"I will surrender to Hardar and demand the best terms for all of you. I cannot guarantee you what he will do. He could kill me and burn all of your homes. Whoever will lead you now, my advice is to stay ready. My family will accompany me as will those still sworn to my service. What happens next is for Fate to decide."
Ulfrik's words created the stir he had intended. He knew no one had thought of a replacement leader. They started to mumble. He took the moment to whisper to Toki. "You will have to follow me for a while, but then break way. The men aboard my ship, I can only hope they will be loyal once they return."
Toki gave him a sad smile. "The men on your ship have no intention of returning without you."
Ulfrik began to protest when Thorvald emerged from the crowd. He squared off with Ulfrik, jaw set and face inscrutable. Then he embraced Ulfrik. "I am sorry that it has come to this. I am your man, if ever you return."
Ulfrik pulled away and said nothing. He wondered if Thorvald was excited for the chance to lead Nye Grenner. He didn't care anymore. Instead, he approached Runa and took her hand.
"Trust in my plan. Turn the others against Hardar, then come with haste. We must endure time apart."
She tried to look away, but failed. Her eyes glittered as she groped for words. Ulfrik pressed his finger to her lips, sparing both of them the pain of good-bye. She kissed his finger, as tears pressed out of her closed eyes.
Ulfrik knelt down to Gunnar. He met his son's flinty eyes. As much as he resembled his mother, the resolve he saw in Gunnar's face resembled Ulfrik's father. His chest filled with pride. "I will be gone a while. You must obey your mother. Time for play is over. Now you are on an adventure, and must be brave. Can you do that for me?"
Gunnar nodded. Ulfrik smiled and ruffled his son's hair. He wanted to say more, but had to stand before tears overwhelmed him. Breaking down before Gunnar would not help anyone. He unhitched his sword and offered it to Runa. "Keep it for Gunnar. It's not the best I've ever owned, but it's a good weapon."
"I don't plan to give it to him." She hesitated a moment, then snatched it from him. She unpinned her cloak, and held out the antler pin on her palm. "It's poor enough that even Hardar won't want it. I've owned it since we met. Take it."
Accepting it, he pushed it into his own cloak. There was nothing left but to leave. Snorri stepped forward and guided him down the dock to Fjord Runner. "Get aboard and let's get this started."
Ulfrik turned to watch Runa and Gunnar board their ship on the opposite side. Toki assisted Halla aboard. Einar and Gerdie waited for Snorri. Once Ulfrik was aboard, a crew of twelve men joined him. Some were young and others old, but all had followed him from Norway, the last of his original crew. Ulfrik's tears flowed anew at their loyalty.
The ship lurched as it pushed away. The crowd gathered at the end of the dock were as still as lichen-covered standing stones. The dismal sky and thin fog painted the world gray. Ulfrik watched Snorri kiss Gerdie and hug Einar before helping them aboard Raven's Talon. Then his gray-haired friend made a running leap onto the deck of Fjord Runner as it was about to leave the dock.
"Damn you, Snorri! You're to be on the other ship!" Ulfrik felt his head grow hot. "Who is going to lead them?"
"Your wife," he said as he regained his balance. "Toki and Einar, plus the other men with them will do her fighting. But she'll be in charge, no doubt."
Ulfrik's ship lurched away as men dipped their oars into the thick water. He looked past Snorri to see Gunnar watching over the rails, Runa standing behind him. "I cannot allow you to do this." Ulfrik cast around to all of his men. "You all should turn back once I'm ashore. Hardar's battle is with me alone."
Snorri shook his head, a smile tugging his grizzled beard. "We serve our lord to the end, as honor dictates."
"What about Gerdie and Einar?" Ulfrik flung his hands up in exasperation. "They've already lost their family once."
"Gerdie is a strong woman, and Einar is a man now. They know I must keep you alive long enough for this plan to work."
The two men stared at each other for long moments. A bird screamed above, providing Ulfrik an excuse to look away. He went to the tiller and grabbed it. "I'm sorry to admit, but I'm glad you will be with me."
