Viking Vengeance (6 page)

"He is Bishop Thuderic of Julpille."

I nodded.  "Come let us get you some better clothes and food." I saw Rollo Thin Skin and Hrolf as I entered our camp. "Hrolf.  Here is another countryman.  Get him food and clothes.  He is one of us now. He is Hermund One Eye."

He looked at me, "One Eye?"

"Well you are no longer unlucky for you are a rich man.  You are one of my men and that means you share in my bounty."

The afternoon was filled with the sound of animals being prepared for the voyage; some would be eaten and the smaller ones taken with us. Some carcasses were salted but we soon ran out of salt.  We would eat well on the voyage home. The next day the captives were closely guarded.  I had Hermund bring a burning torch and I spoke quietly to Haaken and gave him instructions. I sought out Hrolf. "Come with us.  I have a task for you."

We waited before the walls and watched the sun climb into the sky. I had Bishop Thuderic tethered to Hrolf and on his knees.  My sword was out. "Hermund, tell him that if they are late he dies."

When the words were translated the Bishop looked up at me with pure hatred in his eyes.  I smiled.  The followers of the White Christ feared their priests but not I. Just before noon I saw the Franks.  Four men carried the chest. They laid it before them. I waved four of my men forward.  They were led by Snorri.  He reached them and opened the lid. He waved and nodded. I shouted, "Count it!"

The Franks did not understand my words but when he began to take each piece out they began shouting. I said to Hermund, "Go and tell them that when we have counted half of the money then the women and children will be released and when it is all there then he can have the priests. Return here when you have delivered my message."

He did so and I heard the raised voices.  He came back and he was grinning.  It was his first smile since he had been scarred and lost his eye. "They are not happy Jarl Dragonheart."

"Good I am not here to make Franks happy." When Snorri raised his hand I said, "Release the women and children. Hermund, tell them to go."

They ran as though they feared I would change my mind. The younger noble rode over along with a second.  They had the same design on their shield; silver stars on a purple background. Hermund rejoined me and he scowled his hatred at the noble. The Frank appeared oblivious to the hate.  He spoke to Hermund, "He says he will remember you, Jarl Dragonheart."

I nodded.  "Tell him I will remember his face too."

"He said he is Lord Charles of Rheims and he is close to the King."

I laughed, "Tell him I have pissed on kings before now and I have yet to see one I respected!"

I knew I had angered him.

Snorri raised his hand and began to come back. I said to Hrolf, "Translate this word for word as I say it."

"Aye Jarl Dragonheart." I nodded to Haaken who took the burning brand from Hrolf.

"I believe, in your Holy Book of the White Christ it is written
'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
'?" He nodded.  "Then know this, Frank, a Viking never forgets and a Viking's vengeance is terrible to behold. If I see you again you will die.  Haaken!" Haaken plunged the burning brand into the right eye of Bishop Thuderic. The bishop screamed and there was a hiss and the smell of burning flesh. "An eye for an eye! I never said you would have them unharmed did I?"

Charles of Rheims drew his sword and I drew mine.  I said, "We can fight here, now, Charles of Rheims but if we do then every one of these priests dies. Speak! Give me an answer.  Do we fight? " My men had their seaxes at the throats of the priests in an instant. This was one of those moments upon which lives were changed.

Hrolf gabbled his translation as Snorri and the gold was taken to safety.

Charles of Rheims sheathed his sword and said something before turning and galloping off.

Hermund said, "He swore that he would  have revenge for this act. From this day forth all Vikings will be burned alive.  This is war."

The priests took the Bishop and headed for the safety of the Frankish lines.

Haaken laughed, "Then life becomes interesting once more! We have another enemy who seeks our lives!"

We had the time to load the ships secure and to ensure that we could tow the smaller boats too.  We used them for the goods we had captured. I prayed that we would have safe winds to take us home.  It would make a perfect end to an almost perfect raid.

It was a veritable fleet of ships which sailed into the river at Úlfarrston.  We had had more room on board but we had been forced to travel at the pace of the slow Frankish ships.  The men who captained them for me were not impressed by their handling. We would use them for spares and for firewood when we were done. By the time we reached our friends Hermund's wound was less angry.  Aiden and Kara would be able to do something for him, of that I had no doubt. He and Hrolf had become popular with all of the men on my drekar.  Hrolf, in particular, was seen as a future warrior. He constantly harangued Haaken and the others for stories of my life and my adventures.

We had never returned with as much treasure or as few losses as that one voyage.  We had been away for some time but there were men who would now be able to afford a full mail byrnie, a new sword and a helmet as good as mine.  Others would buy animals and begin their own farms while there were some who would use this as the opportunity to marry. My only worry was those who had stayed at home would be a little jealous.  Wolf Killer would not be among them.  He would have a third of my treasure and Kara and Aiden another third.  I had enough for my needs. I shared with my family.

Coen ap Pasgen, the headman of Úlfarrston, could not believe the treasure as it was brought ashore. We did not have enough carts to carry it all. I pointed to the captured vessels. "When the Frankish ships have been emptied and Bolli the shipwright has taken all that he needs then use the wood to make carts."

