Her Gilded Firebird: Book Three in the Norse Warriors series

by Susannah Shannon

  She tried the apple green one first. She slid the underdress over her head, marveling when it ended at precisely the right length. The overdress was cream wool with elaborate embroidery decorating the bust and the hem. She laced the sides closed. She wished they had a full-length mirror. Instead, she climbed atop her sleeping husband, “Gunnar! Look!” He opened a sleepy eye. “You look beautiful he said,”

  “I’ve never had such nice dresses. If I didn’t have to go check on the baby prince, I would try them all on right now. How on earth did they get sewn in one night?”

  Gunnar threw the covers off himself. Elin danced away as he tried to wrap her in a bear hug. “Nope, no sir, no time right now.” He smiled and gave her bottom a playful smack. JOyously she noticed that she had also been left soft flannel chemises and finely woven stockings. It occurred to her that once she had procured a warmer shawl, she would be thoroughly outfitted for the voyage north.

  She hurried to plait her hair and dashed into the corridor. She was still not entirely confident about getting around in the castle, but she was sure she could find her way to the royal chambers. She was delighted when she ran into Oda. Lifting her skirt and giving a joyous twirl she asked, “How did you do it so fast?”

  “Me? Oh no, it wasn’t me. We don't have to sew here anymore. The somnad nisse live here now.”

  “The sewing elves?” well, if dairy elves and ember trolls are real why not?

  “Yes, Ivan found them.”

  “Who’s Ivan?”

  “He’s a boy who can talk to all sorts of folk, he used to be a Ryskan assassin, but now he lives here.”

  “An assassin?”

  “Yes, but I think he wasn’t much of one since he ended up in our dungeon.”

  “Oh.”

  “Anyway, they were being held captive somewhere, and he freed them, and they came here.”

  Oda had led her to the Queen's courtyard. Little Gustav was sleeping in a beautiful cradle that looked like a dragon boat. Queen Sylvie was standing at an arbor laden with rose bushes. The flowers were gone, but she was using a sharp pair of shears to harvest the rose hips.

  Sylvie put down her tools and approached Elin with open hands and a warm smile. “We cannot thank you enough for coming to our rescue last night.”

  Elin assured her that she had been delighted to help.

  “I see now that when Gerda isn’t here, we need a backup. This is the smallest of our households, but my husband spent much of his boyhood here, and it’s his favorite. Soon enough we need to return to the capital.”

  “If I were staying here, I would help.”

  “Oh, I knew dear, but what we need from you is much more important.” she pressed her lips against Elin’s forehead, and whispered, “The Snowforce is lucky to have you.”

  “They are lucky to have my husband,” Elin corrected.

  “I only know that he was called back after he had married you. Armund thinks you have a role to fill, and he is certain that you will carry it with grace.”

  She wondered if Armund might be addled with advanced age. Perhaps her thoughts were evident, for the queen smiled and said, “I have never known him to be wrong.”

  “I am not sure when we are leaving, your majesty.”

  “I believe later today. You must allow me to give you a small gift.” Queen Sylvie held out a covered basket. Elin opened it and withdrew a magnificent fur-lined woolen cloak. The wool was a deep purple covered in embroidered flowering vines. The pure white fur was soft and plush. A heavy silver clasp that matched the brooches Elin had worn since her wedding, closed the gorgeous warm garment. “It gets freezing at pinnacle keep. Our prayers and hopes go with you, Elin the

  Healer.”

  “I am hardly a healer, Croup is something that happens.”

  “I suspect that baby Gustav won’t be the only thing that is returned to wholeness by you.”

  Elin gave a befuddled curtsy, her head was spinning.

  “Ma’am?” she asked.

  “Yes, my dear?”

  “I need to arrange for a letter to be sent to my parents.”

  “Of course you do my dear. Oda, will you take our friend to the library? I am sure there is a scribe there who could help her.”

