Winter's Fury

by A. E. Rayne

  ‘Yes, I gave it to her on her wedding day, as my grandfather told me to.’

  ‘Good,’ Neva nodded, smiling briefly. ‘It is good that she has the sword... and Eadmund.’

  Edela frowned. ‘Eadmund?’

  ‘You always saw that, didn’t you?’ Neva wondered. ‘That she was meant to be with him?’

  ‘Yes, I did.’

  ‘You will need to go back there, to Oss,’ Neva said more seriously. ‘Jael will need you to keep her safe, to save her life. You are right, Edela, she is in danger, will be in danger, soon.’

  Edela swallowed, shivering, despite the warmth of the small room. ‘What sort of danger? What from?’

  ‘Danger that the sword cannot protect her from, I’m afraid, no matter how well she learns to use it. But you can save her. You will find a way when the time comes. Do not fear Edela, we all have confidence in you.’

  ‘But what is the sword for if it cannot protect her from the danger that seeks her?’ Edela puzzled. ‘Why was it made?’

  Neva sat quietly, her face calm. ‘The sword has a very particular purpose, but what that is, I cannot say. Our prophecies, as you know, are sacred between the gods and the elders. We are trusted to keep them safe, never to reveal their contents, especially when what they promise is yet to be realised. It would put many in danger, especially the people the prophecy concerns.’

  Edela didn’t know what to say. One look at Neva’s face told her that she would not be moved, so she had to try another approach. ‘I have seen a girl with a face of darkness, had dreams of dark things coming. Is that the danger? These dark forces?’

  Neva stilled, her eyes barely blinking. Her voice, when she spoke, was smooth and light. ‘As you know, Edela, there are many ways to interpret your dreams. You cannot take everything as you see it only. You must work to understand what the darkness could represent. Darkness may be the way you are being shown danger. This girl you speak of?’ Neva leaned in, her face suddenly harder. ‘She is dangerous. She is the greatest threat Jael faces right now. Her name is Evaine, and she is in love with Eadmund. She has always believed she is meant to be with him, that he will be hers and hers alone one day. It is something that she has been told her whole life by her mother, a very dangerous woman. And now they plot together, against Jael.’

  Edela moved to the edge of her seat, her body rigid with fear. ‘She wants to take Eadmund back for herself?’

  ‘Oh yes, she does, and urgently, for she is carrying Eadmund’s child.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘As soon as the Thaw comes, you must cross the Nebbar Straights, back to Oss and keep Jael safe.’

  ‘I will, of course,’ Edela insisted, her eyes wide. ‘But will she be safe in the meantime?’

  ‘Do not fret too much, Edela,’ Neva said, relaxing her face. ‘Evaine is not on Oss now. She has been removed by the king, but she will return. You just need to make sure you are back in time.’

  ‘And this girl’s mother? Who is she?’

  ‘Her name is Morana Gallas. She is very skilled in the use of dark magic. Everything that Evaine thinks or feels or does comes from Morana. And Morana wants to destroy Jael.’

  Edela was consumed with uncertainty. She didn’t feel equipped to battle against dark magic, and if she failed, what would happen to Jael?

  ‘We will talk again before you return to Brekka. There is time, do not fear,’ Neva assured her as she stood up. ‘I will show you ways that you can protect both you and Jael against what is coming.’

  36

  Ido and Vella chased each other around Eydis as she sat on the floor of the hall, laughing as she tried to catch their slippery bodies.

  ‘Your dogs are growing,’ Eirik noted awkwardly, coming to sit next to Jael on the long bench she had placed near the fire.

  Jael was surprised, but not unhappy, that he had sought her out. They had barely spoken since that night at the house, and she was ready to make things right between them. ‘They are. I will have to start training them properly, I suppose.’

  ‘You haven’t already?’

  ‘Not as well as I should have. Perhaps they’re just a stubborn breed,’ she frowned. ‘I’ve never had any problems with dogs before. They are obedient to most commands, but they simply refuse to come when I call.’

  ‘Sounds like good practice for having children to me!’ Eirik laughed. ‘If only my children would have done as they were told, I would have had more sleep and less of these!’ He pinched his sagging folds of wrinkled skin.

  He was smiling, but his eyes were so sad, Jael thought as she turned to face him. ‘It’s not too late for Eadmund, you know.’

