He rolled from the bed and pushed Grimr’s body roughly from him. His brother murmured, reluctantly nudged from dreams. Thoddun strode to the end of his chamber and washed his hands in the falling water. Through the pearlised reflections cast from the candlelight, he gazed at the open world beyond. The night was quite black. He bent his neck, thrusting his face down into the spray, shaking his loose hair into the flying droplets, as a bear after swimming. The water was iced and it refreshed him. It did not wash away what he had seen but it calmed his mind. The voice was sudden behind him. Grimr grinned, sitting up a little against the pillows. “Came to play in my dreams, big brother? So what did you see there, to make you run away?”
Thoddun walked to the bench and poured himself wine. He offered nothing to Grimr but stood, cup in hand, and looked back towards the bed. His hair hung in wet streamers, leaving his shoulders damp. “Poisons. Distortions. Brutality.”
Grimr smiled. “You expect apologies? No, it’s my wolf dreams I need reawakening. What did you see of him?” He paused and when Thoddun stayed silent, he sighed and nodded. The sparkle in his eyes dulled. “Not breathing yet then? Is it still so far away? The birthing?” He frowned, leaning forwards. “Tell me.”
Thoddun shook his head and spoke softly. “The wolf is still a cub. It hasn’t grown as you’ve grown. It has no breath. It has no life.”
Grimr stared. Then he leaned back again and swallowed. “More to do then.”
Thoddun drained his cup. “Yes, more to do. But you must accept the possibility of failure. I promise nothing.”
“Failure?” Grimr laughed. “I’ve conquered my way into your oh so mighty castle, big brother. I hold this land in my power, my men have imprisoned yours, and since you lost control of your absurd fire and melted the dungeons, I presume your few remaining people have been drowned. I usurped your birth right in the land of men, and already rule the halls of our father. You no longer have power in any place. It’s you who’ve failed, my dear.”
Thoddun nodded. “So it seems. But the failure I speak of, you accepted long, long ago. When did you first believe your wolf was dead? As a child? Or later, when you couldn’t master the Shift? Did our father help you, encouraging and tutoring? Or did he laugh at you and despise you?” Thoddun came and sat again on the bed, looking across at his brother. “You never carried a restful spirit, little brother. But you’ve grown capricious in hatreds. What does it bring you, all this spite and torture?”
“Satisfaction,” Grimr spat. “Don’t judge me, you with your smug Fourfold bragging. And don’t think to give up on this – my reawakening. You think you haven’t promised, but you have. You’ve gambled your life on it. You’re free, brother dear, at ease in your own bedchamber, only for this. Give up on me, and I’ll have you torn apart by my wolves, or behead you myself.”
Thoddun smiled. “How many wolves against one sea bear, little brother?”
“I’ve enough,” Grimr said. “A hundred arrows, a hundred lances, a hundred swords. I killed our father and his bitch with far less. One man, just a young man, against the wolf and the bear. She tried to Shift. I cut her paws from under her. I slung her body on top of his, and shovelled the dirt myself. Such a luscious corpse; a woman’s face and tits with four great bear’s legs, white furred, slashed up to her belly. I killed them both. I can kill you too.”
“I don’t resent your bloody murders,” Thoddun said. “I’d have killed them myself. But your bluster and insults become defensive. Are you so frightened, then?”
Grimr slumped. “For my wolf. I’ll admit fear for him. But for nothing else. Did you see what I did to your slave bitch, then? Is that why you jumped out of my dreams so fast with your arse on fire, rushing to wash your fucking hands clean of my memories?”
Thoddun paused, considering, then shook his head. “I won’t speak to you of her. Neither of us learned anything of affection or caring from our parents. It’s a long road, understanding and honouring love, and just as challenging as resurrecting a sleeping channel.”
“So you’re in love, then big brother? Sickening with the shit of sentimentality? And do you fuck her as a bear? Does an orca’s prick fit into a woman, or did you drown her with the first Shift? Is that why she isn’t here? And have you used all those searching pricks yet? Or are you still virgin outside this proud man’s shell – in the sky, under the water?”
