Daughter of Fire and Ice (32 page)

The sound of battle was fading around us. The only noise left was the groans of the injured. The men’s work was done. Mine was just beginning.

It was the first time I’d seen a battle and as I tended the dead and wounded, I prayed I might never see another.

Of the eighteen men that had attacked us, only Thrang and one other was left alive. Thrang was unhurt but the other man had wounds I barely knew how to bind. I did my best, packing the wounds with moss and bandaging them. I gave him a sleeping draught and hoped it would help.

Olvir didn’t stop fighting until he had slain every assassin. Even then he couldn’t snap out of his battle rage and it took four of our men to convince him not to kill Thrang. He didn’t begin to calm down until Thrang had changed out of his black clothes and no longer looked like an enemy.

‘What are you doing here with these men?’ I asked Thrang. ‘When I saw you, I thought you’d betrayed us.’ Grim and Helgi stood nearby, listening intently, clearly wondering the same thing.

‘Not I,’ said Thrang, shaking his head. ‘I wouldn’t betray my friends. I stayed behind on the ship at first, afraid someone might make that mistake. But when I saw Bjorn hard-pressed, I had to help. I’ll explain everything later. For now, there’s work to be done.’

Four of our men were injured, including Bjorn who had a deep cut in his arm. And Jon, poor Jon, who had barely been old enough to have stubble on his chin, lay dead among the trees. I wept when they brought his body to me and laid him out beside Ragna. The shock and horror of the battle caught up with me in a rush. I’d saved him from poisoning just a few hours before, and for what? Here he lay, dead with a sword thrust through his heart. I hoped he had at least died quickly and prayed that he was already with Odin in Valhalla. At least death in battle was honourable, I tried to console myself. Jon had won himself a place among the heroes.

I cleaned and bound a gash in Grim’s leg. Erik had a broken right arm from a blow with the flat of someone’s sword. It hurt him a great deal when I set it.

‘You were lucky,’ I told him, as he lay sweating and shaking after I had bound it to a splint. ‘If the sword had struck you sharp side down, you would have lost your hand.’

One of Helgi’s men had a gash in his shoulder. I cleaned and bandaged that. Then at last Bjorn allowed me to see to his wound. He was still kneeling beside Ragna’s body, staring at her as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. I was reluctant to intrude on his grief, wanting to give him the time he needed to come to terms with what had happened. It would not be easy for him to live with the thought that the wife he hadn’t loved had died trying to save his life.

The blood was still seeping from Bjorn’s wound, however, and I had to kneel beside him and lay bare the arm to tend it. He barely responded. His injury had bled profusely and was deep, but it would heal. I sighed with relief, packed it with moss and tied a bandage tightly around it to stop it bleeding.

‘It will heal,’ I told Bjorn.

He looked at me, dazed, still in shock.

‘I should be dead,’ he murmured hoarsely. ‘She saved me.’

‘She did,’ I agreed. I didn’t feel I had taken in Ragna’s death yet, nor the manner of it. It seemed completely unreal.

‘I misjudged her,’ Bjorn groaned. ‘I was too hard on her. It seems she had goodness in her that I’d not guessed at. And courage.’

Thrang came up to us, and stooped to grip Bjorn’s shoulder.

‘She saved your life, my friend,’ he said. ‘But stay your tears for her a while until you’ve heard my tale.’

We buried Ragna and Jon on the hillside beside those we had lost in the winter. The assassins we buried at some distance, in a different place. It was hard work, and everyone was exhausted from digging and shedding tears. I grieved for the strangers as well as our own dead, a sense of guilt strong in me. These men had had their lives cut short because of the murder of Svanson and the theft Bjorn and I had committed.

When we all returned to the house, we found Asgerd had taken charge and had cooked a stew with dried fish. She served everyone a bowlful. I sat on one side of Bjorn, while Thrang sat on the other. It felt strange to be openly sitting at Bjorn’s side. I had an uncomfortable feeling that I shouldn’t. Ragna would be angry. Then I remembered her lifeless body and felt sick.

I hadn’t imagined I’d be able to eat, but I discovered I was ravenously hungry. When everyone had eaten, and been given a bowl of whey to drink, Thrang began to speak.

‘I sailed as far as the Faeroes with the trading ship,’ he began. ‘We stopped over at a summer market there for a few days. People had travelled from all over the islands and further afield to attend it. While we were there, I heard two tales that interested me very much indeed.

