Viking Treasure Page 20

  Now I had a chance. I drew my sword and ran at him. I wondered where Oleg was. I hoped that my son and grandson were safe. Ulf drew his own sword. I could see by his stance that he was confident. He shouted, "Old man you will die as did your son and then when I have slain you I will kill your cubs! Ragnar Ruriksson will have his revenge!"

  I allowed him to bluster for I wanted to be calm when I fought him. I pulled out my seax. "You are an assassin, no more. Do not try to pretend that you have any honour. You kill from cover. Now let us see if you can fight in the open! Face a warrior who can see your black heart!"

  He suddenly launched himself at me. He too had a dagger in his bleeding hand. His sword was fast. It whipped back and forth. He was trying to mesmerize me. He was quick and I barely blocked his sword with my seax. His dagger sliced across my forehead. I punched at his injured hand with my sword. I saw him wince and step back. He was laughing. The blood dripped down my cheeks and nose from the wound.

  "Is that the best you can do? Ragnar was right you are easy to fool. Sending you after those Danes was simplicity itself as if I could not follow warriors across stones! He knew what you would do and you did it. He directed your steps. He is the master! Soon he will have your land and will be King there!"

  I noticed that the blood was flowing freely from his left hand. It was time to go on the offensive. Suddenly I heard a shout from behind. I dared not look round. If Oleg had got to my son and grandson I could do nothing about it. If I turned my back then I would be dead in the flash of a traitor's sword.

  He must have expected me to turn for he feinted with his sword. I was not fooled and I lunged at his middle. He brought his dagger across to block the blow. For once he was slow. Perhaps his hand was slippery with blood. Ragnar's Spirit sliced through two of his fingers and his dagger fell. He swung his sword at my head and I instinctively brought up my seax. Sparks flew as the two blades clashed. I brought my own sword around in a sweep to his side. He had quick hands and he managed, somehow, to bring his own sword around to block it but my left hand was also quick and it darted forward to slice into the cheek and blue eye of the assassin. It was blue no longer but a red, useless mess.

  He took two mighty steps back. His one blue eye glared hatred at me, "Your sons and your grandsons lie dead, old man. Oleg has finished them and even if you slay me he will kill you. You have used up all your luck this day. Oleg will carry the sword of legend."

  "You talk too much." I swung both my sword and seax in circles before him. I was the one who would mesmerize now! His fingers bled still and the orb of his right eye hung down. His vision was impaired and he flailed his sword before him. I brought Ragnar's Spirit around with all the power I could muster and hacked off his head.

  Turning, I ran back to my son and grandson. When I reached them I saw they lived but Oleg lay with four arrows in him. His legs also bore a wound. Ragnar said apologetically, "We both hit him but we wanted to be sure he was dead. We loosed two more."

  I nodded and leaned down to look at Wolf Killer and Garth. The second arrow had killed them both. It had gone through Garth's tiny back and into his father's throat. Their blood lay in thick dark pools on the pure white snow.

  "Stay here." I picked up my son's bow and headed towards where I had last seen Siggi. I followed the trail of blood. He lay with his back against a tree. The arrow was still in his shoulder and his leg was bleeding. I took my scarf from around my neck and tied it above the wound in his leg. "Hold still."

  "I wounded him but he passed me. I heard shouts."

  "My son and Garth are both dead. The boys killed Oleg. I slew Ulf Blue Eyes."

  He tried to rise, "Then the last killer, Erik Sigtryggson lives still."

  "I hope so for he was not an assassin. He tried to slay Ulf Blue Eyes. Stay here while I seek him."

  I headed towards the place I had seen him fall. He lay in an untidy tangle. I could see no arrow. When I drew close I saw his chest moved albeit slowly. He lived. When I reached him I saw that the arrow had hit his head. It had been a glancing blow. The wound ran along the side of his head. It had rendered him unconscious. I dropped the bow and picked him up. I carried him to my son and grandson. "He lives. Gruffyd, keep his head to the side. Ragnar come with me."

  As we approached Siggi he smiled, "Thank the Allfather, you live young master."

