Sigyn's Song

by Meg Trotter

  But in a moment, her smug satisfaction melted away, forgotten. Something echoed on the edge of her hearing. The birds all took flight. Shortly after their webbed feet left the water, bubbles appeared in a line that started straight, and then began moving in a large arc like the curve of a spiral shell. The strangely familiar noise got louder until Maera had to cover her ears. It didn’t seem to be bothering anyone else in the boats.

  Then suddenly, something shot through the surface, straight up — jaws, gaping wide and fish spilling out of the sides. Then another, and another, until there had to be at least seven mouths opened toward the sky. It wasn’t until one of the creatures closed its great mouth and started to sink back under that Maera recognized what they were. Whales.

  “Ah!” Maera exclaimed, scrambling to stand to get a better view. The boat rocked underneath her as she held on to the curving head of the vessel for balance and leaned out.

  “They’re fishing,” Erik said over the noise of the sea birds screaming for their share of the food. “One of them starts circling a school of fish to scare them into a tight ball, and another gets underneath to blow bubbles to scare them close to the surface. Then they all get underneath and scoop them up.” He chuckled. “I was so unlucky as to accidentally get in the middle of one of those feeding sessions once with one of my brothers. We worried we were about to go down those big throats, just like the fish. But you know what? Others always thought we were crazy for saying so, but I swear one of the smaller whales noticed our plight. It closed its mouth and gently nudged us out of the circle before going back to feeding. It saved our lives.” His gaze focused intently on Maera again. “Apparently I’m destined for amazing things coming out of the water to save my life.”

  Maera smiled warmly back, but Luka snickered. “I think you just got compared to a large beast that gorges itself on fish.”

  Maera flicked at glare Luka’s way before she turned to watch the whales again. Each began to dive, showing their enormous tails as they sunk beneath the waves. One tail in particular caught her eye. It had a white splotch in the shape of a sea urchin. Maera reached out and grabbed Luka’s sleeve in excitement. I know her! she clicked, before remembering to speak in the gods-tongue. “Met her just before you! We sang!”

  Luka snorted and yanked her sleeve out of Maera’s grip. “Oh yeah? Can you give us a rendition of that now for your prince?”

  Maera watched the urchin-marked whale sink beneath the waves. She glanced behind to share the excitement with Freydis who had been quiet the entire time, but the goddess’s eyes were on the third boat a little ways back, where Skarde and Hilde were having an intense conversation of some sort. They didn’t seem to be paying a bit of attention to the whales. They sat close together in the center of the boat, Skarde’s posture straight and stiff, while Hilde’s bent in a curve toward him. Her shoulders hunched a bit, and her face looked concerned. Skarde, in contrast, looked stern.

  Maera turned back to the whales to give the couple some privacy, but dug her fingernails into the wood of the boat. It was just a lover’s quarrel, she told herself. But something in their postures bothered her. Maera’s boat shifted and she looked back to see Erik moving to the center of the craft. He gave her a smile and gestured for her to join him.

  She carefully settled down next to him and they turned their attention back to the whales. He draped his arm around her, chasing all thoughts of her friend’s relationship out of her mind for the moment. They watched the whales in a few more rounds of their feeding dance as the sky slowly clouded over. A soft rumble of thunder caught their attention. Erik squinted up at the sky and then pointed toward the shore in the distance. “Looks like we better head in for a while. I’ve learned my lesson about being out on open water during storms.”

  They paddled for shore, making it to land moments before the rain started to fall. They all scrambled out of their boats and headed for the shelter of the trees. None were as big as the large tree back at the village, but they were enough to protect them from some of the rain. It arrived in a gentle patter, without the violent energy of the storm that had capsized Erik’s boat. Maera held her hand out from under the shelter of the trees and felt the drops splattering on her hand.

  Such a strange sensation, feeling the essence of her home fall from above like this. She stepped out into the rain, closing her eyes and tilting her head up as the water fell over her. For a moment, it was almost like being back home as the drops soaked through her hair and clothes.

