Strange how we had longed for the feel and smell of land when afloat and now longed for the touch of ship and spray now that we were ashore. No.

Keep an open mind---but not so open your brain falls out.

It's like going back home to where we started going to the races.

I was a couple of summers past twenty but I felt there were stones under that frozen, dun earth that were younger than me.

Man without a sword is still a warrior, but one with no shield is just a target.

To be without silver is better than to be without honor.

We were still on the whale road, in the wind that keened and thrummed the ropes.

God is not mocked!'' the domnall said sternly and Crowbone turned and laughed, hefting his sword on to one shoulder. '' of course he is Priest'' he called out as he went. ''His son was sent to promise an end to wicked folk. Odin promised an end to ice giants. I see no ice giants priest - but the world is full of wicked men.

I had forgotten that, while Thor hurls his Hammer from storm-clouds, Odin prefers his strike to come out of a calm sky.