‘Kjeld Gunnarson is no longer around and none of his supporters will be present either. There really is no danger. What happened to Kveldulf has never happened before as long as anyone can remember. You have no enemies here and Harald is well liked. Please stop worrying. Enjoy your son’s big day.’
The temple was lit with torches and the central fireplace spewed its strong-smelling smoke. Like the others I coughed and struggled for air until I got used to the fumes. The young men, proud and bare-chested, trooped in. I caught my breath when I saw the extent of Harald’s bruising and the bandages that Kirsten had applied to his battered body. Others noticed as well.
‘Thor’s goats,’ said Eysten, ‘he hid that well. Another true Ragnarson!’
‘Brave like the rest of his family,’ said Kohl Ivarson. My chest swelled with pride.
The youngsters were asked if they were ready to be subjected to the final test. They all replied with firm, confident voices. They were suspended upside-down and Lawman Leifr made the small incisions below their eyes. We all followed and carefully touched the cuts with our knives. I heard many whispered words of praise and encouragement directed at my son. When it was all over, Leifr nodded to me and smiled.
‘Your sons are two very different characters. Both are a credit to you, each in their own way.’ That praise felt like the most precious gift anyone could give me.
We returned home to Becklund in high spirits. A couple of days later I went to the stable expecting to find Olvir there.
‘He’s been out looking at the shielings and scouting for new grazing areas for the horses,’ said Harald. ‘He said he might head over towards Mockerkin Howe.’
‘A bit far to move horses.’
‘It could be done but I think he’s just a bit restless.’
‘We need to find a way to keep him here.’
‘I think he’s maybe looking for that himself.’
‘I know that grin of yours. Is there any point in asking what it’s about.’
‘Oh Mor, there’s nothing, not really, I just have my suspicions about where he’s off to.’
‘I caught my breath. ‘Gerda!’
‘Well, it’s not impossible, is it? He really did like her, you know. And, let’s face it he won’t have much in the way of competition.’
‘Not very nicely put, Harald, but I suppose you’re right. She’s got two children by Veste Kjeldson.’
‘Two!’
‘Yes, Kohl told me she had one before she came here.’
‘The little snot-eater!’
‘Harald, your language! And anyway I believe Olvir has a couple of little ones here.’
‘That’s different.’
‘Oh, is it? Anyway, he should be married and he should have his own place.’
Olvir didn’t return until well into the afternoon the next day.
‘There’s unclaimed land over there,’ he said. ‘Good grazing and water. We could leave a small herd there and see how it goes.’
‘Leave them? Alone?’
‘Yes, I’ve heard people talk about it. Horses can kick and bite, defend themselves against wolves, they run faster than bears. One man said they cope better than sheep.’
‘But they need better grass than sheep. Oh Olvir, I don’t know.’ Harald joined in.
‘Listen, Mor, it may be worth trying. Not with our champion horses, of course, but the others, the working horses, the ones that are getting old and we’d slaughter sooner or later anyway. It would save on winter fodder.’
‘They’d still have to eat. Where would they find grass in winter?’
‘A haybarn, we’d cut the hay there and store it then one of us could ride over and feed them every now and then.’ Harald was enthusiastic. As always he seemed to have all the answers and I realised he and Olvir had already talked about this.
A week later Olvir announced that he would ride over to the intended grazing area and look at it more carefully.
‘I’ll come with you,’ I said.
‘Ah, well, I won’t ...’
‘And I’ll go on and pay Kohl Ivarson a visit since we’ll be travelling in that direction. Why don’t you come too?’ Olvir blushed. I continued: ‘I shall take some gifts for Kohl and Gerda. I know she’d like to see you. She told me she deeply regretted treating you so badly.’ Olvir’s cheeks went even redder and the colour spread down his neck.
‘Sigrid, I think maybe I’d prefer to wait with any visits and gifts until I’ve got to know Gerda a little better.’ I flung my arms round him and laughed.
