Skylan clasped his amulet convulsively. “I swear!”
“I believe you, Skylan,” said Garn.
“Good,” said Skylan, embarrassed by his outburst. He wiped his hand over his eyes and nose and mouth and wished he’d kept quiet. “Good. Now go talk to Aylaen for me.”
“Yes,” said Garn with a long, heavy sigh. “I must go talk to Aylaen.”
CHAPTER
3
The Kai Moot lasted for several days. The Bone Priestesses and their acolytes locked themselves in the Great Hall of the Gods to discuss the many problems facing the Vindrasi nation. The proceedings were secret; the Bone Priestesses were forbidden to reveal the nature of the deliberations to anyone. Yet wives talked to husbands, sweethearts whispered to lovers, and almost every person in the Heudjun clan found some excuse to pass the Hall, hoping to hear something.
As was traditional, Skylan ordered warriors to stand guard at the door to stop those who might seek either to harm the Priestesses or unduly exert influence on them. The placing of the guards originally came about as a result of a disastrous incident at a Kai Moot during the time of the great Chief of Chiefs Grimwald Liefson. A clan known as the Laerad had been angered at the Chief’s harsh punishment leveled against them for stealing cattle. In retaliation, they raided the Kai Moot and carried off the Kai Priestess, Grimwald’s wife. The Laerad held her for ransom, demanding that the punishment be lifted.
Grimwald was furious at the abduction of his wife. He refused to negotiate and went to war against the Laerad. The two clans formed shield-walls. Grimwald was about to launch an attack when he saw, to his horror, that the Laerad had placed his wife in the front ranks. Grimwald was in agony. If he attacked, his wife would be the first one to die. If he retreated, the Laerad Clan would claim victory, and he would be seen as weak. Other Clan Chiefs would challenge his authority. No one would pay heed to his judgments.
The Kai Priestess knew her husband faced this terrible choice. She made the decision for him. She grabbed a sword from the warrior standing next to her and thrust the weapon into her own belly. She died on the battlefield as her husband watched in dismay.
Vowing to Torval that the Laerad Clan would pay for his beloved wife’s death, Grimwald and his warriors attacked with such ferocity that the Laerad were utterly destroyed. Since that time, all Chiefs have placed guards at the doors of the Kai Moot.
The warriors Skylan chose were men of his own clan, among them Bjorn and his brother Erdmun. He chose these men, he said, to honor the Kai. The fact that the warriors stood with their backs against the door, which put them in a position to eavesdrop on the meeting, also played some part in his thinking, as it had in the thinking of every Chief of Chiefs before him.
Once they entered the Hall, the Priestesses were forbidden to leave until their business was concluded. This meant that they had to eat and sleep in the Great Hall, sometimes for days.
Led by Fria, the older women sought to conduct the Kai Moot in an atmosphere of calm. This proved impossible. Skylan learned from Bjorn that the Kai were in turmoil, finding it hard to cope with the series of disasters that had come tumbling down on their heads like boulders in a landslide: The loss of the sacred torque to the ogres. The loss of Desiria, the Goddess of Life, and the subsequent inability of the Priestesses to heal the sick and injured. The fury of the Sun Goddess and the terrible drought that was withering the crops. The tragic death of Draya, who had been loved and revered. The curse laid upon the Dragon Isles.
The grief-stricken Fria, mourning the loss of her dearest friend, proved unequal to the task of trying to quell the anger and assuage the mounting fears. Rumors flew. Some Priestesses said they had heard that all the gods were dead and that the Vindrasi were now alone and abandoned in the universe. Others countered angrily that this was not true, that they had been in communication with the gods and that they were still able to heal in the name of the goddess. Few believed them. The women shouted and screamed at each other. Fria tried to restore order, but no one paid any attention.
In this time of crisis, it was Treia who stepped forward and took charge. Her cold, dispassionate voice fell on them like a bucket of chill water thrown onto a pack of snapping bitches. The conflict ended abruptly, though the dogs continued to watch each other warily and occasionally showed their teeth.
