on the island principality of Strand. Speculation was rampant that the heir apparent might have escaped. Dieter paid little attention, preoccupied with fears for Ragna.
Magnus secured a boat and crew, mostly Saxons with some Danes. Their captain demanded what Dieter considered a high price, but Magnus pointed out they may have to go as far as Strand, and that might prove dangerous in the present situation.
The Danish captain, Ivar Sigurdsen, took charge of obtaining and loading provisions aboard the knarr. Dieter and his men embarked from the dock in Hamburg, having stabled their horses at a reputable farm. Dieter was apprehensive. He was not a sailor, and had never been on a boat, except to travel from time to time along the Rhine. They sailed down the Elbe. He found his sea legs and thought it might not be too bad. Once they reached the open sea, uncontrollable retching left him exhausted. Many of his men suffered the same affliction, much to the amusement of the seasoned crew.
They took their time, carefully exploring the shoreline. Dieter appreciated the captain’s knowledge of the area and admitted that he and Magnus could not have undertaken this search alone. He did not hold out much hope of finding Ragna.
As they scoured the miles of coastline, he tried to keep his attention off the movement of the waves. His disordered thoughts drifted to the tale of the flight of the heir of Strand, then to his recollection of the story of the heroic rescue undertaken by the Danish longboat. Were the two events connected somehow? Could the Viking who had come to the rescue of the Norman cog be the Prince of Strand?
If Ragna lived, was she caught up in a dangerous struggle for power? It was reassuring that the crew Magnus had hired was aware there might be conflict ahead and would enter the fray if necessary. If Ragna had been enslaved, they would likely have a fight on their hands to free her.
Dieter did not fear conflict. Hailed as a hero of the battle of Andernach, he had played a significant role in the victory of Köln against the Holy Roman Emperor. But he was glad to have a strong militia with him.
Sigurdsen ensured that they pulled into a village or settlement each evening, and it became apparent he was known and welcomed along the coast. The talk around the campfires turned to the massacre. There was general agreement the Prince of Strand would join forces with a neighbouring principality in an attack to regain his birthright. There seemed to be no further doubt that the prince had survived the massacre.
Dieter asked Sigurdsen’s opinion. “If this prince did escape, where would he have gone?”
“Husembro.”
The man had not hesitated. “You seem sure of that.”
Ivar shrugged. “It is the logical place. An inlet with hidden coves, but not far from Strand.”
Dieter gazed out at the black waters, whitecaps still visible in the moonlight. “How long to get there, if we go directly, without searching the shore on the way?”
Ivar took off his woolen cap and scratched his head. “You think the woman you seek is with Prince Reider?”
Dieter felt a pang of doubt. This shrewd seaman probably judged him naive to rely on a hunch. He swallowed hard. “I do.”
Ivar laughed and slapped him on the back. “Me too.”
“You do?”
Ivar lay back to gaze at the stars, his hands behind his head. “Prince Reider is exactly the kind of man who would go out in a storm to save another boat. And if anyone would be likely to jump into a roiling sea to save another person, it would be him.”
Dieter craned his neck to look at the stars. “You know him then?”
“I do, and I know his step-brother, Gorm, who now rules in his place.” He sat up and spat. “Never did trust the man.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Margit slapped the thrall hard across the face. “Ouch! Be more careful with the comb.”
Olve scrambled to her feet and retrieved the whalebone comb from the floor, her face reddened with the imprint of her
Magnus secured a boat and crew, mostly Saxons with some Danes. Their captain demanded what Dieter considered a high price, but Magnus pointed out they may have to go as far as Strand, and that might prove dangerous in the present situation.
The Danish captain, Ivar Sigurdsen, took charge of obtaining and loading provisions aboard the knarr. Dieter and his men embarked from the dock in Hamburg, having stabled their horses at a reputable farm. Dieter was apprehensive. He was not a sailor, and had never been on a boat, except to travel from time to time along the Rhine. They sailed down the Elbe. He found his sea legs and thought it might not be too bad. Once they reached the open sea, uncontrollable retching left him exhausted. Many of his men suffered the same affliction, much to the amusement of the seasoned crew.
They took their time, carefully exploring the shoreline. Dieter appreciated the captain’s knowledge of the area and admitted that he and Magnus could not have undertaken this search alone. He did not hold out much hope of finding Ragna.
As they scoured the miles of coastline, he tried to keep his attention off the movement of the waves. His disordered thoughts drifted to the tale of the flight of the heir of Strand, then to his recollection of the story of the heroic rescue undertaken by the Danish longboat. Were the two events connected somehow? Could the Viking who had come to the rescue of the Norman cog be the Prince of Strand?
If Ragna lived, was she caught up in a dangerous struggle for power? It was reassuring that the crew Magnus had hired was aware there might be conflict ahead and would enter the fray if necessary. If Ragna had been enslaved, they would likely have a fight on their hands to free her.
Dieter did not fear conflict. Hailed as a hero of the battle of Andernach, he had played a significant role in the victory of Köln against the Holy Roman Emperor. But he was glad to have a strong militia with him.
Sigurdsen ensured that they pulled into a village or settlement each evening, and it became apparent he was known and welcomed along the coast. The talk around the campfires turned to the massacre. There was general agreement the Prince of Strand would join forces with a neighbouring principality in an attack to regain his birthright. There seemed to be no further doubt that the prince had survived the massacre.
Dieter asked Sigurdsen’s opinion. “If this prince did escape, where would he have gone?”
“Husembro.”
The man had not hesitated. “You seem sure of that.”
Ivar shrugged. “It is the logical place. An inlet with hidden coves, but not far from Strand.”
Dieter gazed out at the black waters, whitecaps still visible in the moonlight. “How long to get there, if we go directly, without searching the shore on the way?”
Ivar took off his woolen cap and scratched his head. “You think the woman you seek is with Prince Reider?”
Dieter felt a pang of doubt. This shrewd seaman probably judged him naive to rely on a hunch. He swallowed hard. “I do.”
Ivar laughed and slapped him on the back. “Me too.”
“You do?”
Ivar lay back to gaze at the stars, his hands behind his head. “Prince Reider is exactly the kind of man who would go out in a storm to save another boat. And if anyone would be likely to jump into a roiling sea to save another person, it would be him.”
Dieter craned his neck to look at the stars. “You know him then?”
“I do, and I know his step-brother, Gorm, who now rules in his place.” He sat up and spat. “Never did trust the man.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Margit slapped the thrall hard across the face. “Ouch! Be more careful with the comb.”
Olve scrambled to her feet and retrieved the whalebone comb from the floor, her face reddened with the imprint of her
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