Banners of the Northmen (3 page)

"He was awake all morning. You were late in returning." Runa shunted Hakon higher on her shoulder, then flashed the playful smile he had long missed.

"And we will be up late reuniting, that's a promise."

"Did you bring back great treasure, Father?" Gunnar interrupted them, standing on his toes to check on his younger brother.

"Of course," Ulfrik said, his voice so full with false confidence that Runa frowned at him. "Look at the docks. Men are unloading their treasures now."

Clusters of hugging families milled and clumped before the two ships. The captured ship bobbed next to
Raven's Talon
, where crewmen stowed the sail while others threw the few sacks of treasure onto the beach. Toki supervised the work as he had no one to greet him, his wife, Halla, still in the north with her mother. As Ulfrik and Runa watched, Toki tugged the slave Humbert to his feet and directed him onto the dock.

"Who's that?" Runa asked, her voice tightening.

"A slave we found, probably a Frankish priest or skald, definitely not a worker or warrior." Ulfrik did not look at Runa, but studied Humbert's clumsy fall over the rails to the dock. Landing in front of a crewman securing the ship, Humbert received a derisive kick before he could regain his feet. Ulfrik winced.

"What you do when you're
a-viking
is your concern," she said, forcing evenness into her tone. "But I've told you not to take slaves into our home."

"He was already a slave when we found him."

"Don't twist words, Ulfrik. You know my meaning."

"I do, but, well, we probably shouldn't discuss this out here with everyone around."

"No one is listening to us; they're all wrapped up with family. What you want to tell me is that you didn't find the king's ransom you hoped for."

Ulfrik's vision skipped from the warm scene of reuniting families, landing on the far horizon. It tugged at his heart, beckoning him to sail to it and discover greatness and honor, a new land with opportunity. Yet he felt Runa's eyes on him, drawing his thoughts back to the far-flung island of grass he called home.

"No, we did not find what we were promised."

Their eyes remained locked above the head of their son. His head tilted in challenge, daring her to berate him for the danger and expense of the raid. Whatever showed in his eyes caused hers to falter. Instead she sighed and stroked Gunnar's head. "But you found something at least, and captured a ship. Most important is you have returned unharmed."

"Unharmed but no better off." Ulfrik nodded at Humbert as Toki led him over. "If I can find out where he's from, I'll ransom him back, and if I can't ..."

Runa gave a curt nod, but the flash of her dark eyes told Ulfrik the matter had not been settled. She understood slavery and its place in the world. Some men were born to it and could know nothing more. But she had long ago made it clear to Ulfrik she disapproved of his reducing freemen to slavery, as had been inflicted on her. Ulfrik had hoped since Humbert was an old man and a foreigner he would elicit less empathy from her.

Toki arrived with Humbert in tow. For a moment he forgot the slave and knelt to embrace Gunnar, who ran to him with a shout of excitement. Laughing with Gunnar clinging to his side, he held his arm out for Runa to slip beneath for a welcoming hug. He ruffled Hakon's hair, eliciting an irritated protest which Toki laughed off. Ulfrik studied Humbert's reaction. He clutched his cloak tight as his narrow head scanned the scene, undisguised disgust and disdain wrinkled his face. Ulfrik chuckled at the irony of the woman who he regarded with such repulsion would rather set him free than sell him.

"So we're back, and with an extra empty stomach." Toki pointed with his chin at Humbert. "Where does he go? Lock him up?"

"He'll serve us in the hall. He can grab a corner of it for himself. Just make sure he doesn't handle any knives when my family is there. Do you understand me, Humbert?"

His dark eyes snapped to Ulfrik's with a hint of annoyance, but then he smiled. "Master Alfuk sends Humbert to the hall, no?"

"Ulfrik," he repeated his name clearly, even as Gunnar snickered. "If you get one word right, make it my name. Toki will show you to your new home. Later we talk about a ransom for you."

Humbert's brows stitched together as if confused, but Ulfrik wanted him out of the way. "You'll understand soon enough. Take him, Toki."

With Humbert gone, Runa placed her hand on Ulfrik's shoulder. "He's a Christian priest, no doubt. Same arrogance of the Irish monks or my dear common-law sister."

"Whatever he is, he's probably the best I got out of this whole raid. The silver will be divided out, but I keep the ship and him. He'd better be worth something."

