Eira: Banished (Viking Guardians Book 1)

by Kaitlynn Clarkson

  Chapter 1

  Kaarina sucked in a sharp breath as the steep mountain trail opened out onto the undulating hills below. Cattle grazed in jewel-green pastures and smoke curled from the longhouses of a nearby village. But it wasn’t the farms or the village that caught her attention. It was the ocean. She had never seen so much water before.

  “Is that the ocean?” Eira gasped from behind her. “There’s so much water!”

  Halvar chuckled. “It is indeed. I didn’t realize you hadn’t seen it before.”

  “We have lived in the mountains our whole lives,” Eira replied. “It is new to us.”

  The trio fell silent, taking in the stunning panorama of ocean, mountains and farmland. Behind them, the six young men who were acting as their guards were also silent. Most of them had never been this far from home before. Travel in the interior of their homeland of Norowegr was arduous due to the mountainous terrain and many people from the inland lived their whole lives without ever reaching the coast.

  “Where are we going?” Kaarina asked.

  Halvar drew his horse alongside hers and pointed to a barely-visible settlement to the north. “Over there. That is the village of Merilant.”

  “Is it beside this ocean you speak of?” Kaarina asked, her eyes wide.

  “Yes. It will be different from life in the mountains.”

  Eira rode up beside Halvar as the path widened. “What shall we do there?” she asked.

  “I haven’t yet spoken to the village leader. I am hoping that we will be able to find lodging and employment for the winter months.”

  Eira looked across the landscape as the gloom of late afternoon descended and a wintry squall swept in off the ocean, threatening to drench them. “I am looking forward to the end of our journey,” she said. “I hope the people we will be staying with will welcome us.”

  “I have met the village chief before,” said Halvar. “They are not from our nation.”

  “What?” gasped Kaarina. “We are going to live among foreign people?”

  “They are sabbatati Christians,” Halvar explained. “They are hospitable people and often shelter the homeless and outcasts.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they have also been homeless and outcasts.”

  “Well, they sound very strange to me.” Kaarina was not convinced that she would like living with them.

  “Oh, they will be kind to you,” Halvar reassured her. “Kindness is one of the beliefs they hold dear.”

  “Well, that is good to know,” Kaarina spoke confidently but she was still uncertain. What if these sabbatati Christians were so strange that she didn’t know how to act or what to do around them?

  Kaarina allowed her horse to fall behind the young men as Halvar led the way into the village of Merilant. The houses here looked different, built in an unfamiliar style. She felt shy and kept her head down but her eyes were wide as she cast darting glances at so many strange things.

  “Greetings!” she heard Halvar say.

  “Greetings, pilgrims,” said the man who had come out of a barn on the edge of the village.

  Halvar pulled his horse to a stop and Kaarina dared a peek beyond the village to the ocean. She was certain she’d never get used to seeing so much water. It frightened her a little. What if a flood arose during the night and swept everyone away? Her attention jerked back to the present.

  “We are in need of lodging for the winter, my friend,” Halvar was saying. “The young men will be returning to our village but I will be spending the winter with these young ladies as their guardian.”

  “Well, now, that is an unusual situation,” the man said. “Come into my dwelling and tell me about it.”

  Halvar swung down from his horse and followed the man up the road that ran through the middle of the village. They went into a house not far from the barn. Eira and Kaarina sat on their horses, wondering what to do next.

  “When are you leaving?” Eira asked Torsten as he and the other young men waited on their horses for Halvar to return.

  “As soon as possible, before the mountains become impassable,” he replied.

  “I wish to say thank you for being our escorts,” she replied.

  “That is our pleasure,” he said with a nod.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Halvar emerged from the house.

  “This is my friend Alfonso,” he told the girls. “He is going to speak with other people who may be able to help us.”

  Kaarina felt anxiety clutching at the pit of her stomach. What would happen to them if these people refused to take them in?

  At length, Alfonso returned. “I apologize for the delay,” he said. “But we can certainly use some extra help here over the winter. There is a place for each of you and you will be helping the family who provides you with lodging.”

  “Thank you, Alfonso,” Halvar said, placing his hand on the other man’s shoulder. “We appreciate what you are doing for us.”

