Daughter of Fire and Ice (27 page)

I felt embarrassed to have asked. I hadn’t realized it was just the two of them going. I would slow them down.

‘In that case, of course I can’t come,’ I said, disappointed. ‘But I’m running very low on medicines. We’ll have to hope a trader calls here at some point.’

‘Many of us owe our lives to your nursing,’ said Bjorn. ‘I understand your need. I’ll see what I can do.’

I flushed with pleasure at his praise. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘For your faith in me.’ I kept my voice steady as I spoke so that Bjorn wouldn’t know how much I felt. I glanced up at him, and found he was looking down at me.

‘You’re very young to have so much responsibility, Thora,’ Bjorn said. ‘I wish … ’

But he didn’t finish his sentence. A movement out on the bay caught his eye and I didn’t find out what he wished.

‘A ship!’ he exclaimed.

My heart thudded in my chest and I could see the blood had drained from Bjorn’s sun-bronzed face. He turned to me, grasping my hands in his.

‘What do you see?’ he demanded.

Obediently, I closed my eyes and tried to see. But Bjorn’s hands holding mine distracted me. All I could feel was his urgency and fear.

‘I see nothing,’ I said unhappily.

‘Let’s hope it’s only settlers or traders,’ muttered Bjorn. ‘But now we must put our training to the test. Come!’

Bjorn turned and ran towards the longhouse, leaping over rocks and dips in the path. I followed as best I could. Ahead of me, Bjorn shouted orders as he approached the longhouse. The men scattered, running to arm themselves and to throw on cloaks to hide their weapons.

‘The women and children must hide in the passage,’ cried Bjorn.

I encouraged the others to obey him, persuading Ulf that he was too young to fight with the men and helping Ragna into the darkness of the secret passage. The way led out onto the open hillside at some distance from the house. Bjorn had copied the idea from Ragna’s home on the Faeroes, knowing such a thing might come in useful.

The enclosed dampness of the tunnel reminded me strongly of my time tied up in the dark on the islands and I shuddered as we all huddled together, straining our ears for some sign of what was going on outside.

‘How will we know what’s happening?’ asked Asdis tearfully. She sounded so young and frightened that I put my arm around her.

‘It’s probably only a trading ship,’ I told her in what I hoped was a reassuring voice. ‘This is just a precaution.’

‘I’ll climb up on the roof and look what’s happening!’ said Ulf.

‘No!’ I exclaimed, reaching out to stop him, but he twisted away from my hand, pushed past Asgerd who stood between him and the tunnel exit, and disappeared from sight.

‘He’s very good at looking after himself,’ said Asgerd, not bothering to run after him. ‘I’m sure they won’t catch him.’

It seemed like a very long time later that Ulf called out to us in a loud voice:

‘It’s only traders! They’re all shaking hands and coming up to the house! You can come out now.’

We all breathed a huge sigh of relief and filed back into the house to welcome the visitors.

The ship was owned by an Icelander who was heading back to Norway via the Faeroes to trade. Thrang was already busy bargaining himself and Stein a place on board when the men reached the house. Our household was breaking up.

I also found an opportunity to speak to the trader, and asked him to bring me certain plants I couldn’t do without on his way home in the autumn. We agreed prices, he promised to do his best, and I had to be content with that.

Thrang asked me to walk with him later that evening. We went out into the light evening and walked along the coast, away from the beach where the visiting ship lay.

‘I’m leaving in the morning,’ Thrang said. ‘I asked you to leave with me, Thora. Have you come to a decision?’

I hesitated, looking down at the grass as I walked. I knew my mind and I knew my heart, but I still didn’t know what to say.

‘We could go to Helgi this evening and ask him to marry us,’ said Thrang, without waiting for my answer. ‘He is a
godi
and could perform that service for us tonight.’

‘Thrang,’ I said, pausing and looking up at him. ‘Are you quite sure that you don’t believe I was the one who poisoned Vali?’ I had to know.

‘I’m certain it wasn’t you,’ said Thrang. But he hesitated before he spoke and he couldn’t look at me. I felt sure he still had doubts.

‘You’re a good man, Thrang. I like and respect you. But I can’t marry you,’ I told him a little sadly.

‘You don’t love me?’ Thrang asked, his voice gruff with disappointment.

‘I don’t love you,’ I agreed quietly. ‘I’m sorry.’

