The real story of Ragnar 'Lothbrok' right out of the Danish Histories! He sails halfway round the known world to slay a fire breathing dragon for the hand of Princess Aslaug. The Saga of Ragnar 'Lothbrok' Sigurdson is about King Ragnar Lothbrok of...
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Shield-Maiden Ladgerda on the Whale-Road Past Cherson
"Beside men-warriors there were "women-warriors" in the North, as Saxo explains. He describes shield-maidens, as Alfhild, Sela, Rusila, Ladgerda and the three she-captains, Wigbiorg, who fell on the field, Hetha, who was made queen of Zealand, and Wisna, whose hand Starkad cut off, all three fighting manfully at the Battle of Bravalla."
The Nine Books of Danish History by Saxo Grammaticus
(Circa 810 AD) Jarl Brak was familiar with the Scythian Sea and he guided King Ragnar and his war fleet around the Greek Peninsula (Crimea) and past the city of Cherson. "The Khazars control Cherson now," Brak told Ragnar and Ladgerda as they skirted around the peninsula just out of sight of the land. They sailed up the east coast of the peninsula and entered the Sea of Maeotia (Azov) and sailed north-east across it to the estuary of the Tanais (Don) River. They rowed up the Tanais and used their sail when the wind cooperated. "We have half-giants in Thule," Ragnar told Brak, "that just put out their arms thus," and he held out his arms, "and they then get a wind at their backs."
"That would be a handy skill to have," Brak replied. Ragnar took out the departure schedule the Guild messenger had given him and he pinned it against the forestem as he read the Gothic script of it. "The fire breather is called Fafnir," Ragnar said, "and I think the Latin script calls it Justus. It looks to be a week away."
"Fafnir, it is." Brak said. "A little over a week so we'll have time to prepare."
"Can you read the Latin?" Ladgerda asked him.
"A little," Brak admitted. "Most Romans speak Greek these days, so I know Greek better. We used to trade a lot with them, but the Khazars control all trade now."
"Perhaps we can put an end to that," Ragnar said, somewhat presciently.
When they got further up the Tanais, Brak had them turn up a small tributary in the afternoon. "We'll have to camp here for the night," Brak explained, "so that we can sneak past the fortress construction at first light. We should attack Fafnir from the north-east, from upstream, so we can attack with more speed," and Brak began drawing the river and fortress in the wet riverbank. "That will give Fafnir less time to spew fire upon us. Also, if we camp upstream it will be safer. Nobody goes further upstream, but other Roman ships may come before Fafnir shows and we might be spotted here. No other Roman ships should have Greek fire spouts on them, but they are all armed."
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