Hrolf the young Viking has left the service of Jarl Dragonheart and sails with Jarl Gunnar Thorfinnson. When they find a home off the Frankish coast they begin to accumulate a vast fortune which earns them the enmity of other Vikings. The novel culminates in a bloody battle where Viking fights Viking but Hrolf begins to fulfil his destiny as Hrolf the Horseman!
The series will take Hrolf, the slave rescued by Jarl Dragonheart, to Northern France where he will begin the Norman dynasty which ruled half of Europe. Hrolf is a young character and what you see in the novel is not the finished article. The early stories will intertwine with my Dragonheart books as they destinies are linked.
Excerpt
“We will give him enough to satisfy him. These Vikings are rich! The Leudes said that their leader wore mail!”
The sound of their voices gave me an approximation of their position. I knew exactly when they would appear before me. I waited until two men had stepped into view and then I hurled first one and then a second javelin. My first hit one in the neck and he fell spurting dark blood. The second struck the man in the calf but it came through the other side. Before they could react I galloped at them. They had no idea I was alone. Their shields were on their backs and, as they struggled to pull them around, I galloped, brazenly through the middle of them. I was on a horse and I had a half face helmet. I frightened them. As they cowered I jabbed my spear at them and was reward with flesh. One of them fell screaming from a wound in his leg. I galloped to the south.
Although only one man was dead two were hurt. I doubted that they were fatal wounds but they were injuries, nonetheless. I did not ride hard; I wanted them to follow. I saw that one remained with the two injured men and the other two followed me. They could now see that I was alone. I glanced over my shoulder. I knew the island well and I guessed that they did not. They ran and began to close with me. I allowed them to get within thirty paces and then I wheeled to the right and led them west. The ground sloped down to our bay and they were encouraged by the fact that the slope was in their favour. As Dream Strider increased speed so they lengthened their stride to try to catch me. It was a mistake. One of them tumbled over and was unable to stop himself. He fell awkwardly.
I wheeled Dream Strider around and holding my spear before me galloped towards the last warrior standing. He tried to stop himself but the slope prevented him. I thrust my spear at him as he cowered beneath his shield. Had he worn mail I would not have been able to hurt him but as it was I stabbed down and my spear pierced his right shoulder. As I turned to finish him off I heard a shout and saw the other three coming towards me. The wounds I had inflicted were not enough to incapacitate them. I turned Dream Strider and headed back to the hall. A plan was forming in my mind.
I rode directly there. I knew that they would be able to follow my tracks but that did not matter. I would still reach there first. As I galloped towards the hall Rurik appeared from the door of the store. I reined in beneath him. “There are six of them. One is dead and four are wounded but they still come. I am leading them here. I will draw their attention to me. Use your bow when their backs are turned. If you can slay one then we may have a chance.”
“Be careful Hrolf! This is too good a tale to end with your death!”
“I have no intention of dying for men who just come to steal our treasure. Hide yourselves. They will not be far behind me.”
I rode to the hall and waited. I stroked Dream Strider’s mane. I would give him some of the winter fruits as a treat after his exertions this day. They came. Three walked ahead while two limped behind. The one who was unwounded led with the man I had speared next to him. The one who had fallen was the third and his head bled yet. When they saw I was alone and not moving they gathered into a line of five. They would have to have their backs to the store house if they were to face me. I could still escape left or right. They spread into a half circle and advanced. They thought to trap me in a net.
Rurik’s first arrow was accurate and it struck the man with the head wound in the back. He pitched forward. They looked at each other in surprise. Before they could react a second arrow hit the man whom I had speared. He too fell. They gathered together and made a wall with their shields. They looked at the two men. They were obviously dead. They looked from me to Rurik. Now that there were just three of them they did not fancy the odds. They turned and ran.
Rurik yelled, “Wait for us!”
I did for I knew that I could catch them as I was mounted. I waited until my companions descended from the store. Rurik rubbed his shoulder. “I am glad that we did not need a third arrow. I fear my arm would not have been able to pull back the bow.”
“Come, we can catch them. They are tired and all but one are wounded.”
The two of them ran alongside Dream Strider as we galloped towards the north coast. It did not take long to begin to catch up with them. One of them was lagging behind. The unwounded man was stretching his legs. It was not a clan we followed it was a band of bandits who thought to make coin while our ship was away. As I rode alongside the last man I smacked him on the head with the flat of my sword. He fell in a heap. I saw the haunted farm ahead and knew that they would think they had escaped us. That would not happen. I kicked hard and Dream Strider opened his legs. We began to catch the last wounded man. I rode beyond him. Rurik and Erik would catch him. I wanted to catch this man who deserted his comrades. He had fled three men with wounds and he had yet to test himself. He was not a warrior.
He ran towards the sea and their boat which was drawn up on the sand. Had he turned and faced me he might have lived. Had he been a warrior he might have decided that one on one he might win. He did neither and he kept running towards the boat. I rode behind him and swung my sword. I hacked deeply into his neck. I struck hard and his head was almost severed from his body. As he fell and his head hit the water it separated and floated, briefly. The dead eyes stared at me and then it sank beneath the waves. I allowed the tide to take out his body and then I returned to the two survivors.
When I reached Erik and Rurik, Rurik shook his head, “One was dead when we reached him. This one has not long to live. I cannot understand his words.”
I stared down at him. His eyes were closed but I saw that he was breathing still. “Who are you?”
He looked up at me with wild eyes, “You are not supposed to be alive! How can a man fight a ghost?”
