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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

Mancas too was as good as his word. I still disliked the man, though I wonder now whether that was more to do with the fact he treated me as a youthful scribe, not much more than a boy with the skill to write, to be ignored at all other times when that skill was not needed. But there was no denying that he was a great organiser of both men and the materials needed to build the ship.

The day after our arrival, Mancas had brought parchment, quill and ink to the guest hall where he had housed us. I was surprised to find that he could read, but it seemed he considered writing lists of requirements beneath him, for he had placed the writing instruments on one of the tables in the small but well-appointed building that lay between his great hall and the riverside settlement, and beckoned me forward with a click of his fingers.

“Hunlaf,” he said, “take down all of Runolf’s instructions, that I might begin to act on them. Procuring some of the items he needs may take me some time.”

I hesitated, a sudden anger washing through me at the man’s tone, but Hereward nodded in my direction, his meaning clear. I swallowed back my angry retort and sat down at the table. The list had been long, but Mancas had seemed unperturbed and, when he had left, saying he would start putting things in motion to purchase what was needed, Runolf was smiling.

“You realise that by having us build the ship here,” I said, “the silver from the king goes into Mancas’ purse?”

“What do I care?” Runolf replied. “Most of what we need is here. This is a good place to build my ship.”

I scowled, but my anger felt childish and petulant.

“It is of no matter to us,” said Hereward, nodding in agreement with the Norseman. “The king’s silver was never ours. So it should not be our concern. If Mancas can provide us with what we need, then I say we are lucky.”

I nodded, knowing they were both right. And yet I could not shake the feeling of resentment that Mancas’ involvement stirred within me. It was foolish, I knew. What I wanted most of all was to sail in search of Aelfwyn, and I should have welcomed anything that furthered that goal. Nevertheless, despite Mancas’ obvious talents, and his pleasantness in all his dealings with us, the sight of his slender form and scowling face engendered a nebulous feeling of anxiety in me.