Book 3: 'Arrow Odd'

2.0 THE SACK OF PARIS OF 845

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 THE SACK OF PARIS OF 845

"And his shield was called Hrae's Ship's Round,

And his followers were called the Hraes'."

Eyvinder Skald-Despoiler; Skaldskaparmal

It was late spring, 845 AD when Erik 'Bragi' Ragnarson and cousin Grim 'Hairy-Cheek' Ketilson came south from Hrafnista with three longships full of warriors from Halogaland and countless Nor'Way ships full of Varangians from Gardariki. The war arrow had been passed up and down the Nor'Way coast and east into the Nor'Way trade routes and all were required to respond in some way. It was a call to arms for an attack on Paris and all the chieftains of the Nor'Way and The Vik and Hraes' Gardar and Gardariki had responded with dragonships full of fierce men bearing mortal weapons. Prince Erik had returned to Hraegunarstead from the east for the first time in many years and there was something Jarl Grim wanted to discuss with him regarding the ship Fair Faxi and young Oddi's future. Oddi and Asmund were sitting together on the second high seat next to Brak and Grim.

"Is it about Fair Faxi?" Oddi asked.

"Yes. That and more," Grim went on. "I have to talk to him about Brother Gregory, the Goth who brought Faxi over the crossing from the east."

"Will you be giving Fair Faxi back to Prince Erik?"

"No son," the Halogalander continued. "Faxi is a Nor'Way ship and will be on her way back east for the summer's Nor'Way trading, back east with the rest of the Nor'Way ships, but I'll be lending our Prince all my longships and my warriors for the raid on Frankia,"

"Can I come?" young Oddi asked.

"Oh no!" Grim exclaimed, laughing. "You are far too young for that," and he grabbed Oddi up in his strong arms and gave him a great hug. Just then the bellhorn from the watchtower at the fjord's bend began bellowing a message of ships approaching, friendlies. People began darting about and throwing on cloaks and soon all were running for the bitter green, with Grim and Oddi at the forefront.

The narrow greensward ran along the south edge of the fjord of Hraegunarstead between the mountains and the bay, a lush meadow the freemen called the bitter green. At its westernmost point stood a watchtower where a lookout monitored the mouth of the fjord for the arrival of ships and the guard was sounding a bellhorn in warning. Prince Erik's longship was spotted sailing up the fjord toward the stead and the whole household had rushed out onto the bitter green to welcome The Prince home. Grim and Oddi watched as the ship's bulwarks rose up out of the waters and settled back down into the waves as the oars chomped at the swells. The Prince could be made out on the foredeck as men scampered about mid-deck, gathering up the sail and unfooting the mast. As the ship passed along the shore, the crewmen at the stern waved to the crowd and the people on shore ran back along the bitter green, following the longship's progress. Prince Erik barked out orders and the oars were raised as the longship coasted up onto the beach, scudding softly into the coarse sand. Ropes were let out and the multitude grabbed them up and hauled the ship onshore, as the Varangians stowed their oars. Erik was at the forestem, below the fierce dragon's head, and was the first to leap to land and stand steadfast in the sand. He greeted Kraka and Brak, then gave Grim a great hug. "This is Oddi," Grim announced and Erik shook the boy's hand vigorously and continued greeting the folk of Hraegunarstead, many of whom he had not seen in years.

Later, in the evening, Grim had a private audience with The Prince on the high seats of the main hall. "Shortly after the fall of Gardariki," Grim began, cradling a goblet of mead, "Brother Gregory visited us at Hrafnista, bringing the news of the tragic death of your wife, Gunwar." Erik nodded. "He also brought his baby, the boy, Oddi, that I introduced you to this afternoon. And he gave me this," Grim said, presenting Erik with a cross made of iron. "He said you would recognize it as being his." Erik took up the cross, speechless. "He also brought your ship, Fair Faxi, across the 'Way. He left the baby with Loefthana and me with instructions to have him raised here in Hraegunarstead. He also told me that he wanted you to name his son. Brother Gregory then said he had to return to Gardar late in the season because he expected the Huns to attack his Goths in the spring. I gave him a new Nor'Way ship with which to attempt such a late crossing, but he never made it. The ship was found by Sami hunters that winter, crushed and broken in the sea ice, with no sign of the crew. Young Oddi has been raised here at Hraegunarstead with the family of young Asmund ever since. The two boys are inseparable."