Magnus wondered if he knew about them. Asgar might have hired on after the women had already been loaded onto the ship.
“Most of the crew were newly hired here in Dublin,” said Asgar. “I’ll bet not more than a half a dozen of them have ever sailed with Croa before.”
“That seems strange.” Magnus continued to unpack his things.
“I was told that’s how he usually works. He’d rather hire men as he needs rather than keep a regular crew.”
“I would think that a regular crew would be more loyal than a group of strangers.”
Asgar shrugged. “Perhaps Croa thinks he pays so well that he doesn’t need to worry about loyalty. And he does have some men who’ve been with him a long time.”
More and more crewmen were boarding the ship. Asgar motioned with his head. “See that fellow over there, the one with the nasty scar on his face? That’s Hafgrim. He’s Croa’s right-hand man. Scarce ever leaves his side.” Magnus shot a glance in the direction Asgar had indicated. He recalled Hafgrim as one of the warriors who’d been with Croa the first night in the ale house.
“There’s another fellow who always seems to be around Croa,” Asgar continued. “I think he might be his nephew or other kin, although he doesn’t look like him. His name’s Thorvald. I’ll point him out to you when I see him.”
Magnus nodded.
Asgar’s expression grew rapt as he took in the length of the deck. “I’m pleased to be traveling on this ship. It’s a superb vessel. I can hardly wait until we’re out on the open sea. Then we’ll see what this beauty can really do.”
At this moment, Magnus found it hard to focus on the joys of sailing. His thoughts were all on the challenges ahead of him.
Chapter 7
A little past mid-day, the ship’s anchor was raised, and men began to grab up the long oars stored on the sides of the vessel and fit them into the oar holes. Magnus did the same, then took his place on the sea chest he’d claimed. As soon as the order was given, he began to row, and the ship moved slowly away from the dock. As they glided down river, Magnus knew the thrill of beginning a voyage. But this time it was tempered by his unease over what would happen on this journey, as well his awareness of the Irishwoman and her companions, crowded into the dank, dark hold below deck.
He’d thought Croa would have the women brought above deck before the ship set out, but perhaps Croa was waiting until they were well away from the longphort and out to sea to free his captives from their unpleasant prison. Magnus savored the idea of seeing Ailinn’s lovely face once again. Getting a glimpse of her would quell the doubts and worries gnawing at him. He couldn’t help wondering why he was completely altering the direction of his life for a woman he scarcely knew. What had happened to his dream of having his own ship some day?
He told himself he hadn’t given up his dream, but was merely putting it off for a time. Besides, part of the reason he wanted to have his own ship was the freedom to see new places and experience new things. Here he was, off to York, a place he’d never been before.
When they reached the mouth of the river, two of the crew raised the great red and white wadmal sail. Watching the huge piece of fabric catch the breeze, Magnus experienced another surge of excitement. Asgar was right. This was a magnificent ship, and he appreciated the chance to sail on her, no matter the circumstances.
The order came to halt rowing. Magnus pulled in his oar and got up to stow it in along the side of the ship as the other men were doing. As he returned to his sea chest, he observed a small gray and gold cat moving daintily along the deck. He stopped to admire the graceful creature, wishing he could take on its small, sleek form for a time. Then he could easily climb down into the hold and see the Irishwoman.
Croa still hadn’t ordered the women brought up on the deck. Did he really mean to leave them
“Most of the crew were newly hired here in Dublin,” said Asgar. “I’ll bet not more than a half a dozen of them have ever sailed with Croa before.”
“That seems strange.” Magnus continued to unpack his things.
“I was told that’s how he usually works. He’d rather hire men as he needs rather than keep a regular crew.”
“I would think that a regular crew would be more loyal than a group of strangers.”
Asgar shrugged. “Perhaps Croa thinks he pays so well that he doesn’t need to worry about loyalty. And he does have some men who’ve been with him a long time.”
More and more crewmen were boarding the ship. Asgar motioned with his head. “See that fellow over there, the one with the nasty scar on his face? That’s Hafgrim. He’s Croa’s right-hand man. Scarce ever leaves his side.” Magnus shot a glance in the direction Asgar had indicated. He recalled Hafgrim as one of the warriors who’d been with Croa the first night in the ale house.
“There’s another fellow who always seems to be around Croa,” Asgar continued. “I think he might be his nephew or other kin, although he doesn’t look like him. His name’s Thorvald. I’ll point him out to you when I see him.”
Magnus nodded.
Asgar’s expression grew rapt as he took in the length of the deck. “I’m pleased to be traveling on this ship. It’s a superb vessel. I can hardly wait until we’re out on the open sea. Then we’ll see what this beauty can really do.”
At this moment, Magnus found it hard to focus on the joys of sailing. His thoughts were all on the challenges ahead of him.
Chapter 7
A little past mid-day, the ship’s anchor was raised, and men began to grab up the long oars stored on the sides of the vessel and fit them into the oar holes. Magnus did the same, then took his place on the sea chest he’d claimed. As soon as the order was given, he began to row, and the ship moved slowly away from the dock. As they glided down river, Magnus knew the thrill of beginning a voyage. But this time it was tempered by his unease over what would happen on this journey, as well his awareness of the Irishwoman and her companions, crowded into the dank, dark hold below deck.
He’d thought Croa would have the women brought above deck before the ship set out, but perhaps Croa was waiting until they were well away from the longphort and out to sea to free his captives from their unpleasant prison. Magnus savored the idea of seeing Ailinn’s lovely face once again. Getting a glimpse of her would quell the doubts and worries gnawing at him. He couldn’t help wondering why he was completely altering the direction of his life for a woman he scarcely knew. What had happened to his dream of having his own ship some day?
He told himself he hadn’t given up his dream, but was merely putting it off for a time. Besides, part of the reason he wanted to have his own ship was the freedom to see new places and experience new things. Here he was, off to York, a place he’d never been before.
When they reached the mouth of the river, two of the crew raised the great red and white wadmal sail. Watching the huge piece of fabric catch the breeze, Magnus experienced another surge of excitement. Asgar was right. This was a magnificent ship, and he appreciated the chance to sail on her, no matter the circumstances.
The order came to halt rowing. Magnus pulled in his oar and got up to stow it in along the side of the ship as the other men were doing. As he returned to his sea chest, he observed a small gray and gold cat moving daintily along the deck. He stopped to admire the graceful creature, wishing he could take on its small, sleek form for a time. Then he could easily climb down into the hold and see the Irishwoman.
Croa still hadn’t ordered the women brought up on the deck. Did he really mean to leave them
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