Viking Witch (Dragonheart Book 15) Read online

  “Do we risk it?”

  Haaken said, “I am cold and I say yes. There is one farm. Unless it holds a warband I say we ask. It is made of turf. They may be our people.”

  Beorn shook his head, “I spoke with the other scouts. They left us at the point where there were none of our clan further east.”

  “We will try them.”

  A dog began to bark as we approached. A woman and a youth came out of the hut with a snarling dog. The youth had a bow.

  “Keep your hands from your weapons.” I sensed a movement to my right and saw, a hundred paces away, a hunter with two more hounds. He hurried towards us. We reined in thirty paces from the woman and the youth. I saw that the woman had a pagan token around her neck. They were not Saxons. The youth kept the hunting bow aimed at me. None of us wore helmets and our hands were in plain sight. I said nothing but the youth eventually lowered his bow. I smiled.

  The hunter spoke, “What are Vikings doing here in the middle of winter? Do you hunt slaves?”

  He spoke in Danish. “No, friend. We are travellers heading for Caer Ufra and we seek shelter for the night. We can pay for food and a roof.”

  He reached up with his arm and shook his head, “You are travellers and you come in peace. It is our duty to offer you a roof although I fear we have no stable for your horses.”

  “They are hardy beasts.” I took his arm and then dismounted. “I am Jarl Dragonheart of Cyninges-tūn.”

  He nodded, “I thought I recognised the sword. I am Carr the Hunter. That is my wife Ase and the angry looking youth with the bow is Cuyler.” He shook his head. “Put the bow away, son. These are now our guests. We are honoured to have the one whose sword was touched by the gods under our roof. Tonight, we will have a fine tale to enliven our supper.” He held up two hares.

  After we had unsaddled our horses, fed and watered them, we hobbled them and tied them in the lee of the farm. The trees afforded some protection. By the time we went indoors the hares had been skinned and gutted. The dogs greedily devoured the offal. Ase, the hunter’s wife, said, apologetically, “We only have four horns for the ale.”

  Her husband frowned but Haaken flourished two from his leather bag. “We come prepared gammer. We each have our own horn and I look forward to the nectar you have made.”

  I shook my head, “Haaken One Eye is something of a poet as well as a warrior. He makes most things sound flowery.”

  “I have heard of you too, Haaken One Eye. Is there not a story of how you and the Dragonheart stood back to back and saved a whole village?”

  Haaken nodded, “That is one of our stories. I will tell the others after we have eaten. It will pay for our supper.”

  The food was warming and well-cooked and the ale better than we might have expected. During the meal, we learned more about this solitary family.

  “I came here thirty years since with Guthrum the Wild. I was younger then and enjoyed the life of a Viking. We came from Hedeby and liked the country. Then I tired of the wild ways of my comrades and when Guthrum was slain by the Saxons close by Hwitebi I left with my brother Cuyler and we farmed north of the Saxon town of Eoforwic. It was where I met Ase. Some wild Danes wearing skulls in their hair had captured her and enslaved her. We came upon them in the forests. She was with her sister and her sister’s son. My brother was a reckless sort. Instead of seeking to buy them he charged in. I was honour bound to follow. We slew the five of them but my brother was so badly wounded that he died.”

  “Did you know the Danes?”

  He shook his head. “This was twelve years since. There were many bands each seeking slaves and treasure.”

  “What happened to your wife’s sister?”

  “She did not want the wild woods as her home. I took her and her son to Eoforwic. We left them there and sought a new home far from those Danes who had captured them. We tried the vales by the big river to the south but there were too many Saxons who resented us. We settled here when my son was but four. It suits us. You are the first visitors we have seen in a year.”

  “Is it not lonely?”

  “We journey, four times a year, to Eoforwic to see her sister and nephew. They have an inn by the river. She has done well. Her son is a strapping man now and he keeps his mother safe. They asked us if we wished to stay there but I like the life of a hunter.”

  As he spoke I saw that our steps had been guided here. “We intend to go to Eoforwic ourselves, Carr. We seek information about a band of Danes who wear skulls about their heads. I think they are called Skull Takers.”

  He looked up. “I know of the clan. They were the ones who took my wife or some of them were, at least. We had heard of them before we crossed the sea. They made even Guthrum the Wild fear them for they are ruled by witches with powerful magic. They are a close-knit clan. To become a warrior, you have to slay a foe and eat that which is in their skull.”

  I shook my head, “But why?”

  “They believe it gives them powers and they are guided by their witches.”

  “Witches?”

  “The clan is ruled not by a warrior but five witches. Each time one dies they replace her with a younger one. But they are choosy. The witch must be as powerful as the one she replaces. I can face a wild warrior but not a witch. I am pleased that I never came across them. I did not know that they had come to the land of the Saxons.”

  I nodded, “We fought them along the valley of the Dunum. I had thought I had slain their leader, Eggle Skulltaker, it seems I was wrong.”

  “Beware these witches, Jarl.”

  “I just need to find out their intentions. I dreamed of them in the cave of Myrddyn.”

  I saw him clutch Thor’s hammer, “You are a dreamer and Ulfheonar?”

