The Last Viking Queen

by Taylor, Janelle

  The men began to mumble amongst themselves, agreeing with Alysa and speaking against Ulf, who had misled them. She took advantage of the grim situation. “Now we must leave men here to guard our camp against their families’ revenge. They will be unable to join our glorious quest. I did not realize I had not made myself clear on this matter,” she scoffed sarcastically.

  Rolf was pleased with her reaction and words, as was Eirik, who was concealed nearby and listening intently to this heated discourse.

  “Tell me who was spared.” She directed her query to Rolf. She was relieved when Enid’s name was among the survivors, spared to serve her. Yet she was angered by the death of Ulf’s pitiful slave. She felt responsible for this brutal slaughter, for surely her behavior last night had spurred Ulf to commit such an evil deed.

  By now, many Vikings had gathered around the angry scene. Alysa shouted to be heard by all, “Hear me well, my people. No more slaves are to be taken until after the quest. There must be no more raids on villages and hamlets until we are ready to conquer this land. If we rashly stir up the peasants and lords, they will be compelled to retaliate even at the cost of their lives. We have no time for such one-sided battles until our invasion is under way. Take only the supplies you need for survival, but attack no place or person. You are warriors with much experience and wits. You know how men, even peasants and serfs, react when their wives and children are slaughtered. You can cower men who are frightened, but you cannot control men who are challenged, even if they are weaker. There is another peril in such deeds. If the people seek their king’s protection from us, Vortigern will ride against us, or pay Hengist and Horsa to do so. We need no such trouble at this time. They ignore small raids, but will not ignore us if we rashly terrorize their land. Be patient and use restraint, my people, until we are ready to challenge and conquer all in this land.”

  Rolf shouted above the agreeable murmurings, “Our queen is right. We must think of nothing but our sacred quest.”

  “When dawn comes, I will meet with you at Stonehenge. Trosdan will give us the first clue. Tomorrow our quest begins, my people. May Odin guide us and protect us as he chooses his king and my husband.”

  In her dwelling, Alysa paced the floor. She was angry, angry at herself for letting Ulf best her, angry at Ulf for daring to do so, and angry at the others for letting Ulf dupe them. How she had longed to call him a liar and to pierce his heart with her sword. She had thought that unwise at this time. There was no way she could prove he had betrayed her and used them. Too, he was a warrior who few, if any, wished to challenge. That ominous reality distressed her.

  “You are mine, foul beast of Evil,” she resolved softly.

  What of Eirik? her mind shouted. She had noticed his presence as she was leaving the group, but he had not approached her. There had been a strange look in his green eyes, one which baffled her heart and mind. The words of his friends returned to haunt and confuse her, as did Trosdan’s new warning. For some reason, she did not believe them. Eirik had appeared just when Gavin vanished! She believed in their love, their entwined destiny. The forces of Good would not treat her so cruelly while she was working for them. Gavin was here by design, here for a good purpose just as she was. No matter what anyone or the Runes said or how things seemed, Eirik had to be Gavin.

  Alysa went into the dark kitchen area to fetch some wine to soothe her taut nerves. Night had enwrapped the land in its embracing shadows, but Trosdan was still tending the wounded, pretending to ready them to join the quest. She poured the wine and, feeling as if she were smothering, went to the window for fresh air. The moon highlighted many areas, including the one which Eirik was crossing as he made his way toward where she stood. Quickly, she fetched a candle, hurried to the table, and sat down. Trosdan’s possessions still filled the table. An idea came to mind.

  Before Eirik reached the window to summon her, Alysa decided to help him win this quest, no matter who or what he was. She pretended to be praying to Odin and seeking the Viking god’s divine guidance. She was relieved when Eirik did not interrupt her, as she saw him from beneath the hair falling over the side of her face.

