North Sea, off Caithness, 834 AD
North Sea, off Caithness, 834 ADIolyn lost count of the enemy vessels at forty-seven because Elys came to speak with him. As a result of their brief conversation, Iolyn ordered the steersman to direct their ship straight for the leading Norse vessel. As the distance separating them closed, Elys cleared the deck of obstacles in preparation. Glancing astern, the commander was relieved to see the rest of the fleet faithfully following his ship to encounter the foe. Mechanically, without thinking, Iolyn found himself counting the enemy ships again. Not that it made any difference. However many opposed them, still they had to be defeated. The die was cast from the moment he headed towards the Orkney fleet. The yards separating the two lead vessels diminished an