Thoddun laughed. “Trying to shock me again, Grimr? You know too little of me. Having four sets of genitals can be interesting. The orca’s promiscuous enough. I don’t count those conquests. My bear plays when there’s time. But the eagle flies alone and he’s the virgin in the nest. He mates for life or not at all. As yet he remains untried.”
Grimr turned away. “Fool. I don’t care about your boasting. Give my wolf life again and you can keep your human bitch.”
For a moment, thinking of her, Thoddun wondered if he had conjured her call himself. Then he heard it clear. The need was so sharp it cut him. He stood at once, striding to the waterfall, peering through the water, placing distance and need. Grimr began to speak, and Thoddun turned, furious, holding up one hand. “Quiet,” he ordered, and turned his back.
She had been attacked. But she was too far away for him to reach, even flying. Others were closer, immediately in her company, for she was just outside his army’s tents. Through her mind he could see the flare of a fire, the smell of the last evening’s feast, the dun spread of oiled wadmal. He couldn’t see who had taken her, but she was hurt and losing consciousness. His answering thought was vibrant, loud and urgent. He woke the entire camp.
Banke had dragged Skarga away from the red haze of the cooking fires and she lay in utter blackness. Her mind was misted, like the fog rolling in from the sea. She was ashamed to die without even struggling but she had done nothing and could do nothing, having been taken too much by surprise. She had been taught to fight but she had not even hit him with her own hands. She tried to remember if she still carried a knife in her belt, or whether she had left it back in her tent. Yet she could not even remember if she wore her belt. The conscious world was leaving.
A roar of such majestic power then filled the space between consciousness and loss that she thought it must be death indeed, and she flew, swept up as if she had been taken by Thoddun into the star scudded skies. Her feet left the ground and her thoughts left her mind. For an instant, and in fear, she fainted.
Her mind returned to her in a delight of cushioned comfort. There was a voice, but no comprehension. Then she realised it was Kjeld speaking, and comprehension remained suspended. “Yu’ll not kill them buggers,” Kjeld was saying. “Them’s mine, an’ll do ‘em slow. Stuffin’ ‘em up quick’s too easy. Sit on ‘em like fleas, - n’ they’s dead in a puff. Won’t do it, not so quick. I’s lady’s champion, ‘n I’s the one wot’ll does it.”
Skarga tried to wriggle upright. Lodver’s face, dark with concern, loomed over her. “No need to move, lady,” he said. “You’re safe, and there’s no more danger. We’ve taken the prisoners in hand, and you seem unhurt.”
She didn’t feel unhurt. “Banke?” she muttered, glaring up and around.
“Is that your brother, lady?” Lodver was frowning, looking upwards towards an empty space above his head, then nodding in silence. Finally he turned back to Skarga. “The lord says to tell you he’s now – in control – approaching the end of these – hostilities. He wants you to give whatever orders you wish, arrange matters to your own choice. And I’m to tell you he – misses you.”
Lodver looked embarrassed. Skarga cleared her throat. She didn’t want to make him more uncomfortable. “Would you tell Lord Thoddun,” she said carefully, “that I miss him too?”
Lodver smirked slightly. “He thanks you lady. But wishes to remind you that you don’t need to send messages through me. He can hear your thoughts anyway.”
Skarga leaned back with a sigh. She hoped she wasn’t blushing. Her head hurt a great deal and one ear whistled, badly bruised and a litt
le deaf. Most of all she wished she had been able to retaliate more violently herself, even to the point of saving herself. Silently she informed Thoddun she was fine and not in pain. Then she realised just how absurd it was to lie when he was looking directly into her head. She closed her eyes. “So Banke isn’t dead?” she asked.
