swiftly to hamstring one of them and Ulf used the fallen body to jump high into the air and crash down on the warriors pressing to get at Olaf. My Ulfheonar spread out and Danes were pushed over the side to be dragged down by their mail into the icy waters.
I was almost knocked against the mast by a blow from a Danish axe. My shield took the blow and I stabbed at his head. Using an axe two handed meant you had no shield. Ragnar's Spirit went into his mouth and came out at the back of his neck. Asbjorn and his crew were given heart by our sudden attack and they fell upon the other side of the Danes. Rolf and I were suddenly without foes. "Rolf, hack a hole in the hull!"
He grinned, "Aye Jarl."
I shouted, "Back to 'Odin's Breath' !" Olaf and the others redoubled their efforts and soon joined up with Asbjorn. His archers picked off any Dane who looked likely to follow. I felt water at my feet. Rolf had succeeded. The drekar was sinking. "Back to the ship."
I punched a warrior in the face with my shield as I swung Ragnar's Spirit sideways. I cleared a path and followed Rolf Horse Killer. The Dane was filling with water faster than I intended and I wondered if I would make the side of Asbjorn's drekar. Its deck was higher than the Dane's. I sheathed my sword and looked for a way off the doomed vessel. I saw a Danish body and I ran at it. I pushed off and leapt up. It was a leap of faith but it was rewarded as my Ulfheonar pulled me to safety. By the time I had turned around the Dane was almost sunk and we had beaten off the Danish attack.
Chapter 4
We caught up with the knarr the next morning. I only knew of Asbjorn's losses but I suspected that he had suffered the most. Eight of his men had gone to Valhalla. They had had a glorious death and we would honour them when we reached home. My Ulfheonar had suffered slight wounds but nothing to prevent them rowing. Haaken spent the whole of the next day composing his saga. He felt that our victory was so great that men would speak of it for years to come. "Three of those Danish ships will have survived. Think of how they will tell it."
For Haaken it was all about the glory. I was not Norse born and for me it was the survival of as many of my men as possible and we had been lucky. We hove to close to Vectis. I was anxious to find out about our other losses. It turned out that Asbjorn had been unlucky. Our plan was a good one but the Norns had intervened. Two Danish drekar had closed with him and he had been attacked before he could escape. We did not go ashore for Vectis was Wessex but just rested on our ships. We had plenty of food; thanks to our raid.
The winds abated and, when we left, it was a gentle voyage around the edge of Corn Walum. We had time to talk of the raid. "It was so successful Jarl Dragonheart that, perhaps, we could do it each year." Erik Ulfsson was keen for more riches.
"It was successful because no one had done it before. King Egbert has almost conquered Corn Walum. He will build burghs. Besides they will be watching for us. We need to find places which have not been raided before. They are hard to find. For myself I am happy not to raid. If any of my Ulfheonar or other warriors wish to use my drekar to raid then they are welcome to do so but I have a daughter. I would like to see her grow."
I could see that I had disappointed my younger warriors but my older ones had tales enough to tell their children. I listened while the young warriors planned further raids. I hoped that they were not letting success go to their heads. That could be fatal. Coen Ap Pasgen's knarr were heavily laden and waiting for us in the Sabrina. They joined our two knarr and my drekar were like sheepdogs patrolling the flock. We saw some Irish pirates as we neared Ynys Môn. The winds had taken us close and speeded our journey. We could not avoid the contact. There were three of them and they headed
I was almost knocked against the mast by a blow from a Danish axe. My shield took the blow and I stabbed at his head. Using an axe two handed meant you had no shield. Ragnar's Spirit went into his mouth and came out at the back of his neck. Asbjorn and his crew were given heart by our sudden attack and they fell upon the other side of the Danes. Rolf and I were suddenly without foes. "Rolf, hack a hole in the hull!"
He grinned, "Aye Jarl."
I shouted, "Back to 'Odin's Breath' !" Olaf and the others redoubled their efforts and soon joined up with Asbjorn. His archers picked off any Dane who looked likely to follow. I felt water at my feet. Rolf had succeeded. The drekar was sinking. "Back to the ship."
I punched a warrior in the face with my shield as I swung Ragnar's Spirit sideways. I cleared a path and followed Rolf Horse Killer. The Dane was filling with water faster than I intended and I wondered if I would make the side of Asbjorn's drekar. Its deck was higher than the Dane's. I sheathed my sword and looked for a way off the doomed vessel. I saw a Danish body and I ran at it. I pushed off and leapt up. It was a leap of faith but it was rewarded as my Ulfheonar pulled me to safety. By the time I had turned around the Dane was almost sunk and we had beaten off the Danish attack.
Chapter 4
We caught up with the knarr the next morning. I only knew of Asbjorn's losses but I suspected that he had suffered the most. Eight of his men had gone to Valhalla. They had had a glorious death and we would honour them when we reached home. My Ulfheonar had suffered slight wounds but nothing to prevent them rowing. Haaken spent the whole of the next day composing his saga. He felt that our victory was so great that men would speak of it for years to come. "Three of those Danish ships will have survived. Think of how they will tell it."
For Haaken it was all about the glory. I was not Norse born and for me it was the survival of as many of my men as possible and we had been lucky. We hove to close to Vectis. I was anxious to find out about our other losses. It turned out that Asbjorn had been unlucky. Our plan was a good one but the Norns had intervened. Two Danish drekar had closed with him and he had been attacked before he could escape. We did not go ashore for Vectis was Wessex but just rested on our ships. We had plenty of food; thanks to our raid.
The winds abated and, when we left, it was a gentle voyage around the edge of Corn Walum. We had time to talk of the raid. "It was so successful Jarl Dragonheart that, perhaps, we could do it each year." Erik Ulfsson was keen for more riches.
"It was successful because no one had done it before. King Egbert has almost conquered Corn Walum. He will build burghs. Besides they will be watching for us. We need to find places which have not been raided before. They are hard to find. For myself I am happy not to raid. If any of my Ulfheonar or other warriors wish to use my drekar to raid then they are welcome to do so but I have a daughter. I would like to see her grow."
I could see that I had disappointed my younger warriors but my older ones had tales enough to tell their children. I listened while the young warriors planned further raids. I hoped that they were not letting success go to their heads. That could be fatal. Coen Ap Pasgen's knarr were heavily laden and waiting for us in the Sabrina. They joined our two knarr and my drekar were like sheepdogs patrolling the flock. We saw some Irish pirates as we neared Ynys Môn. The winds had taken us close and speeded our journey. We could not avoid the contact. There were three of them and they headed
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