Raiding

Fifth book in the series
"Viking Blood" by Marianne Slot.

Translated by Lisbeth Trampe.
Illustrations by Pia Falck Pape

“Look, Olav is swimming!” Styrbjorn cheers, pointing.
Hauge and Torleif both look out at the water. Then Hauge starts. The boy is too far out; in the deep water. Just then a gurgling scream sounds from out there. Olav is splashing his arms wildly, and then disappears beneath the surface.
Hauge races out there, his heart hammering in his chest.
But where is the boy? Why didn’t they look at him? That boy is always bringing himself into trouble; a real daredevil. Always trying to climb the tallest tree, or climbing at the edge of the steepest slopes.
…..

Three and a half years have passed since young Styrbjorn, Edwina and Hauge’s son, was born and Edwina is pregnant again. The winters have been extremely hard and the harvests have been poor. Famine and hunger threatens.In the autumn Edwina gives birth to twin girls. But everything goes wrong. The grain rots, only some of the ships return from the summer voyage; late, empty, and battered.

Then Hauge decides to go on a quest for food and riches in England. A new ship is built for the voyage: Long and slender; fast and seaworthy.

In England they cause terror and devastation. Town after town is raided; left pillaged and plundered.

However, in the last town they have decided to raid, only one person is left, the priest in the church…