Fria wanted those Priestesses who claimed to have healing powers to be put to a test. Treia rightly pointed out that such a test would serve nothing except to further fan the flames of discord. She suggested that the Kai leave the past to the past and deal with the dire events of the present. The Kai should select a new Kai Priestess.
Bjorn, standing guard at the door, was able to overhear what was said. He handed over his duties to his brother and went to report to Skylan in the Chief’s dwelling in the city of Vindraholm. Skylan had not intended to return there until after the Kai Moot, but Aylaen had amazed him by coming to him, telling him meekly that she had changed her mind. She would attend the Kai Moot with Treia, as he wanted.
Skylan was overjoyed and congratulated Garn on persuading her. Garn swore he’d had nothing to do with it.
Garn was telling the truth. Aylaen had flown into a rage when he’d told her he was going to go with Skylan to war. She had called him a coward for not standing up to Skylan, and then she had run off and refused to see him. Garn had no idea why she should suddenly change her mind about attending the Kai Moot, but he didn’t like it. He had traveled to Vindraholm with Skylan, hoping to be able to talk with her, but Aylaen had gone out of her way to avoid him, and now she was shut up inside the Great Hall of the Gods.
Bjorn found Skylan and Garn together, sharing ale and making preparations for war. Wulfe was with them, sitting cross-legged on the floor near the door, which had been propped open to catch the late afternoon breeze. The boy was playing with the dragonbones from Skylan’s game, stacking them up, one on top of the other, to see how high they would go before falling. He always laughed heartily whenever the bones tumbled down in a heap and went bounding about the floor.
Skylan didn’t like to see Wulfe playing with the dragonbones. The sight reminded Skylan uncomfortably of the draugr, who continued to force him to play. After his talk with Owl Mother, Skylan had questioned the draugr, trying to find out what she wanted to tell him. All to no avail. The draugr always started every game by rolling five dragonbones. She almost always ended by claiming all his pieces.
Bjorn had to step over the tower Wulfe was building as he entered the door. “I have news,” he said.
Skylan and Garn both stopped to listen. Judging by Bjorn’s air of importance, the news was momentous. Skylan motioned Bjorn to sit. Garn handed him a foaming drinking horn.
Bjorn drank thirstily. Standing guard in the afternoon sunshine was hot work. He was about to launch into his tale, when Skylan asked him the question of the moment.
“Have they chosen the Kai Priestess?”
Bjorn shook his head, and Skylan breathed a sigh of relief. Bjorn went on to explain that since Draya had not named a successor, the Kai had to put up candidates. After much arguing, the Kai had at last settled on two: Fria, who had been Draya’s best friend, and Treia, who had amazed everyone by putting herself forward.
Skylan alone was not surprised. He had guessed Treia was angling for the leadership, though he still could not understand why.
“Treia loathes me,” said Skylan. “Why would she want to be my wife?”
“She doesn’t,” Wulfe called out.
The three young men turned to stare at him. Though Wulfe was almost always present whenever they were together, he had never before joined in their conversation. Bjorn jokingly termed the boy Skylan’s pup, claiming that Wulfe was always to be found curled up at his master’s feet.
“I suppose the naiad told you all about it,” Skylan said with a wink at his friends.
Wulfe carefully placed a fourth dragonbone onto his little tower. “If Treia is named Kai Priestess, your cousin, Raegar, will ch
allenge you to something called a . . . a . . .” He shrugged. “I forget.”
“That’s nonsense,” said Bjorn, laughing, as did the others at the ridiculous notion. “Raegar doesn’t have any reason to call for a Vutmana. No one would accept his right to issue such a challenge.”
Skylan joined in the laughter, but his mirth was hollow. Raegar did have a reason to challenge Skylan. Raegar knew the truth about Draya’s death.
“Still, it’s a clever scheme, if you think about it,” Bjorn said when the laughter had died down. “If Treia becomes Kai Priestess, she can determine the winner of the Vutmana.”
“Torval determines the winner,” Skylan said.
“That’s true, of course.” Bjorn gave a sly grin. “Yet the Kai Priestess can see to it that the god votes her way.”