  "Come we will carry you to the others." Between us we managed to carry the huge warrior back to the slaughterhouse where my son and grandson lay.

  Erik was stirring. I knew not how many other killers might be around. The two had brought us here for a purpose.

  "Ragnar, I leave you in charge. I know not how many other assassins are here. I will go for help. I would send you but I fear another ambush." He nodded, "You are now the master of your hall. Today you become a man."

  "I will not let you down, Jarl Dragonheart."

  "I know you will not." Nodding to Siggi I headed back for my boar spear. It was close to the body of Ulf Blue Eye. I spat at his body as I passed him. I wish that he had not died with a sword in his hand. "I curse you Ulf Blue Eye and swear that in the Otherworld I will find you and kill you for all eternity!"

  I moved warily through the forest and I avoided our tracks. I wanted virgin snow and that way I knew that I was safe. As I headed towards the walls I heard the cry go up. I realised, as I closed with the gate that I was covered in blood. The wound on my scalp whilst not deep had bled. The captain of the guard, Sven Broad Shoulders said, "Jarl what is it?"

  I could not tell him before I had told Elfrida the dire news. "Get ten men and twenty horses. Meet me back here!" He hesitated, "Obey my orders!"

  He flinched and then turned and ran. Brigid and Elfrida came out. Brigid's hand came to her mouth as she saw my face. I shook my head and said, "It is a scratch." I held Elfrida in my arms. "My son and Garth, they are dead. There were assassins. Ragnar and Gruffyd are unharmed."

  She buried her head in my chest and began to sob. I heard hooves as Sven Broad Shoulders and the horses arrived. Elfrida lifted her head and said, "My poor chick, Garth? He is dead?"

  "Aye, he went to save his father and they were slain by the same arrow. Erik and Siggi are hurt. I will go and fetch them."

  Her eyes became ice as she said, "And his killers?"

  "They are both dead!"

  As we rode through the icy wind from the north I was oblivious to the weather. I was cold inside. My son and grandson were dead. I should have ended Ragnar when I had had the chance. I had put gold and treasure first and that was a mistake. The Viking treasure I had was my family and not the Neustrian gold.

  "I am sorry, Jarl."

  I looked up. "What?"

  Sven Broad Shoulders shook his head, "I should have obeyed you instantly. Siggi taught me better than that."

  I nodded, "He is hurt. We were betrayed by two assassins, paid for by Ragnar Ruriksson. But he will learn and I will pay him back tenfold!"

  Chapter 15

  The presence of Macha and Deidra was wyrd. We had brought them to be of comfort to Brigid but they saved the lives of Erik and Siggi. Erik's wound was worse than we had thought. They bled his skull and he began to recover. They saved Siggi's leg and managed to remove the arrow without causing too much pain. I took them to one side after they had tended the men and said, "I thank you both. Without you we would have lost two more brave men."

  They seemed uncomfortable with my fulsome praise, "It is our Christian duty, my lord."

  "And I thank you."

  We were all still numb inside. Their bodies were laid in the hall. Poor Garth looked little more than a baby. He had only seen five summers. The boy named after me would never grow up and yet in his short life he had shown courage.

  We buried them the next day. We built a barrow just outside the walls. Wolf Killer was buried in his armour and covered with his wolf cloak. Garth was laid by his side. I put his seax in his hand. He had been so proud of that weapon. He had died too soon but he had had a seax in his hand. W
olf Killer's amulet around his neck glistened in the thin winter sun as we laid the turf upon it. We made the barrow high enough to be visible from afar so that all would know heroes lay buried. His oathsworn and his family stood around in silence. Had Haaken been there he would have sung a song of my son's deeds. As it was we each remembered them in our own way. Ragnar became a man that day. He may only have seen twelve summers but he put aside his childhood when we buried his father and little brother. He put his arm around his mother who seemed somehow smaller than she had been.

  She looked up at me with reddened, tear filled eyes. "How can I go on without him, Jarl? He was all I ever wanted. He was not perfect, no man is, but I loved him faults and all. What will I do?"

