Viking Raid (13 page)

"It could be my son that they wish to emulate you or even me and achieve glory for themselves. We all know that warriors wish to have a name and to be remembered."

"You do right to chide me, however subtly."

I hid my smile. My son was changing. His wife was having an effect.

"Should I forego my trading voyage?"

"No, Sven has warriors and I am sure there are some of mine who will wish to have the chance to serve. I am anxious to make our new alliance stronger. The more we can trade with Vasconia and Amalfi the better. Dyfed is a good ally and is a barrier to Mercia but we gain more from our distant allies.  Aiden has learned much and his knowledge makes us stronger here.  We need brains as well as muscle."

When I returned to my home I was surprised that none of my warriors wished to journey north. I took it as a slight until Haaken came to me when I was in my sweat hut. "I have served with you longer than any other warrior, Jarl Dragon Heart and yet, sometimes, you surprise even me."

"What do you mean?"

"Those men at Thorkell Stad who left would not have left if they had been here.  You give the young men a chance of glory.  You show them an adventure and you give them someone they all want to be, Dragon Heart. Even Magnus the Foresworn is a testament to you.  He was foresworn because he wanted the short way to become a hero. Our young warriors will flock to sail with us until we both die.  Of course my tales and my songs help."

I smiled, Haaken could make fun of himself.  He posed a great deal and he was full of his own importance but beneath it all the truest warrior a jarl could wish for.

I went to the new hall Aiden was building. He had managed to find a way of wasting slightly less blocks but I could see he was annoyed with himself. "I should have studied more when we went to Miklagård."

"Perhaps when we visit Italy you could travel to Rome. They have books there."

He nodded, "That may be but the barbarians damaged much."

I smiled, "Some, perhaps all, would call us barbarians."

"Then we will have to change that view eh Jarl Dragon Heart?"

My son left at the height of summer.  I did not envy him the Blue Sea at that time of year.  He had a full crew and the three knarr were well laden. Siggi would only sail as far as Dyfed.  He was confident that he could avoid any dangers from Mann and Ynys Mon.  He was taking the weapons to the Welsh and the other two knarr had enough space to bring back all that we needed. This time Wolf Killer had gold with him to buy precious spices, lemons and oil. The iron we took would be traded for wine.

Another sign of the change in Wolf Killer was that he was happy to leave his family with us. It made sense for every warrior that he possessed was on the
'Josephus'
.  Windar would have to watch the south and the east.

Ragnar had been taught words since he had last stayed with us.  He could also walk quite well and so I began to teach him to become a warrior. It was enjoyable and it gave me the chance to spend time with someone who would carry my blood into the future.

Snorri and Sigtrygg returned after a week or so.  They seemed satisfied with the new men who had gone there.  "Sven has learned his lesson.  I spent some time with him.  He will make Thorkell Stad the fortress it once was.  I think the departure of his son tore the heart from him; he had hoped he would be jarl when he died."

"We all hope for things Sigtrygg.  It is what makes us men.  But we do not always get that for which we aspire."

When I was not playing with my grandson I spent time with Bjorn in his workshop.  I had a new Ulfheonar and Asbjorn needed his golden wolf. When I went to collect it I noticed him finishing off the copper pot for Kara. I knew he had spent some time perfecting his technique.  There were women in the village using those that he deemed not good enough for Kara. He beamed when I went in. "There, Jarl, finished!"

He handed it to me. It was lighter than the clay pots the women used and I saw that he had fitted a handle too. When I looked inside I saw that he had etched a wolf into the bottom. "A wolf, Bjorn?"

He smiled, "I should have asked your permission, Jarl, but the wolf is our symbol. I use it on all that I make for us.  Swords, helmets, seaxes, spear heads, everything. It makes me feel one of the warriors who fight for you."

"You fight for me every bit as much as they do, Bjorn.  Without your weapons then we would not be as successful."

He nodded and pointed to all the forges where his smiths hammered away.  "We now make many for others Jarl and that worries me. I would hate the day to come when our own weapons would be used against us."

