Viking Treasure (20 page)

"I know.  Let us go then and face our destiny."

As we headed down the slope I was just glad that I had not brought Gruffyd else he would perish along with his father and his oathsworn. The cave was a sinister place full of magic and the spirits.  Aiden had warned me of the magic possessed by our enemies and I had ignored him. Would I now pay with my life?

The twisting path descended down the southern side of the fell.  The cave had always been important to us.  It had been there that Wolf Killer had killed his wolf and there that the spirit of the dead wizard had appeared. I found myself gripping my dragon as we descended.  Men I could fight.  There was no warrior whom I feared but spirits and magic were a different matter. All of my dreams had a cave in them and black holes into which I fell.  This was not a dream; this was an actual black hole. The light was rapidly fading for days were never long at this time of year. I wondered if we would reach the cave before dark.

We finally descended close enough to see the cave. We had some shelter from the rain as we moved along the side of the rocky rigg. Whatever sun there had been was disappearing to the west. Snorri dismounted in a jumble of rocks and scrubby bushes. He tied the reins of his horse to one and drew his bow. The rest of us emulated him. We had no bows but we were all well armed.  I drew my sword and seax. Cnut and Rollo were the only ones with their shields.  They stepped forward and followed Snorri.  The wind was still coming from the south and east.  It would not take our smell to the cave.  It would sweep it back up to the top of the Lough Rigg.  If the Danes were in the cave they would have a sentry. Any sentry would wait beneath the overhang of the rocky roof, sheltered from the worst of the weather. Snorri edged around the path which led there. 

Suddenly he stopped and he handed his bow to Cnut.  Drawing a dagger he slipped to the ground and disappeared from sight. Cnut, Leif and Rollo moved slowly forward and we followed.  Snorri reappeared and took his bow. He waved us forward.  The sentry lay with his throat cut. I could see a faint glow from inside the cave.  I knelt to examine the warrior. He had four warrior bands and his face was tattooed. It confirmed that he was a Dane as Snorri had surmised. If the others were the same then these were not just a band of young warriors out for an adventure. These knew what they were doing. These were experienced warriors and here for a purpose.

Snorri silently entered the cave.  It turned back on itself.  The Danes would be at the far end.  I glanced to the left where I saw firelight flickering off the dark black pool which stood there.  That was where the spirit of the ancient wizard had risen and I found myself pressing into the opposite side of the cave.  The rocks beneath my feet were treacherous and I had to put thoughts of the dead pool from my mind as I concentrated upon keeping my feet. The sounds of the wind and the sleet abated and I could hear the murmur of conversation ahead.  They were within.  The dead sentry had confirmed this but their voices told us that they were still awake. Snorri paused and we all stopped.  I sniffed the air.  I could smell wood smoke but not horses.  The men had come on foot.

Snorri readied an arrow. He slid to the ground and Cnut and Rollo stepped up to ready their shields. Leif and Olaf Leather Neck were at my side. We moved across the stones to stand behind our men with the shields.  We could see nothing but it was obvious that Snorri could. He stood and released first one and then a second arrow. He turned and nodded.  Cnut and Rollo ran.  We followed.

There had been nine Danes.  Two now writhed on the floor of the cave with arrows in them.  The others were grabbing weapons and helmets to face us. I had no time to think of magic for we had Danes to slay. As we ran towards them I shouted.  "A prisoner if we can!"

The seven who remained stood with their backs to the fire.  They would sell their lives dearly.  These were warriors and surrender would never enter their  heads. Cnut and Rollo used their shields to drive a wedge between the Danes. As a Dane swung his axe at Cnut Cnutson's unprotected right side I lunged forward and my sword deflected the axe to the ground. I stabbed at him with my seax. He brought the haft of his axe across his body to block the strike. I swung my sword sideways.  His left leg was unprotected and my sword bit into his upper thigh.  It struck bone and stopped. I ripped it back and he fell to the ground.

