Free Viking Legend by Griff Hosker Page B

Bolli.  I will have a new drekar built. We will take the young untried men and we will raid.”
    Kara came over and kissed me on the top of my head. “That is why you are Jarl.  You are not only a great warrior you are a great leader.” She nodded, “The spirits approve.  This is wyrd .”

Chapter 5
    I had a drekar and my son, Wolf Killer, had one too.  My son was more occupied with his own land and his family rather than raiding so that his drekar was rarely used. It was not mine to command and so I would have a smaller one built to accompany ‘ The Heart of the Dragon .’ It would not need to be as big.  My own ship was one of the largest and we had yet to see a bigger one.  Bolli would be able to build one in a relatively short time; if he had the men.  Haaken, Aiden, Kara and I worked out the best way to do that.
    I sent word to all those who lived under the shadow of the Old Man of Cyninges-tūn that I was looking for thirty young men to become warriors. While they assembled I rode down to Bolli’s shipyard accompanied by Olaf. When I reached the yard he and Erik were repairing the withy which had caused us problems.
    “This is Olaf Grimsson. He would be a sailor.”
    Erik frowned, “He is a little old to begin to learn the skills.”
    Erik could be blunt. “He has some skills already.  His father is a fisherman and I wish this to be so.” Erik bowed his head in acceptance of my decision. “Have Karl begin to teach him.”
    Erik waved over Karl and after a brief conversation took away Olaf. I had no doubt that he would first be given all of the tasks which Karl and Cnut Cnutson did not wish to do. Cnut, too, would be eager to leave the drekar and become a warrior.  He would make sure Olaf could replace him.  Alone with Bolli and Erik I went to the heart of the matter. “I wish a threttanessa to be built and to be built quickly.”
    Bolli nodded, “That will take more men than I have.”
    “Do not worry.  I will bring thirty willing workers in the next few days. They are to be the crew.”
    “Good for if they work in the building of a ship then its heart will be stronger and there will be a bond.”
    I turned to Erik, “I will get you some more ship’s boys. Could Karl captain a drekar?”
    He looked across to where Karl was beginning to instruct Olaf. “Aye.  He sailed that trader back from Vasconia. He could not operate alone but if I gave him some of my ship’s boys he could.” He seemed pleased that his apprentice was to be thus rewarded.
    “And Cnut, he is ready to be a warrior but if he sailed on the new drekar on its first voyage he could help Karl.”
    “Aye they work well together.”
    “Good then make it so.  I will bring the gold for the drekar when you have decided a price Bolli.” I clasped his arm as a sign that I would pay.  I held it for a little longer than was necessary.  “I want this to be the fastest drekar ever built.”
    He grinned, “Aye Jarl!”
    We had more than enough young men who were willing to both work on the ship and then serve whoever commanded. We had thirty four of them.  I went down for the first week to watch them working together.  I was relieved to see that Olaf and Rolf were getting along. They were doing different tasks but each one was doing something they wanted to do.  Hlif had just been the collision point for two frustrated young men.
    I spent time with my Ulfheonar and Aiden discussing who should command the new drekar.  We had many warriors who had sailed with us and raided but none of us could agree on a suitable captain.  It would be my ship for I would be paying Bolli for it but we needed someone who could be decisive and control a crew of, largely, young men. I noticed Asbjorn and Eystein remained silent during these discussions.
    “Asbjorn, have you nothing to say?” There was a slight hesitation which I knew meant he was reluctant to speak his thoughts. “Come I know that you and your friend Eystein are amongst the