Snorri laughed. "I serve until the end, Ulfrik. May that end be long in coming."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Toki gazed after Fjord Runner as it shrank and vanished over the horizon. He swallowed, then noticed Runa leaned against the rails, watching the same spot. Her cloak pulled tight and her hair flew in the wind. Her stony silence was louder than the slashing of the waves breaking across the hull.
The sail snapped full above his head and two men adjusted the rigging. Totally the ship held ten people, with only four fighting men. Not many had been willing to sail with Toki the Cursed. Since hitting the open sea, no one had interacted much, each one wrapped in their own thoughts.
Halla and Dana shared a seat on Toki's sea chest. Dana spoke quietly while Halla merely nodded. Despite her proclamations, Toki had not experienced a deeper connection to her. The frantic planning for Ulfrik's surrender had not allowed time for them to strengthen their bond. Being at sea and traveling to other lands, he doubted their relationship would improve.
"The wind favors us." Einar approached, wiping his hands on his legs. "We will make good time and can sleep on dry land tonight. How far to Ragnvald?"
"We will arrive tomorrow morning, if he will have us. Did you pack provisions like I asked?"
"My father and I loaded what we were able to on short notice. Some mead too, in case we can't make landfall for a day or two."
Toki dropped his head when he recalled Einar's father, Snorri. Toki would miss him, especially his experience and wisdom. "I'm sorry for your father, Einar. This is all my fault."
"We've talked about that," Einar placed his hand on Toki's shoulder. "My father made his choice and was not sad for it. So neither am I, and neither should you be."
"Does your mother feel that way?"
"Well, she's not happy. But she's strong, like me."
Einar smiled, a young and naive smile that Toki wore not long ago. Bright and innocent, Toki could not help but match it. Yet the smile died when he caught Runa's eye. She glared at him as she wrapped her cloak around Gunnar. Toki felt the cold penetrate his core.
"Man the tiller for me, Einar." He approached Runa. Raven's Talon was not a large ship, and afforded little space for people to speak privately. But he had to try.
They both studied the sea gliding past them. Gunnar stood on his toes to peer over the rails, sticking his hand out to catch spray. Runa did not acknowledge Toki, though he noted her knuckles were white from gripping the railing.
"Do you blame me for this?" Toki knew no other way to get through to his sister besides a direct assault. She remained as if she had not heard him. "Do you think this is punishment for breaking my oath?"
Sighing, she shifted her weight but did not answer. Toki stole a glance over his shoulder. Both Halla and Dana looked on. Gerdie sat alone while everyone else appeared not to hear. So Toki leaned on the rail and kept quiet for as long as he was able, which was not long. "I feel responsible for all this. It would ..."
"Toki, not now," Runa snapped. "We are not one hour gone from home. I'm not ready to talk about this."
"I'm sorry. I just feel ..."
"Are you not listening?" She faced him, her brows drawn tight. "This is not a time for feeling. What are you, a woman? There are enough women on this ship. My husband is trusting his life to you. Do you feel bad? Then focus on what we must do to help him. That will make you feel better and be more useful as well."
Toki stood back, shocked at the power of Runa's words. She continued to stare out to sea, and Gunnar withdrew beneath her cloak. She started to blink, then tears began to run. "I will sail to every island, I swear, and I will make them see Hardar's threat. I'll do anything to get help. I will not rest until I'm sailing back with a fleet of my own. So that's what you mus
t help me with, Toki. Stop worrying about how you feel and lead this mission."
"You're right," he admitted, returning to lean on the rails. "My mind has been full of trifles. Ulfrik is still my lord. He spared my life when he shouldn't have, you know. He gave me a family again. I promise you, I will dedicate myself to freeing him."
Toki imbued his words with emotion, but Runa simply nodded and brushed tears from her eyes. He reached to place a consoling arm on her but she recoiled. "Why don't you go make things right with your woman. She thinks I can't hear her complaints, but she may as well shout in my ear. If she carries on, I'm going to stave in her head with an oar."
Halla's head snapped away as Toki faced her. She and Dana both fell still and silent. "I hadn't realized they were upsetting you. I'll speak with her."
