Corpse in the Mead Hall

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Corpse in the Mead Hall Page 2

by Cate Martin


  While we waited for Signi to finish the tea, I looked around at the bookshelves. She unsurprisingly had a lot of books about psychology. But there were also books about history and geography, philosophy and theology. And I guessed I was sitting in her preferred reading chair, because the shelf closest to me was over-stuffed with Stephen King paperbacks.

  "Here you go," Signi said as she set a large tray on the table between me and Haraldr. Then she went to the back corner of the room where she had a little office area and rolled over a desk chair so she could sit between us.

  "You have a computer," I noted.

  "I do," she agreed as she poured out the tea. "I no longer see clients in the modern world, but I still submit articles to publications from time to time. And assist old friends with tricky research."

  "You get the internet out here?" I asked, tempted to sneak a look at my phone. I could get cell service in Villmark, even better than I could down in the valley in Runde, but I always lost bars the minute I stepped into the woods.

  "No, I have to go into town for that," she said. "There's a lovely new coffee shop close by that has Wi-Fi. I go there a few times a week to check in with my colleagues in the modern world."

  "I know the place. My friend Jessica runs it," I said. "She even has some of my art up on her walls."

  "The pen and ink sketches?" she asked. I nodded. "You have a fine eye for detail. I always see a little something new every time I study one of your pieces."

  "Thanks," I said, feeling my cheeks flush. I was sure they were still bright red from being out in the cold, so I didn't think anyone noticed. But it had been a long time since I had talked to anyone about the art part of my life rather than the magic part.

  "We're here to talk about Bera," Haraldr said, as if he had not only read my mind but disapproved of the path my thoughts were taking.

  "Yes, Bera," I said. "Is she going to be okay?"

  Signi paused just before taking a sip of her tea and gave a thoughtful frown. "I'm not sure that's the best question, actually," she said.

  "No, I get it," I said. "There are no simple fixes in things like this. But there's better or worse, surely?"

  "She is better," Signi conceded, then finally took that sip of tea before setting the cup down on the tray. She rubbed the palms of her hands over the knees of her dark gray wool pants, at first aggressively and then more slowly, smoothing out the wrinkles. "Bera has a long road ahead of her. But she has been a very willing patient. I do have a strong hope that she will be, by some definitions anyway, okay."

  "Not a threat to others?" I guessed.

  "Exactly. I hope to be able to return her to her family, but that's several months away yet."

  "And her brother?" I asked.

  "Her brother is responding very well to the medication I've prescribed for him," Signi said. "He's so fortunate that his parents are willing to even entertain such a course of action. Many in Villmark would rather leave him in total disfunction alone in his room for all of his days rather than rely on modern pharmacology.

  "Certainly there is reason to approach such things with caution, but with me as his doctor, there is no danger of him being over-prescribed. He is still in the early days of being diagnosed, and I have to adjust his medication from time to time, but his outbursts are now safely a thing of the past. Hopefully soon it will even be possible for his mother to leave him alone for an hour or two at a time without worry."

  "That is good news," I said. "Do you go there, or do they come here?"

  "I go there," she said, reaching for her tea again. "Under cover of darkness. You knowing where this place is, that's a unique situation."

  "I'll keep it secret," I said, glancing over at Haraldr. Was Loke even supposed to know about this place? And yet Haraldr hadn't seemed remotely surprised to see him walking beside me when I'd arrived.

  Unless Haraldr thought I had brought Loke here?

  "Don't worry about that. Some secrets keep themselves safe," Haraldr said with a little wave of his hand. "You had another question."

  "Did I?" I asked. I gave him a puzzled look, then turned to Signi, who just raised her own eyebrows back at me. "We were here to talk about Bera. Is there more that I should know?"

  "We're in a tricky area," Signi said. "I know there are no HIPAA regulations here, but I would still like to keep the details of my patients' cases private as much as possible."

