Brann stared at him, comprehension slowly dawning. ‘But she said that Ulfar is your father.’ He shook his head in despair. ‘Oh, gods. She is your sister.’
‘That she is, my boy, and she has got it bad for you,’ Hakon said, beaming. ‘Lord Ragnarr likes to staff this place with as many families as possible for reasons of trust and loyalty and suchlike, but she is risking even his good nature and my mother’s – I believe she made you some dinner when you first arrived.’ Brann groaned and nodded weakly. It just got worse and worse. He was surrounded by this family. There was no escape in sight from sources of teasing, torment and nagging. But Hakon was continuing blithely. ‘You see, she is not meant to bring dirty laundry through here. It is all to do with dirt and food and things like that. So that is why I say that she must have it bad for you: she is risking a dressing-down just to let you know that she is doing your washing for you. Rest assured: she would not risk that for just anyone.’ He thought for a second. ‘In fact, she would not even do the washing in the first place for just anyone.’
Brann’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why are you so relaxed about it? I thought brothers were meant to be over-protective about their sisters? Shouldn’t you be telling me right now that you’ll beat me to death with my severed arm if I even go near her again?’
Hakon’s grin had barely faded through the whole conversation. ‘Oh, it’s you who is far more likely to need protection in that relationship. My sister is absolutely capable of lethal severed-arm beatings all by herself. And, besides, it is much more fun making you squirm than any alternative.’
‘Stop it, please, Hakon,’ Brann objected. ‘A man can only take so much before he breaks.’ Secretly, however, he hoped that the boy would continue. He found that he was enjoying being linked in the conversation with Valdis. Hakon did not let him down.
‘My father always fancied having a second son. I am sure he will like you, even though you are probably around half the size that he had imagined. We could maybe fix you up with some stilts, though. Or stretch your legs with some weights.’
‘Considering the size of your father, I think anyone would seem small to him,’ Brann pointed out.
‘There, you see,’ Hakon said triumphantly, ‘you are coming round to the idea already.’
‘I am not,’ Brann objected. ‘Yes I think she is the most gorgeous girl that ever walked this world. There, I have admitted it. But I hardly know her. And I am unlikely to ever know her when I get so nervous every time I see her that I can barely speak a word of sense.’
‘No change from normal there, then,’ Hakon pointed out helpfully.
‘And I am terrified of your father,’ Brann said, ignoring him. ‘He is huge, he is loud, and when he rescued us, he did not even, well…’ He tailed off, realising that what he was about to say would be hurtful.
‘He did not even acknowledge me?’ Hakon finished for him. ‘Or look relieved that I was alive? Or ask about me? It is all right, do not look so shocked. It is all an act – everyone knows it is, but he is scared witless at the thought that anyone would think that he is showing me any sort of favouritism, and this is the way that he decided that he would handle things.’ He leant forward conspiratorially. ‘He is actually quite a softy really. In fact, Valdis said he cried twice at home this week: once when news came through of my capture, and again when he brought me home again safely.’ He grinned. ‘But do not dare tell anyone that, or I will have to kill you and the person you spoke to in order to protect the family name.’
‘Seems fair to me,’ Brann observed, and they laughed, falling into easy banter as they ate. While they did so, Brann mused over the speed at which Hakon’s personality had changed from the withdrawn boy badly affected by the experience of his capture – and who would not be? – to this easy-going, light-hearted boy before him, with a nature that put Brann instantly at ease. Perhaps his rapid recovery was due to a harder day-to-day life here than the one Brann had left behind; the ache deep within him from all he had endured – particularly the deaths of his family and the brutal murder of his brother in front of him – never abated: he had merely become used to the pain being there as a constant companion that, unheralded, violently erupts then recedes to its simmering constancy. Although Hakon’s experience had been only a few days compared with the weeks – with no end in prospect – that Brann was enduring, and while the alien experiences he had faced were fewer in number than those that Brann had encountered and continued to do so, what he had gone through had been horrifying almost beyond belief. And it had been at the hands of the most terrifying form of humankind that surely existed; whereas, Brann admitted, he had – with the exception of the Boar episode – been treated unexpectedly well considering his new status as a slave. He wondered at the resilience of the boy facing him, who could return to normality after only one night’s – and a morning’s – sleep. But, then again, he had returned home, to his normal life… and to his family. Again, the ache swelled up.
