TLV - 03 - The Sign of the Raven Read online

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  Harald Hardrede had drawn up his ranks in a circle. He himself looked toward the river. There was naught else he could do; so many had fallen that the enemy could flank a line. He felt tired, his bruises throbbed and his cuts stung; a heaviness filled his head.

  The English drew into a long row. Harold Godwinsson gave his orders, and they began to throw spears and stones as they went around and around the circle. Such fire was deadly against unarmored men. The Norse crouched behind their shields but the points sought them out. Hallvardh Flatnose fell there, and Arinbjorn Erlendsson whose brother Vigleik lay dead across the river, and Gyrdh, and many more.

  A spear plunged toward Harald. He knocked it away and said: "These English know how to fight."

  "And we must stand here and suffer it?" shrieked Styrkaar.

  "Aye," said Harald.

  The rain went on. The Norse cast some spears and hammers, but to small good. Now Harald saw a number of men go back across the bridge and gather arrows.

  "If Eystein comes not soon, we are done," he said. He looked to the sun, which was slipping west though the air remained hot. He tried to think of a scheme, but his mind seemed rusty. Visions flashed unbidden through it: a ship on a cold winter sea, the towers of Miklagardh, a time he had held little Maria high above Ellisif. That was in Denmark, when his hopes still lay before him.

  King Harold's trumpet blew, a frost-cold note that sent the crows cawing off the dead. The English wheeled about and rushed down on the Norsemen.

  Harald struck out at the nearest. His sword bit an arm, but not cleanly through; it was blunted from use. The Englander screamed and tried to swing his ax. Harald pierced him under the mailcoat. "That for Gunnar!" he shouted, and yanked the sword free and smote at the next.

  This was a big man. His blade met Harald's in a yell and a rain of sparks. The king felt his grasp almost torn loose. He caught the hilt again and sent the brand down in a red blur. The Englishman's sword spun away. Harald snarled and slew him. Another came leaping over the corpse. Harald took the ax blow on his shield and felt it smash; his own weapon snaked out, sheared through defense and neck.

  A triumphant bellow lifted to his rear. Turning, Harald saw an English standard across the circle, some earl's against Gudhrodh's. It went staggering back, and the Icelander whooped and rushed after it with his men.

  "You fool!" screamed Harald. "That's a feint…."

  He whirled about to meet the Housecarle who threatened him. They battled for minutes, the ax striking helm and shoulder and remnants of shield, the sword raging around. Harald crashed through the man's guard and gave him a mortal wound, he fell and the king threw his useless shield atop him.

  And meanwhile Gudhrodh and the nearby men had been drawn out. The English assailed them from all sides and they died.

  "St. Olaf!" shouted Harald. "Close the ring! Stand fast!" It was Tosti who drew the line back together. And then the storm broke over them, and they met it and hurled it back.

  Harald leaned gasping on his sword. "If we've done naught else," he said to Thjodholf, "we'll be remembered for this day."

  "Aye," said the skald. "It may be God does not like men who strive for too much."

  "Odhinn did," said Harald. "I was born either too late or too soon."

  The English had been thrown into confusion by the fury which met them. They milled about some distance off, regathering their ranks. The ground between was thick with dead and wounded.

  But now men sped back across the bridge bearing armloads of arrows. "This will finish us," growled Styrkaar.

  "Well," said Harald with a lopsided smile, "we've finished so many in our day that it may be no more than just." He looked westward, but found no sign of help.

  "Let them think they can shoot us at will," he said, "but rush at them when I blow my horn." He bent his head. The gilt was gone off his helmet, his sword was nicked and his knees felt strangely weak. "Ellisif," he murmured, "I should have hearkened."

  The English lines formed anew. Behind the spearmen and the axmen, the archers were taking arrows. Harald straightened himself. This was the moment of victory. He set the horn to his lips and blew.

  "Olaf with us!

  God send the right!

  Thor help his folk!"

  The Norse line swung about, formed a wedge, and charged behind the raven flag.

  As Harald ran forward, he felt weariness and despair drop from him. Almost, he was young again, high-hearted, bound forth to take the world. The long blade sang in his hand.

  They shocked against the English and the clamor rose to heaven. Ax and sword! Spear and hammer! Drive them into the sea!

  Harald's steel whirred. A Housecarle toppled before him, he sent the mortally hurt man staggering into another, he leaped above them both as they fell and clove a third in the jaws. Two men rushed at him, one from either side. He cut down the left, whirled, met the right and split his shield. Thjodholf darted to help him. Back to back they returned into their ranks.

  Hew, sword, hew!

  Drunk with battle, Harald hardly saw the men he killed. There seemed to be wings beating over him. His blade rose and fell, smashing down whatever stood before it. A Housecarle chopped at him, he caught the ax on his sword and drove it back and sank edge into bone. Their line was before him; he sent down three who stood side by side and sprang into their ranks. Fridhrek came after, holding the banner aloft. It was Edwin's standard which faced them, it wavered and Harald came up to the shield wall before it and the English retreated.

