Viking Dragon Read Free Page A

were hunters and we had spooked our prey. Coen said that, if they returned he would hold them for us to question.
    Next day we returned to Cyninges-tūn escorting Coen's wife and some other ladies from his town. I knew that Brigid and Kara would enjoy the company.  The women of Úlfarrston wore clothes which they had bought from traders.  Our womenfolk made their own. I knew that we would be given a list of items which we had to bring back from our raid or our trade. I sent for Scanlan the headman and told him of the planned raid.  He, more than anyone, knew what we needed and he gave Aiden and me a list. I asked Aiden to speak with Bjorn Bagsecgson; there were items he needed to make fine swords.  The blades he could make but warriors liked fine and fancy adornments.
    While they were away I sought out Uhtric my servant.  "I need my mail oiling and my spare boots waxing."
    "You go to sea, Jarl?"
    "We go raiding, Uhtric."
    "I will polish and sharpen your weapons. Will you be using the steam hut before you go, Jarl?"
    "Yes,  tomorrow Uhtric.  Why?"
    "I will put your wolf cloak in while it is heating up. The heat and the smoke will kill any wild life and cleanse it."
    Like all those who lived in my Stad, Uhtric understood the importance of the wolf cloak.  It made me who I was, the Wolf Warrior. "Good.  I will need my spare cloak too.  Nights at sea seem colder these days."
    "It is age catching up with you Jarl." He seemed to remember something. He went to the room Brigid had had built at the end of the hall and returned with a long piece of stuffed cow hide. "I made this during the long nights.  It will make sleeping on the drekar easier, lord. I filled the hide with sheep and goats' wool. It will resist the sea air and water for I have waxed it too."
    Uhtric had been with me since Erika.  We had grown older together and he felt what I felt. "That is thoughtful, Uhtric."
    My jarls and hersir began to arrive. Some had long distances to travel. My son, Wolf Killer, came with his wife and son. I walked with Wolf Killer by the Water and we gazed at his mother's grave.  The smoke was rising from the steam hut. It was good that Wolf Killer had arrived first.  We would be able to share the steam hut with Haaken.
    "It is good that you have named the child Erika, father.  Mother would like it."
    I nodded, "Your sister agrees. Will you come later this afternoon, to the steam hut?"
    "I will. I must have one built close by me."
    "We are lucky here for we have the Water.  The river close by Elfridaby is not such a good site."
    "No but it is easier to defend. We have spent some time this winter making it even better defended."
    "Good for you face the Danes." I told him of the spies.
    "We are ever vigilant and my men speak closely with all who pass through our lands.  We have been hurt before and we are wary."
    My son's caution was justified. The old Roman Town the Saxons called Eoforwic and the Danes called Jorvik was filling up with Danes. Soon there would be more of those warriors than Saxons.  It was a threat we took seriously.
    That afternoon I sat in the hut with Haaken and Wolf Killer. "Will you raid, Wolf Killer?"
    "I think not. My warriors have all begun families. They wish to spend some time making their homes stronger and their farms more productive. We took enough treasure last year to keep us happy for some time." I nodded.  Each of my leaders looked after their own clan as best they could. "Besides Elfrida is with child again.  It is early days yet but I will see this child into the world. I am young and I have many more years raiding ahead of me."
    Haaken laughed, "Meaning your father and I do not."
    Wolf Killer took the bone scrapers we kept and began to scrape off the dirt and dead skin, "You two will never stop raiding.  It is in your blood. Even though you need nothing that you will take from Lundenwic you will seek that which you do not have."
    I was curious, "And what is it that I seek?"
    "A link to