expected Garrick to come running into camp with news that the Vikings were on the march or were mounting some action that Vallon hadn’t anticipated. There were so many variables to consider. By the time twilight had deepened to dark, he had a splitting headache.
They lit fires. Around one of them he held his war council.
‘Garrick hasn’t returned,’ he began. ‘That’s good. It means the Vikings are still in their camp.’
‘They might have caught him,’ Drogo said.
‘If they had, the dog would have let us know.’ Vallon turned to Raul. ‘Is the ship ready?’
‘We’ve fixed the hole. We still have to repair the crossbeam.’
‘When Garrick returns, he’ll move the ship across the river with the women and old folk. The Viking spies mustn’t see what we’re doing.’
‘Why don’t we use the dog to lead us to them? Kill them one by one.’
‘I doubt we’d get them all. Besides, I
Helgi muttered grudging agreement.
Drogo mended the fire with a stick. ‘The night’s not so black that the Vikings won’t work out that we’ve left the camp.’
‘We’ll leave a couple of men to walk up and down and show themselves in front of the fires.’
Drogo tossed the stick into the embers. ‘This isn’t my style. I fight battles. I don’t stage shadow shows.’
‘I’m not seeking a battle. I’d cut the Vikings’ throats while they slept if the chance offered itself.’
An urgent pattering cut Drogo’s answer off. He reached for his sword. ‘Put it away,’ said Wayland. ‘It’s the dog.’
It loped out of the dark and placed its head close to Wayland’s. He stroked its ears. ‘The Vikings are still in their camp.’ The dog flopped down, its eyes red in the firelight. ‘Here’s Garrick.’
Vallon rose. ‘What news?’
Garrick caught his breath. ‘All day the Vikings did nothing but mend the sail and eat and …’
‘And what?’
‘Sir, they abused the two women grievously.’
‘What’s he saying?’ Helgi asked.
‘They’re raping the women,’ Vallon said, his attention still fixed on Garrick. ‘Did you form any idea of their intentions?’
Garrick slumped down. ‘I think they planned to move against us at dusk. They took the prisoners off the ship and formed up at the river. I was sure they were about to embark, but then some sort of omen revealed itself. Two ravens flew across the river from different sides. When they met, they circled into the sky, talking together in croaks, then they separated and flew away to different quarters. Thorfinn seemed to interpret this as a bad sign because he made an angry gesture and walked back through his men, pushing them out of his way. Soon after that, it grew too dark to see and I thought it best to return.’
Vallon tapped Drogo’s knee. ‘We must set the ambush well before dawn.’
‘They might come by a different route.’
‘Wayland will let us know what path they take.’
‘If it stays as dark as this, they won’t come at all.’
‘The sky could clear at any time. We have to be ready.’
‘Why not use the dark to our advantage? Get Wayland and his dog to guide us to their camp. Ride on them as they lie sleeping.’
‘Not a bad plan if we had the right men to put it into action. Instead, half our force have never used a sword in anger.’ He looked up as two shadows approached. He shifted sideways. ‘Come and join us.’
Hero and Richard settled in the space he’d made. ‘We’ve been testing recipes for an incendiary,’ Hero said. ‘We achieved the best results with birchbark and dry pine needles soaked in turpentine, seal oil and sulphur.’
‘What’s he talking about?’ said Drogo.
Vallon held up a hand. ‘Can you demonstrate?’
Hero raised a mortar over the fire.
‘Careful,’ Vallon said. ‘We don’t want a display of pyrotechnics.’
Hero emptied the mixture onto the embers. It ignited with a soft
‘Once the fire has ignited,’ said Hero, ‘it can be flooded with more oil without the risk of extinguishing it.’
Drogo chased the fumes away with his hand. ‘What’s going on?’
‘We’re going to burn the longship. Hero, how much of that stuff do you have?’
‘We filled two large sealskins and we have a keg of oil. Father Hilbert collected a bushel of kindling.’
‘Burn the longship?’ said Drogo. ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’
‘Because I wasn’t sure it would work. I’m still not sure, but I think the rewards justify the risk. Raul has volunteered to lead the firing party.’
The German gave a laugh from the crypt. ‘It’s so dark I ain’t sure I’ll be able to find the longship. I won’t see where the sentries are hiding.’
‘Wayland will make his way back to the Viking position after we’ve reached the ambush site. Arrange a system of signals with him.’
‘What if the enemy’s too strong?’
‘I don’t think they’ll leave more than six guards.’
‘Six! How many will be with me?’
Vallon looked at Drogo. ‘I need three men to go with Raul.’
‘Forget this folly. You said yourself that we needed every man for the ambush.’
‘It isn’t folly. However many we throw against the Vikings, we won’t kill them all. And we won’t come out of the encounter unscathed. Last night you said that
Drogo crossed his arms. ‘Fulk and I fight on horseback.’
‘I’m not asking you to join the firing party.’ Vallon turned to Raul. ‘Explain my plan to Helgi. Tell him we need three Icelanders to make it work.’
Helgi gave his response before Raul had finished speaking. The German pulled a face at Vallon. ‘He won’t do it. He says that scattering our force will fatally weaken it.’
Vallon rocked back. ‘Drogo, you tell him and make sure he knows I won’t take no for an answer. ‘
‘I can’t force him to act against his will.’
Vallon leaned forwards and allowed a long pause before he spoke. ‘We settled that I’m in command.’
‘On this matter I agree with Helgi. We’re already sending two men away with the ship. We should concentrate our strength against one target.’
Vallon struck the ground. ‘I don’t give a damn what you think!’
Drizzle hissed on the dying fire. The silence stretched so thin that someone had to break it.
‘I’ll go with Raul,’ Hero said.
Eyes swung.
‘And I’ll go with you,’ said Richard.
‘That settles it,’ said Drogo. ‘Richard attacking the longship … It’s crackpot from first to last.’
Vallon looked up with ominous deliberation. ‘I admit I’ve made some foolish decisions. I should have killed you when you landed on Iceland. I should have sailed away when Helgi spurned my advice to unite against the Vikings. I shouldn’t have risked my company’s lives rescuing you and those useless Icelanders.’ His voice thickened. ‘It’s time you gave something in return.’
‘Helgi was mistaken in not standing up to the pirates, I grant you that.’ Drogo looked up. ‘But you can’t blame him for refusing to deal with you after your gross conduct towards his sister.’
‘My gross conduct …!’ Vallon sprang up. ‘I’ve heard enough. You and that puffed-up brat can fight your own campaign. From now on I’ll look after the interests of my own company. Up you get, men. We’re taking the ship