‘Forgive me, I’m teasing you because I’m cross that you’re so secretive. I have no cause to visit Kohl. But I would like to see the area you think we could mark out for the horses. So I shall come with you and then I’ll return here and you go wherever you please.’
‘So, you don’t mind if I visit Gerda?’
‘No, she’s had a cruel time of it. I don’t believe she meant to hurt anyone. She was a silly girl, selfish, spoilt by her mother. Maybe she’s grown wiser from what happened. I don’t dislike her and I don’t blame her for any of what happened.’
I rode with him the next day. We noted possible places for a haybarn. I began to think maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. Then Olvir continued on to Kohl Ivarson’s farm and I returned home.
A few days later Kohl arrived with a small but formal retinue. He was one of our closest neighbours so a visit from him was not unusual. This was different, though. He was dressed in fine clothes and brought gifts. I welcomed him and sent Aluinn to fetch down a smoked ham from where it hung above the hearth. Vida got honey cakes and almonds from the stores. This was important and I wanted to make sure the meal we put in front of Kohl was good fare.
We enquired about each other’s families, spoke of matters from the last Thing, gossiped a bit about neighbours and when Kohl searched for words I asked again:
‘I hope your wife is well and your daughter.’
‘Oh yes, my wife is healthy and seems to accept our situation now. Gerda, well, that’s what I’ve come to talk about. Your fostring, Olvir, nice young man, strong and clever even if he’s no warrior. It seems Gerda likes him and I was wondering. You see she’ll inherit the farm and under normal circumstances I would expect suitors to flock at my gate. But errrm, oh, I’m sorry, I’m not putting this very well am I?’
‘You are a man of the sword not the word, Kohl Ivarson. I am not offended. Have the two formed an attachment?’
‘I think so. Gerda smiles and laughs and he looks at her the way a man should look at a woman, if you take my meaning.’
‘I have to tell you that, although I shall provide for Olvir so he won’t come empty-handed, he has no prospects.’
‘Oh, that I don’t mind. My farm is more than enough for the two of them.’
‘Have you told him about Gerda’s children?’
‘Well, this is the most astounding, my daughter seems to have drunk deeply from the Horn of Truth. She told him herself. I know, I was there, I heard her! I tell you I was right proud of her then.’
‘What did Olvir say?’
‘Nothing but he made her bring them to him and, I tell you, he was a lot nicer about them than I would have been. Got on famously they did.’
‘Olvir has a way with children,’ I said. ‘Mine doted on him.’ Kohl smiled from ear to ear. We shook hands and the wedding preparations could begin.
I was pleased to have been proved right; Gerda had learnt her lesson. Olvir would be good for her. And she would be good for him, he would have a family of his own, a place of his own where his heritage would not matter. Maybe Gerda would make a farmer of him. I could always hope.
Chapter 9
Reconciliation
There seemed no point in delay so we held a wedding feast the month before Yule. Kohl Ivarson’s countenance was a curious mixture of pride and relief. Gerda’s mother cried when she told me how happy she was to gain a son rather than lose a daughter.
‘I couldn’t bear to be witho
ut her again,’ she said.
Poor Olvir, I thought. But my worry about this overbearing mother-in-law was allayed when I saw Olvir’s friendly, joking way with her. He’d manage. I should never have doubted that.
Kohl had sent out invitations. He seemed surprised at how many of his neighbours accepted. Gerda’s past was forgotten or at least forgiven. Guests brought gifts but much more importantly they honoured Kohl with their attendance and treated his daughter like any other bride. Olvir’s openly kind treatment of Gerda’s two children was confusing to some.
‘The little boy even calls him Father,’ I overheard a farmer’s wife tell her friend. I turned and looked at them.
‘Yes, isn’t that nice?’ her friend hurried to say and they both nodded and smiled.
Kveldulf and Nanna arrived. Kveldulf went to join the men drinking. Nanna and Gerda sat down with their arms around each other’s waists. I watched them talk together. Gerda saw me and waved for me to join them.
‘Tell her,’ she said to Nanna.
‘Tell me what?’ I said feeling awkward.
