Viking Dragon Read Online Free Page B

many services. I saw the wall loom up and I waved forward some of the younger warriors. They stood in pairs with their shield held between them. Olaf, Haaken and myself ran at the shields, jumped on them and, as we did so, we were hoisted over the top of the wall. When we landed we made a noise.  It could not be helped but the three of us were on our feet in an instant and we ran for the door which we saw ahead of us. No one inside the church heard us.  They were still chanting and singing.
    When I saw light coming from it I knew that it was being opened. I ran hard and the monk who saw us had the time to shout, "Vikings!" before I ran him through and we burst in. Rollo and Rolf had gone around to the rear of the church, leading more of my warriors as we drove the terrified monks towards the far end of the church and their altar.  Two older ones stood, bravely brandishing an incense burner and a candle snuffer in their hands.  The rest fled. 
    I spoke in Saxon, "Put them down and you live. Your God would not want you to die for a candlestick."
    Perhaps my tone of voice and use of Saxon surprised them for they obeyed.
    "Take them to 'Red Snake '.  Olaf gather the treasures and the books."
    By the time the church had been stripped the other crews had taken everything of value from the halls and the outbuildings.  We even had some sheep and a cow. The cow would be butchered and we would eat well on the voyage back.
    "Raibeart, send word to Snorri and then guard the priests.  Do not harm them.  They are worth coin to us."
    We made our way back to the drekar. So far it was all going well but I knew that the next part might prove to be more difficult. We left our treasure and captives and set sail up river once more. We led the way but this time we kept well to the middle of the river.  We knew that it narrowed before widening again. There were twists and turns in the Tamese.  Had we been using sail it might have taken forever but with my crew rowing we powered through the black waters. The huts and halls along the shore were in darkness. I knew that there were no forts or defences until Lundenburgh.
    The huge Roman burgh loomed ominously on our right. It was still pitch black and we saw no one but I knew that our oars would make white water.  Perhaps the guards were asleep for no one shouted the alarm. On reflection we may have been mistaken for barges for we had no sails to mark us as drekar.
    Even though we had made good time, dawn was not far away when we rounded the bend in the river. As we neared Lundenwic I waved to Sigtrygg and  Asbjorn to head to the monastery at Lambehitha.  I led Ketil and his men to the north shore.  We had used this before when we had served King Egbert against King Coenwulf.  With the King of Wessex away I counted on a weak garrison. 
    There were ships tied up at the jetty and they gave the alarm as we approached. By then it was too late.  Erik and Olaf put our drekar hard over to stop next to the ships and we used them as a bridge to the shore.  It also gave us protection from attack. As we leapt over the side of the merchant ship I shouted, "Rolf Horse Killer, take four men and capture this knarr!"
    "Aye Jarl."
    Already we had booty for I saw that the ship over which we passed was still laden.  They must have been waiting for the high tide to sail. The crew were sleeping on the deck and they sensibly cowered away from us as we passed over their deck and on to the stone jetty.  Speed was now of the essence.  We had to get to the edge of the settlement as soon as we could. I did not mind the people fleeing to Lundenburgh, slaves were not important, but we wanted them to leave their valuables in their homes and halls. When we had been here before we had seen what riches they had in Lundenwic.
    Inevitably some foolish men decided that their goods were too valuable to leave. While I led my Ulfheonar to the edge of the houses I heard cries behind me as Ketil and his men went to empty