Free Viking Vengeance by Griff Hosker Page B

will tell us in due course. All I know is she has the right number of everything and she looks healthy."
    Brigid shook her head, "Ask him if the babe smiled at him!"
    "She did!"
    Brigid and Elfrida laughed, "It was wind but my husband always thinks that all babies smile at him."
    We all went to my hall where Kara and Aiden waited with their new child. After Elfrida had said how beautiful she was and Kara had said the same about Erika I asked.  "Do we have a name yet or do we still say her and she?"
    Kara looked at Aiden; he said, "We dreamed and we had the same dream.  A she wolf came down from Olaf's mountain and the bairn suckled.  We both saw her grow strong and powerful.  She became a dragon."
    I nodded, "She has a heart like her grandfather and the spirit of the wolf. What is her name then?"
    "Ylva, female wolf."
    I took out the four golden wolves and placed them around the necks of my son and grandchildren.  Tears filled Kara's eyes, " Wyrd !"
    All of the family nodded and said, as one, " Wyrd ."
     
     
     

Chapter 5
    The early summer was a time for hunting. It made us all into better warriors and produced better animals for inevitably we killed the weaker beasts. But warriors can only hunt for so long and then they yearn for the chance to hunt men. My young men wished to go raiding again. Success breeds confidence.  I was loath to spend a long time away from my family.  I urged my men to raid without me but all wished to be led by me. I was seen as the good luck charm. Wolf Killer was the one who persuaded me.  "My warriors wish to join with you.  My drekar, 'The Wild Boar' is restless too.  She needs to feel the ocean beneath her keel."
    I spoke with Brigid. She laughed, "A Viking asking a woman if he ought to raid? It is true the old ways run strong in you.  Your people need the raids.  It keeps them strong and we will be safe enough if you do not take all your warriors."
    It was true; we were protected by the mountains.  Úlfarrston guarded the south, Thorkell's Stad the north  and Cyninges-tūn sat like a jewel in the centre of a crown of mountains. When Aiden managed to tear himself away from his daughter he visited with me and we discussed what we might do and where we might raid. Aiden frequently visited with Siggi and the other knarr captains who plied the seas trading for us.  They were his spies.  They returned with goods we could not get elsewhere and information.  It was snippets.  There would be a piece here and a piece there. The result was that Aiden's mind was filled with pictures of the world and, in particular, Britannia.  When you added his skills and his mind he was a formidable weapon.
    "It seems to me that Mercia is ripe for a raid."
    "Is not King Coenwulf in the process of conquering Dyfed?"
    "He is Jarl and that is a good reason to attack him.  He has recently captured Rhufuniog from the men of Gwynedd. They will be vulnerable to a raid from the north and King Coenwulf is busy in the far south of the land."
    The area was well known to us.  We had frequently raided there.  The Welsh churches in that area were richly endowed and there was a monastery at St. Asaph.  What Aiden said made sense.  Although there would be Mercian warriors there their attention would be on the west and not their own lands to the east.  We knew the rivers well.  The Maeresea and the Dee were easy rivers for us to navigate. We had taken Caerlleon before now.  It was also less than half a day's voyage from Úlfarrston.  Perhaps Sigtrygg would join us.  He had been Ulfheonar and his warriors would also be restless. Once more my galdramenn had provided a solution.
    "And would you sail with us or does my granddaughter demand your presence here?"
    I spoke the words in jest and he had the good grace to nod, "You are right. I should come with you.  Who knows what treasures you and your warriors might overlook."
    "The Holy Books we found in Frankia were not overlooked were they?"
    "No Jarl and we