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  I nodded. I had expected him to prepare for an attack. Ulf Blue Eyes had told me of his ambition to be King of the Land of the Wolf. King Egbert was suckling a viper at his breast. "How many men?"

  "That is difficult to ascertain, Jarl. When we were in Lundenwic we heard that he had been given the estate and then we heard, from a different source, that he was gathering men. This time it is not just Danes he seeks; he is searching for any Viking who wishes to serve alongside him. Harald Black Teeth has joined him as has Hermund the Bent, the murderer who fled Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson. When we reached the Sabrina we saw six drekar there already. I dared not approach too closely. There is a hill top tower and they keep a good watch. We sailed north and then landed at the estuary. I got as close to the hall as I could."

  "How far is it from the sea?"

  "Less than a Roman mile. I had made a chart for you but you should know, Jarl, that they keep a close watch from the tower."

  "You have a suggestion?"

  He nodded, "If you land to the west of the tower, beyond the headland then you can approach across a small wood hill to the west of the town. I spied it as I sailed north. When I scouted out the King's estate I saw that there was a camp around it with the warriors who would serve Ragnar Ruriksson and the hall was guarded and watched by his oathsworn. They also keep some of the drekar fully crewed. He is careful, Jarl."

  "You have done well."

  Raibeart looked around, "Where are the other drekar?"

  "We sail alone, Raibeart. I do not go to make war; not this raid anyway. I go to kill a murderer. We use cunning and the dark to do the deed."

  "He has many men."

  "From what you say they are the sweepings of every cess pit in the west. We saw when they attacked Seddes' Burgh that they have no heart. It is our decision."

  "If you succeed it will make a great song."

  "You would take more drekar." He nodded. "And that way he could slip through our fingers again. He would run and I do not want to waste our lives hunting him from one hiding place to another. We go to his hall and we find him there. Then he cannot run."

  We sailed on the evening tide. The wind which had delayed Raibeart's arrival now helped us and we made good time as we headed south. The waters were choppy and the air chill. The men huddled beneath cloaks as the threttanessa skimmed across the waters. We passed Man and Erik took us west to skirt the island of Ynys Môn. The other news Raibeart had brought us was the King Ceolwulf of Mercia was busy fighting the Welsh. The lands to the north of Carhampton were filled with warriors. The home from which I had taken Brigid, Dyfed was not far from the north coast of Wessex but that too was filled with enemies. Raibeart's idea had merit. A landing to the west of Carhampton would be safer.

  We halted by the whale island. This was a large island which looked like a whale breaching. It gave shelter and we halted there. For we did not wish to sail in daylight when we approached Carhampton. From what Raibeart had said Ragnar Ruriksson's men and ships had sailed from the east. A drekar approaching from the north would arouse suspicion. Asbjorn and a crew would be plying the seas from Dyflin to Úlfarrston. He would be seen by spies for I had no doubt that there were such watchers. They would see 'Heart of the Dragon' and Asbjorn in his wolf cloak and helmet which was a twin of mine. They would think I was still in the north. My plan could only succeed if my enemy believed I was in my home waters. If he suspected we were close then we would not catch a smell of him.

  We left after dark to sail across the waters of the Sabrina estuary. It is a busy waterway during the day but not so at night. We were only out of sight of land briefly during the middle of the night. Erik had the ability to smell the land. His charts were the best we had. Aiden constantly updated them when our captains returned from a voyage. Raibeart's new information was already incorporated. He stood us well out to sea when we passed the beach of Carhampton and then took us towards the thin shadow that was the coast and the headland behind which we would hide.

  I had decided on a plan as we had headed south. When we had passed the headland I began to prepare. We would land in the dark and head up to the camp and estate after dawn. I handed my sword to Erik. "Care for this while I am ashore."

  "You are leaving Ragnar's Spirit?"

  "We have to get close to this murderer. I must rid myself of all that identifies me as Dragonheart." I took off my wolf cloak and donned a plain one. I swapped my distinctive helmet, now replete with a golden wolf and took one of the shields and swords we kept as a spare. We pulled into a quiet, deserted bay. We had passed one already but that had a village and huts. We had travelled further from our prey to land unnoticed. As we bobbed about in the swell I explained my plan to the Ulfheonar. None of them were happy about it.

