Oathsword, p.14
Oathsword, page 14
Cnut was a clever youth and as we settled down to eat, he asked us questions that showed he had a military mind already. “We will lose men when we attack the walls and ditches of this burh?”
He had never seen one, but we had told him what they would be like.
I nodded, “It is inevitable for it will be heavily defended and even a farmer or a merchant who hurls a rock or throws a spear has the ability to cause a wound or a death. Men who know they are going to be slaughtered fight hard and there will be their families inside the burh. It is why your father sends us to cut the burh off from the northeast. When our ships are seen then many will try to make the walls. This way we ensure that there are as few men inside the stronghold as possible.”
He nodded, “And then we put some men in our ships, and they sail east?” We all nodded and ate the food which had just been ladled in our wooden bowls. “Then the further east we go the more chance we have of facing an army which is greater in number than ours.”
I was impressed with the way he had worked out the problems we would face. “Aye, Cnut, but we are usually outnumbered in any case when we face the Saxons. Know this, they fight in a different way to us. In the times of King Alfred then every man in the land would be raised to fight us. That is how they defeated King Guthrum.” I unconsciously touched the sword the great king had used. “Now they do not use every man and each hundred has to supply a certain number. That is their weakness for the ones who fight know that there are others who are not. They have fewer mailed men than we do and so if the battle goes against them then the weaker ones will break. That is what happened at the Battle of Dean. Of course, it does not guarantee victory, but we win more than we lose."
Hawk wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "And you, young Cnut, will be at the battles we fight. You will hurl your stones at the enemy and hope to kill or hurt at least two. That way the odds are lessened the closer they come to us.”
It was as though he suddenly realised the danger he would be in, “And they will be trying to kill me?”
One Eye laughed, “For sure and that is why Karl Three Fingers ensured that you had a leather jerkin and cap. You may still be hurt but they lessen the chance of death.”
“And,” I advised, “you will need quick feet so that when the order comes to return you race back and hurl yourself beneath our shields and crawl to safety!”
“That does not sound dignified!”
We all laughed, and I shook my head, “Forget dignity and think of life. When you emerge unscathed behind our rear lines then you will be alive and there is nothing more dignified than life!”
Our previous raid had prepared us well and we negotiated the mouth of the Exe just after dawn. It was as we neared the head of the river that we heard the tolling of bells. Karl’s plan made it easier for us as we kept to the steerboard side of the river and had no other ships to navigate. As soon as we reached the sand, the hearth weru leapt ashore and waited while the ship was secured to the shore. We left our spears aboard. It was unlikely that we would have to face a shield wall and our swords would be better weapons. Some of the ship’s boys would remain aboard with Thorstein but half, including Cnut, would be coming with us. Each crew would operate alone, and our endpoint would be the ruined hall and village of Pinhoe. Each crew had a horn and if there was a serious threat then a blast would summon help. The tolling bells told us that we did not have long if we were to do as Karl Three Fingers wished; they knew we were here. We disembarked quicker than I had ever known and our crew, all sixty-six of us, raced off through the fields.
We had four miles to run for Pinhoe was north and east of Exeter. Our speed was rewarded when we saw hundreds of Saxons running towards us and heading for the burh. We were two miles from our ships and the nearest crew to us was that of Lodvir, two hundred paces from us. The people were heading for the herepath, the road which had been built by King Alfred to connect the burhs. As we drew swords to run at the Saxon men who were trying to make a barrier between us and their women, the jarl shouted, “Sven, watch the boy!”
Even as I acknowledged the order, I saw that Cnut had run ahead with the other slingers and was whirling his sling above his head. I cursed his speed for he was forty paces from me.
The four slingers struck Saxons and I heard a whoop from Cnut as his stone pinged off the helmet of a Saxon who dropped to his knee. Cnut looked around for another target and I saw, to my horror, that the Saxon had risen and was nocking an arrow. The range was less than forty paces, and he could not miss.