“I don’t think you mean that, my friend,” said Garn quietly.
Bjorn suddenly realized what he’d been saying. He looked stricken.
“Skylan, he’s right. I didn’t mean—,” he protested.
“I know you didn’t,” Skylan said tersely, and he changed the subject. “What did the Kai decide? Is Treia to be Kai Priestess?”
Bjorn shook his head. “The Kai are split. Some want Fria to be Kai Priestess. Some want Treia. And there are some who don’t want either of them.”
“So what happens now?” Skylan asked.
“The Kai wait for a sign from the gods.”
“What is the sign?”
Bjorn shook his head. “No one knows. With Draya, the sign was a comet streaking across the sky. The Kai before Draya, the sign came when Torval swallowed the moon.”
“When will the sign be given?”
“Whenever the gods see fit to give it, I guess. Then, once they have the sign, the Kai must meet again to determine if it really was a sign and what it portends.”
Skylan began to breathe easier. Nothing was going to happen immediately.
“In the meantime, Fria will stay in Vindraholm to minister to the people and Treia will sail with us,” Bjorn stated.
Skylan thought of living in the close quarters on board ship with Treia, her squinting eyes always watching him, and he gave an inward groan. Raegar would be on board the ship, as well. Ah, well, as Norgaard always said, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Wulfe picked up the dragonbones and put them away and then went off to curl up in a corner to take a nap. Skylan poured another round of ale. He was bringing the drinking horn to his lips when he realized that Bjorn looked uneasy. He held the horn in his hand, his ale untasted.
“What’s the matter?” Skylan asked. “Why aren’t you drinking?”
“Something else happened in the Kai Moot,” said Bjorn. He didn’t look at Skylan as he spoke. “It’s about Aylaen.”
“I know already,” said Skylan. “She asked to be made a Bone Priestess—”
“You need to hear me out, Skylan,” said Bjorn. “The Kai refused. They said she was too old. She would have to be an acolyte, and that would take years and—”
“They can’t do that!” Skylan said, leaping to his feet. “I’ll force them—”
“Listen to me!” Bjorn said urgently. “Aylaen told them there was a way she could become a Bone Priestess without having to be an acolyte first. She claimed there was historical precedent.”
Bjorn paused at this point to take a gulp of ale. He seemed to feel he needed it.
Skylan waited in suspense. “Yes, well?”
“She reminded them of Griselda the Man-Woman,” said Bjorn.
Skylan’s jaw sagged. He stared at Bjorn in disbelief.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Trust me, I could not have made this up,” said Bjorn.
Skylan looked accusingly at Garn. “Did you know about this?”
Garn shook his head. “I had no idea!” He sounded as appalled as Skylan felt.
“What about Treia?” Skylan asked. “She would not approve.”
“Treia said she did. She said she supported her sister in her decision. The Priestesses talked it over, and in the end they all agreed,” said Bjorn. “Aylaen will become a man-woman and sail with us to war.”
“No, she won’t,” said Skylan. “I will forbid it.”
“I don’t think you can,” said Bjorn. “The Kai approved because Aylaen told them it was you who gave her the idea.”
CHAPTER
4
Skylan left in search of Aylaen, taking Garn with him. If both of them talked to her, they agreed that they might be able to make her see reason. They went to the Hall, only to hear from Erdmun that the Kai Moot had ended. A few Bone Priestesses remained, but Treia was not among them and Aylaen would be with her sister. One of the Priestesses said she thought Treia and Aylaen had gone to Fria’s dwelling, where they had been invited to stay while they were in Vindraholm. Skylan and Garn walked to Fria’s, only to learn that the sisters planned to sail back on the Venjekar. The young men hastened to the shore. The dragonship had already departed.
They went back to Skylan’s dwelling. Bjorn had left to join his brother. Wulfe lay curled up asleep in a corner, his hands and feet twitching.
“I’ve been thinking, Garn,” Skylan said. “Perhaps Aylaen is right. If this is the only way she can become a Bone Priestess, then she should undergo the ritual. She should come with us.”
