guarded. I had Hermund bring a burning torch and I spoke quietly to Haaken and gave him instructions. I sought out Hrolf. "Come with us. I have a task for you."
We waited before the walls and watched the sun climb into the sky. I had Bishop Thuderic tethered to Hrolf and on his knees. My sword was out. "Hermund, tell him that if they are late he dies."
When the words were translated the Bishop looked up at me with pure hatred in his eyes. I smiled. The followers of the White Christ feared their priests but not I. Just before noon I saw the Franks. Four men carried the chest. They laid it before them. I waved four of my men forward. They were led by Snorri. He reached them and opened the lid. He waved and nodded. I shouted, "Count it!"
The Franks did not understand my words but when he began to take each piece out they began shouting. I said to Hermund, "Go and tell them that when we have counted half of the money then the women and children will be released and when it is all there then he can have the priests. Return here when you have delivered my message."
He did so and I heard the raised voices. He came back and he was grinning. It was his first smile since he had been scarred and lost his eye. "They are not happy Jarl Dragonheart."
"Good I am not here to make Franks happy." When Snorri raised his hand I said, "Release the women and children. Hermund, tell them to go."
They ran as though they feared I would change my mind. The younger noble rode over along with a second. They had the same design on their shield; silver stars on a purple background. Hermund rejoined me and he scowled his hatred at the noble. The Frank appeared oblivious to the hate. He spoke to Hermund, "He says he will remember you, Jarl Dragonheart."
I nodded. "Tell him I will remember his face too."
"He said he is Lord Charles of Rheims and he is close to the King."
I laughed, "Tell him I have pissed on kings before now and I have yet to see one I respected!"
I knew I had angered him.
Snorri raised his hand and began to come back. I said to Hrolf, "Translate this word for word as I say it."
"Aye Jarl Dragonheart." I nodded to Haaken who took the burning brand from Hrolf.
"I believe, in your Holy Book of the White Christ it is written 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth '?" He nodded. "Then know this, Frank, a Viking never forgets and a Viking's vengeance is terrible to behold. If I see you again you will die. Haaken!" Haaken plunged the burning brand into the right eye of Bishop Thuderic. The bishop screamed and there was a hiss and the smell of burning flesh. "An eye for an eye! I never said you would have them unharmed did I?"
Charles of Rheims drew his sword and I drew mine. I said, "We can fight here, now, Charles of Rheims but if we do then every one of these priests dies. Speak! Give me an answer. Do we fight? " My men had their seaxes at the throats of the priests in an instant. This was one of those moments upon which lives were changed.
Hrolf gabbled his translation as Snorri and the gold was taken to safety.
Charles of Rheims sheathed his sword and said something before turning and galloping off.
Hermund said, "He swore that he would have revenge for this act. From this day forth all Vikings will be burned alive. This is war."
The priests took the Bishop and headed for the safety of the Frankish lines.
Haaken laughed, "Then life becomes interesting once more! We have another enemy who seeks our lives!"
We had the time to load the ships secure and to ensure that we could tow the smaller boats too. We used them for the goods we had captured. I prayed that we would have safe winds to take us home. It would make a perfect end to an almost perfect raid.
Chapter 4
It was a veritable fleet of ships which sailed into the river at Úlfarrston. We had had more room on board but we had been forced to travel at the pace of the slow Frankish ships. The men who captained
We waited before the walls and watched the sun climb into the sky. I had Bishop Thuderic tethered to Hrolf and on his knees. My sword was out. "Hermund, tell him that if they are late he dies."
When the words were translated the Bishop looked up at me with pure hatred in his eyes. I smiled. The followers of the White Christ feared their priests but not I. Just before noon I saw the Franks. Four men carried the chest. They laid it before them. I waved four of my men forward. They were led by Snorri. He reached them and opened the lid. He waved and nodded. I shouted, "Count it!"
The Franks did not understand my words but when he began to take each piece out they began shouting. I said to Hermund, "Go and tell them that when we have counted half of the money then the women and children will be released and when it is all there then he can have the priests. Return here when you have delivered my message."
He did so and I heard the raised voices. He came back and he was grinning. It was his first smile since he had been scarred and lost his eye. "They are not happy Jarl Dragonheart."
"Good I am not here to make Franks happy." When Snorri raised his hand I said, "Release the women and children. Hermund, tell them to go."
They ran as though they feared I would change my mind. The younger noble rode over along with a second. They had the same design on their shield; silver stars on a purple background. Hermund rejoined me and he scowled his hatred at the noble. The Frank appeared oblivious to the hate. He spoke to Hermund, "He says he will remember you, Jarl Dragonheart."
I nodded. "Tell him I will remember his face too."
"He said he is Lord Charles of Rheims and he is close to the King."
I laughed, "Tell him I have pissed on kings before now and I have yet to see one I respected!"
I knew I had angered him.
Snorri raised his hand and began to come back. I said to Hrolf, "Translate this word for word as I say it."
"Aye Jarl Dragonheart." I nodded to Haaken who took the burning brand from Hrolf.
"I believe, in your Holy Book of the White Christ it is written 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth '?" He nodded. "Then know this, Frank, a Viking never forgets and a Viking's vengeance is terrible to behold. If I see you again you will die. Haaken!" Haaken plunged the burning brand into the right eye of Bishop Thuderic. The bishop screamed and there was a hiss and the smell of burning flesh. "An eye for an eye! I never said you would have them unharmed did I?"
Charles of Rheims drew his sword and I drew mine. I said, "We can fight here, now, Charles of Rheims but if we do then every one of these priests dies. Speak! Give me an answer. Do we fight? " My men had their seaxes at the throats of the priests in an instant. This was one of those moments upon which lives were changed.
Hrolf gabbled his translation as Snorri and the gold was taken to safety.
Charles of Rheims sheathed his sword and said something before turning and galloping off.
Hermund said, "He swore that he would have revenge for this act. From this day forth all Vikings will be burned alive. This is war."
The priests took the Bishop and headed for the safety of the Frankish lines.
Haaken laughed, "Then life becomes interesting once more! We have another enemy who seeks our lives!"
We had the time to load the ships secure and to ensure that we could tow the smaller boats too. We used them for the goods we had captured. I prayed that we would have safe winds to take us home. It would make a perfect end to an almost perfect raid.
Chapter 4
It was a veritable fleet of ships which sailed into the river at Úlfarrston. We had had more room on board but we had been forced to travel at the pace of the slow Frankish ships. The men who captained
Similar Books
