Eira: Banished (Viking Guardians Book 1)

by Kaitlynn Clarkson

  Eira smiled again, sensing an attempt at friendship.

  "My name is Kaarina. What's yours?" the girl asked tentatively.

  "Eira. My name is Eira."

  The girl smiled broadly and Eira could feel the love in her heart. "I like your name. May I be your friend?"

  "Of course! It is not like I have friends waiting in line."

  Kaarina laughed. "Come on, it is not that bad. I am sure people will come to like you."

  "I no longer care if they like me or not. I shall just live the best life I can till I am old and gone."

  "Oh, Eira, you do not think anyone can ever love you, do you?"

  It was Eira's turn to laugh. "I know not what you have been told but the truth is this: no one can love you the way you deserve to be loved. And men? All they want is to make families. They care not if a woman loves them or not.”

  Kaarina gaped at her. "You seem to know a lot about love."

  "Is that a compliment or an insult?" Eira asked with an edge in her voice.

  "No. I did not mean it that way,” Kaarina apologized. "It is just that I know little about life beyond the boundaries of this village. And you seem to know more than I do."

  Eira calmed down, realizing that Kaarina meant no disrespect. It was obvious that she was lonely and needed some company.

  "Sorry,” she said.

  Kaarina smiled broadly. "It's alright, Eira. I do not think any of this is your fault. But may I ask you a question?"

  "Yes."

  "And you will not get mad at me?"

  Eira shook her head.

  "Why are they saying you are an evil witch? Did you do something horrible? You know, like rip out a man’s heart in his sleep?"

  Eira burst out laughing. Rip out a man’s heart? Really!

  While the two girls became friends, Halvar was having a hard time. He was a warrior and farmer, like his father before him. He knew little about women. To be truthful, he hadn’t paid them much attention up to this point. His parents had died before they could arrange his marriage and he had done nothing about finding a wife for himself. He hardly knew where to start, except that he felt he would prefer to marry for love rather than convenience or alliances. Now, he felt that his lack of knowledge about the opposite sex was a hindrance to getting to know the woman that had caught his attention.

  He stood beside the stream at the edge of the village, watching the women and children going about their daily business. His thoughts turned to Eira. Not only had her beauty impressed him, but there was something else about her that tugged at his heart and made him want to protect her. He couldn’t figure it out at first but after a while, it struck him. Her innocence! There was nothing sly or deceptive in her demeanor and he had no reason to doubt that her story was exactly as she had told it. He was certain that she was no witch but rather an unfortunate victim of circumstances.

  He heard uneven footsteps approaching and guessed that Pallavi had sought him out. He stood to help her up the rocky path above the stream and led her to the rock he’d been sitting on. When she was settled, he sat down beside her and waited for her to speak.

  "Young man,” she said. "You look troubled."

  Halvar was surprised. "Is it that obvious?"

  "Did I not train two young men like you who fought by your side during the wars?" she asked.

  "I am sorry about your loss. You know your sons did this village a great honor when they gave their lives on the battlefield. They were of great strength and nobility."

  "This is not about my sons. It is about what troubles you. Or, does it please you to make an old woman relive her pains?"

  Halvar knew he was trapped. Pallavi had a way of getting right to the point and she detested small talk.

  "How was I to know you were going on about me?" he asked, stalling for time.

  The old woman snorted. "Enough about the past. Tell me what bothers you."

  "Pallavi, the young maiden Eira bothers me," he said.

  The sun was slowly beginning its descent towards the mountains in the west. Soon the chill of the evening would descend and it would be time for the chores that had to be done before dark. He wondered what Eira was doing.

  "Does it bother you that she’s called an evil witch or that she’s beautiful?” Pallavi asked with a sly grin. “Can you not stop thinking about her?”

  Halvar gave her a sharp look. The old woman had known him all his life. There was nothing that escaped her notice.

  "What?!" she exclaimed, holding his gaze. "I would be a fool not to notice you looking at her. It appears that you are quite taken with her beauty.”

  "You do know you're a pain in the ass, do you not?" Halvar asked her jokingly. "Is there anything that you fail to see?”

  "You tell me."

  "I like her a lot, Pallavi. I plan to make her mine."

  Pallavi laughed and stood up. "You shall need more than that, fool. You're going to have to open that mouth of yours and tell her how you feel. Neither of you has parents to make it happen for you. Unless you are afraid she is an evil witch, of course."

  The words hung in the air as Pallavi limped away. With a sigh, Halvar conceded that she was right. He might be the best warrior in the area and he might know how to grow good crops on his farm. But he had no idea how to go about wooing a beautiful woman.

  CHAPTER 5

  D ays turned into weeks and Eira began to fit into her new life. Just as her father had told her, she focused on doing good for the people of the village, and it wasn’t long before her reputation as a healer grew. She knew what herbs and plants from the forest would relieve various ailments and she was generous with her knowledge. Her friendship with Kaarina grew stronger and many people began to see them as sisters rather than cousins.

  Unfortunately, Taft disliked her and lost no opportunity to say so. He constantly reminded her that she wasn’t one of them. Kaarina’s mother had died several years earlier and her brothers were all married so it was just the three of them in the household; Taft seemed to have no inclination to take another wife. Even though Eira did what she could to help around the house and farm, Taft still resented her.