  Elin was grateful. Oda led her to the library. Elin was not sure what a scribe looked like, she imagined a bent over creature with beetle eyebrows and a large feathered quill pen. Instead, they found Armund. Curled up in a large armchair with his stockinged feet crossed on the ground, he had an enormous handled goblet in his hands and was blowing on its hot contents.

  “My darling girl, join me. You will need your rest while you can get it.” He gestured to the other chair. Elin sat on it awkwardly. “I need to send a letter home, I am looking for a scribe to help me.” She had never been shy about not being able to write before. Here, surrounded by so many books and the kindly scholar, she did.

  “The king has all of the scribes busy, I am afraid, but I will be delighted to help you.

  “Of course, I will.” He pushed his handled goblet towards her, “Try this,” he said conspiratorially while he stood and found a quill and parchment.

  Elin took a tiny sip which seared her throat and suddenly warmed her all the way to her toes. “Is this wine?” she asked.

  “Yes, and cinnamon, and honey, oh and vodka, a great deal of vodka.”

  He began with a fancy curlicue in the left corner of the page, “Now, let’s see, ‘Dear Modre and, what do you call your father?”

  “Da.”

  “Of course, I should have known. So, Dear Modre and Da…”

  Elin continued, “I do not know when we will be home. Gunnar is needed here, and we will travel to the wall. “She hesitated.

  “That’s about all you can say, my little pike.”

  “What is a pike?”

  “Oh, it’s a mouse, but cuter, you will see them along the wall.”

  “Is there nothing else I can tell them?”

  Armund ran the feathered end of his quill along his long nose. “Please don’t worry, we are well taken care of. I will tell you all about it when I come home,”he suggested.

  “Yes, that’s good. If only they could write me back.”

  Armund held a finger up, “They can.”

  “No, my Da can read, but he never learned to write.”

  Holding up one finger to shush her, he gave a nearby bell a sharp ring, clearly enjoying the luxury of being in the castle. The door was opened, and Armund called, “Please ask young Ivan to join us.”

  While they were waiting, Elin asked him something that had been bothering her, “Did you try getting new swords? To replace the ones that shattered, I mean?”

  Armund smiled, “Yes, dove we did. The spell is a lingering one. Every other sword we tried to take to any keep turned to shards.”

  “Why do you think Gunnar’s sword didn’t shatter?”

  Armund stroked his beard. “Well, how much do you know about the wall?”

  “It’s huge, “she shrugged. “That’s all.”

  “Well, the wall isn’t in a random location. It runs along a fissure of magic. “

  Before she could ask more questions, the door was suddenly opened, and a young, lanky man entered.

  “Ah, there’s the lad, himself. Ivan this is lady Elin, the bride of our Blademaster.”

  Ivan gave a quick bow to Armund who proffered his mug.

  Ivan held up both of his hands, “Oh thank you, but no. I have work to do today. We can’t all have your endurance.” He winked at Elin, “I hope you didn’t try it.”

  “Only a tiny sip.”

  “Even that might not be safe. Tell me about your home.”

  “It’s a dairy farm, it’s near the village of ...”

  “You are a dairy maid? Does your farm have a tomte?”

  He said this as if this was something people routinely discussed. “Yes,” she answered in a whisper, “her name is Drotte.”

  “Good,”

  “
But my father can only read a little, but I don’t think he can write.”

  “We don’t need him to write, not if you have a tomte.“He turned to Armund who resumed writing, “ Tell her family to speak aloud while they churn the butter. Just talk as if she was there. Tell them that when they offer Drotte the butter, she will be able to send the message along. No matter where Elin is, she will get the message in a few days.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. There is no postage service as efficient as the network of tomte’s.”

  Gunnar came to fetch her and they walked to the end of the pier. She had seen the small coastal inlet near her village but had no inkling of the vastness of the ocean. She was stunned at the expanse of blue. She had just knelt to drape a hand into the water when a swirling mist surrounded her. Elin was astonished as a naked sea goddess partially emerged from the waves. Gunnar dropped to a knee, “Ran, goddess of the north sea,” he explained to his baffled wife. Ran’s hair flew in all directions, her breasts were large and firm, but her lower body seemed to vanish into the swirling tide “So, you are the little wife of the Blademaster.” The voice was not unkind, but it had a frightening resonance.