Thrang turned and grasped my shoulders. ‘If it’s Bjorn you love, that will cause nothing but trouble,’ he said fiercely. ‘Put him out of your mind, Thora. For your sake, for Ragna’s and his, you need to forget him.’

Now it was I who couldn’t meet his eyes. I could feel the heat stealing into my face and I felt ashamed. I shook my head mutely and left Thrang to interpret that as he would.

‘I’m very sorry, Thora,’ said Thrang. He bent and kissed me on the forehead, then released me and turned and walked back to the longhouse ahead of me. It was done, the decision was made. I had no choice but to make the most of my future in this land instead of on the wide oceans.

Lamb Fold Time

Stekkti∂

When the sheep had been shorn and all the women were busy combing and spinning the fleeces, Bjorn announced his proposed trip south with Helgi.

‘The crops are sown now,’ he explained. ‘This is the time of waiting. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I put the household unreservedly in Ragna’s charge.’

Ragna glowed with pleasure at Bjorn’s words and her eyes darted to me in a swift triumphant glance. I stayed quite still. Was I to accompany them or not? I didn’t relish staying behind in Ragna’s charge. The friendliness she had shown me after her illness had been short lived and hadn’t outlasted Vali’s death.

‘The outdoor work, I entrust to the supervision of Erik,’ Bjorn continued. ‘I know you’ll care for everything while I am away as well as I could myself.’

Erik bowed and looked proud to be chosen for such responsibility. It was unusual to entrust such a task to a slave, but now that Thrang had gone, we had no free men besides Bjorn. And Erik, I reflected, would soon be free. He had been our first friend and was Bjorn’s most loyal slave and deserved this trust.

There was lively interest in the projected trip and much speculation on what the two men would find in this new, strange land. Everyone talked till late. As we were putting away the tables ready to sleep, Bjorn added almost as an afterthought, ‘Oh, Thora accompanies us on this journey. She needs new plants for medicines, which Helgi and I can’t find for her.’

My heart gave a great leap at the thought of this adventure. There was a buzz of surprise and everyone looked at me for a moment. I kept my face impassive.

My eye was caught by Ragna. She was less successful than me at masking her emotions and just now, her face was filled with hate and anger. She glared at me out of narrowed eyes, her aura an angry red. I knew our winter truce was completely over.

‘That is hardly proper, husband,’ she said in a high-pitched voice, a spot of angry red appearing on each cheek. ‘I believe I shall have to forbid it.’

The two of them faced each other in silence. This was disputed territory. The house and the women were Ragna’s responsibility. But Bjorn was the master here if he chose to exercise his authority. For a few tense moments I feared his easy-going nature would cause him to give in. But today he held her gaze.

‘Thora saved many lives last winter, including yours and mine. She goes with us,’ Bjorn said firmly. He turned on his heel, went to his sleeping mat amongst the men and rolled himself in furs for the night. Ragna withdrew in silence to her room.

I heard Bjorn moving about before rising time the next morning and crawled to the edge of the sleeping loft. As soon as he saw me, he brought me the ladder. We put on our cloaks and slipped softly out of the house. A few people stirred drowsily but most slept on. We each carried a roll of furs for bedding and Bjorn carried a small package of food.

‘Do you think it’ll be safe to rely on springs for water, or should I take a waterskin?’ he asked.

‘Not all the springs here are safe to drink from,’ I said hesitantly, thinking of our own hot spring, which tasted foul. ‘But don’t go back in the house now.’ I was afraid something might happen to prevent our trip. I was looking forward to it so much.

Bjorn looked back at the house and then grinned suddenly, his face lighting up like a child let off work for the day.

‘We’ll borrow one from Bera,’ he said.

We collected our one horse from the picket line and tied our bundles on her back. Then, leading her, we set out for Helgafell. Both our dogs ran ahead of us, sniffing the ground eagerly. They sensed this was no ordinary day. I walked beside Bjorn. We didn’t speak much. I was too full of excitement for many words. Bjorn whistled cheerfully from time to time, so I guessed that he felt the same way.

At Helgafell we were met by a setback. No one came out to welcome us and there was an unusual hush over the house. When we entered we were met by Bera, her face pale and shocked.

‘I was about to send for you,’ she said unsteadily. ‘There’s been an accident … ’

My thoughts flew to the baby.

