Heart of Alban

by G L Roberts

  Hansa watched the whole spectacle from her position on the top of the keep. She saw the procession to the garden of the dead. She saw the way the crowds responded to the fallen king. She gasped when she saw the ten dragons drop from the sky into the garden. Hansa stood silent as did everyone else when Bryn removed the cloak and exposed the jewel and the crown. She bowed her head when the others did as Bryn crowned Thalynder. And when Thamen’s bier disappeared in a flash of white light, Hansa realized how lucky she was to still be alive.

  Bendor offered his arm to Hansa. He led her downstairs to the great hall where a reception would be held for the new Queen. Hansa clutched at Bendor’s arm. He placed his free hand on the hilt of his sword and nodded at Hansa. “No harm will meet you here.”

  “Why would any here allow me to walk among them? My father killed their king.”

  “There are many here who may question your presence, but they are out numbered. You will find that most here would rather befriend an enemy.”

  “You sound like my navigator, Conri,” Hansa said.

  “My father was killed when your father was here last summer,” Bendor said. “I have already made my peace with his death. Would it not be better for me to offer you an empty hand than one holding a weapon?”

  “I would not wish to meet you in battle,” Hansa said. “I will accept the empty hand.”

  Bendor led Hansa into the hall. Tables were laid out with food and drink. Women and men greeted her with a civility she did not expect. As Bendor led Hansa further into the mass of Albans gathered for a feast, the more she clutched at his arm. When they reached the far side of the room, Hansa saw the throne chair and the empty chairs beside it.

  “Will the Queen join us?” she asked.

  “The Queen comes.”

  “She has no brothers?”

  “No, she was an only child.”

  “And the shieldmaiden, I mean the woman who I first knew as the shieldmaiden. Is she coming?”

  “Lady Athebryn comes with the Queen. As does the Council of Alban. Wait and you will see them.”

  Hansa stood quiet and waited. A moment later the people in the room stopped talking and turned toward the large doors at the other end of the room. The crowd parted and a group of finely dressed people made their way toward her. Hansa saw the man called Malcolm was walking next to the woman called Cinnia, he bore a small crown on his head. She noted Cinnia looked a great deal like her father Conri, but her smile was that of Rowan, Götaland’s most revered druid. Behind Cinnia was the tall elf and the painted woman. Both dressed in gossamer gray layers which made them look unearthly. In her country they would be looked upon as spectral beings known only to Odin.

  Behind them walked Kenna of the Bridei. Hansa had seen little of Kenna before now and she turned to Bendor. “She is your kin?”

  “She is the daughter of the Lady Anestar, Elf Sister to the Bridei.”

  “She is also a Lady?”

  “She is,” Bendor said and nodded his head as Kenna walked by.

  Hansa followed Kenna with her eyes. She turned back to see the young man, Lothan. She gestured toward him.“His Queen is dead. Will he not wish me harm?”

  “He may, but he will do you no harm here.”

  “Then all are not comfortable with me here,” Hansa whispered.

  “That is true. But as I said earlier, no harm will meet you here.”

  Hansa avoided looking at Lothan. She peered past him to the others behind him.

  “That is Prince Arryn,” Bendor said.

  “Yes, I know him well enough.”

  “He will rule the Epidii and that clann is very large.”

  “You admire him.”

  “I do. Ah, here comes the new Queen.” Bendor bowed his head and waited.

  Thalynder walked slowly behind Arryn. She greeted the people gathered with a generous smile. She reached out to touch many hands. As she approached Hansa, she paused.

  Hansa gave Thalynder a quick nod of the head.

  Thalynder looked at Bendor. “Thank you, Captain Bendor.” Bendor stepped back from Hansa and left her standing face to face with Thalynder. “I would like you to sit next to me,” Thalynder said to Hansa.

  Hansa swallowed hard.

