‘A good lad. I notice he did not tremble when he was near to death.’
Neil flushed, knowing how nearly he had.
‘Yes,’ said Durston, ‘he is a good lad. A good friend of mine.’
‘Come,’ said Baldur, ‘let us go to your hut. I long to test my wits against you at chess. My men are good sailors but bad chess players. I have not had a good game since I left you.’
He shouted instructions to his men and left them attending to the ship.
Neil’s father and his sons and neighbours had already left, no doubt to hurry home to tell the women to prepare the feast. There would have to be some slaughtering of cattle too to provide the meat.
Neil stayed close to Durston and followed the two men to the hermit’s cell.
All day he sat beside them listening to their talk, trying to follow the Norse, understan