‘Is Ingvar sick?’ I asked anxiously.

‘No, thank Freya,’ Bera answered, tears gleaming in her eyes. ‘It’s Helgi. He went out early to move the cattle and one of them stepped on him. His leg is broken.’

I understood her fears at once. A broken leg could lead to lameness or even death. It was a serious matter for the head of the household. Underlying my concern for Helgi was the thought that our trip would have to be cancelled. I felt the disappointment like an ache.

Helgi was lying on his bed, where his men had carried him, his face white under his summer tan. He was gritting his teeth in pain and sweating profusely. The leg had already begun to swell. I felt it carefully, mindful of the pain I was causing him. Helgi didn’t make a sound. Bjorn, Bera, and several others crowded into the doorway and watched anxiously.

‘I’ll need wood for a splint and strips of cloth to bind it,’ I said at last. ‘It’s a clean break.’

I heard Bera gasp with relief and give the orders. Once I had what I needed, I asked Bjorn and Bera to help but sent the others away. Then Bera and Bjorn held Helgi still while I pulled the bone straight. Helgi gave one great cry and then fainted. I was able to bind the leg to the splint with strips of cloth while he was unconcious, sparing him the pain of it. He came round again as I was tying the last knots. I laid a hand on his brow. He was clammy and cold with shock and pain.

‘Rest now,’ I told him. ‘Move as little as possible.’ To Bera I added: ‘If only I still had willow bark or elder to ease the pain. I used every shred last winter.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Helgi said weakly, his voice hoarse with pain. ‘Our trip … we’ll have to postpone it.’

Bjorn looked thoughtful.

‘You won’t be riding any distance between now and harvest time,’ he said. ‘We’d have to postpone it until next year. If you will lend me your horses, I think I’ll go on with Thora and explore a little. She urgently needs the plants we hope to find. If there were to be another sickness like last year, I don’t know how we’d manage. You and I can do a longer trip together next summer.’

I caught my breath. I was aware of both Helgi and Bera looking from me to Bjorn. Despite my training, I could feel a flush creeping over my face and neck. What must they be thinking? This proposal was as astonishing to me as it must be to them.

‘Will Ragna allow that?’ asked Bera hesitantly.

‘I wasn’t thinking of asking her,’ admitted Bjorn.

There was a painful pause.

I stood scarcely daring to breathe. It hadn’t occurred to me that we could go on alone. But now that Bjorn had suggested it, I wanted to go with him more than I had ever wanted anything.

‘Very well,’ agreed Helgi at last. ‘If you think it’s right, I have no wish to say anything. But would you not like someone else to accompany you? One of my slaves perhaps? There may be danger and you might need help with cooking and looking after the horses.’

Bjorn looked at me, a questioning lift to his brows. There was a touch of recklessness about him, and it appealed strongly to me. I gave him the tiniest shake of my head.

‘We can manage. And we’ll go much faster just the two of us,’ said Bjorn, turning back to Helgi. ‘We’ll take great care, I promise.’

I let my breath go in a sigh of relief. I would have Bjorn to myself for several days. I could scarcely contain myself for happiness. While Bjorn borrowed a waterskin and went to fill it and tie it to one of the horses, I lingered with Bera.

‘Are you sure about this, Thora?’ asked Bera anxiously. ‘You ought not to go alone with him.’

I pretended not to understand her.

‘We’ll go carefully and take no foolish risks,’ I promised. ‘We’ll look after your horses. And I hope to bring Helgi back medicine in a few days.’ I spoke calmly but inside I was in turmoil. What was it going be like to be alone with Bjorn for all that time?

‘You know that’s not what I meant,’ said Bera reproachfully. ‘I was thinking of your … well, of Ragna’s fury when she finds out.’

‘Is there … ’ I hesitated. Then I spoke in a rush. ‘Is there any need for her to know that Helgi hasn’t gone with us?’ I asked. ‘I don’t mean you should lie to her, of course. But you don’t need to send a message to her, do you?’

Bera shook her head and sighed. ‘I’ll try and keep it quiet,’ she promised. ‘But there is plenty of coming and going among the houses, and it’s bound to get out that Helgi is laid up with a broken leg.’

‘I suppose so,’ I agreed. ‘Well, I’ll take the consequences later.’

Bera hugged me and whispered: ‘I’m always here if you need a friend.’