Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse

by Jay Veloso Batista

  “Oh yes,” Finn answered. “Bad dreams, that’s all.”

  “See Yeru, it was like I said. Only a late night and bad dreams.” Cub put his hand on his Yeru’s back and peered significantly over her shoulder at Finn.

  “Yes, I feel fine, maybe a little tired is all.”

  Yeru sniffed and lifted her nose in protest. “I think there’s more to this story,” she patted Finn’s cheek and stroked his hair.

  “He’s fine,” Sorven said, dismissing his little brother.

  “I’d say so,” Cub continued, speaking slowly and clearly, looking directly in his brother’s eyes. “After we saw that beast you told us about, we chased it down in the woods and I killed it with my sword. Finn got a scare is all, right Finn? Just a late night and a scare. With some rest, everything will be fine.”

  Yeru turned on the oldest brother. “He is not going to be fine. Look at his head—whatever you boys did last night, you frightened your little brother near death. Look at him.”

  Confused, Finn sat up on his tangled bedding, “What?”

  “It’s your hair,” Sorven mumbled.

  “What about my hair?” Finn reached up and touched the tangle on his head. Yeru pulled his hands back to his lap and smiled at him.

  “Nothing, little one. You are fine.” She grunted as she stood and poked a finger in Cub’s face. “You will answer to your father. He will get to the heart of this nut. Meanwhile, we have guests to attend and this matter must wait until later.”

  She stooped down to Finn, “Dear one, take your time and wake up properly. Let me dress you and then you can join us for breakfast. Cub and Sorven, you wash your faces and hands and get over to the mead hall. Stand at your father’s side and make yourselves useful.

  “Cub, before you go, bring me that wool cap.” She pointed at a peg on the wall where the boys’ scarlet caps and shirts hung. “We can’t explain, so let’s not give cause. I reckon we can fix this later, once Tormod and his family have moved on.” And she pulled the hat over Finn’s head, tucking his hair up around his ears and out of sight. Cub left quickly, Sorven watching his little brother and backing slowly out of the shed.

  “Now, little Thorfinn,” Yeru helped him out of bed and began to fold his blankets, “Tell me what really happened last night…your mother is worried about you.”

  “Ma was here?”

  “She saw you first thing this morning. If it weren’t for Willa’s guests, she would have stayed here by your side.” Yeru smiled and straightened his clothes. “So, where did you go last night?”

  Finn paused, working his mouth as if he wanted to tell her something. He glanced around the shed and out the door to the courtyard beyond. The melting frost turned to clouds lifting from the barn wall and the part of the stockade wall they could see.

  “I think…I think it was a bad dream….”

  “What was, dear?” Yeru peered into his eyes. He hesitated before replying.

  “I mean, Cub told you. We saw that black thing that was bothering Sorven, and we followed it… into the woods, and Cub stabbed it with his sword. He killed it. It was… really scary.”

  “Is there more?” She leaned closer and held his gaze with her most serious, penetrating look.

  “No, no, that’s all,” Finn shook his head, “I just had some bad dreams is all.”

  Yeru pursed her lips and frowned. There was more here, but the boys were not telling. It was going to take some work to pry the truth free. Not now, though, we haven’t the time, with guests in the compound, meals to prepare and Finn’s father negotiating a bride price. She straightened his clothes and brushed some dust from his shirt. Licking her thumb, she rubbed a bit of dirt from his cheek, patted him on his back and led him to the door. As they stepped out into the sunlit yard, Finn gasped and stopped, looking up at the roof line. He stopped in her path, and she bumped into him, pushing him forward. His mouth hung open in surprise.

  “What is the matter?” she grumbled. Above their heads perched the raven. “Ah, that raggedy old scavenger.”

  “No,” Finn held up his arm and pointed, “that’s Raga.” And to her surprise, the black bird chirped and hopped down the roof to the eaves, turning its head sideways to gaze at them with its bright black eye. Finn nodded to it.

  “Raga!” he called. With a squawk, it jumped from the roof and onto Finn’s outstretched arm!

  “Watch out!” She cried, waving her hands at the bird, “It’ll take your eye!”

