Viking Kingdom Read online

  Ragnar looked at his fellow and waved both his hands as though to calm them. “We accept your terms. Just join us when we begin our attack and share in the bounty.”

  I could see nothing wrong in that. “And the idea of a High King?”

  “We will decide that amongst ourselves and you would have no say in that.”

  “Excellent. Then I will return to Úlfarrston and you can bring me the news of who has the title and where we attack.” My men followed me and we walked to my drekar leaving five very confused kings on the island.

  We began to row back and Haaken laughed loudly, “And you told me to behave! I thought we would have a blood bath on the island.”

  Ignoring Haaken I said to Aiden, “What did you notice?”

  “It is Ragnar Hairy Breeches who is controlling them. They all looked to him when you were speaking to one of the others. King Sihtric looked ready to stick a knife in you. He looked to have a very short temper.”

  “Thank you. And you two,” I said to Haaken and Cnut, “what did you make of Magnus Bare Legs?”

  “He does not see a very bright leader but his arms were like tree trunks. He would wield a mighty sword.”

  “Thank you. That was how I saw them.”

  “What will we do?”

  “If it is in our interest then we will join them. We were going to raid anyway. As for the rest?” I shrugged, “We will take what we can and return to Cyninges-tūn. I want as little to do with them as possible.”

  When we reached Úlfarrston I signalled Rolf to join me. I explained to both him and Pasgen what was intended. “Do you trust them Jarl Dragon Heart?”

  “Of course not, Rolf. Send ‘Bear’ beyond the bend in the river. Her crew are here in case of treachery whilst we are away. She is the same size as my drekar and her crew is the most inexperienced but they are young and keen.”

  Rolf nodded and went off to give the orders. “It would not hurt to improve your defences and to lay in some supplies in case they return. When Alf and the other ship returns tell them what we are about.”

  “I still do not know why you are going with them, Jarl Dragon Heart.”

  “Ragnar, the old man who trained me told me something wise once. He said, ‘Keep your friends close but your enemies closer still’. I can watch them if I am with them. Any treachery will be aimed at me and not my people. If I did not go then I would be waiting for them to strike. This is the best way.”

  “But the most dangerous for you.”

  “This Warlord of which you speak; did he hang up his sword and enjoy peace?”

  “No, he died in battle and his son Hogan Lann became Warlord.”

  I nodded, “And so it will be with me. The difference is that my people will survive when I am gone. That will be my legacy. Take care, my friend.” I clasped his arm and whistled for Arturus who had been waiting, out of earshot.

  Once on the ship we prepared for war. The shields were hung from the sides and we donned our red eyes. I led our three ships out to sea and we waited for the others to join us. We waited an hour and then the five ships rowed up to us. Erik shouted, “Your terms are agreed. Come with us and join our other ships.”

  “Where do we raid?”

  “In Mercia along the Maeresea.”

  I waved my agreement and took position astern of Magnus Barelegs’ ship. It was bigger than mine and looked to have thirty oars on each side. ‘Wolf’ was the smallest drekar going to war but I knew I had the best crew. Each of them could out fight any other ship which sailed before us.

  Once we reached the Lune I saw the other six ships which would be completing the invasion fleet. Aiden voiced my thoughts. “We are providing the most men.”

  “Aye and it would have been even more had I not left a drekar in the river.”

  Cnut frowned, “But they will have other ships; mayhap they are up to mischief.”

  I shook my head, “The very best warriors will be with their leaders. They want us to bleed for them.”

  “And will we?”

  “No, Haaken. We are not to be the goat staked out for the wolf. We are Ulfheonar; we are the wolves!”

  We sailed down as far as the Maeresea and headed upriver. I was pleased we were the last ship for it meant I could watch how the others sailed. I also realised that we would be the closest to the sea. That might prove advantageous. As darkness fell we pulled the ships up on the banks of the muddy river. I noticed that we used the south bank. That was the one closest to Caerlleon and Ragnar Hairy-Breeches’ domain. He had a refuge close by if things went awry and it was his lands which would be expanded if we were successful. Aiden had been correct, he was the driving force behind this raid. That was confirmed when we made our camp and I was summoned to a meeting of the kings.