  "You will go on. You will be there for your son. I can guide him and teach him to be a warrior but you must teach him to be a leader. I know you did that for my son. Now you will do it for my grandson. You will rule this land as my son did."

  "I cannot."

  "You can. When Erika and my daughter died I thought I could live no longer. Kara helped through that pain. You will get through this mourning. You will never forget my son. I still speak with Erika and I visit her grave often. It does not mean I do not love Brigid but you are like me, you have a big heart. Do not give in to darkness. You are the light in this land, Elfrida and the land needs you."

  "I will try for I know that it is what Arturus would have wished. He spent his life trying to be you, you know?"

  "All he had to be was himself. I wanted no more from him. He was a great warrior. My Ulfheonar were proud to have him as one of their own. When they hear the news there will be great sadness. That is a measure of a warrior's greatness; not how many men he has slain but what his fellow warriors think of him. He was well thought of and he was my son. I, too, have a void in my life."

  "And you will seek revenge?"

  "I will have my revenge! Rurik's line will end... completely!"

  I saw Elfrida recoil from my words. "You make a bad enemy, Jarl Dragonheart."

  I nodded, "Where my family is concerned I am as cruel a warrior as ever lived!"

  We stayed for ten days. I rode with my son's Wild Boars and made sure that there were no other enemies in the vicinity. I had wondered if other assassins were lurking nearby. They were not. I put Siggi in command of the oathsworn and made him responsible for the training of Ragnar.

  He felt guilty about the two assassins. "I should have seen through them."

  "Wolf Killer did not. Einar did not. I did not. Why should you be any different? They played their part well. We underestimated our enemy and I will not do so again."

  Siggi had ten of his men escort us home. As I sat on my horse awaiting the women and their farewells Ragnar came to me. "How will I manage without a father?"

  "I managed and remember that I am still your grandfather. Old Ragnar, after whom you are named, gave me the benefit of his mind. I will be watching over you. When you are ready to be jarl you will fight under my banner. You cannot change the past but you can shape the future. Remember that."

  "I will. I will do this in memory of my father and a young brother who had life snatched away from him."

  We had not told any outside of Elfridaby of the catastrophe. However I was not surprised when Kara and Aiden came to me with concern etched all over their faces. They were relieved to see us alive but Kara said, "Something evil has happened! Tell me!"

  We went in their hall and I told them both. The two had had their differences but Kara was even more upset about her brother than she had been about her mother. My wife had chosen death to save the people. Kara, like Siggi, blamed herself as did Aiden. I spoke sternly to both of them."You cannot see all. Some things are hidden. This is the work of the Weird Sisters. This Ragnar is a clever man. He duped us with his handful of Danes. I became complacent and thought we had outwitted our enemy. I will not do so again."

  The Ulfheonar were not just upset they were angry. Haaken and Snorri in particular had helped to raise Wolf Killer and trained him to be Ulfheonar. My oathsworn took another oath and that was to rid the world of Ragnar Ruriksson and all those who served or harboured him.

  I made a visit, alone, to the grave of my wife and daughter on the other side of the Water. The burned out remains of my steam hut still stood by the Water. I had not visited since the fire. The snow covered mound had a fine view of the Water and the mountain of Olaf the Toothless. I left Storm Rider by the Water and walked to the mound. When we had had the steam hut I had often felt my dead wife's spirit and heard her words in my head. Since the fire there had been nothing. I knelt by the barrow oblivious to the cold of the frozen white ground. I took out my dragon and held it in both hands. I closed my eyes and began to speak. When I had used my steam hut I had used my mind to speak as well as my voice. I did so again.

  "Erika, our son is dead and our grandson Garth. They are with you now. Our son should be in Valhalla but he was denied that. My comfort is that they are with you. Forgive me for my failure to save him. I would that he lived and I was with you. That is not in my thread. I will have vengeance but I know it will never bring either back. Young Garth never saw the world. He was barely grown. He was a tiny sapling whose tip was barely green. He will need your care. I will watch over his family but I need to know that you and the other spirits watch over my second family. I must travel abroad and seek these foes. Watch over Cyninges-tūn as you did in times past."

