Daughter of Fire and Ice (15 page)

‘Did you not see the whales blowing on the far side of the bay?’ he asked me.

I shook my head, not wanting to admit I barely knew what he meant.

‘The whales go where the fish are,’ he said. ‘There’ll be rich fishing over there.’

‘Well, I couldn’t live on fish alone,’ I remarked.

I thought Thrang was smiling at me, though it was difficult to tell through his bushy beard. ‘It’s where I would choose,’ he said.

I hoped devoutly that Bjorn had no such notion. It wouldn’t be any life to be perched on some rocky outcrop living off fish. Then I remembered all our animals, tools, and seed and felt reassured. We were going to be farmers.

‘I couldn’t survive away from plants and flowers,’ I said. ‘I would miss being able to watch them grow and gather them when the time is right.’

‘And yet you love the sea,’ Thrang pointed out.

I was surprised. This was a whole conversation. I’d never heard Thrang speak so long to anyone. Together, we turned and headed back to the camp.

‘I did love the sea,’ I answered as we walked. ‘But I belong on land.’

Perhaps Thrang was disappointed by my reply, because he said nothing more.

One of the first things we did that morning was to bathe and clean the dirt of the long voyage from our grimy bodies. There was a freshwater lake at the head of the bay. I went there with the women. It was crystal clear but unbelievably cold. We all screamed and shrieked as we tried to get into the water. Most of us contented ourselves with crouching at the edge and scrubbing our bodies hurriedly before staggering out again on numb, frozen feet, gasping with the cold. I couldn’t imagine coming here to wash on any but the warmest days of summer.

Once we were clean, the men took their turn. Even from the camp we could hear them shouting and laughing as they braved the icy water. It sounded as if some of them were throwing each other in or wrestling in the lake from the amount of splashing we could hear. When they returned they were pink-skinned and invigorated from the water. Asgerd, I, and three other women gathered all the dirty, discarded clothes and returned to the lake to wash them. We scrubbed them and beat them against stones, stopping regularly to thaw our numbed hands in our armpits. Then we carried them back to the camp and spread them all to dry in the sunshine.

I didn’t speak to Bjorn that day. After the bathing, he took several men with him and went to explore the shore. I went among the animals, pigs, goats, sheep, calves, and horses, to check they were all well after the voyage. Aki was very high spirited about being on firm land again. He was grazing eagerly and already had a new shine in his eyes. I rubbed him affectionately between the ears.

‘You’re glad to be here, aren’t you?’ I asked him. It was lovely to see him so happy. ‘I promise you’ll never have to go to sea again,’ I told him light-heartedly. ‘From here on it’s all sweet Icelandic grass and pastures to roam.’ Aki nickered softly as though he understood.

We had lost neither horses nor cattle, goats nor pigs. Two lambs had died and we had lost nearly half the chickens. But all in all, we’d done well. It was a good omen and suggested to me that our farm would prosper. That reminded me that I should speak to Bjorn about a sacrifice. Thor had watched over our voyage and we should thank him for holding off storms and other dangers. I was surprised Bjorn had not already thought of it. We could spare another chicken or even two for such an important ceremony.

Once I had checked all the animals, I put Aki on a halter rein and took him for a walk to examine the plant life in the area. I could see from the height and sparseness of the vegetation that this must be a harsh climate and a short growing season. No doubt the south coast would have been kinder. But we were here now, and it had been my doing. Aki stopped to snatch mouthfuls of grass every time I paused to look at a plant. Once, when I lingered too long, he butted me impatiently. I tumbled over into the grass. Aki put his face down to mine and snorted, spraying me with foal spit. I rolled away with an indignant cry and then suddenly I laughed. For the first time since my capture in Norway, I roared with laughter. Aki stood over me looking at me curiously. I laughed and laughed, unable to stop, until my laughter turned to tears and then I put my arms around Aki’s warm, comforting neck and wept for everything I had lost.

To my surprise, Bjorn refused to make the sacrifice to Thor. There were rumblings of unease among the company. I myself felt doubt even once he had explained his reasons.

