Viking Wrath Read Online Free

was disappointed that you and your warriors would not fight for her but I explained how you had been brought up and what this land means to us. She understood. I hope to visit with her one day."
    "Their land is far from ours."
    She smiled and teased me, "You sail beyond that each time you go to trade and besides, the isles where the witch has a cave are close by and I would visit her too."
    I finished my ale. "I fear, my daughter, that the witch on the islands only appears when she chooses to. We have sailed those waters many times and never found her yet when she sought us she appeared as though by magic."
    My daughter became a young girl again, "And that is why I wish to go. Angharad told me that I am special. The Mother has chosen me and given me my powers so that I can become the most powerful volva in this land. You question Angharad and her motives but I know that she came here to help me. If I was close to the isles then the witch would present herself to me."
    I nodded, "Then I may have misjudged her."
    Seven days later I went with Aiden, Haaken and Cnut to visit my ship. Erik Short Toe would be preparing her for winter. We rarely sailed during the short days of winter and he would be putting her to bed like a bear preparing for hibernation. He would make sure she was safe during her winter hibernation. I was also curious about our visitors from On Corn Walum. They had not said how they had reached us. I assumed a ship but I did not know for certain. I would ask Pasgen and the other captains what they knew of her. The High Priestess had been right about one thing, the weather had yet to change. It was damp and it was unpleasant under foot but we had had neither frost nor snow and that was a reason to be thankful.
    We saw the masts of the ships in the estuary. Pasgen and my captains would be preparing their ships for one last voyage before winter. Our trade made us prosperous. Erik had drawn 'The Heart of the Dragon ' out of the water and on to the bank for it was low tide. He was up to his waist in the water cleaning the hull with the new ship's boys. Each year we changed the crew for the experience was valuable for them but most would either become warriors or farmers. It meant we had well trained men who knew their way around a drekar.
    "Did you wish to sail in the ' Heart ', Jarl? I can make her ready in a few days."
    "No Erik, we have finished with her. How are the new ship's boys?"
    He scowled, "They prefer to play rather than work."
    Haaken laughed, "A little like you and Snorri when you were ship's boys?"
    He had the good grace to laugh, "You are right."
    "Is she sound, still?"
    "Aye, Jarl. Bolli himself looked at her bottom. There is no worm and little weed. We are just clearing the last of it and then we will smear it with Aiden's magic!"
    Aiden had found a substance which, when applied to the hull, slowed down the accumulation of weed which slowed down many a drekar. It meant I had the fastest long ship in these or any waters. "Then we will continue to speak with Pasgen."
    Pasgen had seen us as we approached his walls. He had a soundly built fort. Because of his success many of his people now lived, as they did at Cyninges-tūn, outside his walls but his watchtower would warn of any danger and they could easily shelter within its walls.
    "It is good to see you Jarl. What brings you here?"
    "I came to see my long ship and I was curious about our visitors from On Corn Walum. The ones who left seven nights ago."
    His face showed surprise. "They left but yesterday, Jarl Dragon Heart. They sailed on the evening tide."
    My curiosity was aroused, "Did they have to wait for their ship then?"
    "No, Jarl, it left them here and then returned a few days later. We did good business providing them with supplies. They were quiet but paid well. Your visitors returned yesterday."
    "Our visitors left us seven nights ago where did they go?"
    He shrugged and pointed across the estuary. "I know not Jarl Dragon Heart. They