Hrothgar and Freeing the Slaves

We caught up with the latest news in Visby and decided what to do next. We heard that Stithwulf ended up begging a lift home from Osgar after asking for an oath that he wouldn’t be harmed. The Thegn was willing to give his oath and felt safer with Stithulf under his eye. Eoppa sailed south to the West Geats, Beornfrith and Aelstan went home and the rest of the forces broke up in Visby.

Visby was a town of wonders, with many, many stone buildings. There were great halls purveying ale that had to be paid for in silver! We heard Saeric tell the tale of the demise of the witch, Arna. He had discovered that the witch was playing a double game as a spy and was communicating with Litha, who was in the form of a rat. Saeric had captured and killed the rat, but had kept this hidden from Arna, until they were boarding.

Osgar bought out the other two shares in the Spearhafoc and offered me the command as Brimwisa with the support of the much more experienced Ruric the Dane as my Steorsman. He wanted us to carry out a diplomatic mission for him returning Danes to their homeland. Some of the Danes had set off with Eoppa but there were quite a few more seeking passage; by transporting these Osgar hoped to further his renown.

Herewulf And Thorwulf agreed to join me and we tried to find a crew as well some Danes needing passage. We asked Bhumoth, the Wade priest, and managed to persuade him after Herewulf told him of the potential opportunity to spend the winter enjoying the ale and hospitality of the thankful Danes.

The Danes Odard, who had formerly been on the Sea Otter when it sank, and Sperling had formerly been an Eowan slave welcomed the opportunity. Priscus also agreed to join us along with Zosimus who had translated the runes on my chest and was an archer and a Greek named Florus Maniakes, or something like that, who had the equipment to be in the third rank of a shield wall and wanted to head south.

Saehild, one of the slaves taken by the fleet in the sea battle, a Danish spearmaiden, looked a handy addition. There was also a Dane named Ecglaf, who had been freed at Ossby. Puttoc agreed to join us, but we could find no sign of Chidi. He had last been heard of at a tavern in Visby, very drunk, lying under the table, a few days ago. Herewulf, Thorwulf and myself went to the tavern to try to find what had happened, the innkeeper, a stout looking fellow named Alfgar, made great play of calling in the servers and questioning them, but all said that they had no memory of the man, which seemed unlikely as a large black man was such an unusual sight. I left with notice of a reward for any information, while Herewulf threated the Alfgar. We were all angry at the treatment meted out to our comrade.

We then looked around the slave market, but saw no sign of him there. We did see a couple of girls, that we recognized as having been two of Wistan’s wolves, chained up in a pen. They were being sold by a Wendish merchant named Sambour. I asked the price, and was told that the older one was very beautiful, and was priced at a pound of silver; the younger was pearl of great price as she was still a virgin, two pounds for the pair. They had been kitchen slaves at Ossby, maybe Smallanders and looked cowed and beaten about. They were greatly overpriced, but partly this was due to so much silver having arrived in Visby. We said the price was too high and we would go away to consider.

We thought of approaching the Ealdorman but realised without Osgar or Wistan we would not be able to gain admittance. We took Priscus with us and returned to negotiate. After a lot of dickering Priscus brought it down to 8 marks and Herewulf, Thorwulf and I paid it between us.

We were given the two girls and took them away to hear their story. Edwina was around 17, and Cuthwyn 11 or 12. They had drunk too much at what seemed to be the same tavern as Chidi, and awoke in a cabin with others including Chidi, who had been very sick. After a day or two they had been removed from the cabin and taken to market.

They were able to describe the location of their place of captivity and we sent Puttoc to scout it out. It was about three miles south of Visby, slightly inland.

Puttoc returned and told us that there was a wooden stockade, about 8 feet high, enclosing a few buildings with a tower by the gate and a couple of watch platforms. He had seen half a dozen guards, so maybe there were three times that altogether. It sounded like Gefndene but with a tougher palisade, which was designed for keeping people in rather than out. The slave pen was on the western wall.

We had Ruric ready the ship for sailing and then under cover of darkness we planned for Puttock and Herewulf to creep over wall and open the gate. Zosimus with his bow would hang back for covering fire, while myself, Thorwulf, Saehild, Sperling, Odard, Ecglaf and Florus made ready to storm the gate.

Puttock and Herewulf swarmed over the palisade and dropped into the interior without being discovered and Herewulf crept round to the gate, where he could see a guard up the tower. Both Puttock and Herewulf shot him and the guard shrieked loudly and pitched over the side of the tower. The rest of us rushed for the gate and arrived just as Herewulf managed to cut through the large number of thongs securing the bar, with his rune marked saex and open it. We were met by a bunch of men who had hurriedly snatched up weapons and the odd shield and emerged from the longhouse on the southern side of the stockade.