  "I don't think I need to know more than that they are doing well, myself," I said. I looked to Haraldr again, but he was studying the fire as if he found the patterns of the flames absolutely fascinating. No help there.

  "You also work with Halldis?" I asked, lowering my voice as if that sorceress could somehow hear me say her name, even down where she was in her sealed cave deep under the village of Villmark.

  "To a very limited extent," Signi said. "I'm not allowed to meet with her face to face, and she has no interest in anything I might do to help her. But I have spoken with her through her door on a few occasions."

  "And?" I prompted.

  Signi sighed. "Halldis is a very dangerous woman. You did us all a great service when you unmasked her and had her put away."

  "No one suspected her until I got here?" I asked. It just felt so unlikely.

  "She never seemed suspicious to any of us," Signi said. "She was untouched by time, but so is your grandmother. Most of us just thought it was a magic thing. Not that we knew she had so much magic. We knew she had some, because she would do little things to help people. Healing, scrying, harmless little charms. She always treated the rest of us with kindness and worked hard at what little craft she had. I confess, a lot of us were puzzled why your grandmother refused to take her on as an apprentice. But she must have sensed things we didn't."

  "Sensed things like what?" I asked.

  "Well, maybe that Halldis is dangerous, and in more ways than just magical ones," Signi said. "Halldis is very good at reading people and presenting herself how others expect to see her. She can very nearly make anyone believe anything she wants them to believe. Maybe even your grandmother, to some extent. Even now, warded against the use of magic as Halldis is, it is too dangerous to speak with her for long. She is devious and manipulative. Even I, with all my training, feel myself falling under her sway."

  "And you're sure it's not magic?" I pressed.

  Signi glanced at Haraldr, but he was still watching the fire, behaving as if he didn't even hear the two of us speaking.

  "No," she said with great reluctance. "No, I'm not sure she's not somehow still using magic. But I am sure that even if she is, she's not using just magic. I know Haraldr has recommended that you not face her until you are far stronger and more disciplined in your own magic. I would second that advice. But more, I would suggest you study as much about abnormal psychology as you can before that day comes. She's going to try to manipulate you. That's a guarantee. You should be prepared."

  "That day is far in the future, I'm sure," I said.

  Haraldr turned from the fire to give Signi a brief glance.

  "I have books I can lend you," she said, as if at Haraldr's silent behest. Then her demeanor brightened. "But I understand you're heading deeper into the woods today."

  "Yes, I'm going hunting at a lodge with the Valkissons and some others," I said.

  "Stop by again when you're back, and I'll have a few books ready for you to start with," she said. Then she got up from her chair and wheeled it back to her desk.

  "Signi, may Ingrid and I have the use of your lovely home for a few minutes more?" Haraldr asked.

  "Certainly," she said. "I usually go for a walk at about this time, anyway."

  "Oh, but it's so cold out there today," I said, hating the idea of driving her out of her warm, cozy little cabin.

  "Nothing I can't handle," she said as she put on a parka that looked even warmer than mine. The voluminous hood hid her entire face from view, and the hem of the jacket fell to below her knees. She flipped down a bench seat that was built i
nto the wall and sat down. "You remember about my house guest, Haraldr?" she asked as she pulled on a pair of knee-high, fur-lined boots.

  "Yes, I do," he said. "Is that likely to be a problem?"

  "No," Signi said, but she didn't sound completely sure. She glanced at the clock on the mantle. "He doesn't generally get out of bed for another hour yet, so I'm sure he won't disturb you."

  "And we shan't disturb him," Haraldr assured her. "Is it going well? His... transition?"

  Signi frowned as she stood up and smoothed out her parka. "I'd prefer to talk to you about it later, if that's all right?"

  "Certainly. I'll wait for you here, then?"

  "Yes, that's fine. A half hour, I think. Is that enough time?"

  "Ample," Haraldr said. "Thank you."

