Emer's Quest (Manannan Trilogy)

by Michele McGrath

  “I had to rescue him, it was my duty,” Emer said stubbornly. “Atli offered me a way to do so.”

  “So you stole away. Then what?” Ragnar asked.

  “We went to Skuy and there I met Hari, Freydis and Njall.” She smiled at them. “A week later, we sailed to the Landnám Islands, where we found my father, as I had seen in my dream. You will know what happened next from Dag and his crew.”

  Ragnar nodded. “Continue.”

  “When we returned to Skuy, Hari and I were wed. Not long afterwards, on another voyage, Atli fell sick and died. His younger son Rolf brought his body home.” She paused and glanced at her husband. “Would you like to tell the rest of the tale? It is more yours than mine.”

  Hari stood up. He looked around at the strange faces staring at him. Then he drew a deep breath and said,

  “My father and brother had quarrelled before he died. I can’t prove it, but I think Rolf gave Fadir poison.”

  “That is a matter for a lovsigemann,” Ragnar said, sternly.

  “We fetched Beacan, our lovsigemann , to our settlement. Before I could lay a case before him, I was seized by Rolf and his men. They trussed me and put me onto the fireship in which my father was to make his journey into the afterlife.”

  A murmur ran round the room.

  “How did you escape?” Ragnar asked.

  “Emer, Freydis and Njall rescued me. Without them, I would have been burned alive.”

  “Emer?” Ragnar looked at her and asked.

  “We rowed out in a small skiff and waited for the fireship, then we climbed aboard and freed Hari. The bulk of the burning ship hid us from the land and we got safe away. We sailed to Eyin Helga and then we came here.”

  “It seems as if your brother has done you grave injury,” Dag said. “Are you content to leave him to enjoy goods that should have been yours?”

  “I’m not. I intend to do something about it as soon as I can, but it will not be easy. I have no friends who are trained warriors to fight for me and no warship to take me back there either.”

  “That might be arranged,” Dag said thoughtfully. “What do you think, Fadir?”

  “It’s a proposition to think about, certainly,” Ragnar said. “Are you restless again my son?”

  Dag grinned. “I crave a little excitement in my life and these last few months have been tame. I am becoming dull and my sword needs sharpening. Will you sharpen it for me, Brodir?”

  Edan, sometimes called Kari, smiled. “I’ll sharpen your weapons for you, as often as you want me to.”

  “Kari is a fine metalworker, in case no one has told you,” Dag explained. “He is also the father of Finnr, a punishment for his many sins.” They both laughed.

  “We’ll talk of these matters later.” Ragnar said. “For now, stay for the evening and entertain us with the tales of the north, unless you want to sail around to Emer’s people. The wind has changed and would serve your turn now.”

  “Emer?”

  “I want to go home as soon as possible, but we are all very weary…”

  “Come then. Bathe and sleep. You can go tomorrow.”

  18

  Next morning, Emer could not contain her excitement as she and Hari sailed out of the big bay and up the coast. Njall and Freydis did not go with them.

  “This is a moment for you two alone,” Freydis told them. “We are strangers to your parents and your reunion should be private. We’ll wait here for you. Njall had already asked the chieftain and he agreed.”

  On a clear day with a fresh wind, the voyage was exhilarating rather than boring or unpleasant. They rounded the breakers, which had nearly wrecked them on the way to the island. The noise was only a murmur now, since the waves were slight, not the roaring they had heard on the previous occasion.

  “Listen to them,” Emer said. “If they had been like this before, we would have had no warning and run aground.”

  “Certainly Odin favoured us, although I doubted him yesterday,” Hari agreed.

  When the tip of the island was rounded, they trimmed the boat and sailed down the western side. Great sand cliffs lined the shore, with small indented bays, but the place seemed deserted.

  “Does no one live here?” Hari asked in surprise.

  “Lots of people do, but they build their houses inland to be safe when the storms rage. The wind normally comes from the south or west and so these sandhills give some protection.”