"But they are seaworthy ships, Jarl Dragonheart."

Erik Short Toe, who had stepped ashore with us spat into the water. "I would not sail on the Water with those let alone the sea.  I feared they would capsize each league we took closer to home.  Make them carts, headman, that is all they are fit for."

Coen shook his head still.  "We have merchants now who sail with knarr which are full of weed. And worm.  They would pay for such ships."

I smiled, "If they wish to buy them then you have permission to sell them. We will share the profits."

My Ulfheonar organised and guarded the treasure.  I rode ahead to my home with just Haaken for company.  It was one of the rare privileges I enjoyed. Others served me. My land looked welcoming as we emerged from the forest and looked on the Water with Old Olaf smiling down.  It had been a good raid and we had not been away too long but it was good to be home. That side of being a Viking always felt alien to me. Perhaps that was the old people, my mother's folk.  This had been their land and it was part of me.

Grim the fisherman, Olaf's father, saw us as we emerged from the forest and he sailed north to tell the people that we were home. Although it would take many hours for my warriors to reach Cyninges-tūn, wives and mothers would begin to prepare food for their Vikings.

"Are you worried about this Frank, Lord Charles of Rheims, Jarl?"

I shook my head, "He lives an ocean away and we have seen their ships. If he sailed here he would need to be a braver man than I take him for.  But if he chose to come and seek vengeance then we would defeat him.  They have no heart for fighting; we saw that. If they had then they would have attacked us the moment that they saw us outside their settlement. They outnumbered us but they were afraid to take us on.  As soon as they waited to speak, then I knew."

"Perhaps they feared for their families."

"And that is what I mean.  If my family was threatened it would not stop me fighting but if anything happened to them then my revenge would be terrible.  It would be the same for you. The vengeance of a Viking is a terrible thing to behold.

"Aye but I am not jarl. I follow you and I serve you.  I would not have that decision to make.  You do."

We rode the last few miles in silence. He was right; he was always right.  He knew me better than any man alive and we had stood side by side since we were little more than children. I knew not what I would do without him. His words made me think and reflect.

Those who lived along the edge of the Water and the feet of the Old Man came to greet us as we passed.  Many had sons and husbands who fought alongside us. They did not ask after their warriors, they showed their respect by honouring me.

"The Allfather watches over you, Jarl."

"You have had a great victory, Jarl Dragonheart?"

"The wolf returns; we will all prosper."

My people believed that their well being and that of the land depended upon me.  Only good could result from my return. They believed that the crops would be greater, the animals more fertile and the Water be filled with fish. They also knew that we rarely came back from a raid empty handed and that meant they too would benefit from our success.

Haaken left me a mile or two from my hall.  He had his own hall up in the woods on the foothills of the Old Man. There his family awaited him. His wife Unn would be happy to see her hero return. I had a mile to travel lone and I saw Cyninges-tūn growing larger as I drew close to its wooden walls. It gave me comfort to see the solid walls and ditches.  They made us safe from attack.  We had not suffered one since the wolf winter many years ago but we were vigilant.

Brigid and Gruffyd waited at the gates for me. Of Aiden and Kara there was no sign.  I was worried, briefly, and then I realised that if anything bad had happened then the people we had passed would have told us. It was more likely that Kara wanted Brigid to enjoy the welcome without the distraction of my two spirit guides. I smiled as I approached my family.  Gruffyd was standing, albeit unsteadily. He was growing. A Viking warrior saw his children growing by stages.  He would be away and when he returned it would be as though his child was a different being.

I dismounted.  The pony wandered to the Water to drink.  He would not stray far. Gruffyd held out his hand and I swept him up.  His little arms wrapped around my head.  He smelled clean and I felt dirty. "You have grown my little warrior and yet it has been less than a moon since I last saw you."

I put my left arm around Brigid who hugged me, "He began to walk four days since.  He was determined that he would not be carried."

"Quite right too." I wandered down to the Water and placed him on the back of the pony. "Hold on to the mane." I put his hands into the pony's mane and led him by the reins back to Brigid.

"Be careful! He might fall!"

"And he will learn not to do so a second time.  He is a Viking, my wife, he must learn to take knocks and blows.  It will make him harder."

"But he is a child."

"There is no such thing as a Viking child; there are only Vikings who have yet to spill blood."

She shook her head.  "Why did I marry a Viking and live among such people?"

I laughed, "Because you wanted a real man and not someone who would allow you to be mistreated."

She hugged me as we walked, "You are right.  I forget those dark times but some of your ways are still a mystery to me."

"And that means you will never have a dull life will you?" I was in a good mood.  I enjoyed the banter.

The gate was thronged with my people. They too called out their greetings. I waved a hand behind me, "Your men folk return.  We have had a good raid. We have gold, Holy Books and meat which we must eat for it was not salted.  Tonight we feast!"

They all cheered.  Had we not had success I would have told them. They knew that I was never foresworn. They had the truth from me; no matter how unpalatable. I turned to Brigid. "Where are Kara and Aiden?"

"In the house of women.  She is close to her time. Macha and Deidra are with them.  Kara was convinced that your granddaughter awaited your return to enter this world."