A sword came at me from my right.  I sensed rather than saw it and I barely had time to bring my sword around to block it.  The Dane bundled into me and we both fell to the ground. He stank of stale sweat and old seal oil. His lank and greasy beard pressed into my face.  He turned his head and opened his mouth.  I knew what he intended, he would bite off my nose.  At the same time he was trying to bring his sword up.  It was still locked with mine and our hands and swords fought for space to slide a blade into the other. His breath stank worse that he did.  I noticed that he had filed his teeth to make them look frightening.  He raised his head so that he could bring it down on my nose and tear it from my face.  As he did I lowered my chin.  His blackened teeth struck my face mask.   He roared in pain and his back arced a little.  I brought my seax up and began to worm it under his right armpit. He tried to wriggle away but our swords were still locked. I felt flesh and I pushed harder. He roared again and I twisted as I pushed. It slid past a bone and my hand stopped at his armpit.  I pushed even harder, driving the seax as far into his body as I could make it go.  Suddenly his body went limp.  I pushed him from me and stood.

Rollo was lying injured but the rest stood.  The Danes were finished.  The one whose leg I had had hacked lived yet.  His hand tried to creep across to his axe so that he could die with a weapon in his hand.  I walked to him and put my foot on his hand.  "Before we send you to Valhalla you will talk. Leif, tie something around his leg!" I did not want him bleeding to death before he had talked. Leif tied a leather thong he had hacked from a shield around the top of the Dane's leg.

The tattooed warrior spat out a gobbet of blood, "Just kill me and end it."

"Why are you here? Who sent you?"

He laughed although it was a weak laugh for he was dying, "You steal the greatest treasure, the tax gold of the Franks and you ask why we come?  I thought you were clever. For the gold!"

Snorri asked, "How did you think you would steal it? There are nine of you."

"We managed to hide from you for half a month did we not?" He grinned.  He too had blackened teeth which had been filed and stained. "You celebrate the feast of the White Christ. Then we would have had your gold!"

"Who is your leader?"

"I am the leader.  I am Sven the Merciless."

"Who is your Jarl?" He said nothing.  I reached down and tore open his tunic.  There he had a golden wolf such as my Ulfheonar wore.  I ripped it from his neck. "Where did you get this?"

For the first time he looked worried.  "Give it back to me and end my life."

Olaf Leather Neck snarled, "What if I take your balls first and then hack off your right hand! Answer the Jarl.  Who sent you?" He took out his seax and knelt next to the Dane's groin.

"Ragnar Ruriksson gave us the golden wolf and said it would protect us against your magic. It had a spell laid upon it by a witch. He told us we could keep the gold if we stole it. I have told you all now keep your word, Jarl and let me die."

I nodded.  Olaf put the axe in his hand and then ripped his seax across his throat.

I turned to Snorri, "How is Rollo?"

"The cut was to his leg. It will heal."

I pointed to the fire.  "Let us be certain.  Use a brand to seal the wound."

Leif and Olaf held Rollo as Snorri pressed the red hot piece of burning wood into the wound.  There was a hiss and the smell of burning hair and flesh but Rollo gritted his teeth and said not a word.

"We will leave as soon as Rollo can stand.  We will spend the night at his father's farm. Tomorrow we will search the bodies."

Erik Eriksson came over to me and took out his own wolf. "The two are close, Jarl."

"Aye but not identical.  Aiden did not make this." I took out my seax and began to scrape at the gold.  Ours were made of solid gold. I soon discovered that this one was a thin layer of gold on top of iron. "This is a cheap copy."

Snorri finished bandaging Rollo's leg and said, "Yet it had enough magic to hide them from Aiden and Kara."

"You are right.  This Ragnar Ruriksson must be dealt with."

Snorri rode ahead to warn Audun Thin Hair that we returned.  They were ready for us with hot food and ale.  Rollo's mother had prepared a bed for him. Rollo was soon asleep but we sat around the fire talking of the Danes. Rolf Horse Killer asked, "What did he mean the feast of the White Christ? Why would that be a good time to take the gold?"