The few steps to Halla was like traveling miles uphill. A sudden wave lurched the ship and Toki and others stumbled. Dana tumbled off the chest and Halla toppled as well. But Toki caught her, and gently set her upright. She gave a light laugh, and thanked him. But her smile was short and false, and she paid more attention to helping Dana back to her seat.
"We should talk," Toki said, trying to keep his tone neutral. Halla shrugged and fixed her skirts. Toki clasped his hands behind his back, glancing about the small deck. "I'd prefer to talk alone."
"Well, then, let's take a walk." She flashed a sharp smile. Before Toki responded, Dana stood and stumbled away toward Gerdie in the bow. Toki let his breath draw out, grateful Dana understood what he wanted. He sat in her place.
"Runa says you've been complaining. Is it true?"
"Why would I be complaining? I'm just sailing away into nowhere, hoping to find someone to kill my parents. It's really nothing to complain about, right?"
"We're not trying to kill your parents." Toki spit the words out so harshly that he did not even believe them. He would take as much pleasure in gutting Hardar as he did in gutting Vermund. But admitting it would only worsen Halla's disposition. She looked at him, tears standing in her eyes.
"There's more than one smart woman on this decrepit old boat. So let's not pretend. Your mission, as you're calling it now, is to raise an army against my father."
"Simply to force him to free Ulfrik and the others and swear an oath of peace."
"Men go to war with murder in their hearts, not for something stupid like oaths of peace." Halla grunted a laugh and flipped a strand of hair out of her face. "You will promise them glory and gold, and they will dream of battle. Once their swords are drawn, they will not put them away until their thirst for war is quenched with blood. Tell me I'm not right."
Toki studied his feet and scratched the back of his head. She was correct, of course. Only flippant replies bloomed in his thoughts and he bit those back as he searched for more affable words. The pause grew awkward and his desperation mounted, so he trusted inspiration.
"This is difficult for you. It is a hard time for us all. I wish things could be otherwise, but they are not. My heart is loyal to you, Halla, and will always be so. If I can find a way to settle with your father, I will. But I doubt he wants to make peace. There was a time when I thought your father's threats empty. Now it is a real possibility that he will have my head. But for you, the risk is worth it."
They fell into silence again. The ship swayed and mast creaked as the sail filled, driving the ship over the foamy sea. Toki waited patiently for Halla. After several moments, she placed her delicate hand on his knee.
"I'm sorry, you did not ask for this. I first sought you as a way to escape Vermund. I wasn't sure what else I wanted. You are a good man, and I have no other to turn to now. It's just hard to accept what is happening. I have the same guilt that you do. Your sister hates me and blames me for this."
"That is untrue," Toki said. It was yet another statement lacking conviction but one he thought necessary. Halla withdrew her hand.
"You know it is true. I hope your sister can accept that I am not my father." Frustration infused her voice as she touched her head, shaking it. "But I did choose you, and I still believe it was the right choice. The time we spent together in secret gave me the fondest memories of my life. We spoke to each other like I never imagined two people could. Be patient with me on this mission. I understand how my father has brought this upon himself. I know he sought any excuse to make war with Ulfrik. I know he thinks me tarnished and useless now that I've left with you. But it still does not mean I wish to see him dead. Can you understand that?"
Toki nodded.
"Good, I will need your support in the coming days. I want to start a new life, one where we control our destinies. But so much seems uncertain today."
Toki took her hand again and squeezed it. He glanced around, and everyone was absorbed in other duties, real or feigned. His face heated up at the thought of displaying his tender side. Rather than deepen his embarrassment, he merely stood with Halla's hand in his own.
"You will have my support. But remember your speech is for all to hear on this ship, even when others pretend they are deaf. My sister worries for her husband and her son fears for his father. Your words must be soothing ones in their presence. Save other thoughts for when we can be ashore and alone."
"I will. I'm sorry to have been so thoughtless." She withdrew her hand, a sincere smile widening on her face. Her hair gleamed white with a ray of sunlight poking through the gray clouds. Toki felt calmer now, having navigated those treacherous emotional currents without a wreck.
