Oathsword

Oathsword

Book 2 in the Danelaw Saga

by

Griff Hosker

Published by Sword Books Ltd 2021

Copyright ©Griff Hosker First Edition 2021

The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

Dedication

To Rex, Geoff, Steve, Rich: my Beta reading team! Thanks, guys!

Prologue

I am Sven Saxon Sword and I own one of the mystical and magical dragon swords. Ordered to be made by King Alfred, it was given to the Danish warrior Guthrum when he became a Christian. I am still unsure why it came into my possession except that my father, Bersi, was obsessed with the idea of owning a dragon sword. That I took it in a battle in a small Saxon village makes me think that I was meant to own it and, certainly, it changed my life and that of our clan, the clan of Agerhøne. It made me a warrior of renown but, at the same time, it attracted enemies to me like flies around a dunghill. Whenever I fought and no matter who the enemy was, they always sought me out. Christians sought to kill me for I owned a sword which was touched by the king they called ‘The Great’ and Danes and Norse could not believe that such a callow youth should wield the weapon.

It was after I had returned from the last raid on Wessex that I discovered the true story of the sword. The priest who told me did not survive the voyage and that left nagging doubts in my mind that perhaps his story was untrue. I had wanted Mary, the Saxon whom I had taken back to help my mother, Gunhild, to question the priest. Perhaps the Norns, Urðr, Verðandi and Skuld had been spinning for my mother lasted barely a week after my return. She had pined for my dead father for years and despite the care and love lavished upon her by the Christian slave, she slowly went into herself. Her smile, when I returned, was joyful but the eyes were sad and I think she chose to die. The day she died Egbert, our Saxon thrall, fetched me to the longhouse. Your mother is close to the end, Sven.

I could not believe that my mother would leave me, She is not! It is just another chill. Mary will tend to her and she will be well!

The Saxon shook his head, You will see.

When I entered the chamber in the hall used by my mother, I saw a thin, grey and gaunt figure. Holding her hand was Mary, the Christian maid I had brought as a slave. Gunhild, wife of Bersi and sister to Sweyn Skull Taker beamed when I entered and held out a thin and bony hand for me to take. She put my hand in Mary’s and smiled at us both. Soon I shall see the Allfather and I am happy knowing that you two are together.

What do you mean, mother? You are not dying!

I am and Mary knows it.

I looked into Mary’s eyes and saw the truth of her words. It was as though the woman who had borne me had developed second sight and could see into the future.

You will marry. She placed our hands together and said, It is my wish. She smiled and then her eyes rolled and, after saying, Bersi, softly she died. It was as though she had hung on to the thread of life until she had given me a command which I could not refuse to obey.

Mary made the sign of the cross and folded my mother’s hands together. She gave me a sad smile and I saw a tear trickle from her eye, I knew this day would come. When you were at sea, I saw her weaken each day and knew that she was staying alive just to see you return. This week we enjoyed with her gave me hope that she might have a release from the pain but she had endured enough of life.

Egbert smiled, She has a release now, for she is with your father, Sven.

My father is in Valhalla.

He shrugged. He was a Christian and he could know nothing of the ways of the old gods. When she passed, she spoke your father’s name. She is with him for no matter what you believe I believe that the one God is merciful, and he would wish them to be together.

Amen. I looked at Mary who nodded as she said the word.

I should have said something then about the marriage, but I did not. I was too upset and confused by the death and the words of the Christians. That I did not was a mistake. I was also afraid. I know that my shield brothers would have been surprised that I should be afraid of anything, but Mary always seemed to hold a power over me and I was afraid that if I asked her and she rejected me then I would not be able to face her. My father had been plagued with flaws. I suppose all men are but my flaw was a fear of rejection and I said nothing. It was foolish and, looking back a mistake but all men have a weakness and that was mine.

The other reason I said nothing was that the day after my mother was buried, the hersir, her brother Sweyn Skull Taker, was summoned to King Sweyn and all the warriors were too distracted to think of anything except the summons. We knew that King Sweyn did not hold our clan in high regard and that, while we had served the King of Denmark each time he had asked. he was a wilful king and he could take it upon himself to punish us in some shape or form. We prepared weapons and took to attending to the needs of the drekar. Mary, for her part, had my mother’s clothes to distribute to the poor. We did not see much of each other for a few days.