He watched the priest stagger after Toki, his red wool cloak dragging wearily behind him. Runa sniffed.

"His eyes are unkind," she said. "He'll not be worth the trouble he will bring us."

Seated with Ulfrik at the high table, Snorri scratched his stomach beneath his shirt one more time. Ulfrik watched his old friend pick and rake, frown, then scratch again. Ulfrik laughed, looked around at Einar seated to his left and several other men dotted throughout the low light of the hall. A guttering hearth fire threw deep shadows into the creases of Ulfrik's smile.

"You'll rip a hole in your gut if you keep at it," he said, drawing chuckles from the gathered men. Snorri looked up bemused.

"It's nothing; just no one to clean my clothes since Gerdie passed last winter. These filthy clothes itch me all day."

He patted off his stomach and adjusted his shirt while Ulfrik's smile faded. The last three winters had been brutal, killing the old and weak. Mention of Gerdie's death clouded the mood, but Snorri displayed none of his usual tact. Age had roughened his polish.

"Yeah, she was a fine woman, and I miss her every day. It's Fate, after all. I'm not complaining, but wish we had more years together. My bed's so cold now. Tough winters."

Ulfrik drew his mug across the table and drained the last of the summer mead into his mouth. Finishing the summer brew had been the purpose of the gathering. Snorri's comments left the hall darker and quieter, each man reflecting on their losses.

Three nights had passed since returning from the raid. His crew still lingered at the hall before returning to their farms, only a fraction regularly quartered at the barracks as a standing guard. Most of them had returned wealthier than when they had left, but not enough to justify the risk to their lives. Ulfrik watched them now, in pairs or small groups muttering in low voices. Thrand had taken his drink and left early, to Ulfrik's relief. His drunken ravings had become increasingly intolerable.

Winters had turned harsh in recent years, and everyone counted losses in their families. Runa had delivered a daughter, a golden-haired child they called Brida. But the infant fell ill and died in her first winter. Halla had given Toki two sons, both dead within months of birth. Snorri's wife had not passed from the world alone.

A sudden movement broke Ulfrik's moody ruminations. Someone had dragged Humbert from his corner at the back of the hall, yelling at him to serve the high table. Humbert fell away, shot a deathly glare at the man, then approached the high table. Slavery did not sit well with him, and he did nothing unless forced. Now he reluctantly stood before Ulfrik, a sour expression demonstrating his distaste.

"The master needs Humbert?"

"I didn't call for you," Ulfrik said, sitting up straighter on his bench. "I think we're just sick of watching you relax all day. You need to be kissing my feet so I don't decide to make you tend flocks or harvest hay. Work in the hall is easy, but you won't even do that much."

Humbert's scowl softened and he tightened his cloak around his neck.

"Since we're all gathered, let's talk about Humbert's ransom." Ulfrik banged the table, earning the attention of his men. "Come up here and let's hear what this slave can get us."

Humbert's head tossed about, eyes wide and brows raised. Ulfrik laughed, letting the arrogant man suffer a moment's confusion. Toki joined him at the high table, slapping Ulfrik's shoulder as he sat. Others resettled closer to Humbert as Ulfrik gestured to him.

"You're a terrible slave, Humbert. You're a waste of my food and mead, and a stinking bed for lice in my hall. I'd like you better if you were a woman, and about thirty years younger." Chuckles followed and Humbert's face reddened. "So I want to get rid of you. I can sell your hide at the slave market in Dublin. But the journey would cost me more than your ancient body will earn. So tell me where I can ransom you."

Ulfrik stared into Humbert's eyes, prepared to judge his next words carefully.

"Ransom is not possible for poor old Humbert." He bowed his head, picking at the hem of his cloak.

"You're a Christian priest or a rich man, both the same as far as I know. Someone must want you back. Tell me where I can ransom you. Don't tell me it's not possible."

Humbert shook his head again. Snorri leaned forward on the table, peering through slitted eyes.

"He's a fucking liar," he announced. "Listen, slave, your eyes betray you. Look at me and tell me you can't be ransomed. Look at me!"

Humbert jumped and Ulfrik smiled at the spark of the old Snorri he remembered. Hesitantly meeting Snorri's gaze, Humbert explained himself.

"I am a priest; God forgive me for hiding it. But it is true, Humbert cannot be ransomed. Humbert is a wanted man now."

