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father in me wanted me close by to watch him.
    I stood on the opposite side of the drekar to the steering board; from there I could see the "Josephus" and my son and his crew.  Aiden came to me. "You had no father to watch over you when you led your first warband, jarl"
    I shook my head as my mind reader did it again.  "No, but I had Prince Butar and Olaf who were there to offer advice."
    "And he has you. He is as a brother to me and he has strength within him.  Never fear."
    "Ah, but I am a father and there is something within me which will not let go."
    "That is from your mother and the Warlord of Rheged. The spirits favour us on this raid. It will bring great success."
    Inevitably the first part of the journey was always the most dangerous for we passed Mann.  Once our home, it was now the haunt of the Dyflin Norse and the men of Orkneyjar.  They were led by warriors like Sihtric Silkbeard who were treacherous and cruel.  If they were what the world thought of as Viking then I did not wish to be called a Viking. We passed the two islands of Mann and Calf of Mann without incident and then round the island now called Angle Sey. They were not seafarers but they had closed their harbours to us.  We were the wild men of the north who were to be feared and not to be trusted. 
    Ironically some of the men of Cymru were our allies.  We had traded for iron with them although we did not need to do so any longer. After three days of favourable winds we had to navigate the Scillonia Insula.  I always felt a shiver when we passed these low lying islands. It had been here where the spirit of my mother had come to me.  A sorceress inhabited them and I was tempted to land and seek advice.  I knew that the Norns did not wish it for they had directed me with storms and foes before.  It did not do to try to cross the Weird Sisters.  If they wished it then it would happen.  When we saw them receding in the west then I knew that we would not be landing there.
    Once we had passed the ragged rocks and boiling seas Haaken's face fell as he was forced to row.  Although the wind still sent us south it was now coming across our bows and the crew had to row.  Cnut set up the chant and the men rowed with vigour. It was a simple chant but it was unique to my boat.  It spoke of the pride they felt in their status.
    'Ulfheonar, warriors strong
    Ulfheonar, warriors brave
    Ulfheonar, fierce as the wolf
    Ulfheonar, hides in plain sight
    Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves
    Ulfheonar, serving the sword
    Ulfheonar, Dragon Heart's wolves
    Ulfheonar, serving the sword'
    The chant would be repeated until Cnut or Erik needed to change the beat. We would not need to do so for the seas were empty. The chant was almost hypnotic.  When I rowed the chant seemed to give extra strength and my warriors told me that they could row for longer when they chanted.
    Danger came when we neared Wessex.  King Egbert was an ally.  We had helped him defeat Mercian raiders. However, he was engaged in a bitter war with the men of Corn Walum.  We were sailing to the south of the island called Wight when the five small ships appeared from the east. They were pirates from Corn Walum. I guessed, much later, that they had been raiding Wessex. It was unusual to meet another ship unless you were approaching or leaving a port.
    As soon as I saw them I yelled, "Archers!" I donned my helmet and strung my bow.  Half of the rowers left their benches and took up their bows. I hailed Arturus and pointed to the east.  He waved and acknowledged the threat.  "Danger!"
    With only half the rowers we were going slower and, as the wind was coming across the bow's quarter it meant we were crawling along. The five pirates, all of them half the length of ours, were able to sail without using rowers and were travelling much faster. Aiden smiled, "The Allfather watches over us, Jarl Dragon Heart."
    "Aye Aiden.  We have a stable drekar from which to release our arrows and if they misjudge