"I too have thought of that, Bjorn.  It is why we now trade with but three places: Dyfed, Vasconia and Italy.  All are far enough from us to eliminate them as a threat. Our enemies are all within spitting distance."

"Yet Magnus the Foresworn managed to find those who would fight you."

"He did not expect to find us there.  I think I have his measure now.  He will only return here when he has his own warriors and has made a name for himself."

"What if he goes to Mann or Dyflin? There are many there who harbour grudges against you. Sihtric Silkbeard may be dead but he has sons. Magnus Bare Legs still squats to the south of us."

He was right.  I had few friends amongst warriors such as us.  True, none had dared to raid us for some time but, as I had seen with my own young men, it only took one and the whole barrel of apples could be spoiled. One of my faults is that I am guilty of overconfidence.  I believed our enemies were close at hand.  The Gods were about to show me that I might be mistaken in that belief.  Or perhaps it was the Norns who had decided that I had had enough peace and wished to cause mischief.

Wolf Killer, Erik, Siggi and Coen Ap Pasgen arrived one late afternoon. That in itself gave me cause for concern. They all looked unhappy and the sweat on their ponies told me that they had come from Úlfarrston with great speed. Something on the voyage had gone wrong. As we had seen them from some distance away we had ale ready for them and I greeted them in my hall along with Kara, Haaken and Aiden. The measure of the problem could be seen by the fact that Wolf Killer just gave the briefest of greetings to his wife and son. It was me he addressed.

"Trygg and his crew have been captured." I nodded.  I would comment when I had heard the whole story.  "We had traded successfully with the Duke and the voyage had been remarkably easy. We left and headed south.  It was when we came to the disputed lands north of Al-Andalus, the Asturias and Galicia, that our problems began. Many small boats came out in the night and were upon us before we knew. They had come from a hill fort. It was dark and I ordered us to head out to sea for the boats were numerous but small. We could not stay together. When dawn broke we found that they had taken Trygg. I took my drekar closer in and saw his knarr in the port.  There was little chance of a rescue for it was heavily defended. We returned here."

Aiden was next to me and he had his charts out. "Where on this chart is the port?"

He looked at the drawing and pointed his finger at a red dot. "There I think."

Aiden pointed to two other dots: one further north and one further south.  "Could it have been either of these?"

He shook his head, "No, it had a Peninsula."

"Then it was known as Brigantium in Roman times."

Erik nodded, "That makes sense. Josephus told me of a lair of pirates and thieves called
Faro Bregancio.  That too was close to a peninsula.  Could it be the same?"

It was time for me to speak.  "That would make sense but the name matters not. It is the location and what we do about it that is important."

Coen Ap Pasgen looked upset, "Trygg is lost! We can do nothing! Our trading will have to stop."

It was then I realised that no matter how much we worked with our friends from
Úlfarrston they were not of our people and did not understand our ways.  Everyone else stared at him.  Siggi said, "I grew up with Trygg and I for one will find him."

"Fear not, Siggi. When a man, any man, swears that he will follow me then there is a bond between us.  It says that I am responsible for my oathsworn. They fight for me and I fight for them. Trygg is not lost until we decide he is lost."

Everyone, Elfrida and Coen excepted, began banging the table.  Even Kara joined in.  Ragnar looked fearful.  I smiled at him and ruffled his hair.  "These are your people, Ragnar, do not fear them." He went closer to his mother but he looked less fearful. "We go to this lair of pirates and we will find Trygg, his crew and his knarr.  We will bring them home." They nodded. "Wolf Killer do you wish to stay here with your family?"

He shook his head, "I let Trygg down.  I took us too close in to the coast.  I will make amends for my mistake."

"We will stay with Kara, my husband."

"I come too, Jarl." Siggi jutted his jaw out defying me to refuse him permission.

"We do not need a knarr to slow us down."

"I will come as one of your crew.  There were many boats in the harbour and we will need every warrior we can lay our hands on."

"Very well." I looked around.  "We have little time to make plans. Aiden and I will do that as we head south. Wolf Killer, say your goodbyes. Siggi, Coen and Erik prepare the two drekar for sea.  Haaken go and tell the Ulfheonar we have a blood feud."