  There was a rustling and then Erik was at her side, grinning down at her as the rain soaked him as well. He tilted his head up, as she had done, except he opened his mouth to catch the water on his tongue. After he’d done so, he grinned down at her from underneath his soggy hair. He leaned down as if to kiss her, but she somehow had enough presence of mind to step back, grinning at his surprise.

  When he realized she was teasing, he grinned and lurched after her. She let out a little shrieking laugh and danced away from him. She led him on a short sprint down the beach and then back around toward the others before he caught up to her just before she reached the safety of the trees. In her haste, she stumbled over her own feet. However before she could fall, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her up against him. He then lifted her, giggling, a few inches off the ground. He sat her back down lightly on her feet and she spun to face him, grinning, ignoring the returning ache in her legs.

  This time when he leaned down toward her, she tilted her face up to his. His lips crushed hers and Maera felt the thrill of victory, among other things, as his hands encircled her waist and pulled her up against his warm body.

  From somewhere behind Maera came a gagging sound, and it took her a moment to realize it was Luka. Maera kicked back her leg, sending up a spray of sand behind her. She smiled against Erik’s lips as she heard the exaggerated gagging sound become a sputter. She slid her arms up around Erik’s neck and pulled him down closer.

  Victory tasted sweet.

  Chapter 12

  When they returned to the village, Maera hopped down out of the boat and onto land, feeling like she might float up into the sky. She didn’t know if she could say that Erik had kissed her like he couldn’t stand the thought of her not being in his life, but it had been a good start. They’d get there.

  She stretched and smiled up at the blue sky peeking out from the dissipating clouds. In the distance, a band of colors draped across the sky, shining faintly in the bright light. “Ah, a rainbow. A perfect end to the day,” Erik said. He leaned down and stole a kiss from Maera, which she willingly gave. When they pulled apart, she noticed Luka behind them, eyeing the colors in the sky with a strange uneasiness.

  “Whose ship is that?” Freydis asked. When they all turned to follow her gaze, Maera noticed the medium-sized ship tied off further down the beach. She’d been so distracted by the prince’s smiles and stolen kisses that an extra ship along the shore had been the last thing on her mind.

  Freydis frowned at it and then squinted up at the village in the distance, though nobody could see much from this far away. “Prince, I think you should stay hidden.”

  “What? Why?” Erik studied the ship. “Do you think they’re enemies?”

  “I don’t think you should risk yourself before we’re sure.” Freydis took a step toward the path that would lead to the village. “Let me check. I’ll tell you if all’s clear.”

  “I don’t like the idea of cowering here.”

  Freydis shook her head. “You don’t have any weapons on you, do you? How will you fight if it’s a whole ship full of enemies?” When he frowned at this, she added, “Odin values cunning over bravery. Let me scout out for you so you can plan how best to fight.”

  Erik considered this for a moment and then nodded. He gestured toward one of the larger boats tied up in the opposite direction. “I’ll go hunker down there until you get back.” Maera weighed her options of staying or going with Freydis. Curiosity won out, and she gave the prince an a
pologetic smile before hurrying after her friend. Valka and Skarde trailed along too, but Luka broke off halfway down the path and headed back to the sick-house without comment, throwing one more glance up at the fading rainbow as she went. Maera only paused a moment before leaving the witch and following her friends further into the village.

  They found the strangers at the door of Freydis’ home. A group of six men stood in a loose group opposite of the chief and several other villagers. As Maera and the others approached, she noticed that the voices were still calm, but from everyone’s posture this peace appeared to be a tentative one. The apparent leader of the group had his arms loosely crossed over his scarred chest while he smiled across at Chief Orm.