  She whispered softly and urgently, “Hear me, Great Odin, for I have failed you today. Do not punish us for disobeying your commands, as your people were misled. Surely Ulf is controlled by Loki and seeks to defeat your orders. I must be wary of him, for he cannot be trusted. I have felt the evil flowing from him, an evil which seeks to conquer and destroy me. At times, I have been weak and afraid here, and have followed my desires over yours. I will not do so again. If I have not offended you, prove it by showing me where the first treasure is concealed. I vow to tell no one.”

  She lit the candle beneath the crucible which Trosdan had been using earlier. Taking the knife which was lying beside it, she cut off a short lock of her hair and tossed it into the bowl, then lifted a container of green liquid and poured some into the heating bowl. From a pouch, she took a pinch of yellow powder and added it to the mixture, as she had seen Trosdan do. Wisps of lacy blue smoke began to rise.“

  “Hear me, Great Odin, show me the path to your treasure.”

  The mixture boiled quickly and she removed the crucible from the flame. Placing it before her, she added a pinch of red powder to it, creating colorful smoke. She tried to envision the best and quickest way to the place where Trosdan had told her the amulet was hidden. She had never visited this kingdom, but had studied maps of it. The conquering Romans, who had withdrawn from their isle years ago, had constructed imperial roads which ran in every direction and to every tribal area. There were large roads, secondary roads, trails, trackways, and canals. She mentally placed a map of Logris before her mind’s eye.

  She gazed into the smoking liquid and murmured, “Yea, I see the trail growing clearer. We must travel the North Downs trackway toward Maidstone, but not enter it. When we reach the River Medway, we must follow its banks northward. I see where the conqueror Caesar battled with Cassivelaunos for a third time, a place where Androgos revealed his treachery. It is a place of death and victory, many times over. Family slaying family … Three trees standing forever like the three sisters who fiercely battled each other there. At the river’s edge, I see a large rock, a rock which looks like the lost head of one of the sisters. But I do not see your amulet of protection, Great Odin.”

  She dropped in more yellow and red powder and created more colorful smoke. “There, yea, I see it now, beneath the rock. It is a good symbol, Great Odin, a dagger with circles like the two heads of the traitorous sisters. It will warn your people against such evil.”

  Alysa hesitated a moment before she entreated, “Will you show me the face of the winner, Great Odin? The one who will become my husband?”

  The liquid was cold by now and the vapors had ceased rising. She waited, pretending to search the clear surface for a mirrored image. “You do not answer, Great Odin, and perhaps that is best. It will be between Rolf and Eirik, but which will win, I wonder…”

  She sipped the wine and sighed deeply as if exhausted. “Both are good and handsome men. Both are superior warriors. Both seek to win my heart and hand. Each would make a great king and a worthy husband. Have I the right to desire one to win over the other?”

  Alysa stood and cleared away the disarray her potionmaking had caused. She knew Eirik was still listening nearby, as she sensed his presence. He had his first clue to victory, and the gods help her if she had chosen to aid the wrong man.

  Eirik smiled and left. He could not let her learn she had aided him without meaning to do so. His heart soared, for surely the gods had led him to her window tonight to receive such help with his victory. He knew where those battles had taken place. It would only be a short search to locate the trees and rock near the river. Yet he could not make it look too easy or find the amulet too quickly, else others might think he had cheated. Or worse, that she had cheated.

  Eirik gazed eastward. He wondered what Hengist would do when they swept through his area in s
earch of a prize worth dying for.

  Seized by an emotional maelstrom, Rolf paced his longhouse, as he had lost the mandrake during his ride with Alysa and Einar did not possess another magical root to give him. When Enid queried his behavior and mood, he angrily divulged, “I have lost my sacred amulet, and I needed its help on the quest and its protection during the last contest in the battle ring else I will fail and be slain.”

  Much as the enthralled slave did not want her love to wed another woman, Enid could not let death take him out of her reach. “Do not fret, my lord; I am from Logris and I can aid your victory. You saved my life when Ulf tried to slay me with the other captives. Command anything of me, and I will obey. Anything, my Lord Rolf.”