  I took Rolf, Haaken and Cnut with me. Thorkell commanded the camp in our absence. As before, I made sure that Aiden was close at hand.

  Ragnar greeted me as though there had been no harsh words and I was his new best friend. He enclosed me in a bear hug. “Jarl Dragon Heart I am the new High King and you are the champion who will show us how to drive these Saxons to their rat holes in the east.”

  I noticed that the others, including Erik, kept their distance. It was as though I carried the plague. “Have you a place in mind that you wish to attack?”

  Ragnar nodded, “Mammceaster. It is a town further east close to two rivers. Both of them flow into the Maeresea. If we take it then we can use it to attack the rich lands to the south in Mercia. Our ships can be protected from the town and we will have a refuge. My men and I scouted it out last autumn. It will give us a base to delve deeper into the riches of Mercia and Northumbria.”

  Surprisingly it made sense. There were rich farmlands to the south and I had not heard that the Northumbrians were building burghs. So far I could not fault Ragnar Hairy Breeches’ planning. “And when do we attack?”

  He hesitated and it was then that I knew where the treachery would come. “If you take your ships tonight then you can capture the town at dawn.”

  I heard the snort of derision from Haaken and I held my hand to silence him. “So it is my crews who will take all of the risks?”

  He smiled, “Everyone knows the skill of the Ulfheonar. Who else could have the honour?”

  I nodded and I saw the looks of surprise on the faces of the four kings. “Then we will keep all that we take. We take the risks; we take the prize.”

  Sihtric’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. He wanted to object but they had agreed to my terms. Ragnar gave a gracious bow, “Of course. That is how it should be. Those who dare take the gold.”

  “I will need a guide. One of your men who knows where the confluence of these rivers is. I do not want my ships stranded on a Saxon shore.”

  Ragnar nodded and waved forward a stocky warrior with a half mail coat. “This is Hermund the Bent. He is one of my oathsworn and knows the place well.”

  Hermund grunted. Conversation was not one of his skills. “We will sail now.”

  “We will sail at dawn and follow you.”

  I could almost see the treachery in his mind. We would fight and capture the town. When he arrived with fresh men he could, if he so wished, take it from us. I would have to ensure that he did not. As we began to row up river I said quietly to Aiden, “You stay aboard ‘Wolf’ and guard Arturus.” He nodded. I turned to Hermund. “How far along the river?”

  He shrugged. “I will tell you when you are close.” That was not helpful but it was about all that I could hope for.

  As he rowed Haaken said, “How big is this town?”

  He shrugged again, “As big as your town on the coast.”

  Haaken turned to Cnut and said, “They should have called him Hermund the Shrugger and not Hermund the Bent.” Hermund frowned and Haaken laughed, “If you do not like it little man we can settle it when we have captured this town.” Hermund smiled and nodded. I would put my money on Haaken. He was one of the fastest with a blade in all of the Ulfheo
nar.

  Chapter 24

  We had sailed some ten miles or so up river and it was narrowing alarmingly when Hermund said, “It is close.”

  I signalled to Rolf in ‘Man’ to slow down. Cnut slowed down our oars. Suddenly the river widened as another river joined it. Hermund pointed up the other river. “It is up there.”

  “How far? Can we sail any closer?”

  “It is not far. A mile, perhaps two.”

  That made the decision for me. Here we had room to turn the ships around and space to anchor. We pulled in to the shore. If Mammceaster was as big as Úlfarrston then I would not need three boat crews. I would rely on the skill of the Ulfheonar and Rolf. Asbjorn Word Master could keep his crew to watch all the boats and prevent treachery.

  I gathered my men on the shore and told Asbjorn Word Master to spread his men out in all three drekar. Hermund frowned. “You will not take all your men?”

  I realised then that my guess had been correct. “If what you said is true then I will not need them. You did not speak a lie did you?”

  He shrugged again and Haaken rolled his eye, “No, but if you bring the warriors then why not use them?”

