“Anyway, I overheard them saying they were going to Gotland” Sarah explained once they had their little craft out onto the water and pointing in the right direction.
This time however, it was Leif who questioned Sarah, “I know that there are some similarities between the speech of Kurland and ours but how did you know what they were saying?”
Biting her lip, Sarah had her answer ready. “Like you said, there are similarities and I could only really understand a few words but I did hear Gotland mentioned.” She hoped that she had said it casually enough as she wasn’t sure how well they would understand the whole language thing, in fact she didn’t really get it, so goodness knows how she would explain it to a couple of superstitious Vikings.
Leif seemed happy with her answer and had turned his attention to the sea in front of him. Hakon had been busy tying off the sail during their little exchange and now went to the rear of the boat and took the steering oar from Sarah with a hesitant smile. The smile alarmed Sarah almost as much as the scowl for its unexpectedness and much to her annoyance she felt her face go hot. Quickly, she moved to the front of the boat where Leif had stationed himself to look out for the Kurlanders.
“Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll take a watch for the other vessel” suggested Sarah to Leif.
“It’s okay, I’m not too tired really – why don’t you try for some sleep instead?”
“No, I’m not tired either,” she replied plonking herself down near the centre of the boat.
“Perhaps you could tell us what else you saw when you had your little adventure,” Hakon’s voice floated out from the other side of the sail, all traces of antagonism gone. Startled, Sarah sat up and gathered her thoughts.
“Well, I counted twenty or so warriors, all well-armed. They looked much like warriors from anywhere. One did stand out though he wore a thick animal fur around him as a cloak, I think it even still had its head attached, looked like it was a bear or something,” Sarah paused.
“Berserker” said Hakon and Leif in unison.
Thinking hard, Sarah recalled berserkers being mentioned in some of the texts. They were (or in this case are) a breed of warrior who would fight their opponents with a single mindedness that bordered on the insane. Stories told of berserkers who would not die even when limbs had been hacked off by their opponents, still they would fight. It was where the modern term ‘going berserk’ originated from. Having already seen him in action, she knew that this was not good and from the looks on the boy’s faces they too thought the same. With a shiver she decided to keep the murder on the beach to herself.
“Any other good news for us?” Asked Leif with a wry smile on his face.
“Umm, I don’t know much about the languages thing around here but the one who seemed to be in charge spoke to the berserker in a different language. The main body of warriors seemed to be Kurlanders but those two where different. The one in charge had a tattoo on his forearm, I couldn’t really make it out but I think it was a dragon or snake twisting around a sword or spear, he had a similar design on his shield.” Sarah breathed out, not telling the whole truth was very taxing.
“What? That doesn’t make any sense.” Just as Sarah was about to object at having her word doubted yet again Hakon continued, “it’s not that I don’t believe you, but it seems odd that the Kurlanders, who are strongly opposed to outsiders, would have a foreign captain. Where was the berserker when we were raided? I don’t remember seeing him when I scouted the boat. And that symbol you saw, I should know it for it sounds familiar. Then there is the question, why are they here on this side of Bornholm? The Geats and the Svears have no love for the Kurs.” Hakon trailed off, frowning at the thoughts that crowded his mind.
“Another thought,” began Sarah tentatively, “didn’t it seem a little convenient that the raid came not long after your father and the other men had left?”
Leif looked around at the both of them. “Are you suggesting that the raid might be part of something bigger?”
“Aye ya! Got it, the dragon twisted around a sword...I saw this same tattoo on the forearm of a visitor we had just before you arrived in the steading. He came to speak to Father, they spoke alone and after he left Father had a conference with the other warriors and elders. Remember Leif, there was a bit of a commotion and then riders were sent out. No one told us what the issue was but then, why would they, eh?”
“I remember and I know who it was” said Leif quietly, “I had been playing hide and go seek with some of the youngsters and was hiding very well behind the tapestry at the back of the hall. When I heard Father calling to Magnus to summon the men into the hall, I thought I should sneak away but I was curious as to what was going on, so I stayed hidden. He was a Svear envoy. There were a lot of words bandied about but from what I could tell he wanted our lord Father to ignore any requests for help from King Horic. He offered Father ‘great rewards’...his words.”
There was a sharp intake of breath from Hakon, “Odin’s balls! I hope father told him where to go?”
“Yes, of course he did, and the riders he sent out were to alert the King of the trouble brewing.”
“So,” began Sarah, “I think we can say that your Father was not exactly surprised when the King’s men paid a visit and secondly, the raid was in retaliation for not taking the deal offered. Or perhaps they want to distract your Father and other lords who support King Horic. But if this is a Svear plot, what are the Kurlanders doing getting involved?” She hoped that the penny would drop.
“Swords for hire...” said Leif, as the penny did indeed drop.
“And to throw the scent off. If anyone were to follow, they would make for the Kur territory and all blame would fall on them,” Hakon added.
Silence fell as the enormity of what they had got themselves involved in began to sink in. This was no longer a straight forward rescue mission; Sarah felt real fear. If they didn’t succeed there would be no going home either to the twenty-first century or even the steading. She wouldn’t get to see her Dad or Nan again or her beloved Cornish cliffs.
Wrapping her arms around herself, shivering even though the sun shone bright and warm, she tried not to give into the panic that threatened to descend. Looking at Leif, she realised he was also having his own inner battle. She wished she could see Hakon but the sail blocked her sight.
“Right, here are our choices,” said Sarah to no one in particular, “turn around and go home or we carry on until the end”.
Sarah drew her knees up to her chest and rested her forehead there, waiting for the boys to answer. Closing her eyes, the only sounds she heard was the breaking of the waves as the little craft cut through the sea and the occasional squawk of a seabird.
Why are they not answering? Someone has to make a decision. Those poor children, Ralph, Harald and the others, we can’t leave them, we have to try. I couldn’t live with myself if we didn’t try. But what if we fail, then what? What if we die trying? I don’t want to die here. What about Dad and Nan? It’ll be like Mum all over again. I’m so sorry Dad.
Sarah felt a hand on her shoulder and looking up found herself facing the clear blue eyes of Hakon. Feeling wetness on her face, she quickly wiped a hand over her eyes, a bit embarrassed.
“We started on this path and so we will continue regardless of where it will lead,” said Hakon, still looking intently at Sarah.
“Yes, we will” she said quietly and then in a louder and firmer voice, “Yes, we will and goddammit we will get those children back and I will go home”.
“Ahem if you two have finished starring in your own saga you might notice that there is a ship in the distance and it looks like it might be the one we are looking for,” said Leif rolling his eyes.
Startled Sarah and Hakon backed away from each other and turned their attention to Leif who was pointing excitedly at the distant horizon. Scanning the sea Sarah could just make out a large rectangular sail. She didn’t want to doubt Leif but she ha
d to ask;
“Are you sure that’s the one?”
“No, of course I’m not but so far it’s the only one that has not been a fishing or trade vessel”
“Leif’s right, it is our best bet. We will stay on the same course,” added Hakon with a smile for his little brother.
“Okay, you guys are the experts so just let’s keep our fingers crossed, eh?” said Sarah.
The two boys looked at Sarah, ‘fingers crossed’? What was she talking about?
Chapter Eleven