The Long Hunt (The Strongbow Saga) by Judson Roberts Read Free Book Online

been looking for you," he told me. "No one knew where you had gone."
    "I was walking," I said. "And thinking."
    "It is worse than I feared. Many of the men wish to return to their homes. Those who serve on the Gull are all my housecarls. If I go, they of course are willing to continue on, although even some of them are less than eager. But most of the rest of my war-band—those who crew Stig's and Svein's ships—live on small farms near my estate, and they want to return to them. Winter is fast approaching, and they do not wish to be away from their farms and families during its long months."
    Stig spoke up. "There are some of my men, and a handful of Svein's, who either have no families, or if they do, have little wish to spend the winter with them. They're the sort who enjoy a good fight as much as a warm fire and soft bed. I myself am willing to keep up this hunt, and if Hastein and I go, these men will come with us. But…" he shrugged his shoulders.
    Hastein explained. "The problem is that they are too few. On the Gull , we are badly under manned. We lost many good men in Frankia. Even with the men from Stig's and Svein's crews who are willing to continue on, we would have only enough to fully man the Gull , plus a few extra. Toke is a dangerous man, and it is clear, now, that we will not take him without a fight. If we must fight him, I want the odds to be strongly in our favor. Pursuing Toke with just a single ship, a single crew, is too risky. I do not wish to lose more of my men. Not for this. Not for a fight that is not theirs, and which—as Ivar has said—will bring them no profit. I am grateful to those men who are willing to continue on, and I will not forget that they were. But I will not subject them to unnecessary risk."
    My heart sank as I listened to Hastein. So Toke would escape. There was no way I could pursue him alone.
    "Would you be willing if you had more men?"
    The question had been shouted from the doorway of the longhouse. Gudfred was standing there. Another man, whom I did not immediately recognize, was standing beside him. The two of them strode toward us. More men streamed through the door and followed them.
    Gudfred and the other man stopped in front of Hastein. The men following arrayed themselves behind them.
    "This is Hroald," Gudfred said, indicating the man at his side. He had brown hair and a beard that were heavily streaked with gray, and he was wearing a tunic and trousers of coarse undyed wool. "He is headman of the village that lies just beyond this estate. These men with him are from the village, too."
    "Most of the warriors in our village have sailed with Hrorik before, some many times. He was our godi—our chieftain, and our priest," Hroald said. "These men who are here with me now sailed with him and Harald on their last voyage to England that cost Hrorik his life. Hrorik was a good and brave man, and Harald was, too."
    Hroald paused and took a deep breath. Speaking in front of so many great chieftains clearly made him nervous. He swallowed and continued. "Harald's killing, by his own foster brother, was niddingsvaark. It is a fine thing that a mighty chieftain such as yourself—a jarl, a man of power and authority—is willing to right this great wrong. I have seven men here with me. The eight of us are all willing to join you, and help hunt Toke down."
    "And all of the housecarls here on the estate wish to join you, too," Gudfred added. "Harald was our leader, and the men who died with him were our comrades. Toke betrayed them, and lied to us, telling us he had slain those who'd murdered Harald. He owes us all a blood debt. If you will accept us, Jarl Hastein, we will help you catch and kill him. It is our duty. We owe it to Harald and those who died with him."
    Hastein looked over at me and a smile spread slowly across his face.
    "It seems the Norns intend to continue weaving the threads of our fates together," he said. "Well then. The hunt is on."

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