but they disobeyed commands and men died as a result."
I could see their faces searching mine for the lie. Sigtrygg spoke. "It is true. The Jarl was more than kind. Many of us would have put them to death but the Jarl argued leniency. He wanted you to see them before they were banished. It cost a man his life."
They now understood. Hlif said, "Do we have to pay were geld to the family of the man who was killed?"
I shook my head. "I have recompensed them for the loss of their son." I saw them looking fearfully at each other. "Know you that you are more than welcome to stay here. Your sons committed the crime and not you."
Hlif kissed my hand, "Thank you, Jarl Dragon Heart!"
I turned to speak with Kara who had come, along with Aiden. "Aiden has told me. I will try to help the families. This is not their fault."
"I know. There comes a point at which children make their own decisions."
She hugged me, "And the voyage went well. Aiden told me."
"Aye, we can do this twice a year from now on. The voyage did not take as long as I had thought and we now have allies and trading partners in Vasconia and Amalfi."
"Do not forget Jarl, that Gaeta is also willing to trade with us." Aiden had spoken at length with Prefect Maurus and discovered that we had even more opportunities to trade.
I nodded, "Truly things are going well for us." I felt a sudden shiver down my spine. "Have you dreamed daughter?"
"No father but I have had restless nights. I feel stronger since I returned from Ynys Mon but I cannot control my powers as I once did. Now that Aiden is here we can speak with the Spirits and find out what is troubling them."
It was good to be back in my own hall again and sleeping in my own bed. I enjoyed these voyages but there was a comfort to my own home. A week after my return my happiness was made complete when my son, his wife and my grandson came to visit with me. This was the first unprompted visit I had had and I was happy beyond words. I knew it was Elfrida's doing. I could not have chosen a better wife for my son.
"You will stay?"
"Of course. It is time Ragnar got to know his grandfather."
I looked from Elfrida to Wolf Killer. He smiled, "And I would hear of your voyage."
I clapped my hands and my slave, Uhtric, appeared, "Fetch me a jug of the wine I brought back." I waved them to a chair as I picked up Ragnar. I bounced him on my knee and he giggled. I had seen fathers and grandfathers doing this. Mine had only used his hands to beat me. When I saw the pleasure on Ragnar's face I wondered why my father had ill treated me so.
When Uhtric returned with the wine Elfrida said, "I will pour." She poured one for me and one for my son.
"Try a little Elfrida. You will be pleasantly surprised. The ladies of Vasconia drink this."
I was delighted by the expressions on their faces as they drank the rich red wine. My son beamed. "This is a fine drink. Can we get more?"
I almost choked when he said 'we', "Of course. They are keen for our iron and copper." Something in his tone made me ask, "Are you thinking of sailing 'Josephus'?"
He nodded, "Like you I have young men who are keen to go A-Viking. If I do not take them to sea they may choose another Jarl. The problem is we would be sailing during the winter."
"If you sail to Italy you will find their winters are like our summers. My ship needs repairs but if you wish to go…"
He said nothing and Elfrida shook her head, "Husband! You know it is one of the reasons you have come to see your father!"
Wolf Killer briefly glared at his wife and then nodded, "She speaks the truth, father. I covet you your riches. We grow crops and we raise animals but my land does not have the iron or the copper. We have fewer slaves. My warriors look with envy at the riches your warriors have. Only two of my men have mail byrnies."
I noticed Ragnar yawning and I handed him back to his mother, "If you need gold." I stood and went to a
I could see their faces searching mine for the lie. Sigtrygg spoke. "It is true. The Jarl was more than kind. Many of us would have put them to death but the Jarl argued leniency. He wanted you to see them before they were banished. It cost a man his life."
They now understood. Hlif said, "Do we have to pay were geld to the family of the man who was killed?"
I shook my head. "I have recompensed them for the loss of their son." I saw them looking fearfully at each other. "Know you that you are more than welcome to stay here. Your sons committed the crime and not you."
Hlif kissed my hand, "Thank you, Jarl Dragon Heart!"
I turned to speak with Kara who had come, along with Aiden. "Aiden has told me. I will try to help the families. This is not their fault."
"I know. There comes a point at which children make their own decisions."
She hugged me, "And the voyage went well. Aiden told me."
"Aye, we can do this twice a year from now on. The voyage did not take as long as I had thought and we now have allies and trading partners in Vasconia and Amalfi."
"Do not forget Jarl, that Gaeta is also willing to trade with us." Aiden had spoken at length with Prefect Maurus and discovered that we had even more opportunities to trade.
I nodded, "Truly things are going well for us." I felt a sudden shiver down my spine. "Have you dreamed daughter?"
"No father but I have had restless nights. I feel stronger since I returned from Ynys Mon but I cannot control my powers as I once did. Now that Aiden is here we can speak with the Spirits and find out what is troubling them."
It was good to be back in my own hall again and sleeping in my own bed. I enjoyed these voyages but there was a comfort to my own home. A week after my return my happiness was made complete when my son, his wife and my grandson came to visit with me. This was the first unprompted visit I had had and I was happy beyond words. I knew it was Elfrida's doing. I could not have chosen a better wife for my son.
"You will stay?"
"Of course. It is time Ragnar got to know his grandfather."
I looked from Elfrida to Wolf Killer. He smiled, "And I would hear of your voyage."
I clapped my hands and my slave, Uhtric, appeared, "Fetch me a jug of the wine I brought back." I waved them to a chair as I picked up Ragnar. I bounced him on my knee and he giggled. I had seen fathers and grandfathers doing this. Mine had only used his hands to beat me. When I saw the pleasure on Ragnar's face I wondered why my father had ill treated me so.
When Uhtric returned with the wine Elfrida said, "I will pour." She poured one for me and one for my son.
"Try a little Elfrida. You will be pleasantly surprised. The ladies of Vasconia drink this."
I was delighted by the expressions on their faces as they drank the rich red wine. My son beamed. "This is a fine drink. Can we get more?"
I almost choked when he said 'we', "Of course. They are keen for our iron and copper." Something in his tone made me ask, "Are you thinking of sailing 'Josephus'?"
He nodded, "Like you I have young men who are keen to go A-Viking. If I do not take them to sea they may choose another Jarl. The problem is we would be sailing during the winter."
"If you sail to Italy you will find their winters are like our summers. My ship needs repairs but if you wish to go…"
He said nothing and Elfrida shook her head, "Husband! You know it is one of the reasons you have come to see your father!"
Wolf Killer briefly glared at his wife and then nodded, "She speaks the truth, father. I covet you your riches. We grow crops and we raise animals but my land does not have the iron or the copper. We have fewer slaves. My warriors look with envy at the riches your warriors have. Only two of my men have mail byrnies."
I noticed Ragnar yawning and I handed him back to his mother, "If you need gold." I stood and went to a
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