  Eirik frowned, a sigh escaping his down-turned mouth. ‘Yes, it is, it’s far too late. I’ve made up my mind, spoken to Ivaar. It’s done.’ A hint of uncertainty flickered in his eyes, though. ‘Ivaar is my heir now.’

  Jael looked around and lowered her voice. ‘But what if Eadmund changes? I can help him. I can help him stop drinking and start fighting again.’

  ‘Why would you want to do that?’ Eirik asked, his eyes showing little belief in her words. ‘After what you said about him? How your marriage has been? Not even a marriage.’ He shook his head sadly, the disappointment of how everything had turned out still raw. ‘Why do you suddenly want to help him now?’

  Jael sighed; she wasn’t sure she had an answer to that. ‘I think he’s a good man...’ she stumbled, feeling uncomfortable, aware that Eydis was listening. ‘He’ll make a good king here, and you know that too. He will care about your people and keep them safe. Look at Lothar and my father. My father did everything he could for the Brekkan people, but Lothar is only interested in himself, and Brekka is suffering because of his greed. I don’t know Ivaar, other than by reputation, but I am certain you know who your people would choose for their next king.’

  Eydis coughed loudly, and both Jael and Eirik turned to see Ivaar and Isaura, walking towards them with their children.

  Jael stood up and walked quickly towards the puppies who were jumping all over the littlest girl, Leya, as she leaked great big tears. ‘Vella, get down!’ Jael called crossly, and for once, Vella obeyed and came racing back to her. Ido loped after his sister, leaving poor Leya to run into her mother’s arms.

  ‘You’ve trained your dogs well,’ Ivaar grinned as he ignored his crying daughter and came to stand just a little too close to Jael.

  She frowned; his wife was only two paces behind him. ‘Well, you would think so. It’s a start.’

  ‘You like dogs?’

  Jael looked at Eydis, who was now being hugged by her nieces. ‘They were a wedding gift from your sister,’ she whispered, rolling her eyes. ‘I couldn’t refuse.’

  ‘Oh, well I suppose they could get lost on a walk one day?’ he winked.

  ‘That would not be good preparation for motherhood,’ Jael smiled. ‘I’m sure any child I have will be far more annoying than a couple of puppies.’

  Ivaar laughed. ‘You’re right there. I would say that children are better left to the women but I don’t imagine that’s what you want to hear.’

  ‘Good morning, Jael,’ Isaura smiled politely as she came to stand next to Ivaar, Mads wriggling on her hip, drooling from the mouth, and looking ready to grizzle at any moment. ‘Hello, Eirik.’

  Eirik rose to greet her. ‘Isaura. And how is my only grandson here? I heard a lot of noise in the night.’ He smiled at the little boy, who looked back at him sternly.

  ‘Oh, yes, Mads is a troublesome sleeper,’ Isaura blushed shyly. ‘I’m sorry about that.’

  Ivaar raised an eyebrow in her direction. ‘Yes, troublesome is certainly the word I would use with that boy.’ He turned to look at Jael. ‘I’m not sure we’ve had any sleep since he was born.’

  Jael looked horrified by the thought.

  ‘He’s not that bad, Jael, I promise,’ Isaura insisted. ‘He has teeth coming through, that’s all.’

  Jael cringed. Everyone saw her having this future child, but t
he thought of it made her toes curl; she enjoyed sleeping far too much.

  Isaura smiled at her. ‘Don’t worry, when they’re your own, you will love them through all the sleepless nights, all the teething, all the bad behaviour. Just ask Eirik.’

  ‘It’s true,’ he admitted. ‘It’s the only thing that keeps you from flinging them out into the snow every night!’

  ‘There’s always a servant?’ Ivaar suggested helpfully. ‘Or you could build another house next door?’

  ‘Oh, please stop!’ Jael pleaded, only half joking. ‘It’s not something I want to think about, not now or ever,’ she sighed. ‘I’m going for a ride, so if you’ll excuse me.’ She ducked her head and patted her leg for the puppies to come.

  ‘Would you like some company?’ Ivaar asked quickly. ‘I enjoyed our ride the other day.’

  Jael saw Isaura’s face pale slightly. She noticed the tension around Eirik’s lips. She could feel Eydis’ stern glare, but what could she say? ‘Yes, alright. Leada needs someone to ride her. She’s not getting much exercise these days.’

