vessel and Thrush Hemming, attentive as ever, loped across with a full barrel as his eorle attempted to move the subject on to happier days.
“Tell me about the raid. We were still in Anglia when you landed among the Hetware and all seemed well. After that we were in the South and news was sparse.”
Hemming refilled the horns and placed the barrel at their feet. Heardred shot him a smile of thanks as he began to tell the story of Hygelac's Raid.
“They were completely unprepared for us at first. We hit the northern coast and defeated the local forces before splitting the army. We moved south, skirting the Ælmere while the ships, under half crews, shadowed us. The Frisian king, Ida, never concentrated his forces but just committed them piecemeal so we just swept them aside.” He took a long draught from his horn and grinned. “It couldn't have been easier. Once we put the inland sea behind us we fortified a base at a place called Dorestada and used it to raid further south. The great River Rin flows there as it approaches its estuary on the German Sea. Using it we could raid with our ships deep into Frankland, that and the other rivers there, the Woh, Masa, Sceald.” He shrugged. “It was perfect. The countryside was rich and fairly groaning with food. We spent the best part of the summer there and never saw so much as a hostile cow, never mind an enemy spear.”
Eofer shook his head in wonder. The southerners had a reputation for easy living among the people of the North, but he knew from his experience in Britannia that the people were tough, good spear men. Their leaders however were callow fools, always putting personal gain before the good of their folk. It appeared that the same had happened to the Franks. Maybe it was the Christ god, he reflected. Wherever he was worshipped the poor grew poorer and the rich, richer. Eofer came back as his kinsman concluded his tale.
“The days started to shorten and men wanted away with their spoils. With every day's passing you could sense the feeling grow a little more. Eventually Hygelac decided that the raid was over. I took the fleet down the Rin and the king was to follow on with the men who remained with him.” Heardred glanced up and pulled a weary smile. “We knew that we were taking a chance, dividing the army, but the ships were overloaded as it was. It was late in summer and the river was at its lowest ebb, it would only take a few ships to get stranded in a shallow and block the channel and we would all have been in a vulnerable position.” He shrugged. “Maybe they were watching us, but I think that it was justwyrd , the way that it is.After a summer of gods-luck, ours gave out at the moment of most danger. My father and his men were obviously overtaken by an army from the south and the next thing that I know the estuary of the Sceald is spewing forth dragon ships and galleys. Heavily laden on a lee coastline with a rising swell, short of men...” He shrugged again. “I don't need to tell you what it was like. Only the full onset of the storm and superior seamanship saved those that managed to get away.”
A hand gently shook his shoulder. Eofer forced his lids apart and sighed wearily as he attempted to focus on the figure crouched over him. Imma Gold was there; the big duguth's teeth flashed red in the firelight. “The Golden Mares are back in the East lord, Treachery snapping at their heels.”
Eofer took the cup. Sipping, he fought against the desire to retch. Against his will, he screwed up his face as he forced out what would have to pass for a witty reply. He didn't feel very witty, but it was expected. “Ask Shining Mane to pull the sun in a circle for a while. Maybe the wolf will get dizzy.”
Imma chuckled dutifully, his golden hair falling to frame his face as he looked down at the suffering form of his eorle. Eofer took another sip and rolled from his cloak. Ambling over to the surf he relieved himself with a sigh. There was
“Tell me about the raid. We were still in Anglia when you landed among the Hetware and all seemed well. After that we were in the South and news was sparse.”
Hemming refilled the horns and placed the barrel at their feet. Heardred shot him a smile of thanks as he began to tell the story of Hygelac's Raid.
“They were completely unprepared for us at first. We hit the northern coast and defeated the local forces before splitting the army. We moved south, skirting the Ælmere while the ships, under half crews, shadowed us. The Frisian king, Ida, never concentrated his forces but just committed them piecemeal so we just swept them aside.” He took a long draught from his horn and grinned. “It couldn't have been easier. Once we put the inland sea behind us we fortified a base at a place called Dorestada and used it to raid further south. The great River Rin flows there as it approaches its estuary on the German Sea. Using it we could raid with our ships deep into Frankland, that and the other rivers there, the Woh, Masa, Sceald.” He shrugged. “It was perfect. The countryside was rich and fairly groaning with food. We spent the best part of the summer there and never saw so much as a hostile cow, never mind an enemy spear.”
Eofer shook his head in wonder. The southerners had a reputation for easy living among the people of the North, but he knew from his experience in Britannia that the people were tough, good spear men. Their leaders however were callow fools, always putting personal gain before the good of their folk. It appeared that the same had happened to the Franks. Maybe it was the Christ god, he reflected. Wherever he was worshipped the poor grew poorer and the rich, richer. Eofer came back as his kinsman concluded his tale.
“The days started to shorten and men wanted away with their spoils. With every day's passing you could sense the feeling grow a little more. Eventually Hygelac decided that the raid was over. I took the fleet down the Rin and the king was to follow on with the men who remained with him.” Heardred glanced up and pulled a weary smile. “We knew that we were taking a chance, dividing the army, but the ships were overloaded as it was. It was late in summer and the river was at its lowest ebb, it would only take a few ships to get stranded in a shallow and block the channel and we would all have been in a vulnerable position.” He shrugged. “Maybe they were watching us, but I think that it was justwyrd , the way that it is.After a summer of gods-luck, ours gave out at the moment of most danger. My father and his men were obviously overtaken by an army from the south and the next thing that I know the estuary of the Sceald is spewing forth dragon ships and galleys. Heavily laden on a lee coastline with a rising swell, short of men...” He shrugged again. “I don't need to tell you what it was like. Only the full onset of the storm and superior seamanship saved those that managed to get away.”
A hand gently shook his shoulder. Eofer forced his lids apart and sighed wearily as he attempted to focus on the figure crouched over him. Imma Gold was there; the big duguth's teeth flashed red in the firelight. “The Golden Mares are back in the East lord, Treachery snapping at their heels.”
Eofer took the cup. Sipping, he fought against the desire to retch. Against his will, he screwed up his face as he forced out what would have to pass for a witty reply. He didn't feel very witty, but it was expected. “Ask Shining Mane to pull the sun in a circle for a while. Maybe the wolf will get dizzy.”
Imma chuckled dutifully, his golden hair falling to frame his face as he looked down at the suffering form of his eorle. Eofer took another sip and rolled from his cloak. Ambling over to the surf he relieved himself with a sigh. There was
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