070

Right after the harvest, another period of intense training and raid preparation began. I called a meeting with of my hrid and explained to them what the goal of our raid would be. I showed them the places marked on the wooden map, they were a bit scared and surprised because this time we will not be sailing along the shoreline, but in the open sea.

This time Floki was supposed to stop building ships and start producing crossbows with other carpenters. We had thirty-four ships at the moment, but were short of full crews. That's why I ordered Leif to visit the conquered settlements and look for volunteers, I sent Erik with a similar proposal to King Harald. I was also going to take two full crews of my Slavic slaves ... after summing up for this moment I could send twenty-two ships. However, I also had to leave the people to defend the Kattegat, so of the twenty-two ships, eighteen were more realistic and it was quite a lot, in the series, Ragnar's attack on Lindisfarne with just one ship, but one monastery wasn't enough for me. My goal was Whitby Abbey, Durham, Hexham Abbey, Lindisfarne and ultimately to meet King Aelle.

Months passed, Leif returned with thirty volunteers, King Harald undertook to send two ships, thanks to Erik who told him about the success of our raids. Lagertha's belly was already big and the date of delivery was approaching, if I had figured it out correctly in March or April I should be a father again. Yrsa turned two this year.

Although I was tempted to leave earlier, as an exemplary husband I decided to do after birth ... and at the beginning of April, twins, a son and a daughter were born.

We named our daughter Revna (Raven) and our son Arne (Eagle) after Lagertha's father. Lagertha was very exhausted after giving birth, so I stayed a few more days, but I was also looking forward to going on a raid... having 2-year-old baby and newborn twins at home ... it will be a nightmare. Lagertha will not be left alone, she will have the help of Siggy, Hild and Frida ... I also asked Erik's wife, Elisef, for help in taking care of the house.

Only in the middle of April, when my wife had regained her strength, I could already leave for England. Unfortunately our farewell was not intimate, for a few more weeks Lagertha will be too sore to have s.ex ... but luckily her throat was not sore.

My fleet consisted of twenty-one ships, nineteen of mine and two of King Harald. The wind and weather were good for us... using a sunstone and sunboard, we somehow managed to keep the right course, although I don't know by what miracle.

- Ulf, do you think we can make it to land?

- Floki, for sure, it will either be ahead of us or below us ... but we'll definitely find some land.

- You don't believe my ships will stand?

- I believe, you are the best shipbuilder I know.

- (giggle) Ulf, it must work. The best ships and (giggle) the best boatbuilder. (giggle)

I won't tell him that I only know two shipbuilders, him and his father... After three days at sea, we saw the land, I wasn't sure if it was England, and if England, which part of the coast... the easiest way is to land on the shore and look for a settlement and ask the locals.

Only my ship landed at the shore, the rest, just in case, was to wait at sea, if we are more than 50 km from the destination, it does not make much sense to land here, and then go there on foot.

After a few hours of walking disguised as a priest, I found myself in a small fishing village, but no one knew Latin there, and I could not understand much from the local language. The only thing left for me is to look further... When it got dark and my search was unsuccessful, I decided to go back to the boat and sail north along the coast. Only the next day we came across an estuary of a river and buildings, after a quick recognition of the area it turned out that we were lucky ... it was Whitby Abbey.

It was difficult to hide our presence, twenty-one boats had landed. We heard the clang of the bell that announced the danger.

I ordered my men to gather on the shore and divided them into four groups of over 300 people each. Two groups headed towards the abbey, the other two I sent to check the area and if they found any settlements, they would set them on fire.

Two hours later, the abbey was conquered ... my men began to take out the treasures, lead out the animals and the captives. I was sitting nearby, planning our further northward march, and had some monks brought over to me ... but they were unwilling to cooperate.

- I'll ask you a few questions now, if you will lie or won't tell ... I'll take Saint Hilda's corpse and throw her bones into the sea or turn her skull into a potty, don't you know what a potty is? ... Or I'll order my people to fuck her in the eye sockets.

Insults rained down on me ... satan, devil, heathen, son of a whore. Only when they saw that the saint's body had been brought... They answered all my questions. Thanks to their information, I knew that there was also Hartlepool Abbey on the way to Durham.

When they were no longer needed, I ordered them killed, there are still many towns ahead of us and there will be an opportunity to catch slaves.

- Jarl Ulf, what are we doing next?

- Treasures and food are already on the ships?

- Yes

- We're waiting for the people I sent to return. Then we will board the ships and sail north to the next abbey.

- Jarl... Will there be any women there?

- I don't know, but I think something with tits will be found.