Free Runestone by Don Coldsmith

Skraeling, seemed as silent and unchanging as the dragon’s head, but Nils noted one difference. Odin’s single eye constantly roved over the scene, taking it all in, missing nothing.

9

    T he accident had been quite disturbing to many of the crew. Despite this, there was a sense of optimism the next day as the
Norsemaiden
rolled the last few paces and dipped her breast into the lake. There was a cheer from the group on shore. It was a great accomplishment.
    “See if she leaks!” Helge called to the two men on board.
    Those still on shore held ropes to prevent the ship from drifting while the sailors scuttled from bow to stern in her belly, probing and checking.
    “She looks good, Captain,” one called.
    There was another, smaller cheer. It would have been possible to repair the ship, to rebuild her, even, if necessary. This was good, however. She was still seaworthy, ready to explore the upper river.
    Landsverk announced his plans for the upcoming journey that night. They would divide the force, the stronger portion to go with the
Norsemaiden
on her exploratory voyage up the lakelike river. The smaller force would remain behind with the
Snowbird
.
    “Thorsson will come with me on the
Norsemaiden
,” he stated.
    Nils was astonished. This would leave the
Snowbird
with no one who knew navigation. Except, perhaps, for Svenson, whose long years on the sea furnished a great depth of practical experience. An uneasy thought crossed Nils’s mind. Was Helge taking him because he distrusted him? Was Helge afraid he would take the
Snowbird
and leave?
    “Svenson, you too,” Helge continued. “The
Snowbird
will not be going anywhere.”
    It was uncomfortable. Landsverk appeared to be takinganyone who would be able to navigate the ship, to prevent its leaving. This seemed risky at best. There was always the possibility of danger upstream. What if the larger party never returned? The
Snowbird
would be stranded, with an under-strength crew and no one really qualified to get them back even as far as Straumfjord.
    Nils also wondered at the advisability of dividing the force at all. He had not foreseen that problem in the excitement of transporting the ship and the ensuing accident.
    Rafn did seem to be recovering nicely. He would stay behind, of course. Landsverk had been quite generous in providing wine to help alleviate the pain, and Rafn had remained drunk or asleep or both most of the time. He seemed morose during his lucid periods, depressed but accepting that which seemed unavoidable. Anyway, it could not be helped now.
    They spent a day reloading the
Norsemaiden
, packing her cargo up the trail on their backs and stowing it again in the ship. There was an air of excitement, a sense of new beginnings.
    Nils had regained some of his enthusiasm for exploration by the time they cast loose and moved into the channel next morning. He had talked more with Odin. There was, the Skraeling repeated, a chain of lakes, all a part of this river. Odin seemed confident that they could sail for “many sleeps” before their way would become difficult. The rapids they had passed, he assured Nils, was the only major barrier for a long way. In a newfound enthusiasm, Nils set aside the thought that they would have to bypass the rapids again on the way home.
    He was beginning to trust Odin. Thus far, the Skraeling had predicted what was ahead quite accurately and truthfully. There were those who did not feel so kindly toward the stowaway, even now, when his information had proved correct. Some still growled that he should have been killed when he was discovered.
    “The only good Skraeling is a dead Skraeling,” was a quietly repeated saying.
    Odin was quite aware of this undercurrent of distrust, but appeared not to notice. It seemed, however, that he had selected Nils as his protector, with Svenson a close secondchoice. In an unobtrusive way, he seemed to contrive to be near one or the other at all times. Nils wondered if Sven was aware of