by A. E. Rayne
And then he tripped over a hidden rock, tumbling into the snow, face first.
Eddeth burst out laughing, quickly clamping her hand over her mouth as Vik stepped forward to help Ollo up.
‘Serves me right for daydreaming,’ Ollo decided, spitting out a mouthful of snow. ‘Thinking about smoked mackerel. Bit of bacon on the side.’
‘Smoked mackerel?’ Now Vik’s stomach was growling as he headed back to Eddeth. ‘What I wouldn’t give for a little –’ He froze, staring at Eddeth, who had stopped, one hand out. ‘What? Eddeth?’
‘I smell smoked fish!’
Ollo snorted. ‘You’re imagining things, woman! There’s nothing to smell around here but Jonas’ farts!’
Jonas stopped, turning around with a scowl, eyes on Ollo, who was brushing snow out of his beard.
‘Smoked fish, I tell you!’ Eddeth insisted loudly, voice booming in the quiet forest.
Nobody could smell anything, despite their best efforts, but Eddeth was undeterred, and closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, letting the smell waft up her nostrils until she was certain. And eyes blinking open, she flung out a hand to the right. ‘That way!’ she insisted, just as loudly. ‘We go that way!’
Bergit found Ulrick in the hall with the Lord of Orvala, and after being introduced, she was once again left alone with Lotta while the two men returned to their table, awaiting their guest.
Tarl knew that Mirella would come. He merely had to think of her and wait.
She was his dreamer, always reading his mind, responding to his needs.
Well, some of them.
And sighing, Tarl thought of his wife, who was thankfully quiet now, hoping that Sverri had someone watching her closely.
Bergit tried to interest Lotta in the tray of fermented shark that had been brought to their table. Lotta didn’t want the foul-smelling fish, though, and she pushed it away. Bergit bent to her ear with a forced smile. ‘It’s a delicacy here, from what that servant said. Or perhaps she was a slave? How do you tell? I don’t know.’ She kept muttering, feeling both impatient and nervous. The owner of the two-storeyed house had demanded an exorbitant price for his dwelling, and Bergit wanted to get Ulrick away from the lord to talk to him about it.
Surely they could find the coins somewhere?
She was too distracted to notice that the smell of the shark was making Lotta ill.
‘I have to be sick!’ Lotta gagged. And then she was wriggling off the bench, running to the doors.
Bergit stared after her, not inclined to leave the warmth of the fire behind, though Ulrick would be cross if she let the girl wander around in the bitter cold. Lost out there, she would likely freeze to death. And knowing that she was going to need her husband in a good mood if she wanted to secure that house, Bergit followed Lotta out of the hall.
Tarl watched the door slam behind them. ‘You have a handsome woman there,’ he mused.
Ulrick appreciated the compliment. ‘I do indeed. She’s been a gift to me these many years. Bergit’s a strong woman. Determined to make a new home here.’
Tarl nodded. ‘The only women who survive here are strong. It’s always been the way. Death stalks the North, taking our children, killing our hopes. It’s a brutal life for most.’ He thought of Solveigh, doubting she was strong enough to survive for much longer. She was exquisitely beautiful, yet she had proven to be so weak and pitiful that it was starting to irritate him.
Hearing a noise, Tarl turned his head, standing quickly. ‘And speaking of strong women, here we have the strongest of all. My dreamer, Mirella.’
Ulrick frowned as he turned, standing himself, and then, seeing the woman, he froze in surprise.
‘Hello, Ulrick,’ Mirella said, walking into the hall. ‘It has been a long time, old friend. A long time indeed.’
Time had a way of confusing you.
Reinar stood on the ramparts, watching the snow fall, remembering his first visit to Slussfall with his father. Sigurd had been too small to even see over the rampart wall. He grinned, chuckling to himself. Sigurd had followed him everywhere from the moment he could walk. He’d never wanted to be left behind, never wanted to miss out on any fun.
Sometimes, Reinar looked at his brother as though he was still the little boy he’d lifted up to the ramparts, helping him to see. He could almost see Stellan in the distance, down at the harbour, talking with Sirrus, Jonas, and Vik; all three of them young and powerful and big. So big.
