by Hume, M. K.
Around him, rapt eyes followed his every movement and keen ears were eager to hear more of the marvels he had seen during his voyages. The Dene people were always captivated by story-telling; tales of love, heroism and battles thrilled them, so Arthur responded to their interest and sucked his audience into the very core of his tale. They could picture five or six tribesmen as they struggled with an enormous white bear that was almost twice the height of a tall man as it stood on its hind legs. The creature had claws like scythes and teeth that were white spikes of death. Arthur’s audience could smell the blood of the four tribesmen who had died before the white bear succumbed to the many barbed spears that were planted deeply into its flesh.
‘Behold the coat of the snow bear,’ Arthur cried out with a dramatic flourish as Snorri threw open a huge cloak of fur so thick, so lustrous and so long and snowy-white that Maeve cried aloud in admiration.
‘The chieftain of these fine people gave me this cloak in thanks for a blue whale we killed for them – but that’s another story,’ Arthur teased.
‘I have seen the night sky awash with coloured stars in waves of luminescence, as if the heavens were weeping the very soul of light. Such a display was never seen in Britain or in the Dene lands, but I was struck by the wonders of many-coloured ice, pure white snow and a sky that was rainbow-hued. I could write the story of these wonders on a piece of vellum by the light of these gifts from God.’
Then Arthur described the fierce men of the fjords in Noroway who were as adept on the seas as the Sae Dene. Arthur was forced to risk his three ships in a sea battle, but the use of a battering ram had resulted in the capture of one of the enemy longboats and, ultimately, won him the friendship of these hard-bitten and fierce seamen during the truce that followed. Not for the first time, Arthur had cause to thank the long-dead Myrddion for his scrolls and memoirs describing Caesar’s wars, from which he had gleaned so much useful knowledge of warfare and strategy.
His small fleet had swollen to eight after the first season, so the sea wolves were able to harass the coasts of the north and the north-east for a whole summer, plundering not only the Geats, but the Pomeranians, the Estonians and the Lithuanians, all of whom fell prey to the lightning-fast attacks from the Skandian raiders. The combined force returned to Sognefjord in the north-west of Noroway for the winter. And so Arthur’s fame spread quickly in a hard land that valued its heroes.
When the spring released the fjords from the ice, Arthur’s fleet surged out of Sognefjord to harry the Friesian coast where many of the settlements had been appropriated by marauding Saxon forces. Much gold and silver was taken in these raids, most of which had been stolen from the original Friesians who were increasingly being starved for land by the invading Angles, Saxons and Jutes.
Then, when the longboats had returned and had been emptied of their heavy cargo of treasure, Arthur decided to use the rivers to strike ever deeper into Saxony. As he approached, the villagers frightened their children with horror-filled tales of the Last Dragon who had stripped the thanes of their wealth. Deep within the Saxon heartlands, Arthur and his allies from Noroway realised what wealth and provisions awaited daring and determined warriors. He only laughed when his men accorded him superstitious awe and he explained that both Loki and Fortuna favoured him against the complacency of the barbarians who had preyed on the common folk for generations.
‘I saw the strategies used by the Saxon and the Angles in my homeland, so their thanes hold no fears for me. Our enemies fight in the same manner as their ancestors who invaded Britannia a century or more in the past, because they see no need for change. The northerners are fierce and ruthless fighters, but their weakness is, as always, their predictability.’
Out of respect for Germanus, Arthur decided that his horde should let the Franks be, although several petty kings to the north of their lands offered vast sums in gold and slaves to Arthur if he would pass them by. He accepted their offerings, and another summer passed with the accumulation of even more wealth, men and supplies.
During the long winter in Sognefjord, Arthur recruited several hundred young warriors from among the Noroway population, men who were prepared to sail across the seas to Britannia where they could carve out a kingdom in lands that were rich and bountiful. Captured slaves, too, added to his numbers; all swore their allegiance to Arthur in blood and many cups of mead and beer.
