Viking Dragon Read Free

not weathered and were apart from the rest.
    Inside they were all identical but for one. It was the last one we searched and, until we searched it, I was beginning to give up hope. It was Aiden who found it.  It was a Thor's Hammer and was laid beneath the bedding of one of the two men who lived there. It was the only evidence we had found. I think Aiden was directed there by the spirits for I knew not how he could have found it otherwise. We took it outside to examine it. 
    "This is Danish, Jarl Dragonheart."
    "Whose hut is this one, Coen? Did you know they were Danes?"
    The headman shook his head, "They are two brothers, Thrand and Finni Karlsson.  I did not know they were Danish.  They have been here for almost two years.  They said they had fled Orkneyjar; some sort of blood feud.  They said that they were not warriors but fishermen.  They are quiet and everyone likes them.  They keep to themselves. I think you may be wrong about them, Jarl."
    "As I said before, Coen, I will not judge without words first. I will ask them questions and Aiden will listen to their responses. If they are innocent then we will know. But you should know that the men of Orkneyjar are Norse like us and not Danish. There are Danes who visit there and sometimes stay, but Danes like their own people.  They are, however, mercenaries. My nephew was cunning.  He may have paid the Danes to spy. If he had used his own people then we might have been suspicious."
    Coen left us and we headed upstream to our ships. "They are guilty, Jarl.  I felt it when I touched the hammer. They lied to Coen.  Only warriors wear the hammer.  We know that."
    "Perhaps that is why they hid it.  But you are right.  The fact that they hid the evidence of what they are condemns them."
    When we reached the drekar we found Haaken One Eye, Snorri and Beorn the Scout. Haaken was always keen to sail.  His wife, Unn, was lovely but Haaken tired of her after a winter in his hall. She would be with child again and Haaken would profess to pangs of regret when we were at sea. Nonetheless he was always the first to board and the last to disembark. He rubbed his hands when he saw us.  "When we heard that you were here we decided to follow. Where to this time?"
    "Lundenwic.  It is some years since we have been there."
    "That is a mighty morsel! Will King Egbert be there?"
    "I know not but I doubt it.  Raibeart Ap Pasgen told me that he is in the west of Wessex still putting down rebellions."
    Erik Short Toe, more concerned about the traitor and the danger it represented, asked, "Is the problem solved?"
    "We hope that when we return this evening it will be."
    "Problem?"
    We told them what we had been about and the three of them were keen to accompany us. We stayed at the yard long enough to see that the work was almost complete. We would go back to Cyninges-tūn the day and prepare for a month or two of raiding. It was heading towards dark when we reached the shore.  The very first boat was already making its way up the estuary.  The catch was so large that the three men could barely lift it. "A good catch eh?"
    "Aye Jarl Dragonheart.  The gods have been kind to us."
    "Were all the boats as successful?"
    "All the ones who fished close by us." He laughed, "The Karlsson brothers sailed further south.  They will return empty handed for the shoals were all close to the shore to the east.  They were heading for Man." He shook his head, "They are good boys both of them but they are poor fishermen." He tapped his head, "They are not very clever for they always choose the wrong fishing grounds." He shrugged, "We have tried to tell them but some people are stubborn."
    I looked at Aiden.  This was further confirmation of their guilt. By the time the last boat had landed there could be no doubt for they did not return. Had we not been suspicious then I might have worried for them but our presence had alerted them.  I was annoyed with myself.  We should have been more subtle. We