The Saga of Jorgen : Book #2, AKSEL

Aksel is the second book in a trilogy, The Saga of Jorgen. Aksel Haagen is born into a wealthy Danish Christian family in Ribe, Denmark, in 960. His father is master builder to King Harald Gormsson, king of all Denmark. Since the days of the Grandfather in book 1, there has not been a master carver of figureheads for longships. At an early age, Aksel shows a propensity for carving. At the age of seven, he travels with his father, Jeh, to the Island of Wolin on the Baltic Sea, where he sees the plight of the thrall slaves who have been captured by villainous Vikings and forced into hard labor. One thrall child, Elaine, makes an indelible impression on him. When he returns to Denmark, he secretly carves a likeness of her. At the age of ten, he makes another trip to Wolin Island and hopes to gift Elaine with the carving. She is gone...sold and packed off to the Courland Spit to work in the amber trade. When he is grown, Aksel begins searching for Elaine. Aksel chronicles numerous trips, perils on the seas, encounters with Elaine's evil Russian owner, and a quest to free thrall slaves.