TLV - 02 - The Road of the Sea Horse by Poul Anderson Page A

it."
    "That's no part of a man's duty, my lord," said Eindridhi. "There have been too many great levies; the land is being bled dry and with naught to show save the plunder of some wretched crofts. I, for one, am not going to follow further."
    "So you fear the Danish axes?" taunted Harald.
    "Let no man call me craven," replied Eindridhi. "But I'm fit for something besides warring."
    Harald crammed his wrath back down his throat and looked coldly at Einar Thambaskelfir's son. No mistaking his insolence; he must have a goodly host loyal to him if he dared risk an open break with the king. And in that case, what was not being plotted in his father's hall?
    Splitting the fleet in a war of Norseman against Norseman would be a godlike gift to Svein. Slowly, mastering himself with an effort that brought sweat to his forehead, Harald said:
    "Later, Eindridhi, we can settle who has the final word. But as for now, let me hear what the other chiefs think."
    If think they can, his mind added.
    One by one they spoke, the slow heavy words of men who had pondered at great length. Some were in favor of going on, but most were against it, saying that their crews would liefest sail home and know their first peaceful summer in years.
    "No." Harald shook his head. "It shall never be told that I slunk back without loosing one shaft. Svein shall regret his treachery; all Denmark will scream because of his cowardice." He swallowed hard. "Let most of you go home, then. I will keep the guardsmen, and such others as are my friends.
    And the sheriffs shall repay their rich incomes by coming with me, and we will keep the men from those districts nearest the Danish border. They have raids to avenge."
    That was agreed to, though some of the sheriffs looked unhappy. In the morning, Eindridhi led the bulk of the fleet home, while Harald fared south with sixty ships.
     
    2
     
    Rounding the Skaw, they went down Jutland's west coast, and wherever they saw sign of man, Harald landed to sack and burn. His rage seethed in him, he could not sleep till he had worn himself out with sword swinging. As far down as the border they traveled, where the old Dane work, the wall built across the peninsula nearly two hundred years ago, reared grass-grown earthen steeps. Here they took the ships inland to the She, harrying as they went, and rowed toward the rich merchant town Heidhaby.
    Its walls, of timber and hard-packed dirt, lifted from rolling hills, with high roofs peering above. The harbor was full of ships, a bustling trade, now stilled as word came of the nearing foe. Helmets and byrnies flashed on the ramparts, arrows thunked into the Norse vessels.
    Harald smiled with scant mirth. "It's long since we took a burg of any size," he remarked. "Do you remember Messina, Ulf?"
    "I could scarce forget," said the Icelander. "But this time we don't have those engines or the Greek fire."
    "We'll make fire of our own," vowed Harald.
    He looked down the length of his ship. Her crew was the pick of his guards, young men hot for wealth and fame, their hearts given to him alone. Ulf the marshal, scarred, stubborn, crafty, sharp-tongued; Thjodholf the skald, ready of word, valiant, not afraid to speak plainly to his king; big hairy Styrkaar, more ruthless than most but a wise leader; Thora's brother Eystein Gorcock, newly received into the guard, a handsome red-haired stripling who seldom lacked a jest—and others, many of them, the old men, might resent this ruler who went so swiftly forward but Norway's youth saw him returning home with an eastern sunrise about his shoulders and tomorrow in his hands.
    Horns blew, and Eystein unfurled the banner Landwaster; it was as if the raven beat its wings and screamed. Harald steered for the docks and was first ashore, sword aloft and shield raised against the arrow storm.
    They rushed up under the walls, losing some men on the way but reaching the riverward gate. "Out axes! Chop our way in!" Splinters flew while the axmen's comrades held