It had been a costly battle but not as costly as it might have been. Ketil, who had pursued the Saxons for a short way, came to me with his hand held out. As I clasped it he dropped to a knee. “I knew you would come, Jarl Dragonheart. My people owe all to you.” Lifting him to his feet I said, “They owe as much to you. Had you not made your defences stronger then this would have fallen. You have justified my faith in you.” We were in no condition to pursue and we spent seven days repairing the damage to the walls of the fort, burning the enemy dead and burying our own. We shared the treasures we had taken and then Wolf Killer, the men of Windar’s mere and Ulf’s Water left for home. I spoke with my son before he left. “I would that you lead the raid this summer. I will not be sailing. My young men can take ‘Odin’s Breath’. I will take my warriors and hunt this Magnus. Now I know where he hides.”
