Islands in the Fog (28 page)

Men sawed at the ropes to cut free. The enemy king, his face pulled tight with rage, stepped onto the rail to follow Kjotve.

The aft of the ships broke free. Ulfrik shifted back to the rail on Kjotve's side. The king stumbled forward.

He sprawled on his face. Kjotve, despite his brutish stature, reacted swiftly. The king flipped over. Kjotve raised his sword to strike.

Ulfrik sprung from the rail, holding his shield before him. He collided with Kjotve, deflecting the killing strike. The impact crushed both of them to the deck in a tangled mass. Kjotve's foul breath blasted Ulfrik's face as he screamed curses. Ulfrik recovered first, straddling Kjotve and bringing a blade to his throat.

He imagined pushing the cutting edge through the flesh, biting deep to the bone. He could hear the gurgle and see Kjotve's eyes pop in horrible realization of death. But he held the blade. He pushed only hard enough to draw blood.

"Yield to me or die!" Ulfrik roared. Kjotve flexed, his arms pinned to his sides. Ulfrik sawed the blade deeper and blood flowed readily. "Yield or die!"

Kjotve howled in pain. "I yield! You pig fucking son of a troll!"

An incredible lightness enveloped Ulfrik in that moment. Kjotve wrestled, but now more sword and spear points tagged him. He ceased. Ulfrik heaved with the exertion, the pure joy of victory. Kjotve's dark face snarled and he spit curses like a snake spits venom. But all around, his men yielded as well. The fight ended with the fall of Kjotve.

A hand rested upon Ulfrik's shoulder. The voice that spoke was deep and powerful, like rolling ocean waves. "Stand and surrender your blade."

Ulfrik's sword remained where it stayed. He twisted around to face the king leaning over him. "He is my captive. By rights battle known to every man, he's mine."

The king nodded, but his grip tightened. "Surrender your blade. The battle is done. You are hurt."

Ulfrik jumped in surprise, looking down at his torso but finding no wound. His mind reached out to the rest of his body, and he felt the blood running down his back. The lashing wounds must have re-opened. He slumped with relief.

One of the enemy firmly took Ulfrik's arm and removed his sword. Ulfrik did not resist. The king himself helped raise Ulfrik to his feet. "For now you are my prisoner."

"I saved your life," Ulfrik said as he was lifted off Kjotve, who was still ringed with spears and swords.

"I know. Give me time to settle matters. I will not forget."

Ulfrik scanned the results. These three ships were surrounded by the enemy, and other of Kjotve's ships had already been cleared and captured. He smiled when he found Snorri begrudgingly turning over sword and shield. He saw other of his crew, but not all. Ingrid was lost to him in the battle.

"The great sea-king Jarl Kjotve the Rich!" The giant king clapped his hands together as Kjotve was hauled to his knees before him. "You have much to pay for. That you should return to these lands again is either the most foolish or most brave thing I've seen in a long while."

"Fuck you and your High King Harald." Kjotve spit at the king, a weak effort that sprayed bloody spit on the deck. But a man kicked his side for the insolence.

"Yes, fuck the high king. I agree. But such sentiments buy you nothing with me." The king ordered Kjotve bound, and then he raised his sword and proclaimed victory. The enemy shouted and stabbed their swords in the air.

Ulfrik felt the impulse to cheer, but remembered he was still a captive and nothing had changed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"Why would Halla and Dana go off on their own?" Toki asked Gerdie the question, since he had asked everyone else enough times for them to tire of him. Gerdie shrugged as she helped him fold the sail.

"They left everything behind, so they will return," Gerdie said with a yawn. Her face said she did not care if Halla remained away.

Toki bit his lower lip. He understood the last days had been trying, and Halla needed time alone. He sometimes needed the same for himself. She had left obvious footprints, making no effort to conceal where she had gone. He hoped when Sigvid arrived, she would accompany him.

"She didn't make any friends in Sigvid's hall. Why go there? It makes no sense."

Gerdie met Toki to complete the fold of the sail. He took the bulky cloth from her and stowed it. The others prepared the ship for sailing. Runa monitored Gunnar as he practiced climbing trees. Halla's absence elicited no concern.

Halla, you have not made friends here
, he thought to himself and grimaced. Einar had been the only one who seemed worried, and Toki felt it due to guilt he bore for sleeping on his watch.