Olaf Leather Neck added another log to the fire, "The Ulfheonar would all be in their own homes at the shortest time of the year. Men would not wear armour and the Jarl and his family would be celebrating in his hall.  The Jarl's lady is Christian and it is known we give gifts and celebrate."

Snorri said, "There is something else, Jarl.  Those Danes made for that cave.  They avoided all but Audun here. They knew about the Yule celebration and the gifts that are given." He held up his golden wolf.  "And there is this.  Someone has examined a wolf amulet or seen one at least.  When we fight they are not seen and we never leave an Ulfheonar, dead or wounded, on the field.  The only time someone can see one of these is at a feast. Whoever described this to Ragnar Ruriksson has seen one."

My scout was right. When we had celebrated our victory over Hakon the Bald and King Egbert we had feasted.  My Ulfheonar had worn their finest clothes and their wolves were displayed for all to see.  Many men had examined the wolves with interest for they were wonderfully made by Aiden.

"Then it is someone who sailed and fought with us but now serves Ragnar Ruriksson."

Rolf Horse Killer said, "When we were in Dyflin did I not hear that some men had gone outlaw and left Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson?"

Olaf said, "Aye I heard that.  If a man murders his own clan and becomes outlaw he would end up serving a man like Ragnar Ruriksson."

Leif said little but when he did it was important, "Hermund the Bent served Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson.  He saw the golden amulets we wore.  I remember he asked if it was made of real gold.  It was only now that I remembered this.  I did not like him." The others nodded at the memory of the man.

"Then we find this enemy when the first grass grows and we end this."

"But if he has taken shelter with King Egbert..."

I looked at Erik, "We end this.  If he takes shelter in Miklagård we end it. But for Snorri's sharp eyes these could have attacked at Yule.  Then it might have been our families who suffered. They could have taken the Ulfheonar one by one.  If this Hermund the Bent told them about the wolf would they not tell their new master how the Ulfheonar are spread out and live with their families alone?"

"Aye Hermund the Bent knew where we lived."

My warriors took that in.  They had thought of me being in danger, as I had, but then I had realised that the treasure was no longer in one place.  It was spread out. When the feast was over it could have been that many of my oathsworn would be dead. I saw the eyes of my men harden.  They would take any danger but a threat to their family was unforgivable.

We returned to the cave the next day.  We left Rollo to recover at home.  His mother would ensure he was cared for.  We borrowed ponies from Audun and loaded the armour and weapons upon them.  We made a pyre outside the cave and burned the bodies.  It was not an act of  kindness.  I did not want their spirits to haunt the cave nor did I want the wolves and the foxes to descend and feast on their flesh. We sent them to the Otherworld and rode back to Cyninges-tūn; all of us were eager to see our families.

We were greeted at the gates by our families.  When we had not returned they had been worried.  The armour and weapons were sent to Bjorn Bagsecgson and I went into Aiden and Kara's hall.  Brigid and Gruffyd were there. I took out the wolf I had taken from the Danish leader. Kara put her hand over it and then recoiled.  "You are right, father, it is bewitched.  There is a spell upon this. We need Bjorn's fire to destroy it."

I nodded, "We will do that soon. First I have to tell you that we will be spending Yule with Wolf Killer. He has invited us and I wondered at the wisdom of going for my hall is more comfortable but now I see that it is
wyrd
."

Kara and Aiden nodded. Brigid looked troubled, "But why? If there is danger then surely we will be safer in these walls?"

Kara put her arm around my wife, "Did you not listen to my father.  They know of our customs and our rituals.  If we do things the same way then we become predictable.  My father never spends Yule anywhere else but here. Last year was the first time he spent Yule with my brother.  The traitor would not know that. It is my father who draws the danger. I think it is right."

"But what of the feast of the White Christ?"

I smiled, "I am sure that Wolf Killer will not object."

"But Macha and Deidra celebrate with me."

Kara nodded, "Then I will ask them if they would accompany you. How would that be?"

I saw that Kara had found the solution. "Very well.  This Ragnar Ruriksson is a bad man!"