Valdis breezed back into the room, and Brann’s attention, split between Hakon’s chatter and his reverie, instantly found a new object.
‘Sorry, boys,’ she chimed, sweeping across the kitchen with a pail brimming with water. ‘But your time of sloth is over. Your respective lords require your presence.’
Brann groaned and Hakon spoke for both of them. ‘Is there no respite? Duty is a merciless beast of hell.’
‘A touch over the top,’ Valdis observed, assembling vegetables before her. ‘But you would have had to leave in any case: the real workers around here are needing the kitchen now.’ She paused and fixed Hakon with a twinkling gaze. ‘Mother will be here any moment.’
Hakon leapt to his feet with vigour. ‘Come, Brann, our wonderful duty calls,’ he proclaimed enthusiastically.
Brann gathered the remnants of their meal into a neat pile. ‘It seems the wrath of our respective lords is nothing compared with the prospect of a certain lady,’ he observed.
Hakon fixed him with a baleful eye. ‘Do make light of it. If you would rather learn the hard way whether to fear the men or the women in our family, feel free to linger here.’
Brann got hurriedly to his feet. ‘I think I will decline that lesson,’ he acceded, brushing crumbs from his tunic. He paused in the doorway. ‘Thank you,’ he said to the girl.
‘For the meal?’ she asked coquettishly.
‘For everything since last night,’ he said, awkwardly and shyly.
‘But you do not know if I told you all that I did for you last night,’ she smiled innocently, then laughed at the colour and horror that exploded in Brann’s face as he fled the scene.
By the time Hakon had directed him to Einarr’s quarters, the flush had faded from his face. In fact, colour had fled his cheeks altogether as he remembered that there was a good chance that he was about to face a lord who was furious about the events of the past few days.
Einarr’s barked response to his timid knock did not bode well; neither did the stern expression that met him when he entered.
The tall man, clad as ever in black, noted the boy’s pale complexion.
‘Feeling nervous?’ he said. Brann saw no advantage in denying it, and nodded. ‘Well you might be. As a page, to leave your lord’s service for days, without permission, is about as serious an offence as you could commit. As a slave, you were risking even more dire sanctions.’
He paused. ‘Fortunately for you, Konall has claimed that you only left with him under protest after he ordered you to do so, although I have my doubts. In any case, as a noble and the heir to the title, he has the authority to do so, irrespective as to whether he was right or wrong in using that authority.
‘The end result is that you are off the hook. As for my cousin, it is for his father to decide. However, the information you brought back is invaluable, and the possible blow to the morale of these people, both through the fact that we now know the location of one of their settlements and the ignominy of captives being rescued from under their noses, not the mention
the wiping out of a fairly substantial band of mercenaries, is also an immense boon. Best of all, we are on to Loku and, even better, it is almost certain that he does not know that. Which will make things interesting. So, all that considered, the advantages are such that I would expect Lord Ragnarr to be more pleased than displeased with his son.’
He stood and moved to the window, gazing across the rooftops to the harbour beyond. ‘The boy has certainly enhanced his reputation among the warriors he will one day lead. And,’ he brought his dark eyes to bear on Brann, ‘I must say he speaks highly of your abilities. Which is no faint praise from one such as Konall.’
‘I have noticed,’ Brann agreed. ‘Though I think he has improved over the last few days.’
Einarr was unable to totally hide his amusement. ‘That depends on how you define “better”. Anyway, if half of what Konall relates is true, you have a talent. Where did you learn to fight?’
