Earl's Helmsman

Book excerpt: Can a man be in two places at one time? Three months have passed. Gil is confined to Jason Fairchild’s clinic, his sanity doubted by all but Crazy Ivan, when Feannag appears with Aidan’s seeing stone. Rescued by Ivan, he escapes to the river, the Underwater Bridge, and 9th Century Orkney. All has changed. Burned by the Golden Knight, Cille Aidan and Einar’s Holm are deserted ruins, their people exiled to Floki’s lands on Hrolf’s Isle. Mercenaries roam the islands, seeking rumoured treasure and a stolen royal bride. Hidden on an island across a treacherous tide-race, Janetta is safe. Rachel shelters in a cell beside Aidan’s new church. Percy, Earl’s Cupbearer at Floki’s High Table, never leaves his side. But Danni, Ismail and Hakon, captured in the flight from Caledon and sold to a Norwegian sea-king, are hostages in Norway, awaiting ransom. While Magnus broods on the high price paid for the Warrior’s quest, Floki raises a sea force to win them back. Labouring in Eyolf Grimsson’s shipyard and daring the tide-race in a skiff to meet Janetta, Gil learns both ships and sailing. When Silver Dragon leads Floki’s fleet to Norway, Gil is on the steersman’s bench, Helmsman to the Earl. Arriving, they meet betrayal. The king has sold the hostages to a slave trader, ten days before. Demanding the release of Hakon’s crew, Floki takes the king’s young son hostage to ensure he keeps his word. As the weeping boy is carried to Silver Dragon, Gil swears he will find a better way to live. But can he? So begins a voyage far longer than any imagine. From Norway to the slave markets of Jorvik, on to the pilgrim port of Dofras and beyond to the island fortress of Mont Tombe, where in a tournament melee Gil crosses lances with Jocelyn Guidbairn and finds his father, Lance’lot. But still the sea roads roll on before them, and still Danni is captive ... Come sail the Northlands seas as Odin’s Maiden’s dance and follow Frigga’s spindle South. Come helm a Viking warship with the Warriors of Tir nan Og.