Viking Heat by Sandra Hill Read Free Book Online Page A

approaching, the fjords would soon be frozen over, and still Erland and Arnis had not returned from their trading voyage. Eight sennights they had been gone, and Brandr was worried.
    “I’ve sent men down the fjord toward the sea on the look-out for Dragon Wing and Wind Biter ,” said Tork, who was now his chief hirdsman, having chosen to join him in giving up Jomsviking. They truly were brothers-in-arms, if not of blood. “If their longships are in distress, we will know shortly.”
    “I daresay those two dolt heads dawdled in Hedeby too long, when we are in dire need of foodstuffs, cloth for garments, bed furs, healing herbs, whetstones, cows and goats for milk and butter, and spices, like cloves, mustard, and pepper. Everything.” Brandr’s jarldom was a huge and goodly estate, but little of it held arable land, except for a side garth where they had planted onions, cabbages, carrots, peas, horseradish, and turnips. Another side garth held fruit and nut trees. Fish and sea birds abounded. But there were no fields of grain, and it was essential that they have barley, wheat, oats, and rye for themselves and the animals to come.
    Brandr’s family had grown prosperous and complacent, apparently, trading furs for goods. The bears, of course, but also pelts from sable, fox, squirrel, and beaver. Then, too, they traded dried fishes, live and salted seabirds, even feathers for stuffing pillows and mattresses. Occasionally they went far north to join whale hunts; then there would be whale oil, skin, and meat to consume and sell, as well as the precious ambergris used to make perfumes. Still others traveled to the Baltic, bringing back the precious amber, also for trade. Furthermore, the lands of Bear’s Lair had a generous outcropping of steatite, or soapstone, which was soft to cut and fireproof, thus good for pots, molds for metal items, and candleholders. It was much in demand in the market towns. All this was supplemented by plunder gained when they went a-Viking to Saxon lands.
    It was a harsh land, which by necessity bred strong men. But it held a beauty of sorts for those so inclined toward snow-capped mountains, tumbling waterfalls, and sometimes great barren plateaus, even glaciers in the far north. Its coastline—which in some places dropped steeply to the sea and at others had sweet moors leading to the water—was broken by hundreds, mayhap thousands, of fjords. A unique land, if nothing else.
    “Do not forget ale.” Tork grinned at him.
    Presently, not a drop of ale or mead was to be found, except that taken from the Sigurdssons. An unheard-of condition for Vikings who loved their drink.
    “Arnora is nigh driving me barmy with her constant complaints,” Brandr added. “I always knew Vidar’s mother was waspish, but she is beyond shrewish now. Acts like she is queen of a bloody castle, not just my household. Dost think there is a nunnery that would take her?”
    “Kelda is just as bad. I swear, all I wanted was a crust of bread with a bit of honey when I went into the scullery, and she smacked me with her cooking ladle.”
    “Her cooking cauldron carries naught but meat and unseasoned broth these days. Ne’er did I envision the day I would crave vegetables or some variety in a meal.” Brandr gritted his teeth with exasperation. “I will knock my brothers’ thick heads together ’til they crack like eggs if I discover they took their own good time on returning.”
    “Um . . . I hate to tell you this, my friend, but I think I know why they run so late.”
    Brandr turned to stare direct at Tork, who was squirming uncomfortably in his seat. “Oh?”
    “Some of our men may have complained about the lack of bedmates.”
    “Oh?”
    “Erland and Arnis may have mentioned a side trip to go a-Viking to a Jutland village where pretty, blonde-haired maidens are said to abound.”
    “Oh, good gods! That is all we need. Another war! Over women!”
    “You worry overmuch. They promised to use stealth in