  “I dream.” I felt uncomfortable talking about my dreams and I changed the subject. “What is the name of your sister and her son? If we reach Eoforwic I would speak with her.”

  “Agnete and her son is Aksel. Their inn has a saddle outside.”

  “A saddle?”

  He smiled, “It was not their choice. They worked for the owner before he died and he left it to them. It had been called the Saddle since the time of the Romans. They thought it bad luck to change it.”

  “Thank you.” I looked over at Haaken, “I can see you are bursting to tell a tale. Which one will you give?”

  “I think the story of the sword would be most appropriate.”

  The storm was wild and the gods did roam

  The enemy closed on the Prince's home

  Two warriors stood on a lonely tower

  Watching, waiting for hour on hour.

  The storm came hard and Odin spoke

  With a lightning bolt the sword he smote

  Ragnar's Spirit burned hot that night

  It glowed, a beacon shiny and bright

  The two they stood against the foe

  They were alone, nowhere to go

  They fought in blood on a darkened hill

  Dragon Heart and Cnut will save us still

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  The storm was wild and the Gods did roam

  The enemy closed on the Prince's home

  Two warriors stood on a lonely tower

  Watching, waiting for hour on hour.

  The storm came hard and Odin spoke

  With a lightning bolt the sword he smote

  Ragnar's Spirit burned hot that night

  It glowed, a beacon shiny and bright

  The two they stood against the foe

  They were alone, nowhere to go

  They fought in blood on a darkened hill

  Dragon Heart and Cnut will save us still

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar

  For the first time since we had entered the farm I saw Cuyler smile, “Could I hear that again?” Haaken nodded and drank some ale to clear his throat. Cuyler looked at me. “
Is that the sword, Jarl?”

  “It is.”

  “May I hold it while Haaken One Eye sings it again?”

  Carr looked appalled. “Cuyler!”

  I smiled, “Of course you can. But beware the blade. It is sharp.”

  I handed him the sword in its scabbard and he caressed it as though it was a woman. Haaken gave us a second rendition and Cuyler handed the sword back at the end. “It is truly magical, father. I felt the power course through my body. You are lucky, Jarl Dragonheart.”

  Carr came over to me and said, quietly, “That was kindly done. My son rarely smiles nor does he get to meet people. It is good that you came.”

  “Aye, Carr, it is wyrd.”

  Chapter 3

  Caer Ufra sounded like a hill fort to me. When we reached it at sunset against a darkening sky I saw that it was not a hill fort after all. It stood on a headland and it was a fort but it was a Roman one with a Saxon hall in the middle of it. They had not done as Ketil had done and repaired the walls; they had just repaired the gate on the western side. There were sentries at the gates, huddled around braziers. The snow was neither deep nor widespread as we neared the coast but the wind still cut through our cloaks like a knife. We were allies of the men of Northumbria but they were wary and the guards was alerted as we closed with the royal palace.

  My shield, which hung from the saddle of my spare horse, was recognised and I heard a shout which resulted in the gates opening. A mailed warrior came half way down the stairs which led from the gate house, “The prince is in the warrior hall, Jarl Dragonheart.”

  This time there would be stables for our horses. Leaving Beorn the Scout and the two younger Ulfheonar to see to our mounts Haaken and I dismounted and entered the hall. The Chamberlain said, “I must ask for your weapons.” He shrugged apologetically, “All who enter must comply, Jarl.”

  I nodded, “Then watch over this with your life, Chamberlain, for this sword is Ragnar’s Spirit and was touched by the gods.”

  He lifted it gingerly as though it would burn him. “I swear I shall guard it with my life.”

  The hall was lit by a few burning rushes and a large fire in the centre. There was no chimney and the roof was filled with thick smoke which hung like a fog over our heads. It would eventually seep out. It kept the wild life at bay but it left an acrid taste in the back of the mouth.

  Prince Athelstan saw us and lurched over. He had been drinking and I saw that his face was flushed. He was older now than when we had first met but he was still a young man. Wolf Killer would have been of an age with him, had he lived.

  “Jarl Dragonheart! This is an unexpected pleasure.” He suddenly frowned, “It does not presage trouble, does it? The alliance still holds?”

  I smiled and held out my arm for him to clasp,” The alliance holds. I come here to seek knowledge but that can wait until the morning. Are we too late for the feast?”

  He laughed, “No, Jarl. We have spent the day hunting seals in the river mouth. We are celebrating.”

  Haaken asked, “Is there honour in hunting seals? We just take them for their meat and their oil.”

  Athelstan nodded, “As do we but my men needed some diversion. We hunted them with a seax!” He proffered his arm. I saw teeth marks. “The beasts did not die easily. Tonight, we eat their flesh!”

  Inwardly I groaned. I was not fond of the taste but I smiled, “Thank you Prince Athelstan! We shall try to do them justice.” I gestured to the door where the other three had just entered, “There are just five of us.”

  “We slaughtered many! There is food aplenty and the ale is particularly good!”

