Viking Treasure by Griff Hosker

safe."
    "You have decided our course of action then?"
    "They will be shaken.  The Franks have few horses left and they will have to fight on foot. We have fresh warriors who have yet to fight.  We will use Raibeart and Ketil's men as our hammer. If we can weaken them enough then Wolf Killer can bring his men from the flanks."
    "How will he cross his own swamp?"
    "I have no doubt that there is a path there.  Wolf Killer is no fool.  It will be hidden from his enemies but he and his men will know the route they should take."
    "Are you gambling, Jarl?"
    "You gamble each time you don your mail and raise your sword. This is calculated.  We fight hired swords.  They may owe allegiance to their own Hersir and Gesith but they are not one people.  We are. Have you noticed that the Danes have kept from the fighting?  Last night we found mainly Franks and Frisians. We use that to our advantage."
    I lay down to rest. I would not sleep but my body just needed to be at one with the earth and so I lay down on the soil of the Land of the Wolf. I held my dragon in my hand. We had found it beneath the earth and there was a connection to the land and to my ancestors.  The Warlord of Rheged had touched this and now I did. Wyrd. The earth and the dragon soothed me.
    When I felt at peace I rose and rinsed my face.  I took out the whetstone and sharpened my sword and seax again.  Today they would be called upon. This time I would be facing mailed warriors who had skills.  This would not be a night attack using surprise.  They would see us coming and they would be prepared. I found my shield and checked the straps. It had not suffered much in the fighting of two nights since. The leather covering was damaged in a couple of places but the metal studs and the boss still held firmly. I placed my dagger in the sheath I had on the inside.  Finally I took my new Frankish sword and sharpened it. That would be the weapon I would begin the fight with.  It was longer than Ragnar's Spirit.  I could have used a spear but I preferred a sword. Its longer reach would give me an initial advantage.
    My jarls and hersir gathered around me. "My plan is to make a boar's snout.  Ketil and Raibeart your mailed men will be the point. Asbjorn and his men will be behind Ketil's and my Ulfheonar will be behind Raibeart. Cnut Cnutson your men will be behind Asbjorn and the Ulfheonar. Arne I want your men in two warbands on the flanks.  You will use your bows and slings. If you are threatened then retire behind the wedge. Your ten shield wall warriors are the reserve, they fill the gaps. We attack the Frisians. I wish discord amongst our foes.  The Franks and the Frisians have done most of the fighting. We slew Franks and Frisians in the night.  We have driven off the Frankish horse.  I want them to see the Danes untouched."
    "Is that not a danger, Jarl? The Danes are fierce fighters."
    Olaf Leather Neck snorted, "No Arne Thorirson, they are not. Since they took over Eoforwic they have become lazy bandits! The Jarl is right. The leader of this band is a Frisian. He is the paymaster.  If he is threatened then the Danes may decide to flee rather than fight."
    "Erik Eriksson, you cannot stand in a shield wall.  I want you mounted and watching for Ulf Olafsson and our reinforcements.  When they come I want them spread out to make a long line and for them to make noise.  Leif the Banner will fight alongside me this day.  You will keep my banner and you will unfurl it when the reinforcements arrive."
    Asbjorn asked, "Will he get here today?  He has far to travel."
    Olaf laughed, "If he has to carry his men on his back my old friend will get here.  He knows the Jarl needs him and he is Ulfheonar still."
    "We attack before dusk.  We will not fight in the dark but I want them to think that we do as we did last night and attack them in the night.  It will be late afternoon when we advance."
    We used the river to allow us to approach unseen. We rose as a