  "You're a disease," he'd say. "A pest that was thrown out by her own people because they couldn't bear to have an evil witch among them. Everywhere you go, trouble follows you."

  At first, his hatred was a shock to Eira. She didn't have the slightest clue as to why he felt this way about her. She tried to get him to tell her why he resented her but he refused. Instead, he continued to say hateful things to her whenever he pleased.

  As a result, Eira began spending more time away from the village, wandering through the woods. She said that it was to collect plants for her remedies. She always came home with something that she’d found. But the real reason was that nature was so much kinder than the people she lived with. Out there, no one bothered her with hateful words or venomous looks. The birds and the animals left her alone and she was free to enjoy the cool wind on her cheeks and listen to it sighing through the trees. The only animals she was concerned about were the brown bear and the grey wolf. She only ever saw a bear once, in the middle of a patch of wild raspberries. It looked as startled as she and by mutual consent, they gave each other plenty of space. Sometimes, as evening approached, she would hear a wolf howling in the distance but she had never seen one come close.

  Kaarina often accompanied her on her jaunts into the forest. She had begged Eira to teach her about roots one day at the stream.

  "Why do you want to be a healer, Kaarina?" Eira asked her several days later as they walked beside the stream on their way to find kvann, an herb used for a variety of remedies.

  Kaarina threw a pebble which skimmed over the water for a while before sinking. "I don't know," she answered. "Maybe I want to be able to help people like you do."

  “But I’m not a true Wise Woman. They use spells and magic to accompany their healing.”

  “Why don’t you?” Kaarina asked.

  “Are you crazy?
There is no way I want to become involved in witchcraft! That has already caused enough trouble for me. No thank you! I’ll stick to herbs and remedies and that will be enough for me.”

  “Will you teach me what you know?” Kaarina asked.

  Eira smiled and picked up a fungus by the banks. "Do you know what this is?" she asked.

  The other girl took the fungus and examined it. "I don't know but it doesn't look like anything I would want to eat."

  "Kaarina! You eat everything in sight!"

  "Don't blame me. My father feeds me like a pig. It seems he'd rather sell me to be butchered than as a wife."

  Eira laughed. Kaarina was very good at making light of situations, which was another reason their friendship was thriving. For Eira, Kaarina's silly jokes offered her a way to ease the burden that surrounded her heart.

  "This fungus is used to treat sexual dysfunction," Eira said.

  Kaarina’s eyes opened wide in surprise. "I shall need to get as many as possible for my husband. He will need them when we get married."

  "Kaarina!" Eira screeched, doubling over with laughter. "You're such a..."

  "Oh, come on. There's nothing wrong with planning ahead! Show me where to find them!”

  "What is all this about?" a voice asked, startling the two of them. A moment later, Halvar stepped out from behind a spruce tree.

  "Chief Halvar!” Kaarina exclaimed.

  The women fell silent, accustomed to behaving with decorum in a man’s presence.

  "Please. You can have some fun among yourselves out here,” Halvar told them. “Now, what was it you were saying about some herb?" he asked, looking towards Eira.

  Kaarina giggled. "May I take my leave, sir?" she asked.

  "I am not here to send anyone away,” Halvar told her. "Is there anything wrong with a clan leader having fun once in a while too?"

  "Not at all. I just need to head back to the village now. There are some chores I must finish."

  Eira tried not to laugh. Kaarina's excuses made absolutely no sense. She could have just told him she wanted to leave.

  Halvar gave in. "Very well, then. You may leave."

  Kaarina turned around and walked back the way they’d come, winking at Eira as she did. Eira pretended not to notice.

  With Kaarina gone, an awkward silence stretched between them. Eira expected Halvar to say something but he just stood there, gazing at her as if he had never seen a woman before. She walked on, continuing her search for herbs and he walked with her. It felt strange to have a man watching her collect plants.

  "So, uh..." Halvar started.

  "If you're going to ask if I'm truly a witch, the answer is no. I'm gathering these herbs for some of the sick people in the village."

  "It is nothing like that, Eira. It is just that..."

  "You don't know how to start a conversation with me, do you?" she asked him, staring him in the face.

  Halvar chuckled nervously. "It is something like that. Wait! Are you trying to read my mind?"

  Eira bent to pick a flower that she would use in her concoction for stomach ache. "There is no need to read your mind. It is written all over your face."

  "Eira..."

  "Do not worry, I will not even try to sense your feelings."

  "No, Eira! Stop!"

  His sudden shout startled her and she froze.

  "Sorry. I did not intend to alarm you,” he said. “See those stone markers you just walked past?” He pointed at two large stones on either side of the path. “Those are the boundary markers for the village. Never go past them. Slave raiders lurk in these forests and you will not be safe if you stray outside the village boundaries.”

  She shuddered and looked at him with wide eyes.

  “I do not want you to be afraid, just stay aware so that you are safe. We try to protect our people but if someone gets taken by the slave raiders, we might not be able to get them back. Slave raiders are good at leaving few clues to follow.”