  A strange disorientation washed over Maera as her gaze slid to the male next to him. His body leaned away slightly from the leader and he was toying with a piece of silver hanging from his neck that, instead of a hammer, consisted only of two lines that intersected in the middle. It was so much like the confrontation she’d witnessed with her father back at home that for a moment Maera wondered if she were dreaming.

  Freydis moved to her father’s side. The leader of the strangers smirked at her and turned to eye the rest of them. “Ah, now who’s all this then?”

  “My daughter,” said the chief, “And her friends. All born and raised here.” He met Maera’s eyes and held her gaze for a moment. She nodded in agreement.

  The stranger let his eyes trail over them all as he gave a lazy smile. “Well, if you’ve lived here all your lives, you must know all the good hiding places, don’t you, children?” He grinned as Skarde bristled at the belittlement. “Now, if you were a prince where would you be hiding?”

  The chief snorted. “As I’ve said. You’ll find no prince here. Why would royalty come to this tiny place? We’re just a bunch of farms. Hardly worth anyone’s time. We keep to ourselves and stay out of the larger squabbles.”

  “In my experience, it’s the smaller villages you have to watch out for,” the stranger drawled. His gaze combed the area. “Three different merchants at Kaupangen said they saw Prince Erik there just a handful of days ago. They overheard him say he was heading this way with a rather rough-looking lot.” His eyes darted to the chief and looked him up and down with a smug sneer.

  The chief didn’t rise to the bait. “That’s about that time that storm kicked up, isn’t it?” He turned to one of the other villagers, who nodded. “If the prince was headed here like you say, he must have gotten thrown off course. Maybe he landed the next village over? Or maybe his ship sank into the sea to save you the trouble.”

  The stranger gave a little chuckle. “It is possible, I suppose. People around here have been known to die in rather pathetic ways. Your almost-son-in-law died from a little runny nose, didn’t he?”

  Freydis’ hands balled into fists and her jaw tightened. Her father stepped in front of her as if protecting her from a physical blow. He glowered at the stranger. “Tell Haakon that his brother is not here, but his heritage is,” he said, with a pointed look at the silver symbol around the second god’s neck. “He would do well to remember where he came from and the gods who brought him into this world.”

  “Oh, he remembers.” The stranger smiled and let the silence settle around him before taking a step back. “We’ll move on and check the next village. But I’ll remember this when Haakon is crowned.”

  “You’ll still be hanging onto that memory on your deathbed then,” Freydis snapped. Her father tensed, but the stranger only laughed and turned from them. He made a gesture and the men with him followed. Maera watched the retreating forms of the strangers with growing unease. Something was bothering her, and not only the fact that she’d witnessed yet another territory stand-off. She frowned. She needed to talk to Luka.

  Without a parting word, Maera set off down the path away from Freydis’ home. It took only a few moments to reach the sick-house and push open the door. Luka was lying on his bed, male now, and looking up at the ceiling, seemingly deep in thought. He glanced at her when she entered. She stood there a moment, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to figure out what exactly she wanted to ask.

  “You really look like a little fish this evening,” Luka said.

  Maera huffed and snapped her mouth shut. She crossed over to her bed and sank down. Her head ached almost as much as her legs. She reached up to where one of her braids pulled tight against her temple and tugged the twine off so she could unwind her hair. So, I have a question, she said, reverting to her native tongue. When the strangers were talking to Freydis and her father, one of them said something I don’t understand.

  Luka yawned and let his eyes close. “Well, that’s a surprise,” he muttered. Then, when Maera didn’t snap something witty back, he cracked open one eye and looked at her. “And it was-?”

  The stranger said that Freydis had a fiancé, but he died of some kind of sickness.

  “Mmm. I guess that explains why she’s so grumpy all the time,” Luka muttered, closing his eye again and settling back into his bed. “They say those who don’t die a warrior’s death go to the Realm of Hel. An unpleasant place, I’m told.”

  But if’s he’s a god, how can he have died?

