Vale of the Gods

by A. E. Rayne

  She had torn through an impenetrable stone wall. With what?

  He didn’t know, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

  Jaeger frowned, his attention on Eadmund, who was storming towards him, fists clenched as he charged down the pier.

  Jaeger turned to Berger. ‘Make sure they secure those Followers properly. I don’t want them able to use their hands. Or their minds.’ And turning back around, he walked towards Eadmund, a sneering smile on his face, anticipating the sanctimonious drivel the King of Oss was about to deliver.

  But Eadmund didn’t say a word as he walked straight up to Jaeger and pushed him off the pier.

  ‘I have never had a better sleep!’ Draguta declared from her place at the centre of the high table, her eyes on Amma who sat to her right. The girl was carrying Jaeger’s heir, and she wanted to ensure that she was taking proper care of herself. ‘And you?’

  Amma coughed, watching as Meena crept into the hall, eyes jumping back and forth, not knowing whether her presence was required. ‘I... yes, I did, thank you.’ She had cried herself to sleep and dreamed terrible things about the attack on Andala – the many attacks on Andala – but she didn’t want Draguta to know that. She wanted to be strong.

  She thought about Jael. She wanted to be strong.

  ‘And Meena, my odd little mouse, how did you sleep?’ Draguta wondered, motioning for Meena to join them, much to the displeasure of Evaine who sat at the table yawning, wishing she could go back to bed, determined to find another chamber for Tanja and Sigmund. She simply couldn’t endure another disturbed night’s sleep.

  Meena stammered forward as all eyes turned to her, feeling her armpits moisten, her face warming as though she was standing in the midday sun. ‘I had bad dreams,’ she muttered, her weary eyes roaming the table, looking at everyone’s plates. She was not hungry, but she needed something to look at that wasn’t Draguta. ‘A lot of them.’

  ‘Oh?’ Draguta’s face revealed nothing. ‘Well, I’m hardly surprised, for what I accomplished yesterday was the stuff of nightmares.’ She smiled at Brill who had entered the hall with Ballack, both of them looking ready to be put to work. ‘Though we are not done yet, are we, Meena Gallas? No, if you think your nightmares were terrifying last night, wait until you see what I have planned next!’

  All eyes moved to Draguta now, but she turned her attention to her plate, picking up a spoon and pushing it through a pile of blood-red cherries. She would not eat, and nor did she need to. Her sleep had refocused her purpose and restored her power, and despite an odd absence of dreams, she felt ready to get back to work.

  ‘Evaine,’ she smiled. ‘Why don’t you join Meena today? See what you can do to help her. There is no point to you if you’re not useful to me in some way, and moping about the castle, pining for Eadmund does not aid me in the slightest.’ She ignored the horror in Evaine’s eyes and Meena’s squirming discomfort. ‘You will never have a chance to reclaim Eadmund if you are not here, will you? And you will not be here much longer if I can find nothing for you to do. Your son appears far more attached to his wet nurse than his mother, so I don’t think he would miss you. And, as it stands, nor will Eadmund, so hurry along now and prove your worth. There is a list waiting upstairs for you both. I’m sure Meena will show you everything you need to do.’

  Evaine hadn’t closed her mouth, nor moved her spoon which she held in mid-air, gaping at Draguta. Eventually, she found herself almost nodding, realising that she was willing to do whatever it took to bring Eadmund back to her.

  Even if that meant digging in the dirt with her feral cousin.

  Eadmund left before he threw himself into the harbour after Jaeger and drowned him. He could feel the weight of Draguta’s displeasure, heavy on his shoulders as he strode back through the castle, up to the chamber where Briggit was being guarded. He didn’t want to see her at all, but he had to keep a close eye on her. He had the feeling that she was plotting an escape. How could she not? After what Draguta had done to Angard? How could she not fear what was waiting for her in Hest?

  He swallowed, trying not to think about Andala and Jael, and what Draguta would do to them. He couldn’t do anything about that, he told himself. He couldn’t.

  Eadmund’s eyes were ahead of him, following his boots down the darkening corridor, not aware of where he was going until he heard a voice. He turned towards the nearest door. It was closed. Locked. He turned again, looking around, but no one was there. And sighing, he started walking again before pausing, frowning, turning back to the closed door.