  Haaken pointed to my beard and my hair. "You can change your armour, sword and shield but you still look like Dragonheart."

  I took the cochineal from the chest at the stern. I rubbed it into my beard and my hair. "I realised, when I donned it on my eyes, that it made my eyebrows appear to be red and not grey. Gruffyd noticed it. I will be Einar Redbeard."

  When I had finished I turned so that my men could see the difference. Haaken nodded, "It works, at least, in this half light. You look younger. You might get away with it. It is almost like Aiden's magic!"

  We jumped into the shallow water. The drekar could get far closer to shore than could mine and was another reason we had chosen it. Once ashore we headed up the beach and struck inland so that we could approach the estate from the landward rather than the seaward side. Erik Short Toe would sail out to sea and head back in. Each night he would shelter in the bay until we returned. I hoped it might be the following night but that was out of our hands.

  We skirted the next bay and the village. Snorri and Beorn led the Ulfheonar and we followed. The warriors from Cyninges-tūn were proud to have their jarl amongst and they stayed, protectively, close to me. Snorri came back and approached, "We are less than a mile from the camp. They have sentries." He pointed to the east. "The main road approaches yonder."

  I nodded, "Then we will head there and wait until the sun rises. We will make them think we have marched all night to join them. It will explain why we keep ourselves apart and rest."

  Haaken asked, "I am still unconvinced by this plan, Jarl."

  "Who else should lead the men of Cyninges-tūn? Do you think the Ulfheonar alone can achieve the death of Ragnar Ruriksson when he is in a hall surrounded by his oathsworn? We need eyes on the hall in daylight and this is the only way I know."

  "But if you meet someone that you know; what then?"

  "Then I will deal with the problem. Now go. You and the Ulfheonar have a harder task than we do. You need to hide for a day. We will see you tomorrow night."

  Haaken clasped my arm, "You truly do have the heart of a dragon and the balls too! May the Allfather be with you." They disappeared as only wolf warriors can do. They were there one moment and gone the next. I led the men who were left and we headed towards the road. When we found it we retired into the undergrowth to await dawn.

  Einar Hammer Arm and Sven Svensson were placed on sentry and the rest of us made ourselves inconspicuous. Cnut Cnutson spoke with me. "My father would have objected too, you know, Jarl."

  "I know. He would not be happy that I left my sword behind. I confess that is the one part of the plan I do not like. But it had to be done. It can be recognised too easily. As for the rest, the helmet, the cloak and the shield they are not my own but they will do." I patted the sword. I had taken it from a Frank at Seddes' Burgh. It was not a long one such as their horsemen used but it was a good blade. Bjorn Bagsecgson had approved. "I do not want to risk being identified. If I see anyone I recognise then I will disappear. It is you who will be leader of this band. My life is in your hands, Cnut Cnutson."

  "I know and that weighs as heavy on my shoulders as does this mail."

  "I have confidence in you. If you speak in a surly manner and scowl then you will fit in well."
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  As the dawn broke we stirred ourselves and I took my place among the warriors. I walked next to Olvir Grey Eye. Our shields were over our backs and we trudged as though we were weary from a long night's march. Snorri had told us that we were about a mile from the camp. I kept my head down as we smelled the fires as they cooked their first meal of the day. A voice stopped us. We bunched up as though we were a rabble.

  I kept my head down as I listened, "Who are you?"

  "I am Cnut the Fearless and we are here to offer our swords to the Jarl who raises this army. We were told in Lundenwic that Ragnar Ruriksson was taking on men."

  "He is but he needs men who have their own drekar. Where is yours?"

  "Lying on the rocks off Syllingar. The master was drunk and ran us on the rocks."

  "You were not the jarl?"

  "No, that was Thorstein Ill Luck. Thorstein the Drunk would have been a better name for him."

