Rule of the Shieldmaiden

by Jaime Loughran

  “How so?” Galinn released his hold on her.

  “I haven’t worked it all out just yet, but there has to be a way. In the meantime, we act as if we know nothing.”

  A few hours later, after Hagen and his men settled into camp, the jarls met in Harold’s tent. Beri, Galinn, and Bjorn accompanied Thora and stood behind her when she took her seat at the table with the other jarls. Njal had Erik at his back, while Hagen and Harold had men Thora hadn’t met before with them.

  “Now that we’re all here with our men, we have to work out our plan of attack.” Harold opened the discussion without preamble.

  Thora remained silent, opting to listen to the suggestions of the jarls to determine who was on her side and who was on Hagen’s. She resisted the urge to sneer when Hagen spoke up first.

  “My thinking is Thora and her army should take the lead. Galinn knows the inside of the fort well, and they should be the vanguard for this attack.” He shifted in his seat and refused to look at either her or Galinn.

  Thora said nothing, but watched carefully as Harold and Njal considered Hagen’s words.

  “That’s a sound plan, Hagen.” Njal tapped the table with his forefinger as he nodded. Thora’s breath caught in her throat at how quickly Njal seemed to accept Hagen’s plan. “However, I’m not sure that it’s the plan of attack we should go with. It’s true Galinn knows the fort well, yes, but their army is also the smallest. If this attack is to be successful, it will be because all three of us combined our forces.”

  Hagen looked as if he would object, but Harold spoke up before he could say anything. “I’m with Njal on this one. Overthrowing the High King of Ireland is no small task. We all agreed to join forces with Thora to accomplish this goal, and the best way to do that isn’t to divvy up our armies according to who leads them.”

  “What do you suggest then?” Hagen growled as his face turned red.

  Harold waved a hand dismissively. “That’s easy. The army we send into the fort first needs to be made up of all of our best men. Since we’ll be going in in small numbers, we need to make sure those inside are capable of standing their ground until reinforcements arrive, should our movements alert our enemy and they rally before we’re all in position.”

  Thora studied the grain pattern in the oak tabletop and smiled. She doubted Hagen had turned either of the other jarls against her. That meant he was on his own, and would now be forced to put up some of his best men or risk exposing what he’d done. She raised her eyes and looked between the jarls. “That is a strong plan, Harold. One I would have suggested myself.”

  “Yes, yes. That is an excellent plan. Erik here will see to the selection of my men.” Njal quickly chimed in as he waved Erik off to see to the task.

  Harold nodded to his men to do the same.

  All eyes swung to Hagen, who ran a hand over his bald head, which was now covered in a sheen of sweat. Thora lifted an eyebrow. Being November, the weather wasn’t warm enough to cause sweating when simply seated at a table. Hagen didn’t meet anyone’s eyes as he nodded slowly. “You’re right, Harold. That does sound like a much better plan. I’ll go see to selecting my men.” He rose from his chair and left the tent with his men.

  Harold looked at Njal, who shrugged his shoulders.

  Thora watched both jarls, fairly confident neither of them had betrayed her or their mission. She glanced up at Bjorn and then Galinn. They seemed to know what she was thinking and didn’t object. She nodded as her heartbeat sped up in anticipation. What if she was wrong about these two? She had to risk it.

  “Hagen has betrayed us to Donnchadh.” She let the declaration hang in the air.

  Harold and Njal’s eyes snapped to her face. Shock. Anger. Disbelief. Thora saw a range of emotions play across their faces as the news sank in.

  Harold pounded the table with his fist. “That changes everything!” He roared.

  “Why would he do such a stupid thing?” Njal shook his head as it hang heavily from his shoulders.

  “I can’t answer the why. Only he would know that—”

  “I’ll ask him myself!” Njal pushed himself to his feet.

  Thora rose from her chair and held up her hands as she blocked his exit. “Wait. Don’t rush off and do anything just yet.” At their quizzical looks, she explained. “He doesn’t know we know.”

