when the others began to drink and celebrate our victory. "Jarl, your ancestor built this as a hill fort. I found carvings on the floor of one of the rooms. It was being used to store food but I think it was like the Roman Praetorium we found close to the Wall."
" Wyrd ."
"You are right Jarl. The Norns threads spread through time, do they not?"
"Did you find any treasure?"
"A few coins but nothing much. I think the chests you sent to the drekar will be more interesting. I had them stored in the hold. They have locks and as we found no keys it will take time to unlock them."
"I could smash them open you know."
"It will not hurt to wait."
My war bands spent the next day exploring the two ends of the valleys. We garnered much grain and animals. The people fled at my men's approach and so we had no slaves. Sigtrygg found a watch tower. They slew the Saxons there but found no others. If the Welsh chose they would be able to reconquer their home. We divided the mail, weapons and coins amongst the four crews. Sigtrygg would sail directly home but the rest of us would sail to Hibernia and sell the slaves to Hakon the Bald in Dyflin. Whilst not a friend or even someone I would care to share secrets with he was an ally and was keen to trade. He was useful in his own way. He would never raid. His men did not raid. He just controlled Dyflin and taxed the whores and the merchants. He was not a real Viking but he was Norse. He might, however, be able to broker the sale of the Holy Books. He would take a share of the profits but it would save us the job. We headed for Dyflin.
We had not been there since we had sought Magnus the Foresworn. Hakon had been helpful. We had paid him for his help but he had been useful, nonetheless.
He had grown fatter since our last visit. But he was pleased to see us. "I have missed not only your trades, my friend but also the tales of your adventures. You are the last true Norseman. You fear no man. Tell me what you have been up to and where you acquired these monks."
"You will buy them?"
"Of course. There is a lucrative market for such men of learning. Why I might even sell them back to the Mercians." He sent for his moneyer and we were given a small chest of silver. "Who know, King Egbert of Wessex might pay good gold for such as these."
"We also have some fine Holy Books but those we took from Frankia."
"I heard that you had upset Louis the Pious. His cousin Charles of Rheims has sworn to hunt you down and kill you."
"The seas between us are too wide for me to worry about that and he has poor skills with weapons. I fear him not."
"Whom do you fear?"
"No man save myself. If I were my enemy I would be afraid."
He laughed, "As would I. You are like a terrier. You care not the size of the beast. Once you sink your teeth in you do not let go. I am glad that you are my friend."
"It is the only way to keep your lands and people safe."
"Will you stay?"
"No, for I have two new granddaughters I am keen to see and their fathers are desperate to see their wives. I will send the Holy Books and you can sell them."
"For a commission."
"Of course. A quarter of their value?"
"A half."
"Because you helped me in the business with the Foresworn I will say a third but no more."
He shook my hand, "Then it is done."
As we left my son said, "How do you know he will not cheat you, father?"
"Because he knows I am Dragonheart and he fears me. Besides we help him more than he helps us. He will be keen to remain friends with us. He will not cheat me."
Chapter 6
Although it was a short voyage home the winds were against us. We discovered that was the work of the Norns and we did not reach Coen ap Pasgen's port until the middle of the night. The tide was wrong for a landing and we waited in the estuary until the tide turned at dawn. It soured, somewhat, the successful raid. We had hoped to be home earlier. Each warrior
" Wyrd ."
"You are right Jarl. The Norns threads spread through time, do they not?"
"Did you find any treasure?"
"A few coins but nothing much. I think the chests you sent to the drekar will be more interesting. I had them stored in the hold. They have locks and as we found no keys it will take time to unlock them."
"I could smash them open you know."
"It will not hurt to wait."
My war bands spent the next day exploring the two ends of the valleys. We garnered much grain and animals. The people fled at my men's approach and so we had no slaves. Sigtrygg found a watch tower. They slew the Saxons there but found no others. If the Welsh chose they would be able to reconquer their home. We divided the mail, weapons and coins amongst the four crews. Sigtrygg would sail directly home but the rest of us would sail to Hibernia and sell the slaves to Hakon the Bald in Dyflin. Whilst not a friend or even someone I would care to share secrets with he was an ally and was keen to trade. He was useful in his own way. He would never raid. His men did not raid. He just controlled Dyflin and taxed the whores and the merchants. He was not a real Viking but he was Norse. He might, however, be able to broker the sale of the Holy Books. He would take a share of the profits but it would save us the job. We headed for Dyflin.
We had not been there since we had sought Magnus the Foresworn. Hakon had been helpful. We had paid him for his help but he had been useful, nonetheless.
He had grown fatter since our last visit. But he was pleased to see us. "I have missed not only your trades, my friend but also the tales of your adventures. You are the last true Norseman. You fear no man. Tell me what you have been up to and where you acquired these monks."
"You will buy them?"
"Of course. There is a lucrative market for such men of learning. Why I might even sell them back to the Mercians." He sent for his moneyer and we were given a small chest of silver. "Who know, King Egbert of Wessex might pay good gold for such as these."
"We also have some fine Holy Books but those we took from Frankia."
"I heard that you had upset Louis the Pious. His cousin Charles of Rheims has sworn to hunt you down and kill you."
"The seas between us are too wide for me to worry about that and he has poor skills with weapons. I fear him not."
"Whom do you fear?"
"No man save myself. If I were my enemy I would be afraid."
He laughed, "As would I. You are like a terrier. You care not the size of the beast. Once you sink your teeth in you do not let go. I am glad that you are my friend."
"It is the only way to keep your lands and people safe."
"Will you stay?"
"No, for I have two new granddaughters I am keen to see and their fathers are desperate to see their wives. I will send the Holy Books and you can sell them."
"For a commission."
"Of course. A quarter of their value?"
"A half."
"Because you helped me in the business with the Foresworn I will say a third but no more."
He shook my hand, "Then it is done."
As we left my son said, "How do you know he will not cheat you, father?"
"Because he knows I am Dragonheart and he fears me. Besides we help him more than he helps us. He will be keen to remain friends with us. He will not cheat me."
Chapter 6
Although it was a short voyage home the winds were against us. We discovered that was the work of the Norns and we did not reach Coen ap Pasgen's port until the middle of the night. The tide was wrong for a landing and we waited in the estuary until the tide turned at dawn. It soured, somewhat, the successful raid. We had hoped to be home earlier. Each warrior
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