‘Nowhere. It is not something we ever did in our village.’ He noticed something, quickly masked, flit across Einarr’s eyes. Guilt? Regret? Sympathy? He had no way of knowing. He shrugged. ‘I just did what seemed right at the time. Most times I did not even know what I was doing until after I had done it.’
‘You have a talent,’ Einarr confirmed, ‘whether you like it or not. But do not be disparaging about it – it may save your life.’ He reflected for a moment. ‘It already has, several times on your little trip, so I hear. And do not forget the incident with Boar.’
Brann shifted uncomfortably. ‘That was not necessarily me.’
Einarr barked a laugh. ‘Do not put on that act. You are not in trouble. And it is fairly pointless anyway, since I saw the whole episode as I ran to try to stop what everyone thought would be your certain death.’
Brann was stunned. ‘You saw it all? Then why was I not executed? Why have I not been punished?’
The Captain returned to his vigil at the window. ‘We are a different people to yours. Among us, such incidents are not uncommon. Those who are smart learn from the mistakes of others. Those who are not so smart are usually not around long enough to pass on that characteristic to future generations.’ He sighed. ‘It may seem brutal to you, but that is the way here. So it did not seem harsh to me – it was just the way of things. It is a hard life here, and it needs hard men. And, from the news you brought back, it looks like it will get harder still. So, go now. I have sent the ship out for a couple of days of rowing practice – the men were getting soft, and needed the exercise. I have no real need of you at the moment, so take the opportunity to recuperate. I presume you may find some diversion or other in the kitchen.’
Brann blushed, and Einarr laughed. There seemed to be a recurring theme developing, Brann thought ruefully. He decided, wisely, against replying – embarrassment was freezing his thoughts, in any case – and, as Einarr held the door open for him, he left the room in silence, much to the Captain’s increasing amusement.
He walked slowly along the passage, wondering where he should go. He knew where he wanted to go, and eventually his desire overwhelmed his nerves and he tentatively made his way down the stairs towards the kitchen. The hubbub as he approached, however, raised doubts as to whether he would be welcome there, and the maelstrom of activity that greeted his eyes when he peeked around the corner into the room confirmed his suspicions. He waited long enough to catch a glimpse of Valdis before, breath catching in his throat, he retreated unseen back to his room. He felt alone. The fact that he did not belong in this place made him feel nervous about venturing abroad in the town and, more than at any other time since he had been snatched from his home, he had a deep aching sense of the vast distance between him and all that he had previously known.
One of the shutters that opened inwards to the room had swung partially closed, and he moved to push it flat against the wall, retaining it with a small hook. He leant on the sill, fiddling absently with a small, loose fragment of stone before flicking it idly over the edge. As he watched it fall, his gaze fell upon the afternoon bustle of the town.
‘If I am going to be bored and lonely,’ he thought, ‘I might as well be down there with something to look at rather than up here brooding.’
He made his way downstairs and, after fewer attempts than he had anticipated, found the main doors leading to the outside world. Once in among the townsfolk he felt as lonely as ever – even lonelier, if truth be told, as he seemed to be the only one who did not know everybody else. He meandered awkwardly through the crowds of traders offering goods, potential buyers examining everything from farm produce and clothing to weapons and utensils, and warriors moving purposefully but with the relaxed look of those comfortable in their hometown. Here and there, people had stopped to chat and, as he waited for a chance to pass one such group, he felt a rough shove on his shoulder.
‘Out of my way, peasant,’ a cold voice snapped. He looked around in time to see Konall brusquely pushing past him. ‘How dare you sully my path with your inferior existence,’ the young noble added for good measure.
Such was Brann’s feeling of uneasiness, it took him a moment for him to realise that it had been one of Konall’s attempts at humour.
‘Just laugh and encourage him,’ Hakon said, moving beside him.
Feeling relief flood over him at encountering familiar faces, Brann fell into step with Hakon as far as the crowds would allow. ‘I expect he is finding it a little awkward to be funny after so many humourless years,’ he suggested.
