Viking Treasure (14 page)

Smoke began to pour from the buildings behind us and I heard Finni the Dreamer shout, "Jarl! Fall back!"

I saw that Rollo was hurt. The spear had penetrated his shoulder and he was bleeding. "Rolf! Help Rollo."

We moved back.  The horses could not pass the two dead horses.  They might have been able to leap across but they needed a run up to do that and there were too many crowding the narrow passage. As we moved backwards the smoke erupted into flames. That decided the horsemen. They could not make their horses pass fire.  We had bought some time.

When we reached the river I saw that not all of our men had had the same success as we. There was a shield wall which spread from
'Heart of the Dragon'
to
'Red Snake'
.  Cnut Cnutson and the men of Cyninges-tūn held the northern flank.

"Get Rollo to the drekar and ask Aiden how long we need."

"Aye Jarl."

The ships' boys were sending arrows over the heads of the shield wall to break up the Frankish attack.  We needed to have a smaller perimeter.  It would give those fighting better protection. "Four steps back! Double shields!"

The Ulfheonar were already in that formation.  Finni and Erik Eriksson stepped forward to take the place of Rollo and Rolf.  I saw Asbjorn to my left.  He grinned, "Eystein would have enjoyed this, Jarl!"

"Aye he would.  We will tell him of it when we next see him." Asbjorn nodded.  A Viking was always ready to go to Valhalla... it was just we did not expect to do so!

The Franks saw the movement of our line and took it for weakness.  They rushed at us thinking we retreated.  Our line was solid and when they ran at us they were met by a wall of wood and deadly swords which were wielded by swordsmen hardened over years. They had not met our like before and the wall of dead men was a lesson to them.

The horsemen had ridden around the flames and now twenty of them formed a line behind those on foot. I knew what was coming.  Rolf Horse Killer ran up. "Jarl, Aiden has almost finished.  He has placed kindling on the barges.  He said to fall back whenever you are ready!"

That was easier said than done. The horsemen would charge if they saw us trying to reach the barges. Glancing over my shoulder I saw that they were just fifty paces from us.

"Fall back slowly.  The horsemen will attack soon!"

We had almost made it when disaster struck.  Cnut Cnutson was leading his line backwards when a spear jabbed into the chest of one of the horses.  This one fell across two men and the horsemen poured through the gap.  I saw that the other drekar crews had made their ships. They would be slaughtered if I did not help.

"Ulfheonar!" I led my oathsworn as we hurled ourselves into the side of the horsemen who had seized the opportunity to fall upon the lighter armed men of Cyninges-tūn.

I swung my sword at the leg of one warrior.  It severed it.  Bright blood spurted out as he fell from his horse. We hacked and stabbed in the midst of them.  I do not think that, as horsemen, they had ever been attacked so ferociously by men on foot before.  We did not fear their horses and we did not fear their long spears.  The Franks were used to fighting men who would give up when their lives were threatened.  We were their worst nightmare.  If you threatened any who were our kin then you risked the wrath of a Viking. When six horses had been slain and four riders lay dead they pulled back to reform.

"Cnut, get your men aboard and the ones who are wounded." My men formed a line behind me as I shouted, "If you come near then you will all die! We are from the land of the Wolf! Fear us!"

They would not understand my words but they would understand my defiance.

Haaken said, "Jarl, It is best we get aboard.  I have spied a large warband coming up along the river."

"Aye, we have gambled enough! Fall back!"

The wounded and some of the dead had been carried aboard the drekar. As we crossed the barge and climbed aboard
'Heart of the Dragon'
Aiden pointed downstream.  "Jarl, they have dragged a chain across the river and they have landed warriors on the southern bank. The chain goes around a tree and is secured to the northern bank. We are trapped!"

"Not yet we are not.  Tie the barge to our stern. Warriors to your oars!"

As I ran down the length of the drekar I saw that the chests of treasure and the wounded littered the decks.  That was no good.  We had to row.   I reached Erik.  He looked worried, "Jarl, we cannot turn around and they are bringing more warriors.  If they use flames we shall burn!" It was every warrior's worst nightmare.  A wooden ship could burn in a heartbeat.