  "Happy to be of service to the council, as always," Signi said as she wrapped a snowy white scarf around her neck then pulled on a thick pair of very modern snowmobile gloves. "And to the new volva as well. It was good meeting you, Ingrid. I look forward to seeing you again when you return for those books."

  "Me, too," I said. Although abnormal psychology wasn't the sort of thing I normally wanted to put high on my personal to-be-read list, I could see the sense of being as prepared as possible before I faced Halldis.

  Signi's parka swished against her thighs as she walked to the door, and the sudden rush of cold air when she opened it made the fire sputter and dance. But then the door closed again, and Haraldr and I were alone in that cozy little space.

  "Should I be worried about the man upstairs?" I asked. Haraldr gave me a questioning look. "It's just, the way you said he was transitioning. It sounded different than when you were talking about that man outside."

  "All cases are unique," he said. "Different reasons bring people back to Villmark. The adjustment is different. This one is a particularly tough case, but I have full confidence in Signi's abilities. But now," he said, slapping his hands together in a gesture I was coming to know all too well. "Ready for the next rune?"

  "What, right this minute?" I asked, surprised. "I'm about to go on sort of a vacation, you know. For days and days. I thought we'd get to it after I got back."

  "No time like the present," he said, reaching into the pocket of his tunic to present me a square of sturdy paper adorned with a single shape drawn in charcoal.

  "No time like the present," I agreed with considerably less enthusiasm, then leaned forward to take the card.

  3

  The sigil on the card was like the bottom half of a handwritten capital R, with a straight stroke vertical on the left but a sloping one on the right.

  "It makes an 'u' sound," I said. I knew it wasn't much, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was rolling his eyes at me. But I didn't look up at him. I traced my fingertip over the shape on the card. The charcoal came off on my finger a little bit, but I had never minded getting my hands a little messy.

  "And if I told you its name was Ur?" he asked.

  "Well, that means the oldest thing, or the first thing, right?"

  "Actually, not in this case. The Germanic prefix you're thinking of derives from something else," he said.

  "It feels old," I said, still stroking the charcoal. "Maybe all runes do, though."

  "The one Ur didn't lead to the other, but the meanings do have some similarities," he said. "But what impressions do you have based on looking at that shape and what you know about runes in general?"

  "Well, we're still in Frey's group of eight, right? And this is still a rune of creation, related to the last one?" I said, looking up at him again. I waited for him to toss out that old staple of teachers, "are you asking me or telling me?"

  But he didn't. Instead he asked me, "do you see how the shape resembles a yoke?"

  I looked back down at the card, at the gentle curve to the top of the rune. "Yes," I said. I could see that, even if it was a little crooked for that function, being taller on one side. But if I drew another, reflected version beside it, it would make an even pair, just a bit taller in the middle.

  I didn't know much about farm work, but that made sense. The harness or whatever would run up the middle of the pair.

  "The first rune represented cattle as wealth, among other things," Haraldr said. "This one is an aurochs or ox, if you will, doing work. It represents colossal strength, a strength rooted in the earth itself." He curled his hands into fists and drew them back to his sides to demonstrate pulling strength.

  "So less spontaneous creation, more like... farm labor," I guessed. I had just been thinking those words, hadn't I?

  "Exactly," he said. "Both runes reflect aspects of the first cow, Audhumla. But Ur also relates to personal growth. If the first rune represents the moment you were born and the strength you were born with, in this rune you learn and grow, evolve and take up your personal mantle, find your own strength. Claim your place in the world."

  "I'm not sure I'm ready for this," I said, looking at the shape on the card. It felt like an actual, physical yoke of heavy wood and metal that was about to be placed on my shoulders.

  Mastering this new rune was going to be so much work.

  "I know you were planning a few days away for a hunting expedition," Haraldr said. "That is good. I approve of your taking the time to engage in Villmarker activities, especially some of the older traditions. But I expect when you return to the village with enough meat to see us through the lean winter months ahead, you will also have something to report to me about your time spent meditating on this rune."

