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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

“As there is much at stake, it is my belief that you should appoint someone, someone who you trust, who is beyond reproach, to first oversee the preparations of this ship, to ensure that your generosity is not abused.”

“And secondly?”

“Secondly,” Mancas went on, “they should act as your ambassador to the king of this land across the North Sea. Such a delicate mission, must not be left in the hands of one as young as Hunlaf, quick-witted as he undoubtedly is.”

“Hereward will be with us too,” I said, hoping that this might stave off this new proposal. “He is Lord Uhtric’s man.”

“Yes, and a fine warrior he is, I am sure,” replied Mancas. “But this is not a job for a warrior. It is a task for a leader, a wise man who can think quickly. Someone who is adept at sparring with words, not swords. And, while Hereward is a good man, loyal and true, it is not his lord of Bebbanburg, Uhtric, who will pay for this endeavour. It is our lord King Æthelred, and therefore it should be one of the king’s own men who governs.”

Æthelred was nodding, and my heart sank.

“You are wise indeed, Lord Mancas,” he said. “Do you have a candidate for this most important of roles?”

Mancas picked at an invisible mote of dust on his sleeve.

“Indeed I do, my lord. My son, Gersine, would be perfect for the task. He possesses all of the traits required.”

“Ah, but Mancas, Gersine is not much older than Hunlaf here.”

“Yes, but—”

“Gersine is a good lad,” the king said, still nodding, a broad smile on his lips, “and he may have inherited much from you in the way of intelligence, but there is certainly something that he cannot have attained at such a young age.”

“What is that, lord king?”

“Your experience,” replied Æthelred. “The experience that guides your judgement and wisdom that I so value and you have so eloquently reminded me of. No, your son will not do for this task.”

“Who do you suggest then, my king?” asked Mancas, the confidence of his tone ebbing away.

“Why, the answer is obvious, is it not? You, Lord Mancas. You will oversee the ship’s construction, and be my ambassador to the heathens across the sea.”

Seven