“No, lady.” Lodver and Kjeld were both leaning over her. Kjeld held a cup of something dark. She took it, drank, and coughed. It made her eyes water and her throat burn but the pain took several steps back. “The prisoners have been retaken. They’ve been beaten of course – well, that’s our way. But alive, and tied up again in the sled.” Lodver looked disapproving. “It might have been the young boys, I’m afraid. They said you’d ordered them to see the prisoners fed and comfortable, but clearly the bindings were loosened too much. The prisoners escaped in the night. Well – it won’t happen again. With your permission, of course, lady.”
Skarga managed to smile up at Kjeld. “And you intend to fight them as my champion?” Kjeld grinned, face splitting wide. “That’s very – heroic of you Kjeld. I don’t suppose they’ll last long.” Kjeld shook his head happily. Skarga sighed. “Well, they’ve brought it on themselves. I won’t interfere. And I’ve no orders to give anyone. Do what you like.”
“Whuppem first,” Kjeld interjected eagerly. “Crushem after.”
“Then, if you feel up to the journey lady,” Lodver said, “we’ll continue after breaking fast. It’s not long ‘till sunup. The lord wants us in front of the castle gates by dawn.”
“I’m sure I can travel,” said Skarga. She nodded but wished she hadn’t. “And I’d like to see Egil first.” Blamed for the prisoner’s escape, Egil had been cuffed around both ears and threatened with far worse. He arrived strangely subdued, bearing food and drink. “What will Kjeld do to them?” Skarga asked him. “Do you know?”
“You should have seen Banke’s face when he saw Kjeld,” Egil sniggered, happier once he realised Skarga wasn’t about to punish him as well. “We were all streaming out of the tents and rushing over the ice waving torches and shouting our heads off. I mean, even those like me and Erik who didn’t get the lord’s call direct, well, we woke up pretty fast with all the noise and commotion. We just followed the crowd, and there you were, face down in the snow with Ollaf and Banke trying to kick you into the shadows. Kjeld roared. Did you hear him? Then he reached down one massive fist and lunged. I reckon Banke fainted. Kjeld hurled both the men off their feet and picked you up like a little sparrow. Most impressive.”
“They seem to think it was your fault,” added Skarga.
Egil rubbed both his ears. “You said make sure the prisoners were alright,” he muttered defensively.
“So you thought you’d secretly make sure they escaped,” accused Skarga. “You thought they’d run off and die in all those endless frozen wastes, which would privately keep me quiet, and everyone else too.”
Egil sniffed. “Well, it would’ve worked, wouldn’t it – if the stupid bastards hadn’t bumped into you and decided to take advantage. What did they want? A hostage? Or just being nasty for the satisfaction of their own tempers? And anyway – what is this? Are you getting mind reading skills after all?”
“Seeing through your silly little mind isn’t exactly hard.”
“And come to think of it,” said Egil, “what the Hel were you doing wandering around alone in the night anyway?”
“None of your business,” said Skarga, remembering her own stupidity. “So – what will they do to Banke? Is Kjeld really going to fight them? Is there any point?”
“He’s very proud about it,” said Egil. “He’s told the entire camp he’s the lady’s champion. I suppose he’ll take on all four at the same time and prise them open like clams. I hope Thoddun gets Grimr to watch.”
“It was Banke and Ollaf that attacked me,” said Skarga, chewing stale bread. Reheated, it crumbled into flakes between her hands. “So what happened to Sodar and jarl Gund?”
“Gund and Sodar were still hiding under the sled when they found them,” said Egil. “Gund was squeaking like a trapped mouse, but being more of a coward than a bully isn’t going to win him any favours with this army. He and the others followed Banke so far, so they can follow him to death as well. Besides, I’m not going anywhere near them from now on, not to wipe their tears nor mop up their blood. I’ve been blamed for the escape, when by rights it was down to you.”
The hot bread was oozing mutton grease. Skarga licked her fingers. “I don’t think I feel any pity for any of them anymore.”
“Amazing how a kick in the ear can cure a bad case of sentimentality,” Egil grinned. “And now Ogot’s on his way. One of the spies flew over, and says your father’s only four days off depending on the weather. Are you going to want Daddy patted gently on the back too? Or are you going to see sense and shove in the knife?”
