Read Online Viking Treasure by Griff Hosker - Free Book Online Page B

must be no."
    "I have a scout like you.  Snorri is his name.  I am fortunate that he has another who is almost as good. Then you, Beorn Long Sight, will need to teach the other scouts your skills."
    "I will do so but I think the gods gave me these skills where he gave others different ones."
    We rode in silence on the road which followed, roughly, the Roman Road which had once stood here. There was little other evidence that those  ancient builders had left much of a mark on this land and it was both hard and unyielding. After Low Barrow we saw no sign of human habitation until we came to the Raven's Stone. Here we saw a shepherd's hut but no sign of the shepherd. We stopped for we had come as far as we could in one half day.
    Wolf Killer looked east, "So they would come across here." He pointed to the sky.  "Already it is becoming colder and soon the snows will fall."
    Haaken said, "I do not think they would come this way."
    "It is the most deserted part of the land.  If they wished to reach us unseen it is their best route."
    "And that is the very reason that Ragnar Ruriksson will not come this way.  He has a large army to feed.  On what could he feast? If the snows came then where would he shelter?" Wolf Killer suddenly saw the sense in Haaken's words.  Haaken turned to Beorn Long Sight.  "If you wished to attack Elfridaby and you came from Eoforwic which route would you take?"
    "If I wished to stay hidden then this way.  If I wished to be fed there are two southerly routes. One comes over the big Roman Road which is longer. It has many farms along the route and some hamlets too. The shortest way is to the south, closer to the land of Sigtrygg Thrandson.  It is the road which passes through Sedde's  Burgh."
    Wolf Killer whipped his head around, "But that is just ten miles from my home!"
    "And who farms there Beorn Long Sight?"
    "Seddes died many years ago. It is a mixture of our people, Saxons and a few who come from the old times."
    "They have no hersir?"
    "No, Jarl. Sigtrygg Thrandson and your son are the two nearest jarls. The burgh was destroyed by the Danes when they last came through.  There are walls no longer. They have been raided so many times that the people there flee at the first sign of an enemy. They are a fearful people. You cannot blame them."
    We turned our horses and headed home. "Then, my son you need to ride to Seddes' Burgh on the morrow. It seems to me that if you had men there they could warn you quickly and, perhaps, hold up an enemy. I think your scout is right.  If that is the shortest route and if there are farms along the way then they will use that route." He nodded, "How far would you say it was to Eoforwic from Seddes' Burgh?"
    Beorn was a scout.  He did not know Roman miles.  He looked over his shoulder and said, "A warband could march hence in three days or ride in two. There is a road and there are farms and animals there. They could be fed."
    "They will not have enough horses to ride.  They will march. We have less time than I thought.  I will stay this night and then Haaken and I will return to Cyninges-tūn. We all have much to do."
    Wolf Killer said, "Aye.  Beorn Long Sight, take your men tomorrow and ride towards Eoforwic. Keep watch on the road. I need to know in advance when they come.  Stay hidden and return as soon as you see sign of their scouts."
    "Aye Jarl."
    "If you have someone who can pass for a Dane then they might gain information from within their walls."
    "I will ask my men but I doubt it."
    I wondered if I should have sent Snorri and Beorn. Wolf Killer smiled as he read my thoughts, "You must trust others father.  The Ulfheonar cannot do it all.  Let my men emulate yours."
    Little did I know what I set in motion.  We returned to Elfridaby feeling as though we had achieved something.  My son and I were a little closer and knowing what the danger was somehow made it less fearful. By the time we returned to the warmth of Elfrida's fire we had