"We are not dead yet.  Lead the ships upstream and turn around the island.  We will tie up between the island and the southern bank.  We need to store the treasure and clear the decks. I want the masts raising."

He knew me well enough not to question my orders.  He shouted to Guthrum to tie the barge to the stern rail.

I turned to the warriors.  "Row like you have never rowed before." Putting my shield by my feet I took a chest next to Erik Siggison, a young warrior from Cyninges-tūn.  "Let us see if an old man keep up with you, eh Erik?"

Haaken began the chant.

'Ulfheonar, warriors strong

Ulfheonar, warriors brave

Ulfheonar, fierce as the wolf

Ulfheonar, hides in plain sight

Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

Ulfheonar, serving the sword

Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves

Ulfheonar, serving the sword'

It was some years since I had had to row but you never forgot how.  I leaned into each stroke.  You had to clear your mind of everything save the pull on the oar and the rhythm of the river. At first it was as though we were hardly moving for we towed a heavy barge. I should have had someone steering it. I had forgotten.  Then we started to move a little faster and the air which washed over my face cooled me. I sang as lustily as any and I could hear the pride in Erik's voice as he shared an oar with the Jarl Dragonheart. I felt us slowly turning.  Once we faced downstream then it became much easier.  We had barely covered a ship's length when Erik shouted, "In oars! Rest!"

As soon as the oars were laid inboard the crew began banging on the deck and chanting my name.  I shouted, "We cheer when we are home! Raise the mast and store the treasure.  Put the wounded at the stern.  Aiden come with me!"

The ships' boys had moored us to the shore and we leapt on to the island. I ran towards the other drekar shouting, "Counsel of war!"

The four leaders joined me.  I saw that, although bloodied, none were badly wounded. "They have used a chain to stop us leaving and they have reinforced the southern bank.  I have no doubt that other warriors will be coming. Have your masts fitted.  We will sail down the river.  I want six men from each crew, including yours Raibeart.  They should be the best that you have." I smiled, "Not you, of course. I need you to command your ships. We will board the barge and sail her down to the chain.  I intend to cut the chain and defeat the warriors.  We will sail through on the barge after you have safely passed."

Sigtrygg said, "Jarl, you take too many risks.  Let one of us do this."

"I have never asked another to fight my battles for me.  I got us into this and I will get us out.  Obey me!"

They nodded. I turned to Aiden, "I want a fire readying on the barge.  They have other ships attached to the quay.  I want the barge burning and sinking in the middle of the river to stop pursuit."

"Aye, it is a good plan." As we went back to my drekar he said, "Some of the taxes were in goods.  The coin was all in the first barge.  It is aboard our drekar."

I nodded.  I saw that the mast was almost up.  The sail would take longer. When we were next to the drekar I said, "Ulfheonar, leave that to the others.  We are going to sail the barge.  Cnut Cnutson, take charge of the drekar until I return."

His face came over the side, "I would rather fight with you, Jarl."

"I know but you know this drekar and you can command. You will have few enough crew as it is."

I led the Ulfheonar to the barge. "We sail this?"

"Aye, Finni the Dreamer but we do not have to row.  We sail down to the chain.  They have tethered it to a tree. We cut down the tree."

"And the Franks who guard it?"

"Those we kill, Leif!"

The twenty four men from the other drekar joined us.  I knew that Raibeart would be even more shorthanded but he was a good captain and he had the smallest drekar.  The river would have to do most of the work until his men could rejoin him. Aiden and Haaken led the men on board and started to lower the sail. I shouted up to Erik.  "Cast off the barge, Erik.  As soon as you see the chain is destroyed lead the ships through. You can pick us up on the other side.  Do not lower the sail until we have cleared the danger. Have the boys and archers use their arrows." Ragnar and Gruffyd's faces appeared over the side as they heard my voice, "You two can make a difference today! Make your fathers proud!"

They both raised their bows in salute.

The barge was already moving. "Olaf Leather Neck and Rolf Horse Killer, find any who have axes.  They can help you chop down the tree."

