Banners of the Northmen Read Online Free

daring her to berate him for the danger and expense of the raid. Whatever showed in his eyes caused hers to falter. Instead she sighed and stroked Gunnar's head. "But you found something at least, and captured a ship. Most important is you have returned unharmed."
    "Unharmed but no better off." Ulfrik nodded at Humbert as Toki led him over. "If I can find out where he's from, I'll ransom him back, and if I can't ..."
    Runa gave a curt nod, but the flash of her dark eyes told Ulfrik the matter had not been settled. She understood slavery and its place in the world. Some men were born to it and could know nothing more. But she had long ago made it clear to Ulfrik she disapproved of his reducing freemen to slavery, as had been inflicted on her. Ulfrik had hoped since Humbert was an old man and a foreigner he would elicit less empathy from her.
    Toki arrived with Humbert in tow. For a moment he forgot the slave and knelt to embrace Gunnar, who ran to him with a shout of excitement. Laughing with Gunnar clinging to his side, he held his arm out for Runa to slip beneath for a welcoming hug. He ruffled Hakon's hair, eliciting an irritated protest which Toki laughed off. Ulfrik studied Humbert's reaction. He clutched his cloak tight as his narrow head scanned the scene, undisguised disgust and disdain wrinkled his face. Ulfrik chuckled at the irony of the woman who he regarded with such repulsion would rather set him free than sell him.
    "So we're back, and with an extra empty stomach." Toki pointed with his chin at Humbert. "Where does he go? Lock him up?"
    "He'll serve us in the hall. He can grab a corner of it for himself. Just make sure he doesn't handle any knives when my family is there. Do you understand me, Humbert?"
    His dark eyes snapped to Ulfrik's with a hint of annoyance, but then he smiled. "Master Alfuk sends Humbert to the hall, no?"
    "Ulfrik," he repeated his name clearly, even as Gunnar snickered. "If you get one word right, make it my name. Toki will show you to your new home. Later we talk about a ransom for you."
    Humbert's brows stitched together as if confused, but Ulfrik wanted him out of the way. "You'll understand soon enough. Take him, Toki."
    With Humbert gone, Runa placed her hand on Ulfrik's shoulder. "He's a Christian priest, no doubt. Same arrogance of the Irish monks or my dear common-law sister."
    "Whatever he is, he's probably the best I got out of this whole raid. The silver will be divided out, but I keep the ship and him. He'd better be worth something."
    He watched the priest stagger after Toki, his red wool cloak dragging wearily behind him. Runa sniffed.
    "His eyes are unkind," she said. "He'll not be worth the trouble he will bring us."
     
    Seated with Ulfrik at the high table, Snorri scratched his stomach beneath his shirt one more time. Ulfrik watched his old friend pick and rake, frown, then scratch again. Ulfrik laughed, looked around at Einar seated to his left and several other men dotted throughout the low light of the hall. A guttering hearth fire threw deep shadows into the creases of Ulfrik's smile.
    "You'll rip a hole in your gut if you keep at it," he said, drawing chuckles from the gathered men. Snorri looked up bemused.
    "It's nothing; just no one to clean my clothes since Gerdie passed last winter. These filthy clothes itch me all day."
    He patted off his stomach and adjusted his shirt while Ulfrik's smile faded. The last three winters had been brutal, killing the old and weak. Mention of Gerdie's death clouded the mood, but Snorri displayed none of his usual tact. Age had roughened his polish.
    "Yeah, she was a fine woman, and I miss her every day. It's Fate, after all. I'm not complaining, but wish we had more years together. My bed's so cold now. Tough winters."
    Ulfrik drew his mug across the table and drained the last of the summer mead into his mouth. Finishing the summer brew had been the purpose of the gathering. Snorri's comments left the hall darker and quieter, each