  Eventually Emer pointed to yet another small indentation in the coast that looked no different to Hari than all the other they had passed.

  “There it is, turn here.”

  “I can’t see any opening,” Hari objected.

  “It’s there all the same. Turn now or we will be swept past.”

  Obediently, but with misgivings, Hari turned the boat’s prow towards the land, setting an oblique angle across the current. Gradually, the cliffs drew apart and he was able to catch a glimpse of a small bay, almost enclosed by the land. He pointed the boat in and ran it up onto the sands.

  Emer waded through the surf and helped him draw the skiff higher up the beach. Then she stooped and picked up a handful of the fine sand, letting it run through her fingers.

  “Now I am home at last, welcome Hari.” She threw her arms round him and kissed him. Then she took his hand and led him up the winding path through the dunes and into the farmland behind.

  They had only gone a little way before they were seen. Someone shouted and several people came running and Emer was in her mother’s arms.

  “Emer, oh Emer, thank all the gods you are safe.” Her mother swept the tangled veil from Emer’s hair and looked at her. “Are you well?”

  “All the better for seeing you and Fadir.”

  She turned and hugged her father. He returned the hug and then she stepped back and looked at him. He seemed well, but she noticed that both his hair and beard were almost totally grey.

  “Do you know me, Fadir?”

  “Emer… daughter.”

  “You did not for a while in the Landnám Islands.”

  “Not… remember… then. Not… want… to.”

  Niamh smiled at her husband and said, “Your father can speak more words each day. It’s only a short time since he found his voice again and he’s doing well. He needed rest and good food.”

  Hari had stood a little apart while Emer greeted her father and mother. Now she drew him forward and introduced him to her parents and their neighbours, who had come up to see what all the commotion was about.

  “I’ve a surprise for you,” Niamh said when the greetings were over. “Come home now.”

  They heard a thin wailing as they entered the clearing.

  “A brother or a sister?” Emer asked, with a smile.

  “A brother, Geirr.”

  “Are you well, Modir?”

  “Very well, better than I was when you were born. I had only the one anxiety — that you were safe and would come back to me.”

  “I am sorry I left you so abruptly and stayed away so long.”

  “You are here now and that is what matters.”

  Later that evening, when Geirr was asleep and the neighbours had left, the family settled round the fire. They talked about all the things that had happened to them since they were parted.

  “I must go back to Skuy,” Hari said, after he had told them about Rolf. “My brother will make a poor leader and he has robbed me.”

  “You’re no warrior,” Emer objected, “and you said that there was nothing on Skuy that you valued.”

  “I did not think there was,” Hari replied, “except for you. I had never faced death before and my first instinct was to flee and keep everyone safe. I thought hard on the voyage here and I realise I was wrong. There are people I care about there — Kolla, Knut and Faraldr for instance. I don’t want to leave them to my brother’s mercies for long.”

  “I hoped you would choose to stay here,” Emer faltered.

  “I will stay for a while. There are t
hings I must do before I can make the voyage back.” He turned to Olaf. “I am no warrior, Swær, Father-in-Law, but you are. I didn’t pay enough attention to my teachers, when they attempted to teach me to fight. I had no interest in such things and I did not try. I was always better with a bow than a sword, but not good even at that. Rolf has given me a good reason to learn. Will you help me, Swær?”

  “I… will. Left… arm… weak. Warriors… need… two… arms.” Olaf grinned.

  “Fadir! I don’t want Hari to fight and perhaps be killed. We are safe now.”

  “Hari’s… honour. His… people… with... kin-slayer. Wife… helps… not… hinders.”

  “Modir?”

  “What your father says is right, I’m sorry to say. A man’s honour is important to him. But it is late. We have talked for a long time and Geirr is sure to wake us early. Let us sleep now and talk again in the morning.”

  That night, when everyone else was asleep, Hari whispered to Emer,

  “Little love, I must go. How could I leave Kolla and the others to Rolf’s mercies?”