One more season of a’rovering: one more store of gold and slaves to be set free so they could willingly enter his service. Arthur was content.
Then he smiled across at his friends to show that he had completed his tale.
‘I’m ready now to make my final preparations for our journey to Britain. I have decided that I will make my landfall in the Otadini lands along the north-east coast, an ideal base for the creation of what will become a new Skandian kingdom.’
He paused to allow his words to sink in.
‘The Otadini king is my kinsman and, if his tribe still exists, I believe he can be convinced to help us in our quest to build a new homeland free from the Saxon yoke. Then, once our fortifications have been built and the first crops are sown, I’ll send our longboats back to Skandia for our women and children, as well as any livestock we want for the new settlements. Most of what we need will be available in the new lands and will be obtained either by conquest or by purchase. If our neighbours wish to integrate with us in peace, then we will live together amicably. If they oppose us, my people will do to the Saxons what they did to the Britons.’
Under his noble words, Arthur accepted that he was a thief who used a mailed fist to win his fortune.
Lorcan furrowed his brow. Despite the good news that Arthur had delivered regarding his forays into the north, the Dene lands were still under threat from an invisible enemy that killed without remorse.
‘Did you see any evidence of Justinian’s Disease in the northern lands, Arthur?’
‘No, Lorcan. We did see some derelict villages in Saxony but I assumed that the reason for the absence of villagers was fear of my forces. Gareth told me that Justinian’s Disease has dissipated during recent years, at least in the last sailing season, while Germanus speculated that the extreme cold might kill the illness.’
‘Well,’ Stormbringer exclaimed slowly. ‘The disease has come to the land of the Dene and Frodhi has demanded that I return to Heorot and help him to control the epidemic, although I don’t know how. He wants us to bring our healers from throughout the islands to Heorot, a plan that would rob the islands of any treatment if our own people should become infected. Like Hrolf Kraki before him, he is asking a great deal of his subjects.’
He paused to allow his message to sink in.
‘I have refused to risk The Holding, so I have stripped the outlying farms of our workers and kept them and their families close to our homestead. We have also banned all contact with outsiders who might have been in contact with the disease. Your people are a different matter entirely, because you have come down from places where the illness has not yet been seen. Unfortunately, your sister and Lorcan intend to go to the aid of the villagers who are at risk in Heorot. I’ve tried to explain that we owe nothing to Frodhi, but they won’t listen to me. Perhaps you can talk some sense into them.’
Arthur’s face became very stern and still, while Germanus uttered a vicious oath.
‘But you can’t go anywhere near Heorot, Lady Maeve. You have no idea of the savagery and pestilence that this disease creates,’ Gareth tried to explain. ‘I could never permit a woman to walk into such a charnel house as those places I’ve seen during my travels. Please don’t risk yourself so foolishly.’
But Maeve’s mouth was set in mulish lines, so Germanus in turn attempted to dissuade her and his oldest friend from casting their lives away.
‘I know you believe you are immune to this scourge, Lorcan, but remember what we saw on our journey through the Frank la
nds. That Jewish family crucified, tortured and left to die because their neighbours thought they brought the disease to their village? Yes, you’ll save lives in Heorot, but you’ll also have many failures and many citizens will perish. Please don’t go, Lorcan! If you remain here, Maeve will also be forced to stay.’
‘If I must, I will walk towards Heorot until such time as my feet are bleeding,’ Maeve answered for them both. ‘And then I’ll take ship in whatever ramshackle craft that dares to make gold of the troubles there. You’ll need to tie us down if you wish to keep us here, and I don’t believe that you’ll go to such lengths.’
Then she turned to her husband with eyes that were wise, soft and pleading.
‘I know that you cannot go to Heorot and obey your king, Valdar, because someone must stay here to protect The Holding. But I have always been bound by a solemn promise that I will alleviate suffering, if I have the tools at my disposal. And I do! This oath is one that I will always try to keep, no matter the cost. If it should happen that I don’t return, tell my son how much I loved him and ask him to forgive me.’