  Alfonso smiled. “We never turn away those in need,” he said. “It is what we do.” He stopped and looked at Eira, who was holding her horse. “Young lady, I believe I could use your services in my household,” he said gravely. “May I ask your name?”

  “It is Eira,” she said, lowering her head respectfully.

  “Then you may come with me and I will introduce you to my family. But first, I will show the other two where they are to lodge.”

  The group followed Alfonso across the road to a house that looked similar to his. The door opened and a buxom, fair-haired woman stepped out.

  “Greetings,” she smiled. “Which of the young ladies will be my guest?”

  Kaarina stepped forward and gave her a tentative smile.

  “I’m Emiline,” she said.

  “My name is Kaarina.”

  “Well now, Kaarina, let me show you where you will stay. Our house might be smaller than what you are used to but we share with anyone who needs lodging. You will be helping me to care for my twins and with other household duties. During the winter months, we also produce items that we sell at the spring markets.”

  Emiline chattered on as she showed Kaarina a small room at the end of the house. It had supplies stacked at one end. At the other were a bed and a small table. Kaarina heaved a sigh of relief. It was better than living in one of the barns!

  “It isn’t much but it will be warm and cozy in winter,” Emmiline was saying.

  “It is perfect! Thank you. I shall be happy there,” Kaarina said, dropping her small bag with her few belongings on the floor next to the bed. “May I go to see Halvar for a moment?”

  “Of course, my dear. You are not a slave here. We do not believe in owning thralls. Think of yourself as domestic help.”

  “Thank you, Emiline.”

  Kaarina ducked out of the house and looked up the road. She could see the horses outside a house near the edge of the village.

  “Kaarina!” Halvar called as he stood talking to Alfonso on the other side of the road.

  She hurried over to them.

  “Did Emiline show you where you will be lodging?” Alfonso asked.

  “Yes. Thank you for your help,” she said.

  “It is what we do,” he said again. “Now, Halvar, have you been to see Ahren?”

  “Yes, he showed me where I will be lodging and told me that tomorrow, he will teach me how to make fishing nets ready for the fishing season.”

  “And the young men have lodging for the night?”

  “Yes, they are staying in Ahren’s barn.”

  “Good,” Alfonso said, pleased. “Everyone has somewhere to lodge. So now I will leave you to get to know your hosts. Young Eira is inside getting acquainted with my family.”

  “Thank you, Alfonso,” Halvar said. “We are grateful.”

  Eira cast a shy glance at the two young women sitting on low stools opposite her. They were working on a weaving project, their hands flying over their looms.

  “Have you met Eira?” asked their mother
, Minna, as she entered the room.

  They shook their heads and kept working industriously, but the dark-haired one gave her a shy smile.

  “Eira, these young ladies are my daughters. They are unhoflich!”

  Eira had no idea what unhoflich meant but she gathered that Minna was scolding her daughters for their lack of manners.

  “Go on, introduce yourselves!” Minna ordered.

  “I’m Sigrid,” said the blonde girl.

  “And I’m Frida,” added the dark-haired one.

  “I’m pleased to meet you both,” said Eira.

  “Tomorrow, they will show you what you can do to help us with our winter duties,” said Minna. “For now, let us get to know each other. I am going to prepare the evening meal.” She bustled out, leaving the girls looking at each other in awkward silence.

  “This is silly,” announced Frida at last. “We might as well get to know each other since we’ll be living and working together. You first, Eira. Is there anything you would like to ask us?”

  “What is the language I hear you speaking sometimes? And why do your houses look so different from ours?”

  “We are from Alemannia originally. That is the language we speak. But we have lived here in your land long enough that we now speak both languages.”

  “Why did you come here?”

  The girls looked at each other. “It is a long story,” said Frida.

  “We will tell you more another day,” added Sigrid.

  Eira wondered who these people were with their strange language and customs. But if the delicious aromas from the kitchen held any clues, they were good cooks. Eira was ravenously hungry after her long journey and she couldn’t wait to eat.

  “Heavenly Father, we thank thee for this food,” said Alfonso, head bowed and eyes closed. “Please bless it for our use.”