  ‘Why? What’s happened to Thorgils?’ Eirik wondered, ruffling his annoyed looking grandson’s hair. Mads’ lip turned down and started wobbling; he was ready to cry.

  ‘Oh, he’s decided to train on his own for a while,’ Jael said lightly. ‘He couldn’t cope with being beaten by a woman every day.’

  Eirik and Ivaar laughed, but Isaura looked upset. Jael felt sorry for her then, standing here with Ivaar, and Ivaar’s children. It was not the life she had dreamed of for herself.

  Jael knew exactly how she felt.

  ‘What happened to you?’

  ‘What happened to you?’

  ‘You look like shit.’

  ‘Thank you. So do you.’

  Thorgils sat down opposite Eadmund, irritably picking at a hanging fingernail.

  ‘I thought you’d be out training with Jael?’

  Thorgils snorted loudly.

  Eadmund raised one eyebrow. It hurt. ‘What’s happened?’

  Thorgils leaned over, sighing. ‘I suppose we are fighting.’

  ‘Fighting?’ Eadmund almost laughed. ‘About what?’

  ‘Her bad judgement, mainly,’ Thorgils said, looking up. ‘She’s stubborn, won’t listen. Just like you.’

  Eadmund smiled. ‘Poor you, having such difficult friends.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right, you’re both idiots.’ He scratched his head. ‘But you, I can forgive. Jael... that may take longer.’

  ‘Is it Ivaar? The way she is with Ivaar?’ Eadmund asked, glancing around. They were sitting outside Ketil’s, surrounded by ears and eyes. He didn’t want to be overheard; who knew how many people Ivaar had already managed to slip into his pocket.

  Thorgils avoided Eadmund’s keen eyes as they sought his. Despite his fury at Jael, he still didn’t want to involve Eadmund. By the stink of him and the bloat on his face, he was struggling more than ever; now was not the time to bring him into his confidence. ‘Well, that doesn’t help things. She seems to find him very interesting, doesn’t she?’

  ‘Who could blame her, with that hair of his? It brings out the colour in his eyes, don’t you think?’ Eadmund’s lips curled into a smile, but his eyes were heavy with sadness; he hadn’t spoken to Jael in a long time. There was a wide valley between them now, and she was standing on the other side of it with his gloating brother.

  Thorgils laughed loudly, slapping the table, his frown easing for the first time in days. ‘You are so right! That hair! Ha!’ He bent over suddenly, lowering his voice, realising how loud he had become. ‘At least it won’t get in his eyes when he’s swinging his pretty sword around.’

  Eadmund’s smile faded as he thought back to his brother’s sneering face. ‘If only he were swinging it at me, as he was going down beneath my sword.’

  ‘Well, why not?’ Thorgils said hoarsely. ‘It wasn’t so long ago that you picked up a sword. If things hadn’t gone so wrong, imagine where you’d be now? We can start again. I can help you, now that I’m not training with Jael.’

  ‘It’s that bad between you two?’ Eadmund was surprised.

  ‘It is. For now. No doubt I’ll forgive her when she sees sense, but until then, she can fight herself for all I care.’

  ‘Ido! Vella!’

  Both men turned to see the puppies racing through the snow towards them. They had grown so big that the snow barely troubled them now. Having sniffed out Thorgils, they jumped up to say hello, pawing his knee, licking his hands. There was food about, and they were eager to see if he had any to spare.

  Jael trudged after them, cursing herself for their lack of obedience; she may as well be the wind for all that they listened to her.

  ‘Hello, hello,’ Thorgils smiled as he patted the puppies snow-dusted heads. ‘Looks as though you’d better run along now before your mother tells you off.’ He didn’t look at up at Jael, but he could feel her cold glare aimed in his direction. A few days without each other had not softened either of them it seemed.

  Eadmund watched the frosty exchange and was so distracted by it that he forgot his own awkwardness. His eyes met Jael’s, and she blinked, then frowned at him. He looked away quickly as the puppies, having abandoned Thorgils, raced around to try their luck with him.

  ‘Ahhh, so fickle, just like their mother,’ Thorgils noted wryly.