  Harold held up a hand to stop her, his eyes narrowing. “How do you know he’s betrayed us?”

  Thora glanced at Galinn who barely shook his head. She agreed with him. She couldn’t reveal their source. If word traveled back to Donnchadh that it was Turlough, he would be at risk with little hope of them being able to come to his aid. She couldn’t do that to him. “I can only tell you the information came to us from a source within the fort that I need to keep private. For now, I need you both to trust me. That is, if you’re still with me in this.”

  Njal scratched his red beard. “We can no longer rely on this being a surprise attack?”

  Thora shook her head.

  “This does change everything, but it doesn’t make it hopeless. However, we will have to be exceptionally careful in what we tell Hagen or his men.”

  Harold nodded. “Agreed.”

  Thora cocked her head. “So, I can trust you both?”

  Harold stood and extended his arm across the table. Thora grasped his forearm as he grasped hers. “By the gods, you have my word. My men and I will support your campaign against Donnchadh…and then I’ll kill Hagen myself for his betrayal.” He released her forearm.

  Njal turned, extended his arm, and clasped forearms with Harold before offering his outstretched arm to Thora. “I’m with you both in this.”

  Thora smiled as she released Njal’s arm and returned to her seat before her unsteady knees gave out on her. A wave of relief washed over her that her trust in those two was rewarded. “The three of us need to adjust our plans to account for Hagen’s treachery without him becoming aware that we know.”

  “The first thing we need to account for is that he will most likely not send his best men in the vanguard.” Harold leaned back and cast his gaze upward. “If I had arranged for such treachery, I wouldn’t even send in good men. In fact, I might send in the worst of my army or send in my men with the orders to kill those on our side.”

  Njal steep led his fingers before him on the table. “Yes. If I was going to betray my allies, that’s most likely what I would do too.”

  Thora motioned for Bjorn and Galinn to take seats on either side of her. “So, we need a plan that tries to account not only for the king knowing we’re coming, but also for any attacks from Hagen. Battles get confusing under the most well thought out plans. It would be nothing for his men to turn against us once we’re in the thick of battle. I’m open to ideas.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Galinn wiped the drizzling rain from his brow and surveyed the army before him, satisfied with those under his command. Each jarl sent no less than twenty of their best men to accompany Thora’s army of men and shieldmaidens. At the back of the army, Bjorn and Beri stood on either side of the line of ten shieldmaidens, like proud teachers beside their pupils. Having seen what Bjorn was able to do with Thora, Galinn had no doubt these women were as fierce and lethal as the men behind them. Thora stood on Bjorn’s other side, ready to fight with her people. His instinct to protect her rose up, battling with the logical side of his brain that knew she was a skilled warrior who could look after herself. He tried to convince her to remain in camp with the other jarls, but she refused. She refused to send her people to fight if she wasn’t going to fight with them. One corner of his mouth tilted up at her loyalty.

  The dull gray sky threatened to continue dropping its slow and steady drizzle of rain for the foreseeable future. This time of year, he was fortunate the rain wasn’t coming down in cold sheets. The weather didn’t change his course of action, and he hoped the rain would stay as it was, and not get any heavier.

  “You all know the plan, yes?”

&nb
sp; A murmur moved through the gathered army.

  “What was that?” Galinn barked.

  “Yes!” The men and women shouted in perfect unison.

  Galinn smiled. “Good. Move out!” Galinn stepped to the side and fell in step with Thora when the army passed. “Is everything set?”

  Thora nodded. “Njal sent one of his other men ahead in wagons with our weapons.”

  Galinn glanced at Thora’s naked belt and frowned. “You should have kept yours,” he mumbled, knowing it was useless to argue the point now that her weapons were already on a wagon inside the walls of the fort.

  “There’s nothing to worry about, so long as we’re not attacked before we get into the fort.” She kept her eyes on the road ahead.

