Viking Vengeance (12 page)

"Of course.  Like you I am never foresworn."

"Then I can tell you that I intend to pay back this Egbert and I will lead a raid on his land.  I would, with your permission, offer the chance of glory to any of your young men who wish to go A-Viking."

He nodded, "Most of my drekar are away raiding the Irish.  But my youngest son has a drekar.  When would you want them?"

"We sail at the end of the month."

"Almost winter eh?  A clever strategy.  My drekar will be returned by then.  If my son and his crew wish to join you then they will be ready by the end of the month. But for tonight we will fete and feast you.  I would hear more of your voyages and your raids. Every trader who visits us tell us something new.  Sometimes they are exaggerated so much they are hard to believe."

"Then I will tell you the true version and after you shall hear Haaken's version." He laughed.

It was a good feast.  We got on better with these brethren who lived on the exposed island where life was hard and the warriors harder still. I met his son, Gunnar Thorfinnson. He agreed to join our raid even before he heard Haaken's song.  I saw a little of Wolf Killer in him for he lived in the shadow of a famous father and was keen to make a name for himself. Haaken's sagas, he sang two of them,  were received even more rapturously than in Dyflin.  He positively glowed with the adulation or perhaps that was the ale.

As we boarded our drekar the next morning Gunnar promised to come to Úlfarrston at the end of the month in his father's drekar,
'Raven Wing'
. We had our warriors.  Now I needed Aiden to choose the target.

Half a month seems a long time but not when you are preparing to raid.  My jarls told me who would be joining my raid.  Ketil took the  drekar of Sigtrygg for my southern jarl had the early winter sickness.  He coughed constantly and both Kara and Aiden advised that he stay in his hall.  They gave him potions to heal him.  It meant his ship,
'Crow'
was crewed by two war bands. Wolf Killer and Asbjorn both offered to come too. Eystein the Rock sailed with Olaf on
'Red Snake'
. We double crewed where we could. With ship's boys we would have almost four hundred men. It would be the largest raid I had ever led.  I had to make sure we got things right.

Aiden and I pored over the maps and charts.  The new one we had found in St. Asaph gave us added information. We knew from traders and gossip that King Egbert was in the far west of his kingdom subjugating the land of Corn Walum.  That mean that his heartland, around Wintan-ceastre, would be undefended. There were nunneries and monasteries close by.  We counted on the fact that he would keep part of his treasury there too. We would need to capture the port of Hamwic but from what Aiden had discovered it was not likely to be well defended.

"Will you travel with us, Aiden, or do you intend to stay here with your family? It is your decision."

"I will come with you for I am keen to see what I can discover.  It is the centre of Wessex and there may be knowledge for me there."

"Good.  My warriors always prefer a galdramenn with them."

I was only taking a hundred or so of my own men and so we were able to leave thirty warriors to guard our home.  Bjorn and his smith were also doughty fighters.  My home would be safe. Arne's numbers, at Thorkell's Stad, had also grown.  He and his men did not wish to raid.  We had a ready force should someone like Harald Iron Shirt return.

We left just as the harvest was being gathered. It would be a good time to strike Wessex; with the King away most of his men would be working in their fields. With luck we would have a grain harvest too.  Siggi and Coen Ap Pasgen's captain, Raibeart, accompanied us as we set sail. I anticipated great rewards and they would bring back more than we could carry in our drekar. The one problem with taking the knarr was their speed.  We had to stop twice on the way south.  We knew many deserted beaches and landing sites.  As we had so many ships and warriors we were not worried.  Perhaps this was the way we needed to raid in future. I could not envisage a danger to us.  Once we left the safety of the sea then there would be danger but with our drekar close by we were safe.

The last leg of the journey took us close by the cave of the witch.  Aiden sensed her presence but the Norns allowed us to travel east without incident. We did not travel as fast as we might have done.  I wanted to land at night and take Hamwic without alerting the countryside. I knew that we were observed but as we had never raided Wessex before I gambled on the fact that they would think we were heading for Frankia. Our raids there were well known. There was a Frankish price on our heads!

Aiden had the maps and Erik was the best captain.  Under furled sails we rowed up the channel between the island of Vectis and the mainland. The sun had set behind us and we had a ship's boy in the bows watching for the tell tale white foam that would mark breakers. There were two rivers, the Test and the Itchen.  We knew that Hamwic lay on the Itchen. Our plan was to sail up the Test and cross over the narrow neck of land and attack the port from the landward side. We saw no fishing ships as we rowed up the channel.  It was wide and there appeared to be no danger from either fort or warship.  We went in one long line.  That had been my decision; if we struck any hidden danger then only one drekar would be damaged. The gods were with us and we struck neither hidden reef nor rock.