Feeling the tension in his neck and shoulders abate, he returned to the tiller. As Einar handed it over to him, Toki caught Runa glaring at him again. He smiled, but it was like smiling at a wolf. She would rip out his throat if he gave her cause. He pulled hard on the tiller, hoping his sister and his future wife could share this ship long enough to find help for Ulfrik.
The morning of the next day, Toki conferred with Einar and the two other men. Toki had camped them on shore for the night, and woke to discover a square sail on the horizon. Fortunately they had not started a fire, and the ship sailed past. Toki had actually held his breath as he watched the ship vanish into the morning fog. Raven's Talon with a cargo of gold and women would be a plump target for raiders.
"Could it be more mercenaries drawn here by Hardar's offer?" Einar asked.
Toki frowned and shook his head. "We'll never know. It could be anyone. But I saw it filled with crew, and even a peaceful crew might make slaves of us. We must skirt that ship."
The two other men were brothers and close friends of Toki's. The older brother was near Toki's age, broad shouldered and stout. He was called Njall the Tall. His younger brother wore an innocent face ruined by a lazy eye, and was called him Thrand the Looker. Together with Bork they had been the core of Toki's friends.
Njall studied the point on the horizon where the unknown ship had disappeared. "What if they're headed to the same place? Wouldn't want to sail in on whatever business they're doing?"
"So can't we try somewhere else?" Thrand's sideway gaze landed on Toki. "Just go find another jarl to persuade."
Toki spit on the sandy grass. He heard Runa shouting. His stomach lurched and his hands went cold. But when he spun around she was yelling for Gunnar to climb down from a pile of high rocks. Toki's shoulders slumped in relief. The three others gave him worried looks. "I thought she was warning of danger," he lied. He had feared Halla and Runa were at each other's throats. "You've got a point, Thrand. But Ragnvald is our best hope and if we can gather him to our cause, we will have more influence on the other jarls."
No one appeared to have any better ideas and they shifted around rubbing their hands or stretching and delaying. Toki hated the absence of Snorri and Ulfrik. One of them would have taken his ideas and make a real plan from them. But now he was on his own, and the obvious leader. Then an idea flashed and he started to put it together as he spoke.
"What if we were to hire our own mercenaries? We can offer some gold up front, and promise a take in whatever spoils they can
capture from Hardar." Toki's eyes widened in excitement at his new idea. The others seemed less favorable.
"Wouldn't have Lord Ulfrik thought of the idea himself?" asked Einar.
"Yeah, it sounds dangerous," Njall said. "Why not just kill or enslave us and take all the gold we carry?"
"Let me think this out." Toki clapped his hands together and rubbed. "We only want to bring more men to the cause. If we have more men, the other jarls will be encouraged to join us. Why join a single ship of desperate women? A ship of fighting men will give them confidence enough to join."
"But Lord Ulfrik said we should hurry. Where are we going to find mercenaries?" Einar asked.
"The islands to the east are filled with the remnants of the armies that faced Harald Finehair at Hafrsfjord. Among those lands are men ready for battle. Bork came to us from those lands, you'll remember." Toki's excitement began to overtake his judgment. "We could seed the word along the shores, hire those who seek adventure and be back to persuade Ragnvald. My ship can hold twenty men or more. A filled ship is more likely to attract another filled ship."
Einar frowned in thought while Njall and Thrand looked to him for a response. Toki believed in the superiority of this idea. Ulfrik had planned in haste and under a tremendous burden. But this type of daring plan seemed more like the cunning Ulfrik loved. Even if only Ragnvald joined them, he could still bring three ships full of men to Ulfrik's aid.
"So your silence means you haven't a better idea?"
Njall folded his arms. "I'm just trying to think this out. It's two days sailing with good weather. Then we need time to find men willing to join us. Once we get back to Ulfrik it could be weeks gone."
"It was going to be weeks anyway," Toki insisted. "How fast do you think the other jarls will act? What if one of them decides to side with Hardar? We will have no men of our own for protection. Ulfrik would be truly lost then. But with a larger crew, we can deal more safely. I think this is the right plan."
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