and Haaken shook his head from side to side. "I did not say I did not want to go! I am coming! Never doubt that!"

  "Good then you can ride to Wolf Killer's and ask if any of his men wish to sail with us. Snorri go to Thorkell's Stad. Bjorn, go to Ketil at Brougham and then swing down and speak with Ulf and Windar. Asbjorn and Eystein, ride to Sigtrygg. I doubt that he will wish to spare men but I would not offend him. Any who wish to raid should return with you. We make up numbers from Cyninges-tūn."

  While they were away I spent time with Aiden and Scanlan deciding what we had to trade and how we could make the most profit. "Do I come with you this time, Jarl?"

  "Aye, Aiden. Your languages will be needed in Italy. And this time we need more potions, bandages, and needles. We cannot afford to lose any men to wounds."

  By the time my Ulfheonar returned we had the goods already in Úlfarrston ready to be loaded. We had lost a whole cargo when Trygg's ship had been captured. This time we would spread the goods around in our three ships. Coen Ap Pasgen would carry his own cargo. We invested in seaxes for the crews of the three ships. Mail would be redundant but they were all given a leather byrnie. Most important of all was the store of arrows and bows we would take aboard each knarr. They had proved the best way of keeping an enemy at a distance.

  Karl's new ship, the smallest of the three, was also the one which looked different from the others. It was Galician and the sail made it look odd. It only needed a crew of three but we persuaded Karl that he needed four. There were many young men in both Cyninges-tūn and Úlfarrston who were willing to sail for adventure and profit. He would need all the help he could get on this first voyage alone.

  We had fewer warriors from our jarls than Haaken had expected. Sigtrygg sent none. There were four from Wolf Killer and but one from each of the others. The majority came from Cyninges-tūn. As we headed down to our ships Haaken asked me about the paucity of numbers.

  "Arne and Ketil are both new to the task. Any of Windar's or Ulf's men would go to Ketil for he is their kinsman and both Wolf Killer and Sigtrygg know that we have poked the bear that is Coenwulf. If he wakes then they will be the ones to feel his claws." I smiled, "Is this not the result that you wanted? Men from Cyninges-tūn?"

  He frowned and Aiden laughed, "The Norns do not do things the easy way. Their webs are complex. It is not for mortals to try to outwit them. That is why the Jarl is so successful. He does not fight that which is
beyond his control."

  As soon as we arrived Aiden and Siggi set to the loading of the cargo. Coen Ap Pasgen approached me as I watched. "Jarl Dragon Heart I have to tell you that my father is unwell. The winter fever has not left him yet."

  "Shall I send Aiden or Kara to minister to him?"

  He shook his head, "He will recover but I shall only come as far as Dyfed. We have supplies enough of wine and I fear to be away from home for too long."

  "But you said your father will recover."

  He nodded, "He is getting better but… my mother died after she began to recover from the winter fever too."

  "Then stay here and send another captain."

  "No, I will come for this will be my last voyage." He pointed to the young man who was helping to load his knarr. "My cousin Gwynfor Ap Gwynfor has said he wishes to learn to be a captain. He will take over."

  I nodded, "But you must arm your men. Dyflin is no longer a threat but I have heard that Mann attracts traitors like Magnus the Foresworn. You will have no drekar for protection."

  "We have arms. We will not suffer the same fate as Trygg."

  Our route south was a little longer but safer and much easier. The passage between Hibernia and Mann was free from danger both human and natural for we could now sail close to the coast of our new trading partners. The extra crew on the knarr also mean that we could sail at night. We had a lantern at the stern of our drekar and the knarr followed like ducklings behind a mother. It made the passage easier.

  When we reached the Sabrina and the stronghold of King Arthfael Hen ap Rhys it was a hive of activity. The King's cousin, Llewellyn came to speak with me. "The King is visiting his brother kings further north to form an alliance against Coenwulf. I know that he was grateful for your efforts at the harvest time. Our spies told us that King Coenwulf sent many men to Caestir to reinforce it. We had no raids this winter and we are now stronger."

  "Good." I waved my arm towards my ships. "We have brought the weapons and helmets your king asked for."

  "And your warriors?"

  "When will your king need us?"

  "There is still snow on the mountains and the seed is not yet in the ground. I would think closer to midsummer."

  "Then your king thinks to attack?"

  He came closer to me, "He trusts you Viking and so do I. We need breathing space. There is no point waiting for the Mercians to raid and to attack. We need Saxon land. If we fight on Saxon land then our people do not suffer. The Sabrina is the border but it can be crossed. The King would have them bleed before they cross it."

  It made sense. "Then we will return before midsummer. We sail south to trade first."

  Llewellyn frowned, "I think he wished you to wait for him."

  "I will fight for gold as your cousin asked but I will not stop either trading or raiding. We are our own men."

  "I will tell him."

  We bade farewell to Coen Ap Pasgen who returned north and we headed south to skirt Corn Am Walum and sailed for Frankia. We had sailed this route a few times before and were now confident enough to sail south west. The hours of darkness were a problem but Aiden had devised a way of minimising the risk. All of our ships had a burning torch at the bow and the stern. Aiden would ensure that all of them were in a straight line. So long as all followed the light ahead then we, generally, sailed in a straight line. The dangers were in fire and in the torches being doused. This voyage the Gods were kind and the weather was clement. We saw the coast of Frankia and knew that we had survived the empty seas.