We used hand signals and the oars were lifted from the water so that Erik could lay us alongside the muddy bank.  I felt the keel as it grounded. That was not a problem. Once we had disembarked she would ride higher in the water anyway. As soon as the keel touched Snorri and Beorn the Scout led ten of our young warriors to leap ashore and spread out in a thin line. They would warn us of any danger. I followed with the Ulfheonar. The mud tried to suck us down.  The tide was on its way out.  We struggled to the grassy bank and I waited for the others to join us.  With so many drekar it would take some time to land all of our men.

As soon as Asbjorn and his men joined me I led us all towards the distant port.  We could smell the wood smoke and see the slight glow from the huts and halls. Snorri and Beorn took off with their young scouts close by.  They all had bows and if there were any guards or sentries then they would die. It was scrubby ground we crossed.  From the cow pats and sheep droppings it was used, during the day, for grazing.  That told me that there would be animal pens close by. We could use those for cover. We had travelled but five hundred paces when I began to make out the wooden palisade. To our left I heard the sound of animals.  They were the animal pens. I waved Asbjorn and his men to the left.  They could use the animals to mask any noise and movement.  I went for the gate. 

Snorri and Beorn rose like wraiths beside me. They pointed to the gates and drew their fingers across their throats.  The sentries were dead.  From the lack of noise on the other side of the palisade I guessed that it was the part which would be busy during the day; the workshops and  warehouses. I drew my sword and ran to the gate.  While my young scouts clambered over the low palisade we prepared to launch ourselves into the heart of the Saxon settlement.

Ketil and his men appeared behind me.  We now had at least three crews ready to fight.  The people of Hamwic had no idea what was about to descend upon them. The gates opened silently and we entered.  We made not a sound.  I wanted to be as far in as I could get before we were noticed.  If we could reach the Itchen side of the town then we could stop anyone escaping and giving the alarm. It was my eager young scouts who gave us away.  They were so eager to impress me that they burst out of the narrow alley and were seen by some men who were by the fire in the heart of the town, talking.  My young warriors released arrows but the shout still went up.  "Vikings!"

There was no longer any need for secrecy or quiet and the Ulfheonar howled like wolves as we fell upon the Saxons. I had been right, most of the warriors were with the King but there were still enough to make a defence. Bagsecg Rolfsson had raced too far ahead and he was hacked  in two by a warrior who led six others.  None had mail but they handled their weapons like seasoned veterans.  

"On me!"

My Ulfheonar flanked me and we ran at them as they tried to allow time for their families to flee. We hit them at speed and they stood still. The blow from the sword struck my shield but the sheer weight of me and my armour drove my sword deep within the leader's body, I felt my sword scrape his spine and he died.  I lowered my sword and allowed his body to slip from it. My other, younger warriors, had heeded the death of Bagsecg and they moved together.  They reached the gates and shut them.  Hamwic was ours.  By the time dawn had broken we had slain all of the men and gathered the women and children in the centre of the settlement.

"Ketil, take your men and bring around the drekar.  This harbour is a better one in which to wait."

Asbjorn, begin to gather the grain, animals and treasure.  We will send it back to Úlfarrston."

Gunnar Thorfinnson asked, "Do we not divide it now?"

"We will gather it at Úlfarrston.  That is close enough to all our homes.  You and your father will get your share.  I am Jarl Dragonheart; trust to my word."

He bowed his head a little, "Sorry Jarl. This is the first raid where I have served another Jarl."

"We will divide the captives here and you may use your share as servants while we are here."

Gunnstein Berserk-Killer smiled, "Then we raid more?  Good.  I thought that this was it and my sword has only tasted blood once."

"As soon as the knarr is loaded then we leave for Wintan-ceastre.  I would strike there before word is out that there are Vikings in the heart of Wessex."

Gunnar Thorfinnson said, "But surely we contained them all."

Olaf Leather Neck snorted, "Some will have escaped.  The boys who secured the gate found it open.  The men of Wessex will be drawn here."

"Aye, I want five men from each boat to stay here and guard the drekar and the town.  Erik Short Toe, my captain will command."

