Viking Raid (21 page)

"Aye, he gave us good prices."

"We will speak with him. He struck me as a shrewd businessman and if an Arab can survive here…"

As we approached his door I saw him spit at us and dart back inside, slamming it behind him. Every other door was also closed. When we reached the Arab's door Aiden knocked hard.  There was no reply. I had no time for this.  Trygg had died bringing trade goods here.  I was not going to be stopped by a shut door. I put my shoulder to it and barged in. The room was lit by an oil light and the frightened Arab stood, with his servant, at the back of the room. Aiden had spoken Greek to him the last time and he spoke and then translated for me.

"Ask him why we appear to be shunned by the people of Amalfi when we were welcomed the last time we visited."

At first the Arab appeared to be afraid to speak but Aiden, I know not how, persuaded him to open up.

"You would have been welcomed but word came from the Pope that you were barbarians and not followers of Christ.  He forbade Prefect Maurus from trading with you. As you know Amalfi is seeking closer ties with the Pope."

"But you are not Christian?  You are able to trade here."

In answer Ibrahim Al-Salad took out a cross from around his neck. "I took the cross and feigned conversion. What I do in private they cannot know. You might have done the same."

"Why should I follow the White Christ? I am never foresworn. It is because we are barbarians that we cannot trade?"

"It might have been but a message came from King Alfonso who said you had raided and destroyed one of his towns and that you were a murderer and a killer. The Pope has declared you an outlaw and an enemy of all Christians. There is a price upon your head."

The Holy Book we had taken could not be sold here then! "Why did they not stop us when we were first seen? The harbour could have been closed."

He was silent and looked shiftily around. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "This is a trap is it not?"

He nodded, "We were told to pretend that you were still welcome.  The Prefect sent to Gaeta for ships. They will be here by nightfall and you will be trapped in the harbour." He paused, "You will be executed and your men sold to the slavers of Barbary."

Aiden said, "We should run!"

"No Aiden we should not.  I can see a way to make a profit and still escape."

"We will be trapped here!"

"It is a narrow harbour and the spaces they left for us were closest to the port. They thought to trap us here but I can see how to turn the trap upon them. They can block us in even without the ships from Gaeta. Besides if we flee they will catch us at sea. Ask him if the ships which come have oars." When he nodded I said, "We could escape but not the knarr. No, we will not walk into their trap we shall run."

Suddenly the Arab gabbled out many words. "The ships will have a small tower at the stern and they will be filled with many archers. You will be cut down. You do not stand a chance, Viking."

I nodded.  He had not needed to volunteer that information but it helped. It confirmed my decision.  Perhaps if he was willing to offer information he might offer other help too.   "Ask him if he is willing to trade with us."

The merchant was dumfounded when Aiden asked him.  "You would stay and trade even though you know it is a trap?"

"A trap is only a trap if you do not expect it.  We have the advantage that we know what the prefect will do.  Will you trade? It can be like your hidden religion; a secret."

He nodded, "What have you to trade, Viking?"

"Iron and copper ore, much of it."

His eyes lit up.  Here they were valuable cargo. "And what would you have in return?"

"Spices and gold."

I watched his greedy eyes as he calculated his profit.  He would be able to tell the Prefect that he did exactly as was asked and delayed our departure.  He nodded and clasped my hand.  "We have a deal." 

"Good; have your men bring the gold and spices to my knarr and they can unload my ships. I would suggest that you tell your Prefect that you took our iron and copper without payment."

He nodded.  As we headed back to the ships, down a deserted waterfront,  Aiden asked, "Our men could unload the iron and the copper."

"No, for this way it will look as though our Arab friend just took the metals. Our men will need to rest and besides we need supplies for the journey home. We are short of beer and food. Go with the men into the town and buy food whilst I speak with my Ulfheonar."

"You have a plan then, Jarl?"

"If I had not then I would have run when you suggested it."

My captains stood talking with Haaken as I approached, "Haaken, captains, get the Ulfheonar aboard the
'Heart'
.  Bemused they did as I said while Aiden took the rest of the warriors off. I spoke quickly once they were gathered, "We are declared murderers and there are ships coming here to take us."

"Then.."

