Varangian (Aelfraed) Read Online Free PDF

“Apologies, Lord Aelfraed.  You are right.” He looked at Ragnar.  “I am sorry to have offended you.”
    I suddenly realised that he could speak English.   “So we are hired?”
    Sitting down he mopped his reddened face with a cloth.   “Yes you are hired.”
    “And what is the pay to be?”
    “My men normally take a piece of the profits, one part in ten.”
    I nodded, “Clever, it makes them look after your goods. And how do you get the money?”
    “There is a Jew in Miklagård who deals with my affairs.  Isaac he is called.”
    “I have dealt with the Jews myself in Jorvik, Leith and Hedeby.   We will do it for one part in ten and Eric here will be the book keeper.  Agreed?”
    “Agreed.” Folke seemed relieved.
    “And have you hired other guards?”
    “No, not yet, my man normally does that.”
    “Your man who now lives in Miklagård with your money?” He nodded.”And you pay them how?”
    “With coin.” He threw over a purse.
    I turned to Thor.  “Captain would you say we would get better men here or at Ladoga?”
    “Ladoga, for they will have experience of the river and the men there will be looking for new berths.”
    “Then Folke you have your guards.” I leaned over.  “And when I give you my word that your goods will reach Byzantium or we will die protecting them then you know we speak the truth?” He nodded his face a mixture of relief and fear.  I think my outburst had terrified him but when you have faced charging Norman horses with heavily armed men trying to gut you  then a fat man full of his own self importance does not worry you.
    When we were outside Thor smacked me on the back with one of his hams. “I will use you again my lord.   I thought he would throw us out at one point.” He pointed down the quayside.  “There is a fine tavern there.  We will sail on the evening tide when we have loaded our goods.”
    The ale was good and Ragnar’s appreciation of my defence could be clearly seen in his face.   I had always hated bullies and that was what Folke was, a fat bully who used his power to get his way. Ridley toasted me, “Here’s to Aelfraed and the one thing we can say is that he is not mellowing!”
    The cargo was one of rich furs.   Thor grinned as we edged away from the quayside with the sun setting to the west.  “A bit easier for you to carry than the iron ore we sometimes carry.”
    “Do you know the captain of the ship we will be using?”
    “Probably, there aren’t that many and we captains are a close knit bunch.  Why do you ask?”
    “I assume that he takes all the decisions about the boat and I am just responsible for protecting the cargo?”
    “Aye that is about it and don’t forget you will have to provide food.”
    “And row?” Thor nodded.   “It seems to me that the captains have the best of it.”
    “Sometimes the guards decide just to run away when there are too many try ing to steal the cargo and then the captain loses, not only his ship and livelihood, but his life as well.”
    The Baltic Sea appeared slightly calmer than the German sea we had crossed to reach Denmark.   It was certainly a busier sea.  I had worried about pirates, remembering the ones who had pursued us near Leith but Thor assured me that the Baltic was safer. “England is seen as a milk cow and pirates know they can prey on the unwary.  Here the kings have fleets of ships and any pirate can expect quick and ruthless justice.”
    I looked westwards.   England had had such a navy until the Confessor, a pious man, had disbanded it along with his elite warriors, the Thingmen.  Sometimes peaceful men did things for honourable reasons which caused more pain and suffering than war.
    As the land approached the Captain shortened sail a little but not as much as I had expected.   We seemed to be heading for the land at a brisk pace. He seemed calmness personified and then I saw why; there was a large gap between two headlands where a mighty river flowed out.