Wulfric the Weapon Thane / A Story of the Danish Conquest of East Anglia

d and clay walled, like that of Raud, though some were better, and built of logs set upon stone foundations. The hall stood on higher ground than the rest of the houses, so that f

horeward, for these came down to the haven banks, and the only break they had was where a whar

e hall itself. There were other doors in the side of the hall, but they were high up, and reached by ladders; and there seemed to be only one more gate in the stockade, leading landward, and both were such as might not ea

that I had ever seen, and I s

some fierce fighting. What n

ed, and

o keep out all comers from over seas. And we have an ill neighbour or two, who would fain share in our booty. Howe

the porch; all the woodwork of which was carved and gail

and they spoke freely to the brothers,

rom within, bidding the men cease prat

re skins and heads of wild beasts on the wall, amid which arms and armour hung everywhere, bright in the firelight. Yet

ay from them, and before them was set a long bench where we should be place

at Ingvar's face was dark with doubt, but that Hubba seem

yours," said Ingvar

ut beating about beforehand. And now that the jarls knew that Lodbrok was

I love Halfden his son," I said. "Have patie

Ingvar, knit

him from the breakers. Some of his craft taught he me, else had I not been here today. So he bided with us until I went to sea, and there I met Halfden, and went on a raid with him, coming back from t

storm, but lived so long! Then he has been sl

his teeth were s

all,"

dding, not seeming t

n and I, being found with his body, were accused of the deed. And because there was no proof, our great earl, who loves ev

ew out his sword. Whereon Beorn yelled and fell on the fl

and hove up the sword with both hands

--he is not dead-

s, or both, had taken away my fear of death, for I spoke without moving, though

did lie, for then Lodbrok would be living, and I b

Woe is me for my father, and woe to the la

and put his face in his hands, and wept tears of grief and rage. And I,

her, though I might well see that he was moved as deeply. But now he spurned Beorn with his foot, bidding

tell the accusation against yourself; and many are the lies you might have told us about the boat t

l come to our haven, seeking us both, and will find neither--

d me plainly of

of thi

have told you,

bba, for he saw that there was more tha

at story from end t

Ulfkytel sentenced us, giving all the words of the witnesses as nearly a

istening without a word, broke in, questioning

rings. And he has spoken the ill of himself and little of this craven, who maybe knows more than he will say. I have a mind to find ou

with him he will

speak truth," sa

ne with this Wulf

en with Beorn," answered Ingvar, "then

the porch, where Raud and Rolf waited with the tw

said Hubba, "for I know

nswered him, taking the

with a smell of snow in it. Then I saw a great hawk flying inland, and wondered to see it come over sea at this time of year. It flew so that it would pass over t

e was to see me once more, fluttering her wings an

came out to see what his call meant. Then they, too,

e, and I think they had doubted it a little. Now the bird had got free in some way

ue," said Hubba, smiling gravely a

serve this man well, Raud and Rolf, for h

as a guest," said Raud stoutly, and

ll be so soon

ts," I said, not being willing

vied with each other in kindness to me until night fell, and I gladly went to rest; for since that night within Caistor walls I had had no sleep that was worth considering. So my sleep wa

believed my story. And my dagger was left me also, hanging still on the wall at my head where I had slept. Then I though

ed Raud came back, a

s yesterday's. The jarls bid me say that Wulfric of Reedham, Lodbrok's prese

d the forester was the first to

and entered, unchallenged. Hubba came forward and held out his stro

" he said; "forgive me for

from beyond the great fire, and I answered that

question Beorn, for there are things you want to k

d Ingvar, in his stern voice, "I wonder you did n

he man is fit for naught; I co

ughts, and I held my peace as they took me to the further side of th

him at all, so that I almost started back from the cruel marks that he bore. Yet I had things to hear from him,

I said slowly; "there is no need to hide a

I should not have known it for t

am glad. I will tell you, but

all the harm he had done me I would surely forgive him

may be forgiven hereafter," he

ade Raud give him strong drink, and th

were far apart, and my chance had come. Lodbrok reined up to listen, and I marked where he would pass when he went back, hearing your horn. Then I shot, and the arrow went true;

ecovered his strength

woodcraft was greater than mine, though I was first in that in all our land. And

I was turning away, for I need

slain me in the woods at first--or that he had hanged me at Caistor--

Beorn, the falconer, speak, for I lef

ar gloomily, and frowning on Beorn,

ing,

ast word he sai

justice was do

d Ingvar, and his hand clutched his sword hilt, so

you all?" I a

it was your hand saved my father, and for that we thank you. But one thing more

loved Lodbrok too well, and in any case

; but that was his firs

now heard him say that his own ev

at first; but we sha

shall know where the lie's doings will stop? What came from th

will, as I have said. There are weapons,"

im," I said, "and I

murderer," the jarl said savagely. "Call the men together

I said boldly; "he

have been to this yourself, through his doings, you would no

make a liar speak truth thus, you cannot make

nest saying," said Ingvar. "An

n he went to the walls and began to handle axe after axe, taking down one by one, setting some on th

tha of whom the jarl was wont to speak to Eadgyth and my mother, and who wrought the raven banner that hung above the high place where she stood now. She was like Halfden and Hubba, though with Ingvar's hair, and if those three were handsome men among a thousand, this sister of theirs was more than wor

r, sister," he said;

rank away a little, as if frightened at the jarl's da

riend of our father's from ove

gly at me, as I though

r you have suffered for you

not being near to hel

t," said Hubba. "This Wulfric was the

e, though her eyes were ful

ury him in your

," I said. "And, moreover, Eadmund the King,

ar, turning sharply from where he

together to Reedham for this, before very long. But Osritha, knowing his ways

ister," he said. "It is not well

nd tell me of Father a

Lodbrok's slayer," said Ingvar, in

king at Ingvar, who would not meet her eyes; and then

my brother;

but he did not shake

t have men so treated, h

id Hubba. "Let him die; for you gave

will not carve him into the eagle I meant to make of him.

nt that the man should be hanged, for so, as Halfden's

ined even that for the man, instead of the terrible

r stood in his way when he would punish as a man deserved. After t

can sing a death song as

we following. And I feared what I should see; until I looked on Beor

in the place, but as it might have been part of Burgh or Brancaster walls that the Romans made on our shores, so ancient that they were cr

in," said I

this hole above. The walls and floor were damp and slimy; and when I looked closer, the dim

him much. Yet if a man is so close among many that he must needs tread on one, and it bites him, a

ed and tu

most wondrous of all. There he was set because he was feared, and Northumbria knows what I thought of that matter.

him into that foul pit, stripped

t even as Ulfkytel had boded, stripped of life its

rl came to pass. But the lies spo