It reminded Skarga of something and she felt around her waist. Her knife, safe in its proper place. She could probably have killed Banke herself if she’d heard him coming. She frowned at Egil. Her head was pounding and she was annoyed with herself. “Go away, brat,” she said. “And talk to your queen with a little respect.”
“Queen?” Egil grinned. “You’ve been my mother, princess and now queen. But forget the respect.” He leaned over suddenly and hugged her before scurrying off.
They waited for dawn as instructed, just a slight slowing of the final relinquishing march to amble. The sky paled, a preparation of sorts for the waking of a tentative spring day. The wind hissed like a suspicious bear, skimming low across the surface of the snows. A clear day, an eager day.
As the transanima forces moved within sight of the coast, they saw the rest of their people. The sea army was waiting. A huge berg rested in the deep waters, many pointed and as blue as lapis. Shaped like a crudely fashioned crown, pride of any southern potentate, it began to catch the first shimmer of the rising sun, light frosting its hundred peaks. All across, suddenly illuminated, sat the men. Those that had Shifted back, stood and cheered. Those in the water breached and fanned their flukes. The sea bubbled. Gradually the light’s hesitancy intensified and the bowl of the sun spread into glory above the mountains behind. The churning waters took the first stripes of gold.
Across the whitening snows before the castle gates, the army ranged, taking up its massed magnitude. One pace back from the danger of missile or arrow flight, the leaders stopped. Before them all on the central sled Skarga sat, the little breeze in her hair. She pushed back her hood and looked up. Beside her Lodver raised his hand and pulled the reins tight. To their left was Kjeld on his sled, to their right Halfdan with both boys. Behind them a great row of other sleds, and then the main force. Most were bears. Shaggy flowing fur and bright black noses swayed, shuffling from paw to paw, impatient, anticipating. In the rear were other animals and other men, and between them they guarded the prisoners. Sleds laden with supplies and weapons followed, their huge weight cutting ice furrows.
The sun crept higher and the sky army began to form. The eagles screeched, gliding down from the clouds, and the sky became a darkened mass of streaming feathers. Bird calls shrieked and hooted, echoed by the wailing wind. The raptors massed along the bars of the sleds, the smaller kestrels to men’s shoulders, some to the ground where they began to Shift back to men. Some continued to wheel above. Safn, bright eyed black iridescence, came as a raven to the front bar beside Lodver.
And still they came. Those bears who had travelled slowly, distracted by the urge to hunt or mate, now came like snow drifts from the horizon. The eagle scouts dived low, parting the clouds. And the sea creatures left their berg and heaved into the churning waters towards the coast.
Lodver stood, the reins dropped loose as the dogs sat quiet. He called up to the fortified gates, which remained tight barred. “We are here, Lord Thoddun,” he shouted. “All your people are ready and we await your command.”
They stood together up on the wide battlements above the doors, Th
oddun and Grimr and Knut. Thoddun looked down at his people with pride, and smiled. Knut, clutching the ice crusted stone turrets, leaned over and gasped. He had believed in the army. He had heard them in his mind, as they approached. But he had not imagined how thrilling and how enormous the transanima army might be, nor known that so many of his own strange race existed.
Grimr gazed in silence. His hand rested on Knut’s shoulder and he felt the boy’s tremulous excitement. Grimr had not believed in any army, nor believed so many transanima lived under the sun. It was both wonderful, and a bitter disappointment.
Thoddun called back. “I will declare war once those who invaded our territory are first allowed the privilege of surrender. In the meantime, you have something to do. It is time to organise the challenge, and the champion’s battle. The queen shall see it done.”
Grimr had seen Skarga at once. She stood, pushing the furs back from her chin and shoulders. The wind ruffled her curls and stung her cheeks pink. She felt quite deliciously happy. She smiled, very wide, directly up at Thoddun. The castle walls were grand and high and he stood at some distance, but he locked his eyes to hers. She raised her hand. He bowed formally to her, smiling back.
Stars and a Wind- The Complete Trilogy Page 74