"Aye Jarl."

"Aiden, you steer!"

As Aiden allowed the current to take us the three quarters of a mile or so to the chain and the ever increasing warriors I turned to my men. "There will be less than thirty of us.  We have to give Olaf and his axe men the time to cut down the tree and removed the chain.  We fight in a shield wall three men deep.  The Ulfheonar will be at the front. When the tree is down and the chain removed we get back on the barge.  I want no heroes!"

"Aye Jarl!"

All of them showed the pride they had in being selected to stand alongside Jarl Dragonheart.  If any fell then they would be welcomed in Valhalla. There was no greater honour.  Each man had volunteered to come in search of riches and honour. Even if they fell their families would be rich and their memory honoured in song.

Aiden shouted, "Not long Jarl."

I turned to Erik Eriksson.  He had been wounded in the battle with the Frisians.  He could fight but he was not as mobile as others. Erik, guard Aiden! We cannot afford to lose our galdramenn.  Not to mention our helmsman!"

"Aye Jarl."

I went to the side.  Haaken, Finni, Leif and the rest of my Ulfheonar waited. The small boats were still ferrying men across the river.  They had, however, no horses.  These would be Franks fighting on foot and we already knew that they were not as confident on two legs. There were just forty of them but their numbers were growing.  An idea formed in my mind. This was not a time to be defensive.  I needed to be bold.

Turning to Haaken I said, "We drive them into the river.  Let us show them that we are men to be feared!"

He grinned, "Aye Jarl.  You have no shield, remember."

I took out my seax.  "I need no shield!"

As the barge bumped next to the bank we leapt out. We were held there by the bank.  Aiden had the steering board hard over so that the bow was caught in the undergrowth of the overgrown bank.  I had no idea how he would get us off but I did not doubt that he would know a way.

I moved quickly towards the Franks.  I needed all of my men ashore before we attacked. The Franks had some men in half mail and some without.  All had a helmet and most had a spear and a shield. They were standing, not in a line but a loose sprawl. They knew the danger and were guarding the end of the chain.  They were waiting for more numbers to arrive.  I glanced beyond them.  Each boat seemed to be bringing ten men. Even as I watched another twenty were landed.  As they were below the chain they had a hundred paces to run.  We had time.

I raised my sword, "Charge!"

The Ulfheonar were next to me and we were not restricted by houses and buildings this time. We naturally formed an arrow with me at the fore.  Apart from me every warrior had a shield and they held them before them.  The Frankish shields were half the size. I picked out a leader.  He had mail to his knees and a helmet with a nasal and a plume.  He had in his hand a long Frankish sword.  It was the sort their horsemen used.

I heard him shout something to his men and he made the mistake of looking down his line.  I did not need to.  I knew that my men were keeping pace with me. He swung his sword at me as I ran the last four paces.  I was so quick that I was able to ram my seax against his hand so that he could not complete his swing. Instead of swinging my sword I punched the pommel at his eye.  I only had a small hand guard but it mattered not.  It still squelched against his eye. I pulled my hand across his face and the eye came with my sword.  It also knocked his helmet from his head.  He had forgotten to tie his thongs. I pulled back my seax and rammed it into his other eye.  He would not be left blinded for the blade entered his skull and he fell at my feet, dead.

I did not pause but swung my sword at the spear man who stabbed at me.  I deflected the spear and it ground against my mail.  My sword caught the edge of his shield and drove across his arm.  It tore into the muscle and the tendons.  He dropped the shield.  I slashed my seax down his face and he fell to the ground.  We had cleared the tree.  So ferocious was our attack that fifteen men lay dead and another four were badly wounded.  We rolled on towards the ones who had just landed.  They had not formed a line. We tore into them.  They made the mistake of standing and they tried to stop us.  We were big men.  We wore mail and we had done this since we were children.  It was as though we were fighting priests.  They waited for our strikes.  A Viking can fight with his sword, shield, head and knees all at the same time. I slashed my sword across the neck of one warrior as I plunged my seax into the gut of a second.