Valhalla's Swordsmith by Tom Hill

Author:Tom Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Vikings, Warriors, Battle, Shields, Bow, Swords, Seax, Spear, Borg, Jarl, Martial Arts, Fighting, fight, Long ships, Vike, Norse, Norsemen, Valhalla, Sagas, Smiths, Blacksmiths, forge, slaves, girl, thralls, dragon Ships, Nidhogg, Niflheim, Nid, Nid pole, Niflheim, curse, iron, furnace, Thor, Hammer, Odin, Lokis, Slepinir, craft, bondage, Skjaldborg, blade, arrow, axe, Rune, Castile, Damascus steel, Old Norse, sword craft, metal, seafaring, Jarl, Borg
ISBN: 9781782344391
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
Published: 2012-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

GANT TAKES CHARGE

There seemed little point in returning to the beach to inform the crew of the ‘accident’ on the cliff path, as it was now almost dark. Gant would return tomorrow, they would find out soon enough from their new captain.

The next day before Gant spoke to the crew of Fire Wolf, he gathered the other three captains together in the tavern. Gant had paid the inn keeper with the weapons he had taken from Skag and the other two men the previous evening, and told him to keep quiet about them and sell them in another village, or to the crew of an outgoing ship.

He told him to say, if asked, that Skag and his men were very drunk when they left the other night and in a foul mood. It was not far from the truth. With the proceeds of the barter of the weapons, he had also ordered a fine meal and drink for the captains. He wanted them in a good mood. He explained his needs to the inn keeper.

“I have invited the three captains and my first mate Karl, although he does not know it yet, Gunderson, Lokis, Manyana and Morag, nine or ten people. I want good feasting food, but I do not want them drunk or even merry. I want some privacy, so keep the tavern empty. Lighten their mood when they arrive, stuff them with good food and leave the rest to me.”

The inn keeper had put on a fine spread. The smell on entering the tavern was mouth watering; roasted duck oozing with fat, two suckling pigs, boiled meat in large cauldrons, with meat skewers to spear and lift the boiled meat from the vat. The tables heaved with bread, fruit and bowls of nuts and berries. He wanted the men to eat more than they drank. Mead was to be served first to loosen them up a little, then he ordered the inn keeper to serve weak barley beer or watered wine. Gant did not want the captains making foolish decisions, or agreeing to something they would later regret. On the other hand he wanted co-operation in the scheme.

One of them, Captain Jon Magnuson of the Knarr Glasir had arrived the previous day from a short trip to the Hebrides, bringing a cargo of salted herring and cod. He was relieved to see the meat on the table, as he was sick of eating salted or smoked fish.

The captains were already aware of the gossip and had heard of the sword Temperance and guessed part of the plan. He had asked Morag, when he invited the Gunderson crew the previous evening, to make them all comfortable and introduce the men who were not known to the others, as Morag knew them all. He had also asked her to get the conversation going.

Gant purposely arrived a little late; first to make a dramatic entrance, which he felt was part of a leader’s job, but also to allow a little gossip to travel around the group.

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