  “You’re no warrior, Hari, you said so yourself.”

  “I must become one and recruit friends to help me.”

  “If you kill your own brother, you would be as bad as he is. That’s kin-slaying too.”

  “No it is revenge and the lovsigemann would support me in this. You and Njall and Freydis can swear to the truth of what happened and there will be others. I need you to understand and help me.”

  “I will always help you and I do understand, but I do not like it.” In the dim light she saw him smile.

  Next morning they began activities that became the pattern of their days. Hari helped Olaf with the farm and the fishing, showing himself adept at both.

  “My father made sure that Rolf and I knew how to use both the land and the sea. I was not always a scribe.”

  The fact that Hari was a scribe and had also been a trader proved useful to Olaf and his neighbours. Hari began to travel to other villages and towns, sometimes on horseback and sometimes as part of a fishing trip. The sales of their goods increased and they were able to purchase the things they needed more easily.

  Despite these duties, Hari made time every day to practice swordplay, archery and riding. He was awkward using the other weapon of his people, the axe, and was admittedly weak with a sword. At first Olaf could beat him easily and Hari’s chest and arms were a mass of bruises. Eventually though, he began to hold his own and the day came when he won his first encounter.

  “Well done,” Olaf said, as Hari helped him up from the ground after tripping him neatly. “You are almost ready to proceed.”

  Archery was less of a problem because Hari had a good eye and wiry arms. All he lacked was practice. Emer enjoyed this part of his training because she often joined him and nearly always won. It was something they did together and both of their skills improved, although Hari swore loudly that he would never compete against his wife for money.

  Olaf trained Hari to fight from the back of his horse, Thor. They also fought horseman to horseman. Fortunately, Naimh’s Vif showed no signs of the fateful journey she had taken with Emer through the winter snows.

  “Remember, though, Thor is getting old,” Olaf warned Hari. “Before you leave the island, you must practice on a younger horse. They will prance and sidle and it is easy to be thrown off balance.”

  One day, Olaf said,

  “I can teach you no more. Now is the time for you to go back to Dag and see if he is willing to support you. I warn you Dag will drive a shrewd bargain for his services.”

  “Dag has never bargained with me,” Hari said with a grin. “He might be my master in battle but we will have to see how he fights with words.”

  “Do you want to come?” Hari asked Emer next day when he told her what he proposed to do.

  “Oh, yes please.” Emer looked at her mother. “Unless you need me, Modir?”

  “No. On a fair day, with the right wind, the journey should be quick. I would like to go with you myself. I have not seen Renny since Geirr’s birth.”

  “What about Geirr?”

  “He’s old enough to travel now and Mappy’s sons can look after the animals as they have done before.”

  “Olaf?”

  Olaf nodded. “Take… things… Edan… fix.”

  “We can bring some of the herbs I have gathered for Renny at the same time.”

  Early the next morning, the family embarked on Olaf’s fishing boat. The wind proved fair and before noon they rounded the breakers at the northern point and sailed down into the big bay. They had to leave the boat some distance from the village because its draught was deeper than Hari’s skiff. The sun was shining and the walk was pleasant. Ragnar’s watchmen saw them coming but, knowing them well, let them pass without a challenge.

  They must have made some signal though, for Renny and her husband Edan were waiting for them. Delighted greetings followed and much talk.

  “May I speak with you and Modir alone?” Emer asked, after a while.

  “Of course.” The two women exchanged glances but Emer said nothing more until they were inside the hut.

  “What is it?” Renny asked when they had seated themselves.

  Emer drew a deep breath and said, “In my dreams, I met my grandfather again. He told me that this was the last time I would see him for his work was finished. I am sorry but he walks with Shea in the spirit world now.”

  Both women gasped and tears made Renny’s eyes glitter like stars.

  “Tell us.”