‘I don’t believe in your gods, Thora. I don’t believe that sacrifice makes any difference. Why should a valuable and useful animal be killed for such a reason? How does that benefit anyone?’

I stared at him perplexed. How could anyone not believe in the gods? They were indisputable—a part of our world as much as the sea and the sky. Making sacrifices to them wasn’t something I’d ever questioned. It was necessary.

‘The gods require blood,’ I said uncertainly, ‘in return for safe passage across the sea. If you withhold your thanks, we could all be punished.’

Bjorn shook his head and resumed eating his night meal. I could hear mutterings around me and wished I hadn’t brought the subject up so publicly. I hadn’t intended to undermine Bjorn’s authority. I’d forgotten that he had been born overseas and might have learned different ways to ours.

Ragna was sitting beside Bjorn. She said nothing, but I saw her glance at him, just once, and there was an expression I couldn’t quite read in her eyes. I let the matter drop.

Bjorn chose a place to build the longhouse where we would all live. It was to lie above the beach facing inland towards the head of the bay. He had picked a spot in the lee of the wind, where the shoulder of the hill would keep the worst of the winter winds off us.

‘We can’t easily see ships approaching from here,’ I mentioned quietly, pausing beside him as he worked on digging holes for the corner posts of the house. Bjorn looked at me, and a rueful grin just touched his face.

‘I’ve thought it through. I’d like a view of the bay, too.’ He paused, and I knew he was thinking of the possibility of pursuit from Norway. It would haunt us for a long time. ‘But look at the trees,’ Bjorn said, straightening his back and throwing down his spade. He waved at the stunted forest that grew around us. ‘Which way are they all bent? They show you the direction of the prevailing wind. And we need shelter from it. Otherwise it’ll be impossible to keep the house warm in winter.’

I could see the good sense in this. ‘But,’ I lowered my voice, ‘if Svanson’s people
should
come after us … ’

‘They won’t be able to see us from the open sea, any more than we can see them approaching.’

I was doubtful this was true. There would be other signs of settlement besides the actual buildings. But I decided that in this matter, Bjorn knew better than I.

‘Do you propose starting building today?’ I asked him.

‘I do.’

‘It’s just that it’s almost the end of
Heyannir
. Hay month. If we don’t cut our grass at once, there will be nothing for the winter feed.’

Bjorn nodded. ‘I know. And yet if I don’t build at once, we’ll have no roof over our heads if bad weather comes.’

We stared at each other for a few moments, weighing the importance of the two tasks.

‘Give me the women and you have the men,’ I said at last, suggesting a compromise. I would have preferred it if everyone could have spent a week cutting hay. We couldn’t be sure how long the good weather would last. But we were eight women plus Astrid. If we worked hard, we could perhaps manage it. If only the weather would stay as fine as it was today.

Bjorn looked at me a moment, his eyes softening. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘You have a great deal of wisdom, Thora. Thank you. Harvest well.’

I turned away confused, but pleased. A better understanding was at last being established between us again. Bjorn called after me.

‘Thora? The hay making. Not Ragna.’

I nodded curtly and walked away. I knew Ragna wasn’t strong enough for haymaking. Her bad leg prevented her from walking far. He didn’t need to remind me; to bring her name like a barrier between us again.

I made my way swiftly down the hill to the camp, while Bjorn went back to digging.

All day the women laboured on the sunny slopes of the bay, cutting grass for hay. We scratched ourselves climbing through the trees and scrub to find the best places. I swung the sharp iron blade until my arm ached and throbbed. Then I passed it to another woman and shook out the hay I’d cut and spread it to dry. The grass was coarse and tough, but plentiful. What flowers had grown among them had now withered and spread their seed. Some plants I could identify but I would need to wait for next summer now to get a full picture of what grew here.

After so long aboard the ship, we all found we’d grown weak and flabby. The work taxed our strength. When the pain in my protesting muscles grew intolerable, I pictured Aki eating the hay I was cutting in the long dark of the winter months. I visualized him growing strong and tall on it, and I was able to keep working. By the end of the day, we had cut a large area. I was satisfied with the start we had made.