  Eira was glad she hadn’t started eating right away. Her people didn’t share this strange custom. She waited until she was sure it was safe to eat then took a bite. Suddenly, it didn’t matter if the Christians asked their god to bless the food before they ate. It was worth the wait. She devoured every delectable morsel before she realized that everyone else was still eating. She blushed and lowered her head but no one else seemed to notice.

  “Have you eaten enough, Eira?” Minna asked.

  “Yes, thank you. I was very hungry,” she blurted out.

  Minna laughed and one of the three young men sitting on the opposite side of the table smiled at her.

  “Mother loves to see people enjoying her cooking,” he said. “You have made her evening worthwhile.”

  Eira blushed and lowered her head.

  “Oh, don’t mind Landwulf,” Minna said. “He’s always teased his sisters so you had better get used to it!”

  “What? I’ve never teased anyone,” protested Landwulf, trying to keep a straight face, but his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. Like the other brothers, he was tall and broad-shouldered with big shoulders, muscular forearms and thick, blond hair.

  “What about the time you and Farvald hid in a pile of hay until we came past and then you jumped out and scared us?” asked Frida.

  “We wouldn’t do something like that, would we, Farvald?” Landwulf poked his brother in the ribs.

  “Never,” said Farvald, trying to hide a grin and failing.

  “We’ve always been wonderful brothers,” Landulf added. “Isn’t that right, Gerfrid?”

  “We would never harm a fly or frighten a beetle,” Gerfrid agreed in lofty tones.

  “Don’t allow them to fool you,” Sigrid told Eira. “They are widarrðzanti.” She grinned as she said it and there was no malice in her tone; there were clearly affectionate feelings between the siblings.

  As the banter flew around the table, Eira suddenly realized how much she’d missed being part of a family. Minna was a warm, motherly person and Eira felt drawn to her; she felt a pang as she thought of her own mother, somewhere far away. She refused to think of her father in case she couldn’t control the tears that sprang to her eyes when she remembered the way they had parted. She would focus instead on the present and would try to fit in with this family who had so kindly taken her in and given her lodging. Perhaps life here wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

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  Kaitlynn xx

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  When Halvar takes his younger sister Freja to the festival of the Disting, he expects her to be on her best behavior. After all, she’s supposed to be finding a husband.

  But Freja cannot help herself. Wild and free-spirited, she is a skilled archer and a keen competitor who ignores the rules for women in her society. She finds a way to join the men-only archery competition and her talent catches the eye of a jarl, who decides he must meet her.

  Freja’s mind is as sharp as her aim and she eagerly engages in the discussions surrounding the politics of the land. The jarl has never met a woman like Freja and he cannot stop thinking about her.

  But with trouble looming in the form of a new king, the jarl must do his best to keep his people safe and he is forced to attend to political matters. When the crisis passes, the jarl’s thoughts turn to Freja. Is the difference in their social status too great? Can they be together? Or must the jarl bow to the will of the people and take a wife who will offer a political advantage?

  This novella is set in the days of King Haakon of Norway, a time when the Vikings left their homelands to raid and plunder; when Christianity was making tentative approaches and kings fought for the right to rule.

  More Titles by Kaitlynn Clarkson

  Meet Me At Crescent Head

  Crescent Head Series Book 1

  Madison Allan isn’t looking for love. She’s peacefully enjoying a holiday with her family. But when a good-looking surfer falls at her feet in the most adverse of circumstances, she starts to think about it. Greg is not only handsome, he’s also thoughtful, funny and generous. But when a misunderstanding arises, it triggers painful memories of the past and threatens to tear them apart forever. An unexpected encounter forces Madison to be honest with herself – but can she be honest with Greg?

  This is a novelette-length prequel to My Heart Belongs In Crescent Head.

  About Kaitlynn Clarkson

  Kaitlynn Clarkson writes sweet, mostly Christian romance stories with the intention of making her readers feel good. She loves to make people smile. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction.

  When she’s not engaged in sunshiny activities or writing feel-good stories, Kaitlynn is dealing with the real world. This includes life on a farm on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she lives with her husband and two children. She loves to play the piano and trombone in her spare time.

  You can follow Kaitlynn on Facebook. You can also find her on Goodreads and Bookbub.