I heard the scepticism in her voice, "And you do not?"

"I am still a Christian.  How can I believe that?"

I nodded.  "There will come a time." I handed her the reins of the pony.  "I will see my daughter and then I must use the steam hut. I need cleansing."

"I sent Uhtric to light it when Grim brought the news of your return.  I will come with you." She gave me a wry smile, "I would like to cleanse you too."

I kissed her, "I believe that is how Gruffyd came into the world."

"And perhaps he needs a sister eh?"

Scanlan, the headman, greeted me as I headed towards my daughter's hall.  "We have much iron which needs trading, Jarl Dragonheart."

"Good but make sure that Bjorn has the first choice of the iron.  Many warriors will be buying new weapons from him!"

"It was a good raid then?"

"It was."

"That is why more people are coming to our land to settle. We have had many visits from merchants too.  Our home is growing."

"Then we must make a sacrifice to the gods, Scanlan.  It does not do to take them for granted."

"Aye Jarl."

I strode into the house of women.  My daughter provided a refuge for those women whose husbands had died or chose to live with other women or wished to be a volva.  Deidra and Macha who had been servants of the White Christ lived there and ran it. Aiden was the only man, apart from me, who was allowed in. 

Aiden came to greet me.  "Jarl Dragonheart, Kara said you would come this day and she was right."

"Is the child born yet?"

"No but it is coming soon.  The women know such things."

Even though they had been captured many years ago and we had treated them well, Deidra and Macha were always a little apprehensive around me.  The fact that I was here and the birthing was so close also made them uncomfortable.  The Norse women saw it as natural. The followers of the White Christ did not. Kara was lying on a pile of skins.  They were sheepskins topped by the skin of a wolf.  I was a wolf warrior and the skin would give my grandchild the protection of the wolf.

"You will have a granddaughter soon, father."

"Good." I kissed her on the forehead.  She looked radiant. I saw in her face my dead wife, Erika.

"Mother is here with us too.  She is happy."

That was the trouble with having a volva for a daughter; she read your thoughts. "I will go and be cleansed then I shall return."

She nodded, "And when you do I will be cleaned and ready with our child suckling in my arms."

I turned to leave.  I saw that Aiden was torn between his wife and the desire to speak with me.  "Stay with Kara.  My news will wait. A few hours will not change it."

When I returned to Kara and Aiden I felt like a new man.  I had been cleansed and Brigid had combed and oiled my beard and hair. I had learned to enjoy such pleasures in Miklagård. I had left the warrior in the steam hut and now I was Jarl Dragonheart ruler of  the land of the waters, Cyninges-tūn. We left Gruffyd with Uhtric and went to see Kara.  My daughter had been right and my granddaughter suckled at her breast. Brigid shook her head, "How did you know?"

Kara frowned, "I am a volva.  I know my own body. I knew."

I saw that Aiden looked proud.  I clasped his hand.  "The babe is well?"

He laughed, "How would it be otherwise.  She has healthy lungs and eats well."

"Have you named her yet?"

"We will dream it tonight.  The spirits will tell us."

The baby had finished suckling and Kara held her out to me. "Meet your grandfather, child."

I picked up the baby whose eyes had closed.  She had that smell which all babies have. I closed my eyes and sniffed.  I could smell Wolf Killer, Gruffyd and Kara when they had been born. I held her close.  Her tiny fingers wriggled into my beard. I put my mouth close to her ear and said softly, so that only she would hear, "I swear that I will guard you and your parents with my life. I am Jarl Dragonheart and you are descended from the ancient ones of this land.  One day you will grow into the most powerful woman in this land.  I am no wizard but I can see that. You are part of me and part of this land." I kissed her and handed her back to Kara.  Kara nodded and I saw tears in her eyes.

Brigid took my arm. "Come husband, let us go. They need to be alone with their child and the people have a feast prepared for you."

The old warrior hall in Cyninges-tūn was now used by my people for feasting. Most warriors had their own farms and homes. As I entered they all cheered. None of my Ulfheonar were there.  They would be with their families but all those, like Rolf Eriksson who had been on the raid, were. Karl One Hand who had been an Ulfheonar was now the warrior who watched my home when I was absent.  He stood aside from his seat at the end of the table and greeted me, "Hail Jarl Dragonheart! Until we have the songs sung by Haaken, tell us of the great deeds that you performed in Frankia."

I waved them to their seats and then said, "Instead of my words hear the stories from a new Viking; a warrior who will fight alongside us.  Come, Hrolf son of Gerloc, warrior of Neustria and tell your new family your story and how the Norns wove it into my story and Hermund One Eye will fill in any gaps.  I would eat and drink for I have missed Thorbjorg the ale wife's beer!"

Thorbjorg swelled with pride at my praise. Hrolf began to tell his story, haltingly at first but growing in confidence when my people hung on his every word. Hermund helped him out a couple of times. I smiled for it was obvious that Hrolf had never had such attention before.  I could see him growing and becoming a Viking once more. He and Hermund had been close on the voyage home for they had much in common. Hermund had taken the young slave under his wing.  Even as I listened to them I was planning for their future. I leaned closer to Brigid. "I would have these two live in my hall."