  “That’s the part I’m worried about.”

  “You worry too much. You were satisfied with the scout’s report on Travers and his men leaving the fort. You said yourself that Donnchadh’s arrogance would have him believing he’d have plenty of time to mount an attack, even if he noticed us sneaking in. Hagen doesn’t know this plan.” She motioned to the army in front of her.

  “He knows your weapons are on a wagon instead of on your belt, and where we’re going.” Galinn couldn’t help the argumentative streak running through him. As much as he tried to tell himself otherwise, he worried for Thora’s safety in this attack, and not just because of what her loss would mean to her people. His stupidity kept him away from her for four months. Now that he was back with her and secure in the knowledge the people of the town accepted him, he couldn’t imagine not being with her. If he were honest with himself, he left because he was afraid of getting close to her when there was the possibility of losing her. After losing Rónán, Galinn couldn’t imagine suffering that kind of grief ever again. Now here he was, on a precipice where one wrong move could cost him Thora. The thought set his teeth on edge.

  She put a hand on his arm, stopped walking, and turned to face him. Her eyes held a trace of sadness that had Galinn reconsidering his attitude. His concern for her safety was coming across as a lack of faith in her abilities. That wasn’t what he wanted. “Galinn, I know you’re worried about me. I understand that, but you have to understand my position. I cannot send my people to die in an attack I planned because of my own personal reasons without going with them.”

  He covered her hand on his arm with his hand, pushed away the nagging what ifs, and took in the warmth of her skin. “I know,” he sighed. “I just wish there was a way to take out Donnchadh without all this.” He swung his arm, motioning toward the army moving ahead of them and the camp behind them.

  “We will be victorious. Have no fear.” Her radiant and self-assured smile caused his heart to skip a few beats.

  He pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and let his hand rest on the back of her neck. He leaned down and kissed her with everything he had. For all he knew, that was the last time he’d be able to kiss her because either one of them could die in battle only a few short hours from now. He wanted to make sure she went into battle fully aware of the strength of his love for her.

  She raised her hands to his chest before moving them around his neck. She stood on tiptoe and stretched herself against the length of him. Though he was nearly a foot taller than she was, he savored the way their bodies pressed against each other. If only the leather armor wasn’t between them.

  Thora slowly pulled away. Her eyes sparkled with her smile. “I love you too. Now, let’s go slaughter Donnchadh.”

  Galinn smiled. “When we get back, I’m going to keep you in bed for a week.”

  ****

  Something didn’t feel right and Galinn couldn’t put his finger on what was off as he stood behind a tree, watching the open gate of the fort. Donnchadh expected them to attack tomorrow—because that was the original plan Hagen was aware of—but Galinn and Thora made other arrangements. Using the excuse to Hagen at the last moment of moving out early to get into position sooner, they marched the army to a clearing just out of sight from the fort. From there, they could trickle out, one by one, and make their way into the fort just as many people do daily for trade, and attack a day earlier than anticipated. By leaving Hagen in the dark about the changes until the last moment, and then keeping a close eye on him, they didn’t leave him with much of a chance to inform the king of the change in plans.

  Guards stood on either side of the open gate, just as they’ve done every day since Donnchadh took power. People milled about in the courtyard, as usual. Their wagon of weapons was parked along the wall, behind a group of traders who had set up their own carts to sell their wares. On the surface, all appeared as it should, but foreboding gripped Galinn’s stomach in its relentless grasp.

  Was it his concern for Thora making him uncomfortable with the idea of going forward with their plan? He searched his heart and mind and knew it wasn’t. Yes, he was concerned for her safety, but she had an army to protect her—literally. Bjorn and Beri would die before they let any harm come to Thora. Most, if not all, of her people would do the same. His lips turned down. It wasn’t concern for Thora motivating his hesitation.