"Peace Haaken, and listen for once! Because I know of the trap we will escape.  We are having the iron and copper removed. In its place will be gold and spices.  They will not take up much space in your holds.  I want them spread out amongst you all. Aiden is in the town buying supplies." I pointed to the sun which was dipping towards the west. "Soon it will be dark. I think that the ships from Gaeta will be here soon after dark and that Aiden and my men will be delayed in the town. You see yonder where the entrance of the harbour is narrow?" They all nodded. There are three ships there.  When it is dark we will capture those ships.  All eyes will be on the drekar. When it is nightfall we will light fires on the harbour wall and you will all eat.  They will not worry about the three ships at the harbour. I have discovered that the ships come to take us will have many archers.  Their attention will be on our ships and not those of Amalfi.  When we approach the Amalfi ships we will do so silently and board them.  The Ulfheonar can deal with archers can we not?"

The grins told me all that I needed to know. Cnut Cnutson shouted, "Jarl Dragon Heart, men approach bearing boxes."

"That is the Arab. Let them empty our holds and we will fill them with the gold and the spices."

After my captains had departed Haaken said, "I should learn to keep my mouth shut, Jarl.  I should have realised you had this planned."

"I may have it planned but we have to make the plan work.  However the alternative was to be caught at sea and I fear that we would have lost our knarr and all their crews. We might have been able to fight off one of their warships but not the knarr. This way we have a fighting chance. Be ready to move as soon as it is dark. I am guessing that the end ship may have warriors aboard and that they will have the task of closing the harbour with their boat should we try to escape early." I pointed to the city walls where there were more soldiers already gathering. "Leave your shields here. I do not want to alarm the sentries. Beside the shields will get in the way. Wear neither mail nor helmets. I want it to look as though we suspect nothing.  Then, when night falls we drift off in ones and twos. I will go with Snorri and Bjorn. We make our way along the harbour to the three ships at the end. Do not all follow the same route.  You are Ulfheonar; we disappear."

When the ships had been loaded and Erik had checked that we had not been robbed we watched the sun go down and waited for Aiden and our men to appear. Cnut called from the masthead, "Two ships out to sea.  They are heading here."

"How long before they reach us?"

"Two turns of the sand?"

I nodded.  Just then I saw Aiden and the other warriors returning.  They were laden with barrels, amphorae and wooden crates.  There were live animals in the crates. Aiden was grinning. "I must take these warriors with me when I go trading every time. We managed incredibly good deals." He smiled, "You were right.  They tried to delay us. The men did well to avoid the painted ladies!"

I quickly explained to the warriors what we would do and then, as night began to fall left the ship with my two scouts. We acted out a little scene making those on the walls think we were looking for somewhere to drink.  We headed down the harbour. We did so casually.  As we passed the other ships I saw the fear on the faces of their crew. When we reached the end of the harbour wall there was a stone tower with a light on top to guide in ships.  Rocks had been used to protect the wall from the sea and we went amongst the rocks, ostensibly to seek crabs and other shellfish. It meant we were hidden from both the town and the ships.

As we descended I checked out the last ship.  I counted four soldiers and a crew of five. They would not cause us trouble. Because of our position we disappeared from view once the sun went down and we hid amongst the rocks. I gathered my men, hidden by the wall. Any sound we made was masked by the surf on the sea wall.

"Haaken take half of the men and take the second ship.  I will take the rest. No one escapes." I pointed out to sea.  The two ships from Gaeta were less than half a mile away. They were travelling slowly to avoid hitting either the rocks or the sea wall. I had but six men with me but they were all killers. We had been down amongst the rocks so long that the crew and the soldiers had lost interest in us. They were watching the two Gaetan vessels which were in line astern approaching the harbour entrance.

Snorri and Bjorn pulled back the two sailors who were sitting on the side of the ship and slit their throats as they wrestled them to the ground. We slipped over the side of the vessel.  Asbjorn, Eystein and I went for the three soldiers who were standing at the stern playing dice. I rammed my seax up between the soldier's ribs.  He hissed and died.  I held his body so that it did not fall to the deck.  I lowered it slowly. When I turned I saw that all the crew and soldiers were dead.

"Untie us and prepare to loose the sail."

I ran down the centre of the ship and saw Haaken waving.  They had secured that ship too. The two Gaetan ships were now heading across the small harbour to my drekar. I could see the two crudely built towers at the stern and the sides of the ship. They were filled with warriors. There were twenty archers on each boat.

When I reached the stern we were already floating away from the harbour wall. I took the steering board while Snorri, a former ship's boy, saw to the sail. We were smaller than the Gaetan ship and we seemed to ghost across the water, barely moving. I heard someone on board one of the ships shouting something and Aiden replying. I could rely on Aiden to delay them.  When we were twenty paces from the ship I put the steering board over and ran to the side. Snorri and Bjorn had partly severed two of the ropes holding the sail and they cut through them fully. They swung themselves over the side towards the larger vessel. I stood on the top strake and leapt on to the Gaetan ship.  I drew my sword and roared, "Ulfheonar!"