  Thalynder held her hand out to Hansa. Hansa wasn’t sure what to do, so she held her arm out as Bendor had to her. Thalynder rested her hand on Hansa’s arm and together they walked toward the table. Arryn led them around the back of the table and stood while Hansa and Thalynder walked to their seats. Thalynder stopped at the throne chair and gestured to the chair at her right for Hansa. Hansa stood next to the chair and waited like the others.

  Thalynder glanced at the chair on her left. It was empty and no one stood behind it. She smiled. That chair was once hers. She looked back at the room. The people moved to tables and chairs placed throughout the room. They all stood behind their chairs and waited. Thalynder nodded and the people sat down. Thalynder remained standing as did the others at her table. She took a deep breath.

  “Good people of The Realm That Touches Two Seas,” Thalynder began. “We have said goodbye to our king. I will be the first to tell you I wish he had not died without providing you with another king.” A few people smiled. “Most of you here know I was never very keen on ruling a realm. I was more interested in slipping out of the keep to ride a dragon or sleep in the grass.” Little pockets of laughter lightened the mood of the room.

  “Yet, here I stand, your Queen.”

  The room erupted in applause. Many stood and continued to shower Thalynder with loud applause. Thalynder held up her hand and the jewel flashed. Many gasped. Those who stood up, sat back down.

  “Alban has lost many daughters and sons over many years to the raiders from the North,” she said. She turned to look at Hansa. “Here is one of the norse who wishes as we do, for peace to prevail between our countries.”

  Applause again rang out in the hall. Thalynder held her hand up once again.

  “My father is dead. Her father is dead. You see here before you, two new queens. We are young. We are untested. We have a history between us some would say might justify the taking of her life.” The room fell silent. Hansa looked right and left but no one moved.

  Thalynder reached over and touched Hansa’s hand. “I do not wish to take her life. I would rather she live and learn we are a peaceful nation. I wish for her to take back to her country, the memory of the events of this day. To take with her, the knowledge of our generosity and our compassion. As the new leader of her tribe, I wish for her carry our message of peace back to Götaland.”

  The room filled with applause and loud shouts of assent. Hansa was swept up in the moment. She turned to Thalynder and removed the bone and leather shoulder brooch of her tribe. Hansa placed the brooch in front of Thalynder. She licked her lips and took a deep breath.

  “It is all I have to offer as token of my pledge to work for peace,” she said.

  From a dark corner at the back of the table, a figure moved toward Thalynder and Hansa.

  Hansa started to reach for the axe she wore in her belt but it wasn’t there. She moved to stand between Thalynder and the figure. “Come no further. If you mean to do me harm then you may do so, but not here. Not in the presence of your Queen!”

  The figure stopped. The cloak fell away and before them stood Lady Athebryn. She was dressed in the color of moonlight. The jewel in her forehead was a clear gem of bright white. The silver tendrils of the crown were woven throughout her dark auburn hair. Her blue eyes sparkled in the light of the crown. The entire room fell silent. All eyes were on Bryn, Thalynder and Hansa. Thalynder smiled at Bryn.

  Bryn walked over to the two women. She took up the bone and leather brooch and studied it. “This is the symbol of your tribe. A wolf’s head carved in the bone of an elk.”

  “It is.”

  “Fashioned to be worn where all the tribes can easily identify you.”

  “Yes,” Hansa replied.

  “I think
it is time to fashion you a new emblem for all the tribes to see.” Bryn handed the brooch to Thalynder. Thalynder nodded and accepted the brooch. Bryn faced Hansa.

  “Take with you this token of our pledge to work toward a peace between our countries.” Bryn placed her hand over the spot from where Hansa had removed the brooch. Light filled Bryn’s hand and peeked out between her fingers. Hansa closed her eyes as the light grew in brilliance. Bryn removed her hand and the light faded. A collective gasp came from the room. Hansa opened her eyes and looked down at her shoulder. There, where the crude bone and leather brooch once adorned her outer dress, sat a blue gem.

  “Blue as the deepest fjord in Götaland,” Hansa whispered.