“You can’t mean that,” said Garn flatly.
“Aylaen is trained in both axe and sword. She was at the battle with the ogres, and she never flinched, even when a spear landed right beside her.”
“She wasn’t in the shield-wall, Skylan,” Garn said grimly. “With men being disemboweled and brains splattering in her face.”
“I will see to it that nothing happens to her,” Skylan assured him. “I will put her with the warriors who guard Treia. Both women will have the Dragon Kahg to look out for them.”
“She will still be in danger. Bone Priestesses are often killed,” Garn said.
“I will order additional warriors to guard her—”
“—which means you must take men from the shield-wall, and that puts everyone in danger. You are going to imperil the entire mission for your own lust!”
Garn was pale; his eyes burned. “This scheme of yours will get Aylaen killed!”
He stalked out, slamming the door to Skylan’s dwelling with such force that bits of it splintered.
Skylan sat down wearily in his chair. He could be rightfully accused of many crimes, but this was not one of them. He had mentioned the story of Griselda the Man-Woman to Aylaen only in passing. He had certainly never meant to suggest to Aylaen that she emulate the fabled female warrior!
Skylan left Vindraholm the next morning, sailing in a small boat back to Luda to prepare the Venjekar for war. Two dragonships, those belonging to the Svegund and Martegnan Clans, would meet them at Luda in two days. During the short journey across the bay, he mulled over what Garn had said. When he reached home, he went so far as to discuss the problem about Aylaen with Norgaard. The old Chief agreed completely with Garn and added a forceful argument of his own. None of the warriors would be comfortable fighting alongside a woman.
Yet, this was the only way Aylaen could become a Bone Priestess, the only way she could become Skylan’s wife.
He was still undecided over what to do the night before they were to set sail. He lay awake, waiting tensely for the draugr to come for their game of dragonbones. She did not appear, however, and after a time, Skylan fell into an exhausted sleep.
He was in a battle, but not the shield-wall. His warriors were scattered all over the field, some fighting, some fleeing, others helpless from terror. He ran from one group to the other, urging them to fight the faceless enemy. Garn was at his right hand and Aylaen was on his left. All the time he was urging his men to fight, he was ordering her to go back to the ship. She wouldn’t listen to him. And then the enemy was on them and he and Garn and Aylaen were fighting for their lives.
Skylan saw a flash of s
teel out of the corner of his eye and saw the faceless foe aiming a spear at Garn’s back. Skylan shouted a warning, but Garn was battling two of the enemy in front of him and he did not hear. Skylan ran toward the spear thrower, his sword raised, when he heard a cry, and glancing back, he saw Aylaen slip in a pool of blood and fall to the ground. The enemy was on her. She struggled to regain her feet. Skylan would never reach her in time. The axe fell. . . .
Skylan woke, sweating and panting and shaking. His terror was real, and it took him long moments to realize he’d been dreaming. Flinging on his clothes, he grabbed a lighted torch and went to talk with Aylaen.
He came to Treia’s dwelling. Sigurd had been furious when he heard that Aylaen was going to undergo the ritual of the man-woman. He had made life so unbearable for her that she had left, moved in with Treia. Skylan found the house dark. It was the dead of night. They would have been asleep for a long time.
Skylan banged on the door with his fist and shouted for Aylaen.
The door opened a crack.
“Who is that?” Treia asked, shielding her eyes against the flaring light.
“You know who it is!” Skylan said. “I want to talk to Aylaen.”
“You cannot,” said Treia. “She is in purification for her ritual. She cannot see or speak to anyone.”
“She’ll speak to me!” Skylan said, and he lunged at the door, prepared to shoulder his way inside.
Treia blocked the entrance with her body. “The gods forbid it.”
“Get out of my way,” said Skylan angrily, “or by Torval I will knock you down!”
Treia’s lips twisted in a mocking smile. “You are too late,” she said. “See for yourself.”
She pointed at his feet.
Skylan kept his gaze fixed on her. “I don’t believe you. Let me inside.”
Treia shrugged, not caring whether he believed her or not. “You are too late,” she repeated.
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