  Jael rolled her eyes, ignoring him. ‘Well, I would love to stand around and share stories with you ladies, but I must get back to the house. Ivaar and I are going riding. Leada’s in need of exercise, and since both of you have abandoned her now, Ivaar is helping me out.’ She watched the pinched expression on Thorgils’ face with some satisfaction. ‘Come on Ido, Vella, let’s go, come on!’ And walking off without acknowledging either man, she clicked her tongue and patted her leg. The puppies, eventually realising that she wasn’t coming back, chased after her.

  Thorgils turned to Eadmund, his face bursting with irritation. ‘Well, there you go. I say we go to the Pit and get you a sword.’ He stood up and walked around to Eadmund, leaning towards his ear. ‘You’re never going to get rid of your bastard brother if you’re pissing your pants, asleep under a table every night.’ And with that he strode off in the opposite direction to Jael, towards the Pit, not waiting to see if Eadmund would follow him.

  Eadmund considered things. The idea of cutting Ivaar to pieces was one of the better thoughts he had had lately. The lure of ale remained ever present, though, despite the ache in his head and the bile swimming in his throat. Perhaps he would keep Thorgils company for a while. Then he could find a drink.

  Jael slammed the door behind her. Biddy jumped, and so did the puppies as she stormed past them into the bedchamber and slammed that door too.

  She threw herself onto the bed and screamed into a pillow, so loudly that she felt her throat burn with the strain of it. Jael was furious with Thorgils, annoyed with Eadmund, ready to kill Tarak, and completely fed up with Fyn. She pushed her face into the pillow and screamed again.

  Her body went limp then, and she rolled over, staring up at the cobweb-thick ceiling, wishing she was under the blue lights of Eskild’s Cave, deep in that hot water. Jael wrapped herself up in a fur and lay there, trying to calm down. Ivaar would be coming soon, and contrary to her appearance around Thorgils and Eadmund, she was dreading it. He was not unpleasant company, she supposed, but he was not her friend, and she couldn’t relax around him. She was permanently on edge, trying to maintain a facade, lest he see her real intentions; just as she supposed he was being falsely interested in her. It was all a game, and she had never been very good at games; her temper and tongue always seemed to get in the way.

  Jael closed her eyes and thought of Aleksander. There was another reason to scream. Being apart from him was torturous. She hated the fact that she couldn’t just talk to him or look at him. She missed that serious face of his. Jael sighed and buried herself deeper into the furs, knowing that before long she would have to get up and face Ivaar.r />
  There was a firm knock on the door.

  ‘When you’ve finished having your little tantrum, I have filled up the tub with hot water for you, so you can come and have a bath,’ Biddy called through the door.

  Jael rolled out of the furs, her tension unravelling itself at speed. She may not have Aleksander, but at least she had Biddy. And Biddy was a gift from the gods.

  Jael opened the door and was instantly pounced on by two hairy bodies, who were relieved to find that she was alright again.

  ‘Well, come on then, come soak away all that rage,’ Biddy grumbled as she pointed her towards the back room.

  Biddy had shifted the goats and chickens into the new stables once they’d been built, so the back room had been left empty, apart from their food supplies and large barrels of ale she had brought in for Eadmund. She’d recently acquired a wooden tub, and this was the first time she had filled it up.

  ‘Are you sure you’re not a dreamer?’ Jael wondered as she walked into the softly glowing room. It felt almost warm in here; almost, but her skin still shivered as she undressed, desperate to feel her toes again.

  ‘Ahhh, if I were a dreamer...’ Biddy smiled wistfully. ‘I wouldn’t still be here, bathing you after all these years!’

  Jael laughed and stepped out of her clothes, throwing them towards Biddy, who looked less than impressed.

  There was a loud knock on the door.

  ‘Who is that?’ Biddy wondered irritably, covered in clothes.

  Jael paused, one foot dangling just above the water, her face pained in despair. ‘Ivaar,’ she groaned. ‘We’re going for a ride.’

  Biddy frowned. ‘Again?’

  Jael stood back on the stool and reached out for her clothes, her expression sour. ‘Yes, again. Into that fucking cold. Again.’

  ‘Well, at least you can come back to a hot bath,’ Biddy promised her. ‘I’ll keep it warm for you somehow. But don’t do anything silly out there. Don’t forget about Eadmund, now.’

  Jael frowned at her as she hurried to put her clothes back on. ‘You’re starting to sound like Thorgils! I haven’t and I won’t. I won’t forget about him, don’t worry.’