Blood on the Blade Read online

  I looked up at him. He had a seax in his belt. His leather jerkin was well made. He wore no boots but his breeks were made from sealskin. I was going to ask him a question and then thought better of it. I would not risk a clip.

  He took three pieces of old rope. “These are for you three. Once we are at sea and there is time, I will show you how to tie ropes. The knots we use each have a purpose. I will tell you the purpose. Leif Ragnarson and Karl the Climber are the other boys. They will also tell you what to do. Most of the time you three will take ale and food to the men at the oars. If it is quiet and you have mastery of knots then you will run lines to catch fish. You will work harder than you have ever worked. If you survive and have done well then the jarl may reward you.” He pulled out his seax. “He gave me this after we raided Saxons. He gave me coin too. Now go and climb the stays and see if you can reach the masthead. I would have you sit on the crosspiece.”

  Siggi said, hesitantly, “Stays?”

  Instead of a clip Olaf smiled, “The ropes which secure the mast to the hull. There are four of them. The other way up is to climb the mast but the stays are quicker. Now go. We leave as soon as the last oarsmen are aboard.”

  We ran to the ropes. There were four of them and I picked one close to my father. I saw him and my uncle watch us as they secured their chest. I grabbed the rope and swung my legs up. It was slippery and salty. This would not be an easy climb. I had an advantage over my brother and my cousin. I used to climb the cliffs close to our home and steal seabirds’ eggs. I was not afraid of heights and I was stronger in the arms than Siggi. Even so by the time I reached half way I was tiring. I had to carry my weight too. I wondered if it might be easier climbing above the rope. Even though I was tiring I reached the yard first. After the climb I found it easy to swing myself up and sit across the spar. I noticed that the hemp cord which secured the sail was like the bowstring my father used. I saw the knot. I had used one before. It was secure but it could be released by a simple pull.

  Arne joined me and then Siggi huffed and puffed his way up. We all grinned. We had succeeded in our first task.

  Ulf North Star shouted, “Now get down! We wish to sail!”

  I knew there would be a quick way to get down but I chose to use the safer method. I came down slowly with my feet wrapped around the rope. Arne just used his hands and Siggi made the mistake of trying to slide down the rope. He made it half way and then the burning was so severe that he had to let go and crashed to the deck. Men laughed. Of the three older ships’ boys it was only Karl who thought it was hilarious. Olaf and Leif looked concerned. I saw my uncle go to him and help him to his feet. We landed on the deck and went to him. The palms of his hands were red raw. His father shook his head, “Watch your cousins! They have more sense. How is your leg?”

  Siggi was more embarrassed than anything else. He shook his head, “It is fine.”

  My uncle went to the mast fish to fetch his oar. Olaf shook his head as he approached, “You did well, Erik Larsson. I have hopes for you. As for you Siggi Snorrisson I hope your father has another son for I fear that you will be feeding the fishes. Arne and Erik, get to the ropes and prepare to untie them. Wait for my grandfather’s command. Untie them and throw them aboard and then leap.”

  Arne said, “Leap?”

  He laughed, “Aye leap, for the oars will be pushing us off.”

  There were just two ropes securing us. Arne said, “I will take the bow.”

  I nodded and went to the steerboard rope. I saw that it was held by the end which was tucked inside the coils. I took a chance and began to loosen it.

  I heard the jarl shout, “Up oars!” The oars rose.

  Then Ulf shouted, “Let loose the ropes!”

  In one tug the end came loose and I unwound it as fast as I could. I know not why I did it but I coiled the rope in my hand as I did so. I managed to release it before Arne. I threw the coiled rope aboard and then leapt. The drekar was just a pace away from the jetty. I easily caught the gunwale and I slipped my leg over. I saw my father nod and smile at me. Arne had been just a little slower and the drekar was two paces and more from the jetty. Arne barely made the gunwale and he hung there. Siggi went to him and helped to pull him aboard. No one else helped. I saw then that we would have to help each other if we were to survive our first voyage.

  We had no time to even begin to think. Olaf shouted, “Ship’s boys to the mast fish.”

