“Perhaps you are right,” I said. “But there is more that we had hoped to offer King Æthelred beyond treasure.”

“You wish to speak to the king?”

“With your consent, and in your name, of course,” I replied. “I believe that we can achieve what we want and also bring more power, wealth and even stability to the kingdom.” Uhtric was an ambitious man and despite his sickness and the pain that racked him, he leaned forward, grasping the timber frame of his bed.

“And how is it that you propose to achieve this?”

“In return for men and materials to build a ship, we will—”

“A ship, you say?” Uhtric interrupted me. “You wish to build a ship?”

“Yes. Runolf is a great shipwright. He will build us a wave-steed to carry us across the Whale Road.”

“There are ships in Northumbria,” replied Uhtric. “Why spend months building a new ship when there are vessels already in Berewic, Gyruum, Hereteu,” he waved his hand weakly, “all along the coast? By Christ’s teeth, I even have a boat that would serve here, in the bay. You could be aboard it tomorrow.”

Runolf raised himself up to his considerable height. He was taller than all of us and towered over the bed-bound Uhtric.

“The boats you speak of are not fit to ride the waves of the Northern seas,” Runolf gnarled. “They are like wallowing mules. I will build you a stallion, such as no man of Northumbria has ever sailed in before.”

Uhtric stared at him a while, before nodding.

“But to build such a ship will be costly. I do not have such quantities of silver to pay enough men for such an endeavour.”

“I imagine the king does,” I interjected.

“I am sure Æthelred could finance such a venture,” said Uhtric. “But why would he want to? I do not believe the king would care for your cousin, your wife,” he looked at Runolf, “or stolen books.”

“Perhaps not, but he must care about his kingdom. Runolf will teach the carpenters and shipwrights of Northumbria the secrets of the dragon ships of his people. No longer would we need to face the Norsemen at a disadvantage. We could build ships to rival theirs. Northumbrian warriors could patrol the coasts in sea serpents, ready to confront any ship that approaches our shores. Perhaps the king might even wish to send his own ships to raid his enemies, just as we have been raided.” I left that idea hanging in the air. I could see that Uhtric was thinking hard. He nodded slowly, appreciatively, at my words. He could see that Æthelred might well accept this plan.

“And I have not told you the final, most important part yet…”