Lord of the Mountains

by Sabrina Jarema

  Ketill crossed his arms. “We know nothing of these things, Law-Sayer.”

  Toke strode toward them. “What do you mean? That’s why you’re here. Speak, as we agreed. Or are you afraid to say anything lest the sorceress place a spell on you, as well?”

  “We agreed to testify to your lies because you held my son and daughter under threat of death if we did not.”

  The crowd erupted and Toke shouted at Ketill. “I do not hold your son or daughter, you whoreson.”

  “He speaks the truth. For once.” Magnus raised his voice so that all could hear him over the shouts. “I hold them now. For their safety.” He nodded to the group from Thorsfjell.

  Thyri and Rollo stepped from behind Magnus’s warriors. Screaming, Toke rushed toward them. Several men from the crowd surged forward and stopped him, gripping him as he cursed.

  “I believe you have no witnesses, then, Gudrodson. What do you answer, Jarl Sigrundson?”

  “I answer that my wife is no sorceress, but a healer, a rune reader, and a woman whom the gods have blessed with beauty, intelligence, and their wisdom. If I may make my statements to counter his accusations?”

  “Proceed.”

  “My thanks, Law-Sayer. Gudrodson sent two women, Thyri and Mardoll, to my village under the pretense of their fleeing from him. Many women have done so to escape him. I have never captured women as Gudrodson has charged. Thyri is Ketill’s daughter. Mardoll was to kill her if she did not do as Toke wanted. She was forced to give yew to our sheep, thus poisoning them. But she left leaves in their mouths so that we would find them, administer a cure, and save the ones we could. Thanks to my wife’s knowledge of healing, most of them lived.

  “As to the stillborn child, the mother, Droplaug, has lost other children in the same way over the past few years, long before we knew of Silvi or her family. Months ago, our healer woman told her this child was not well either and that she would likely lose it. The child had already ceased to move in the womb before my wife saw her.”

  “Do you have a witness to this?”

  “Yes.” Magnus nodded and Knud came forward with Droplaug.

  “I am Knud Ulfrson. It is my son who was born dead.” Droplaug hung her head as he spoke. “The gods have shown us that my wife can never bear a child. We know that now. This began years ago, shortly after we were wed. We have had three other stillborn children. It has been a source of grief for us. Now, for Gudrodson to use our misfortune for his own lies . . .” He glared at Toke. “May the gods strike you down. It was only the love and the words of Mistress Silvi that saved my wife from dying. Droplaug didn’t want to live. She wished to die with the child still within her. The mistress came that night because our healers were helping other women bear their children. The child was already dead, but she spoke to my wife and convinced her to try. To live for me.”

  He gazed down at Droplaug. “Because of the mistress, I have my wife with me now. She saved her. We won’t try again. We want to foster children who have lost their parents to illness and war. We have so much love to give a child and it seems the best way for us.”

  Droplaug looked at Silvi and smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. “My thanks, mistress.” In spite of her fears, Silvi returned the smile. For them to adopt children would be perfect.

  “Very well, Ulfrson.” Yrian inclined his head to them. “We have heard your testimony.”

  As they returned to the other villagers, Magnus spoke again. “If the ground shakes on their side of the mountain, it must mean the gods are displeased with Gudrodson. All has been quiet on our side. Thyri was ordered to put this poison in the buckets of the village wells.” He reached into his belt pouch and pulled out the tiny bag.

  She stared at it. “How?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “When?”

  “While I kissed you before I walked out here. Do you think I don’t know you by now, my love?” He turned back to the assembly. “Thyri could not bring herself to do it. Her hesitation allowed us to discover the poison, and she told us of Gudrodson’s plot. Only then did we understand why all this was happening. She told Oleg that she had used the poison on us and burned some of our buildings, but this was false. He must have passed the word to Toke. He does not even know it didn’t happen, which proves his lies. We did it to buy time to rescue Rollo, who had been held captive.