  Fifteen

  Enid came early the next morning to bring their meal. Trosdan sat down to eat while Alysa walked to the door with the frightened slave. The lovely princess said, “I am sorry about the slaughter yesterday, Enid. I did not order it, and I have commanded no more deaths. Ulf is a dangerous and guileful man. Be wary of him.”

  “Lord Rolf refused to let him slay me. He said I was needed to serve you. It was terrible,” she remarked with teary eyes. “Only a few Celts who have joined sides with them were spared.”

  Alysa’s blue eyes flashed with anger as she told Enid of Ulf’s evil mischief to the defenseless slave. “I despise him. But he is powerful, so we must be careful. Watch him and report his deeds to me. But take no risks, Enid, or he will slay you and make it appear an accident.”

  “What if he wins the quest, my queen?” she asked worriedly.

  “Nay, Odin will not permit it. Ulf is the weapon of Loki, and Odin will soon destroy him. Will you take care of my bird while I am gone? One has died, and the last is very precious to me.”

  Enid glanced at the cage and remaining bird. “He will be safe with me. I will feed him and guard him for you.”

  Shortly before noon, the people gathered at Stonehenge. Alysa stood upon the Altar Stone to be seen and heard by all. “It is time to begin our quest for our king and my husband. Einar, come forward.”

  The Viking attiba obeyed, eyeing her with intrigue. Alysa handed him a leather pouch, then summoned the three champions. She forced herself not to look overly long at either man. “Hold the bag over your head,” she instructed Einar. She positioned her hand and looked skyward as she prayed, “Hear us, Great Odin. We have gathered in this sacred place to begin our task. Send down your power to aid us.”

  The purple ring, a cunning duplicate of the ancient one, captured the sunlight and cast a purple glow on the bag in Einar’s grasp. Believing the power of Odin was touching him, the false wizard’s hand trembled and he nearly dropped the pouch. The crowd of warriors was awed by this sight and stared at the scene with great reverence and interest.

  Alysa informed the small group before her, “Each of you must pull a stone from the pouch which Odin has blessed. There are numbers on them which give the order of our next drawing. I ride with the winner who selects the blue stone. It will be done this way each time.”

  Rolf, Eirik, and Ulf reached into the pouch and withdrew their numbered stones. When the second pouch was blessed, Einar held it before Ulf first, who withdrew a white stone. Rolf was second, and withdrew the coveted blue stone. Einar dumped the other white stone into Eirik’s palm; his fingers closed tightly around it. Ulf scowled, deepening the lines on his face. Eirik’s expression, when he lifted his green gaze, remained impenetrable. Rolf grinned at his first victory and held up the blue stone for all to see.

  Alysa said, “I ride with Rolf this time. Your bands have been selected and are prepared to leave when we finish here. Wise One, come forth and give my champions their first clue.” Alysa was helped by Rolf from the altar and she remained at his side.

  Trosdan climbed upon the Altar Stone and gazed around him. “After the matches were over, I fasted and prayed here all night. Odin has provided the first riddle. You must solve it, locate the prize, and return to camp with it. Once all have seen the first treasure, you must protect it from cunning theft by the other two champions.”

  The three men nodded understanding and obedience.

  Trosdan’s voice was deep and clear as he related the enigma. “In the days of the Roman conquerors, this land was divided into many tribes and areas. The one you seek was known as Cantii. In it, you search to locate a place where many battles have been fought, where death respected no bond or tie or sex. Long ago, two foes—the Mighty Caesar and a hero from this land—battled fiercely for a third time at this spot. Many warriors were hanged from trees and left to rot. Others were beheaded, their heads left upon their own spears to feed wild birds.”