‘I would never cast you off, my love, even if you’re acting foolishly. But how will you reach Heorot? The fjord is closed to all ships, so you’ll have difficulty finding a captain who is willing to take such a dreadful risk.’
‘Arthur could take me when he leaves for Britannia, couldn’t you, Arthur?’
Valdar knew he could order Maeve to obey him, but if he did so their relationship would be poisoned beyond repair.
The room became silent as every eye turned towards Arthur to hear his response. The hall itself seemed to be listening, for its old wooden walls creaked slightly in the autumn breeze.
‘Aye!’ Arthur agreed after a long pause. ‘I’ll take you, Maeve, but we’ll have to trust in Bedwyr’s luck to save us all. We can only hope that the spirit of the Arden Knife will protect its own.’
And now the silence was even longer, as every person present began to wonder if and when they would sit together once again.
Somewhere in the depths of the building, Sven laughed happily as Stormbringer’s eyes began to fill with hot tears. The decision had been made, so there was nothing more for a fond husband to say.
CHAPTER XV
WHEN LUCIFER SMILES
Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities.
Aristotle, Poetics
The land slid away behind Sea Wife and her two sister vessels, all manned by Dene warriors who would act as bodyguards for Arthur and, to a lesser extent, for Snorri, the helmsman who knew too much of events that had taken place in the palace of King Frodhi. Steady on her feet and eager to reach Limfjord, Maeve stared out towards the dark horizon, although she knew her eyes should have been fixed on the dim shapes of her husband, Alfridda and Sven Bedwyr, who had been held high to wave his farewells. Instead, her eyes bored into the dark shadows towards Skania.
‘We will be in Limfjord within three days, sister. Did you ever think to see that hellish hall again?’ She started in fright, but only for a short moment, and then stared directly into eyes that had changed from those she had known so well in childhood.
‘Ah, brother, I have always known I would eventually return to Heorot, but I had no idea when or why. One thing I’m certain of is that I will also return to my home at The Holding after we’ve helped the villagers to survive this illness.’ She slapped at the side of her head with one hand. ‘Do you get strange feelings about places and people? Odd, familiar thoughts come unbidden to me. They’re never strong and never clear, as if I’m seeing a blurred scene through a misty veil. I hate it! I don’t even know if they are real or imaginary. Is it the same for you?’
‘No, I never seem to have any kind of visions. However, I sometimes have dreams which seem to be parables for something else. Apparently, men rarely have the Sight, even imperfectly, and from what I’ve been told I don’t want it because those poor women who do are often driven mad.’
Maeve shuddered. ‘To know if my Sven was going to die . . . or my dear Valdar . . . or you . . . would be a curse that no rational person would want to contemplate. I can understand why a woman’s brain would crumble if she had such terrible foreknowledge.’
‘My only gift is a warning when danger threatens, and it scratches at the inside of my skull even as we speak. You’re dancing with the devil, Maeve! Frodhi can take you captive and force Valdar to obey his every command. I’m still unsure of his intentions but be prepared, because that snake’ll have something in mind. Understand, too, that there is an utterly ruthless brain behind his charming smile. He’d happily allow other unfortunates to perish if it’s to his advantage.’
The sea surged around the prow of Sea Wife. Above them, the massive sail caught the wind and billowed out so that she seemed to be flying over the waters. The crew rested in the sunshine, cleaned their weapons or chatted, while their imaginations drifted to the prospects of their new lives in the lands of Britain. Vague speculation on the horrors of Justinian’s Disease and the uglier whispers of Frodhi’s murderous route to the throne fuelled their suspicion and anxiety. None of the Dene warriors really wanted to venture close to Heorot.
‘How will you avoid the contagion, Arthur? I’ve heard tales of ships that were full of dead men, drifting on the currents for years. Greedy thieves and fishermen who have stolen from these bloated corpses are believed to have caught the disease and died not long after. I’m fearful for your safety, brother. I know you well: you won’t stay quietly in Sea Wife.’
