Viking Raid (Dragonheart Book 9) by Hosker Griff

Author:Hosker, Griff [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd
Published: 2015-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

It was late afternoon by the time we had loaded the knarr, the two drekar and the small single sailed ship we had captured. What we could not take we dropped into the sea. The boats we could not use we wrecked by springing their planks and the buildings we burned. As we headed north a pall of black smoke rose high in the air from the burning stronghold, town and warehouses. I had no doubt that King Alfonso had been summoned. I suppose I had made it easier for that king to claim the land for I had killed the men who might oppose him. But when he came he would discover he had a town he had to rebuild from the burning embers we had left. As I stared over the stern I thought about the complicated webs the Norns wove. I thought I was serving me but I was also helping the King of the Asturias; wyrd. Even so I knew that he would dread and fear another Viking raid such as this one.

All told we had lost twelve warriors not counting the dead crew of the knarr. Although a relatively small number it was still too many. I wondered if we would have to curtail our trading trips. Perhaps we might have to take two drekar in future. At the back of my mind was the thought that my son did not possess as many skills as I did. Would Trygg have died if I had led the ships? Maybe I was being unfair. The Gods might just smile on me. I knew not. I had much to think on.

I saw Erik glancing nervously astern. Karl was steering the captured ship. He had some of the men from Cyninges-tūn to help him but it was a great responsibility. With Siggi sailing Trygg's knarr Karl was the only one we felt had the skill to sail the new ship we had taken. I knew what was going through Erik's mind.

I said quietly, "Now you know what it felt like to be Josephus watching you."

He laughed, "I know, Jarl. Karl is a good sailor but this is the first time he has sailed alone and the ship is strange to him."

"That is why we sail slowly and why we will carry lanterns at night. We have much to be grateful for."

He nodded and looked beyond the little ship to the smoke in the distance, "Do you think Trygg and his men suffered?"

"Yes. From what I saw of their heads and faces they had been tortured and we found not their bodies. I do not feel remorse for what we did to these people. They call us barbarians. I think that every man is a barbarian especially when he feels threatened. Trygg and the others should not have died they were threatening no one. They were sailing too close to land. We must learn from this."

Aiden looked ahead to 'Josephus'. "You blame your son."

I shook my head, "I blame myself for this.

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