  Trosdan watched the three men beneath him as they listened intently. “Another tragic battle knew this same ground. Leir, son of Bladud, a legendary Celtic king, had three daughters: Goronil, Riganna, and Cordaella. Leir loved only Cordaella and wanted her to have the Crown of London after him. To dupe his other girls and people, he created a test of love, a vain test Cordaella failed before all eyes, and after which she was banished. Leir grew old and his two remaining daughters were his curse. They weakened him and tried to destroy him. Leir sought out his lost child and begged her forgiveness and help. Cordaella, a queen of another land by marriage, returned to this mighty isle and challenged her two wicked sisters. A great battle was fought. Goronil and Riganna were slain and beheaded. Upon the piles of their soldiers’ heads were placed their own. To mark this spot forever, three trees grow; one is tall and lovely, and two are as bent and ugly as the sisters. Find the lost head of Riganna, and you will find the prize. Odin, the Seer, the master of runic magic, observed these battles long ago. There, he placed an amulet of protection for one of you to find this great day. Go, solve the riddle and seek your first prize.”

  “How can we find a woman’s head which rotted long ago? Her skull would look no different from all others. How would we know it? It makes no sense. Where were these ancient battles fought?” Ulf asked.

  “That is for you to uncover with your wits. This quest seeks the one man whose wits, skills, and courage stand above the others’. The amulet is to project the winner against the treacheries such as this place has witnessed, and to give him guidance from the” Great Seer when we go to battle. Your quest lies within two days of here.”

  “But in which direction? We do not know this land or its history. Your words are silly,” Ulf ranted foolishly. Then he accused, “Rolf has the advantage. Our queen knows this isle and can reveal clues to him along their journey. She will help him win today.”

  Rolf argued, “Perhaps that is the reason for her presence. I won the right to have her join me and council me. Just as she would have been with you had you pulled out the blue stone. The choosing was fair, Ulf, blessed by Odin. All witnessed it. Is this not true?”

  The people were compelled to concur. As Ulf stormed off with his friends, he whispered, “We will find peasants to answer our questions and provide us with facts to solve the riddle. Surely the people of this area know their kingdom better than a Damnonian princess.”

  Sigurd, who had been mercifully spared in the contest by Rolf, teased, “See, my friend, it does not matter that she travels with Rolf today. No doubt she will distract your rival by slowing his wits with her beauty and his pace with her fragile body.”

  “Yea, Sigurd, perhaps I am the one with the advantage. Come, let us ride quickly. We will cut out any Celtic tongue which refuses to solve this mystery for us.”

  Trosdan joined them with his possessions. After his talk with Alysa, he had to make certain this malevolent warrior did not cheat and that he did not win, even though the quest was a ruse. He knew that Alysa would be safe with Rolf, but Ulf had to be watched closely. There was no guessing what lengths that vile human would go to for victory, and he must be controlled. “I ride as the numbered stones revealed. You chose the stone marked One, so I go with you, Ulf.”

  Eirik left the area without speaking to Alysa, as he fear
ed his gaze might expose his feelings and perhaps hers. Soon, he, Aidan, Saeric, and his band had departed. Between the wizard’s clues and the queen’s unknown slip, he knew exactly where to look for the amulet.

  Alysa headed for the corral to meet with Rolf, who had been to see Enid. She feigned a regretful smile and told him, “I fear I can be of little help on this adventure, Rolf. My father never allowed me to travel into King Vortigern’s land, so I. know little about it. If I am being sent along to aid you, it makes no sense to me.”

  He caressed her cheek, uncaring of the many eyes on them. “Do not worry, my queen. Your company is all I desire from you today.”

  The large group mounted and galloped eastward. There was a sly grin on the blond giant’s face, for his captive was of this land.

  Alysa’s group rode hard all day, halting only to rest their horses when necessary. It was dark when they made camp that first night.

  Rolf told her apologetically, “I am sorry if I push you too hard and fast, my queen, but I am eager to beat the others to the sacred site. If you become weary or sore, tell me and I will slow our pace.”

  Alysa smiled gratefully. “You are a kind and generous man, Rolf, but do not worry about me. I am strong, and I am accustomedto riding every day-—at least before I came here and found myself so busy. Go at the pace you desire, as I can keep up with any man. For the quest to be fair, I must not become a hindrance, and I will not.”