Read TLV - 02 - The Road of the Sea Horse for Free Online Page A

enemy had left. For a moment Svein stood without moving, and they saw how a light grew in his face. Then he sprang to the saddle and cried aloud:
    "No w I swear by Almighty God, that never again, as long as I live, will I let myself be driven out of Denmark!"
    He rode with his warriors down through Scania, where the folk were as always ready to join him, and so to Roskilde. In the course of that winter, he brought the realm back under him, and was proclaimed king throughout the land. In the late fall there came to him Magnus's mother and half brother, with notice of the Norse ruler's last will and a warning that Harald Sigurdharson did not mean to abide by it. They stayed a long time at Svein's court, and he showed them great honor.
     
    III
    Of Thora Thorbergsdottir
    1
    Harald landed in the South, in Viken, and sent most of his men home with the ships. He kept about a hundred by him, warriors he trusted. Among these were his old Varangians, Dalesmen who supported Thori of Steig, and ambitious young fellows from anywhere in the land hoping to rise high in the king's service. Though harvest time was nearing and folk had work to do, he called the Borgar Thing to proclaim him sole ruler of Norway. No one spoke against this, for his right of inheritance was clear and his troop well armed.
    Thereafter he rode up through the country, and at one Thingstead after another was lawfully taken as king. Swift travel was necessary to get home before snow should fall, and the horses were gaunt by the time they had come halfway.
    As he prepared to leave the Sunnmaer Thingstead, a man came up to him. This was Thorberg Arnason, brother to Finn and Kalf, the sheriff and leader of the meeting; his family, the Arnmodhlings, was old and great, having been kings here before Harald Fairhair. He was a big man, heavily built, with the beginnings of a paunch but with an ox-like strength in his broad red face. His ruddy hair and full beard were stabbed with gray. For all his wealth, he was simply clad, in the rough wadmal breeches and coat of a yeoman, leather leggings, a woolen stocking cap. "I hope you are pleased with what has been done, my lord," he said.
    "Very much," answered Harald. "You were good to speak so well of me. In too many places, they only agreed to have me because they could not think what else to do."
    "True, you have the name of giving hard redes," said Thorberg, "but it seems to me that we need a strong king." He cocked a small shrewd eye upward. "Do you hasten too much, though? I've seen your horses; they won't stand the pace."
    "No, we shall have to lie over for a while."
    "Then why not come be my guests? I live at Gizki, off Hjorunga Bay, not far from here, and can promise you some fine ale if naught else."
    Harald smiled. He was getting so few welcomes that this one was oddly touching. "We shall be happy to do so."
    They remained overnight at the Thingstead, sleeping in the booths, and the next morning Thorberg joined his following to Harald's and led the way. They had a day's ride through steep-walled dales where the first yellowing frost lay wanly across woods. When they came out at the bay, Thorberg took them to a garth he owned where the horses could be left. Three ships rested on the beach, and with these the band rowed out to the island where he lived.
    "This is a famous bit of water," he said, pointing to the choppy gray waves. "Here Haakon Jarl the Great smote the Jomsvikings the Danish king had sent against him, a lifetime ago. There've been few such fights as that one. Some say Haakon offered his youngest son to the gods, and only thus had the victory. But then, many evil things are said of him merely because he was a heathen and defied kings."
    "He stood for the old ways, and the time was another," replied Harald sharply. "It's not strange he got a bad name."
    "Well," drawled Thorberg, "the man who is too far ahead of his time can also look for trouble."
    Harald made no answer.
    The island rose steeply from the sea,