Shieldmaiden (28 page)

‘Gudrun Haraldsdaughter…,' said Thorfinn.

Mother had already turned and walked towards her house. We followed the straight-backed, composed figure in silence. One of the housekarls made some comment I couldn't hear and the other one laughed. I looked back to see them following us with their eyes.

‘I can't help any of you, if you will not help yourselves. Sigrid, to my brother you are the daughter of a traitor. I persuaded him to meet you nevertheless. You could have smiled sweetly at him and possibly he would have listened. Be still Ragnar Sweinson!' Ragnar hung his head and Mother continued: ‘Instead you insult him. I doubt he'll see you again, unless he thinks of a use for you, which is quite possible.'

I knew only too well what she meant by ‘use'. Like her I would be a peace-weaver, a gift to bind one of his allies closer to him by marriage. I felt like a foolish child.

‘Ragnar Sweinson, if you're going to challenge every man, regardless of rank, who looks at my daughter you will bring certain disaster to us all. Why did you come?'

‘I came to protect my wife and son.'

I felt a warm glow inside me at this and could not stop myself looking at him. Mother snorted and shook her head.

‘In your temper you have drawn the eyes of Hakon's karls. You could have got killed there. You're challenging a king. You are no protection but a danger to Sigrid and Kveldulf. You must leave. You should go now, tonight. You have nothing to gain by staying. You are an outlaw and I doubt very much Hakon will have any use for you alive.'

She paused and leant back in her chair. Ragnar got up and for a second time bent his knee in front of her.

‘I also came because our marriage, although real to us, needs your approval. I can pay a generous bridegeld.'

Mother shook her head.

‘Oh, I don't doubt it. I know how men like you get their riches. You may have gold, Ragnar Sweinson, but without land you're nothing.'

‘Will you plead my cause with the King?'

‘No.' She stood, indicating that there was nothing more to discuss.

Ragnar got up. He made to say something but my mother cut him short:

‘Go!'

Ragnar's hands shook as he lifted mine to his lips and the look he gave me pierced my heart. I made to follow him but Mother held me back. I wrenched myself free.

‘But Mother, you cannot let Ragnar be punished for what his father did!' I rushed after him. At the door my way was barred by Toki. He inclined his head.

‘Forgive me, Sigrid Kveldulfsdaughter.'

He took my arm and walked me back to my seat. Thorfinn stood with his hand on his sword and a miserable look on his face. My mother had her hand on his arm.

‘You must understand this, both of you. Ragnar was present at the raid on one my father's islands. In Hakon's eyes he is guilty of treason the same way his father was. I assume you were there too, Thorfinn. But you were a follower and I understand you are now Sigrid's sworn man. You and the two boys should be safe enough. But you have to persuade Ragnar to go tonight. He is a danger to Sigrid and to Kveldulf. Do you understand? They will find out who he is. It is impossible to hide these things here. Whether you go or stay Thorfinn, I leave to you but Ragnar must go.'

Thorfinn nodded and turned to leave.

‘But where can he go?' I asked.

She laughed.

‘A brave sword will always find a home and he is brave, your man, I'll give him that.'

I tried to leave but again she held me back. ‘It's better you're not seen with him.' I noticed Toki had resumed his place by the door.

‘Go with him.' I called to Thorfinn. He nodded and then the door closed behind him.

I attended Hakon's hall as ordered. Encased in a fog of misery, I was introduced to Jarl Sigurd but have no recollection of what we talked about. I sat between my mother and another female relative of Hakon's. She told me her name but I don't remember it. She talked and asked me questions. I heard her voice as from far away and, unable to answer, heard Mother speak on my behalf. The food put in front of me remained untouched. I looked in vain for Ulf and Anlaf. I wished Thorfinn would bring me a message but he too was nowhere to be seen. The King ignored me. All my hopes were dashed and all through my own impetuous action.

It was a relief when Mother said it was time to return to her house. We made our way between the trestle tables and at the lower end of the hall Ulf and Anlaf rose to greet us. They looked like they had just arrived. Drizzle still coated their clothing in fine droplets. I told them to finish their meal before joining me. Back at the house the serving women had fed Kveldulf and were trying to get him to go to bed.

‘Keluf want Olvir.' He looked at me with accusing eyes and trembling lower lip.

‘I thought he was with you, here.'

The servants shook their heads. He had left with me and Mother.

‘So he may still be in the hall.' Mother turned to Toki. ‘Please see if you can find him there.'

‘No, I'll go.' I rose but my mother pulled me back. She held my arm until Toki had left.

‘You need to understand that Toki is not just my servant, he is my jailor too.' I thought at first I had misheard her. She cleared her throat. ‘Sigrid, you may find that Hakon holds it against you that not only did your father break his oath to his king but your brother Steinar has run off to join his enemies.'

‘Steinar!'

‘Yes, the coward has turned hero. Word has it he has sworn to avenge your father's death. I am watched at all times, in case he seeks me out. We are all under suspicion. Hakon believes we're all capable of seeking revenge.'

‘And are you?' I whispered.

She didn't answer. She looked around at her household. Then her eyes held mine for a few breathless moments.

‘How would that help?'

