Varangian (Aelfraed) by Griff Hosker Read Free Book Online Page B

and I grinned and nodded to each other all day. Jarl Gunnersson had confided in me that there were two or three towns at which we could stop on our way south but this was the safest.  When I saw it I wondered what the others were like for it looked like nowhere I had ever seen before.  The buildings were all made of wood but their design was radically different from those in Denmark and England.  They had long sloping roofs and looked, somehow, like small churches.  The people too were different.  Many of them had a sallow, almost yellow skin and eyes which appeared narrower than ours.  Their clothes were mainly furs and those who had footwear had wooden shoes rather than leather ones.
    Gunnersson called me over.   “I need three of your men to escort me and my men to get some supplies, the rest should stay here on guard.  This is the safest town we pass but I still would not trust them an inch.”
    I wanted to see the town but I need ed experience too. “Ridley, keep the rest of the men on board and make sure nothing is stolen and the men don’t leave.  Stig, Hammer, come with me, we are to escort the captain around the town. Arm yourselves.” They both took a club and a sword.
    Stig and Hammer looked delighted but the others, Ridley included, cast me dark looks.   Uncle Aethelward had told me that every decision a leader made would upset someone, even one as trivial as this.  I took my sword rather than Death Bringer, it was easier to wield in a confided space and I strapped my shield to my back. There were four men with us and I went next to the Jarl with the other two warriors bringing up the rear.  We ploughed our way through the throngs.  I led slightly and people soon learned to avoid the mail shirt which was wrapped around my huge frame. 
    We did not have to travel far for there was a shop which sold the food we would need to eke out our rations to Miklagård. The Captain gave his order. “Leave your men here we will have to get our travel documents.”
    We left the shabby little shop and entered the half stone half wood building next door.  There were four guards but they recognised the Jarl and let him in. Inside there were three small figures that were reading lists.  Clerks; I had seen many such in Winchester although there they were priests and holy men.  These looked like shifty little thieves. I did not understand a word which was spoken but I did recognise the bribe which the Jarl paid to ensure that we could leave quickly. I waited at the door for the captain to finish and I saw one of the furtive little ferrets slip out of the back door. I noticed him because he had a split nose, normally a punishment for some transgression, but it made him look as though he had two noses. I should have ignored it but something about the way he looked at us and then left made me suspicious.  All the way back to the boat I kept my eyes peeled for the little man but they were all little men in that town so far down the river and so different from England.  The Jarl, Hammer and I stood a head taller than any of them.  The goods from the shop next door were still being assembled and I waited in the street with the Jarl.
    “That is why we stop at few places.   It costs money and all comes from our profits.” I knew from Folke and Thor that the captain and the merchant shared the profits once the guards cut had been taken.
    “Will we need to stop again?”
    “At a town?  No.  But we will need food.  From here on we forage, fish, hunt animals; there should be berries at this time of the year. But I warn you Aelfraed, the hardest is yet to come. We have another lake and then portage.  And we must slip through two towns at night to avoid the taxes. Soon you will earn your passage.”
    It was coming on to dusk when we reached the boat and I could see that something had happened.   Ridley looked red and angry while Eric looked worried. Ulf was dabbing at a bleeding nose. Gunnersson glanced at them and