  Eira looked around. Suddenly, the forest didn’t seem as friendly as it had before. She had no desire to become a slave.

  "I am sorry, I did not know,” she said. “I promise to be careful. I think I have enough now. We can go back.” She flung her pouch over her shoulder. She would sort it all out once they got back to the village. He walked beside her, the struggle inside him intense. He thought about all the times he had rehearsed this moment and what he would say to her. He had told the wind how beautiful she was. The trees heard how her smile could melt the sun. The birds knew that he thought she was amazingly talented with her healing herbs. He had whispered his dreams of sleeping beside her every night to the stream. But why couldn’t he tell her now?

  Eira felt the tension oozing from him. She knew he hadn't just walked down the stream to escort her back home. He had things he wanted to say but he was lost for words. She glanced at him and noticed the struggle written on his face. Yes, he was lost for words.

  She felt butterflies in her stomach as she thought about being close to him. They were alone, with no one to accuse them of anything or watch their every move. Here was his chance to tell her of his feelings towards her. She was certain that he felt more than friendship for her. As for her own feelings, she found herself thinking about what it would be like to kiss his full, rosy-red lips. What would it be like to feel his strong arms around her? She felt safe with him to protect her. What would it be like to always feel safe because he was there by her side?

  But there was more to Halvar than his looks, she thought. He was considerate and thoughtful as well as a strong and capable clan leader. He was wealthy, too. Surely every single woman in the area must desire him. It was odd that he hadn’t yet married. Many clan chiefs had multiple wives by the time they were his age.

  "Did you hear that?" Halvar asked her.

  "What? There is nothing, is there?" Eira asked, worry in her voice.

  Halvar moved closer to her. "I heard it." His words were tinged with alarm.

  "What? What did you hear?" She had to admit she was afraid since he had told her about the slave raiders. What if there were slave raiders following them right now? Halvar was strong but he was only one man.

  "I hear the birds calling your name, Eira."

  That was definitely not what she had expected him to say. For a moment, she felt angry that he had allowed her to think that there was danger.

  "Birds? Really?!" Her arms were crossed and she was pouting.

  Halvar laughed at her. She frowned at him but it only made him laugh more. Finally, she couldn’t help laughing too, even though the joke was at her expense.

  "I am sorry," he said. "I could not help myself."

  "You have won this battle, Chief,” she told him. “But there will be greater battles than this. Best get prepared."

  She walked off in the direction of her home and he stood there, watching her. He smiled to himself as he thought of their conversation. He had made her laugh and it felt good. He was slowly making progress.

  Eira thought about Halvar as she walked towards the house carrying her pouchful of plants. She had enjoyed the time they spent together and she felt her heart lift despite her home situation. She even thought about taking Halvar some herbs later in the day. She had found some that were good for general well-being and even the clan leader deserved to have someone look after him. She denied that it was an excuse to go and see him. She was just doing her part for the good of the community.

  Taft was waiting for her by the door of the house as she approached. He scowled at her and spat in contempt. Eira was accustomed to his displays of contempt and his frequent tantrums. She sighed deeply before greeting him.

  "And where are you coming from?" he asked coldly.

  "I was fetching herbs."

  "Herbs, eh?" His eyes bored into her. "Did you not know it was getting late or you decided to stay at your own peril? If something happened to you then you would cause hardship to the entire village."

  "I'm sorry. It did not occur to me..."


  "Nothing ever occurs to you, you stupid wench! Nothing at all."

  Eira had been expecting the outburst. He had taken his anger out on her many times in the previous weeks.

  "As I said, I am sorry." Her own anger was beginning to rise as well.

  "Sorry for yourself! Not anybody else!" With that, he stomped into the house.

  Eira dropped her pouch and sat on the ground outside the house. She understood being abused for her abilities or being called an evil witch by others. People felt threatened by things they didn’t understand. But what she couldn’t fathom was Taft’s hatred towards her. Surely, there was no justification for the way he was treating her. She was family, after all.

  She thought about the day he had first met her at the edge of the village. She had asked him why he’d tried to turn her away, but he’d refused to tell her. Instead, he’d become angry, telling her that he didn’t have time for nonsense talk

  Someone touched her shoulder, making her start. She looked up at Kaarina who hugged her as she got to her feet.

  "Why does he hate me that much? What have I done to him?" Eira asked through her tears.

  "I don’t know," Kaarina replied. “He doesn’t like me much, either.”

  “He doesn’t treat you like he hates you,” Eira sniffed. “At least he treats you like family.”

  “He has always had a bad temper,” Kaarina said. “But ever since Mother died, it has been much worse.”

  “You must miss her,” Eira said. “I miss my mother.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Why are you not married yet?” Eira asked. “That would get you away from him.”

  “Father has been unable to find a husband that he considers suitable. By that, he means wealthy and a clan leader with whom to form an alliance.”

  “But he is not a clan leader himself!”

  “That is the problem. Clan leaders prefer their sons to marry the daughters of other clan leaders or a girl from an important family.”

  “Any man would be glad to have you,” asserted Eira.

  “Me? I am not so sure,” Kaarina replied doubtfully. “I am plump and my hair is too dark.”