  “When I killed his son, Toke swore to destroy everything that meant anything to me. And what means the most to me is my wife. He targeted her, even though it’s against all our traditions and laws to attack the women of our own land. He threatened the lives of Ketill and his family to manipulate them, and wreak vengeance on me. But they are safe now, and he is exposed.”

  “Do you have any other witnesses who wish to speak?”

  “The men of Thorsfjell, Law-Sayer.”

  “Then let them come forward.”

  One by one they spoke, telling of how she had helped them, healed their wounds, read their runes, cured their ailing. They spoke of her gentle wisdom and giving nature, and of how she had been a good wife to Magnus, all that a jarl’s wife should be.

  Silvi’s throat swelled as tears filled her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much the people of Thorsfjell loved her and how much she had helped them. Magnus gazed down at her with pride, his eyes shining. When the last man had spoken, Yrian banged his staff on the ground.

  “We have heard from all witnesses—”

  “Except one other.” Lifa moved out from the group of rune mistresses and masters. “I wish to speak. Will you hear my words?”

  Toke, still held by the men, shook his head. “No woman can testify here. It is forbidden.”

  “You will be silent. I speak the laws here.” Yrian bowed his head to her. “Lifa, you know it is not traditional.”

  She gave him a warm smile. “And, Yrian, you know I am not traditional, either.”

  He chuckled. “That is true.”

  “My rank puts me outside of the norms of society. The gods have chosen me to speak for them all my life. How is it that men will not hear?”

  He considered, his head lowered, but he still kept her in his sight. “Very well, then. You may speak for the gods. I’m not certain the men will weigh your words in their deliberations, but that is their choice whether or not to do so.”

  “That is all I can ask.” She stepped beside Silvi and Magnus, her head high. The rising wind whipped her hair as the storm grew closer. Another flash of lightning hit the mountains in the distance and she pointed at the sky. “The gods walk among us now and hear our words, see our thoughts. Know that I am the rune mistress Lifa of Haardvik.” A wave of soft exclamations washed through the crowd. “Many of you have heard of me and that I was trained at the great temple at Uppsala by the völva Unn herself. My name goes before me in honor and I leave wisdom in my wake.” She leveled her gaze on all of the assembly. In the distance, a roll of thunder echoed down the fjord. “I tell you now that Silvi is my daughter, and if the dark arts had taken her, I would slay her myself as we stand here.”

  She met Yrian’s gaze and, without looking at Silvi, returned to the others. They surrounded her in solidarity. Knowing her mother, she had timed her statement for when the thunder would come after the last lightning strike.

  “We have heard the accusations against Silvi Ivarsdottir and listened to the witness testimonies. I ask you now, how do you find? Is she innocent?”

  A great shout went up and she flinched. As the lightning lingered overhead, weapons flashed when the men raised them in assent. Magnus lifted her up with a laugh and all the villagers and warriors of Thorsfjell ran into the circle, cheering.

  She clung to him, unable to stop the tears. She sobbed against his chest as he drew her to him, weak with relief. The gods had kept their promise to her. Hands patted her and held her, and for the first time, she welcomed the touch of others. Their love flowed into her, comforting her, supporting her, and she turned to them all. One by one, they embraced her, and she them. Her throat was too full to spea
k, but she didn’t need to.

  “There is a third matter to be heard between Jarl Sigrundson and Toke Gudrodson.”

  As the people of Thorsfjell returned to their places, she wiped her eyes and stood again beside Magnus. Toke waited off to the side, sullen, hatred pouring off of him. Two men stayed by him, guarding him.

  “Jarl Sigrundson, you have accused Toke Gudrodson of attacking your village without provocation on numerous occasions. And that he harbors outcasts, a serious offense. Please state your case against him.”

  As Magnus described the attacks over the winter and the battle on the mountain peak, she barely heard him. It was hard to believe the nightmare was over. She was afraid to move for fear she would wake and the day’s outcome would be only a dream. But Magnus was warm and strong beside her, and so real. They were safe and alive. Soon, the gods would demand their payment. She’d have to tell Magnus that she was leaving him. She closed her eyes against the continuing pain in her stomach.

