by A. E. Rayne
He reached for a flatbread, too hungry to wait for the women. Elfa could tell, and she held out the tray, but as he lunged for a flatbread, she pulled it away, watching him fall forward, his head banging on the table.
She laughed, brown teeth showing.
Ludo was confused. He kept blinking, but he couldn’t clear his eyes. Everything was a blur before him, as though he was still in the steam house. His face felt warm, and he tried to tap Sigurd on the arm, suddenly realising that Sigurd wasn’t there. Jonas sat next to him, and he turned to Ludo with a frown.
‘Why are you tapping me, Ludo Moller? Speak!’ Jonas grumbled, turning his attention to Ollo, whose head was still on the table. ‘Ollo?’
Vik laughed loudly, surprising himself. He had an urge to jump onto the table and start singing. There was a song he’d loved as a child, and hearing the words in his head, he wanted to shout them out loud. Standing up, he pushed himself away from the table, falling onto his back, hand in the air.
‘Vik?’ Jonas turned to him in surprise. ‘Vik?’
But Vik’s eyes were closed, and he didn’t reply.
The door rattled.
Edwin glanced at his wife, concern in his eyes.
She smiled back at him, tittering. ‘Drink up! Drink up!’ she called to the men, who were peering around the table, some in confusion, others so joyful that they’d started to laugh out loud.
Aldo, who hadn’t touched a drop of ale, stood, feeling concerned.
‘Open up!’ came the shriek outside the door.
And recognising Eddeth’s voice, Aldo moved quickly.
Edwin jumped to his feet, hurrying to cut him off. Reaching the door first, he drew out his knife, pointing it at Aldo. ‘We don’t want anyone else coming in, do we, boy?’ he snarled, lunging at Aldo, trying to stab him in the belly.
Aldo was almost too surprised to move, but he jumped back, panicked thoughts flooding his mind, wondering how he could get away from the little man and his stabbing knife.
‘Don’t drink the ale!’ Eddeth was shouting through the door. ‘Let me in! Hurry! And don’t drink that ale!’
Vik lay on the floor, mouth open, eyes closed, hand still in the air.
Jonas tried to get to his feet, wanting to see what was wrong with him, but standing, he tripped over, landing on top of Vik, unable to move.
Sigurd turned around, struggling to see. His ears were buzzing as though he stood amongst a swarm of bees. He swore he could hear banging, or Eddeth shouting, but when he turned, there was Elfa with the jug of ale, filling his cup. He smiled at the ugly woman, staring at her teeth, and as she slipped away, he poured more ale into his mouth, closing his eyes.
‘Sigurd!’ Ludo couldn’t move his legs, though he very much wanted to. Something was wrong. He felt a growing terror trying to wake up his body, but he couldn’t move. ‘Sigurd!’ Ollo was head down on the table, Jonas and Vik were on the floor, their men were half asleep, and Aldo was...
Ludo turned his head, trying to see.
Aldo was running away from Edwin, who was trying to kill him with a sharp-looking knife.
He saw Elfa with the ale jug, and smiling at her, Ludo held out his cup.
‘Help!’ Aldo screeched, Edwin grinning maniacally behind him. He needed to get the door open, though he wondered what help Eddeth and Stina could provide. ‘Eddeth!’
Eddeth shook the door, stark naked, staring at Stina, who had thought to grab her dress and was now wriggling it over her head. ‘We have to get in! Aldo! Aldo! Open the door!’ She thought quickly, turning to Stina. ‘Run back to the barn, get a weapon, then come back here!’ And not waiting another moment, Eddeth disappeared around the side of the house, buttocks wobbling.
‘Eddeth!’
Stina could hear Aldo yelping inside the house, and tugging down her dress, she ran to the barn.
Aldo panted, coming to a stop. Elfa stood on one side of him now, Edwin on the other, brandishing his knife, both of them smiling. Aldo unsheathed his eating knife, trying to decide what to do. And realising that there was little time for thinking, he turned for Elfa, who stopped smiling, shrieking as she threw the ale jug at him. Aldo ducked out of its path, launching himself at the woman, knocking her to the ground.
Edwin was quickly behind him, bellowing angrily. Aldo heard him coming, and he turned, stabbing his blade into Edwin’s thigh. Grunting, Edwin stumbled, righting himself quickly, slicing his knife across Aldo’s cheek. Aldo jerked away, stabbing again, but Elfa had scrambled back to her feet, and she kicked him in the back of the legs. Aldo staggered, losing his balance, tumbling to the ground, Edwin’s knife swinging for him. ‘Aarrghh!’ he screamed, wriggling across the floorboards, trying to avoid the blade.