Ulfrik exchanged glances with Snorri and Toki. The deepening shadows of the dying hearth fire lent a graveness to the statement, as if the darkness conspired to hide Humbert's secret.

"Wanted is good," Toki said. "We ransom him back to whoever is after him."

"No!" Humbert's hands flew out to implore Ulfrik. "No! Humbert's from a faraway place where Northman cannot go."

The hall erupted with laughter; Humbert spun around to wave down their laughter.

"Humbert is true. Can the Northman enter Paris? That is Humbert's home, where the bishop is Humbert's enemy. He sold Humbert to the Northman so that they will take him far away and never return. The bishop will not want Humbert back, will not pay gold to see Humbert again."

His outburst silenced the men. Ulfrik folded his arms and studied the slave, who quivered and shrunk as if expecting a blow. His bearing, however frightened he appeared, belied something else, another layer to his tale not yet revealed.

"And so your story to me is you are worthless? Well, I guess I was wrong about you. There's another way you can serve me. Winter is coming and the gods have been cruel to us these years. Since you can't bring us gold, then you can bring us favor with the gods."

Humbert grew still, his hands slowly dropping to his sides. Ulfrik relished knocking down the slave's arrogance.

"Men, secure him. At dawn we will strangle him in Odin's name by the sacred stone."

Without delay, the two closest men seized him with wicked delight. Humbert howled as if already in his death throes.

"Wait! I have a secret! Let me tell you about the gold!" Thrashing between the two laughing men, he pleaded to Ulfrik.

"Hold on, then. You have a secret? What a surprise." Ulfrik smiled at Snorri, who returned a satisfied wink.

"Yes, Humbert knows the bishop's secret treasure." He glanced around the room, nodding and eyes full of hope. "This is why the bishop betrayed Humbert. Because I caught the bishop taking heathen gold, late in the night from foreign men who want to control the bishop. He took ancient gold to make himself rich and hid it where Humbert knows. The bishop learned I discovered him. He cannot kill Humbert, not with his own hand, for God would call it a great sin to kill a priest. So he tricked Humbert with a promise to share the gold."

The men holding Humbert let him go as he gained confidence in his tale. His face fattened with delight and Ulfrik leaned forward in interest.

"He put a sack on Humbert's head." He mimicked a sack drawn over an imaginary head. "Then he hit Humbert and tied me down. To the Northmen I was given, and was made a slave for so long. Humbert does not know how long."

He surveyed the now attentive group, his mouth bent in solemn despair.

"Nice story," Ulfrik said, arms still folded and head leaned back. "But how is this helping your situation?"

"Because Humbert can show you the gold." His tone implied the words, "you fool," and his eyes flashed irritation. "You take Humbert to Paris and help me get revenge. Humbert shows you the hidden treasure. Understand?"

"I thought Northmen can't enter Paris?" Ulfrik stood, shaking his head. "You're just delaying for your life. You go to Odin at dawn."

"No! It is true!" Humbert crashed to his knees. "Humbert knows the secret ways, the ways to the abbey and the bishop. If Humbert lies, you can kill me there. Please, believe me."

Tears began to stream from his eyes and his lips quavered as he folded his hands. Ulfrik regarded him. The tale might be genuine, but the conniving of the Christian priests was famous. He could no longer verify it with Humbert's former owners, all long dead. He also did not have much heart for human sacrifice, believing instead the gods valued lives of strong men slain in fair combat over wormy slaves throttled while bound. His tongue prodded his cheek as Humbert whimpered at his feet. Eyes fell on him for a decision.

"Stop crying and stand like a man. I'll consider your story. In the meantime, be a better slave or I'll forget about Paris and your ancient gold."

Humbert stood, wiping away tears with the back of his arm. "You will not regret helping Humbert."

Ulfrik wanted to laugh, but in the dark places of Humbert's eyes he glimpsed a coldness that instead made him turn in disgust.

CHAPTER THREE

Down the slope and across the indigo dark fields, the golden lights of Nye Grenner's hall blinked. A cool breeze swished the grass in waves hardly visible in the half-light of night. Thrand leaned in the doorway of his house, a horn of dark beer in his trembling hand. The faintest traces of laughter reached him, causing his frown to deepen. A sheep bumped him from behind, the dumb animal wandering to the open door. He goaded it back inside with his foot to rejoin the six other sheep crowded into his home. With winter approaching, he needed their warmth indoors.