Hakon grinned. ‘That is not all he is feeling awkward about. Look at him. Do you know what is different?’
Brann shrugged. ‘Well, he is not exactly skipping along, humming a jaunty tune. How would I know what has changed?’
‘Of course, of course,’ Hakon accepted. ‘I keep forgetting you only arrived so recently. Well, previously when Konall ventured forth among the people of the town, his desire for privacy meant that he dressed in a long cloak with a deep hood to hide his face. Everyone knew it was him, of course, but they all went along with it to keep him happy – or at least,’ he corrected himself, ‘so as not to upset him. Now, since his little jaunt with you,’ Brann noted yet again the local penchant for trivialising danger, ‘he is a changed boy. He is not exactly a court jester, but this is Konall we are talking about. Other than issuing commands, he spoke to me twice today, which – believe me – is unheard of, and now this: venturing forth among the little people with his identity in full view!’
Brann laughed. ‘Do not talk about “little people”. I am less than average height in my homeland, but here I feel like a small child. I have had nothing but strange and curious looks about my lack of inches since I came down here.’
‘Worry not, Stumpy,’ Hakon grinned. ‘It is not strange and curious looks that my sister gives you – at least not in this sense.’ Brann treated him to a hefty dig of his elbow. ‘Anyway, you are not liable to be attracting any attention now that the great unhooded one has appeared. The trouble is, he wants to do it, but feels awkward about it. And the people around him do not know how to react. Should they approach him, or is it not etiquette to do so unsolicited? Or should they act as if it is all perfectly normal, although would that be considered just as rude, as if they were ignoring the heir to the title? It is all incredibly entertaining.’
They had reached a market square, and a ripple of excitement was spreading through the throng. Surely, Brann wondered, Konall’s appearance was not as startling as that. They caught up with the tall boy, who had stopped a merchant to ask the cause of the excitement. The startled man was being dismissed by Konall as they reached him.
‘There is a boat docking,’ the noble boy said. ‘They do not know yet what sort of goods it is bearing, but new wares always lift spirits.’
Brann shrugged. ‘I suppose we will just have to wait and see.’
‘Not me,’ Konall said. He turned abruptly towards the house nearest to them and strode up to the man standing in the doorway. ‘Do you mind if I use your roof?’ he asked
the astonished householder.
Eyes wide, the man stammered, ‘Of course not, Lord Konall.’
The tall boy disappeared into the building, only to reappear in a rush not long afterwards. His expression purposeful, he said, ‘It is no trader. That ship bears Sigurr’s crest. I would say that our leisure time is over, boys.’
They walked fast back to Ragnarr’s hall but, before they had travelled far, a messenger raced past. Quickening the pace, forcing Brann to break into a trot, Konall said, ‘I presume we will all be needed in our various capacities, so it would be wise to be there as soon after the messenger delivers the news as possible.’
They reached the hall at speed, Brann breathing more heavily than the other two, he noticed with irritation – he knew they were extremely fit and he was not; he just didn’t like being reminded of it – and went their separate ways: Konall, followed by Hakon, to find his father and Brann to Einarr’s quarters.
He knocked on the Captain’s door and was immediately called inside. Stripped to the waist, showing the lean, tautly muscled torso of a seasoned warrior, Einarr was splashing water over himself.
Without looking round, he said, ‘Get yourself freshened up. Make sure you look tidy and be back here in five minutes.’
Brann left the room without a word, hurrying to make sure he did so in the allotted time. From Einarr’s tone, he was sure that lateness would not meet with the same relaxed reaction he had enjoyed earlier in the day.
He reached his room just as Valdis emerged from the doorway. Startled, they both jumped. Just for a moment, the girl’s composure deserted her and she flushed, eyes wide and slightly biting her lower lip. It was, however, just for a moment. She brushed her hands down the front of her dress to make sure it was sitting properly and, by the time she looked back up, she was as assured as ever. Brann was impressed. He knew that he was still blushing furiously – and the knowledge made him blush even more.
Hero Born Page 34