Snorri and Beorn were sent to find horses. Aiden took out his maps. "There should be a Roman Road running north.  It is twelve Roman miles to Wintan-ceastre."

"We can be there before noon?"

Aiden smiled, "You and the Ulfheonar can but I fear that the ones who are like me may struggle."

"It will be a good test of the warriors we lead." Snorri and Beorn the Scout rode up.  "Take the road north and scout out Wintan-ceastre.  It should not take you long.  One reports back to me. We will be on the road. The other can remain to watch the town."

"Aye Jarl."

We ate while the captives were divided and set to work. I addressed the men who were the guards.  "You must hold Hamwic and the drekar for us.  We are nothing without our ships. Those whose swords have yet to drink will soon have the chance." They banged their shields.

With the prospect of more treasure and battle everyone ate quickly and I led the column north along the Roman road.  We went at a fast pace. I had found a horse for Aiden.  He rode with us.  My men did not mind and the new warriors had heard of the power of this galdramenn.  They watched him warily. I had given Gunnar Gunnarson the honour of carrying my banner. He had shown himself to be a doughty warrior when we had fought the  men of Strathclyde. It lay easily across his shoulder as we headed north. It would be the only banner we fought beneath. We wanted King Egbert to get the message; do not anger the wolf with the heart of a dragon.

The thin sun was climbing, albeit slowly, when Beorn the Scout found us. "We have seen the town.  They know not that we are here for the gates are open." He swung his arm around.  "I have seen a monastery and a nunnery just a mile or two from the main road."

I halted the column.  This was too good an opportunity to miss. "Asbjorn, take your men and find the monastery which lies yonder." I pointed in the direction Beorn had indicated. "Aiden go with them. Gunnar Thorfinnson, take your band to the nunnery. Beorn lead them there,  Aiden will show you how to find their secret treasures." I went close to the son of Blue Scar. "Make sure your men do not hurt the women.  They are more valuable if they are left untouched.  Beorn here has been raiding these many years.  Heed his advice."

"Aye, Jarl."

"Take whatever you find back to Hamwic."

My slightly depleted band continued north.  I was gambling again. When word got out then every church of the White Christ would hide their treasures.  Every man who could bear arms would gather to fight us.  They would raise the fyrd. Although not warriors they would be fighting for their land and their families. They would die hard! I wanted to have Wintan-ceastre securely in my hands before that happened. I intended to use it as a base to ravage Egbert's homeland.

It was only after our raid that they began to make Wintan-ceastre into a well defended burgh.  Before that morning Egbert and the men of Wessex had thought that their town was safe.  My men waited in the woods a mile and a half from the walls and I headed, with Haaken and Wolf Killer to my scout. When we reached Snorri I saw that the Saxons had built a wall running around it and a ditch but they only had towers at the main gates. It showed they were complacent. Speed was of the essence. We would be seen when we were a mile away.  Once we reached that point it would be a race to see if we could reach the gates in time.

"What do you suggest Wolf Killer?"

"Most of Gunnstein Berserk-Killer's men have no armour.  They should be fast.  If we send them to run and reach the gates they might get there before they are closed."

"Good, then you take your men now and go around the walls to the northern gate.  Secure them."

"Aye, Jarl."

My son had been an Ulfheonar.  He knew how to use cover.  In addition he and his men were keen to wreak revenge on the man who had ordered the slaying of their families.  Their blood lust had not been slated by the slaughter of the Danes.

"Gunnstein, when we head towards the town I want you and your men to run and try to reach them before they are closed.  It will be a hard task. If you do not reach them then have your men with bows clear the gates.  It will take them some time to organise a defence."

"Aye Jarl.  I am honoured that you give me this chance for glory.  I will not let you down."

"You will learn that it is not others that you need worry about.  You will do well if you do not let yourself down."

With the men from Dyflin leading we headed up the road. We moved at double speed.  It was but a mile and half.  The closer we came to the town the more I could see its extent.  I saw the high buildings within.  I saw that the town itself covered a large area.  It was no Lundenwic but it was becoming one. Hope rose when I saw Gunnstein and his men just five hundred paces from the gates. They were still open. Did they have no sentries?

"Hurry! We may catch them with their breeks down!"

Gunnstein was just a hundred paces from the gates when they began to close. I saw a mailed figure with two others run across the ditch.  It seemed impossible that they would make the gates but I saw that the gates did not close completely. The men of Dyflin ran to their leader's aid.