056

A week later, my fleet set out for Denmark. In total, I sent three hundred and fifty men on nine ships to conquer Hedeby ... before leaving, I told my people that they were not to leave any traces of their presence ... it would be best if the disappearance of the settlement remain an unknown mystery.

Leif succeeded in swapping my slaves and my new settlement was already thirty-one people. At the moment, they were all living in one house and every day, I provided them with food and materials to build more buildings ... if they want to survive, they have to have them built before winter.

- Skarde, my friend. It's been a long time since you came to Kattegat. I know I don't make furniture or toys anymore, but you could just visit me ... oh, and where are my three barrels of beer?

- A lot has changed here since my last stay, you became Jarl. I didn't come because under Jarl Haraldson, trade ceased to be profitable, and when you gave up carpentry, I had nothing to come for.

- Now I'm Jarl, and a lot of change has taken place here ... maybe we can help each other together. I need certain things and you can provide them to me... of course not for free.

- Jarl Ulf, what you need?

- Skarde, I need slaves, iron, sails and limestone. Once you provided me with a small amount of limestone when I was building a house, now I need a lot more.

- I can get it all, but not until next spring.

- In spring we go on a raid, so let's arrange a our trade in the summer of next year ... but since you haven't come here to trade now, what brings you here?

- I stopped here to replenish my supplies and ask for news. There is also a wanderer with me who travels east, he tells about some strange countries and things ... but for my taste he is only a drunkard and a coward. He paid for a seat on the ship, and that's what matters most to me.

Speaking about a strange wanderer, Skrade intrigued me, a coward who likes to drink ... maybe it's Sinric.

- Skrade, I would like to meet this man, his stories may be fairy tales, but they are probably interesting.

The merchant agreed to introduce this wanderer. We left my house and went to the port ... I recognized him immediately... The man was short, with long gray hair, muscles like a stork's heels, chest like a rat's forehead ... he looked as if a gust of wind could break his bones. We walked over to him.

- Jarl Ulf, this is the Sinric wanderer I told you about.

Sinric looked at me, bowed. I told Skarde to leave us alone, he was surprised at my request, but he obeyed.

- Sinric, I heard about you ...

- Lord ...

- Do not interrupt me, the Gods gave me a vision, so I ask directly if you have a sunboard and a sunstone and do you know the way to Paris?

There was fear in his eyes, he didn't know how to act.

- Lord, I don't know what you're talking about.

- Well, even the Gods are wrong, but to be sure that you are not lying, I will have to kill you.

He wanted to get up from the table, but I grabbed his hand and squeezed tighter.

- Lord, I rea... lly don't know ... if you kill me you will nev... er find yo... ur way to Paris, nor will you know how to navigate the sea.

I spoke to him in old frankish.

- Sinric, so you lied to me. I know where Paris is, I know how to use sunstone and sunboard ... I just don't want them to end up in someone else's hands.

Sinric was seriously scared now, the only asset he had lost its value. I let go of his hand. He fell to the ground, but quickly got up and ran towards the ship. After a few minutes he came back with some rags ... as it turned out they were these items wrapped in rags.

- Sinric, I'll give you advice. Travel, see the world and forget about this event ... and the next time we meet, tell the truth, it will save you pain.

I got up from the table taking the items, and on the way home I also met Skarde.

- Friend, you were right ... he's crazy, but funny. Now I have to go back to my duties, and you probably leave soon ... so goodbye and may the Gods favor you at sea and in trade. See you next summer.

I obtained two items that allowed Ragnar to reach England ... and my monopoly will be preserved.

Two weeks later I was working in the forge when I was informed that the fleet had returned from the raid. I went to the port to see the effects with my own eyes and when I got there, the first ship was already being unloaded, Erik came to me ...

- Erik, say what and how. We suffered heavy losses in people?

- Twenty-three are dead, eighteen are wounded. The losses were not large, we attacked them at night and took them by surprise. We have captured six ships and four hundred and nineteen people, along with children and the elderly. There are also many other loot, but they still need to be weighed.

- I'm only interested in slaves, ships and iron. The rest can be shared among the crew.

Jarl Sigvard was among the captives ... I left him especially for myself ... In the series he was Lagertha's second husband. He beat her, ordered his people to beat her and ra_pe her, which they did, and then during one of the feasts, he bared her breasts in front of all the guests... I had special attractions prepared for him.

There were also Einar and Kalf among the captives, I had them simply killed... Sometimes it is better to fix problems in advance, even if they are not of great importance.