‘Gerda says you should be told about my brother Veste,’ said Nanna. I was at this point not sure I wanted to talk about Kjeld’s son and the attack on Becklund. But Gerda, emboldened by her new status as bride, pulled me down to sit with them.
‘He was with the men who attacked your hall,’ said Nanna. ‘There’s no denying it. He was forced by my father. You see, Veste was very trusting. He asked one of the servants to help him abduct Gerda. He must have thought they were friends. I watched them set off. It was very exciting. I so hoped it would go well for them. Then I saw my father and some of his men follow them. I knew it would all go wrong then and I cried for Gerda and Veste. There was nothing I could do. The next morning Father told me Veste was dead and dishonoured and would never be spoken of again. I didn’t dare ask what had happened.’
Gerda was called to greet new guests. Nanna and I stayed sitting together.
‘I’m sorry your brother was killed. I fear it may have been by my hand.’
‘No, it was my father’s doing. You defended your home and your children. I never wanted to see what a cruel, selfish man my father was. I mourn Veste but it is not your fault.’
I had to turn and look into her face. She meant what she said. But how was it possible for her not to blame me?
‘I don’t remember my mother. Neither did Veste. Lawman Leifr told me what she did and he told me that when you and my father paid each other weregeld for the people that were killed, you forced him to make us free. But for you I would still be a thrall. How can I be anything but grateful?’
‘I never understood why he didn’t free you before.’
‘My step-mother, she hoped for children of her own and didn’t want us to be able to inherit the farm. She wasn’t unkind she just looked to her own future.’
‘How are you able to be so forgiving, Nanna?’
‘It was when I stayed in the monastery. It was a good place for me. I had been so spoilt by my father I thought I’d always have my own way. The brothers and sisters taught me to think about others and to take responsibility and do what’s right. They were kinder to me than to poor Cinedred. She was punished. She spoke of you a lot and how you’d been understanding and kind. She helped me see why you didn’t want me to marry Kveldulf and that you just wanted to protect your family from my father. By then I knew what he was like so it all made sense. When Eysten came to tell me about the lawsuit I knew what I had to do.’
‘You showed great courage. It can’t have been easy.’
‘It wasn’t, he was my father after all but I knew what he had done and I knew I had to tell.’
‘You made yourself a pauper.’
‘I knew you’d look after me.’
‘What! How did you know that?’
‘I knew you were honourable and you had already helped me once. You gave me a blanket so I wouldn’t freeze. Then when Eysten Mordson caught up with me and took me to the monastery, I was so relieved. You’d found a place for me where my father would never find me. I was safe. So I knew you wouldn’t let me suffer.’
I reached out for her hand.
‘Nanna, I am so sorry now for how I treated you. I was in fear that you would like your sister try to harm me and my family.’
‘My sister! You mean Anna? Did she try to harm you?’
‘She poisoned friends of mine and set fire to Becklund. Several people died.’
‘Oh Mistress…’
‘Mor, we agreed, I’m Mor.’
‘I didn’t know. I remember you brought her body back to Swanhill. They told us she’d had an accident while out riding on her own.’
‘That was true. When we found her she’d been dead a couple of days. She wanted to avenge your mother by setting fire to Becklund.’
‘I don’t remember my mother at all but, I suppose, Anna did. Mor, it is a very sad story but all this killing for revenge cannot continue in eternity. Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord.’ She touched her silver cross. ‘We are all safe now. My father will not come back here again.’
It was time for the bedding. Gerda’s mother called me and Nanna and we led Gerda to the bed she would share with Olvir. We undressed her, put a soft silk undershirt on her and combed out her hair. She hugged first her mother then me.
‘Sigrid Kveldulfsdaughter,’ she whispered, ‘I am so grateful to you.’ Then we left her and her mother went to tell Olvir his bride was ready. As was customary the men had done their best to get Olvir drunk. He did look a bit the worse for wear but when we bid him go inside and complete the marriage he winked at me and his step was steady.