  Kicking it open.

  The chamber was empty. It looked much like the one he had slept in. There was no fire in the hearth; the bed was undisturbed. Nobody had been in there at all. He had heard the Hestians pilfering their way through the castle, looking for Followers and treasure, but this chamber had not been touched.

  No one was there.

  Eadmund was just about to head back into the corridor, when his attention wandered to the long window opposite the door. It was open, a sheer curtain fluttering over it. And striding across the chamber, Eadmund pulled it away from the glass, inhaling the familiar scent of winterhazel.

  He shivered, blinking, certain the dreamers were playing games with him.

  His mother had always smelled of winterhazel.

  Stepping close to the window, he looked down on a darkened street that disappeared around a corner.

  But no one was there.

  Letting the curtain fall back across the window, Eadmund headed for the door, hearing the sudden bellow of Jaeger Dragos who was somewhere in the castle, yelling his name.

  Smiling to himself, he turned one last time, watching the curtain as it ruffled in the breeze.

  Berard had been quick to find Jael that morning. She was shovelling porridge into her mouth, eager to get on. It was too hot, though, and she had to keep adding buttermilk to the bowl which only made it harder to eat quickly. ‘I don’t know,’ she mumbled, wiping her mouth. ‘I honestly don’t know, Berard. She seemed very frightened.’

  ‘Do you blame her?’ Berard’s voice was low, frantic eyes darting around the busy hall. Thoughts of Meena had kept him awake all night. What Jael was asking her to do would likely get her killed.

  ‘We shouldn’t talk about this,’ Jael warned. ‘Or even think it. Keep your mind clear.’

  Berard nodded. ‘I’ll try.’

  Jael turned to glare at him. ‘I mean it, Berard. Clear.’ She had no idea what Draguta could see or hear, and despite every part of the hall and the fort itself being covered in symbols now, including her own body, she had the feeling that Draguta already knew all of their plans. And that would put Meena in even greater danger if she decided to help them.

  Pushing away her bowl of porridge, Jael frowned. The dream walk had left her unsettled. Meena Gallas was a nervous creature, and her evasive eyes had not given her any confidence about where her true loyalties might lie.

  She had remained in Hest. With Jaeger.

  Perhaps there was another reason for that? Perhaps she was bound to him?

  Or Draguta?

  Berard had grabbed a flatbread and was helping himself to a plate of smoked salmon.

  ‘Focus on keeping your family safe. Helping Gant and Bram. Ulf too. There’s a lot to do.’ Jael had the sense that someone was trying to get her attention, and turning around, she saw Entorp by the doors, inclining his head towards them. ‘I’ll find you later. We can speak then.’ And leaving before Berard could say any more, she headed for Entorp, only to be stopped by Ivaar. She frowned. ‘Yes?’

  ‘Sleep well, did we?’

  The dream walking had exhausted Jael’s body, and her mind felt hazy, cloaked in some sort of fog. Neither of which helped her mood, which was fractious. ‘No. What do you want?’

  ‘I want to talk about Eadmund,’ Ivaar said. ‘About what you’ll do to him. About what that will mean for Oss.’

  Jael was quickly exasperated. ‘You want to talk about that damned th
rone again?’

  Ivaar looked insulted, but he blinked it away. ‘If something happens to Eadmund. If you have to... kill him...’

  Now he had Jael’s attention.

  Ivaar stepped back. He’d thought about what to say many times, but those eyes of hers undid his certainty. ‘I will support you. On the throne.’

  ‘What?’ She hadn’t been expecting that.

  ‘If you have to kill Eadmund, I’ll support you. As queen. You... have my support, Jael. For what you’ve done. For what you’ll do.’ Ivaar stopped, thinking about his father. He thought about him constantly now. ‘You were Eirik’s choice, the only reason he changed his mind about Eadmund. He wanted you to rule his kingdom. He believed in you.’

  Jael relaxed her face, dropping her shoulders. Ivaar had changed, she knew, but it was sometimes a surprise to see just how much. ‘Well, he wanted both Eadmund and I. And I haven’t lived up to his expectations on that front.’ She saw Entorp twitching in the distance, and she wanted to get to him.

