Viking Dragon Read Online Free

the Sabrina." The three captains from Úlfarrston nodded.  I did not think they would risk sailing alone through the treacherous waters north of us. The alternative was to head for Dyflin where they would be afforded protection from Gunnstein Berserk Killer.  However that would still leave them with the dangerous passage across the seas around Man.  They would wait.
    We bade farewell to them at the Sabrina and then we were able to sail faster. Siggi was the best knarr captain I had known.  His only equal had been Trygg and he had been killed with his crew close to Olissipo.  It had made Siggi a harder man and a better captain. Wyrd . The witch at Syllingar let us pass without a message. Aiden was the only one who was disappointed. Although she usually gave us good prophecies my men feared her power. The last time she had spoken to our young recruit Hrolf.  He was now sailing with Gunnar Thorfinnson.  That had been his destiny and I would not stand in his way.
    Aiden pointed to the east as we passed Syllingar. "I wonder how Hrolf is?  Gunnar said he would raid Neustria."
    "I have a feeling that Hrolf has been chosen by the gods."
    "A little like you, Jarl Dragonheart."
    "Perhaps, although you have the mark of the Norns upon you.  Think back all those years.  Think how many other hostages died and yet you were chosen to live. You too were chosen. It does not do to inspect the Weird Sisters webs too closely."
    We spent our second night on a deserted beach at Vectis.  This was Wessex and we kept a good watch. The Norns smiled upon us for we had no trouble and were not spotted. We headed for the Tamese.  There were many islands in the estuary mouth and our plan was to spend the night hidden among the mud banks and stunted trees.  We would step our masts and be invisible.  When we sailed up the Tamese we would use just oars.  Siggi would bring his knarr sometime later.
    We kept well out to sea.  King Egbert had recently conquered this land and his thegns would have keen eyes watching to see for just such as we. Erik knew the waters well and we had maps which Aiden kept. Although there was some guesswork involved I was confident that we would find the estuary before dark. We had our ships' boys at the bow and on the cross tree.  They peered ahead seeking out sails. If we saw one then it was likely it would be an enemy.
    "Land to the west, captain!" Thorir Svensson's thin voice barely carried to us but Erik heard and he pushed the steering board  over as he led our fleet towards the land of the East Angles.  We would use the north shore of the Tamese. Lundenwic was well defended but Wessex lay to the south. Since King Eadwald  had been killed by King Coenwulf of Mercia it was a weaker kingdom.  I had heard that Athelstan, Eadwald's son, was trying to gather warriors but they would not worry us. Wessex and the garrison of Lundenwic was our enemy.
    We edged towards the swampy, muddy north bank of the Tamese estuary. The sun was setting in the west and we would be hidden, in the dark of the east. It took some hours to finally reach land.  As soon as we touched the banks Snorri and Beorn leapt ashore. They wore no mail but had their wolf skins about their shoulders. They would have to navigate the marshland as best they could.  Their job was to make sure there were no enemies close to us. My captains had the masts of their drekar taken down and laid on the mast fish.  Siggi's knarr did not but a merchant vessel seeking sanctuary in the reeds would not alarm any. It took time to take down the sail, the cross tree and the mast itself. Dawn was almost upon us by the time we had done so. We ate cold rations and then slept with a good watch.
    I did not sleep. I watched with Aiden and Erik. Although my scouts were good I still fretted while they were away. It was with some relief that I saw them returning. They did not come directly towards us.  The tide was now in and they had to navigate the small patches of dry land.