  “Let this gem remind you always of your home and the blue waters off your shores,” Bryn said. “Let it remind you too from where it came—the Heart of Alban.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The wind whipped at the sailcloth and threatened to tear the newly installed sails. Men and women worked to load the three boats as quickly as possible. The clouds were heavy with rain, and a sentry had been posted to keep an eye out for a quick turn in the weather. A storm was on the horizon, and it would not make for a pleasant journey.

  “I suppose you think we chose today for your departure because it threatened to sink your boats?” Bendor said to Hansa.

  “Ha! Now, you read minds?”

  Arryn chuckled. “It is the beginning of the heavy spring rains. There will not be a clear day for the next three moons. This was the only day to choose.”

  “I have been assured by my navigator that this was the only day left to us to start our journey back.”

  Thalynder ran her hands over her hair to catch the errant strands loosed by the rising wind. “To allow you to stay longer would have pleased some, but not all.”

  “That is true, Queen Thalynder,” Conri said. “I, for one, am glad to have been granted permission to stay on and get to know my daughter. There are many though who have family back home who depend on them to provide food and shelter back in Götaland.” Conri turned to Hansa. “Once you are away from the island, the sea will be smoother. Your navigator will return you home safely.”

  “I trust you trained her well?” Hansa said.

  “There was no reason to do otherwise.” Conri gave Hansa a smile. He patted her arm and held out a box for her to take.

  “A gift?”

  “A tool,” Conri said.

  Hansa held the box in her hand. She saw the markings on the top of the box. “Oh! You have given me your iron fish. Thank you!”

  “Remember, you are going away from the island, the fish will point backward.”

  “Druid myth and magic.” Hansa laughed. “I must admit, Conri, I will miss our talks about druid magic.”

  “Then do not hesitate to find Rowan when you return. Cinnia’s mother was my teacher.”

  “I will do that, Conri.” Hansa turned to Thalynder. “I had hoped to say goodbye to Lady Athebryn. Will she come?”

  Thalynder looked up. “She is already here.”

  Hansa looked up. In the sky above her were a dragon and a rider. Even in the rising wind and darkening skies, the dragon glistened and shimmered. Hansa watched for a moment longer before looking back to her boats. “It is time we set off. The boats are packed, and the crews divided. It has been a strange time for me, but I believe it was well worth the journey here.”

  “If you can hold to your promise to speak with the other tribes about peace between us, I will hold to mine,” Bryn said from behind Hansa. No one had seen Bryn or Meydra step onto the sand.

  “Lady Athebryn,” Hansa said.

  “Queen Hansa. Trust those who remain behind do so of their own free will. This is the beginning. There will be stones to stub our toes upon surely. It is the hope of all on Alban that those stones do not become boulders but are worn away to grains of sand.”

  Hansa touched the gem at her shoulder. “If I did not have this to remind me that I must return home to start the talks, I would ask to stay behind.”

  Bryn smiled. “I know. It is why your life was spared in the beginning. Your heart sings the same song as do those who have lived here all their lives. You have a bit of Alban inside you.”

  “I do not know how that is possible, but I feel it too. Thank you, Lady Athebryn, for your understanding. Do you still intend to visit Götaland sometime in the future?”

  “I hope to. We have a shared history. There are druids in your country that need to know we have not forgotten them. I will visit you soon.” Bryn held out her hand to Hansa.

  Hansa took Bryn’s hand in hers and without thinking, raised Bryn’s hand and kissed her palm. Hansa blushed, but only Bryn noticed. Hansa stepped back and looked at the council members and the dragons who stood back from the water’s edge. She raised her hand and waved to the others.

  The council waved back before climbing onto the backs of their dragons. As Hansa and the remaining crew boarded their boats, the dragons lifted into the sky above them. Hansa shook her head and smiled. She boarded her boat and stood at the bow and looked at Bryn.

  “They are so beautiful,” she said. “How I envy you these magnificent creatures.”

  Bryn stepped back from the boat. “I wish you a safe journey, Hansa, Queen of Götaland.” Bryn turned and nodded to Bendor.

