Viking Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

was now a warrior but he had been a ship's boy.  He knew how to sail.
    "Jarl! The other drekar come!"
    I looked upstream and saw the sails of my two drekar as they sailed towards us.  I shouted, "Snorri, fetch Olaf and his men.  We leave." I crossed the knarr to the jetty. "Rollo Thin Skin, we take this knarr and the last one at the end, the one with the wine.  Have the men from Cyninges-tūn crew them."
    "Aye Jarl."
    "Aiden, we fire the other two ships, see to it."
    "Aye Jarl!"
    It was mid morning as we let the sails and the current take us back to Tilaburg. The smoke from the burning knarr obscured Lundenwic but I knew that some of the houses closest to them had also caught fire.  Even as we passed Lundenburgh I saw Eorledman Brynoth leading his men out to try to save them. As we headed downstream I saw warriors on the south bank close to Suthriganaworc.  They were pointing at us.  I saw a rider heading upstream. Soon they would summon the fyrd.
    I saw Erik looking back at the knarr.  "What do you think of them, Erik?"
    "They will slow us down but we can take more goods. What will we do when we return home?  We cannot row 'Heart' with just the Ulfheonar."
    "I will put my mind to that when we reach Tilaburg."
    "You intend to stay?"
    "I have seen nothing yet to frighten us off. We have fourteen days before we need to think about heading back to the Sabrina.  With one good raid now we can enjoy the whole of summer back in our home."
    Aiden had joined us, "I, for one, would rather spend more time with my family.  I do not feel the need for as many adventures as once I did."
    We reached Tilaburg at noon.  Raibeart came to greet us.  I saw Siggi with the knarr. I stepped ashore and pointed to the two newly captured ships. "Empty the first of the knarr on to yours Siggi.  I would not crew her unless I had to."
    "The treasure from the monastery did not take up much hold space.  What is the cargo?"
    "The second has wine.  We will leave that aboard as the knarr is full.  The first has a variety of goods but the women will like the pots!"
    Siggi rubbed his hands, "And more profit for us!"
    I headed up the hill towards the monastery. Raibeart met me half way up, "A successful raid, Jarl?"
    "Aye Raibeart.  We lost no men and the Saxons fled to their fort.  We will raid along the river. Take your men, on the morrow and cross to the southern bank. We will rest here today and I will take men north.  Are there any horses close by?"
    "The monks have four."
    "Good, then I will send Snorri and Beorn to scout."
    "I put the monks to work preparing food.  They have a plentiful supply of food and ale here."
    "That is excellent, for I am hungry."
    I went to the hall where the monks ate. There were ten of them and Raibeart's men were at the doors to prevent them escaping. I took off my helmet.  A young priest saw my red eyes and made the sign of the cross.  I smiled, "Fetch me food and ale."
    I laid my wolf cloak down and slumped at the table.  I was tired.  Time was I would have thought nothing of raiding all night and all day too. My Ulfheonar entered.  Haaken was animated as he told the others of his two blows which killed two men in quick succession.  They took their helmets off when they entered the hall and then sat down.
    Haaken sat next to me. "And what of you, Jarl Dragonheart?  You killed a man with your shield. Who has heard of such a thing?" He put his hand around my left arm. "This must be like an oak tree."
    "It was just lucky.  Perhaps he had a thin skull."
    Haaken tapped his own head.  We had fitted a small piece of metal into his skull when he had been laid low the previous year. "You cannot say that of me.  I am Haaken One Eye, Iron Head!"
    The food was brought over and the ale.  The monks were terrified of us. We had been raiding the north and the west for many years but I think this was the first time that the Tamese had been raided.  It was a rude awakening for them. I waited until we had eaten