Viking Sword (23 page)

"And why did you not leave the city?"

They all shrugged, "We have no money."

Bjorn the Scout said, "Enough money for beer."

"We were paid in beer for unloading a knarr which came from Wessex."

We had heard enough but we could not just get rid of them; they might report us to someone else.  We needed them to leave of their own volition. "Is there any work then for swords and good warriors?"

The talkative one looked at us.  He was the least drunk. "You are looking for work? Your clothes and weapons suggest that you are successful. Why do you come here? This is not a good place.  If we had the money then we would be gone quicker than a Saxon when there is fighting to be done!"

I shrugged, "We had the promise of work from Bothvar Bjarki but we missed our meeting with him and we know not where he went."

They stood, suddenly sober, "You would fight with Bothvar Bjarki the berserker.  I am sorry my friend but you are too dangerous for the likes of us. We are sorry if we offended you."

They took off like startled deer. "It seems we have arrived at the right time.  Klak is not here nor is his army.  This will be our best chance to get to Wiglaf."

"Aye jarl, but we need to find him yet."

There was slightly less need for vigilance if Magnus Klak's warriors were not present. I also realised the impression that Bjarki must have left.  We could use that. He and his men had had a wolf token around their necks much as we had.  The difference was that theirs was a crude poorly made iron one with little detail.  We had worn them instead of our own to create the illusion that we were Danes.  Now I had my men display them outside their mail. I wanted all to think that we were Bjarki's men. The site we had chosen the previous night was too close to the gate.  We led our ponies north until we had passed the last rude hut. We found a bend in the river where there was a stand of trees.  They were willows and their fronds dipped down to the river.  They afforded a degree of safety.

"Jarl, we are far from the bridge here and the river is both wide and deep.  How will we cross?"

"We will not.  When we have done the deed we will flee north and then head west. I hope we are not discovered but if we are then I want a trail which heads north not west. I want to protect our land as long as I can."

We left Arnulf and Harald on guard with the ponies while we went to scout out the whereabouts of Wiglaf. It did not take us long to discover that he was safely tucked up inside the old Roman fort.  The last time we had come to the town the gates had been open; guarded but open.  Now they were barred and guarded. We walked the length of its walls and all of the gates were closed. Towards the river and the wharf were many stalls and tables selling food and ale.  The river trade was profitable. We headed there.  Gossip was rife and we were good listeners.

At one stall we haggled over some pickled fish and stale bread, acting the part of impoverished warriors. We went to the next stall and bought some poor beer. The ale wife who served us was inquisitive. "What are five well armed Danes doing here when there is work to the north and the west? I would expect you to have much gold and not these copper coins."

I feigned ignorance, "North and west?"

"Aye Prince Klak has taken an army to humble the men of Northumberland in the north and Jarl Bjarki has gone to take the sword of the Dragon Heart to the west."

She knew of my sword. I was glad that I had exchanged my fine scabbard for a plainer one taken from a dead Dane.  I nodded, "We were supposed to meet Jarl Bjarki here but we were delayed.  He has gone?"

"Aye a month since." She laughed, "I expect him back soon with the sword in his scabbard and coins in his purse." She leaned forward and said, conspiratorially, "They say that he has gone to bring back the daughter of King Egbert of Wessex, abducted by the Dragon Heart.  You are his men what do you know of that?"

I shrugged, "We were just sent word that Jarl Bjarki had need of swords and we would be well paid." I shook my head, "And now we have no gold and the jarl is gone. 
Wyrd
."

She took our empty horns, "
Wyrd
. More ale?"

"Until we find work we cannot afford any.  Who do we see around here for work?"

She pointed to the fort, "Wiglaf rules in Prince Klak's place.  You should ask him but he is a mean spirited man. He will not pay overmuch. They say he still has the first coin he earned. He keeps the gates closed because he does not wish to pay men to work for him. Still he may want five such warriors as you.  You look as though you know your business."

"Thank you for the ale and the information."

We headed down the river back towards our camp.

Snorri's sharp eyes scanned around us for any danger as we headed back to our camp. When we were out of earshot he said, "You have a plan?"

"I have a plan."

We had bought some of the pickled fish for Arnulf and Harald.  "I want you two to go to the fort when you have eaten and ask the guards if you can see Wiglaf.  If they ask why then say you are hired swords. Hopefully they will invite you in and you can find out where Wiglaf lives within the fort. You need to ask an exorbitant fee for your swords so that he orders you to go. Then you return here and we can plan our raid."

"Why Arnulf and Harald, jarl.  No offence but Bjorn the Scout and I are the best at concealment."

"And Wiglaf knows you.  He does not know Arnulf and Harald. If they find nothing then you and Bjorn the Scout may well have to get inside and find him but that way is dangerous.  Let us try this first. Can you do this?"

They were both eager to prove themselves.  "Aye Jarl."

"We will wait here.  That ale wife has sharp eyes. Despite her disparaging comments about Wiglaf I would suspect she sells information. Her stall is perfectly placed."

The two of them left for the gate and we spent the time preparing our weapons and planning the raid. "We will climb the walls during the night.  We know that during the day there are eight guards on the gate.  He must have others inside but it is likely he will just have two on each gate tower at night. From what we were told he does not pay o'er much.  I would be surprised if there were more than twenty guards in the whole fort."

Siggi nodded, "The guards did not look the best.  They were Saxon.  At least the ones at the northern gate were."

"You have good eyes Siggi. I saw that the ones at the western gate were also Saxon." Snorri smiled at me.  "Perhaps we just assault the fort.  If seven Ulfheonar cannot take twenty Saxons then we ought to take up farming!"

"We will wait until our scouts return, Snorri, before we take on the world."