  Bendor and his troops pushed the boats into the surf. Bryn stood on the water’s edge and watched until the last longboat was far enough away for the people on board to disappear from view.

  They will return.

  Not for many years, Ua said.

  How can I be sure? Bryn asked.

  You cannot. For now, live the moment. When the need is great, you will know what to do.

  “Come, Meydra,” Bryn called. “There is work to do.”

  ❦

  Bryn walked behind Thalynder through the people gathered in the throne room. All eyes were on Thalynder as she walked toward the throne. The jewel at Bryn’s forehead was hidden, and Bryn intended to have it remain so whenever she was in The Realm That Touches Two Seas. This was now Thalynder’s realm. To bring attention to herself and the jewel of legend would only diminish Thalynder’s position in front of the people she cherished and protected. Bryn walked behind Thalynder now as her one-time Waiting Lady and shieldmaiden. She watched as the realm’s elders stepped up to the throne and awaited Thalynder. Bryn’s father and mother stood at either side of the throne with her father holding the new crown to be placed on Thalynder’s head. Standing in the gallery to watch the proceedings were representatives from outlying realms and kingdoms. Among them were the members of the Council of Alban and the Elf-Sisters.

  King Heli stood with his son Prince Lludd. His eldest son, Malcolm, stood with the Council. King Edmond stood next to King Heli, and they spoke quietly while Thalynder walked to the throne.

  “She will be as formidable as her father,” King Edmond said.

  “With a dragon, she will be more so,” King Heli replied.

  “Will there be a marriage between your kingdoms?”

  “A union, yes, a marriage, no,” King Heli replied. “Thamen assured me his daughter would not wed my son, but the two would form a union to secure the future of both kingdoms.”

  “A union? I have heard the term many times since Lady Athebryn took control of the armies,” King Edmond said. “Do you think a union will hold this country together?”

  King Heli clapped King Edmond on the shoulder. “I do. There is something about this union that speaks to the masses. We will give them one high ruler with a council of representatives from each kingdom, clann, and realm. With integrated armies, we stand a better chance of staying or defeating an invasion from any of the other countries over the seas. Not only were our shores invaded by the vík ingr, but our southern shores as you well know, have been invaded in the past by others. It may well be time to unite the entire island.”

  “Agreed,” Prince Lludd said. “My father speaks for me as well. I wil
l see my own kingdom embraces this union.”

  King Edmond touched Lludd on the shoulder. “Ah, I had forgotten you will be wed soon. There will be a marriage between Wessex and East Angle and a union between Wessex and The Realm That Touches Two Seas. That leaves me and my kingdom of Elmet to either join the rest of you or keep to ourselves. Ha! I know where I need to be. I only wish I had a son or daughter to offer up.”

  “Do not worry overmuch about marriages, sons or daughters, Edmond,” King Heli said. “This union these dragon riders propose will eventually do away with such things as marriages and unions.”

  King Edmond looked toward the throne. “True enough. And there now, another about to be crowned. Will we do away with these ceremonies as well?”

  King Heli chuckled. “No, surely, not soon,” he said. “For now, we enjoy the ceremony and good food.”

  The three men turned to look at Thalynder who had now reached the throne.

  Lady Anestar stood next to Lady Albistan. They watched as Bryn’s father, Brymender, handed the realm’s crown to his wife, Arlendyl. They watched as Arlendyl placed it on Thalynder’s head. Lady Anestar let out a little sigh.

  “You are still remorseful?” Lady Albistan said.

  “A little, but only because I had hoped for something like this for Kenna. I have alienated my daughter to the point where she will avoid all thrones at whatever the cost.”

  “I do not believe it will always be the case,” Lady Albistan said. “She is very young, and there is still time for many things. In your heart, you know she will do the right thing.”

  “Yes, in my heart, I believe this. Nevertheless, you know me, sister,” Lady Anestar said. “I rarely think with my heart.”

  Lady Albistan smiled. “Ah, but I think that is changing somewhat now.”

  Lady Anestar nodded and returned the smile. “I believe it is.”