Toki stood in the forecastle of
Raven's Talon
. He braced himself against the long neck of the prow. The dawn had broken, slashing a pale pink stripe along the horizon. The wind blew steady and strong, good sailing weather. He hoped Halla would return soon and Sigvid would deliver the promised supplies. Then he could seize the good weather to make up lost time.

As the sun came up, Gunnar shouted from his tree. "Ma, the witch and her raven are back!"

Halla and Dana flitted out of the shadows of the track. Toki's heart lifted, though Gunnar's innocent repeating of what must be Runa's epithet distracted him. Neither woman seemed to hear. They trotted excitedly toward Toki. He smiled, but it vanished from his face. He read fear in Halla's countenance.

"Where have you been? What happened?" he shouted as they approached. Gerdie, who sat heavily on a flat rock by the campfire watched with mild interest. No one else stopped what they were doing to greet her.

She drew up short, as if surprised by the question. She exchanged glances with Dana, then gave a smile so false that even a dog could not be fooled. "The air under the sail made me ill. I went for a walk."

"For this long?"

"Well, I wanted to rest again when I got tired and then I fell asleep. Dana didn't want to disturb me until now. Isn't that right, Dana?"

"Yes, Lady Halla. You just lay down and fell asleep. You seemed so tired, I couldn't disturb you."

"So are we ready to sail? I'm ready to sail. We should be leaving soon."

Toki frowned at Halla's overeager expression. She lied, but he hesitated to call it out. He searched her clear eyes, and could hear her voice in his head:
please do not ask me anything more
. He shifted to Dana, also uncharacteristically eager.

"The supplies have not arrived. Once Sigvid comes with them, we will leave."

"Will that be long?"

Toki folded his arms. "I don't know. What really happened while you were gone?"

"Nothing! I fell asleep." Halla mirrored Toki's stance. "Fine, I was just concerned I delayed us. Take as long as you want. I'll wait aboard the ship."

She stalked past him, her head held back in a mockery of indignation. None of what Halla had said or did fooled Toki, but he judged he should leave her alone. He looked at Gerdie and she shrugged. "At least she's speaking to you again."

"There's that." Toki turned himself to other preparations.

Once the morning sun had climbed higher, Sigvid and Isleif emerged from the track. A brown fjord horse lugged a cart, and Toki waved in greeting. He palmed the small sack of silver bits he planned to trade and met the men as they came down to the shore.

"Fine sailing weather," remarked Sigvid. "We've got everything you asked for and then some. If I'm going with you, we'll need good mead to keep me happy."

"If you let him drink, he will start singing." Isleif slapped his son on the back. "Don't let him sing or you'll want to throw yourselves overboard. Now let's get these provisions on your ship."

Toki thanked them for their help. He dropped the bag of silver into Isleif's hand. The old man weighed it in his palm, peeked inside, then threw it into his cart. Toki gave him a puzzled expression. "Why not check it? Maybe I filled the bag with rocks and covered them with silver."

Isleif frowned. "I'd know. And Sigvid would have his dagger to your throat faster than you could pull your own. Besides, we drank on our deal last night. You're not an oath breaker, I don't think."

Toki smiled weakly. "Of course not."

They formed a line starting from where the horse would go no further. "She’s afraid of the ocean," explained Isleif. They worked swiftly to move the boxes of food, new coils of rope, and casks of mead. Halla stood on the rails of the ship, helping where she could. Even Gunnar carried supplies, bearing his loads as if he carried golden treasures.

Toki stood on the deck, the wind tugging at his shirt and refreshing him. From the track, he saw a group of people emerge. At first he thought they were Isleif's people. But then someone pointed and the group began to stride with purpose.

Sigvid followed Toki's gaze. "Who told him we were here? By Odin's one eye!"

Isleif dropped his head and cursed. Toki immediately turned to Halla, and she smiled nervously. "Don't look at me."

A tall, balding man led the group like he dragged a pack of unwilling hounds behind him. His pointing finger wagged at them and as he neared Toki heard him shouting. "There they are, on the ship. Two witches, I tell you!"

Runa, also aboard the ship nervously beckoned Gunnar to her side, then glared at Halla. "Taking a nap in the forest, were you?"

Halla looked as if she would faint. Toki returned Runa's glare, then drew Halla to his side. She clung to him willingly. "Stay by me and do not fear."

