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standing. “Will you tell me?”
    “And have him mad at me for the rest of the voyage? Have a heart, Kristen.”
    “Oh, unfair!” she cried at his back as he left her, too.

Chapter Five
    T hey had sailed south, farther south than Kristen had ever dreamed of going. She knew it was south, for each night the sky stayed darker longer, until finally the darkness was equal to the daylight. For days now they had sailed past a beautiful land whose coastline was kissed by summer’s green, but no one would tell her what land it was.
    She knew something about the lands to the south; she couldn’t help but know with the number of servants that had come and gone from her home through the years, all from different lands. The land they sailed past now could be the large island of the Irish Celts, or the even bigger island that was shared by the Scots, Picts, Angles, Saxons, and the Welsh Celts, her mother’s people. Or it could even be the land of the Franks, though she did think that land would be to the left, not on the right as this one was.
    If it was one of the large islands, then she had reason to believe they might be raiding the Danes, for those Northmen had set about conquering both islands, and the last she heard, they had nearly succeeded. And if it was the Danes they would raid, well, what an equal match that would be, as opposed to attacking the smaller peoples of those islands.
    Selig knew more about it, but he wasn’t telling her anything. Although still highly displeased with her, he had finally let her come out of the cargo well. Even Thorolf, Tyra’s brother, would tell her nothing. Shesupposed their logic was that if she didn’t know where they were or what they did once they landed, she would have nothing to tell her father when they finally returned home.
    As if she would have the nerve to tell her father any of this! He was a successful merchant. He did not condone raiding with his ships. The men of the Haardrad clan had not raided since her grandfather’s day. But of course the young men dreamed of the riches that could be had with one successful raid, and these men sailing under Selig were all young, and this was a fine ship for such a venture.
    Built of oak, it had a stout pine mast that supported the large square sail of red and white stripes. The long ship sailed swiftly through the waters, helped along by the sixteen pairs of long, narrow-bladed spruce oars, the red and gold dragon’s head pointing the way.
    Kristen was not sorry she had come, for the excitement of the men became her own. And even though she would not be allowed to leave the ship, God’s teeth, she now had a story with which to amaze her children and grandchildren on cold winter nights! And the climax was soon at hand. She could tell by the change in the men, and by the way Selig and Ohthere now watched the coast even more closely.
    It was early morning when they turned into the mouth of a wide river, and every man was now needed at the oars. Kristen’s excitement built with each passing minute, for this seemed like virgin land to her, even though she could see small settlements and villages from time to time.
    The explorer in her was fascinated with everything she saw. The adventurer in her held her breath when they finally dropped anchor and Selig came to her, for she was still hoping she might be allowed to go with them. She had even readied herself for that possibility,tucking her long braid into the back of her tunic to keep it out of the way, and wearing the silver helmet that Ohthere had teasingly tossed to her that morning.
    Kristen didn’t have a shield, but although she hadn’t thought that she would need it, she had brought along the lightweight sword her mother had given her all those years ago when she taught her to use it. However, she wouldn’t reveal the sword to Selig unless he did agree to let her go with him, for her possession of such a fine weapon would elicit too many questions from him.
    His scowling