Viking Legend (22 page)

We divided into two when we came further into the camp.  I had my seax and I went with Haaken, Asbjorn and Eystein to the six men who slept in a circle with their feet to the fire. I drew my seax across the throat of a snoring warrior.  The air from his throat seemed to sigh. The man next to him opened his eyes as he heard the sigh. I rammed my seax through his open mouth and pinned his head to the ground.

We were in the centre of the camp and I saw a huddle of warriors sitting around an open fire and talking.  They looked to be leaders.  I sheathed my seax and drew my sword. It was at that moment that we heard the howl of Snorri.  We all lifted our heads and howled.  Then, howling, we ran towards the leaders. There was pandemonium. They did not see us.  We were coming from the wrong direction and we were dressed in black. I swung my sword two handed at the warrior who turned as he heard me run towards him.  My sword bit deeply into his middle.  The other leaders took shelter from what they thought were ghosts or wolves. I took out my seax as headed south. And then we were in the dark heading for our lines.  Men’s white faces appeared before us as they woke and panicked at the strange and eerie sounds. We slashed left and right as we ghosted through the camp. We were unseen and they died without knowing who had slain them.  When there were no more warriors before us I stopped and turned, sword and seax in hand.

One by one my men joined me. I could heard the cries and shouts in the Scots’ camp as they searched for us. I saw Eystein limping, “Are you hurt?”

“A lucky blow with a sword.  I will live.”

We hurried back to our camp. The men we had left as sentries looked up as we entered. “It is time to leave.” The ten men picked up their pieces of cooking meat and began to lope off west.  Snorri and Beorn reined in.  They each had five horses. Snorri pointed west, “Ten horses rode that way.  We will pick them up on the way.”

We mounted the horses and headed for our camp. If nothing else we had denied them sleep, killed a couple of leaders and terrified them.  The most important achievement had been that we had extricated our men from a difficult position and we would live to fight another day.

Wolf Killer and Sigtrygg stood with swords drawn as we galloped up. Sheathing his weapon my son said, “We heard the howls and the battle.  We were worried.”

Sigtrygg shook his head, “I was not worried.  I have been a wolf in the night and know that the advantage always lies with the Ulfheonar.”

As my son led us into the lines of sleeping warriors he said, “How you survive when all around you are enemies I shall never know.  I was Ulfheonar but I would fear to do what you do.”

“It is because we are so few that we succeed.  In our cloaks and black armour we are hard to see.  We look like shadows and when you awake from a sleep you see what you expect to see.  You hear howls and wake to see black shadows. You think it is wolves and the wolf still terrifies men. And now, my son, my men and I need to sleep.  Tomorrow will be a long day. I want the men with mail in the front two ranks. Sow the ground before us with any horse breakers we still have and then use old spears driven into the ground.  We need to break down their attack.”

“What if they choose not to attack but head down the valley to the farms?”

“Then they will meet Ketil and we will fall upon their flanks. The god Icaunis will help us now.  With a river on two flanks the two kings fight Vikings and has to defeat Icaunis.  We are in the strongest place which I could devise.”

Nodding, Wolf Killer said, “Arne has gone to his citadel to ready fishing boats and to bring archers.  He says he will use the fishing boats to fetch the archers.  All will be ready by dawn.”

We sat around the fire and my warriors looked downhearted.  We had fallen back.  I was so tired that I could have slept standing up.   I nodded to Haaken.  We had known each other so long that I did not need words. He stood and began to chant his new saga.  I had not heard it all but I had heard fragments.  It was the tale of the death of Magnus the Foresworn.

The Saxon King had a mighty home

Protected by rock, sea and foam

Safe he thought from all his foes

But the Dragonheart would bring new woes

Ulfheonar never forget

Ulfheonar never forgive

Ulfheonar fight to the death

The snake had fled and was hiding there

Safe he thought in the Saxon lair

With heart of dragon and veins of ice

Dragonheart knew nine would suffice

Ulfheonar never forget

Ulfheonar never forgive

Ulfheonar fight to the death

Below the sand they sought the cave

The rumour from the wizard brave

Beneath the sea without a light

The nine all waited through the night

Ulfheonar never forget

Ulfheonar never forgive

Ulfheonar fight to the death

When night fell they climbed the stair

Invisible to the Saxons there

In the tower the traitors lurked

Dragonheart had a plan which worked

Ulfheonar never forget

Ulfheonar never forgive

Ulfheonar fight to the death

With Odin’s blade the legend fought

Magnus’ tricks they came to nought

With sword held high and a mighty thrust

Dragonheart sent Magnus to an end that was just

Ulfheonar never forget

Ulfheonar never forgive

Ulfheonar fight to the death

Ulfheonar never forget

Ulfheonar never forgive

Ulfheonar fight to the death

When he finished my men cheered and banged their shields.  They asked for a second rendition.  Haaken looked at me and I nodded. The song was like food for their hearts. When he finished a second time I nodded my thanks and rolled into my cloak. I was so tired that I did not dream at all.  I fell into a black hole and it was only when Leif shook my shoulder to wake me that I crawled from the darkness into which I had crept. “It is almost morning, Jarl Dragonheart, and the enemy approaches. They know now that we have moved.”

“Thank you Leif and thank you for carrying my standard.  You put yourself into danger.”

“I was following you, Jarl and I was honoured to carry the standard.” He grinned, “They call me Leif the Standard now.  It is a noble name.”

“And you have earned it.” I noticed that he was wearing one of the Scots’ mail byrnies.  I was glad.  Carrying the standard meant he  could not wield a sword.  He needed all the protection he could manage. He handed me a horn of ale and I drank greedily for my mouth was dry. It was only when I handed it back that I remembered we had few supplies.  “That was the last eh Leif.”