  ‘Not yet. But I’ve seen you fight. I’ve seen Eadmund fight. You can stop him, Jael. If it comes to a fight, you can stop him.’ Ivaar leaned in close, looking down into her eyes. ‘You can hurt him and stop him. Not kill him. We could... try. Practice. I could show you some ideas I have.’

  Jael raised an eyebrow. ‘Thought about this a lot, have you?’

  Ivaar grinned. ‘No, whenever I thought about stopping Eadmund, it didn’t involve sparing his life. But I don’t imagine you want to kill him, do you?’

  ‘No, I don’t.’

  ‘Then we can practice. If it comes to a fight, you’ll be ready.’

  Jael appreciated the offer, and she almost smiled at her brother-in-law, nodding at Entorp who had grown impatient and was now approaching. ‘I’ll meet you in the training ring. Midday. I have a lot to check on, but we should do that. Midday.’

  Ivaar nodded. Pleased. He didn’t know why he wanted to help Jael not kill his brother. Why he would care to help either of them live and keep the throne that he’d always believed should be his. Then, turning as a little pair of arms wrapped around his leg, he looked down at his blonde-haired son and smiled, thinking of the way his father used to look at him.

  He knew why.

  Eadmund’s forearm was across Jaeger’s throat as he pushed him back against the wall, against the ancient tapestry that Jaeger was soaking with his wet hair. He was dripping all over the floor, flicking drops of water with every angry shake of his head.

  ‘Grrrr!’ Jaeger pushed back against Eadmund, but his boots were wet, slipping on the marble floor and he slid, trying to keep to his feet, still pinned to the wall in the hall, his men gaping, watching, wondering what would happen next.

  ‘You raped Evaine!’ Eadmund spat, wanting to remove his arm and slam his fist into Jaeger’s nose. ‘Raped her!’

  ‘And?’ Jaeger sneered. ‘You don’t love her. What do you care?’

  ‘About you raping someone? The mother of my son?’ Eadmund leaned in, jamming his arm harder against Jaeger’s pulsing throat. ‘You think you’re powerful? A true man? A noble king? A Dragos? A man who does that?’ He stepped away, disgusted, watching Jaeger coughing, holding his throat, glaring at him. ‘You’re not a man!’

  ‘What are you staring at?’ Jaeger rasped, pointing at the handful of men standing around, bearded mouths hanging open. ‘Get everything onto the ships! And the gold. We need more chests! As many as can fit!’ Draguta had insisted they drain at least half of the Halvardars’ coffers, though Jaeger didn’t think the ships could take that much weight.

  He’d never seen such riches.

  Turning back to Eadmund, his anger spiked again, but the cold hand of Draguta was on his shoulder, and her sharp voice was in his ear. He jutted out his chin. ‘Lucky for me, I don’t need to give a fuck about what you think. We’re going back to my kingdom on my new ships with my new gold to my castle!’

  Eadmund laughed, staring into Jaeger’s frantic eyes. ‘That power you think you have? That power you think you feel? That’s just fear,’ he sneered. ‘Fear that you have nothing without Draguta. Without that book. That you’re nothing without either of them.’ And realising that he was just as powerless, Eadmund turned away, pointing more men towards the entranceway. ‘Make sure all the Followers are on board. Your king would like to leave!’ He turned back to Jaeger. ‘Touch Evaine again, and I’ll come for you.’

  Jaeger snorted. ‘Why would I want to? My own wife is waiting for me in Hest. Lovely little Amma. Waiting in my bed. Evaine is all yours. I’ve had my fun with her. Now she’s just used goods.’ And turning, trying not to grimace as he swallowed, he spun away, wet boots squelching as he followed his men out of the hall.

  Eadmund watched him go, clenching his jaw.

  Amma.

  He saw Axl hurrying her across Hest’s square the night they’d all escaped, leaving Lothar’s headless body behind.

  Amma in her nightdress. Terrified Amma.

  Dropping his head, he sighed.

  14

  Edela had taken Ontine for a walk, leaving Eydis behind with Fyn and Biddy.