  Finn backed away from her swinging arms, the bird fluttering to hold its position. “No, Yeru, it’s Raga.” He held his arm away from Yeru, and the bird waddled up to perch on his shoulder.

  “He won’t hurt me.”

  Yeru stuttered. The bird cocked its head at her and then chattered in Finn’s ear. Finn nodded, as if he understood the beast. She held her breath…

  “Thorfinn, that’s a wild animal. It could scratch or bite you.”

  Both Finn and the bird stared at her, as if it was she who was odd and out of place. The bird hopped from one foot to the other and spread its wings, settling back on Finn’s shoulder. Finn held his head straight, standing with his hands on his hips. Suddenly she realized this was a different boy, something had changed in her little Thorfinn….

  “Finn, you can’t take that inside….”

  Finn looked from her to the raven and nodded. He whispered to the bird and it bounced its head as if in agreement and flew away to the great hall roof. Yeru stared at the bird, knowing that it was climbing down the flue to watch over the table, and when she turned back to Finn, he had already turned to cross the yard.

  “Wait.”

  Finn stopped and smiled at her. He acted as if nothing had happened, that it was perfectly natural to call a bird down from the sky and know it by name.

  Yeru didn’t know what to say—What is happening here? “How do you know that beast?”

  “Oh, that,” Finn smiled, “That bird has been hanging around here for a long time. I…” he paused a moment, “I fed it. It’s…it’s like my pet now. I call it Raga.” Returning to her side, Finn took her hand. “It’s gentle, Yeru, it won’t hurt me. I know it. Don’t worry.”

  Very skeptical of a wild creature’s nature, Yeru masked her shock and bent down to face Finn. “Wild animals are dangerous, you can’t keep it as a pet.”

  Finn shrugged and glanced at the ground. She could see that she was not convincing him. “Just keep away from that beast, hear me?” She looked around the quiet courtyard, the sun almost at its zenith in the sky. “I wonder if Mae’s got the midday meal prepared? We have a lot of work to do…”

  “Mae?” Finn said, “I don’t think she is helping today.”

  Yeru frowned, “Why do you say that?”

  “Oh, she and Ned planned to go for a walk in the forest at midday,” Finn answered. “Ned said he would bring a blanket.”

  “He said what!?!” Yeru sputtered. Her face flushed a blotchy red.

  “He told her he would bring a…”

  “I heard you, I heard you!” That little minx! Grabbing a surprised Finn by his arm, she marched him to the hall door and swung it open. Inside Ursep and Tima carried fresh baked bread from the outside oven, a mouthwatering smell filling the air. Agne, Tormod and Espen bent in discussion at the end of the long table, with Hilda and Gisle seated midway across the room playing at some game. As she had instructed, Cub and Sorven stood behind their father, listening quietly. The curtain drawn across Willa and Kara’s sleeping alcove, the girls out of sight. A low fire smoked in the hearth, and as she expected that overgrown crow had crept back into the chimney hole. She peered into the dim corners of the room—No Mae, no Ned!

  “Where are all the men?”

  At her side Finn replied, “Mog was taking Tormod’s men into Jorvik. They said they would find a game, or maybe he said they would find some free girls…?”

  “What?” Yeru stared at Finn in shock. “When did you hear this?”

  “This morning. I mean…
” Finn took a deep breath. “Well, maybe I heard them talking.”

  “Exactly when did you overhear them?”

  Finn smiled weakly and shrugged. “I don’t remember exactly, but I did hear them talk about going into Jorvik today. Maybe, maybe it was last night, or something….”

  Yeru puzzled over the strange reply.

  “You and I will talk about this later!” She pushed him towards the two girls at the table. “Keep that hat on your head young man, and don’t talk to anyone about last night.”

  “Stealing my daughter, that rascal!” she muttered to herself. Wasting no time, she swung the door closed and marched to the gate. Mae slipping off to the forest with Ned, he’d bring a blanket, that degenerate! Freya, I hope I am not too late! The gate stood slightly ajar, and she pushed her bulk through the opening, swinging her head left and right. “Which way, which way?”