My warriors behind took up the shout and then the crew of my drekar.  The effect was instantaneous.  The archers turned.  I slashed horizontally with Ragnar's Spirit and the edge of my sword hacked into the arms and chests of two archers.  I pivoted and sliced backhand. Another archer fell to the deck clutching at his entrails.  I ran to the stern.  The helmsman saw this wild barbarian running at him and threw himself overboard. I slashed the ropes holding the steering board and shouted over the side, "Have our knarr cast off and make for the sea.  We will follow!"

I turned just as two soldiers ran at me with pikes. I had no shield but I knocked one away with my sword and, stepping forward, grabbed the haft of the second with my left hand. I rammed Ragnar's Spirit through the first pike man and pulled the second pike so that I could head butt the warrior wielding it. He was dazed and I clubbed him about the head with the pommel of my sword until his bloody face was unrecognisable as that of a man. I roared again, "Ragnar's Spirit!" His blood spattered over my face and armour and, as I turned to face the three archers who remained, I ran at them screaming my war cry. The ones who remained ran to the side and jumped overboard.

I could see that we were now drifting away from our drekar. I yelled, "Back to
'The Heart'
!"

The ship was now a charnel house.  I went to the stern and grabbed the lighted oil bowl.  I threw it to the deck where the flames caught the tinder dry wood and the deck began to burn.  I ran to the side, cut through one of the ropes holding the sail, and hurled myself over the side towards my ship. I saw my drekar just paces below me and I let go. The wind was knocked from me as I crashed into the mast fish.  Aiden ran to help me to my feet. He shook his head, "Mad! Jarl Dragon Heart, you are a berserker!"

I smiled and then winced.  I had cracked a rib or two. "The others?"

"You were the last aboard."

There was a sudden flash of heat as the flames took the sail of the Gaetan ship. The flames danced up the canvas and tarred rope. The two ships had become entangled with each other and both would soon be wrecks. I did not believe we had escaped until I saw the two towers with flames at the top receding behind us.  I suspected that I would no longer be welcome in the Blue Sea.

We hove to for repairs half a day from Amalfi.  The Gaetan archers had loosed arrows at all of our ships and there was some damage.  This was the easiest place to repair, before the Pillars of Hercules. The damage was not serious.  It also enabled Aiden to go around the ships and see to the various wounds.  Again they were not life threatening but if left unattended could have become so.

Haaken was the happiest of any of us.  "I have a saga here which will rival all but the story of the sword touched by the gods. When you ran down that ship roaring your war cry even the archers aboard the ship we had captured threw themselves over the side." He laughed, "I knew it was you and I thought about joining them! With a blood covered face you are a terrifying sight, Jarl."

"Thank you." I looked astern to the thin smudge that was the land of Italy. "However it seems we cannot trade with Italy and when the word spreads of what we have done then Miklagård will be closed to us too."

Snorri said, "But what will we miss?"

"Spices? Knowledge?"

"Spices we can get from Al-Andalus. We have raided there.  If we cannot trade then we raid.  Our knarr can trade with Dyflin and Orkneyjar. It makes our life easier.  We do not need to nursemaid our knarr.  And as for knowledge…there are many monasteries and they are closer to home.  Perhaps Sigtrygg has found the one near him eh, Jarl?"

"You are right.  The jug is half full!"

It was fortunate that we did repair our ships for we left the Blue Sea to find a gale which would have wrecked us had we not been so lightly laden and so well prepared. After two days being buffeted and tossed in mountain peaks and bottomless troughs we found ourselves spread out across a sea which now looked like a piece of glass in a church of the White Christ. It took some time to gather us all together and, once more, repair our ships and head for Bourde. Our new ally was now as welcome as Úlfarrston. This time we would need to spend a few days healing our ships and trading.

The Duke frowned when he heard our story. "I worry that the Pope is taking such an interest in secular matters. He should concern himself with God and leave politics and war to soldiers like us."

"Do you mind that we are not Christians, Duke?"

"For myself I care not but each time you come I have my bishops and clerics talking about your evil ways and how you will despoil our women."

"But my men behave themselves when they are here."