  Called to testify, Ketill spoke of how Toke had forced him to lead the outcasts in the attacks against Thorsfjell, in fear for his children’s lives. He related that Toke had come from the far north and killed their jarl, taken over their village, recruited outcasts from the surrounding areas, and mistreated the people.

  “I once had my own ship, which Toke has now. We came here in it. But in my day, I led my own men and fought many a battle, so I have some knowledge of tactics. I made certain the outcasts lost each attack on Thorsfjell. I had to make it seem as though I followed Toke’s orders, for the sake of my children, but I had nothing against Jarl Magnus. If he slew all the outcasts, so much the better. Their lives were forfeit anyhow for leaving their safe places, and there would be fewer of them to threaten our women and daughters. Toke told me the fight on the mountain peak was only to throw Magnus off course and make him think it was his one attempt to exact revenge for his son’s death. Then he might not make the connection with everything else that was going wrong until it was too late. My daughter and I, we fought him as well as we could, Law-Sayer.” He smiled at Thyri, and she returned it with tears.

  “My thanks.” Yrian turned to all the free men. “You have heard their words. What say you? Do you find for Jarl Sigrundson?”

  The crowd shouted, their weapons raised against the dark sky as Toke yelled in rage. Yrian waited until the tumult died down.

  “Toke Gudrodson, you have been found guilty of unprovoked attacks and of harboring outcasts. Your sentence is permanent outlawry, to wander the lands without shelter or support until you die.”

  The men grabbed him as he tried to lunge for Magnus.

  “If he is set free to wander the lands, Law-Sayer, there’s nothing to stop him from gathering more of his kind and wreaking more death and destruction on innocent people. It is my right, if I am not satisfied with the outcome of a trial, to seek redress in my own way.” Magnus lifted his head, his eyes hard. “Therefore, I challenge you, Toke Gudrodson, to the hólmgang. In three days’ time, we will meet with swords and shields, and fight until the blood of one of us flows beneath our feet.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Silvi said nothing to Magnus as they all returned to their camp. How could he make such a foolish challenge? They were exonerated. They would both live, and yet Magnus planned on risking himself in this duel with Toke.

  The threatening storm had passed by and was dissipating. Already word was spreading among the people attending the Thing that the gods must have been pleased with the outcome and were showing their pleasure in the beautiful sunset that shone down the mouth of the fjord.

  They had almost reached their camp when they heard Thyri and Rollo’s names called out. Ketill ran to his son and daughter and they embraced with a glad cry. Thyri wept as Ketill held her and Rollo. The young man was already taller than his father.

  Ketill came to Magnus. “My thanks, Jarl Magnus. I don’t deserve your help, but my children . . . Whatever happens to me, please give them a place.”

  “They’ll live with you in Bygvik. For when I defeat Toke, it will become mine. I’ll need someone to see to it and guide its people for me. Thyri and Rollo can return there with you in the ship Toke commandeered from you.”

  He fell to his knees, thanking him, but Magnus raised him up. “Norsemen kneel to no one, Ketill. You will earn back your honor. Now see to your son and daughter. You have much to speak with them about.”

  As they walked into the camp, Leif said, “Was that wise, Brother? He was in league with Toke, whatever the reasons. Can we trust him?”

  “I’ll have my own men at Bygvik to keep track of him. I just gave him back his children and his dignity. He has much to thank me for. Time will tell us what manner of man he truly is.”

  “What of Mardoll? She’s still at Thorsfjell.”

  “She came with Toke from the far north. Let her go back there. I know a merchant who makes runs up the coast and he can take her back to her people. If she is seen near here again, her life will be forfeit.”

  Leif nodded. “I never did hold with executing women, of course, or enslaving them, so that seems a wise choice.”

  “And now, I need to speak with my wife.” Magnus looked down at her. “She is entirely too quiet.”

  “A warning if ever I knew one.” Leif sauntered off toward the table where they kept the ale pitchers.

  Magnus led her into their tent and shut the flap. “You’re upset about the duel.”