  I risked a glance at the men who stopped us. They were Danes. There were three of them and they had expensive looking byrnies and carried the double handed Danish axe; their arms were laden with warrior rings. If we could get by these three then we stood a chance. I did not recognise them and that was a good thing.

  "Those islands are treacherous. How did you get to the mainland?"

  "We made a raft from the wreckage and the Allfather was with us. The current brought most of us ashore."

  "But not all."

  "No and we came ashore with just what we carried. We are ready for food and a rest."

  "We can use warriors who are so resilient and favoured by the Norns." He pointed to the beach. "Each clan has their own camp. There is plenty of space by the beach. The others do not like the sand flies. You have little choice."

  "And food?"

  "What you can find and keep is yours. Lord Ragnar has forbidden fighting in the camp. You would do well to remember that. Any infringement is punishable by death."

  Cnut nodded, "Follow me." We passed the three Danes. Worryingly they scrutinised each of us as we passed. I kept my head down. I looked around the camp. Some of the fires had more men around than others. They were obviously the crews of drekar. Others had just a handful of men around them. I estimated that there were over a hundred men in the camp. When we reached the dunes above the beach I sat and looked at the hall. It was a hunting lodge. A long low hall, it had but one entrance and that was guarded by two Frisians. The nearest camp fire was forty paces from it. Ragnar Ruriksson was taking no chances.

  Cnut was enjoying playing the part of a sour faced would be leader, "Karl, Ulf, go and find me some food. I am starving. Ketil and Arne find some beer."

  I lay with my back against a dune. I took off my helmet and began to examine the hall to see how we could get to Ragnar Ruriksson and still escape. Beyond the hall there was a brew house. I saw a huddle of women there. If he ran this as his father had run Dorestad then the women would serve the beer and more. I hoped that the distraction might allow us entry.

  I leaned over to Alf Jansson, "Have a wander along the beach and tell me what you see."

  "Aye, Jarl."

  "Einar, Einar Redbeard, remember? Do not call me jarl or all this will end in bloodshed; ours."

  "Sorry, Einar."

  Ketil and Arne came back with a small bucket of ale and six horns. "If we are here too long we will have no coins! This is expensive ale."

  Cnut shook his head and said loudly, "Fear not for we shall have our fortunes made when we raid!"

  I let the others drink the beer. From their faces it was not particularly good beer. It did, however, give me the opportunity to stand and look around the other camps. There was a small camp thirty paces or so from us. We could hear them and I did not doubt that they could hear us. Karl and Ulf returned with food. They told a similar story. The food was not cheap; neither was it particularly good. The black bread was not to the taste of my men but grumbles would be expected.

  Then I saw the door of the hall open. Ragnar Ruriksson did not come out but I recognised one of the men who did, it was Hermund the Bent. He had served with Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson. I had not liked him. He might recognise me and I was about to sit down again when the man next to him opened his mouth. He had blackened, filed teeth. It was Harald Black Teeth. I remembered him from the fight at Beinn na bhFadhla. I mumbled, "Trouble." As I sat down.

  To my horror the two of them came over to the camp closest to us. I lay back in the sand and put my helmet over my face as though I was sleeping. I could hear everything. Perhaps the darkness focussed my hearing for the words they were speaking were as clear as though they were next to me.

  "Why do we stay here, Harald?"

  "I have told you Hermund, you address me as Jarl now! I have earned it."

  "Sorry, Jarl but I do not see why we wait here. The food and ale are like pig swill and the prices make us poorer by the day. From our words with this Frisian Prince I doubt that he will stir himself before midsummer. He seems not to know his own mind."

  "But when he does we can reap greater rewards than you can imagine. We can plunder the Land of the Wolf. You have been there and you know."

  "They have the Dragonheart and his sword. We would not survive. Let us go and raid Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson. He has treasure too. It is not as much as the Dragonheart took but it will be easier to steal."

  A third voice piped up, "I agree with Hermund. We have two drekar now and I spoke with Ulf the Squint Eyed. He is keen to sail with you, Jarl."

