Gangleri stood tall and watchful. Only afterward did it come to them that when he promised Lysir a name that would outlive him, he had not said that the chieftain himself would be much longer on earth.

At eventide Lysir told Hadding what they were after. Eastward over sea were the low shores of Kurland. It was a land of woods, fens, and deep river dales, broken by the farms and thorps of its Wendish dwellers. Man for man the Kurs were tough, but they had less skill in smithcraft and warcraft than did speakers of the Northern tongue. Hence vikings were wont to raid them for thralls, or else wring from them a scot of the furs that were their only other wealth.

Lately, though, a king had arisen among them, hight Loker, who by war and wiles brought many of their clans under his sway. Thus he could raise a host to reckon with. He had also hired a band of warriors from across the water. These Danes, Swedes, and Geats were not merely his bodyguard, they led and stiffened the Kurland levies in battle. More than one viking crew had since come to grief.

“My brother died there three years ago,” Lysir said. “To avenge him I’ve gone widely about, getting men to join me here in a bigger fleet than erstwhile” He grinned. “When we’ve broken Loker we’ll sack his burgh. I hear he has stored up a hoard ‘ of gold like a dragon’s.”

Hadding thought that with his share of the loot he could begin gathering men for his own revenge.

At dawn the sailors busked themselves to go. While, wading and shouting, they launched their ships, Hadding bade Gangleri farewell and thanked him for his help. “We will meet again before long,” said the old one “By then you will have leafed something.” As they left, he stood watching them till he was lost to their sight. The last they saw of him was the gleam of his spearhead. Two ravens flew high above.

Sweeps creaked in row-holes, driving the ships outward. Aboard his, Lysir unwrapped a carved and painted dragon head. He left it off near friendly shores, lest it anger the land-wights, but now he set it up to snarl at the prow. Thereafter he put Hadding at the helm and showed him how to steer.