Viking Storm by Brazier Julian

Author:Brazier, Julian [Brazier, Julian]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2015-06-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

‘Some of you believe that we should have attacked the Vikings on the beaches, but they were already ashore in strength and we were strung out in a column. In this position, we have a commanding advantage of height...’

About thirty officers were gathered round a fire in the middle of the ruined fortress, listening to Ealdorman Odda. The fire leaped and crackled in the windless night, making their faces look strangely shadowed in the flickering light. The Ealdorman’s confident expression wavered for a moment as he paused, but he resumed as strongly as before.

‘I know we have little by way of provisions but I have sent off men with water carriers, including some large ones we brought on the carts, and we are going to defend this strong position tomorrow. I have summoned this council to ask your views on the best tactics.’ There was a tense silence. Then the big barrel of a man with a beard, who had spoken in the council the previous day, walked forward into the light of the fire.

‘Well spoken, Odda. You were right not to do battle with those savages on the beach and allow them to butcher us in twos and threes. This is a strong position. Let’s get some provisions in and fortify it.’ The way the man spoke of provisions before fortification caused Eadmund to smile for a moment, and then the gravity of their plight hit him afresh. He looked over his shoulder at the small contingent of women, huddled round another fire, but he could not see his sister. He noticed Aelfred Longshanks looking too. Their eyes met, and the young man blushed.

Several other people spoke, the majority agreeing with the first contributor. Then the thin older man with the bespoke armour stood up.

‘Odda, you must think again. You have done well getting such a large force together…I would guess we have nearly a thousand men…and you did very well with your scouts getting us here quickly. Nevertheless, the strength of our position is false. We are half a mile from water and we have had to send away the horses. If the Danes manoeuvre between us and our source of water, and kill any foraging parties, we shall have to abandon this fortress and go out to meet them. They all have good weapons and armour and, more important, are skilled in co-operating as a single force. They also know how to prepare fortifications. If we wait, our supplies will dwindle, and our soldiers’ morale will suffer, while their confidence will soar. We must seize the initiative and strike before they are ready.’

‘What do you suggest, Hildebeorht?’

‘We must attack at first light. We need a diversion to distract their sentries, and then sweep down on them. That way we stop them getting into a shield wall – and we may catch some of them without armour.’ He paused and smiled. ‘They certainly won’t have been wearing it rowing.’

There was a buzz of conversation, but Odda raised one hand and it stopped, although the chatter around neighbouring fires continued.

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