"I know. I believe you judge a man by what he does and not what he wears around his neck." He pointed to the wolf charm around Haaken's neck. "That for instance, what does that betoken?  May I see it?"

Haaken took it off and handed it over.

"I gave one to each of my oathsworn, my Ulfheonar.  It is both a reward from me and a sign that they are wolf warriors."

His eyes widened, "This is gold!"

I laughed, "You would have me give my men a lump of iron to wear around their necks?"

He handed it back to Haaken and shook his head. "I reward my men with land."

"If they want land they take it.  I do not own it."

"But you are their ruler."

I shook my head, "I am their jarl and they follow me but they are free to follow another if they choose."

"You are barbarians but in many ways you are more civilised than many Christians."

After we had emptied another amphora of wine he asked, "Now that Amalfi is closed to you will you still trade?"

"I will ask you; do you still want our weapons, iron and copper?"

"Of course!"

"Then we will still trade!"

I was aware, as we headed north west that we had not been away as long as I had expected.  Perhaps King
Arthfael Hen ap Rhys
might not require our services. After we had tied up I spoke with my captains. "You can sail north together if you wish.  There is no need for you to stay here. If you sail close to Dyflin then you should avoid the Vikings of Mann."

Before they could speak one of the Welsh seamen who was working on his ship said, "Begging your pardon Jarl but I heard that the Vikings of Mann have been raiding Frankia; close to the land of the Bretons. We saw six drekar a month back and they were heading east.  One of my cousins heard, when he was in London that they raided one of their towns, Caen."

I gave him a silver coin.  "Thank you for the information." Turning to my men I said, "Then you should have an easy voyage."

Siggi, who now led them nodded and said, "When we have provisioned we will sail home."

"May the Allfather be with you."

I took Haaken and Aiden with me when I went to speak with the king. He was with his cousin, Llewellyn and we were admitted immediately. His smile told me of his welcome but his words chilled me. "I am pleased that you are back but you have come back to great danger. King Coenwulf has gathered a mighty army and he is heading from Gleawecastre."

"Then we have arrived just in time."

He shook his head, "He has captured my family and holds them north of Gleawecastre in Hartpury.  If I oppose him he will have them killed. He has given me a week to agree to his terms. They are not favourable. We lose land on this side of the Sabrina.  I fear it would only be a matter of time before he took more."

"Then send warriors to rescue them?"

Llewellyn spoke, "We have fearless warriors who can fight the Saxons.  They can face the shield wall but they cannot disappear.  The King needs wolf warriors." He sighed and spoke the words which the King has obviously told him to speak. "The King would have you rescue his family."

I nodded, without saying anything. "He will reward you with much gold."

"How far is it from here to Gleawecastre and from there to Hartpury?"

"From here it is almost sixty miles all told but if you were to sail up the river then it would be as little as fourteen miles but the Mercians will be travelling down the road which runs parallel with the river.  It will be dangerous."

"Have you a guide?"

"Aye, Dai ap Ewyas comes from close by there."

"Then when we had seen your gold we will do it."

The King seemed both surprised and pleased that we were doing as he wished. He called one of his officials over and spoke quietly to him. He then turned to me, "I will be in your debt if you do this thing for me."

I pointed to Aiden, "My wizard here was taken once, as were my children. I was captured when I was but a child. I know what it feels like."

King
Arthfael Hen ap Rhys
gave me a sharp look, "You think I should fetch them?"

I shook my head, "With all due respect this is something which needs a small group of warriors who can hide in plain sight. I do not think that there are any other than my men who would stand a chance of doing this."

When his official returned he had a chest with him and a forester. "Here is your gold and here is Dai ap Ewyas, your guide."

I opened the chest. It was enough. I closed the lid and handed it to Haaken. I looked at the forester, "You know what we ask of you?" He nodded.  "And you are happy to come with us?"

"I am."

"Have you a weapon?"

"A bow."

"Perfect. Haaken take the chest and Dai to the ship and have Erik prepare to sail as soon as we arrive." When they had gone I asked. "Tell me whom I should expect to find there in Hartpury."

"My wife, Nesta.  My two sons, Griffith and Rhodri, and the servant who accompanied them, Brigid." He hesitated, "She too is my daughter but…."

"But your wife is not her mother." He shook his head.  Such things happened but I could not understand how the arrangement might work.

"Do you not wish to know the size of the Mercian force?"

"Unless someone escaped then you cannot know that.  The Mercians sent a messenger did they not, telling you that they held them?"

"They did."

"And they said where they were holding them?"

"Of course."