We congratulated one another, collected up our tools and headed back down to our beach camp. We could see the men walking down from the building site from the other direction. We met and mingled. That was why I didn’t see what had been done. Not until I heard gasps of shock from those ahead of me. The crowd parted to give me a view that brought me up short. I stared at it, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

On a large flat stone a short distance from the campfire, a sacrifice had been made. I saw the ritual blood marks first. Blood had also run down the stone, congealing in sticky pools and dripping into the shingle. That didn’t shock me; I’d seen such sights often. What made me falter and turn pale was the gleaming golden coat and limp gangly legs that were the source of the blood.

Someone had sacrificed Aki.

After all my work and care to keep him alive. After my promises that his life would be good now. My friend was dead. My stomach churned with distress and shock. I looked around frantically, searching for the person responsible. Who would do such a thing to me?

Ragna stepped forward, blood on her tunic and on her forehead. Aki’s blood. She smiled up at Bjorn.

‘I knew you would want to give thanks to Thor for our safe arrival, husband,’ she said.

I saw the colour drain from Bjorn’s face as he stood looking from his wife to the slaughtered foal. Of all the animals she could have chosen, a horse was the most valuable. The hardest to replace. And everyone knew of the bond I had forged with the young colt.

I racked my anguished brain to remember whether Ragna had been present when Bjorn had said he didn’t believe in sacrifice. Of course she had been. She’d been sitting beside him. So why had she done it?

Bjorn took a step closer to his wife, his eyes blazing. For a moment it looked as though he would strike her, but then he seemed to restrain himself. Ragna’s eyes narrowed as she glared back at him. We all watched the silent battle for mastery rage between them.

‘You didn’t forbid me,’ hissed Ragna at last, in a voice like an adder.

‘I forbid you ever to make sacrifices again,’ said Bjorn slowly and clearly. His voice vibrated with anger. Then he turned abruptly away and started giving orders to stack the tools under the boat in case of rain. Ragna darted me a triumphant glance. I understood that she had sacrificed Aki to hurt me. I had had no idea her hatred for me was so strong.

My knees shook. I fought to control myself, keeping my face averted from the mangled, bloody heap that had been Aki. I needed to master my emotions, outwardly at least. Ragna shouldn’t have the satisfaction of seeing my distress.

I tried to walk away, but my legs wouldn’t carry me. Intead, I sank to the ground and covered my face with my hands. Asgerd sat down beside me and put her arms around me.

‘Why?’ I whispered. My mind felt numb, unable to work properly. I couldn’t think of anything except that Aki was gone.

‘I’ve told you before, she’s jealous.’ She whispered the words into my ear so no one else could hear.

‘But … ’ Even my mouth wasn’t working properly now, unable to shape my words. ‘But I’ve been kind to her,’ I faltered.

‘She’s like woollen cloth soaking up kindness but giving none back,’ murmured Asgerd, stroking my hair. ‘That’s how she is. It’ll never make any difference how kind you are to her. She’ll never like you for it.’

I knew she was right and it filled me with despair.

‘Asgerd,’ called Ragna sharply. ‘There’s work to be done. Come and help.’

Ragna couldn’t even bear the sight of me being comforted. Asgerd had no choice but to go. I sat in silence, feeling the shock fade and the pain begin. I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder and looked up.

‘Take comfort, Thora,’ said Thrang gruffly. ‘The sacrifice was a princely gift. In exchange for a horse, Thor will be good to us all winter.’

Without saying any more, he went and gathered up Aki’s limp body and walked away from the camp with it. I followed him with my eyes until he disappeared from sight.

Harvest Month

Haustmánu∂ur

The weather held fine for many days. I continued making hay with the other women, despite the misery that hung over me. It seeped right inside me, making my limbs heavy and every movement an effort. It was much harder to keep working without the thought of feeding my favourite foal.

The day the frame of the house was raised, we all went to help. As the skeleton of each wall was lifted into an upright position, a tremendous cheer went up and everyone who wasn’t hauling on a rope applauded. Even I could feel some satisfaction in seeing our house take shape as men swarmed over the structure, pegging it together. Not that I had any expectation that this would be a happy home. Not for me, in any case. But it would be a shelter against the winter that was coming.