  "I'll do my best," I said. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Nilda and Kara said we'd all be bedding down together in the same hall. No separate bedrooms or even a shared one that I might get a minute to myself in. No privacy."

  "Bedrooms are a rather modern invention," he said, as if he could personally remember a time without them being commonplace. I doubted very much he could. He was old, but there was no way he was that old. "You'll find a way to manage, just as your ancestors did."

  "I'm sure I'll work something out," I said, tucking the card away. I started to get up from the chair when another thought kept me from moving. "Haraldr, are there creatures like fire giants that I might accidentally summon when I'm working on this rune?"

  "There are always things that will be drawn to you. Which is why you are practicing keeping your glow contained," he said.

  "I know. But still, anything specific I should watch for?"

  He frowned, but I could see he wasn't frowning at me. He was frowning over his own thoughts as he mulled over my question. "Nothing dangerous," he said at last. "You might draw some allies."

  "Allies are good," I said hopefully.

  Now he was frowning at me. "Not every ally is friendly or easy to talk to. Or above taking offense at a diplomatic misstep."

  "Right," I said. "I'll be careful."

  "I should hope you wouldn't have to promise me that," he said.

  "Of course, I'm always careful," I said.

  I wished I could be sure that was true. But too often since coming to Villmark, I hadn't even realized there was something I needed to be careful about until it was too late.

  "I should get going," I said. "I'm meeting the others at the Valkissons' house, and that's a long walk back."

  "It's good practice," Haraldr said. "Have fun with your friends. Meditate as often as you can, which I'm sure will be more often than you think you can. I'll see you when you return to Villmark."

  "Right," I said, then went to the front hall to get back into my boots and parka. Haraldr resumed studying the flames, and I slipped out of the door without disturbing him again.

  There was no sign of Signi returning from her walk, but if she had gone to Jessica's café it was far too soon for her to be back already. I looked back at her cabin and saw a tiny detail that set it out from the others: her wooden shutters had little hearts carved into them. They were so small I doubt I would’ve noticed them if I hadn’t still been standing on her porch.

  It was a warm touch,
but overall this whole little community felt remote and isolated, not just from Villmark but from each other. The glass of the windows of the cabins around me was all frosted, but by design, not by the cold. These people cherished their privacy. I could see light from lamps and other electric fixtures through some of them, but no other sign of life, not even a passing shadow.

  It felt strange, being surrounded by those buildings and yet feeling like I was completely alone in the world. And a cold wind was blowing strongly, as if the buildings weren't there at all. Like I was just hallucinating them.

  I adjusted the layers of my wool scarf over my face then took a moment to be sure I was once more dampening down my magical glow. But before I had even walked down the steps from Signi's door to start walking home, I got distracted by the sound of voices. Male voices. They weren't loud enough for me to catch any words, but I could tell that an argument was going on.

  I skipped down the steps then headed to the center of the circle of cabins. Now I could see the two of them, standing on another forest path just south of the hamlet. The taller of the two was the man who lived in the cabin next to Signi's, the one Loke had wanted me to meet. The smaller one was turned sideways to me to look up at the taller one, and with his hood up I could see nothing of his face, but I recognized his coat. He was the new man in the hamlet, Geiri.

  I stayed where I was, too far away to hear their words, because I wasn't sure if this was any of my business. I had a place to be, and was already late.

  The taller man stopped talking, which seemed like a good sign. Then I saw Geiri's mittened hands closing into tight fists. His entire body was tense, so tense I could see it through the many layers of clothing that were protecting him from the cold.

  But the tall man either didn't notice or didn't care about the smaller man's growing anger. He turned his back to him, heading for his cabin. His eyes glanced up and saw me standing there in the common area. He gave me a cursory glance, then a harder look, as if he was trying to figure out if he knew me. He opened his mouth to say something to me, but I saw Geiri behind him raise a hand as if he were about to stab the taller man in the back.

 

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