The women had all been taken and they had been given horses to ride. They were being cared for. Why? I would need to speak with Aiden and discover that reason.
My son was also distracted. He shouted at his men as they gathered all that they might need for our voyage. Corn Walum was many leagues south of here and we would need supplies. I heard the anger in his voice. That was not good. You needed a cool head. I left him to organise that while I sought Bjorn Bagsecgson. His hands and his face were blackened with the soot from the fire. I told him of our loss and he shook his head. He put his ham of a hand on my shoulder, "It is like Hrams-a all over again, Jarl Dragon Heart."
"No Bjorn, for my family were then taken as slaves. This was not a slave raid and I doubt that my family will be abused but I cannot discern the plan yet." I pointed to my hall across the Water. "We must follow. Have our people buried with honour and I wish you to watch over Cyninges-tūn until I return."
He nodded, "We will watch over the dead for you."
"Send a message to Einar and to Windar telling them of this raid. Until we return they will have to watch the land. Tell them it is my wish that they protect our borders."
"I know they will do so." He paused, "Jarl Dragon Heart, I know this is your family but take care. This has the Weird Sisters smell about it." He pointed to the blackened ruin of Kara's hall, "Even I, a blacksmith, can see that this was cunningly planned. It feels like the work of a witch. The people need you and your sword."
I nodded, "And I need my family. Fear not, until we regain my women I will be as sneaky and as cunning as the winter fox but when I have them then the men of On Corn Walum will see the anger and the wrath of the wolf!"
My son was keen to be away. I think he thought we might catch them before they took ship. He was mistaken and I still had tasks to complete. I sought out Scanlan. He had been a Saxon slave but now was steward of Cyninges-tūn. He too looked distraught. His wife Maewe had almost brought up Kara and it was only luck that had kept her in Cyninges-tūn. She would normally have been with Kara but Kara had not taken all of her women. She had taken Seara, her old nurse and the three girls we had rescued from Jorvik. "Scanlan, I leave with my ships and we seek my family. I leave Bjorn to protect my people but you must make sure we prosper still. Ensure that the iron is still mined and crops sown. We must not make this tragedy become a disaster."
He shook his head, "How can you think of others, Jarl, when your daughter and son's wife are in such danger?"
"Because I am Jarl and all of you are my responsibility."
"We will prosper, fear not."
As I wrapped my new wolf cloak around my shoulders and led my men south to Úlfarrston I glanced east at my old hall smoking in the early light of dawn. My old cloak was gone. Every memory of my wife Erika was burned. The furniture she had made. The lace I had brought her from Frankia; all were but a memory. My old life was gone. All that I had were what I carried with me now. As we passed the Water a voice entered my head; it was Erika's. 'All that you have is now in your heart, my husband. Our daughter lives still but she is in danger.'
I took comfort from the words. My wife's spirit watched over my land yet.
'The Heart of the Dragon' was riding in the estuary along with 'Josephus' . Aiden and Erik had done well. Pasgen came to meet us when our column of men snaked from the forest. The three of them joined me and I was able to tell them all the events of the last day and night at the same time. Pasgen looked the most upset. "I have been used! I am sorry Jarl! Had I not sent the message then your family would be safe."
"No, Pasgen. There is a serpentine mind at work here. When Siggi and Trygg return from their voyage then tell what has happened. They need to report all that they see."
He nodded, "You will sail to On Corn Walum?"
"I will. Mayhap we shall
My son was also distracted. He shouted at his men as they gathered all that they might need for our voyage. Corn Walum was many leagues south of here and we would need supplies. I heard the anger in his voice. That was not good. You needed a cool head. I left him to organise that while I sought Bjorn Bagsecgson. His hands and his face were blackened with the soot from the fire. I told him of our loss and he shook his head. He put his ham of a hand on my shoulder, "It is like Hrams-a all over again, Jarl Dragon Heart."
"No Bjorn, for my family were then taken as slaves. This was not a slave raid and I doubt that my family will be abused but I cannot discern the plan yet." I pointed to my hall across the Water. "We must follow. Have our people buried with honour and I wish you to watch over Cyninges-tūn until I return."
He nodded, "We will watch over the dead for you."
"Send a message to Einar and to Windar telling them of this raid. Until we return they will have to watch the land. Tell them it is my wish that they protect our borders."
"I know they will do so." He paused, "Jarl Dragon Heart, I know this is your family but take care. This has the Weird Sisters smell about it." He pointed to the blackened ruin of Kara's hall, "Even I, a blacksmith, can see that this was cunningly planned. It feels like the work of a witch. The people need you and your sword."
I nodded, "And I need my family. Fear not, until we regain my women I will be as sneaky and as cunning as the winter fox but when I have them then the men of On Corn Walum will see the anger and the wrath of the wolf!"
My son was keen to be away. I think he thought we might catch them before they took ship. He was mistaken and I still had tasks to complete. I sought out Scanlan. He had been a Saxon slave but now was steward of Cyninges-tūn. He too looked distraught. His wife Maewe had almost brought up Kara and it was only luck that had kept her in Cyninges-tūn. She would normally have been with Kara but Kara had not taken all of her women. She had taken Seara, her old nurse and the three girls we had rescued from Jorvik. "Scanlan, I leave with my ships and we seek my family. I leave Bjorn to protect my people but you must make sure we prosper still. Ensure that the iron is still mined and crops sown. We must not make this tragedy become a disaster."
He shook his head, "How can you think of others, Jarl, when your daughter and son's wife are in such danger?"
"Because I am Jarl and all of you are my responsibility."
"We will prosper, fear not."
As I wrapped my new wolf cloak around my shoulders and led my men south to Úlfarrston I glanced east at my old hall smoking in the early light of dawn. My old cloak was gone. Every memory of my wife Erika was burned. The furniture she had made. The lace I had brought her from Frankia; all were but a memory. My old life was gone. All that I had were what I carried with me now. As we passed the Water a voice entered my head; it was Erika's. 'All that you have is now in your heart, my husband. Our daughter lives still but she is in danger.'
I took comfort from the words. My wife's spirit watched over my land yet.
'The Heart of the Dragon' was riding in the estuary along with 'Josephus' . Aiden and Erik had done well. Pasgen came to meet us when our column of men snaked from the forest. The three of them joined me and I was able to tell them all the events of the last day and night at the same time. Pasgen looked the most upset. "I have been used! I am sorry Jarl! Had I not sent the message then your family would be safe."
"No, Pasgen. There is a serpentine mind at work here. When Siggi and Trygg return from their voyage then tell what has happened. They need to report all that they see."
He nodded, "You will sail to On Corn Walum?"
"I will. Mayhap we shall
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