  Haaken answered coldly, “For we are Ulfheonar and we do not need extra warriors. Jarl Dragon Heart does not need a second boat to take one Saxon town.”

  Hermund did not look as confident as we walked alongside the small river. Snorri, Beorn and Erik Dog Bite were scouting and they would easily find the town. I did not need Hermund but I would not let him out of my sight. He pointed up ahead and I put my finger to my lips.

  Erik Dog Bite ghosted into view and whispered, “The town is ahead. They have no guards but there are dogs.”

  “How many huts?”

  “Two halls and twenty huts.”

  That meant that there could be fifty or sixty men in the town. If half of them were warriors then this might not be difficult. I turned to Haaken. “Take the Ulfheonar and get around the other side. We will drive them again.” It was a tactic we had often used and it rarely failed.

  The Ulfheonar disappeared into the dark. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east and I knew that the town would soon be coming to life. It was a dog which alerted them. Hermund was not as silent as my men and he had a rank smell about him which had grown more pungent as the night wore on. I knew that the dogs would smell him first. As soon as the dog barked then all need for silence was gone. We were almost inside the settlement anyway. With no gate to speak of we had no obstacles before us. Rolf and his men raced into the town. They split up into groups and ran to the huts. This would be easy.

  Suddenly the doors of the two halls opened and warriors poured out. There were many more than sixty. It was a trap. I shouted, “Shield wall.” As Rolf and his men formed up around me I yelled, at the top of my voice, “Ulfheonar!” There would be no refugees fleeing into Haaken’s hands. They would have to save us. I looked around and saw that Hermund had fled. I knew not if he was aware of the trap or he was just a coward but there would be a reckoning.

  I drew Ragnar’s Spirit as the Saxons raced towards us. I had forty men with me and Haaken led fifteen Ulfheonar. We would be outnumbered. I knew not how many villagers there were but there were at least sixty warriors racing towards us. Perhaps they expected us to flee; I know not why but they seemed to think that they would roll over us.

  The ones in mail came directly for me. My wolf shield and helmet marked me out clearly as Jarl Dragon Heart. I had Rolf on one side with Ham the Silent and Erik the Redhead. On the other side was Windar’s brother, Lars the Grim. He had a full mail shirt and a mighty sword. The five of us would anchor the middle of the line.

  The Saxons liked to use spears. They worked well against weaker foes and poor shields. We were neither and the warrior who stabbed at me was surprised when his spear slid down my shield and stuck in the wood of Lars’. I thrust forward with my sword and pierced his neck above his mail shirt. I twisted as I pulled and was rewarded with a shower of bright blood. The warrior next to him tried to stab me above my shield. Lars lifted his own shield and the shaft of the dead warrior’s spear cracked again the man’s chin. He looked surprised until Lars split his head in two.

  Although the five of us were holding our own the ones around us were being forced back. I used it our advantage. “Wedge!” There was a gap before me and I stepped into it and skewered the next warrior who was not expecting the blow. We now had a proper wedge and I yelled, “Forward!”

  They were not expecting us to attack. Vikings liked to fight as individuals. I had learned that we were more powerful if we fought as a band. I stepped over the dead man and swung Ragnar’s Spirit overhand. The warrior before me put his shield up to fend off the blow. He had no metal on the edge and it was poorly made. My sword sliced it in two and the arm which held it. The joy of battle was upon me. I swung Ragnar’s Spirit before me and none could stand in my way. The euphoria of the enemy had evaporated like a morning mist. They had thought to fall upon a band of warriors and make them flee. We had done nothing of the sort. We had stood and we had fought back.

  When Haaken and the Ulfheonar fell upon the rear of their lines it was they who tried to flee but there was nowhere for them to run. My wedge became a circle of iron and we fought our way through them until they were all gone.

  As I stood there panting and dripping the blood of my enemies I looked around for Hermund. He was nowhere to be seen. “Snorri and Beorn, find Hermund and bring him to me. Rolf have your men collect any treasure and Haaken, despatch the wounded.”