  The king's blows belled, and as they fell he began to chant aloud. It was the Krakamaal, the death song of Ragnar Hairybreeks and all the old bold North.

  "Swords we were a-swinging!

  Sooth, was I a young one

  when east in sound of Ore,

  all the wolves got booty;

  and the yellow-footed fowl

  had much to feed on,

  where 'gainst high-nailed

  helmets hardened swords were singing;

  wet with blood, the war birds

  waded through the slaughter."

  The English gave way. The Norse took up the verses, striking as they croaked them forth.

  "Swords we were a-swinging!

  Storm of darts struck shields

  and angry dead fell earthward

  as we in Northumber's morning

  had no need to urge

  the mustered men on,

  where the swords were whining

  while they sundered helmets—

  men did more than kissing

  maidens in the high seat

  The Yorkshire banner fell, and the whole line shook and bent. Harold Godwinsson drew back from the fray and sounded his horn, almost on a note of terror.

  "Swords we were a-swinging!

  Swart bit brands in shield rims

  when the spears were splitting;

  swords were raised to Valkyrs.

  England's isle remembers

  ages through, how kings went

  boldly into battle,

  blazing blades before them. ..."

  The Housecarles heard the trumpet, and those in the rear ranks withdrew. "Bowmen!" cried their king. "Give them the arrows or we're dead!"

  "Swords were a-swinging!

  One and fifty slaughters

  have I seen where hosts

  were hailed by word of arrow.

  Among all men I never found

  a one more valiant.

  (Young of years and early

  yare was I for battle.)

  Us now Aesir summon home,

  and I go death ward.

  "I wish now no waiting

  War maids sent by Odhinn

  from the halls of heaven

  homeward to him bid me.

  Ale I'll drink with Aesir

  eagerly in the high seat.

  Now my life has left me.

  Laughing gang I death ward!"

  The arrows sleeted down.

  Harald
did not feel the shaft that smote him. He aw it in his breast and touched it, not understanding it first. Darkness rushed across him and he went to lis knees.

  He fell and lay on his side while the battle ramped past. A sharp sweet smell of hay was in his nostrils, t brought him back a little. He saw that his head vas on Thjodholfs knees, while more men stood iround.

  "My lord, oh, my lord. ..." groaned the skald.

  Amidst the blood that sprang through him and from him, Harald found answer: "I have held up 'our head long enough; now do you hold up mine."

  Thunder and night rolled over him.

  When their king died, the Norse were driven back, the English followed them, striking and striking, as he arrows gnawed them away. Almost had their line broken, then Tosti came at a run and took the king's Danner even as Fridhrek sank beneath an ax. The raven unfurled anew, the Norse rallied, and the English were beaten off.

  There was a pause while both sides re-formed their ranks. Not many of the Norse remained on their feet; the English curved around them and pointed spears inward. Thjodholf stood near Harald's body tears furrowing the dust and blood on his face, am made a lay:

  "Hard has it gone with the host now,

  hopelessly are we standing;

  for little gain has our lord

  led us into the Westlands.

  Lying there with his life gone,

  he of all lords most valiant,

  few has he left to follow.

  Fallen our king and our hope now."

  A growling went up from the men. Wounded lurching in their tracks, garments ragged and weapons blunted, they would not yield. .

  Harold Godwinsson trod forth. "Tosti!" he cried "Will you take peace of us?"

  "It was never my wont to betray my friends,' croaked the earl.

  "You and all with you."

  "No!" The voices lifted together. The Norse fell they could not give in while their king lay dead before them.

  The battle began anew.

  Eystein Gorcock was seated under a willow by the Ouse, making a verse for Maria, when the three messengers came into camp on spent and staggering horses. The sheriff jumped to his feet. "What is it?' he cried. "What word do you bear?"

  "The English have set on us at Stamford Bridge, They have an overwhelming army," answered the nearest of the riders. "Your help is sorely needed."

  Eystein sped into the house and got his horn. He came out of Riccall’s gate blowing it till echoes hooted.

  When Skuli, Ketill, and the Thorbergssons heard the news, they wanted to go, but Eystein told them to stay behind with a small guard for the ships; they were young yet, and untried. Olaf was pulling on his undercoat, a sword at his feet. "Do you stay too," said the sheriff.

  "Christ's blood!" shrieked the boy. "My father is in danger of his life!"

  "And you may be the last hope of his house," answered Eystein. He would not be gainsaid. Olaf watched him go till tears blurred his sight.

  The last third of the Riccall men followed Eystein. They were in armor, and the heat flamed around them. He drove them ruthlessly, no few fainted by the wayside, but the sun was almost down when he reached the bridge.

  There he saw the last remnant of Harald's men, still at war. He rushed ahead with a yell, his folk pouring after him, and cut a way to the raven flag. Styrkaar bore it.

  "Where is the king?" shouted Eystein.

