Hawk Quest by Lyndon Robert

Author:Lyndon, Robert [Lyndon, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780748128440
Publisher: Hachette Littlehampton
Published: 2012-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

Vallon stood watch until the moon grew wan and the stars that had guided them lay low in the east. The rest of the company rose and stood beating their arms across their chests and blowing into their hands. A cold breeze from the north-west had carried them back to within sight of land. Helgi’s ship ploughed a furrow a couple of miles ahead. The other vessel had dropped further behind. No sign of the longship.

Garrick brought him a breakfast of bread and a bowl of purplish gloop. Vallon examined it at arm’s length.

‘It’s dulse, sir.’

‘Dulse.’

‘Seaweed, sir. The Icelanders eat it in winter to keep scurvy at bay.’

Vallon spooned up a tiny portion, closed his eyes and tasted. His mouth puckered. He spat it out and slid the mess over the side.

‘We’ve been at sea for less than two weeks. Don’t tell me we’ve run out of proper food.’

‘I can fetch you an egg, sir.’

Vallon brightened. ‘A fresh egg?’

‘Afraid not. They’ve been preserved in ash since last year.’

Vallon grimaced. He’d seen Icelanders sucking the green and watery contents of such eggs. ‘Leave it. The bread will suffice.’

Garrick leaned his hands on the gunwale and surveyed the ocean. ‘Looks like we’ve lost them.’

‘I’m not so sure.’

Garrick nodded towards the laggard in their wake. ‘If they do show up, they’ll get that one first.’

The breeze carried them closer to the coast. Vallon watched it reveal itself. Undulating barrens tinged with the colours of autumn. No mountains or trees. Helgi was heading for the mouth of a large river. The sun reached its zenith. Both Iceland ships were still visible when one of Vallon’s sweeps picked up something behind the laggard.

‘Wayland.’

Wayland hurried up.

‘Is that another sail?’

Wayland looked long and hard. ‘Yes.’

Vallon glowered at Helgi’s ship. Someone on board must have spotted the longship, but the knarr continued making for the rivermouth. ‘Look at that. Thinks only of himself.’

‘Can’t blame him,’ said Raul. ‘He wouldn’t be able to reach the knarr before the longship catches it.’

‘They’re his countrymen. He should have been escorting them. All he cares about is himself and his precious sister.’ Vallon narrowed his eyes, estimating distances. ‘If we take to the oars, we might be able to reach the Icelanders first.’

‘No, we won’t. The Vikings can row three times as fast as we can, and they’ve got the wind behind them. Captain, leaving the Icelanders don’t sit comfortable with me neither, but we got no choice.’

Vallon cast another glance at Helgi’s ship. ‘Heave to. We’ll give the Icelanders a chance to catch up.’

Raul gave a distraught hop. ‘Captain—’

‘Heave to.’

Shearwater lost way. The company waited.

It was a strange sort of day, the wind coming in gusts that blew alternately warm and cold. They must be at the confluence of currents. The Iceland ship slowly gained on them, but the longship was making the faster headway.

Garrick crossed himself. ‘There are women and children on board. God help them.’

‘Isn’t there anything we can do?’ Hero murmured.

‘No, there ain’t,’ Raul snapped. ‘We’re putting ourselves in peril for nothing.

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