‘No!’ Eddeth had made her way around the back of the house, slipping in through the door that led to the storage rooms, grabbing a broom, and now she raced around the tables towards the melee. She smacked Elfa in the back of the head with the broom, knocking the squealing woman off Aldo, who still had Edwin to contend with. Elfa was back on her feet quickly, weaponless now, and Eddeth growled at her, whacking the broom across her round face. ‘Wake up!’ she bellowed, hoping one of the men could hear her, and then, remembering Stina, Eddeth skipped away from Elfa, heading to the door. ‘Stina!’ she yelled. ‘Stina! Go around the back!’
Elfa was growing furious now, her grin finally gone. ‘Shut up!’ she roared. ‘Shut up, you horrible old woman!’
Eddeth looked insulted. ‘Me? Horrible? You’re the one trying to murder my friends!’ She felt fear then, worried for the slumped figures who sat at the table, oblivious to the trouble raging around them.
Ludo tried to rise behind Elfa, his hand out, ready to say something, but closing his eyes, he tumbled to the floor.
‘Ludo!’ Stina was there now, running into the house, a long shovel in her hands. And though she’d taken the time to dress, her feet were bare, and she could feel something wet beneath them. ‘What’s happening?’ She scanned the tables and the floor, her eyes quickly resting on a naked Eddeth, and Aldo, grappling with a sword-wielding Edwin, and she got to work. ‘Eddeth!’
‘Knock them down! Knock them out!’ Eddeth panted, hopping from one foot to the other, slightly dizzy now. She brought the broom around until she was holding it like a spear, stabbing it into Elfa’s soft stomach. The strange woman’s eyes bulged in surprise, and she cried out.
‘Ouch!’
Eddeth lunged at her again, broom back in two hands now, smacking it into the side of Elfa’s head.
‘Help!’ Aldo yelped as Edwin cut his face again. The man was round and small, as heavy as a boulder, but oddly nimble, and Aldo was struggling to avoid his sharp blade, which had cut his face so many times now that blood was pooling in his eyes and mouth.
‘Get off him!’ Stina screamed, swinging her shovel at Edwin’s head, trying to knock him away from Aldo. ‘You need to roll, Aldo!’ she yelled. ‘Roll!’ And she hit harder, trying to budge the stout man.
Elfa was crying now, worried about her husband. ‘Edwin! Edwin!’
Eddeth had barrelled her down to the ground, punching her in the face.
‘Edwin!’
Hearing the terror in Elfa’s voice, Edwin finally moved off Aldo, charging towards his wife.
Aldo scrambled back to his feet, his face a bloody mess, searching for his knife, which Edwin had knocked out of his hand. And finding it, he scooped it up, running after Edwin, who had launched himself at Eddeth, sending her flying.
‘Wake up!’ Stina kicked a motionless Ludo with her boot. ‘Ludo!’ But he didn’t move, and realising that no one else looked like moving either, Stina hurried after Aldo.
‘You are never safe. Never. If you can accept that, there’s a chance to find some happiness, but only some, for our first job must always be to look after our loved ones. We must be watchful, keeping our minds open, awake or asleep.’
Alys was six-years-old. She didn’t understand, and she frowned.
Eida smiled. ‘Everyone can become an enemy, Alys.’ They were walking through the woods, Digger running ahead of them, barking loudly. He chased every creature that came across his path, taking great pleasure in it, though he rarely killed anything. He just wanted to play.
‘Everyone? Even your friends?’
‘Yes. Even your own family.’ Eida looked sad, glancing away.
‘But if that’s true, how can you stay safe, Grandmother?’
It was a good question, one that kept Eida up many a night. ‘You can be alert to danger. You can open yourself up to those gods who will help you, for there are many.’
Alys’ eyes rounded in horror. ‘You mean you can talk to the gods?’
‘Of course. The gods like us. Some of them, at least. They know us. And when we ask, they try to help us.’
‘They do?’
‘Oh yes, for they need allies, and they value dreamers highly. You just have to ask for their help.’ And pulling Alys close, Eida wrapped her arms around her tiny granddaughter, her fears becoming so loud now that she could barely think. ‘You just have to ask for help...’