The Danish warriors who raided Wessex and Frankia were not concerned with gaining land or power but our kings were. King Olaf Tryggvason was angered by an alliance of Svein Forkbeard, King of Denmark and Olof Skötkonung, the King of Sweden. At the time we knew nothing of this but when Sweyn Skull Taker was summoned to the court then we knew that something was afoot. Lodvir had ordered us to make our ships ready for war. He had an idea why the hersir had been summoned. We were busy repairing our two drekar. We had raided successfully, and our men were keen to sail across the seas once more and ravage the weakly defended lands of England. Our drekar were hauled from the water and their hulls scraped. It was not a pleasant duty, but we knew that it was necessary. Lodvir’s ship. ‘Hyrrokkin’, was relatively new and did not need much attention but ours did for she was old. We had just finished ‘Sea Serpent’ when my uncle returned from King Sweyn. That he was not happy was clear and his face was as black as thunder.

He forced a weak smile when he saw that we had cleaned the hulls of the two ships, You are becoming fortune-tellers for we go to war!

Lodvir nodded and asked, When?

My uncle paused and, shaking his head, said, We are to muster in the Østersøen. There is an island in the channel there, we call it Anholt but the Norse call it Svolder. The Swedes are bringing their ships and King Olaf Tryggvason comes to do battle with us.

Griotard used a splinter of wood to remove a tough piece of gristle from his teeth, "King Olaf has the largest ship afloat. ‘Long Serpent’ will not be easy to defeat."

You are right, my friend, but there is treachery for King Sweyn had suborned some of the Norse jarls and when the Norwegians sail, it will be with just a handful of ships. Our brave king leaves nothing to chance! Sweyn shrugged, We follow the other ships, and we will do our duty but my heart is not in this. My foster father was an honourable man.

I had yet to fight in a sea battle, certainly one of this size. I spoke quietly thinking that only Lodvir heard me, but the sudden silence meant that all heard my words, But if we outnumber them by so many then where is the danger? We fought the Saxons at sea and did not lose a single ship!

Griotard laughed, The Saxons? They are not seamen. They are poor warriors whom we can defeat easily on land. At sea, they are even worse. No, Sven, we face the Norse, and you would be a fool to underestimate them. In a battle such as this then you either win and sail your ship home or sink beneath the waves. Even if we outnumber them by ten to one, and that I doubt, they will fight hard and we could win our own battle and still die!

That evening, as I returned to the home I now shared with Mary and Egbert I was, I confess, fearful. I had every confidence in my ability with Oathsword and I knew that I could fight well but a drekar tossing on the sea was a different matter. After Griotard had given me his stark assessment of a sea battle I had spoken with him as we hauled the drekar back to the sea. Then it might be better to fight without mail.

There would be less chance of drowning, that is true, but it means you would be more likely to die from a wound. When a sea battle is over then the survivors of the losing side flee. They have no time to look for survivors and the winning side only rescue their own.

You make it sound hopeless!

He gave me a sad smile, Sven, you are a good warrior and I have seen you fight. Your Saxon sword and your dancing feet make you an opponent to be feared but the tossing deck of a drekar is not the place for dancing feet. A lumbering Norse who spreads his legs and swings his sword in an arc is just as likely to kill you by accident when you slip as he is to make a skilled scythe with a well-timed blow. A battle on a drekar is always about luck.

When I reached the hall I was preoccupied and after Egbert had fetched me a horn of ale I sat before the fire. We kept a fire going even on a summer’s day. I heard movements in the room which was hidden behind the wall hangings. It had been my mother’s room and she had been given privacy on the orders of Mary. She had been quite clear about what my mother had needed. What is that noise, Egbert?

He looked embarrassed and shifted his weight onto his good leg, Lord, it is Mary. She is sorting out your mother’s chamber.

Sorting it out?

He shook his head, Better that you ask her for she does not take kindly to my questions!

I sighed and emptied the horn. I needed the drink, but I would not be able to enjoy it. What was she doing? The room needed no sorting out. I moved along the wall hanging. She had been making so much noise that I doubted she had heard our words. I saw that she was trying to move the bed.

What are you doing?

She had an angry look on her face but I think that was because I had found her out, I wished to move the bed is all!

Perhaps my mind was still filled with the prospect of a sea battle for I said, Why? Mother is dead.

And you are going to let the best bed in the house remain unoccupied. The anger left her face and her voice, I thought to move in, but the bed must face east to west.

Her actions now became clear, but I wondered why she had not asked me to help and then I realised; she had thought I might say no. Nodding I said, It will be easier if we all help. Egbert! The thrall appeared, We need to move the bed to face east to west.

You are not angry?

I smiled, No, Mary, for you are right in one respect; the bed needs to be used. Come, with three of us we can move the bed and then I can enjoy my second horn of ale in peace! I was right and it did not take long.

When we ate our evening meal which the kitchen thralls had prepared, I told Egbert and Mary of the prospect of war. Surprisingly, Mary did not seem that upset. The Norse are an evil people! They took the precious books from Lindisfarne and destroyed them. Why? Because they did not understand them!