  Luka’s eyes snapped open, and he stared at the ceiling for one heartbeat, then two, before he looked her way. His gaze darted away from hers and he sat up. He scratched the back of his head. “Yeah .... about that.” His tone was so unlike anything she’d ever heard from him that Maera lowered her hands from her half-undone braid and gave him her full attention. “I never actually said these people were gods,” he said.

  Silence fell again. Maera blinked. You did, she clicked. You absolutely did.

  He paused, his mouth open for a few heartbeats, looking much like she had just a few moments ago. He wouldn’t look at her. “You called them that first. I was just using your terminology so you’d understand-”

  No, Maera cut him off. She stood, feeling a panic rising in her chest and starting to climb up her throat. You said ... you SAID they were gods. The agreement between us was that I capture the heart of a god.

  He shrugged. “The magic understood what you meant. Erik’s love will still satisfy the condition.”

  But he’s not a god!

  Annoyance replaced the guilt on his face. “I just told you it doesn’t matter. Even if Erik’s only human, if he’s in love with you, you win the bet.”

  What is ‘human’? Maera growled.

  Luka gestured vaguely. “I don’t know …. They’re just … mer-people with legs.”

  But no power? she snapped.

  Luka’s gaze finally met hers. His nose crinkled in a sneer. “What, is only someone with power good enough for the likes of you, Princess?”

  Maera blinked in incomprehension. And then suddenly, she understood. Hurt and then anger slammed over her like a wave. She shot to her feet and stomped forward, planting herself in front of Luka’s bed with her hands balled into fists. You think this whole thing is for my ego?!

  “You picked that prince the second you heard he was royalty,” Luka countered, tilting his head at her with a condescending smile. “You’d never even had a conversation with him. He was unconscious. You based your choice solely off of how much power you imagined he had, nothing more.”

  “You stupid sea cow,” Maera snarled, the anger making the human words bubble up from her lips. She reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking so hard that he looked surprised to find himself suddenly on his feet. Yes! she snarled. I was looking for the one who would have the most power to protect my father!

  Luka had started to unhook her hand from his shirt, but paused with a raised eyebrow. “Protect your-”

  My father is getting old, Maera said. She released him and stepped back, annoyed at the sudden thickness of emotion in her throat. She took a breath to push the feelings down. Other males are going to challenge him for his position more and more. That’s what was happening the day I met you. She jerked down
the collar of her dress, baring her shoulder and the pitted scar there. I once had five other sisters, and a mother. All dead now. Casualties of bigger, stronger males trying to take control of our pod. I was nearly killed too last time.

  She took a shuddering breath and released her collar. There’s just Jersti and me now. One of us has to find a mate who is strong enough to protect our father until he agrees to pass on his status to this mate. Jersti is older than me but ... she’s timid. She wouldn’t attract someone strong. So it’s been up to me. And then I got attacked by that shark and ruined my chances of ... She blinked back a sudden wetness in her eyes. I thought that if I could attract a god .... but there’s no point to all this now. Erik is not a god. If he’s just a merperson with legs, he can’t do anything to help. He couldn’t even go home with me.

  Luka sat down hard on the bed. He sucked in a long breath as he wiped his hands down his face before finally raising his head to look back up at Maera. He gave his head a slight shake. “That’s such a stupid way to have to pick a mate.”

  Maera wiped angrily at the water trickling from the corners of her eyes. “What do you know about mates?” she spat.

  “I had one!” Luka snapped back.

  Silence stretched out between them as Maera’s mind tried to process this information. It kept rejecting it as impossible. She blinked and shook her head, trying to bring back coherent though. Wait, you ... what?

  “She’s dead,” Luka said simply, though Maera knew there couldn’t be anything simple about it.

  They stared at each other in silence for a few more moments. Luka broke the eye contact first. “As long as Erik is still in love with you on the full moon, you’ll win the bet. Once it’s over, you can stay up here with your lover if you want, or I can send you back under the sea. Though your fin will still be crippled.”