“Cnut!” My words were in vain for there was so much noise, screams and the sound of feet pounding on the ground that he did not hear. I ran as though my life depended upon it and I watched the Saxon begin to draw back the bow as Cnut hurled a stone at another Saxon. I saw the bowstring touch the Saxon’s ear when I was just ten paces from the boy and I did the only thing I could, I ran between the arrow and Cnut, turning my back as I did so. Cnut looked up in shock as I appeared and then the arrow struck. It was as though someone had smacked me hard upon the back but my cloak, shield and mail protected me.
“Stay behind me! When I turn, I want you there!”
He nodded and drawing my second sword ran towards the Saxon who had, foolishly, decided to end my life with a second arrow. He was too slow, and I was twenty paces from him when he nocked the arrow. His eyes were on the nock and not me. As he looked up, he saw his death as Oathsword swept across his unprotected neck and half severed his head. I looked for another threat and saw that there was none close by. I turned and said, “Take the Saxon’s bow, arrows and seax. They are yours.”
He nodded as he obeyed, “You have an arrow in your back!”
“Pull it out and keep it, Cnut, for it will be a reminder of how close you came to death. Had the arrow hit you then you would be dead, and I would have to explain to your father why I failed to protect his son.”
It was a chastening experience for the youth who had been caught up in the moment. He now dogged my steps and I had to be careful, as we carved our way through the Saxon men, not to catch him with my sword when I made a wide swing. There were more warriors and men than I had expected and, as the women and children realised the futility of getting through an increasingly large warband and headed north, away from Exeter, Jarl Sweyn led us to Pinhoe. Another of our crews was further north-west and they would deal with the Saxons. We saw the reason for the large number of men. They were rebuilding Pinhoe. There was a hall and a church as well as some houses in the process of being built. The Saxon camp had animals tethered there and there were tools scattered around.
“Lodvir, take the animals back to the ships. The rest of you take what is of value and then burn everything, the buildings, the camp and the tools. Let us show the Saxons that we have returned!”
By the time we had finished a pall of black smoke rose in the sky. There was no hurry as we headed to Exeter which lay just a couple of miles away. Already it was surrounded by a ring of campfires. The fires were there to help our warriors identify where they could camp, and they were also a threatening message to the Saxons; they were going nowhere. There would be no attempt to ask them to surrender. King Sweyn wanted a victory for he was in command. Svolder had shown him that he had to lead. Then he had been tardy and had missed out on the glory enjoyed by Jarl Svein Hákonarson and Sweyn Skull Taker. Our king would have songs sung about him.
We were directed to our camp by one of Karl Three Fingers’ oathsworn, “You have this three hundred pace section of the wall!”
Almost absent-mindedly Sweyn nodded and then took off his helmet to assess the walls. Sweyn One Eye shouted, “Make a camp here! Cnut, find us ale!”
“Yes, Sweyn One Eye.” Cnut was still subdued after his brush with death. I knew that when he slept, he would find it hard for he would imagine what would have happened had I not managed to reach him.
The three of us went to stand with the jarl and we took off our helmets. Hawk laughed when he saw the hole in my cloak. When I explained how I had acquired it he said, “Sven Saxon Sword, perhaps we should name you, Sven, Princeling Shield!”
“One name is enough for me. I cannot blame the boy for he hit a warrior with his first throw, but I could do without the responsibility.”
Without turning the jarl said, “And yet my son is right in one way, Sven, you have been chosen as the boy’s protector. For the rest of this raid, I will make do with my sons for protection.”
I did not like it, but I always obeyed orders.
The defences were indeed formidable. There were stakes before the ditch and while I could not see the bottom of it, I knew there would be stakes there to catch us as we crossed it. The part nearest us would be deep, what men called an ankle breaker and the slope on the other side would be equally dangerous. The wooden walls were built atop what looked like Roman foundations and there was a fighting platform. Towers were at each corner and over the gatehouse which also looked Roman. To reinforce the gate the bridge over the ditch had been drawn up to protect the wooden gate. The walls were lined with men. We knew that they would not all be warriors but that did not matter. They would have stones, arrows, boiling water and spears to hurl at us as we crossed the killing field before the walls.