  I remained keeling, listening for a voice in my head or a sign. There was nothing and I feared that I had been deserted. Suddenly I was nudged in the back. I turned and Storm Rider began to lick my face. He whinnied and raised his head. I saw the thin afternoon sun like a corona behind Olaf's head. I nodded, "I understand, my wife. I must go to Old Olaf."

  Before I did so I journeyed to my boat yard. I went the day after my visit to the grave. At the river I spoke with Bolli and Erik Short Toe. I wanted my ship ready to sail as soon as we discovered the whereabouts of Ragnar. 'Heart of the Dragon' would need to be in perfect condition. Erik now had a family of his own and in his eyes I saw the anger he felt. He was thinking of how he would react if his child was killed.

  After I had told them what had happened Erik said, "Will Wolf Killer's family be safe there, Jarl? It is the edge of our world."

  "When the Ruriksson threat has gone then I will visit my vengeance upon the Danes. King Eanred is our ally now. I intend to make Eoforwic Saxon again. They appear to be more trustworthy than the treacherous Danes."

  "There is no rest for you then Jarl?"

  "No Bolli. If I wish to sleep again at night I must exorcise the demons that destroyed my son."

  I then went to the hall of Raibeart. He and his men lived close to Úlfarrston. He knew the news already. "He was a fine warrior and would have made a good leader once you decided to enjoy an easy life."

  "I fear that is not in my thread. I see no peaceful old age for me. The Norns will cut my thread as suddenly as they did Wolf Killer. I had feared my own death and no one saw Wolf Killer's"

  Raibeart nodded, "Wyrd."

  "Aye, wyrd. As soon as you can I would have you take 'Red Snake and find news of where he is to be found. I wish to know where Ragnar Ruriksson is hiding."

  "The rumour was that he was with King Egbert. If so it will be both dangerous and difficult to find his exact location. It is better I take 'Weregeld' and go as a trader. King Egbert still keeps the peace. Lundenwic is a hive of gossip and news. I would prefer to try that first. But you are jarl and I obey your commands."

  "You are right but a knarr can be attacked. We may have scoured our seas of Harald Black Teeth and the like but that does not mean he has not moved to another part of this land."

  "I will take a large crew. The raid on Neustria made my men rich. They have good armour and weapons. They are of the same mind as I am. We can trade and, if we are attacked then they will find that we have teeth. The knarr is a good ship and a fast one too. It will attract less attention than a drekar."
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  His arguments were sound and he was right. I had learned long ago that the men I appointed as jarls were clever and able to use their own judgements. "You are right. I am in your debt."

  "No Jarl. None of us could be as we are without you. I am being selfish. I wish to continue the life I lead. I am grown used to the finer things. My men and I live like lords. Our wives use pots which graced the tables of bishops and thegns. We wear linens and cloths like princes. We cook with spices from the far Empire. We are grateful and it is times like this that we can show that gratitude. I will sail as soon as I can gather my crew." He was about to part when he said, "I will call in at Dyflin first. Jarl Gunnstein Berserk Killer has many visitors. There may be news there."

  Haaken had insisted that I have an escort to Úlfarrston. I left them when the walls of Cyninges-tūn were in sight. "I will go to visit old Olaf."

  Cnut Cnutson nodded, "I will tell your daughter, Jarl."

  Cnut would never argue with me. This was his way of telling me that Kara might take matters into her own hands. I smiled and turned Storm Rider up the path to the Blue Water. Storm Rider picked his own path up the mountain. When we reached the Blue Water, half way up. he stopped and I slipped from his back. He began to drink the water and I turned to head to the peak. On my way back from Úlfarrston I had felt the wind behind me. It was sign of change. The winds from the south would bring a thaw. Winter was not over for the days were still short but it was a hopeful sign. The skies were still grey but there were gaps which gave me hope. We were too high for a thaw to take effect and I had to be careful as I walked up the slippery, slick path. I was concentrating so hard on my footing that when I reached the top I surprised myself.