  I turned and walked back to the scene of the first fight. I took off my helmet. The cool morning air felt good. The sun was just rising and showed me a sad sight. Fifteen of my warriors lay dead and dying. They were good men. What had killed them? Had it been my arrogance or had we been led into a trap. I would find out.

  “Jarl Dragon Heart,” I looked down and saw Harald Bagsecgson, Bjorn’s second brother. He had been gutted and his entrails lay before him. He still held his sword. “Please send me to Valhalla and tell my brother I kept my oath.”

  I nodded, “And your sword?”

  “Give it to my son. I would have him follow the Dragon Heart.”

  I stood and unsheathed my sword, “Go to your father and wait for us.” Standing behind him I plunged it into his neck killing him instantly. I took the sword from his dead fingers and replaced it in his sheath. I put the sword and belt around my shoulders. Rolf and his men gathered the slaves together. They were terrified. I saw a whitebeard and I beckoned him over.

  “You were expecting us?”

  He nodded, “We were raided last month by Vikings such as you. We beat you off but the king sent some of his warriors in case you returned again.”

  “When did the king send the warriors?”

  “Just after the new moon.”

  That was ten days ago. “Did you see any such as us after that?”

  “Aye, two days after.”

  I nodded, “Rolf, let this man and his family go.”I turned to the whitebeard. “Which is your family?” Two women and three small children ran to him. “You may go. Jarl Dragon Heart rewards those who help him.” The older woman, the greybeard’s wife, kissed my hand. “Go mother and find a new life.”

  The warriors began to head back down the river to the ship. Haaken and the Ulfheonar kept watch. I heard a scuffle and saw Snorri and Beorn dragging a bleeding Hermund. “Why do you bind me? I have done nothing wrong.”

  “Hold him here. Rolf, load ‘Ran’ and put the wounded warriors as well as the older warriors on board as crew. Do not answer any of Ragnar’s questions.” I waited until all the slaves had been moved and there were just the Ulfheonar surrounding the warrior.

  I drew my seax and placed it between his legs. “Why did you run?”

  He said nothing and I ripped the knife to tear his breeks. “You know you will tell what I want to know. The question is how much pain will it take and which parts will I remove? Why did you run?”
My seax was razor sharp and I applied a little more pressure as I sliced a second time. He winced and the seax came away bloody.

  “You knew there were warriors waiting did you not?” I barely moved the seax and he nodded vigorously. “Ragnar knew too did he not?” Again he nodded.

  I turned to Haaken, “Now why would Ragnar send me to a defended village without warning me?” I whipped around and put the seax so that the tip was a thumb’s width from his right eye. “What were your orders?”

  I saw a puddle appear between his legs. I cocked my head to one side and nodded. The words poured from him. “I was to wait until you were attacked and then return to Ragnar and tell him.”

  “He thought we would all be killed.” Another nod told me that I was on the right track. “And any who survived would be killed by his men?” A last nod. I smiled. “You have been true to your master.” I turned to Snorri, “Give him his sword.”

  There was clear relief on the man’s face. “Haaken you and Hermund here had something to decide did you not?”

  Haaken grinned as he unsheathed his sword. “Aye Dragon Heart.”

  “But I told you what you wanted to know.”

  “This is nothing to do with me. Haaken and you need to settle your differences… or would you rather just have your throat slit?” I pointed my seax to the skies. “At least this way you have a chance of going to Valhalla; a slim one but a chance none the less.”

  Haaken handed his shield to Cnut and approached Hermund. The outcome was never in doubt. Hermund was a blow hard. He was not a true warrior as Haaken was. It took three blows and it was over. We took Hermund’s weapons and left him for the crows and magpies which were gathering in the trees.

  We marched down the trail. “Will you confront Ragnar?”

  “There is little point for he will deny it. No, we will say that Hermund died in the fighting. Ragnar will not believe it but he will not be able to disprove it.”

  “What if he decides to attack us?”

  I laughed, “Then we will kill them all and go home.”

  “We could just go home anyway. Why fight for someone else?”