They returned at noon. Both looked very pleased with themselves.  "Did he see you?"

Harald smiled, "No but we saw the leader of his guards, Osbert of Bebbanburgh. He told us that he hires the men for Wiglaf.  Wiglaf, it appears spends all his time in his quarters.  He has female slaves there and he conducts his business though his steward, Aethelward.  He fears for his life."

"You did not find him then?"

"We did better, jarl. Since this Magnus Klak came then all within the fort fear for their lives.  He has a quick temper and the heads around the walls testify to that.  Osbert fears that when he returns he might wish to be rid of Wiglaf.  The two of them fear for their lives.  We asked a ridiculous amount of gold and Osbert said he would pay it.  Apparently the ale wife was not wrong but merely misinformed.  Wiglaf wants killers around him. When I said that we had five more blades he almost bit my hand off. "

Arnulf nodded, "When Jarl Bjarki passed through Wiglaf tried to hire him and his men.  He said he would return with the sword and then consider the offer.  Wiglaf is building up his strength while Klak is away."

"I wonder why he does not flee Jorvik."

"Where to Bjorn the Scout? He cannot go back to Lundenwic and Rorik, his protector is dead.  This makes sense.  He could not be seen to be hiring swords while Klak was here and Magnus Klak has taken all of the swords which were available. This may be our chance.  Perhaps this was ordained and planned by the Norns." I strapped on my sword, "Did you tell him where we camped?"

Arnulf looked shocked that I would think such a thing, "Of course not.  He said we should return as soon as possible."

"Then we will head back in late afternoon.  If we can gain access during the day then we can do the deed and flee under cover of darkness."

"There is still the problem of you, Jarl.  He will recognise you.  As soon as you are seen then the game will be up."

"Then, Bjorn the Scout, you will have to be jarl and I will suddenly feel unwell because of some bad pickled fish.  Snorri will have to stay with me."

"How does this help us?"

"I am guessing that we will be taken to Wiglaf. He is the one who will recognise me.  I know not this Osbert of Bebbanburgh; he is Northumbrian. When you are taken to meet with him then Snorri and I will eliminate the other guards."

"But there may be twenty or more!"

Snorri laughed, "Aye, Arnulf but we are Ulfheonar.  It is a good plan and it might work.   If not then what a glorious tale to be sung around the fires at night."

"If we fail, Snorri then the world will just see seven heads adorning the walls of Jorvik and no one will sing our song."

Siggi pointed to the ponies.  "What of these?"

"We will need all of us for they are expecting seven of us. We leave them here. They will be here unless the Weird Sisters have something else in mind for us."

We spent the rest of the day ensuring that our mail, weapons, straps, helmets and shields were all in working order.  The helmets had not been specially made for us like our own and we each had an extra padded cap to make them fit better.  My shield, seax and my sword were the only items I had which were mine.  I had a Danish dagger strapped to the inside of my shield. Who knew what we might encounter?

We decided that Bjorn the Scout should be the jarl for the day. He, like Snorri, was quick thinking and confident.  He was also of an age with me and the few flecks of grey would add to the illusion that he was jarl. Arnulf approached the guard he had met earlier.  He was stationed at the North Gate which kept us well out of sight of the ale wife who might be suspicious. "These are the men of whom I spoke.  Bjorn the Scout is our leader."

The guard did not seem suspicious.  "Osbert said to take you to the guard house."

He led us through the gate, which slammed ominously behind us.  The guard house was, in fact, the old praetorium from the old Roman fort. We had seen them before.  As we walked in I kept my head down and I saw the secret stone under which the legion had kept its treasures.

I glanced up as Osbert spoke. He was not a young man.  He may have been a warrior at one time but his paunch showed that he had not fought for some years. "You did not lie, Arnulf.  Your friends look like handy warriors. Well, have you agreed to my proposal?"

Bjorn the Scout spoke. "What do we need to do to earn this gold you offer?"

"If you agree then I will tell you.  It is a generous offer, is it not? Now that the jarl has gone north there is little other work here."

"We could wait for Jarl Bjarki to return.  We have fought alongside him before."

"It is some time since he left. Perhaps he slew Dragon Heart or was slain by him.  Who knows?  It may be he returned to Wessex by sea or by the west coast.  You could wait here all winter and not see him. We offer gold for your purses now."

Bjorn the Scout turned to us as though consulting, "It seems like a good offer should we take it and then find out whom we have to kill?" We all nodded and grunted our approval. "We agree.  Gold first and then you can tell us what we need to do."

He counted out a healthy pile of golden coins which Bjorn the Scout counted and then put in his purse.  He was playing the part well.  Wiglaf was extorting much money from the merchants of Jorvik.  He had not changed.

"You will enjoy working for Wiglaf.  We pay for nothing and anyone who argues is punished. "He grinned evilly, "And if you wish women then it can be arranged. Magnus Klak lets him run the town so long as he has enough men to fight then he is happy. He takes a tenth of all that people produce.  Our master is a good tax collector." Osbert leaned forward, "My master has decided that he wishes to leave Jorvik and take his treasure with him.  It needs must be before Magnus Klak returns and asks for an account of the taxes. We leave in five days.  We need to secure a ship."

"Why not buy one?" Bjorn the Scout held up the heavy purse, "There appears to be gold enough."

"Let us say that my master has a need for as much gold as we can carry."

"And will we be taking all the guards in the fort?  How many others are there?"

Bjorn the Scout was very clever.  Osbert would not see anything amiss with such a question but we would find out how many guards we had to deal with.

"At the moment there are twenty but I shall go now and dismiss the seven worst ones.  Now that we have real warriors the old can be discarded. Wait here while I see to that and set the eight sentries for the night.  I will introduce you to the others and then we will go and see the master."