‘As did I, my Lord. But he was no man of Christ.’
King Olav nodded. ‘And my judgement turned out to be correct. It was shocking to find that he had poisoned a significant amount of the grain stores; no doubt what he intended to feed to my men. His punishment will be suitable.’ He looked thoughtfully across the longhouse. Tapestries taken from Saxon monasteries hung on every wall except the one behind the dais. There, wall mountings for some sort of weapon stood empty. ‘I still remember my soldiers’ surprise as they brought you before me. They found you in your little hut, kneeling, they said, cross in hand, praying to the Lord. In Latin! He truly is a hidden gem. Isn’t he, Finn?’
Slumped in the right-hand seat on the dais, Finn spoke slowly and measured every word. ‘He most certainly is, my lord.’
‘It is only my duty as a Christian,’ their visitor replied.
‘And the Lord thanks you. Before you leave, however, I would like to thank you for the work you’ve done for poor Finn here. No doubt his leg will heal fully. He says that mixture of yours is very good for pain relief. I’m sure we can find a place in our ranks for a man with such skill.’
‘You’re too kind, my Lord. Too kind,’ Valgard replied.
Outside, banks of grey clouds drifted across the moon.
The Valhalla Saga 01 - Swords of Good Men Page 31