was keen to tell his family of our successful raid. We unloaded the ships and used the newly made carts to transport them home. As we docked I saw knarr leaving to trade. The channel was a busy one these days. Each time we left or arrived there would be some knarr or other leaving.
"Siggi, we shall send you the Holy Books. Hakon the Bald has promised to sell them for us."
"Aye Jarl and we have much iron to sell too. Should I take a cargo of that as well?"
I nodded, "We have few others who will pay a fair price."
We set off up the road to our home. It was early and I did not expect a reception. We were half way along the road by the Water when Karl One Hand galloped up to greet us. "Jarl, there has been a raid. Danes came through Wolf Killer's valley and slew many of his. They destroyed Windar's mere. Windar is dead along with most of his warriors."
The Norns had been busy. I saw that the tides had been the work of the weird sisters. They delayed our return. "When was this?"
"The news arrived late last night. Two shepherd boys witnessed it from the fells. They brought the news directly to us. I suppose it might have been two days since, perhaps less."
"Does Ketil now about his father?"
He shook his head. "I was going to ride there this morning with that news and then Grim spied your return."
I turned to Wolf Killer. "At least your wife and children were safe here in my hall."
His face was grim, "Aye, father but my men's families were not here. They will have been taken."
I had decisions to make. "Snorri, get back to Úlfarrston. I need Sigtrygg and his men. Have them meet us at Elfridaby."
"Aye Jarl."
"Wolf Killer, take your men to Elfridaby and find out the extent of the hurt we have suffered. I will follow with my men." He turned. I put my hand on his arm, "Wait for me. That is my command!"
"Aye Jarl."
"Karl One Arm, ride to Ketil and tell him the news. Have the men from Ulf's Water meet us at Windar's Mere. We go to war."
By the time we reached Cyninges-tūn Aiden and I had formulated our strategy. We could not take all of our men. We needed to defend my home. Perhaps this was more than a raid or perhaps a lure to drag us away from our home. We had used such strategies ourselves before now. We would leave Arne at Thorkell's Stad and ten warriors to help Karl One Arm. The rest would come with us. "I want you to stay and help Karl."
"But..."
"I will need warriors and not wizards, Aiden. I will rest easier if you are at home."
Poor Elfrida was distraught when we arrived. Kara and Brigid were offering comfort. "They were my people and they have been taken!"
"Fear not Elfrida. We will follow them. They will not escape my vengeance."
"But they could go anywhere."
"No matter where they go we will follow." I meant what I said. I was angry. Danes were Vikings too. They would learn just how terrible my vengeance would be.
We saddled all the horses that we had. If it came down to it I would use the horses to enable the Ulfheonar alone to follow them. We were better warriors than any axe wielding Dane. We were the wolf warriors! Kara and Brigid came over to me, Brigid stroked my face. "Take care my husband."
Kara said, "Aye, father, for if these Danes are clever enough and strong enough to sweep up a valley and destroy all who live there then they will be formidable foes."
"Fear not; I am angry but I will use my head and my mind."
I sent my men who were on foot down the Water under the command of Erik Wolf Claw. I saw tearful goodbyes as men and their families were torn apart again. I led my Ulfheonar and six other mounted warriors towards Windar's Mere.
When we reached it Ulla and the men from Ulf's Water awaited me. They had had a shorter journey and they had begun to bring order to the devastation left by the Danes. I saw that the Danes had taken the heads of every one of the men. Their heads were now on the tops of spears. Windar
"Siggi, we shall send you the Holy Books. Hakon the Bald has promised to sell them for us."
"Aye Jarl and we have much iron to sell too. Should I take a cargo of that as well?"
I nodded, "We have few others who will pay a fair price."
We set off up the road to our home. It was early and I did not expect a reception. We were half way along the road by the Water when Karl One Hand galloped up to greet us. "Jarl, there has been a raid. Danes came through Wolf Killer's valley and slew many of his. They destroyed Windar's mere. Windar is dead along with most of his warriors."
The Norns had been busy. I saw that the tides had been the work of the weird sisters. They delayed our return. "When was this?"
"The news arrived late last night. Two shepherd boys witnessed it from the fells. They brought the news directly to us. I suppose it might have been two days since, perhaps less."
"Does Ketil now about his father?"
He shook his head. "I was going to ride there this morning with that news and then Grim spied your return."
I turned to Wolf Killer. "At least your wife and children were safe here in my hall."
His face was grim, "Aye, father but my men's families were not here. They will have been taken."
I had decisions to make. "Snorri, get back to Úlfarrston. I need Sigtrygg and his men. Have them meet us at Elfridaby."
"Aye Jarl."
"Wolf Killer, take your men to Elfridaby and find out the extent of the hurt we have suffered. I will follow with my men." He turned. I put my hand on his arm, "Wait for me. That is my command!"
"Aye Jarl."
"Karl One Arm, ride to Ketil and tell him the news. Have the men from Ulf's Water meet us at Windar's Mere. We go to war."
By the time we reached Cyninges-tūn Aiden and I had formulated our strategy. We could not take all of our men. We needed to defend my home. Perhaps this was more than a raid or perhaps a lure to drag us away from our home. We had used such strategies ourselves before now. We would leave Arne at Thorkell's Stad and ten warriors to help Karl One Arm. The rest would come with us. "I want you to stay and help Karl."
"But..."
"I will need warriors and not wizards, Aiden. I will rest easier if you are at home."
Poor Elfrida was distraught when we arrived. Kara and Brigid were offering comfort. "They were my people and they have been taken!"
"Fear not Elfrida. We will follow them. They will not escape my vengeance."
"But they could go anywhere."
"No matter where they go we will follow." I meant what I said. I was angry. Danes were Vikings too. They would learn just how terrible my vengeance would be.
We saddled all the horses that we had. If it came down to it I would use the horses to enable the Ulfheonar alone to follow them. We were better warriors than any axe wielding Dane. We were the wolf warriors! Kara and Brigid came over to me, Brigid stroked my face. "Take care my husband."
Kara said, "Aye, father, for if these Danes are clever enough and strong enough to sweep up a valley and destroy all who live there then they will be formidable foes."
"Fear not; I am angry but I will use my head and my mind."
I sent my men who were on foot down the Water under the command of Erik Wolf Claw. I saw tearful goodbyes as men and their families were torn apart again. I led my Ulfheonar and six other mounted warriors towards Windar's Mere.
When we reached it Ulla and the men from Ulf's Water awaited me. They had had a shorter journey and they had begun to bring order to the devastation left by the Danes. I saw that the Danes had taken the heads of every one of the men. Their heads were now on the tops of spears. Windar
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