  Eydis had been upset since Runa’s death – since Amma and Sigmund had been taken – and she had not been very forthcoming with Ontine. In fact, she had almost been rude. Edela smiled, remembering how much Fyn had blushed around the girl. How hard he had struggled to even get out a few words. Eydis, though not being able to see any of it, had obviously heard something in Fyn’s voice and made up her mind about Ontine straight away.

  Which would help neither of them.

  Edela needed to know more about Ontine, though. She had to find out if she could use the young dreamer. If she could trust her.

  The sun having banished the rain, they were free to walk around to the cove, which was a private, if not muddy route to take. It was a chance for Edela to pry more information out of Ontine, far away from her overprotective mother. ‘How do you like Andala, then?’ Edela wondered. ‘It is not like Tuura, is it?’

  Ontine frowned. Thoughts of Tuura made her feel sad; thoughts of Victor, who she’d planned to marry since she was a girl. ‘It isn’t,’ she said quietly. ‘It is grander and warmer. Brighter. Bigger. But I prefer Tuura. It was my home.’

  ‘Though now it is rubble and ash, thanks to The Following.’

  Ontine shivered. ‘They destroyed everything. Took everything from us. Now there is no Tuura for the first time. How is that possible?’

  Edela tried to see behind Ontine’s words, but her thoughts were murky, which was no surprise. She was tired, struggling to take control of the myriad of fears and ideas flapping around her weary mind. ‘Tuura will rise again. I don’t believe that there can be an Osterland without a Tuura. Once this is all done, I’m sure you and your people can return home and start again.’

  Ontine looked daunted by the thought of it. Scared too. ‘If we’re not all killed soon.’

  ‘Well, true, but I would prefer to think of something more cheerful, wouldn’t you?’ Edela grinned, her eyes twinkling. ‘I always prefer a story with a happy ending.’

  Ontine didn’t smile. She was a serious girl.

  She didn’t say anything either.

  ‘Do you want to be a dreamer?’ Edela wondered. ‘When it is all over? Do you see that in your future?’

  ‘I do.’ Ontine nodded enthusiastically now. ‘I want to help people. To offer guidance and solve their problems. I do.’

  Edela was pleased to hear it. ‘And now? When we are in such grave danger? When we face a real threat? Our lives at risk? Do you want to help now?’ She stopped, turning to look up at Ontine who towered over her, with narrow shoulders that rounded slightly, giving her a hollow chest. Sharp eyes though, Edela noticed as Ontine mulled it over.

  ‘Yes, I am scared, but... if I can help you, I will.’ She frowned. ‘If you want my help? I have no training. I’m not experienced in anything. I have dreams, but they come and go as they wish with little help from me.’

&nb
sp; Edela smiled, slipping her arm through Ontine’s as they came to the slippery rise, certain that Biddy would be fussing at this point. ‘Well, lucky for you, I happen to know an old dreamer who might be able to help you with that.’

  Evaine was no help at all. In fact, her presence was a hindrance Meena didn’t need, and she was starting to wonder if she could just disappear into the bushes and leave her cousin behind. She sat back on her haunches, brushing hair out of her eyes with dirty fingers, and sneezed.

  ‘How much longer are we going to be?’ Evaine grumbled for the fifth time from the comfort of the stone bench she had perched on since they had arrived in the winding gardens. ‘Won’t Draguta be waiting? I’m sure my son needs me. I am a mother, you know. I can’t sit around in a garden all day, watching you dig around like a grubby mole.’

  Meena eyed her, sensing an opportunity. ‘You should return to the castle, then. See your son. Draguta will understand.’

  Evaine saw the eagerness in Meena’s eyes, the desire to get her in trouble with Draguta, and she frowned. ‘Or perhaps, you should point me towards something I can... gather. Something that doesn’t require me to kneel.’ She saw a flash of Jaeger and what he had done to her, and she swallowed.

  Meena looked surprised, but she pulled Draguta’s list from her purse and ran her eyes over it. ‘There is the heart of a chicken. You could go and do that?’

  Evaine grimaced.

  ‘Or, cardamom. We need to go to the markets for that. Black salt too.’

  Evaine was off the bench in a flash, snatching the vellum out of Meena’s filthy hands. ‘I can do that!’ And without another word, she was striding back down the path towards the stone archway, eager to get away from her cousin and the taunting memories of Jaeger Dragos dragging her into the bushes.