  It would do no good to interrogate the prince for he was not coherent. Instead we feasted with them. I did not drink as much as the others. That was mainly because I was not enjoying the food. It gave me the opportunity to observe the Saxons at close quarters. I had rarely had the chance to do so. Normally I would have been fighting them. I realised that they had much in common with my men. Although most were Christian they still had the same stories and legends which we did. Their swords were the equal of ours. I had long discussions with the Saxons around the prince’s table about my sword. They were also as loyal to their leaders as were my men.

  The main differences lay in what they had become. Since becoming Christian the art of war was seen as sinful. Some of the older warriors bemoaned the fact that their priests only encouraged them to fight pagans. King Egbert of Wessex would walk through this land; he paid lip service to the White Christ. It served his purpose. He was a greater enemy than we were. During my conversations with the Saxon thegns, however, I detected an unease about the Danes. Although King Eanred, through his son, had recovered Eoforwic there were still bands of Danes who caused trouble in the isolated parts of the land of the Northumbrians. It was a large land and only their burghs were secure. Even before I spoke with the prince I knew that I had done the right thing by coming east.

  I woke before the others and, after picking up my sword, went to the beach. I stared east beyond the sea. There lay the land of the Norse. It was the land to which I had been taken as a slave all those years ago. It was many years since I had been taken to the land of the Norse as a Saxon slave. It was there I had been moulded into a warrior by Ragnar, Prince Buthar’s father. Many things had happened since then but I still remembered those days above the fjord in that tiny hut where I had lived and served the half blind old cripple. Each time I drew my sword he was there with me and I would never forget him. I put my hand on the hilt of my sword. When Cuyler had felt its power, it had reminded me of when I had felt that power. For me it was in the heat of battle. Even as I held it I sensed the power within.

  I heard movement behind me and I whirled, the sword in my hand in an instant. I saw a surprised Prince Athelstan, “I am sorry jarl. I did not mean to startle you.”

  I sheathed the sword, “I am sorry Prince Athelstan but I have many enemies. Assassins have tried to kill me many times.”

  “You have quick hands. That must come from always fighting. We do not fight as much as your people. Men like my father sit behind their walls contentedly. They do not realise that we could lose what we hold unless we are willing to fight for it.” He joined me at the water’s edge. “My people came from beyond this sea but that was so many generations since that I remember it not.”

  “As did mine but I also have the blood of the isles in my veins.”

  “And yet you are a Viking.”

  “It is not your blood that makes you a Viking it is something here,” I tapped my heart.

  “So, you wish to know about Danes?”

  “I had a dream in which Danes wearing skulls attacked us.”

  “You believe in such dreams? The church frowns upon them.”

  I nodded, “I know and yet they have often saved us. The problem is that they are vague and ethereal like the morning mist. They are there but they do not give times or numbers. They let us men seek out those answers. I know that that there is a clan which takes skulls and I have learned that they are ruled by a coven of witches. I had thought that we had destroyed them but I was wrong. It was only some of their warriors who perished.”

  “Then I can tell you that we have heard of these skull takers. They do not live close by here. They would have been destroyed by me had I found them. They do not appear to have large numbers and are almost a legend. I thought they were something to frighten Saxon children. A little like the wolves from the west. I am afraid your visit has not been worthwhile.”

  “I would not say that and besides, it is not over yet. We would visit Eoforwic. There are still Danes there and even a rumour might help us.”

  “What would you have of me?”

  “A letter to allow us entry to that city.”

  “I can do better. I will send two of my thegns there. They have to speak with the leader of my garrison in that burgh anyway.”

  “Then this makes our alliance stronger.”

  “We may have need of this al
liance sooner rather than later, Jarl for we have heard that Wessex’s ambitions do not stop with Mercia. He casts his greedy eye north. Now that he has almost subjugated Mercia and Corn Walum he seeks to be High King!”

  “Egbert is an old enemy of ours. If he came north, then we would fight him anyway but we will serve alongside you if he does come. Tell your father that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”

  “I fear that my father would make peace with Wessex.”

  “You do not make peace with such a predator. He may smile and hold out the hand of friendship but beware; in his other he will hold a knife.”

  “Aye I know. I am grateful for your friendship. I am training men in much the same way that you do. When I call out the fyrd my thegns will lead a well-trained army. If Egbert of Wessex comes he will find a stiffer test of his warriors than he expects.”

  I hoped he was right but I had fought Egbert. I did not like him but I respected his skills as a general.

  We left the next day with Alfred and Asser. They were young thegns and warriors. The Saxons called their jarls, thegns and they each led a warband. Their warbands were at home. The two nobles had been enjoying the pleasures of the palace. Their homes were at Stamford and Fulford. As they were returning home the prince was using them to deliver his letters. It suited us all to travel together. In truth, they were pleasant company. Rollo and Rolf got on well with them. Their presence assured us of an easy entrance to that burgh and ensure we were accorded honour within the walls. Once through the gates we bade farewell to them as we headed for the Saddle and Ase’s sister.

  We saw the saddle hanging from a hook and knew we had found the right place. We were close to it when the door burst open and a Dane was hurled to the street. He was followed by a second and then a giant appeared in the doorway, “If you have no money then no ale! When you bring what you owe then you can have your swords. Until then, stay out!”

  Haaken said, wryly, “I am guessing that the giant is Aksel!”