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Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise forMATTHEW HARFFY
  3. BY MATTHEW HARFFY
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Maps
  8. Epigraph
  9. Contents
  10. Place Names
  11. One
  12. Two
  13. Three
  14. Four
  15. Five
  16. Six
  17. Seven
  18. Eight
  19. Nine
  20. Ten
  21. Eleven
  22. Twelve
  23. Thirteen
  24. Fourteen
  25. Fifteen
  26. Sixteen
  27. Seventeen
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Twenty-Three
  34. Twenty-Four
  35. Twenty-Five
  36. Twenty-Six
  37. Twenty-Seven
  38. Twenty-Eight
  39. Twenty-Nine
  40. Thirty
  41. Thirty-One
  42. Thirty-Two
  43. Thirty-Three
  44. Thirty-Four
  45. Thirty-Five
  46. Thirty-Six
  47. Thirty-Seven
  48. Thirty-Eight
  49. Thirty-Nine
  50. Forty
  51. Forty-One
  52. Forty-Two
  53. Forty-Three
  54. Forty-Four
  55. Forty-Five
  56. Forty-Six
  57. Forty-Seven
  58. Forty-Eight
  59. Forty-Nine
  60. Fifty
  61. Fifty-One
  62. Fifty-Two
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Sixty-Two
  73. Author’s Note
  74. Acknowledgements
  75. About the Author
  76. An Invitation from the Publisher

“Oh no,” replied Hjorleif, shaking his head so that his jowls gibbered and shook. “Eldgrim will take you on his fine vessel, Grágás. No,” he held up a hand to ward off Runolf’s protests, “such a large ship as yours cannot travel where Ljósberari has taken his band of brigands. And I cannot be seen to be sending a warband into my neighbour’s lands. Lord Mancas will remain here as my guest, of course. And I will ensure that your ship is kept safe on my wharf. You will take no more than a dozen men with you north.”

Runolf’s face betrayed his anger at these words.

“So few? But if we go aboard Grágás, we could take many more. We have heard that Ljósberari has a veritable horde of followers.”

“Then you must choose your companions wisely, Runolf Ragnarsson, and tread with caution. You will not be taking Grágás beyond the Sandsfjorden. My warmaster will take you to Sand. There you will be given a vessel small enough to carry you upriver. There will be no room for more than a dozen of you. When I have Ljósberari’s head in my hands, you may take your ship and sail back to this king of Northumbria, informing him that we can begin trade.”

Thirty-Five

The journey north took us the best part of three days. For much of that time, there was little wind, and the crew of Grágás manned their long oars, pulling us with practised discipline smoothly past tree-capped islands and rocky crags. Everywhere I looked was water, sky and verdant mountain slopes. The days were long and the huge fjord we traversed seemed as endless as the pale sky, with its wisps of gossamer cloud.

Runolf grumbled at the lack of wind, complaining that we were making slow progress. But when Eldgrim replied that he would be glad for him to take his turn at an oar, Runolf glowered and muttered that he would row no ship but his own. On that first long day, he forbade us from helping with the rowing too. The only one of us brave enough to defy him was Gersine. His father may have been held as a hostage in all but name at Hjorleif’s hall, but Gersine was as enthusiastic and excited as ever.

I had neglected him since we had left Orkneyjar. I had been jealous that Thurid had shown him any attention, and then I was ashamed of my behaviour. I thought he might challenge me on my coldness towards him, and perhaps my actions with Thurid and Lambi, and so I had kept my distance.

But on the trip northward towards the settlement of Sand, we rekindled our friendship.