He picked up his sword from where it lay sheathed by the steering board. He gestured to the men and Gerdie to join him on deck. Once aboard, he pushed the gangplank into the sand. The men stood before the women, in line with Toki.

The crowd now clustered around Isleif and Sigvid, blocking their cart. The thin man raved frantically, shouting in an older man's face. The older man wore fine clothes of green and brown. His cloak was fastened with a gold pin, and he wore an armband of silver. Toki understood he was the jarl, and he had taken five hirdmen with him, all armed with swords but no armor. A sad faced woman stood behind the bald man, goading him on whenever he paused.

"This man keeps pointing at my ship," Toki shouted over their heads. "I would like an explanation, and a chance to speak." He fastened his sword belt, so that he would be equal to the others. But the jarl and his hirdmen both frowned at him as he finished.

"Those two witches worked a spell, then robbed me!" the thin man's voice cracked as he shouted.

"Now that's a wild accusation." Toki's eyes drew to slits as he regarded the man. "One that should not be made falsely." The iron in his voice cowed the thin man, though the woman behind him hissed in his ear. He waved her away like a fly. However, the iron in Toki's voice drew out the jarl and his men.

"Calm yourselves, both." He pointed at Toki. "If you wish to speak, then come down off your ship."

"I am a freeman. I speak from my ship while all I see below is an angry mob." Toki felt Halla clench him tighter. He put his arm around her. "You accuse my wife and my slave of evil magic."

"This is still my land," Isleif said, raising his arms over the crowd. "And he has been my guest since last night. Let's speak like reasonable men."

The jarl grumbled but nodded. Isleif waved Toki down. "I vouch for your safety. Jarl Orlyg is an honest lord, and his word is true."

"Come down and be safe," Jarl Orlyg said in a weary voice. "Let's discuss what has happened."

Toki leapt down and approached the group. He smiled at the bald man who returned a frown.

"Runolf," Jarl Orlyg gestured to the bald man, “tell your story."

The woman behind Runolf whispered a flurry of words into his ear. He hunched like he was in a rainstorm, then snapped at her. "I will tell my story, woman! Now, I was on the forest track at dawn. I wanted to get to Isleif early and arrange to buy his catch today. I planned a celebration tonight for friends. I was strolling along the path." Here Runolf mimicked walking, which to Toki looked like a man limping with a broken leg. "I heard voices all around. The woods were still dark and I couldn't see anything. I drew my blade." He dramatized pulling a knife from his waist. His woman jumped; Toki yawned. "The voices grew louder and lights started flashing." Runolf squinted and blocked imaginary light from his eyes. "Then these two witches leapt out of the bushes and started dancing around me. My head was spinning. I fell and hit my face on a rock." He pointed to a line of bruises beneath his eye. Toki had thought it dirt. "Then they rolled me over, took my purse and dagger. They ran off towards Isleif's home and left me blinded and helpless on the track. Sif found me."

"I did!" His wife, Sif, had a voice like a screeching raven. "I found him laid out on the track. A pox on me if I'm lying."

Runolf smiled triumphantly, his face brightening. "I went to Isleif's home, found him gone and his sons already at sea. But his wife told me about these visitors. That's when I knew I should inform you, Jarl Orlyg." He bowed his head, then looked up at Toki with a smirk that begged to be punched.

Jarl Orlyg rolled his head to Toki with a look of long-suffering patience. "Do you have a claim to dispute this?"

"Well, I claim that my wife is no witch, and my family and crew will vouch." He looked up at the others lined against the ship rails. He paused at Runa, who gave an imperceptible nod that bolstered Toki's confidence. "Has Isleif or Sigvid witnessed anything suspicious?"

Isleif and Sigvid both shook their heads. Sigvid smiled without mirth. "Are you sure you were just not drunk again, Runolf? Last time you showed up naked and covered with bee stings."

"Who's talking about drunkenness? You piss yourself every night, Sigvid, and cry about your wife."

"Enough of this!" Jarl Orlyg's arm barred Sigvid from lunging at Runolf. "If they stole your purse and dagger, then they should have it still. Which one took your dagger?"

He pointed to Halla. Toki held his expression blank, but now suspected what happened while she was away. "My wife has no dagger or purse. If you accuse her, then she must tell her story. She was away this morning, true. But more has happened than this liar is willing to say."