The three longships that Ragnall had spared Óttar and Sitric sped south, driven by a favourable wind. Progress was so good that the jarl turned to the younger chieftain in the prow with him and said, “We have time to spare before going to Ireland. Why don’t we repeat our attack on Dunblane, but in Frankia this time?”
Sitric’s blood was still a-stir from that adventure of some days before.
“Why not, indeed? Do you have anywhere in mind?”
“I do. I was talking in a tavern to traders in Jorvik. They told me that since the death of King Alain, Brittany has been badly governed and easy prey to raiders. We can find ourselves a wealthy monastery and loot its valuables.”
“I thought you had become a Christian, Jarl.”
“Even Christians go to war in my experience. The Bretons are not my people, so