  Elin fought her apprehension, “yes,” she said in what she hoped was a strong and clear voice, “I am the wife.”

  Ran cocked her head and sized up Gunnar’s bulk. “They are huge shoulders, but you’ve been asked to carry a lot.”

  Gunnar met her eye, “I will do my best.”

  Elin had a question, “How do you know about us? Are you affected by what happens along the wall?”

  Ran smiled, “I owe a debt to your snowforce, and I know about it because one of my selkies is in love with a boy who works here.”

  “Is it Ivan?” Elin asked, considering that anyone who knew about a tomte messaging network might well have a selkie girlfriend.

  “It is. Selkie’s are brave and well-meaning, they are not however discreet.” She held up her hands and made yapping motions with both. “It’s a good thing seals are beautiful to look at it, is all I will say.” She turned her attention to Gunnar. “Hold out your hands,”

  He did so, and she dropped ten pearls into his upturned palms. “You use water when you make swords, correct?”

  “I do.”

  “Dissolve one pearl in the water you use at each keep. Do not let them fall into the wrong hands, some shattering spells freeze the metal from the inside. These are made from the tears of my sea wolves when their young were sacrificed, by the Risk. They can prevent the freezing.”

  “But we aren’t at war with Ryska, anymore. The empress has been restored.” Gunnar argued.

  “Yes, but Emperor Constantine was merely the tool of a much bigger threat. He seeks to control all magic, and the Snowforce is all that stands between him and destroying our world. They will only help, you are still destined to be the Blademaster, but any help I can offer you is yours.”

  Ran was suddenly surrounded by tall black fins, ”There are my sea wolves now, to take me to my next meeting.” Elin saw a flash of large white and black fearsome creatures pulling the sea sled of Ran through the rushing water. The roar of the ocean surrounded them and suddenly the Goddess was gone.

  Chapter 24

  Elin wore her new light blue dress for the banquet. She had never seen so many people in one place. There was an enormous canvas awning set up with long tables running the length of it. A high table ran perpendicular to the others. She saw many mothers and fathers with their 10-year-old sons. She wondered what it would have been like to have left home that early. The boys looked, excited. Their mothers less so. Dinner was served earlier than Elin expected. She had imagined a grand banquet happening after dark amid the glow of a hundred candles. Gunnar took her hand and led her to a table. It was somewhat tucked out of the way, which confused her. Thus far, her husband had been treated as a savior, champion and special guest. Why wasn't he front and center? There was no time to ask these questions.

  Liveried waiters served goblets of wine and water that fizzed as they poured it into the glasses. Gunnar whispered something to the young man who sped off and reappeared with a flagon of beer. They were passing trays of food around when the speeches began.

  Armund went first. He stood at the high table and with a firm clear voice that belied his age, beginning; “The Snowforce has existed as long as our people has been a people. Perhaps before we built cities or had guilds. The need to protect that which one loves is built into a man. The Snowforce is home for only the finest of men. Boys, you will be tested in ways you would never imagine, and you will emerge braver, kinder and more literate than you realized you could be." Elin noticed that at least some of the boys were far more excited at the prospect of becoming brave then they were with becoming better read. Armund continued, “The wall is a magic conduit. It channels deep magic that dispels coldness and darkness. The wall does not keep out only our enemies, it keeps out dissolution, decay, and death. What have you heard about the other side?" he said conversationally to what appeared to be the smallest of the boys who was hanging onto the knights every word.

  "Are there wooly mammoths on the other side?”the boy asked.

  "Indeed,” Around said simply, and there were gasps all around. Elin had heard of them but had always been told they were a myth. "Snow tigers with teeth like sabers, wolves as big as a cow and an ice bears also roam the other side. You will see all of these things."