  Meanwhile the oars were run out and we were pushed out from the land. The jarl held a staff. The top had been carved into a dragon head. He began to stamp on the deck to give the rowers the beat. My father had told me that when they were at sea they would sometimes sing. We began to move.

  Olaf pointed to the spar. “We climb up! Siggi and Arne you come with and we will be on the steerboard side. You three take the other.”

  I took that as a compliment. Karl went to the mast and he began to climb there. He cast a superior look at Siggi. I used the same rope and I hauled myself up. I reached the yard at the same time as Leif who nodded, “You did well!” Karl joined us and just scowled. He did not like me. I saw that poor Siggi was struggling. He had not had time to apply the salve his mother had given him. He had had a poor start and he could not afford another disaster.

  Karl was the closest to the mast head. I was in the middle and Leif was over the sea. He saw my look and shrugged, “The sea is softer than the deck!”

  Karl laughed, “But as your head is soft and as addled as a bad egg it makes little difference. You will never be Viking warriors!”

  I saw the look of horror on poor Siggi’s face. When my cousin finally made it to the spar Olaf shouted, “This will be the only time we can do this at our leisure. It will take some time to reach the sea.” He pointed to the pennant. It was red. “The wind is from the north and east. The gods favour us. The blót was a good one. When we are nearer to the land of the Walhaz it will be harder for there the winds come from the west.”

  I was able to look out and saw the largest island, Orkneyjar, to the south and west of us. We were sailing north and west up the channel. I saw the smoke from the many longhouses there. There were few trees now anywhere. Often our raids would be to places where we could get some wood. When our snekke was finished properly and seaworthy then we were going to sail it to the land of the Picts. My father wanted a drekar. It would not be a large one but he wanted to be a leader. He had had enough of following. I knew, from talking to my uncle, that a drekar could move very quickly. We were using oars at the moment but once we reached the sea and turned then we could lower the sail and we would fly. I was enjoying the experience, although as the sail was furled and we were protected by the land there was not as much movement as there might have been. I glanced down and saw that Siggi was clinging to the spar. The burning hands and the crash to the deck had unnerved him.

  I saw ahead, the open sea. I took hold of the end of the hemp cord which bound the sail. I had six to untie. I knew that Ulf North Star would be highly critical of us. He would be looking for errors. I saw the jarl as he glanced up. He might have been looking at the pennant but he would have seen us. My father and uncle were just toiling at the oar they shared. We had a big crew. There were sixty men on board. We were stronger because of that but we would need to find a sizeable target to make it worth our while.

  Olaf shouted, “Ready to loose the sail.”

  I looked down and saw that we had almost cleared the land. His grandfather must have given him a signal. Ulf shouted, “Loose sails!” I untied the first cord and quickly did the same to the others. The three of us on my side of the mast were fast for our half of the sail dropped quickly. Siggi, perhaps because of his hands, was a little slower. We moved faster as Ulf put the steering board over and shouted, “In oars!” I could tell that we had disappointed him for he glared up at the sail. Eventually Siggi managed to untie the last one and the sail filled.

  Olaf shouted, “Down quickly!” I saw that he and Leif had pieces of leather. T
hey slipped them over the rope and flew down to the deck. I wondered how they would stop but, amazingly, they slowed and landed perfectly. They both ran to the two fore sheets and began to tighten them.

  I landed and ran to the stern sheet on the steerboard side. I pulled on it but I had little effect. Leif ran from the forestay and said, “There is a trick to this.” He pointed to a wooden cleat in the gunwale. “Wind it around this and pull.” I helped him and found it much easier. We tied it off.

  “Thank you!”

  He smiled, “You will do but your cousin may struggle.”

  I saw that Siggi had made the mistake of passing too close to Ulf. He was hit on the back of the head with a piece of knotted rope, “Clumsy lump of crab bait! You are letting down the crew!”

  Olaf stood by the mast fish and waved us over. “Come you three, it is knot time. Karl and Leif stand by Ulf.”

  Leif looked sympathetically at Siggi while Karl laughed. I knew then that Karl and I would come to blows. He might be older than me and a whole head taller but I would fight him!