  Making a quick decision they would have turned to the left, she bustled along the stockade wall, stomping her feet in anger. Rounding the building she caught sight of the couple at the end of the field, Mae bundled in her brown woolen wrap and Ned with a bundle slung over his shoulder, his arm gripping her elbow to lead her into the forest.

  “Hallo, you two!” She barely controlled her temper as she shouted, “Mae! Ned! Stop there, stop!” The couple at the edge of the wood halted, Mae with a confused look on her face, Ned surprised. Yeru began to trot, the best she can muster when attempting to run, and waved with both arms, shouting, “You two come back here! Hey-o!”

  Ned stumbled back a few steps with a guilty look on his face, made a comment to Mae that Yeru couldn’t quite hear and turned to duck into the forest, quickly disappearing. Mae, indecisively glancing to each side, hesitated to follow him into the trees, looking at her mother charging across the fallow field, kicking up clods of dirt and puffing clouds of warm breath in the chill air. Her face beet red and out of breath, Yeru tramped up to her daughter, grabbing her wrap and shaking her.

  “What… are you… doing?” Her fury evident on her face, she barely choked the words out between pants.

  “Ma, I’m alright, Ned and I were only taking a walk…,” Mae waved her hands and tried to calm her angry Mother.

  “A walk!?!” Yeru spit and shook her daughter by the shoulders. “What do you mean… a walk?”

  “Ned is always good to me, and he’s really nice. I thought…”

  “Thought! Thought had nothing to do with it, stupid child!” Mae paled facing her Mother’s ire. “Do you not understand what men want? You naive child!”

  “But Ma …”

  “Don’t you ‘But, Ma’ me, young lady! Where did he go? Let me get my hands on him and I will teach him to steal away a young girl who doesn’t know better! And you! You know what he wants! After all that Jarl Agne said he would do for you, to find you a good match and a fine husband, you would ruin everything in a roll in the woods with a man twice your age!?!” Mae hung her head.

  Yeru grabbed her daughter by the arm and dragged her across the field, the girl stumbling along beside her. Tears welled up in her eyes, and before they got to the stockade she began to cry.

  “I don’t want Ned to get in trouble,” she sniffs, “He was only being nice to me….”

  “I know what kind of ‘nice’ he had in mind for you! Odin’s beard, child, he was bringing a blanket!” Huffing and sputtering, Yeru pulled her daughter roughly over the split rail fence and pushed her toward the gate, still standing open as she left it.

  “I am furious with you,” she pushed Mae against the wooden wall of the compound and pressed against her with the full weight of her frame, pinning the slight girl between her bosom and the rough barricade. Tears streaming down her face, Mae kept her eyes on the ground.

  “Now, you listen to me, young lady. You are going into the great hall and get to work. You can stop at the well and wash your face, but you will wipe those tears away and bend your back to every single chore I give you. You will not ruin Willa’s chances with young Espen because of your shenanigans! Not a word of this, do you hear? Not a word! I will handle Ned on my own, in my way. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, mother,” Mae croaked between her sniffles.

  “Now go!” Yeru stepped aside and let her daughter dash away, her head ducked low. Never going to let her out of my sight, she chided herself, stomping her feet and rubbing her hands. Yeru followed the girl into the courtyard, pushing the gate closed with her backside and rubbing her chapped hands. Her heart beat loud in her ears and her breathing labored, she calmed herself down. Her daughter bent over the well, splashing water from the bucket on her face and composing herself, smoothing her hair. The two pulled the door wide and entered the hall, Mae immediately crossing to Ursep offering to help, her lower lip still quivering a bit and her cheeks flushed. Yeru closed the door, hands on her hips, and glared around the room.

  “Cousin,” Gurid called to her. Inga and Gurid have sat together at the table and Gurid pats Inga’s hand in a friendly, familiar way. Willa stands beside her Mother, her face happy, her hair, pulled back from her brow with her kransen, dotted with dried flowers all down her back. Dressed in a light blue, swoop necked gown embroidered with yellow trim about the neck, with a hand-tooled leather bodice embossed with hunting scenes, Willa looks lovely. Yeru smiled, thinking, here young maidenhood blooms.