‘The first was the boastings of a man from one of the northern islands. He was spending freely and had taken a great deal more drink than was good for him. He told the tale to any who would listen of how his father the chieftain had captured some travellers from Norway and tricked them very neatly indeed.’

Thrang paused and his mouth tightened. The whole house was silent, everyone’s attention fully engaged. We all recognized our own tale in this.

‘This man’s sister was trained as a healer,’ said Thrang.

I caught my breath. Before he even told the story, everything began to fall into place in my mind. I had known we had a healer living secretly among us. Thrang glanced at me and nodded slightly, acknowledging that I had probably guessed correctly.

‘She was a pretty girl to all appearances,’ continued Thrang. ‘But underneath, she was bad tempered and vengeful. She misused her skills to punish anyone who crossed her, and that was just about everyone, sooner or later. Some died mysteriously. She should have been put to death for her crimes. The chieftain, her father, protected her, but she was forbidden to practise.

‘Now comes the part we know,’ Thrang said. ‘This man boasted that the chieftain had tricked the Norwegian lord into marrying this unwanted daughter and taking her off his hands. That was you, Bjorn,’ he said with a serious look. ‘They were rid of her and not only that, he was full of how they had robbed us into the bargain. A ship, food, treasure. The girl’s name,’ Thrang said, pausing for effect, ‘of course, was Ragna. Her own brother was happy to blacken her name.’

He stopped talking and we all sat in silence, taking in what he had said.

‘I wondered how you came to be married to such a woman,’ remarked Helgi. ‘She didn’t seem a bride any man would have chosen. There were no qualities one might look for in a wife.’

‘An understatement, my friend,’ said Bjorn. His voice sounded thick with emotion. I could hear the shock and remorse he had been feeling since Ragna’s death was now tempered with disgust.

‘I
pitied
her,’ he added. ‘I thought if we treated her with kindness, she would soften, in time.’

‘So it was Ragna who had the poison, I suppose,’ said Asgerd, speaking up for the first time. ‘I couldn’t believe it was Thora.’

I felt tears prick my eyes at her words. Asgerd hadn’t suspected me. She was a true friend. Others had, though. Ragna had confused them.

Bjorn got up and beckoned Thrang to follow him. Together they went into what had been Ragna’s room. We could hear the sound of them going through her things. At last I heard a grunt of satisfaction from Thrang. When they emerged, Thrang held something in his hand which he brought over and presented to me.

‘Is this it?’ he asked.

I took the fragment of root from him, looked at it and nodded. I slipped it in my pocket and wiped my hand carefully on my tunic.

‘But you searched before,’ said Asdis. ‘Why didn’t you find it then?’

‘We didn’t look thoroughly enough. If you know who the thief is, things are much easier to find,’ Thrang replied, sitting back down. ‘It was stuffed in a crack in the bottom of the wall under her sleeping place.’

‘I couldn’t think who else it could be,’ I said tentatively. ‘The trouble was, whoever stole the aconite climbed up to the sleeping loft to take it. And I couldn’t think how Ragna had managed that.’

There was a frightened sob next to me after I had spoken. I looked down to see that Ulf had slid onto the bench beside me. He looked up beseechingly, his tear-filled eyes wide and frightened.

‘I did it,’ he said, with a hiccup of fright. ‘I climbed up and got the things out of your chest. I didn’t want to. I
like
you, Thora. But she said I had to or I’d be sorry. She said she’d poison my father.’

Olvir leapt to his feet, looking both horrified and furious.

‘A son of mine is turned sneak and thief?’ he bellowed. He took a step towards us, but I put an arm around Ulf protectively.

‘Ragna was good at making people do what she wanted,’ I said, defending Ulf. ‘We were all afraid of her. He’s just a child. He shouldn’t be punished.’

Ulf slipped a cold hand into mine.

‘I’m really sorry, Thora,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry I stole your key too.’

I remembered the hug he had given me the morning of the theft. Everything made sense at last. In the midst of my shock and surprise, I resolved to keep a closer eye on Ulf in future.

‘If it was Ragna,’ I heard Asdis’s gentle voice say, ‘then why didn’t she try and poison Thora? She hated her.’

Bjorn sent me a swift look, and I felt the colour rise in my cheeks a little.