  We worked at the knots until our hands bled. To be fair to Siggi he found that much easier than the rest of the tasks and Olaf was able to praise him. When we had finished Olaf and the other two were sent to tighten and adjust the stays. We were given the job of taking ale and food to the crew. I saw the look of concern on my uncle’s face as we neared him. He had a small jug and he said, “Here Siggi, smear this on your hands.”

  Siggi nodded and said, quietly, “I am sorry, father, I have let you down.”

  “You have not, my son. I found it as hard and if it was not for Uncle Lars here, I might have never returned.”

  My father chuckled, “I sailed with our helmsman as a youth. Ulf North Star was younger then but just as handy with his rope. He learned then that my fists are like Thor’s hammer.” He smiled at Siggi, “When we have our own drekar this will not be a problem. I will steer!”

  As we continued to serve food and ale, I realised I was learning as much about my father as I was myself. He did not like the jarl and he did not like the steersman. They did not like him either. Their looks showed that and Ulf’s treatment of us. It was no wonder my father did not get on with either of them. This would be a difficult voyage.

  By the time night fell we were exhausted. The jarl did not wish to stop and so we sailed through the night. Each of us took it in turns to stand by Ulf or the jarl at the steering board. Siggi woke me for my turn. There was an hourglass at the stern and a candle in a pot. We each did two turns of the glass.

  When I reached the steering board, it was the jarl who was steering. “Go fetch me a horn of ale.”

  “Aye, jarl!”

  I hurried to the barrel of ale which was close to the mast fish and ladled beer into it. I hoped I had it right. Some men like a foamy head and others did not. I handed it to the jarl and he drank. I had not displeased him and I felt some relief. It was a clear night and when he had downed the ale, he handed me the horn and looked up at the stars. He must have realised our course was not true and I saw him adjust it. After a while he turned and said, “So, Erik Larsson, what would you be, a mariner or a warrior?”

  “Could I not be both?”

  He laughed, “You are just like your father for to be both you have to have your own ship and crew. That is what your father wishes.” He shook his head. “You have the blood of a Saxon and Norse. It seems that Norse wins.” A strange smile came over him, “You just have to survive this voyage is all. I think, however, that you have more chance of that than your cousin. We will see.”

  And that was all that he said. I turned the glass when it needed and I watched the black night slip by. There was no feature save the sea. How did the jarl and Ulf navigate? Were they galdramenn? I determined to watch them. My father could tell me things but the jarl and his helmsmen had done this more than my father. I waited until the glass had run out and I had turned it before I went to wake Arne. The three newcomers had been given the most undesirable of watches. I thought I detected a slight smile on the jarl’s face as I went to wake my brother. I curled up on the blanket he had left and pulled my own over me. I was so exhausted that I was asleep before Arne had reached the steering board.

  Chapter 2

  For the next days we followed the same routine. The three of us, as new boys, were run ragged. We passed up and down the drekar as well as up and down the stays. Hands became tougher and muscles grew. What had seemed impossible the first day became acceptable by the third. We also became invisible. It was though we could not be seen save as a hand which filled an ale horn or fetched some salted meat. I kept my eyes and ears open and I learned things. I saw that the jarl had a small band of warriors he kept close to him. These were not his oathsworn, they were men from the islands. Bjorn Bjornson was the closest. They did not like my father and I heard many disparaging comments from them. My father also sat with close friends. They sat forward of the mast and it was obvious that my father was leader. I saw his temper flare as he openly criticised the jarl and his choice of target. My father felt that the Mercians were more likely to yield treasure and grain. He was loud in his criticism and his voice carried down the drekar. The jarl heard. I also learned why none silenced him. He was acknowledged, even by his many enemies, as the best warrior on the drekar. The jarl himself tacitly admitted this when he came to my father and asked him and his oar brothers to be the first to land. Even when my father mocked the jarl’s oathsworn the jarl took the criticism. It was then that I understood about my father’s dream of a drekar. If he had a drekar then he would not need the jarl.