“We cannot risk the ones without mail. We will have to use those who have byrnies.”
Sweyn One Eye kept such numbers in his head, “We have eighty of those.”
“Then make sure that the others all have a bow. They cannot assault the walls, but their arrows can make life hard for those on the walls. We have the night to prepare for I know that King Sweyn will order the attack as soon as he can.”
Hawk said, “We found many arrows at Pinhoe. I will have those distributed and I will set the boys to collecting river stones. It will keep them occupied.” Marriage had made Hawk more responsible in many ways and his brother and I did not need to constantly ask him to perform his duties.
When Lodvir returned with the carcasses of some of the animals they had slaughtered at the ships he was informed of the plan. As the meat began to cook, he sat with us while Jarl Sweyn ensured that the others knew what they were about.
"I do not like this, Sven Saxon Sword. I do not mind facing a Saxon sword to sword but here we have to watch our feet lest we are speared by a shit covered stake and then climb a ladder while men are dropping stones on our heads.”
“Why climb the ladders at all?”
Hawk laughed, “And how else do we enter the burh? Fly? I can do so but the rest of you…”
That made us all smile but I shook my head, “I have looked at the walls. See how they have used Roman walls for the base.”
Lodvir nodded, “Aye and we all know how well the Romans built.”
“It is almost a thousand years since they did so. Look closely, that is moss growing in the mortar. I see ivy too.”
Hawk frowned, “And?”
Lodvir grinned, “I see what you mean, Sven. It means that the mortar is old and weak. We dig out the mortar and pull out the stones. So long as we are protected from the falling stones it would be easier than using axes.”
“And without a support then the wooden palisades would be easier to bring down.”
Sweyn One Eye said, “Or we could use fire. Once we have a stone removed, we light a fire and let that do our work for us.”
By the time Jarl Sweyn Skull Taker had returned we had improved our plan and Lodvir presented it to him. He beamed, “Well done, Lodvir!”
“‘Twas not me, Sweyn. It was the boy I trained. His mind is as sharp as his father’s was!”
“Well done, foster son. Your father would be proud of you. We will still use ladders for that will keep those on the walls occupied. Sven as this was your idea you choose the men you will use.”
I had thought of this too, “We will need every mailed warrior on the ladders. I will use Faramir, Dreng, Snorri, Siggi and the other young warriors. They have good shields and that is all that is needed.”
Amongst the tools we had taken from Pinhoe were some hammers and some chisels. I chose the best of each and then went to see the eight warriors I had selected. I presented it as an opportunity rather than an order.
“The jarl would have all those without mail using slings and bows on the morrow.” I saw their faces fall. “You eight, if you choose, can come with me and protect my body with your shields. I intend to bring down the walls of Exeter.”
They all shouted their agreement and then Snorri asked, “How will you do that? Magic?”
Faramir said, “Or will you use Oathsword!”
“Oathsword will be there but I shall use hammer and chisel. Dreng you will need to bring fire in a pot and Snorri, kindling. We shall need Thor’s help when we do this.”
That evening, while we ate, I said to the jarl, “Foster father, I cannot watch Cnut while I light the fires!” Cnut had gone to fetch water to clean our bowls and was not present.
“I know. I will put the boy with the other slingers. Bergil the Brawny managed to hurt his ankle today and I will leave him to command the others. He is not happy about having to remain here and he will ensure that the princeling does not move!”
He was right and neither Cnut nor Bergil were happy about their task.
