Free Viking Dragon by Griff Hosker

west as soon as they saw our drekar. They had learned that these dragon ships had teeth.
    Sigtrygg left us south of Úlfarrston. We would send his share of the profits by pack horse. He was keen to return to his land. Sigtrygg had fewer warriors than most of my jarls and it had been his sons who had stayed to guard his home with the older warriors. He would return with mail, pots, swords and spices. His people would prosper. Rather than dock at Úlfarrston the three drekar sailed up to the shipyard.  There was damage to our two larger drekar and both Asbjorn and Erik were desperate for Bolli to repair them.
    Aiden took the younger warriors and they escorted him and his precious maps, parchments and the ingredients for his spells back to his hall. The rest of my crew marched down to Úlfarrston.  The knarr would take some unloading and my warriors liked me to divide the spoils of war.
    As we walked Olaf Leather Neck reflected, "It is a pity we could not have taken the mail from those Danes on the ship we sank.  It was fine mail.  My blunted axe is testament to that."
    Ulf Olafsson said, "I like not battles at sea.  A good warrior can be defeated by a lucky one.  We were fortunate that the Norns were sleeping."
    He could mention them now for we were on solid ground and had returned home.  A warrior never mentioned them when we were at sea.  Haaken said, "But were they? When we left Tilaburg I through the adventure was over. We were lucky to have a galdramenn with us.  Had Jarl Dragonheart not adopted the formation he did we might have lost a drekar."
    Erik Ulfsson shook his head, "Danes are becoming a problem, Jarl Dragonheart. When they just settled in the east that was one thing but hiring their axes out to Saxons is something else."
    He was right and he had voiced my thoughts. "You are right, Erik. Eoforwic is almost more Dane than Saxon. I am just grateful that the gods put the high mountains between us and Northumbria."
    The five knarr were already being unloaded at the jetty in Úlfarrston. The hundred men I brought would make short work of the unloading but the division would be hard.  I smiled to myself.  Aiden normally did that for me but he had been eager to return to Kara and Ylva.  He had changed.
    I spoke with Coen as the goods were taken off and placed into five piles while the animals were gathered in five herds. I had told Haaken how I wanted them divided. I told Coen of our raid and the attack. "It is lucky then that my knarr waited for you, Jarl. Those Irish pirates would have made short work of my three ships."
    "My jarls all wish to raid again.  I will ask them to escort your ships to the Sabrina if that is where they go."
    "I think they would trade with your brethren in Ljoðhús.  They are made welcome there and the seal oil is a valuable commodity as are the seal skins." He pointed at the pots and cloths his men were unloading. "They are desperate for such fine goods."
    I nodded, "Then I will see which of them wish to raid the monasteries on the west coast of Hibernia and the men of Strathclyde although I am reluctant to poke that wasp's nest.  They can be defeated but there is little treasure to be had from them. Tell me, did the Danish spies return?"
    "No, Jarl, although some of my fishermen saw the wreckage of a fishing boat a week after you left.  There was a violent storm.  Perhaps it was they who perished."
    "Perhaps." I was not certain.  I did not like such unanswered questions.  "Have your men watch for them and if there is any sign then let me know."
    "I will."
    "Jarl Dragonheart we are done."
    I went over to join my jarls. The five piles were impressive. "Are you happy with the division?  Does any man wish me to make changes?"
    The jarls and the hersir all shouted as one, "No, Jarl Dragonheart!"
    "Good," I turned to Coen.  "I would have you watch over Jarl Sigtrygg's goods. He and his men will fetch horses tomorrow."
    "I will have my men guard it.  It will be safe."
    I