  Sensing that some of the parents were growing increasingly worried, Georg gave a gentle cough and took Armunds spot at the podium "The wall is a place of adventure, but it is also a place of learning. You boys have been selected to train, to study and to grow up together. The pages begin at Pinnacle keep because it is naturally defended. No enemy can storm those gates. Getting there is a journey of itself. But it is one that you will make many times in the coming years." Elin was wondering how often the pages would get to come home, and Georg seemed to sense he needed to answer that question.

  "Allow me to introduce Dame Hanne, she can tell you about daily life at Pinnacle keep."

  A tall woman with chestnut hair, holding a robust toddler on her hip stood. "My husband is Jonis the Dragon.” There were murmurs of recognition all through the crowd. The woman continued, “The Paladin cannot be here, so he sent me." Elin assumed he couldn't leave the keep because they were in imminent danger, but no one seemed to be talking about that.

  "Each keep is led by a Paladin and his wife, who has the title of Dame. We will love your sons as you do, I promise." Something was reassuring about the woman. She was lovely and seemed quite at home in the grand surrounding, but there was a steadiness to her. "Your boys will live at Pinnacle keep for three years. During that time, they will be home for six weeks each summer. You will get a letter every week unless the snow makes it impossible for even a knight to get through. No one will read the letters you send your sons." Hanne's lip quivered, “I have four children myself, with one on the way. I know what you’re doing, and I promise you," she hesitated her voice growing wobbly. "I promise you, they will be well loved and trained and even if they do not serve the force all of their lives, they will have the best education offered in the world. I am part den mother, part scolder, I pick up a lot of soggy mittens…” The other mothers in the audience gave a knowing chuckle. The woman openness and obvious love for the boys seemed to reassure their parents.

  The king arrived at great fanfare. He magnanimously gestured to everyone to sit down. Elin noted that Ake was not far behind the king. "This year, like every other year for centuries, we will send pages to Pinnacle keep. "He raised a goblet, “to the parents who will miss their sons but want the best for their progeny and for the kingdom." a loud, heartfelt cheer went up from the assemblage. Alb’s was confused if there was a lack of swords on the wall, why were they sending these boys there? She turned to ask Gunnar about it, and he gently pressed her knee under the table. She understood to not say anything.

  The feast did not go on as E
lin had anticipated it would. With many hugs and kisses and promises to write soon, the parents left the grounds. A young knight wandered around with a clipboard, directing boys to the carriages they would take north.

  There were great cheers as the carriages moved one by one through the massive gates, they paused at the gatehouse for only a moment before moving on. Elin watched the first of the wagons head off to Gateway keep.

  Chapter 25

  Gunnar grabbed her hand and led her through a door. They made some twists and turns, and suddenly they were in the gatehouse, A carriage pulled up, and with lightning speed, the doors opened,. While Gunnar and Elin slid in beside Armund, three boys slid out the other side into the waiting arms of a knight. The carriages were dark, with curtains on the windows.

  Elin’ suddenly understood that they were not sending boys to the wall. The entire afternoon was designed to fool whoever might be watching them into believing that everything was going on as it had for hundreds of years. "What are they doing with the pages?"

  "They have set up a school at the castle, we've got it fortified,” said Armund, seemingly proud of the plan

  "Do their parents know?"

  The old knight looked the slightest bit uncomfortable but resolutely shook his head, “No, we couldn't risk word getting out. Once a boy joins us, we make all decisions, and their safety is always our first concern. "

  Elin made a firm inner commitment to only have daughters because over her dead body was she sending a 10-year-old to join the Snowforce. She felt a pang of sadness that she had not said goodbye to Oda and hoped she would see the maid again someday.

  Armund, took one bench within the carriage, while Gunnar and Elin took the other. It was lushly lined and had lots of cushions. They wagon lurched on the path into the woods. Elin opened the curtains a sliver and could see from the gloom that they were deep within the forest. Suddenly the the carriage stopped. The unmistakable voice of Ragnifer greeted her ears, ”Well, I’ll be the bastard son of a one-eyed ferret… Who do you think you are, I say it again you lumbering oaf of a cud chewer, who do you think you are?”