Viking Dragon Read Online Free Page A

The last part necessitated them wading towards us through the muddy pools.
    We hauled them on board.  They were covered in mud. "We found no Saxons nor men of Essex nor the East Angles nor Wessex. The land is too desolate for farming."
    Snorri poured a pail of river water over his head to wash off some of the mud, "But we did find a monastery just along the coast. It took us longer to reach it than it will the drekar.  It is just around the bend in the river. It is on the only solid land that we found.  It may have been an island in the past but now it sits above the river."
    "Is there a wall?"
    "Aye but not a big one." Beorn grinned, "It will not keep us out!"
    "Then we sail there and attack it after dark.  We can carry on to Lambehitha.  There is another church of the White Christ there and the halls of Lundenwic will be filled with goods."
    Aiden added a word of caution.  "Do not forget, Jarl Dragonheart, there will be a garrison at Lundenburgh."
    "There will but I doubt that there will be enough of them to worry us.  My fear is that they try to trap us in the river."
    Aiden nodded, "If the monastery is, as I suspect, at Tilaburg, then the river is quite narrow there.  They could block it."
    "Then we leave Raibeart ap Coen and his men there. We will hold the monks as hostages."
    Aiden said, "We could sell them back to the men of Wessex.  It would save us selling them at the slave market."
    "We will do that.  Aiden, go and tell the jarls and hersir what I intend.  I shall sleep now that Snorri and Beorn have returned."
    Snorri looked surprised, "You were worried, Jarl Dragonheart?"
    I smiled, "There are few of us left from the days of Man.  I worry about all who are not within sight of Ragnar's Spirit."
    I slept and my sleep was untroubled by dreams. I was far from home and surrounded by enemies but I had rarely had such a large number of warriors at my command.
    Aiden shook me awake in the late afternoon. "They are ready, Jarl. Siggi will remain here and sail after dawn to Tilaburg. Raibeart can guard him until we have what we need."
    "Good." I washed and swallowed some small beer.  I donned my mail and applied the beetle juice to my eyes.  Haaken ensured that the new warriors who were with us knew what they were to do. My seax and Ragnar's Spirit were sharp enough to shave. Finally I combed my hair and moustaches before tying them into neat tails.  With my shield slung over my back I was almost ready for war.
    As the light faded in the west we began to row silently downstream.  Snorri and Beorn replaced the ship's boys.  They knew the precise location of the monastery. I waited at the steering board with Erik and Aiden. It was our noses which alerted us to the presence of the monastery first. It was the smell of wood smoke and the hint of perfume.  Some monks burned rosemary and thyme to make their churches smell more pleasant. We knew when we were close. The word was passed down from Snorri and finally reached us.  "Oars in.  Begin to head to shore." I donned my helmet.
    Erik was a master sailor.  He could feel the water beneath our hull and seemed to have a sixth sense which stopped him from grounding us. We gently nudged the bank. Snorri and Beorn were already ashore and, when my crew had stored their oars, we joined them. The monastery was half a mile away on the top of a low rise.  It was well away from the water.  I could see the glow of lights within the buildings. I did not wait for the other crews.  We could probably take this monastery with just my men.  Snorri and Beorn bounded off to cut off any escape from the far side of the monastery.  Olaf Leather Neck and Haaken followed close by me.
    Although we were quiet our armour would make a noise. No matter how much oil was applied it always creaked slightly. If they had sentries or sharp ears then we would be heard but we were fortunate.  The Norns did not place anything in our way.  I heard chanting.  The monks were at one of their