"Then this is a trap to catch those you would send to rescue them."

"They said that they would kill them if I attempted to rescue them."

"Of course they did.  And the negotiations will be in a few days." He nodded. "Then have your armies ready for he will strike the day before the negotiations are due to start.  Prepare defences and just hold your ground."

"How do you know this?"

"I fought this King Coenwulf of Mercia before in London.  He has a mind like an animal trap.  I will leave. If we have not returned in seven days then we lie dead in Mercia."

We hurried to my ship which was all ready for our arrival.  I waved to Siggi.  He and the knarr would be gone in a short time and the jetty would be empty once more. As soon as I stepped aboard we began to move.  "Snorri, take your sharp eyes and go to the prow." I walked to the steering board. "Erik, we will need to hide in plain sight. I am going to leave the warriors with you and just take the Ulfheonar."

"I will manage."

"Dai, I want you to get us as close to Hartpury as we can but this drekar must be able to turn around. Do you know of a place where we can do this?"

"There is a spot where the river narrows. It is but ten Roman miles from the hall."

"Good. And this hall, is it a burgh?"

"No, it belonged to Caradog the lord of the land until the Mercians came and killed him and his family."

Aiden said, "You escaped."

He looked at Aiden in surprise, "I was there, yes.  How did you know?"

"Because, my friend, he is a wizard and sees such things. Go to the prow and watch with my warrior.  When we are close return here and tell Erik." I pointed to the mast. "We need the mast down."

Erik nodded, "Here Jarl, you steer and I will help take the mast down.  It will be quicker."

I took the steering board and watched Snorri closely. He would guide me.  At the moment the river was wide but when it narrowed then he and Dai would become the eyes of the drekar. Haaken said, "What is the plan, Jarl Dragon Heart?"

"They will be waiting for the King to send men to rescue his family. He has chosen a hall which has no defences to tempt the King.  He will, however, be expecting the rescuers to come by road, along the river.  There will be an ambush. We will use the river to get as close as we can and we will not use the road. I am only taking the Ulfheonar and Aiden when we land for I wish to move silently."

Haaken nodded, "A Galdramenn is always useful."

Night had fallen by the time the mast was on the mast fish. Erik resumed his navigation and we moved as slowly as we could.  There was little point in rushing for we did not want to run aground. I donned my armour.  My men had already done so. I regretted now not sharpening my blade on the whetstone I carried.  It was too late now for who knew if there were Mercian spies along the river.  Although we would be hard to see in the dark, cloudy night, we could be heard.  It was another reason for the slow oar rate.  My men were barely making a splash with their oars as our dragon ship slowly slipped up the Sabrina.

Snorri's arm waved to the right and Erik put the steering board over. A few moments later he came down the central walkway. "There are men to our left.  I smell their smoke and I hear their laughter."

"Mercians!"

"Aye, Jarl, that was my thought."

"How far does Dai say we have yet to travel?"

"He thinks a few more miles but he has not travelled this way before.  He went by land."

"Then rejoin him and use your own judgement.  Aiden, go with him and you can be messenger. We cannot afford to alert our enemies."

That was our one advantage.  They would not expect a Viking drekar to sail behind their lines. The vegetation by the river would hide us from their view and, at night time, they would have no reason to go to the river.

It was, however, nerve wracking for all of us.  The wide river began to narrow and I saw Erik looking anxiously at the two banks wondering if he would be able to turn his precious ship around. To occupy myself I applied the red beetle juice to my eyes.  We would need all the terror that we could muster if we were to succeed. That done I looked astern.  It was as though we were sailing in the bowels of the earth for there was nothing to separate the land from the sky and the river.  Everywhere was black. It was as if the Gods were giving us a chance to complete this impossible task.

Aiden returned, "Dai says that this is close enough.  There is a bend in the river and a small beach where we can land. He says it is but five or six miles from here."

Erik breathed an audible sigh of relief.  I had already identified the four warriors who would guard Dai.  Until we found the hall he had to be protected. The rest would remain on board with Erik. "You will need to hide the drekar.  I know not when we will return. It should be by dawn but we all know that things can go wrong."

"I will be here, fear not."

We dropped over the side.  I sent Snorri and Bjorn ahead, not to scout out the hall, that was Dai's job, but to see if there were enemies. There was thick undergrowth close by the little bend in the river and the shingle beach. I turned to ensure that the four warriors were closely watching Dai; they were.  It was a mark of honour that I had chosen them for the task. Snorri and Bjorn came back.