  “I was looking at him through a mist, because I was carrying a baby, which I lost through a fall. He said that I would no longer dream about the future. If I tried to use the potion you showed me how to make, Modir, the veils would only get thicker. It would be hard to find my way back. So he gave me a message for you both.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Tell my daughter and Renny, my last love, that you have seen me. Give them my blessing and tell them that, even here, my memories remain”.

  Renny dropped her face into her hands and Niamh looked away quickly. After a little while, Renny asked.

  “How did he look? Could you see?”

  Emer smiled. “He looked young and happy. The time before the last, he was walking on green hills with his dog, Shea, bounding around him. He was with a woman with golden hair. He told me she was my grandmother, for whom I am named.”

  The two women looked at each other.

  “I’m glad he’s happy,” Renny said, “even though we will never see him again.”

  “And I,” murmured Niamh.

  “There is something else I must tell you,” Emer said. “Afi told me that I would be the last of his descendents to have such dreams. None of my children will inherit the ability and generations will pass before another such dreamer is born.”

  “I’m glad,” Niamh said. “Foresight is not a blessing but a curse. How good to know that it will not plague our family again for a long time. Perhaps when the next child inherits the ability, times will have changed. He or she will be able to use the ability to bring good things for everybody.”

  A little while later Emer asked, “Where is Freydis? I haven’t seen her yet.”

  Renny smiled. “Freydis has gone out fishing with Njall. I think there will be a handfasting between them come Luanistyn.” Luanistyn, Lugh’s day, had always been the traditional time for betrothals and marriages.

  “Good. I am so happy for them,” Emer smiled.

  “I am hoping for another betrothal then.” She laid a sudden hand on Emer’s knee. “My dear, I know you and Finnr were close and we once hoped that you would wed. I did not realise how deep his feelings were but, when you returned with your husband, he was distraught.”

  “Oh, I am so sorry I didn’t know.”

  “What could you have done if you did? It was better that you stayed away until he had come to terms with his disappointment.”

  “I never wanted h
im to be unhappy.”

  “I know you didn’t and I believe that the words you spoke were true. You are too alike. You would have had a stormy marriage. Too many quarrels and little peace.”

  “Perhaps I was wrong.”

  “No you weren’t and I thank you for that. You are settled with Hari and Finnr has found a new love.”

  “Who?” Emer felt her heart thud.

  “Pola. Her father is a farmer who often trades with us. She’s a lovely girl and she soothes Finnr’s tempers. They have been much together this summer and he has become happy again.”

  For a few moments, Emer did not speak. She remembered all the days she had spent with Finnr when they were growing up and was sad that those times would never return again. Then she pushed such thoughts aside. She would always care for Finnr and he for her.

  “I am happy for him,” she said, carefully.

  “I’m sorry if it’s a shock.”

  Emer smiled, “This is truly the end of our childhood. That makes me unhappy but you are right, I love Hari. I would wish Finnr to be with Pola, if that is in both their hearts.”

  Forewarned, she had time to prepare her words and her emotions before Finnr returned, so she could greet him properly.

  “It is good to be with you again,” she told him. “Your mother told me that you have made a new friend —Pola.”

  Bright colour sprang into Finnr’s cheeks.

  “You’re blushing!” Emer clapped her hands and giggled. “Oh, Finnr, I thought you would have grown out of that by now.”

  “That’s what I always hated about you — you’re such a tease!”

  “And you aren’t?”

  “Children! Enough!” Renny had a note in her voice, as if she had used the same words to call them to order many times before. Everyone laughed.

  Then Hari said,

  “I must speak with Dag and Ragnar. Come Emer, this concerns you as well.”

  “Will you help me to recover my inheritance?” Hari stood before Ragnar and asked the question.

  “Perhaps but we must agree terms.” Ragnar scratched his beard and looked at Hari speculatively.

  Hari drew a deep breath and the bargaining commenced. After much talking and haggling back and forth, Hari stated what had been agreed, so all could hear the bargain.