  “What’s the matter?” Bjorn hissed from a few trees away. The man stood sideways to the tree, doing his best to keep behind it. No small feat, given that there wasn’t a tree in this part of the forest large enough for him to hide behind completely. Fortunately, he wore a dark green tunic under black leather armor that blended with the colors within the forest, camouflaging the parts that stuck out.

  Galinn picked his way closer to Bjorn carefully to not draw any unwanted attention. He crouched behind the wide base of a tree and leaned against it. “Something doesn’t feel right about this.”

  Bjorn studied him. “Can you see our cart?”

  Galinn nodded.

  “Anything appear out of place?”

  Galinn shook his head. “Not a thing.”

  Bjorn’s lips disappeared in a tight line. “Damn it.”

  Galinn let his head slump against the tree behind him as comprehension dawned. He didn’t expect Donnchadh to make any overt changes that would signal him being aware of the attack, but he did expect to see some differences. Subtle ones. Ones he’d be able to notice, having lived within those walls for fifteen years. There was nothing different that he could see from his previous vantage point.

  “What do you think?” Bjorn peered through the gate.

  “I think, if we don’t call off this attack, we need to be extremely careful.” Galinn briefly wondered if he could talk Thora into calling off the attack before he pushed the idea aside. Like it or not, this was still their best chance at getting to Donnchadh.

  Bjorn nodded. “I’ll go tell Thora.”

  Galinn held up a hand to stop him. “Tell her, but only to let her know. Let’s just move ahead with the plan as it is and be ready for anything.”

  A few minutes after Bjorn returned to Thora, Galinn kept watch as their warriors began to move into position within the fort. Thora had the idea of sending in the shieldmaidens first, as very few would suspect a couple of small groups of women. They walked in groups of three, with the tenth shieldmaiden, Rúna, walking arm and arm with Erik. Each woman wore a woolen cloak and carried a basket, just as any woman who was out shopping would. Galinn raised an eyebrow at the convincing act the women put on once inside the gate. When one woman from one group spotted the other group, she’d squeal with delight as if she were seeing a long lost friend. The women in the groups moved from one trader to another and sometimes switched groups, all the while Ásta moved closer to the wagons containing their weapons. Meanwhile, Erik played his role of dutiful spouse, carrying his “wife’s” basket and rolling his eyes as she shopped. He had the long-suffering act down pat. To anyone watching, they were no different from any other woman in that courtyard.

  Erik moved closer to the weapons wagon, making it appear as if he were looking for a place to sit while he waited for his partner, Rúna. Ásta, who stood near the wagon, casually lifted the
canvas cover, ran her hand over the weapons until she came to the one she wanted, and she nimbly slipped the axe onto her belt, using her cloak to cover the motion. She returned to her group as Katla moved over to the wagon. Erik met her at the wagon, giving the appearance of a lovers’ rendezvous when he wrapped his arms around her and pushed her against the wagon. As Erik kissed her, he kept one hand around her waist while the other reached for his weapons. Galinn hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until the dizziness set in, forcing him to release it and take in air. His heart thundered in his ears as he waited to see if their actions aroused any suspicion. So far, it appeared as if all was well.

  As the rest of the shieldmaidens took their turns to get their weapons, more of the army slipped in. Some of the men went to the stable, while others visited the traders and blacksmith. One by one, each made their way to the wagon to retrieve their weapons, being sure to leave time in between.

  Thora walked through the gate with her arm through Bjorn’s. The two talked and laughed as they made their way to a merchant selling bread. Bjorn paid the merchant, took the loaf of bread, and handed it to Thora. She broke off a piece and handed it to Bjorn. The two bit into their pieces of bread as they surveyed the courtyard. Thora ambled over to the wagon. Galinn held his breath and watched the area around her as she got her sword and axe. She also slipped Bjorn’s weapons under her cloak and made her way back to Bjorn in a roundabout fashion, stopping at the different wagons as she went. Despite watching the exchange, and knowing what Thora was going to do, Galinn barely saw her pass Bjorn his weapons. He smiled at her stealth.