them for me were not impressed by their handling. We would use them for spares and for firewood when we were done. By the time we reached our friends Hermund's wound was less angry. Aiden and Kara would be able to do something for him, of that I had no doubt. He and Hrolf had become popular with all of the men on my drekar. Hrolf, in particular, was seen as a future warrior. He constantly harangued Haaken and the others for stories of my life and my adventures.
We had never returned with as much treasure or as few losses as that one voyage. We had been away for some time but there were men who would now be able to afford a full mail byrnie, a new sword and a helmet as good as mine. Others would buy animals and begin their own farms while there were some who would use this as the opportunity to marry. My only worry was those who had stayed at home would be a little jealous. Wolf Killer would not be among them. He would have a third of my treasure and Kara and Aiden another third. I had enough for my needs. I shared with my family.
Coen ap Pasgen, the headman of Úlfarrston, could not believe the treasure as it was brought ashore. We did not have enough carts to carry it all. I pointed to the captured vessels. "When the Frankish ships have been emptied and Bolli the shipwright has taken all that he needs then use the wood to make carts."
"But they are seaworthy ships, Jarl Dragonheart."
Erik Short Toe, who had stepped ashore with us spat into the water. "I would not sail on the Water with those let alone the sea. I feared they would capsize each league we took closer to home. Make them carts, headman, that is all they are fit for."
Coen shook his head still. "We have merchants now who sail with knarr which are full of weed. And worm. They would pay for such ships."
I smiled, "If they wish to buy them then you have permission to sell them. We will share the profits."
My Ulfheonar organised and guarded the treasure. I rode ahead to my home with just Haaken for company. It was one of the rare privileges I enjoyed. Others served me. My land looked welcoming as we emerged from the forest and looked on the Water with Old Olaf smiling down. It had been a good raid and we had not been away too long but it was good to be home. That side of being a Viking always felt alien to me. Perhaps that was the old people, my mother's folk. This had been their land and it was part of me.
Grim the fisherman, Olaf's father, saw us as we emerged from the forest and he sailed north to tell the people that we were home. Although it would take many hours for my warriors to reach Cyninges-tūn, wives and mothers would begin to prepare food for their Vikings.
"Are you worried about this Frank, Lord Charles of Rheims, Jarl?"
I shook my head, "He lives an ocean away and we have seen their ships. If he sailed here he would need to be a braver man than I take him for. But if he chose to come and seek vengeance then we would defeat him. They have no heart for fighting; we saw that. If they had then they would have attacked us the moment that they saw us outside their settlement. They outnumbered us but they were afraid to take us on. As soon as they waited to speak, then I knew."
"Perhaps they feared for their families."
"And that is what I mean. If my family was threatened it would not stop me fighting but if anything happened to them then my revenge would be terrible. It would be the same for you. The vengeance of a Viking is a terrible thing to behold.
"Aye but I am not jarl. I follow you and I serve you. I would not have that decision to make. You do."
We rode the last few miles in silence. He was right; he was always right. He knew me better than any man alive and we had stood side by side since we were little more than children. I knew not what I would do without him. His words made me think and reflect.
Those who lived along the edge of the Water and the feet of the Old Man came to greet us as
We had never returned with as much treasure or as few losses as that one voyage. We had been away for some time but there were men who would now be able to afford a full mail byrnie, a new sword and a helmet as good as mine. Others would buy animals and begin their own farms while there were some who would use this as the opportunity to marry. My only worry was those who had stayed at home would be a little jealous. Wolf Killer would not be among them. He would have a third of my treasure and Kara and Aiden another third. I had enough for my needs. I shared with my family.
Coen ap Pasgen, the headman of Úlfarrston, could not believe the treasure as it was brought ashore. We did not have enough carts to carry it all. I pointed to the captured vessels. "When the Frankish ships have been emptied and Bolli the shipwright has taken all that he needs then use the wood to make carts."
"But they are seaworthy ships, Jarl Dragonheart."
Erik Short Toe, who had stepped ashore with us spat into the water. "I would not sail on the Water with those let alone the sea. I feared they would capsize each league we took closer to home. Make them carts, headman, that is all they are fit for."
Coen shook his head still. "We have merchants now who sail with knarr which are full of weed. And worm. They would pay for such ships."
I smiled, "If they wish to buy them then you have permission to sell them. We will share the profits."
My Ulfheonar organised and guarded the treasure. I rode ahead to my home with just Haaken for company. It was one of the rare privileges I enjoyed. Others served me. My land looked welcoming as we emerged from the forest and looked on the Water with Old Olaf smiling down. It had been a good raid and we had not been away too long but it was good to be home. That side of being a Viking always felt alien to me. Perhaps that was the old people, my mother's folk. This had been their land and it was part of me.
Grim the fisherman, Olaf's father, saw us as we emerged from the forest and he sailed north to tell the people that we were home. Although it would take many hours for my warriors to reach Cyninges-tūn, wives and mothers would begin to prepare food for their Vikings.
"Are you worried about this Frank, Lord Charles of Rheims, Jarl?"
I shook my head, "He lives an ocean away and we have seen their ships. If he sailed here he would need to be a braver man than I take him for. But if he chose to come and seek vengeance then we would defeat him. They have no heart for fighting; we saw that. If they had then they would have attacked us the moment that they saw us outside their settlement. They outnumbered us but they were afraid to take us on. As soon as they waited to speak, then I knew."
"Perhaps they feared for their families."
"And that is what I mean. If my family was threatened it would not stop me fighting but if anything happened to them then my revenge would be terrible. It would be the same for you. The vengeance of a Viking is a terrible thing to behold.
"Aye but I am not jarl. I follow you and I serve you. I would not have that decision to make. You do."
We rode the last few miles in silence. He was right; he was always right. He knew me better than any man alive and we had stood side by side since we were little more than children. I knew not what I would do without him. His words made me think and reflect.
Those who lived along the edge of the Water and the feet of the Old Man came to greet us as
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