  I asked Olaf, one morning as the wind took us and we had time to chat, how much it cost to build a drekar. “It is not something to be taken lightly. There are some things which any could get.” He smiled, “Any who do not live on treeless Orkneyjar. You need good straight timbers for the keel and strakes. Then you need different wood for the decks. You need pine for the mast and spars. The last thing you need is time. It takes months, perhaps years to build a good drekar.”

  At last I understood. We now had a snekke which was almost ready to launch but it had taken a long time to build. As we sailed south, I grew up. Living on the farm with just my brother and cousin for company I had not had to interact with any. Now I had to endure the bully that was Karl. Not only was he bigger than we were he enjoyed special treatment. His father’s friendship with the jarl meant he never had the hard duties. He enjoyed throwing his considerable weight around, sometimes quite literally. He would try to barge into us as we hurried down the decks. I learned to have quick feet and to dance around him. I did not know that it would stand me in good stead when I became a warrior. The Norns were spinning and I was being prepared to be a Viking.

  We passed beyond the land of Strathclyde and headed towards the Land of the Wolf. We saw the land of the Hibernians to the west and I noticed that the crew became more agitated. Leif was always the easiest to talk with. Like Olaf he would soon be taking an oar. Karl had another few voyages left. I was not looking forward to the time when Karl was in charge. Perhaps my father would have finished our ship by then.

  “Leif, why are the men sharpening weapons? We are not near the land of the Walhaz are we?”

  “We are not but you are right. We have many more days before we raid. The men fear the pirates of Mann.” He pointed south, “There it is. It is ruled from Dyflin and Veisafjǫrðr. Sometimes there is conflict in those kingdoms and when that happens then the folk who live on that island raid. Thorvald Asvaldsson and his crew were attacked when they passed the island six months since. Some think we should come and make war on them. It may come to that.” He patted the seax he wore in his belt. “If we are attacked, I will defend myself but there will be no shame if you and the others hide on the spar.”

  I was outraged but I could not show it. If we were attacked then I would show them that even though I was young I could still fight. I might only have a sling and a bone knife but I was a Viking!


  The wind was still with us and we had had little to do save reef the sail at sunset and loose it at dawn. It was now blowing from the north and east. We could still use the wind. Leif had told me that the wind was turning. The Norns must have been spinning for even as we headed towards the west to take the channel between Mann and Veisafjǫrðr the wind began to weaken. It was still sufficient so that we would not need to use oars but I saw men, my father included, taking out their swords and helmets from their chest. I saw some men touch their hammer of Thor. In those days I saw the sea but I did not understand it. The crew did. They knew what the change in the wind meant.

  We could see Mann quite clearly now. It rose from the sea like a cow which was eating grass. The small island to the south was called the calf. I had heard the story. It had seemed charming and innocent but now that I was here it felt, somehow, sinister.

  “Erik, you have young eyes, climb up the mast and tell me what you spy.”

  It was the jarl himself who had asked for me and I ran to the forestay and quickly climbed it. I could now climb with confidence. Even Siggi had managed it but he was still slow. I crawled along the spar and sat with my legs on either side of the mast. I looked to the island and realised that I could see much more from this elevated position. What I had taken to be a green lump rising from the sea could now be seen as having people and buildings. There was a harbour or port of some description for I saw stone and masts.

  “I see masts!”

  “Are they moving?”

  I felt my heart sink. I was about to give my judgement on something. If I got it wrong then it could spell disaster for my oar brothers. That would be viewed as a comment on my character. My father was Lars the Luckless. I did not want to be Erik the Unlucky. With a nickname like that no one would sail with me. “They are not moving yet!”

  “Good. Shout if anything changes.”

  Ulf was trying to keep us out to sea but the wind, slight though it was had the effect of pushing us towards the land. The masts remained still. The spars had reefed sails. If they came out, they would be oared. I could not determine the size of the ships. I had seen few. How big was big? We drew closer and I stared intently at the island. I could now see houses dotted on the hillside below the mountain. There was also a hall. It looked to be above the quay. The ships were now clearer. They did not look to be as big as ours. Just then I heard from below, “Oars!”