Raven of the Waves (20 page)

Wiglaf nearly asked, “Did the Lord God hear such words, and understand them?”

“Tomorrow,” said Aethelwulf after a long silence, “you will help me write the words down.”

41

The wind slackened, and the men ran out the oars.

Gorm's body lay stitched into sealskin. Within its sealskin enclosure Gorm wore his sword and his helmet. His shield hung over the side of the ship, as though Gorm still manned an oar.

Raven
had done well, Lidsmod knew.
Raven
would never be as famous as
Landwaster
, but Lidsmod thought that
Landwaster
had not won further glory on this voyage. The old ship leaked, and it was time she sailed only in songs around night fires.

Njord kept a steady hand on the steering oar. His head was bandaged and hurt if he looked into the sunlight off the water. But it was a good pain, he said. He was alive and healing.

Opir had been silent for three days. Now he leaped off his sea chest and announced that he would walk the oars. “I can do this better than any man!” he cried.

It was possible to do this with practice, but the men of Spjothof believed that any man who walked the oars as they stood horizontal from a ship, especially in midocean, was demonstrating wicked pride as well as skill.

Opir knew this. He thrust out his chest in mockery of his own vanity. “I am the bravest. I am the man with the quickest eyes. I am the man with the smartest feet.”

Opir sprang onto the first oar, Floki's. “Eirik cannot do this,” called Opir. “Trygg Two-nose cannot do this.”

He stepped onto Trygg's oar, and then he spread his arms. He was losing his balance, arms wheeling. But he did not fall. He swayed, arms stretched, and balanced himself.

Opir fell into the sea just as the wind rose, then swam alongside the ship. He called out that it was cold.

Lidsmod reached far over the side, helped by other shipmates, and pulled the shivering boaster into the ship.

The wind swelled the sail and the men shipped their oars. The two following ships began to recede into the distance as
Raven
reached upward, her prow skimming sky as she cut through the living ocean.

The wake was wide, clear, like sword steel.

Eirik began a song, an old tune, the story of a great ship full of treasure. The saga ship winged homeward bearing its gold lightly. But the tune had new words, because now this new ship—
Raven
—was nameworthy, sang Eirik. Her name was newly crafted by the poet into something more proud, fit to be carried to all who heard tales during long winter nights.

Lidsmod climbed back to Njord and took the steering oar. The old man gave up the helm with a show of reluctance, and at first the ship shifted, a current of uncertainty running along her keel. But at last Lidsmod steadied the ship, and under the strength of a following wind, guided the course of
Raven of the Waves
.

About the Author

Michael Cadnum is the author of thirty-five books for adults and young adults. His work—which includes thrillers, suspense novels, historical fiction, and books about myths and legends—has been nominated for the National Book Award (
The Book of the Lion
), the Edgar Award (
Calling Home
and
Breaking the Fall
), and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (
In a Dark Wood
). A former National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow, he is also the author of award-winning poetry.
Seize the Storm
(2012) is his most recent novel.

Michael Cadnum lives in Albany, California, with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2001 by Michael Cadnum

Cover design by Drew Padrutt

ISBN: 978-1-5040-1968-2

This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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New York, NY 10014

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