Across the Seas (New World Book 2) by Hosker Griff

Author:Hosker, Griff [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2019-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Over the next month, we hunted seals. Their skins could be made into something which would protect us when we went to the land of the bear and the deer. Dreng might have died but the experiences we had shared would now help all of the clan to benefit. The four of us who had sailed were consulted by all. Halsten, Stig and Eidel were envious of Rek and that helped him to get over the loss of a shipmate.

I spoke with Padraig and Aed on those seal hunts and told them of our plan. They were as enthusiastic as I was. Both had children now and their wives were hardy women. Helga was my cousin and she was also a warrior. I told them of my charts and of Rek’s offer to sail with them.

“He was a boy when last we sailed with him.”

I nodded, “And in the years since then he has become almost a man. He may not be a giant like Sven is becoming but he knows how to steer. It means there will be three of you to take the steering board. It may be that we become separated on the voyage. I hope not but Rek knows how to sail.”

“But we have no hourglass.”

“And there were many days when we sailed beneath black clouds with neither sun nor stars. I kept a record and the winds were, generally, from the west. At dawn and dusk each day you will know the direction in which you sail. So long as it is south and west then you will be heading in the right direction. And I will hang a light from my stern for the few hours of darkness we will have to endure.”

It was Tvímánuður when we saw the knarr approaching from the west. It was not Sighwarth’s knarr. This one looked to be slightly bigger. We were working on the drekar. We had her drawn up on the beach and were coating the hull with pine tar. We had almost exhausted the pine trees. Some had been lost when the river of fire had burned them. There might have been others but they would be far from our home. We would not trek for them. Although not a warship, we were wary of the knarr and Arne, when he was told of the approach, ordered the women and children into the halls and the men to gather their arms. It was at that moment I saw how few we were in numbers.

The knarr approached our quay. Our snekke was tied there and I went to stand on its deck with Fótr, Rek and Sven. We did not recognize the captain. The knarr was laden. There looked to be at least seven families aboard her. The knarr bumped into the quay and two boys tied them up. The captain, who looked to be of an age with Arne, stepped on to the planking. Arne did not have his weapon drawn. There was no danger from just eight men.

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