  The Duke of Vasconia had spent the winter making his defences stronger but his face showed the pressure of enemies to the north, south and east. As he entertained us he confided in me, "I will be honest Jarl, I could do with men like yours to fight for me. The Emperor has many warriors and he wishes to reclaim my Dukedom. The Arabs are also keen to raid." He waved his arm around his hall. "This is the only secure castle in my land. "

  "I am sorry Duke, this is too far from my lands but if I hear of any Vikings who wish to fight for you then I will bring them on my next voyage."

  "You sail east?"

  "Italy. Our voyage last year was curtailed and I am anxious to maintain our links. I like my new allies!"

  "And we like you. Pray call in on your return. We are bereft of news now. I would know how the rest of the world fares."

  With cargo exchanged we headed south. As we sailed along the coast of Galicia and the land of the Arab every ship was in a state of high tension. Trygg and his dead crew were a stark reminder of our fate if we were caught. Here we had more enemies than friends. We managed to have an uneventful voyage through the Blue Sea. Between them Aiden and Erik brought us safely to the Amalfi coast. It was busy and we struggled to find berths. Aiden and I were looking forward to our trading. Amalfi used more gold than mere barter and we had both goods and gold. It promised to be a successful time.

  This time no Prefect Maurus came to greet us; in fact we were left alone. It felt as though we were a plague ship. There were no warriors to threaten us but neither was there a friendly smile. Had we been too long away? We had said we would visit a year past but the Galician adventure had stopped us.

  "Erik and Haaken, take command of the vessels. Aiden and I will go and discover why no one has come to greet us."

  As we walked towards the white stone buildings which housed merchants and officials of the port Aiden said, "The last time we were here they were talking of breaking ties with the Empire and becoming part of the Papal confederation of republics."

  "And?"

  "And they may worry that we might go to Miklagård. You made no secret of our journeys there. They may worry that we are Byzantine spies."

  "But we are not."

  "Remember that Arab trader, Ibrahim Al-Salad?"

  "Aye, he gave us good prices."

  "We will speak with him. He struck me as a shrewd businessman and if an Arab can survive here…"

  As we approached his door I saw him spit at us and dart back inside, slamming it behind him. Every other door was also closed. When we reached the Arab's door Aiden knocked hard. There was no reply. I had no time for this. Trygg had died bringing trade goods here. I was not going to be stopped by a shut door. I put my shoulder to it and barged in. The room was lit by an oil light and the frightened Arab stood, with his servant, at the back of the room. Aiden had spoken Greek to him the last time and he spoke and then translated for me.

  "Ask him why we appear to be shunned by the people of Amalfi when we were welcomed the last time we visited."

  At first the Arab appeared to be afraid to speak but Aiden, I know not how, persuaded him to open up.

  "You would have been welcomed but word came from the Pope that you were barbarians and not followers of Christ. He forbade Prefect Maurus from trading with you. As you know Amalfi is seeking closer ties with the Pope."

  "But you are not Christian? You are able to trade here."

  In answer Ibrahim Al-Salad took out a cross from around his neck. "I took the cross and feigned conversion. What I do in private they cannot know. You might have done the same."

  "Why should I follow the White Christ? I am never foresworn. It is because we are barbarians that we cannot trade?"

  "It might have been but a message came from King Alfonso who said you had raided and destroyed one of his towns and that you were a murderer and a killer. The Pope has declared you an outlaw and an enemy of all Christians. There is a price upon your head."

  The Holy Book we had taken could not be sold here then! "Why did they not stop us when we were first seen? The harbour could have been closed."

  He was silent and looked shiftily around. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "This is a trap is it not?"

  He nodded, "We were told to pretend that you were still welcome. The Prefect sent to Gaeta for ships. They will be here by nightfall and you will be trapped in the harbour." He paused, "You will be executed and your men sold to the slavers of Barbary."


  Aiden said, "We should run!"

  "No Aiden we should not. I can see a way to make a profit and still escape."

  "We will be trapped here!"

  "It is a narrow harbour and the spaces they left for us were closest to the port. They thought to trap us here but I can see how to turn the trap upon them. They can block us in even without the ships from Gaeta. Besides if we flee they will catch us at sea. Ask him if the ships which come have oars." When he nodded I said, "We could escape but not the knarr. No, we will not walk into their trap we shall run."

  Suddenly the Arab gabbled out many words. "The ships will have a small tower at the stern and they will be filled with many archers. You will be cut down. You do not stand a chance, Viking."

  I nodded. He had not needed to volunteer that information but it helped. It confirmed my decision. Perhaps if he was willing to offer information he might offer other help too. "Ask him if he is willing to trade with us."

  The merchant was dumfounded when Aiden asked him. "You would stay and trade even though you know it is a trap?"

  "A trap is only a trap if you do not expect it. We have the advantage that we know what the prefect will do. Will you trade? It can be like your hidden religion; a secret."

  He nodded, "What have you to trade, Viking?"

  "Iron and copper ore, much of it."

  His eyes lit up. Here they were valuable cargo. "And what would you have in return?"

  "Spices and gold."

  I watched his greedy eyes as he calculated his profit. He would be able to tell the Prefect that he did exactly as was asked and delayed our departure. He nodded and clasped my hand. "We have a deal."

  "Good; have your men bring the gold and spices to my knarr and they can unload my ships. I would suggest that you tell your Prefect that you took our iron and copper without payment."

  He nodded. As we headed back to the ships, down a deserted waterfront, Aiden asked, "Our men could unload the iron and the copper."

  "No, for this way it will look as though our Arab friend just took the metals. Our men will need to rest and besides we need supplies for the journey home. We are short of beer and food. Go with the men into the town and buy food whilst I speak with my Ulfheonar."