Now Sirrus was dead, his father was wasting away, and Jonas and Vik had left with his little brother, who no longer needed his help at all.
Time had run away, and Reinar felt sad, missing his father, wanting to hear his reassuring voice guiding him again.
He leaned over, elbows resting on the thick wall, eyes on the snowy harbour, shivering.
Ulrick couldn’t speak. He hadn’t seen Mirella Vettel in years.
After his father’s death, Hakon had made him search for her.
Jesper had been cut down by Stellan Vilander, and the shock and horror of losing his father had become more painful when he’d returned to Orbo to discover that his stepmother was gone. Ulrick had trekked all over the South, through the lower North too, but he’d never gone as far as Orvala.
Orvala?
What was she doing here?
‘You are speechless, Ulrick,’ Mirella smiled.
Tarl stared at her in surprise; Mirella rarely smiled.
And then she took Ulrick’s hands, warmed by old memories. ‘I am sorry for making you search for me. All those months you were away from your home and your wife.’
‘You were here? All along?’
Mirella shook her head, dropping Ulrick’s hands. ‘No, this was my final destination. I went on a long journey, in my mind, at first, and when I found the answers I was seeking, I came here.’ She looked at Tarl, who was staring at her with jealousy and affection and desire in his eyes. Quickly turning her attention back to Ulrick, Mirella motioned for him to return to his bench while she took the one opposite. ‘You were always a most loyal servant to Jesper, so I knew you were the man I needed. The perfect person to help me.’
Both men were confused.
‘Help you do what?’ Tarl demanded, sliding onto the bench beside her. He glanced at Ulrick, who was frowning. ‘Although I’m growing used to my dreamer’s mysterious ways, she still continues to surprise me.’ He laid a hand on Mirella’s arm, pressing lightly.
Mirella resisted the urge to shake it off, knowing it would embarrass him in front of Ulrick, but there was tension in her face as she turned to him, and she was pleased when Tarl took his hand away on his own. ‘Ulrick brought me a gift. A most precious gift. One I am very grateful to receive.’
Ulrick still didn’t understand, but hearing the hall doors open again, he saw Mirella turn her head, and standing, she eased past Tarl, towards the fire.
Lotta stopped, Bergit still some way behind her, muttering to herself.
And seeing the elegant woman watching Lotta, Bergit stumbled, her eyes popping open in surprise. ‘My... lady?’ Her mouth hung open in confusion, and then Ulrick was there, looking just as surprised.
Worried too.
Lotta wanted to run, but the woman was coming towards her so quickly that she hadn’t even thought about how to get away before she was wrapped in her arms, face pressed against her blue cloak.
Ulrick blinked, feeling his hopes shatter.
Tarl wasn’t sure what was going on or who the girl was to Mirella.
But Mirella didn’t care about any of them.
After all these years...
And standing back to look at her granddaughter, she felt an icy tear fall from her eye.
The gently falling snow quickly became a blizzard, and no one was enthused about following Eddeth, who appeared to be leading them towards a dead end of tangled trees.
Eddeth could feel their frustration mounting, but she shut it away, keeping the smell of smoking fish in her nostrils, realising that sh
e’d spent too many years ignoring that voice in her head. That dreamer’s voice. She had heard so many voices over the years, and thanks to her mother and her husbands, she’d convinced herself that they were nothing important. Just noise. Noise that didn’t matter.
But now?
Now Eddeth was determined to listen to every single voice.
And every smell too.
She stumbled to a stop, hand on Aldo’s arm. ‘There!’ And almost dancing with delight, Eddeth turned to Ollo, who was puffing behind her, eyeing her moodily. ‘There!’
He waded up to her with Vik, surprised to see a longhouse in the distance, a few outbuildings and barns dotted around it.
Seeing smoke.
Smelling fish.
Vik grinned. ‘Well done, Eddeth Nagel!’ He patted her on the back, his stomach aching with hunger. ‘Looks like someone’s made us supper!’
The smell of fermented shark was turning Ulrick’s stomach. The look in Mirella’s eye as she held Lotta close wasn’t helping. He stared at Bergit, seeking some support, but his wife just looked intrigued, wondering what was going to happen next.