‘He has a way of getting others to drink while Odin knows where he’s put his own ale.’ Kohl Ivarson slurred as he leaned on a giggling Harald.
Late in the night, as most people had found sleeping places in barns or in tents, I sat alone with my thoughts. Kohl and his wife may have gained a son but I had lost Olvir. He was all I had from my old life. He was the child who had joined me as I fled from the raid when my father was killed and the rest of my family scattered. He was my nephew, of course, but how could that describe the bond between us that had been forged through the hardships and dangers we had faced together.
The next morning I couldn’t help feeling tearful when I bade him farewell.
‘I won’t be far away,’ he said. ‘I’m a lot closer than if I’d gone to keep Wulfstan company.’
‘Shall Kohl and Gerda make a farmer of you?’ He laughed.
‘Would you like that, Sigrid?’
‘Yes, I would.’
‘That’s three against one. Not fair, but I’ll try to give in gracefully.’
Spring 953
Kirsten didn’t often look worried. She had a way of reassuring you, to make you think she could deal with anything. So when she spoke to me about Gudrun, I knew it was not to be taken lightly.
‘She’s not herself, Sigrid. I gave her a strengthening brew but it has had no effect. She’s too young to become a woman so it nothing to do with monthly blood.’
‘What do you think it is?’
She looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t know but… Sigrid, the falcon is back.’
‘The Peregrine? You mean the one…?’
‘Yes. Hush.’ She put her fingers together in the sign to ward off evil. I took a step back and couldn’t stop myself from looking up at the sky.
‘There was a Peregrine falcon at the battlefield when Ragnar was killed,’ I said. Kirsten’s eyes darkened and her jaws worked.
‘Oh, Sigrid, I don’t have the knowledge to protect you. I must …’
Gudrun came trotting up to us on Rainbow. She slumped in the saddle and held her hands out for me to lift her down
‘What’s wrong with my big girl?’
‘I’m so tired, Mor.’
‘You don’t eat enough, little Squirrel.’
‘I do, I eat as much as I can, honest.’
I put her to bed. My daughter,
the wild, untamed one, wanted to go to bed in the middle of the afternoon. I went to look for Harald. He was in the stables grooming Rainbow.
‘What’s the matter with her, Mor? I never thought I’d have reason to complain about her keeping out of here. She usually won’t let anyone else near her horse.’ He turned to face me. ‘There’s something wrong, isn’t there? I can tell Kirsten is worried.’
‘I don’t know. We think maybe…’ I looked at the sky, just in case, then I whispered: ‘You remember Gunnhild?’
‘Why, by Thor’s pissing goats, you think she’s cursed? But why her? Why not me or Thorstein?’
‘One by one, beginning with your father.’
‘Oh, Mor, no!’ He seemed to turn something over in his mind. ‘There’s something I should tell you. I think Kirsten holds ceremonies or something at night. At first I thought she sneaked out to meet somebody. Then I realised she took a big bundle with her, so I, well I know I shouldn’t, but one night I followed her.’
‘Where did she go?’
‘That’s the thing, I don’t know. She headed for the trees but I lost her almost immediately. It was dark and she just vanished. I waited and, Mor, I’m as brave as the next warrior but that night the air felt thick with forces I really didn’t want to tangle with. I could almost touch the spirits.’
‘Did she stay out long?’
‘I don’t know. It started to rain, an absolute deluge. I went back home to dry out, grateful for the excuse, to be honest.’
‘Was she home the next morning?’
‘Yes, but that’s not it. There was no trace of that rainstorm, no puddles, no wet thatch, nothing. If I’d known about Gudrun, I would have told you before but I was embarrassed to have spied on her.’ I made my decision.
‘Harald, whatever happens tonight I want you to stay in your bed.’ He opened his mouth to object but I stared him down.
Kirsten left her cot and walked across the floor. She made no sound, almost as if she were floating. I just had time to notice that she carried a staff before she opened the door and slipped out. A staff, I thought, the emblem of a volva, she had taken the part of a sorceress. I waited a few moments, it wasn’t as if I didn’t know where she was headed.
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