It was such a short race the men were hardly winded, or so they would have the laddie believe, even though their tunics were completely soaked through with sweat. Thrilled, Stefan joined his triumphant shout to theirs. The race, what he saw of it, exhilarated him and already he was looking forward to returning home so he could boast of having won his first race.

No sooner had the thought passed through his mind than he turned his attention back to the ship and marveled at the way it glided over the smooth blue water of the fjord. Seven of the ten ships dropped back, but he was expecting that. Donar wanted only two ships to accompany the Sja Vinna on this voyage. Even after they passed successfully between the two foliage covered high cliffs with cascading waterfalls, the men continued to row, although at a less urgent pace.

At last they entered the North Sea and conquered the first few waves before Donar shouted, "Stow yer oars and set yer shields lads!" Their precision was remarkable as one by one each man lifted his oar, set it inside and then hung his colorful shield over the side facing out.

Stefan watched his father give charge of the rudder to Anundi, and then hang his son's shield next to his own on the port side. Then his father shouted the order Stefan most wanted to hear. "Set yer sail, lads.

It was a monstrous wooden mast made of the same sturdy oak as the ship and set just a bit off center, with a thin golden image of a bird at the top that moved according to the direction of the wind. The massive square sail was as tall as the ship was long and would be used as a tent when the rains came, as surely they would. Made of thickly woven, off-white hemp, the sail was unfurled, hoisted to the top of the mast by several stout men and with a loud pop, the wind snapped the sail taut. As quickly as they could, the men secured the rigging to the ship sides, the bow and the stern.

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Stefan's uncle had taken him to sea a time or two, but only on a small boat fit for fishing. Fascinated, Stefan studied every inch of the sail, and watched exactly how everything was done. It was only after the sail was set, that he realized his father had walked the length of the ship and was now in the bow. He could only see his legs under the billowed bottom of the sail, his father said to stay put and Stefan knew not to disobey. But he sorely objected to such a barrier now that he could at last spend more than a day or two with his father.




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