As did Tarl Brava.
‘This is my granddaughter, Lotta,’ Mirella said, relieving some of the confusion. ‘I thank you for bringing her to me, Ulrick.’
Ulrick didn’t understand. ‘But I...’
‘You were the right man for the job. When her mother was taken, I saw you nearby. I sent you to find the children. That voice in your head telling you to go this way or that. It was me.’
Ulrick felt even worse, staring at Lotta, who looked at him with fear in her eyes. ‘But why? How?’
Mirella didn’t plan to reveal anything further. ‘You’ll forgive me if I don’t stand around talking, Ulrick. Bergit.’ And she nodded at the flame-haired shrew of a woman, who she’d never warmed to. ‘I must get Lotta settled in her new chamber. I want to make her comfortable, for she’ll be staying with me now.’
Tarl shook his head, knowing from experience that questioning his dreamer was pointless. ‘Well, let us drink to this happy occasion. A reunion of the heart! So unlike you, Mirella.’ Ignoring her scowl, he snapped his fingers. ‘Bring wine, Uukko, my boy! Lots of it, for we will celebrate alliances and reunions! And a toast for luck, I think, for tomorrow we’ll begin our adventure together, Ulrick. What do you think?’ He nudged the old warrior, who looked shell-shocked, unable to take his eyes off the girl. ‘A chance to get away, wet our swords, leave the women behind!’ Tarl heard a great wail in the distance, reminded of how desperate he was to leave his own woman behind.
Ulrick nodded dutifully, but the sound of his heart shattering was loud in his ears, and he couldn’t think at all.
Lotta pulled away from Mirella, running to him, throwing her arms around his waist. ‘Don’t go,’ she pleaded. ‘Don’t leave me, Ulrick!’
He swallowed, holding her close, seeing Mirella’s displeasure. And then the realisation of what she’d said started to sink in. ‘You’re a dreamer? A dreamer? But all those years in Orbo... you were never a dreamer, Mirella.’
‘Dreamers are valuable, Ulrick, you know that. Lords and kings seek them out, wanting to wield them as weapons, and I would never allow myself to be used that way. Jorek Vettel never knew what I was. Jesper...’ Just saying that name made Mirella uncomfortable, and she shook her head, not wishing to say anything further. ‘Come along, Lotta, and let me get you upstairs. I have the softest bed waiting for you. A blazing fire too.’
Ulrick could feel Mirella’s insistence that he release Lotta, and unable to stop himself, he pulled Lotta out of his arms, staring down at the little girl with tears in his eyes. ‘You should go... go with your grandmother now.’ And turning away quickly, he fixed his attention on the steward, who was pouring wine into ornate goblets.
‘No, Ulrick! Please! Don’t let her take me! Please!’ Lotta screamed as Mirella grabbed her hand and pulled her away, leading her around the spitting fire, heading for the corridor that led to the stairs.
Ulrick didn’t turn around, and grabbing hold of a goblet, he tipped the wine down his throat, trying to shut Lotta’s cries out of his head.
17
Eddeth led them through the trees, the intense smell of smoke and fish spurring her on. And finally, she made her way into the clearing, seeing smoke rising through little holes in the roof of the nearest shed.
Vik glanced at Sigurd, who had stopped, snatching hold of an impatient Eddeth before she could charge ahead of them.
‘Wait!’ Sigurd hissed, sword drawn. ‘Wait!’
Eddeth turned around with blinking eyes, seeing the men fanning out on either side of her, weapons drawn. A few still had their swords and knives, though after a night spent in the sea, the weapons were likely never going to be the same again.
‘What do we think?’ Jonas wondered, eyes fixed on the bigger of the two sheds on the right of the clearing. The longhouse stood welcomingly in the distance, squeezed in between rows of fir trees. There were fences sectioning off the land, which was sprinkled with giant-sized boulders, barns and stables, though no livestock that they could see.
It was fiercely cold, blowing with snow, and they could hear their teeth chattering and their stomachs groaning as they stood, watching that smoke.