I was faced by a man armed with an axe, and struck him in the shoulder and then the guts and he went down. Thorwulf was faced by three foes; he hit one in the left shoulder, and staggered him back and then struck another in the chest and staggered him back too, to be replaced by the first man returning, who dropped his weapon and was hacked through the thigh and collapsed.

Herewulf narrowly missed with two arrows but then hit another foe in the middle with his last arrow. Zosimus and Puttoc also fired their bows and Zosimus looked to be a good archer.

The rest of our party had an advantage over their opponents and Saehild looked a very good warrior. I now found myself with three enemies, but the first collapsed as I cut deeply into his foot with my spear, the second was disemboweled and I drove my spear into the back of the thigh of the third and he also went down. Thorwulf killed another of his assailants.

Herewulf joined the fighting, having exhausted his stock of arrows. He was struck a couple of times, but hit his opponent in the chest, knocking him back and then carved into his right shoulder with his axe and he went down.

I looked around and all our opponents were either dead or surrendering. There were eight slaves including Chidi, we also took the arms, armour and a handful of shields. The guards looked like they might be a ship crew; there were some Geats a few Wends and others. One of the Wends showed us a chest under the floorboards under a truckle bed in exchange for his life. We were told that Aeldred, who was dead, was in charge here and that Sambour, the merchant from whom we had bought the two slaves, was captain.

Saehild and Chidi, who seemed to have a grudge against them, killed the prisoners, under my orders and over the objections of Thorwulf. It was with some reluctance that I gave this order, but I wanted to remove the possibility of any proof of our guilt and by association the lessening of Osgar’s reputation.

We took the Wend with us, whose name was Savil and hurried back to the Spearhafoc. Ruric was ready for us and there was room for the Wend and our freed captives. We hurriedly boarded the Spearhafoc and left port. On the way back to the ship I regretted not have setting fire to the compound to remove any remaining evidence of what had occurred.

We returned to find the Spearhafoc drawn up on a strand that marks the southern extent of Wisby’s harbour area.  We scrambled aboard with our new crewmen, our prisoner, Savil, and a chest weighing about 20lb and making a silvery sort of chink. The ship was rammed with people – 25 including our prisoner.  The crew pushed us off and sculled out to sea and as they did, we told our tale. When we described the slaying of the prisoners there were more groans than cheers – though some of both.  Ruric had harsh words for Saehild in his Danish brogue and she for him – it is noticeable that few of the other Danes speak up for her.  Bhumoth looked grave.

“Wisby is the biggest settlement on the Isle of the Weather Geats, and the largest trading port in the White Sea.  The Ealdorman is Godric Hardword – the most powerful man amongst the Weather Geats.  He knows that peace is essential to trade and is known to be ruthless in keeping it.  If you had but freed the prisoners and slain only those who tried to stop you, I doubt much would have been made of this – a just rescue or at worst a falling out of foreigners. The Wend would have had to seek his own justice and could not have done so without confessing his own crimes.  But by slaying the prisoners – some of whom you say were Geats – you have broken Godric’s peace.  Worse than that, by slaying all but one witness and taking him prisoner, you have made it into secret murder – for which there is no wergeld.  Death or outlawry is the usual penalty.

“I am a Weather Geat, and unless you take measures to mend this, I will not sail with you, for I will never be able to return to my home.  By rights, you should turn the craft around and sail into Wisby to declare your action, and throw yourself upon the judgement of Godric.  However, I think that is like to go ill with us all now. Your best course of action is to sail to Nordhafn and beg Beornfrith to intercede on your behalf.    I think he feels himself sufficiently in the debt of Thegn Osgar to give you a fair hearing and do what he can for you.  At worst I believe he will let us go on our way if things go badly.

“If you do not do this thing, I will leave right now.”  He unbuckles his weapon belt and hands it to Thorwulf, balancing on the bulwark, and throws his sealskin cape over his shoulders. “But understand that if you do not do as I say, you will certainly be outlawed.  Godric’s reach is long, so do not think that it is only Wisby or the Isle of the Weather Geats where you may never return.  Consider also effect on the honour of Thegn Osgar, for you sail this ship in his name.

“Decide, now.”

Thorwulf had been unhappy at the slaying and backed up Bhumoth’s word, while Herewulf understood the reasons for the deaths but left the decision for me. Osgar’s honour had always been foremost in my mind so I agreed we should throw ourself on Beornfrith’s mercy.

There was a short discussion about going North or taking the long way round, but I thought time pressed and especially as the wind was set fair for Denmark and it would be a long row around the east coast, we set off directly north to Nordhafn.