  She spun to face him. “Why shouldn’t I be? We escaped death and dishonor and now you want to fight a man who you know won’t fight fair. He has nothing left to lose. He’ll try anything, any revenge on you for all of this.”

  “And that’s why I challenged him to the hólmgang instead of the einvigi. There are rules and witnesses that way.”

  “None of which will mean anything to him. He won’t care if he dies, as long as he takes you with him.”

  “And do you think so little of my fighting skills that you fear what such a coward could do in the duel?” He crossed his arms, his voice hard.

  “I fear what he will do beforehand, what treachery he’ll plan.”

  “Guards are watching him to be sure he’s in the appointed place at the appointed time. He won’t have the chance to plot anything.”

  “Don’t underestimate him, Magnus. Do you think he showed all his weapons? Or might some of those outcasts be here, unseen, to do his bidding? He had to have had men to crew his ship.”

  “I have four shiploads of the finest warriors in the north. We’re well guarded, and they’ll be with me when the time comes for the duel. There’s a place set apart for these things, and with the Law-Sayer there and all the witnesses, he won’t have a chance to try anything.”

  “I hope you’re right. It’s your life if you aren’t. You must guard against many attacks, but he needs to be successful with only one of them.”

  “He won’t be. Did you see the storm and how it faded after the verdicts? The gods have walked with us this day. Even I could feel them around us.”

  “Yes, they are pleased, but perhaps not for the reason you think.”

  “What reason, then, Silvi?” He went to her, but she backed away from him.

  “The gods can be fickle. They are like distant relatives who must be appeased and bribed. Then they’ll smile on us. I had to ensure they would stand with us, Magnus. That takes a sacrifice.”

  “Of what? An animal? Gold or silver? I could have given whatever you needed to perform the ritual.”

  She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t see him when she spoke the words. “I gave them what they wanted, Magnus. Me.”

  He didn’t say anything and she had to look at him. He went very still, a question in his eyes. “You? You promised them your life for our victory?”

  “Not my life. I told them I would go to Uppsala and serve them for all my days if they influenced the outcome of the trials. They held up their part of the offer. I must uphold mine.”

  “What did you do?�
� He strode to her and grabbed her arms. “Why did you bargain your life away? Our life together? Does it mean so little to you?”

  “No, Magnus. It means everything to me and that’s why I did it. A sacrifice is just that. It must be important. There is nothing more precious to me than my life with you. Gold and silver mean nothing. All the beautiful things I have would have no weight with the gods, because they know it all means so little to me.

  “My life with you is the only thing I care about. The only thing I had to offer. I couldn’t take the chance we would lose and you would die for me.”

  He thrust her away from him. “Not so much a sacrifice, I think. It’s what you’ve wanted all along, to go there. You waited until I defended and cleared you, and now you use this as an excuse to make your dreams a reality. The gods must be laughing at me.”

  “It’s not like that.” She tried to go to him, but this time, he stepped back. Her heart was tearing apart inside of her. His color was high, his jaw set. She had never seen him like this before. “I did it to save you. To save both of us.”

  “And you didn’t think to trust me to do that myself. You don’t think I can defeat a piece of scum like Toke. You don’t consider me able to defend you against his lies. Perhaps he has had his revenge after all, as he planned all along. He’s caused me to lose the one thing I love. You.”

  She sank down on a chest as he strode out of the tent. Crossing her arms over her burning stomach, she rocked. Sobs tore from deep within her and a heaviness weighed down her chest. Hatred flared in her for the gods she had once loved, for herself, and for this world that was slowly destroying her. Magnus was all that made this life tolerable, and now he was gone. Let the gods take her, then. They would find her empty to them. To everything.

  The vision hit her like a sword strike and she cried out in anger. She needed nothing from the gods, but she couldn’t block it. Birds, tiny and vicious, attacked Magnus from a stand of trees. He raised his shield . . . It ended as quickly as it began.

  She looked up as Magnus came back in with Eirik, Leif, Asa, and Lifa.