‘There’s enough of us to mount a defense if we need one, so I say two go in,’ Sigurd decided. ‘Jonas, you stay behind. I’ll take Vik.’ Eddeth almost hopped up and down with impatience. ‘We’ll come back soon, don’t worry.’ She looked disappointed, her shoulders slumping. ‘We don’t know the place,’ Sigurd insisted. ‘Don’t know who’s there. Unless you can see something?’
Eddeth quickly shook her head. ‘No, but I can smell supper, so hurry along, Sigurd Vilander, then we can get to the eating!’
And then the door of the largest shed swung open, and a pot-bellied man ran out, as red as a strawberry, stark naked and jiggling, a big-breasted woman charging after him.
Ollo poked his head around Sigurd, trying to see what was going on as the naked couple chased each other through the snow, running in circles until the woman caught the man, knocking him to the ground. She was bigger than him, a heavy-looking young woman, and in no time, she had straddled his naked body, arm across his neck, both of them laughing hysterically.
The woman looked up suddenly, head snapping to the left where a long line of men and two women stood watching them. ‘Edwin!’ she shrieked, scrambling to her feet, trying to cover herself. But giving up entirely, she spun around, running for the longhouse.
The man had no clothes, no weapon, and nowhere to go but after his wife.
He turned his head, preparing to follow her.
‘Wait!’ Sigurd called, sheathing his sword. And hands in the air, he edged forward. ‘We aren’t going to hurt you! We just need some shelter! Some food! Our ship was lost! Sunk! We’re cold!’ And he felt it, shivering intensely, wondering how the naked man was standing ankle-deep in snow without breaking a tooth.
The woman ran back with two spears, handing one to her husband. She’d wrapped a cloak around her shoulders quickly, though it was not pinned, and Sigurd could see her pink breasts heaving up and down. ‘We’ve more men!’ she yelled. ‘You threaten us and more will come! We’ve nothing for you here! Nothing to steal! Nothing!’
Her husband took the spear, and lifting his lips to her ear, he whispered loudly.
Vik’s stomach growled impatiently as he glanced at the smallest shed, where smoke was wafting up into the low clouds. ‘We have coins! We can pay you!’ He hoped they still had coins. And turning to his right, he lifted an eyebrow at Jonas, who jiggled his pouch. Vik smiled, pleased to hear that comforting clink.
The naked man left his wife behind, eyeing Sigurd. ‘I’ve a barn. Past the steam house!’ He pointed with a red arm. ‘Send your men there. You come into the house with me, if you’re the leader. Just you!’
Sigurd made to move forward, but Vik placed a hand on his arm. ‘Best if I come too.’ He sheat
hed his sword. ‘I mean you no harm, friend!’ he called, hands in the air. ‘But I won’t let him go on his own. I hope you understand!’
And realising that he had little choice, the man nodded, watching as Vik and Sigurd made their way across the snowy clearing.
Ollo leaned towards Ludo, who trembled beside him, teeth chattering. ‘Forget the barn. Let’s get into that steam house instead. Did you see how warm they looked? Like a couple of red apples!’
Stina nodded, desperate to feel warm herself, but Jonas shook his head. ‘They’re a skittish couple, so let’s get them on side first. Besides, I’m not sure anyone wants to see you naked, Ollo Narp!’ And sheathing his sword, Jonas headed for the barn, just as keen for that hot steam as Ollo, but more patient, hoping that between Sigurd and Vik, they’d be able to sweet-talk the couple into helping them.
‘I haven’t seen you all day!’ Elin called before Reinar could run past her. She sensed that he would. He’d barely stopped to eat in days, and there had been little time for conversation. ‘Is something wrong?’
Reinar just wanted to keep moving. The days were getting shorter, and he could already sense the air cooling as the sun continued its journey down.
They stood on the hall steps, the square loud with activity before them.
Elin stepped closer to her husband, tipping back her head to look up at him. ‘Reinar?’
‘I just... I can’t find Berger. Have you seen him anywhere?’ Everywhere Reinar turned was a Slussfall man, a Northerner. Men he didn’t know. It was hard to feel confident about leaving in the morning.