When they had all gone Aiden asked, "How many warriors from Cyninges-tūn will we take?"

"All who wish to come." I turned to Kara, "You and Scanlan must work with Bjorn to watch this stad.  Send to Windar and tell him where we have gone. He will tell Ketil.  Have boys go to the Rye Dale, Grassy Mere and Thorkell Stad.  All must prepare for war."

"We will be safe."

I was reassured by Kara's words.  The presence of Elfrida in her hall had brought her back to her full powers. It meant there was no danger at present.

In the time it took to kiss my daughter and daughter in law, and hug my grandson we were ready to march to Úlfarrston.  We would be marching in the dark but we knew that the two drekar would be ready to put to sea by the time we reached them. We almost ran down the trail and the greenway.  My shoulder had nearly healed and the march did not cause much pain at all.  Of course when I fought that would be a different story. We had ponies with us but that was to carry weapons.  We took extra bows, arrows and spears. We were going to war.  These people who lived in their protected lair would discover the dangers of poking the wolf.  The men of On Corn Walum and Ynys Mon had found that out and their blackened homes were testament to their folly.

We said nothing as we headed south. I was busy planning what we might do.  When I had glanced at the map I had seen that this
Faro Bregancio occupied a high piece of ground protected on three sides by water. It would not be easy to take without incurring high casualties. Aiden's mind would have to find a way.

The drekar were at the mouth of the river.  It was low tide and we had to ferry men and supplies out. Luckily it was just our arms that needed to be carried. I spoke with Pasgen and his son.  "I am taking most of my warriors with me.  I must call upon you and your men to watch the west and south for me."

Pasgen nodded, "We will do so. You have come to our aid more times than I can count." He looked at his son and shook his head.  "Trygg and his men may already be dead."

"I know," I said, firmly, "When you prick one of us then we all bleed and we all seek revenge.  It is the way of our people. As you know we can live a peaceful life but if we are angered then you had better be able to run where we cannot catch you for we are relentless. We will trade again, Coen Ap Pasgen, and we will sail to Italy once more.  We will make the seaways safe; for us at least."

I intended to sail to Bourde without a stop.  Siggi and his men had split themselves between the two drekar.  They were close to Trygg's crew and it would enable us to have crew sailing all day and all night. If the winds dropped then we would row.  We were fully crewed.  We only had the Ulfheonar and six of Wolf Killer's men who had mail but we would be facing pirates.  At least that was what we believed.

Aiden and I did not go directly to sleep as most of the men did.  We sat at the stern on my chest and discussed what we knew. "Your son said that it was a wooden fort. He said they only had, from what he could see, one ditch."

"But he also said that there were steep cliffs on three sides. A frontal assault is always costly."

"Then when we put in at Bourde we should ask the Duke for pig fat. Snorri and Bjorn are good archers.  We could use fire to gain entry."

"And we still have some seal oil on board." We always kept seal oil on board the drekar.  It had many uses and stored well. I stood and stretched.  I rubbed my shoulder; it helped the ache. "It is a plan and it is a better chance than I had thought when we left home." I swept my hand around the drekar.  "I will not waste men's lives needlessly."

"You know that Trygg may be dead." Aiden was only voicing what I believed in my heart but it sounded like a death knell when he said it.  He was a Galdramenn.

I nodded, "As you might have been dead, and Wolf Killer and Kara, and Elfrida yet I went to find you anyway.  Even when all hope appeared gone I still tried." I shrugged.  "I cannot bear the thought of someone I care about being a prisoner and wondering if help will come. I will go to Trygg and if I am too late then so be it but I will know that I tried and Trygg will watch from the Otherworld and know that I did all that I could.  It is why we will travel without stopping. I want us to fly o'er the seas. Each hour of delay increases the chances of his death."

When we reached Wight we did not follow the coast as we normally did.  It was early morning when we reached the Saxon isle and we headed south and east. We would be out of sight of land.  There was no alternative. The wind was with us and we rowed.  We took a chance.  If we did not reach the coast by nightfall we would have to heave to for we had no way of working out our position at night. I joined the rowers despite the protestations of my men. They worried about my wound. The exercise actually helped my shoulder.  At first painful the constant motion made it diminish eventually. When Cnut Cnutson shouted from the masthead, "Land to the east." We all cheered.  The hard work had paid off.  We had saved days by sailing across the uncharted stretch of water.