‘Don’t be! I’ve developed a strategy that should ensure that I don’t carry any contagions back to my ship. My men will stay aboard the longboats and won’t be permitted to come ashore. My archers have already been instructed to kill any person who tries to board our vessels. It would be better to kill at a distance, but they can take any action they feel is necessary to ensure that my orders are obeyed.’
Maeve looked much happier after hearing of Arthur’s sensible arrangements, but her face creased in concern when she wondered how her brother intended to ferry her to dry land.
‘Don’t fret, little sister! I plan to land you, safe and sound, in the village below Heorot. We shall take you ashore by canoe, just like the ones used by the men in the Land of Eternal Ice. You and Lorcan will land and, once the way is cleared, you’ll approach the great hall in company with Germanus and me.’ He smiled into Maeve’s eyes. ‘You’re staring at me as if you’re frightened for my welfare, dear heart, but I beg you not to be over-concerned. Germanus is immune to the disease, and I intend to wear gloves and cover my mouth, nose and ears with clean white cloth. I don’t intend to take greater risks than are absolutely necessary.’
Maeve knew her brother far too well to believe that he was even half as casual as he sounded. She hugged herself around the waist and rocked gently with the movement of the longboat. Then, when Arthur lifted her chin, he could see fat, sluggish tears rolling down her cheeks unchecked.
‘I wish Blaise had chosen to return to Britain with you. I’m afraid that she’ll never marry in the Dene lands for she developed a fearsome reputation for carnage during the defence of The Holding. She says that she has no need for a man in her life. I believe she regularly takes lovers, but she has refused to accept any offers of marriage.’
Arthur shrugged. ‘Have you ever thought that she would be reluctant to leave her brother’s ashes in an alien land when he was killed so far from his hearth and home? Perhaps she also wishes to remain unwed so she’s not under the control of a man – even one who loves her. I can understand her reluctance to relinquish her freedom.’
‘Really?’ Maeve considered this proposition, then nodded. ‘That would be just like her. What’s to become of her, Arthur?’
‘She’ll live and she’ll decide. God doesn’t promise that life will be an easy road. Father Bedwyr told us on many occasions t
hat we should live our lives as well as we can, while hurting as few people as possible when we follow our chosen paths.’
Maeve gurgled, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. ‘But I know you’ve killed many men during your life, so you’ve left women and orphans aplenty behind you. How can you bear those stains on your soul? Don’t you have regrets?’
‘I can’t weep for my way of life as you do, Maeve. Men are tied down by their masculinity just as inextricably as women are tied to family. I just follow the pathways that all men of honour should travel. I attempt to kill my enemies from the front and I damn no man who faces me fairly to unnecessary pain or suffering.’
Maeve cursed her foolishness for she had heard rumours of how Arthur had extracted the full measure of Aednetta Fridasdottar’s treachery through torture and she regretted the conversation that had brought shadows into her brother’s eyes.
‘I wish you good afternoon, brother. If I’ve brought you any pain with my gibble-gabble, then I am sincerely sorry. I’ll sleep now so I don’t think of little Sven and how much I will miss him during my absence. I’ll miss you when you return to Britain, but I’m not sorry in the least to offer aid to the Heorot villagers. They were generous to us at a time when we needed help. And now children no older than Sven are suffering and dying. I hope you understand, Arthur, because Valdar doesn’t.’
Arthur lightly kissed her soft mouth, and tasted the sweetness of wild honey. His little sister was an extraordinary young woman.
‘If there was another maid in my life half as good as you, little sister, I’d be happily wed by now.’ He was joking, but his laughter failed to reach his eyes.
Maeve turned back from the stern where Arthur’s female slaves were minding young Ingmar or trying to sleep under the pleasant warmth of the sun. She could see that Sigrid’s skin had browned to the shade of pale gold and the same colour glistened in her pale-ash hair.