He nodded, “Sorry Jarl, but there is water aplenty.”

“True and by this evening we all either lie dead or drink Arne’s stad dry.”

“Then I hope he has ale in abundance.”

I was stiff as I rose.  I had taken many blows the previous day. They would soon ease but I walked like an old man as I sought my leaders. Sigtrygg, Wolf Killer and Arne were with Haaken close to the front of our lines.  I could see that they had managed to find some broken spears and stakes to make a crude barrier. I was just pleased that these were Saxons and Scots we fought.  They had few bows. We had a tight defensive position but nowhere to hide if they decided to shower us with arrows.

“So we have until noon to hold out.” I sounded more confident than I was.  We had fought hard the previous day and unlike the enemy had no fresh warriors.

“If Ketil does as he promised.”

“I know you do not know him Wolf Killer but he is reliable.  He may be young but he has held off three seasons of attacks and, with our help, he has beaten them all back. He will come.” My son nodded.  “How many do we estimate?”

“There are more Saxons than Scots but we think there are over two hundred and fifty of them.  We all need to kill at least two men each.”

“Horse?”

“There are thirty Saxon horsemen.  They are to the south of their lines watching the road.”

“Then they expect us to be reinforced.  That is not good.”

Snorri ran up.  He had been beyond our lines and he made his way back through the traps and stakes, “Jarl Dragonheart, their leaders come.  They wish to talk.”

Wolf Killer said, “It may be a trap.”

“It may be but anything which delays the start of this battle aids us. We need Ketil. Snorri you and Beorn cover us with you bows.  I will go just beyond the stakes. That is well within your range if there is to be treachery. Come son, and you Sigtrygg, let us see what they wish.” I turned, Leif bring my standard!” We took off our helmets to show that we meant peace. The red cochineal had run giving my face a ruddy complexion. I wondered what they would make of that.

As we made our way towards the four men who approached us with palms outward I saw that my men had done a good job.  I knew that there were horse breakers and I was looking for them. I could barely spot them. An enemy who did so and tried to run would find it much harder.

The four of them stopped thirty paces from our lines. They were all dressed in mail and three of them were younger than I was.  The fourth looked to be a little older than me.  All four had open helmets in their hands. The older warrior spoke in Saxon; it was a language we all understood. “I am King Alpín mac Echdach.” He held his hand to his right, “And this is Eorl Aethelfrith, King Eanred’s man.”

I nodded and remained silent.  They had asked for this meeting and not I. I saw a look of annoyance cross the King’s face.  I had not deferred to him.  He did not like that. “You fought well yesterday but you are outnumbered now and your backs are to the river. When we attack you will all be slaughtered.” Still we remained silent. Sighing he went on, “Here are our terms: surrender Jarl Dragonheart to us so that King Eanred may punish him for his treacherous murders and the violation of his home.” Wolf Killer started forward but I restrained him.  The King went on, “Then you will all bow your knee to me and accept me as your overlord. Do that and you shall all live and keep your weapons.” He smiled as though this was the most reasonable offer a man could make. He went on, “And before you answer know that King Eanred himself is coming with a mighty host. You are all going to die if you refuse my kind offer.”

I nodded and turned to my son and Sigtrygg, “Does this sound reasonable to you?”

Wolf Killer laughed, “This man calls himself king and yet he leads a rag tag army of half dressed and wild savages.  I would as soon bow to a pig and bare my arse to his warriors than acknowledge him as king.  In fact I have a mind to take my warriors and conquer this piece of scrubland called Alt Clut!”

One of the warriors with the King was obviously a Scot for he started his hand towards his sword.  I hissed, “Think hard my friend. I have an archer behind me and if you draw your sword at this truce then you will die before your King and the Eorl here.”

“Hold Kenneth.  This Viking is right.  This is a truce and there are rules.” The warrior’s hand came away from his hilt. “So you all wish to die?”

I laughed, “We are Vikings not followers of the White Christ. If we die with a sword in our hands then we go to Valhalla. Do you think death bothers us? And remember Alpín mac Echdach that we are the warriors who sent your men fleeing when they raided Thorfinn Blue Scar, we managed to surprise King Eanred’s strongest castle and last night ten men terrified your whole army. I will not make the same offer to you.  You attack us and you die.  You do not attack us and we attack you and you die.  You flee and we will follow you.  We are Vikings and we are afraid of no man!”

He had no answer to that and he turned on his heel and left.

Once we were back in our lines Sigtrygg said, “Reinforcements?”

“It will be the fyrd.  They are less well trained than even our bondi. They are numbers that is all. He wants to frighten us with a mob. The best warriors they have are here already.  That is why they were successful yesterday.  It was their eorls and their oathsworn who fought and died. This shows that he is worried. He would not have negotiated if he thought he could win.  There is doubt in his mind.”

“Will he wait for King Eanred?”

“I hope so, son, for that means Ketil will be close.  Did Beorn Beornson leave before dawn?”

“Aye.”

“Then Ketil knows our situation.” I smiled, “He is as good at ambush as any Ulfheonar.” I pointed to the river, “And with Arne’s archers we have an extra weapon that he knows not of. However, just to make sure I will make a blót in the river. Where are the ponies we captured last night?”

Snorri pointed.  “They are by the river drinking.”

“Good.” As I approached them I saw one white pony.  It was lame and stood forlornly alone. It should have been destroyed already for it could barely stand.
Wyrd
. It was meant to die and would serve my purpose.

As we approached the small herd the other ponies moved away and the white one looked at me. It raised and lowered its head. I looked into its eyes and knew that this pony had a warrior’s heart. Had I had Aiden with me he would have held its head and read its mind. I could not do that. The beast would know, however, that it was going to a better place and serving a noble cause. All of my Ulfheonar had followed me and those others close by gathered for they knew that something important was about to happen.