  "If the Norns had not played tricks with us we would have had even more drekar. How they trapped us at Beinn na bhFadhla I will never know."

  "That is in the past, Jarl. Let us slip away this night. If it does not work out then we can always come back. We have time until midsummer."

  Harald Black Teeth had a voice which growled and when he spoke again he sounded like a wounded bear. "We stay because Ragnar Ruriksson needs us. He has but thirty Frisians left, no Franks and one crew of Danes. Our crews are the best that he has."

  "What of those with the Jarl on the boats? There are Frisians there. I have spoken with men who say that the warriors of the skull are fearsome warriors."

  "I know not. Perhaps he and the Prince have fallen out. He rarely visits those ships. Why are they not off the beach with ours? Forget those men. We are the ones who hold the balance of power."

  "So we wait?"

  "Dragonheart will come. His son was killed. I served with his men. He and his son were close. They might have the death wish upon them. Ulfheonar are but a skin away from being berserkers."

  "Then we do wait. If Dragonheart is coming then we should be ready."

  "Yes Hermund but I like your suggestion. We will go and visit with Ulf the Squint Eyed. It does not hurt to have allies. If things do not work out for us then we raid Thorfinnson!"

  When their voices faded I risked removing my helmet and sitting up. Alf Jansson reappeared over the top of the dunes. He sat next to me and took the horn of ale proffered by Ketil. He spoke quietly out of the side of his mouth. "There are six drekar just off the beach. I spoke with a sentry. He said another six, those of the Frisians and a Dane are anchored in the estuary of the river. He knew not why. He believed the Prince, for that is what he calls himself, has some Frisians sleeping aboard his ships as he fears an attack by the Dragonheart. The sentry seemed afraid of the Jarl of the White skulls who appears to command at least one of the drekar."

  I smiled, "It is good that we inspire such fear."

  "The six which are close here do you know any?"

  He nodded, "I saw 'Eagles Heart'; it is Black Teeth's ship."

  I nodded, "He was just here. Are they close in?"

  "Two are beached. They could be refloated easily enough but at low tide, which will be soon then they will be high and dry. High tide they will float, just."

  Nodding I took the horn from him and drank some. We would steal a drekar and try to fire the others. I had an escape plan now. When we arrived I had had none.

&n
bsp; A loud voice shattered my plans. "Cnut Cnutson! I thought you sailed with the Dragonheart! It is me Olaf Twisted Lip."

  We had been recognised. "One of the men from Black Teeth's camp came over with another warrior. Our worst fears had been realised. We had to fool them. Was Cnut up to it?

  "I left him two years since. I joined a crew which raided Wessex."

  The man nodded, "It is rich pickings but dangerous. Who is your jarl now then?"

  "We have none. He drowned when our ship foundered off Corn Walum."

  When Cnut said the word, 'drowned' the warrior clutched his hammer of Thor. "That is bad luck. And you come here to seek work?"

  "We have not eaten well and we will take any work."

  Olaf Twisted Lip said, "You could do worse than join us. We could use good warriors. Even if this does not come to aught we have a certain success. Two of Thorfinn's sons have taken an island off Frankia. They have great treasure they took from the Franks. One of them is a pup and they have no walls. It will be easy."

  "We will consider that but we have yet to meet this Ragnar. I prefer to speak with a leader before I make up my mind."

  He was about to turn away when he asked, "Why did you leave the Dragonheart? Your father was one of his closest warriors."

  "Aye well he was always comparing me to my father. I am my own man. I wanted to make my own name. That is why I am now Cnut the Fearless."

  He laughed, "A better name. I will mention to the Jarl that you might consider joining us."

  "Let us speak amongst ourselves first. I would not wish to fend this Jarl."

  "As you wish but if we do not sail soon then I fear he will leave in the night! And as for meeting Prince Ragnar then you have to wait to be invited. He fears assassins and he rarely leaves his hall."

  Cnut nodded, "Then we will wait."

  Olaf Twisted Lip waved and then he and his companions headed towards the ale and the women. Cnut sat next to me. "Did I let you down? I tried to think what was best to say."