  "Fallen," whispered the marshal. "Earl Tosti fell a short while back, Thjodholf, Gudhrodh, your old friend Gunnar—not many are left. Hell take you, couldn't you have come faster?"

  Eystein snatched the standard. "Maria's father," he said in his grief. He lifted his voice like the flag: "God and St. Olaf! Forward, Norsemen!"

  That charge, the last of the day, again drove the English back. Almost, they broke and fled. Harald Hardrede and his men had felled a good two-thirds of the Housecarles, the shire levies were worn out, and it was a ghastly thing to see the Raven overhead.

  Their king rallied them and led the counterattack. "Once more!" he cried, "you ward your own hearthfires!"

  So fiercely had Eystein brought his men here that they were nigh dead from weariness. Some burst their hearts in his charge ere ever weapon touched them. The rest met the English, and were scattered. Harold Godwinsson yelled and followed them at the front of his warriors.

  Then battle madness came on the Norse, they cast off their too-heavy byrnies, threw their shields at their feet, and struck two-handed. Spears and arrows reaped them, and as the sun went down they broke. Such as still lived, fled; only a shield-burgh around Eystein remained, where Landwaster flew above the bloodied helmets.

  Then did Harold Godwinsson attack. Eystein fought for a long time, even when all the others had been slain. As twilight stole forth, he dropped on a heap of the dead with a spear through him. Harold Godwinsson cast down the raven flag, and it covered the last of the Norsemen.

  Epilogue Of Olaf the Quiet

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  Styrkaar was among the few who escaped. He hammered a road for himself through the enemy lines and ran across the darkling battlefield. There he found a tethered horse, and leaped into the saddle and galloped westward.

  The breeze began to strengthen, chill and mournful out of the north, and as the first stars appeared Styrkaar grew aware that he was cold. Blood and sweat were thick on him, and he had only a tattered shirt. On his head was a helmet and in his hand a naked sword he had picked up after throwing away his ruined ax.

  The teeth clapped in his jaws. He felt too tired and frozen even to curse. After he had ridden for some miles, he saw a bulky shadow on the road ahead. As he neared, he found that it was a hay wagon. The yeoman driving it had on a thick furry coat.

  Styrkaar drew rein. "Will you sell me that coat, fellow?" he asked.

  The Englander squinted uneasily into the murk. "Not to you," he said as last. "You must be a Northman; I can hear that in your speech."

  "Well," said Styrkaar, "if that be so, what would you do with me?"

  "I'd kill you," spat the yeoman, "but as ill luck would have it, I've no weapon."

  Styrkaar laughed. "If you can't kill me, friend," he said, "it might be I could do away with you." And before the stranger could say aught else, he lay in the road and Styrkaar was donning his coat.

  The marshal rode on. As he neared the River Ouse, mists streamed and he heard an owl hoot. Fires glared at Riccall. Olaf came running when he entered the gates.

  "What is it?" cried the prince. "What happened?"

  "Dead," answered Styrkaar harshly. "Scarce a man of us left. Best we get away while we can." He almost fell from the saddle.

  Olaf stood a moment, his face in shadow. Men heard him draw a shaky breath, and saw his fists clench.

  "Heed the marshal, my lord!" said Paul Thorfinnsson. "All of us are done unless we flee." "No." Olaf shook his head, very slowly. "But . . ."

  "No!" The youth shouted it this time. "There must be many who broke away. I'll not leave them behind. Ready what men we have and stand guard till dawn."

  He stalked off alone between the empty houses.

  By morning a number of Norse had reached the camp, each with the same tale of doom. Olaf waited for those who had gone to Aldby. His fleet was not yet clear to sail when spears flashed to landward and warships from the wharf came rowing up the Ouse. Olaf regarded them in dry-eyed calm. "It's as well," he said to Erlend. "I liked not the thought of leaving our wounded and captured folk."

  He yielded to the English chiefs on condition his warriors might keep their weapons, and rode to York among the former to meet King Harold. Styrkaar and the Thorfinnssons went along. At the town they were brought into the earl's hall, a big and splendidly outfitted house. In the high seat was the king. He looked weary, and his hurts were bandaged, but he sat straight. Olaf regarded him with wonder. This man was not much to see, but he had conquered Harald Hardrede.

  The youth bent the knee before the king, who said mildly: "Rise and come sit by me. I bear you no ill will."
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  Olaf joined him, and took a beaker of wine. It tasted ashen in his mouth. "Know you how my father died?" he asked.

  "By an arrow, I hear," said Harold. "He must have passed quickly ... in the vanguard of his battle line, as he himself would have chosen." His face twisted. "God have mercy on us both that we could not have been friends. I would have given much to have him by my side when the Normans come."

  "Well . . ." Olaf stirred, awkwardly. "We must ask peace of you, my lord."

  "It is granted," said Harold with a smile, "and these are the terms: that you swear peace and friendship with my folk, now and forever hence."

  Olaf waited. There was a thrumming within him. "And what else?"