When we reached Bourde our water barrels were almost empty. We had planned on stopping at Bourde in any case but our lack of water and beer forced us there.  It was good that we had an ally and a friendly port else we might have fallen foul of the Franks.

As we rowed down the river I saw that the Duke was building two stone towers at the end of the wharf. He himself was there, half naked and toiling with his men. They stopped when we drew next to them.

"It is good to see you, Jarl Dragon Heart and so unexpected.  It is not long since your son was here."

"And he is with me again. That is his drekar following us." I nodded to the towers.  "A good idea."

"I do listen and the advice of you and Aiden was sound.  What brings you here?  You are not here to trade?"

"No. After my ships left you they were attacked at
Faro Bregancio."

His face darkened. "Then your ships were lucky to escape.  The men of Galicia often raid overland to my southern borders.  I have to keep as many to watch those brigands as watch out for the Emperor. They are a cunning and devious race."

"One of my ships did not escape. They captured a knarr and its crew."

"Then they are dead."

Perhaps it was the blunt way he spoke it which affected me, I know not but I felt a heavy weight in my heart. "None the less we go to Faro Bregancio.  What can you tell me?"

"King Alfonso of the Asturias is trying to claim the land of Galicia.  There is no war as yet.  He is a clever king and he is trying negotiations first. He is lucky that there is no King in Galicia. The people there do not have one leader they can follow. Instead there are many counts who wish to become the overall leader.  There is a Count of Faro Bregancio, Silo. He is ambitious and the position of the fort makes it almost impregnable." He lowered his voice so that my men would not hear. "I know your men are brave but they would be slaughtered if they attacked."

"And yet we will.  Thank you for the information. It helps. Do they have archers?"

"Not really.  They use slingers and spearmen." He grinned, "You and your men could defeat them if you fought outside the walls but I cannot see how you will get inside."

"And I have yet to work that out but I will find a way."

"I believe you will."

"I need water, ale and food.  We will pay."

"You will not! You are my friend and you fight my enemies.  I have not enough men to aid you but I can supply you."

"And we need pig fat if you have it."

"You can have all that we possess but tell me why?"

"Pig fat burns and the fort is made of wood.  It burns too!"

Enough of the local sailors and fishermen had been to the port to be able to give detailed information to Aiden, Erik and Karl, Wolf Killer's captain. The limited charts we had were improved. We would not run aground. It would take us a day to sail along the coast and so we left the next morning.  It allowed us a night ashore where the Duke fed us well. My men did not drink as much as normal. They understood the dangers in fighting when still affected by beer and wine. The Ulfheonar set a good example. The Duke insisted that we call in on our way north.  "If you are not here within a week then I will take on the debt of honour and I will punish these brigands!"

It was not an idle promise but I knew that if we failed then so would he.  "Thank you and we will be back!"

While we had been in Bourde we had taken the precaution of sharpening all of our weapons.  We had left home so quickly that none of us were certain if they were as sharp as they should be. We wore our mail from the moment we left Bourde.  This was despite the dangers of wearing mail at sea.  When we reached there we might not have time to don armour. Aiden helped me with mine.  He worried and fretted about the bones in my shoulder. I shook my head.  "Kara says they will have knit by now, Aiden.  She has fed me a diet which will speed up the process.  You know that she would not say I was healed if I was not."

He reluctantly agreed.  The new metal plates over the shoulders did not add much to the weight and, more importantly, they did not restrict my movement. I put on the red cochineal.  We were going to terrorise these people.  They have seen a Viking but I guarantee they had never seen wolf warriors. If they thought Trygg and his sailors were typical of our people then they were in for a shock. Aiden helped Snorri and Bjorn to make fire arrows.  He had read how to make them so that they would burn better and yet be more accurate. We would try that out now. They made ten arrows. The range would have to be close but all of us were confident that the bowmen could hit the target.  The question would be could we get the pig fat close.