We take holy books too, Mary! I saw Egbert shake his head.

Mary gave a smile, You are practical men and sell them. They end up with Christians and while I cannot condone the attacks the result is not as bad as an attack by the Norse!

The woman with whom I shared my house was complicated and I did not understand her at all. She always gave me the impression that she knew more than I did and men do not like that. The truth was she was the cleverest woman I had ever met and that made me a little afraid.

We were to leave three days later for the sail to join the other ships close to the isle of Svolder. I was kept busy with the drekar but it did not bother Mary for she was busy making the room her own. She had Egbert move a chair into the room for her. She had sat on a stool when she had tended to my mother, but she now wished a chair. She also had a small altar with a cross made by one of the thralls. She had a cross but I knew, from comments she made that she wished for a better one, and I also knew that it had to be paid for and not stolen.

I still sailed on my foster father’s drekar but now it felt familiar, almost like home. Lodvir’s was a newer ship but ‘Sea Serpent’ was comforting, like an old pair of boots which were well worn in. We did not know how long we would be at sea and we loaded supplies for we did not know exactly when the King of Norway would come to do battle. King Sweyn would be most unhappy if any of his ships had to return to port because they had no food left. We were able to load our chests earlier than we might for we knew what was expected of us. I had my byrnie, sealskin cape, fur and dried food prepared by Egbert. I left the fine new Saxon sword in the hall. Oathsword would be sufficient. I fastened Saxon Slayer, my spear, to the thwarts.

The night before we left, Sweyn Skull Taker held a feast in the mead hall we had built after we came back from our last victory. We wanted somewhere we could celebrate. It was a measure of the ambition Sweyn Skull Taker had. My father had been more of a dreamer and such a hall would have remained in his head. This would be the first time we would sit and feast. Sweyn One Eye, now more comfortable with his one eye, gave us a song. The birth of his son and the love of his wife, Bergljót had helped him to recover his confidence.

Sweyn Skull Taker was a great lord

Sailing from Agerhøne with his sons aboard

Sea Serpent sailed and ruled the waves

Taking Franks and Saxons slaves

When King Sweyn took him west

He had with him the men that were best

Griotard the Grim Lodvir the Long

Made the crew whole and strong

From Frankia where the clan took gold

To Wessex where they were strong and bold

The clan obeyed the wishes of the king

But it was of Skull Taker that they sing

With the dragon sword to fight for the clan

All sailed to war, every man

The cunning king who faced our blades

Showed us he was not afraid

Trapped by the sea and by walls of stone

Sweyn Skull Taker fought as if alone

The clan prevailed Skull Taker hit

Saved by the sword which slashed and slit

From Frankia where the clan took gold

To Wessex where they were strong and bold

The clan obeyed the wishes of the king

But it was of Skull Taker that they sing

And when they returned to Agerhøne

The clan was stronger through the wounds they had borne

With higher walls and home much stronger

They are ready to fight for Sweyn Skull Taker

From Frankia where the clan took gold

To Wessex where they were strong and bold

The clan obeyed the wishes of the king

But it was of Skull Taker that they sing

When Sweyn One Eye had finished the song then the table was banged with the hilts of daggers as men chanted the name of the hersir. Of course, I had heard fragments when Sweyn had told them to Alf, my other cousin, and me. We had spent a long time trying to find a rhyme for stake filled ditch but we could not. I had persuaded my cousin to make my part smaller. I had not wished to be named for I did not think I was important enough. It was well-received. We all knew that it was not exactly the way it happened but as with all battles it was the way men would remember it when it was retold in the future.

The hersir stood and thanked his son, I am honoured that my son, a great warrior and a skald should compose such words. I am humbled. Know this, Sweyn One Eye, the next battle may be even more bloody. I just hope that there will be warriors left to compose it.

The euphoria of the moment evaporated and I wondered at the wisdom of the hersir. My father would have revelled at the moment. They were different leaders that was for sure.

Griotard the Grim had, despite his name, a wicked sense of humour and a total disregard for kings and princes. He lightened the moment and made men smile, Now, think on this Sweyn One Eye, do not make the mistake of singing that song when King Sweyn is near for he would want all of the glory and be most unhappy that he barely has a mention. He paused and swallowed a large mouthful of beer, Of course, no matter how far he shall be from King Olaf’s ship in this coming battle, I can guarantee that he will be the one accorded the glory of the victory!

Lodvir grinned and rolled his eyes while Sweyn Skull Taker just looked to the table.

That night when I returned to the hall, a little drunk I confess, Egbert was waiting for me, I heard the singing, lord, it was a good night? Since I had returned from our last victory the thrall had called me lord rather than master. I think it was because he now knew the true story of the sword. The term flattered me for I was not a lord. I was bondi as were the others. The only title I had earned was hearth weru. I guarded Sweyn Skull Taker.