‘Help!’ Eddeth panted. She was lying on her back, Edwin’s weight crushing her as he tried to ram his blade into her bulging eye. ‘For the love of the gods, will someone help!’
Aldo rushed forward, stabbing Edwin in the back. And quickly pulling out his knife, he stuck it through the man’s thick neck. He felt sick, conscious of the blood in his eyes and Eddeth’s bright red face as she tried to push the grunting man off her.
Stina grabbed Elfa’s arms, wrestling her down to the ground. Elfa was strong, panicking about her husband, but Stina didn’t let her go. They needed to stop the violence. They had to try and help the men who weren’t moving. ‘Ludo!’ she tried again. ‘Sigurd!’ But there was no answer, and she heard Eddeth shrieking as Edwin turned to Aldo, trying to knock the boy off his feet.
Relieved of the pressure of Edwin’s big lump, Eddeth wriggled across the floorboards, reaching for her broom, horrified when Edwin spun, kicking it out of her hand. He was bleeding from everywhere but fighting like a bull, and Aldo was struggling to make any contact with his blade now, just wishing the man would drop dead.
Eddeth gritted her teeth, scrambling to her feet, running for Jonas and Vik, who needed her help – she saw that most urgently. And dragging a sword from Jonas’ swordbelt, she spun around, charging for Edwin, who was fighting Aldo, cutting the boy’s arm. Aldo yelped, face screwed up in pain, Edwin spitting blood all over him. And then Edwin was gurgling, bloody sword tip protruding from his throat.
‘No!’ Elfa wailed, hands over her eyes as she lay on the ground, Stina straddling her. ‘You bitch!’
Aldo moved out of the way as Edwin stumbled to his knees, tipping forward onto the floorboards, making them shudder.
Eddeth stared at him, stunned, then sneezing, she spun around, eyes on Stina, who sat on top of Elfa. ‘You keep her there. I must get to work! There’s no time to waste!’
Aldo kept his eyes on Edwin, who wasn’t moving, avoiding looking at Eddeth, who was still entirely naked.
‘Hurry!’ Stina panicked, holding down Elfa’s hands as she fought to get up.
‘You killed him! You killed him!’ Elfa wailed miserably. And then she was screaming, spitting at Stina, fighting to release her hold.
Smelling that Edwin was finally dead, Aldo left him behind, hurrying to help Stina. His face was stinging, bleeding, and he winced, wiping blood out of his eyes.
‘Here! Grab this arm!’ Stina panted, almost toppling off the bucking woman. ‘Hold her down! I need to help Eddeth!’ And she did. Desperately. None of the men were moving. None of them now. ‘Eddeth!’ Stina called, struggling back to her feet, aching all over. Elfa had punched her in the eye and the nose, and she could barely see. ‘Eddeth!’ She turned, scouring the house, but there was no sign of Eddeth.
Alys woke up, staring at the stars, immediately aware of how bitterly cold it was. Grabbing the fur Arnon had pulled away from her, she tugged it back – gently - hoping not to wake him.
Her dreams lingered, and she smiled, almost smelling the herbs in Eddeth’s cottage, wishing she was there with Winter on her lap and a fire at her feet.
It felt strange to be so far away from Eddeth. They were both new to dreaming, though Eddeth had more knowledge than she’d ever realised. The books were gone now, and Alys felt the loss of them, but Eddeth was like a walking, talking book herself.
Eddeth would be just fine.
Eddeth was panicking.
The house had a separate kitchen where Elfa had been making the meals, sprinkling poisonous herbs into the ale – Eddeth had seen that in her dream – but what could she find to undo the magic?
Grabbing a soapstone lamp, she swung it around the kitchen, running her eyes over the bounteous shelves, past the tables, down to the floor. She sniffed, trying to find what she was looking for. There were bowls everywhere, even on the floor, and Eddeth stumbled, standing in one of them. She pulled out her foot, screwing up her nose, annoyed by the murderous couple and their revolting mess.
Stina burst into the kitchen. ‘Eddeth!’
Eddeth didn’t turn around. ‘I need to find out what she’s done. What that horrible creature has done!’
‘What are you looking for?’ Stina grabbed another lamp, hurrying to Eddeth’s side. ‘Herbs?’