  “We have been waiting for your return. Agne and Tormod have reached an agreement on the bride price. Our Willa is betrothed to Espen, who shall be Tormod, son of Tormod in his time.” Inga’s wide smile dimpled her cheeks, and Willa blushed and fiddled with her fingernails. Yeru noticed Agne nodding to her from the end of the hall.

  Agne stood at the end of the long table with Tormod, the six witnesses behind them. Holding Tormod’s hand raised over their heads so the entire room could see, they both in turn recited the formal legal commitment.

  “As fastnandi for my daughter Willa Agnesdatter, daughter of Gurid of Eddisbury, I call for these gathered here, to witness our handsal. We declare ourselves witnesses that thou, Tormod Son of Tormod, bondest me in lawful betrothal, and with taking hold of hands thou promises me the bride price and engagest to fulfill and observe the whole of the compact between us, which has been notified in the hearing of witnesses without duplicity or cunning, as a real and authorized compact.”

  “And I, fastnandi for my son Tormod, Son of Tormod and Inga Hansdatter, I call for these gathered here, to witness our handsal. We declare ourselves witnesses that thou, Agne, Son of Alf known as Ironfist, bondest me in lawful betrothal, and with taking hold of hands thou promises me the dowry and engagest to fulfill and observe the whole of the compact between us, which has been notified in the hearing of witnesses without duplicity or cunning, as a real and authorized compact.” Tormod held up a leather pouch with his free hand, “This is our pledge ‘arrha,’ the down payment made in good faith.” Agne accepted the bag from his hand and both stood smiling.

  Agne continued, “It is with great appreciations that we thank our witnesses, these our powerful brethren who have joined us to broker this fair agreement between two great houses.” The witnesses dipped their heads, bowing to his kind words.

  “Oh, wonderful news,” Yeru gushed, “I am so happy for you, Willa. It is a perfect match.” Willa dipped her head, and Inga wiggled in her seat and held her stiff back all the straighter.

  “They have decided to hold the wedding in Harpa, the first month of summer.”

  “An auspicious, if difficult choice,” Yeru nodded seriously, glancing sideways at Finn rolling dice and Mae, hefting an iron kettle outside to scrub it clean with sand. “Typically, we would wait for harvest season to better support the feasts and give us time to collect the honey and prepare the bride ale.”

  Clearing her throat, Inga spoke in an authoritative tone, “Tonight the lunar month turns. It will be the month of Thorri, and we keep the feast of Torrablot here at the height of winter. Normally we would be at our homestead, welcoming the spirit into our
home. Your mistress Gurid has suggested, as you are versed in the old ways perhaps you would welcome the goddess Thorir into this hall tonight?”

  “I…I am honored that you would consider me,” Yeru’s smiled, genuinely pleased. “I will need to prepare, but I am sure we have the dried borage and sage to make the smudge torch.” She paused and thought a moment, “I will need to get a fresh white gown and be in the field when the full moon rises, and we will need to leave the gate and the door open so that Thorir may enter….” She beamed at the women gathered around the table.

  “Of course, dear sister, you make the arrangements and we shall all support you,” Gurid seemed lighthearted, smiling at her shy oldest child, and absently patting Inga’s hand. Yeru nodded, from the corner of her eye watching Tormod laugh at a comment from Agne, the boys standing around them, horns of ale already passed between them.

  “I will check the herbs and ensure we have all our needs.” Yeru clicked her tongue and thanked them again, tipping her head to Inga in respect. She crossed her arms across her chest and headed to the pantry to check the stores. Through the unfastened shutters she could see her daughter in the yard, bent over the blackened kettle, sanding away the crust of the previous meal and sparing no effort. Good, she thought, the girl has had a good scare and I can keep her on a short leash until we can settle on a good match….

  As she headed to the cupboard that held their spices, dried herbs and root vegetables pulled from the cold cellar, she noticed Finn sitting with Gisle and Hilda.

  Finn—what new mystery is this?

  How did he truly know about Ned and Mae?

  She had no doubt that he was right about the men heading to Jorvik for a day of gambling and whoring, just how did he know these secret things?

  And what of that dirty old bird, now his ‘pet?’