Nodding, I laughed unsteadily towards my bed. I was never a great drinker and usually stopped earlier than most men but the praise my cousin had received had made me foolish. Aye, Egbert and tomorrow I leave. Has Mary retired?

She is on her knees saying her prayers.

I laughed, Her God seems to like his subjects in that position. He seems to be like Sweyn Forkbeard.

Egbert just made the sign of the cross with his free hand. He said nothing as he led me to the bed to undress me. He had little to take off, my boots, breeks, and kyrtle. He laid me on the bed and went to fetch the bearskin but I waved him away. It is hot!

Aye, lord. Good night.

I almost passed out immediately, but I had enough wit to turn on my side. I dreamt a strange dream but it was about Mary and not the coming battle. I dreamed that I held her and kissed her but the moment my lips almost touched her she became a dragon and devoured me. Then I felt the ale rising in my gut and it brought me awake. I put my head to the side and vomited. I retched until my stomach hurt. I had eaten well and it took some time for my stomach to empty. The action partially sobered me up and I thought to rise, rinse my mouth and then clean the floor for I was embarrassed by my action.

When I opened my mouth and looked down I saw that there was no mess but Mary’s hands held a pail and she had stopped the vomit from reaching the floor. I was mortified for I was naked! I grabbed for the bearskin. She laughed, Sven, it is a little late for that!

How…?

I heard your words when you came in and your mother had told me how your father when he drank too much, would oft be sick. She said she always had a pail to hand. I was just prepared. She shrugged, You were lucky that I was still here when you began. She poured a horn of water and handed it to me. Here, drink this. All of it mind. My unsteady hand touched hers and it had an effect. My nakedness became even more embarrassing. She glanced down and laughed, Now, I think, is not the moment. She stood and I drank.

It took the sour taste from my mouth and I swore I would never drink so much ale again. When I had finished, I handed the horn back to her and this time she ensured that our hands did not touch. I am sorry for this, but I thank you.

She smiled, Sven, I have seen the best of you, and I have seen the worst of you. I can live with both. If you are sick again make sure you strike the pail. You can empty it in the morning. I have done my part!

She left me and I found myself smiling. She did not hate me! My mother’s command came back to me. I had thought Mary had forgotten it but she had not.

Chapter 1

The Battle of Svolder

Østersøen 1000

We had a long way to sail for we had a home on the west coastline of Denmark, and we had to sail to the sea close to the east coast, the Østersøen. It would take many days. We would first sail to the port belonging to the Jarl of Ribe where Jarl Harald would join us with his ships, and slowly we would progress around the coast picking up more ships as we went. We would not be the largest contingent in the fleet but we would be a sizeable one. There would be eighteen ships under the command of the jarl. Ribe was the place that stretched along the coast. There were four or five places where ships could land. The largest was called Ribe in honour of the jarl while ours was simply named after the clan. As some of the clan lived on the islands that protected us from the worst the sea had to throw at us, they too were referred to as Agerhøne but for us, Agerhøne was the hersir’s hall and the wooden quay and jetty jutting into the sea.

That first day of rowing almost killed me. I had not eaten breakfast as I could not face food and I felt nauseous all the way north. Sweyn and Alf were also suffering and so the mocking came from the older warriors. They had endured a similar rite of passage but that did not stop them from mocking us. None of us was in any shape to argue. Perhaps the rowing helped to cleanse my body. I sweated as though it was high summer in Africa and it seemed to tell me that it was the sweat that had purged me. We rowed in silence and that helped me to reflect upon Mary and our situation. I knew that I had put off for too long that which I should have done when my mother was alive. I regretted my indecision. No matter what happened during the next weeks and the coming battle I would ask Mary to be my wife. I could even take the rejection and, if she did, then I would give her freedom and have her taken back to her home. A drunken night, vomit and a hard row will do that to a man. The combination strips away all that is unnecessary and leaves him with answers, however unpalatable.

There were too many other crews in the harbour for us to be accommodated and so we slept on the drekar. We did at least eat. The jarl sent cauldrons of food and bread for us. I ate, but sparingly. The tiredness and the previous night combined to make me fall asleep on my bearskin. I was awoken before dawn with a sea fret that felt as wet as rain. I cursed my lack of foresight. The wiser, older warriors, had all covered themselves with their seal skin capes and their furs would be dry. We younger warriors would have to try to dry them on a drekar with spray flying over the bows. We resigned ourselves to the prospect of a cold and damp bed. When we reached the northern tip of Denmark our voyage changed. We were entering the Østersøen. We had been told that King Olaf had not set sail yet but who knew if that was