‘She did,’ I said. My voice was calm, even though the memory filled me with horror. ‘I think perhaps both Vali’s dose and the dog’s were intended for me. And she had poisoned my goblet once before. But I knew the root had been stolen and was on my guard. I began to realize that someone in the house had knowledge of plants and poisons. But I couldn’t work out who.’

I shivered at the memory of the deaths we had all witnessed. Under the table, Bjorn took my hand in a comforting clasp.

‘And the second tale, Thrang?’ asked Helgi after a pause.

‘Ah yes.’ Thrang smiled a little grimly. ‘The second tale was less of a surprise. I heard tell of a man by the name of Arn, leading a group of warriors to Iceland to track down a slave who had murdered his master and stolen his goods.’

‘A simplified version of the tale,’ murmured Bjorn. There was some scattered laughter and he grinned reluctantly. He’d never been comfortable with our theft, though he had defended his stolen goods fiercely enough today. I felt some discomfort, hearing Bjorn openly spoken about as a slave, but no one seemed surprised. They had probably guessed the truth long ago. It no longer mattered. He had saved us all from a life with Svanson, and we owed him our loyalty.

‘It seems that Arn was a distant kinsman of Svanson’s,’ Thrang continued. ‘He knew enough about him to know, when he met you, that you could not be he. But don’t fear. When I sail next, I shall spread the tale of how the men came here and discovered their mistake. You offered them fine hospitality, of course. And then sadly, they were shipwrecked on their way home. I hope that will keep you safe.’

Bjorn released my hand to get up and embrace Thrang.

‘Thank you, my friend,’ he said.

Helgi, too, rose from his seat and came up to us, offering Bjorn his hand.

‘I owe you heartfelt thanks for your help,’ said Bjorn.

‘No, indeed,’ replied Helgi, clearly troubled. ‘I feel I’m in part responsible for this attack,’ he said. ‘Arn was my kinsman. I’m not proud of the part he has played. You’ve been a true and generous friend to me. A man of honour. I’m proud to call you my neighbour and my friend.’

The two men shook hands and then embraced.

‘Thank you, Helgi,’ Bjorn said, much moved. ‘You can always call on me in time of need.’

Bjorn turned to Thrang.

‘I’m grateful to you for bringing us this news. You’ve made many things clear that were tormenting us. But tell me. How did you come to be aboard that ship?’

‘I had to warn you, to help you if I could,’ said Thrang, glancing at me as he spoke. ‘I left Stein in the house of an acquaintance. I dyed my hair black, shaved my beard short and offered myself as a mercenary, for a large fee. They took me at once. Arn didn’t look closely enough to recognize me.’

‘And you were able to help. I’m thankful,’ Bjorn told him. ‘And at last I’m in a position to reward you for your friendship and all you have done for us. The ship the men came in is yours.’

Thrang grinned. ‘I hoped you’d say that,’ he admitted. ‘I’ll need to trade it for another, of course—somewhere far away, where it won’t be recognized. But it will help me set up as a trader rather than a hired captain, and l’m deeply grateful.’

He turned to look at me. ‘I also wanted to apologize to you, Thora, for doubting you,’ he said more quietly. ‘I had hoped to ask again for your hand in marriage. But I imagine that will be useless now.’ He looked significantly at Bjorn as he spoke. I blushed uncomfortably. I had no idea what the future held for me now. It was much too soon to be thinking about it.

‘Thora is not thinking of marriage at the present time,’ Bjorn said firmly. He turned to the household.

‘I hope that none of you will think the worse of me now you’ve heard this story,’ he said, with a slight smile. ‘I’m sure there wasn’t much you hadn’t guessed. I hope you all feel I’ve been a better master than Svanson. And I’d be grateful to you for your secrecy on this subject so that we can live here unmolested.

‘As you know, I don’t believe in slavery. I promised you all your freedom if you worked for me for a year. The year will soon be over, and as thanks for your loyalty and support today, I’d like to declare you all free men and women from this moment.’

There was an excited cheer and a babble of voices. I could see Erik and Asgerd hugging each other and their daughter with tears in their eyes. The others were shaking hands and congratulating one another. I smiled at Bjorn, glad he had chosen to do this today. He looked pleased, but behind the smile, I could see he was still deeply troubled. There had been so many shocks for him today. They were going to take a long time to accept.

Someone was tugging at my shoulder. It was Asgerd and I turned to receive her embrace.