We arrived, announced ourselves and asked for audience with Beornfrith. The name of Osgar opened doors and Bhumoth had some influence. I gave a full and honest account and produced the Wendish guard. Beornfrith raised eyebrows at the slitting of throats. He said that this was a bad business all round, but war was still in everyone’s heads when they returned from war. The peace of the Isle of the Weather Geats was vital and he knew that Godric would see this too. He admitted that he and Godric did not get on and that Godric would pursue this. He did feel that there was some guilt on his part for not protecting those returning from war. He told us he would make such approaches as he could. His priority would be to keep Osgar out, but he would try to avoid throwing me to the wolves.

He suggested that I should await word from him and over winter in Denmark. He would be able to find me, but maybe others would be able too. I should be aware that my problems might not be confined to Godric. If blood feuds had been started, he could not deal with that, but he would let me know if he could. He asked us to leave the prisoner as he was the only witness to answer to the secret killing.

It was now afternoon and we left immediately.

Bhumoth suggested we sail around the island rather than directly to Denmark and I agreed, so that we would avoid passing Wisby. It was hard rowing and as we came out of the mouth of the firth, we could see a ship rounding the point. We kept well away and headed East into the teeth of a fairly brisk wind for about 5 miles. It looked like the headland extended for about another 10 miles but Bhumoth said this was an island with a channel to the south. The priest directed us to go through and went into the bow, staring intently into the water, chanting. Periodically he broke his chant to shout an instruction to Ruric at the helm.

After about 5 miles of a fairly narrow channel, some 60 to 100 yards wide, we reached a skerry stone and passed out into the open sea. We sailed for a while, giving the oarsmen a rest, paralleling the coast, but then took up the oars again. Bhumoth returned to the bows and gave instructions that didn’t seem intuitive but did seem to ease the rowing. We stayed quite close to the coast and then Bhumoth picked a suitable spot to stop for the night. It was a little early but was a spot that could only be approached by sea. There was a little strand and tiny settlement Ostergarnshame, with a beach on the south side. We bought their catch from a few fishermen.

In the morning we set off again and soon picked up the wind. The Spearhafoc had much more keel than the Black Pig so the wind on the port stern quarter was sufficient and we made good time. Mid-morning the southern tip of the island slipped away and we were able to sail on the same course. Ruric expected to spend the night at sea as we had no wish to revisit Eowland.

The night was uneventful and Ruric informed me that the large island of Bornholm was usually welcoming to strangers and traders. We arrived late in the day at a sizeable settlement called Goodhame. There were many ships on strand and a borg with a palisade around in on a slight promontory.

We were met by the harbourmaster who rode down with a small troop. I gave him 5 marks on Ruric’s advice and he informed me that his name was Ashferth and he spoke on behalf of his lord, Gudholm. He gave us booths and I bought 10 more arrows for 3m, along with the makings of another 40 for 8m. I bought myself a fine sheepskin jacket for 2 m and Herewulf bought a sealskin coat. Zosimus was interested in Herewulf’s hunnish bow. He gave him some wax and explained that water and salt were very bad for tit and needed a lot of wax.

We set off the next morning and headed northwest along the coast of Bornholm with the wind roughly behind us. We sailed for three 3 hours and arrived at Trelleborg. We planned to stay a couple of days and have our arrival announced at Hereot the hall of Hrothulf the King of the Danes.

Over last few days Ruric has been tending the three freed slaves under the influence of seith brew. Two were still struggling, but one a short stocky man started speaking in sentences and became aware. His name was Eadrid – and East Anglian. He had been visiting the old country, had been captured by Danes and sold to Eowans. He had probably been an oar slave at Ottenby. I made sure he had a spear.

The harbourmaster was given a gift of 5m and booths were made available for us. They had roofless walls and we draped our sail over them. Ruric told them we would be here a few days. We told him who we were and he had heard of the happenings in Eowland; Osgar’s name rang a bell. He would send word to the island. Trelleborg was on the mainland to the North, while Hereot was on the island of Zealand in the middle of the land of the Danes.

Zosimus shared some of his story. He had been a soldier and then a trader, but had been kidnapped. He thought he hadn’t been home for eight years, although he wasn’t sure how long he had been a slave of the Eowan. He had served with the Greeks, then as a mercenary elsewhere and then set up joint venture to trade up rivers but had found himself as part of the cargo.

We spent a couple of days at Trelleborg and a second of the freed slaves recovered from the influence of the seith brew. She was another Briton, a West Saxon. She had been taken directly by the Eowan pirates. She had been going to the old country looking for husband. She claimed to be competent with a weapon and I made sure she had a spear too. Even though not noticeably large of stature, she was immensely strong.

After a couple of day, two splendid looking longships arrived. Their captains wish to speak and gave me a gift. They had been charged with escorting us to Hereot. We sailed the Spearhafoc with them and were ushered into a harbour across the strait.

We were furnished with six horses and six of us set off to visit the King.