Eddeth nodded, sniffing again, and head snapping to the right, she approached the smallest table, where a thick pottery jug stood next to a wooden bowl. ‘Here!’ And leaving the lamp on the table, Eddeth sniffed the jug. ‘Oh yes.’ She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
‘Be careful!’ Stina warned. ‘I don’t want you getting ill too.’
But Eddeth wheeled around with a grin. ‘Not me! Not now that I know what she’s done.’
‘You do?’
‘Oh yes, indeed, I most certainly do! But if we don’t hurry, those men out there stand no chance. No chance at all!’
The men were still talking.
Bergit tried to get Ulrick’s attention, wanting to leave. Solveigh Brava was terrible company, and she’d barely been able to draw a word out of her. Though she was the lord’s wife, and it would certainly help Ulrick if she became friendly with the woman.
She thought of Mirella, who had swept in and out of the hall like an elegant ghost. There was no sign of her now, and Bergit wondered if she had gone to find the girl. ‘Do you know Mirella well?’ she asked Solveigh, softly, for she didn’t want Tarl Brava to hear that she was digging for information about his dreamer.
Solveigh, who had been studying her goblet, wondering how much wine she needed to drink before she became unconscious, looked up in surprise. ‘Mirella? I hate the bitch.’
Bergit almost snorted. ‘Oh, why is that?’ She edged along the bench, intrigued.
‘She was there when he...’
Solveigh didn’t say any more, and Bergit realised that the woman had drunk too much to be much use to her now. ‘When he?’
‘He killed everyone I love.’ Solveigh stood suddenly, almost falling backwards, goblet swinging in her hand, splashing wine over Bergit. ‘You killed everyone I love! You bastard! You killed them!’ She was screaming so loudly that everyone in the hall froze. But quickly realising that they were not under attack from a tribe of banshees, the men resumed their conversations, quite used to Solveigh’s dramatic outbursts.
Tarl lifted a dark eyebrow at two of his men, who stood by the doors, waiting to be called on.
But Bergit jumped to her feet, wine in her eyes, grabbing hold of Solveigh. ‘It’s alright! I have her now. It’s alright. I’ll take her back to her chamber!’ And slipping an arm around Solveigh’s waist, Bergit lowered her voice. ‘Come along, my lady, let’s get you to bed. You need some sleep, I think, don’t you?’
Solveigh became limp, almost nodding, and Bergit swept her out of the hall towards the corridor, which she assumed led to the bedchambers, determined not to ask another questi
on until she had the lady alone.
Stina returned to the hall, helping Aldo tie Elfa to a pole. The woman spat and snarled, cursing loudly, and Stina thought about stuffing something in her mouth just to have a moment’s peace. But there were more important things to attend to, like the unconscious men lying with their heads on tables, some scattered around the floor.
Stina glanced at the door, wondering where Eddeth was. She had scampered out of the house in a fluster, lamp in hand, and Stina hoped she was alright. Kneeling beside Vik, she placed a hand on his chest, relieved to find that he was still breathing.
But for how long?
‘Oh, but it’s cold out there!’ Eddeth declared, the door banging open as she rushed inside.
Still naked.
‘Eddeth!’ Stina frowned. ‘Aldo, can you run to the steam house and find her clothes?’
Aldo nodded, eager to cover Eddeth up too.
‘Clothes are the last thing on my mind,’ Eddeth insisted, bounding past Stina, heading for the kitchen. ‘Come along, come along, we need to get to work, yes indeed!’
‘You whores!’ Elfa called from the floor. ‘You rotten whores!’
Eddeth ignored her, bursting into the kitchen, cold hands working quickly as she grabbed a knife, turning one of the bowls over, emptying peas everywhere. ‘I must get to work! A symbol will help reverse what she’s done. She’s a witch, that one, but no dreamer, though she knows how to hurt people well enough. And that spell out there? It’s working away at those men. It is! Oh, but we must hurry!’
‘What can I do?’
‘Find me some wine. If not, ale will suffice. Storage room’s through there.’ And motioning with her head, Eddeth closed her eyes, seeing the symbol she needed to carve in her mind. Eyes springing open, she gripped the knife, scraping it into the bottom of the bowl.
Stina returned quickly with a small cask of wine.
‘Good! Leave that on the table. I’ve everything I need now, so you get back out there, clear the tables of all that poison! Oh, the evil little witch! Yes, get Aldo, and tip it all outside. Throw the cups and jugs away too. Find me new ones, for everyone must drink this. Every one of them!’