We were all prepared before dawn. We had eaten well and were as prepared as we could be. It felt strange to have a hammer and a chisel as my weapons of choice and I knew that once we were within two hundred paces of the walls then a host of missiles would be hurled at us. Lodvir had reminded us that the Saxons sometimes used darts. My young warriors would all carry their shields whilst mine would be across my back. I had already kissed the hilt of Oathsword and asked the Allfather to watch over me. I prayed that while the Norns had spun a strange future for me that they would not cut the thread so early. Once I reached the walls then I felt confident that the wall of shields above me would protect me.
Dawn had barely broken when the horns sounded five times. The ones attacking from the west, Jarl Svein Hákonarson and his Norsemen, would have the advantage of the last hint of night’s cloak to protect them. The ones attacking from the east would have the advantage of a new sun in the eyes of the defenders. We had no advantage for we attacked from the north.
The jarl raised his sword and our slingers and archers closed to within range of the walls. Some would be wounded, and some would die. I saw that Bergil the Brawny had his shield protecting Cnut! I knew the boy would not like that. Following my young warriors, I walked towards the stakes. The stakes would do little to stop us for they were spaced far enough apart to allow us through, but they would catch the unwary if any did not present their shields to face the enemy. We made the edge of the ditch successfully although I had heard the arrows and stones slamming into the shields of the young warriors before me. Eidel had an arrow wound to his leg but it had been a glancing blow and would not stop him. We all stopped at the edge. The other mailed warriors had their shields before them. I saw that the stakes were far enough apart to allow us to tread a precarious path through them. The danger would come if we slipped and I saw that they had used water to make the slope more dangerous.
I shouted to my companions, “Treat the slope like winter ice! Spread your feet and keep your balance.” That was easier said than done and, for the first time, I would lose the protective shields. I had to do as I had advised but faster than they did. Jarl Sweyn Skull Taker and his hearth weru led the advance and that drew arrows and stones to them. I stepped down and used my left heel to dig into the soft mud. I found it easier than I had thought. If I had used the flat of my boot then I might have slipped but I was, in effect, making my own steps and I reached the bottom upright. As a stone clanked off my helmet, I disobeyed my own orders and used my quick feet to dance through the stakes which were covered in human and animal dung, A wound from such a stake could prove to be fatal. When I reached the other slope, I did not stop but used the hammer and chisel to dig into the bank and to pull myself up. A dart hit my right shoulder but my cloak, sword belt and mail meant it barely penetrated to my padded undershirt. I reached the wall as Faramir and Erik Red Hair put their shields above me.
While time was of the essence I needed to find a weak spot and I sought the thick strand of ivy which had embedded itself in the mortar. The mortar had been put there by the Romans. I saw the crushed seashells they used and when I pulled the ivy, I was rewarded with not only ivy root but also great chunks of mortar. Some were as thick as my finger. More shields appeared above me and my world darkened. It did not matter for I could feel where I had to dig. I smashed the hammer against the head of the chisel and each blow brought out more of the mortar while it sounded like hailstones as the Saxons dropped stones of increasing size. Once I had done the bottom of the single stone, I began on the sides of the block of masonry. I did not need to make a hole big enough to enter but it had to have a space for the firewood.
It was then that I heard Dreng shout, “Oil! They have oil!”
The boiling oil was dropped onto the shields. I heard Erik cry out as his arm was burned by a splash of boiling oil, but he was a warrior and he endured it. The shields had absorbed most of the damage, but it was a warning for me to hurry. When the last piece of mortar was removed, I said, “I am about to pull out the stone. Be ready with the fire and the kindling. We will have to drop back into the ditch so watch the stakes.”
They chorused, “Aye, Oathsword!” It seemed I had a new name, amongst these warriors, at least. I saw a crack in the stone I was about to pull, and I took a chance. Placing the chisel end in the crack I gave an almighty swing and not only did the stone crack a little more but a piece the size of my hand fell. It meant I had something to grab and I pulled. The stone came away and I hurled it into the ditch. I saw that the palisade had been embedded in the stone and I could see another stone on the far side. That stone would face the inside of the burh.