Olvir was not in the hall. No one remembered seeing him there that evening. I riled Toki until he allowed me out, in the company of a couple of servants, to look for him. As I stepped out into the fine drizzle Ulf and Anlaf joined me. They had been barred from entering the house but had taken up position by the door in case I needed them. They had last seen Olvir playing hnefatafl with a visiting Northumbrian trader, but it had been much earlier in the afternoon. I knew something must have happened. Olvir would never leave Kveldulf like that. We searched in ever wider circles, lighting our way with torches and calling his name.

‘He likes to wander down to the harbour and chat to people. Maybe we should look there,' said Anlaf.

‘But this late?'

‘I hope nothing…'

Anlaf didn't need to finish. I was distraught and prepared to search the whole of Norway and beyond. As I turned towards the harbour, my mother's serving woman stopped me.

‘You are over-tired, Sigrid Kveldulfsdaughter. Think of your unborn child. Come back and rest. Your karls can go faster without you.'

Anlaf and Ulf soon returned, carrying a bedraggled Olvir. He was wet through, pale and hollow-eyed and his clothes and face bore streaks of vomit. He couldn't speak, just kept closing his eyes and making retching noises.

‘We found him at the start of the track to the harbour,' said Ulf. ‘I don't understand how we missed him before. I'm sure we must have passed him. Looks like he was suddenly overcome by sickness. Strange. No one else is sick. Not that I know of anyway. Here you are, little mite.' He put Olvir down on a bed and ruffled his hair. ‘Maybe he had too much to eat. He has a way of getting the women to feed him better than the rest of us.'

I bent down next to him and while stroking Olvir's cheek I whispered to Ulf.

‘Be careful, watch out, be my eyes and ears.'

Olvir opened his eyes and muttered: ‘No, that's me. That's what I am.'

I shushed him. Then, in a loud voice, I thanked Ulf and Anlaf and told them to get some rest.

Olvir threw up several times in the night. I sat with him, holding his hand while he slept and supporting his head when he spewed. The next morning one of the serving women brought her mother who was a wise woman. Old Kirsten hobbled through the door, bent and gnarled like an old oak. She brought her granddaughter, also called Kirsten, a girl of eleven who lived with her.

‘So where is the sick child?' Old Kirsten blinked as her peppercorn eyes swept the room. Toki, probably annoyed at not being consulted, tried to shoo her away.

‘We don't need witchcraft here. I shall ask the priest to attend the boy. He needs prayers, not heathen hocus-pocus.'

‘This is not a question of religion, Toki,' said my mother. ‘We shall ask the priest to pray, of course we shall, but Kirsten knows more than anyone how to use herbs to cure illness. We need her help as well as the Lord's mercy to get Olvir well.'

The old crone showed her empty gums in a smirk and was led to Olvir's bed. She bent over him, studied his pale features and stroked his damp brow.

‘Show me what he has brought up.' I looked around.

‘I don't think…'

‘Yes, I saved it. Here.' Old Kirsten's daughter brought a vilesmelling pail from outside. Old Kirsten sniffed it, felt it and put some on the tip of her tongue.

‘Hmm, I see,' she muttered. ‘So that's how it is.' She made her granddaughter smell and taste the vomit as well and whispered to her. The girl's eyes became round and her mouth opened. Then Old Kirsten turned to us. ‘Ladies, I need to talk to you.'

Mother and I sat her down away from the servants. She looked at us for several moments before she spoke.

‘The child has been poisoned. Pink toadstool. It's treacherous. Small amounts will make the warrior brave but too much can send you to the next world. The boy will live. Give him a draft made of dried chamomile to calm his stomach. He will sleep for a long time now. When he recovers, he needs building up. Nourishing food, of course, strong broth from marrow-bones mixed with egg and milk. Give him the dried leaves of wood avens and nettle pounded with warm water, add chamomile too. Can you get those things? If you don't have them, send my daughter to fetch some from me.'

I nodded and looked at my mother. She seemed as stunned as I was. Echoing my thoughts, Old Kirsten continued:

‘The question of who may wish to poison a young child is for you to consider. I may be able to help you but not with herbs. It takes other powers and ceremonies, you may not agree with.' She pointed at the crosses on our neck-chains.

23.

‘Where were you?' I held a spoon-full of steaming broth to Olvir's mouth. He took a sip and swallowed.

‘Don't remember.' He leant back and closed his eyes. Three days had passed and he was still weak but on the mend. Poisoned. I fought back my tears. Who would want to harm Olvir?

‘Did anyone give you anything to eat?'

‘Don't know.' He thought a while. ‘One of the traders gave me a drink.'

‘Which trader?'

‘Don't know. Maybe the one I beat at hnefatafl. Oh yes I remember it now. He gave me a drink and then he wanted me to come onboard but I ran away. I didn't like him.'

A trader trying to poison Olvir in revenge for defeat at a boardgame? No. To be able to abduct him and sell him? A boy his age would fetch a good price. But there were better ways to make him drowsy than pink toadstool. And why risk abducting a child from the harbour with so many people around? Still, I had to accept it for now.

‘You must take care. I need you and Kveldulf does.'

His eyes still closed he nodded. As I rose to leave him, I heard him heave a trembling sigh.

‘Olvir, what is the matter?' He turned his face to the wall.

‘Nothing.'

The knorrs had left the previous day and my mother and I discussed with Toki how best to proceed with our suspicion against the trader.

‘But I don't understand it,' he said. ‘These are well regarded men, regular visitors to Nidaros. Why would they risk their reputation by killing a child? What in the name…' He looked behind him. ‘I wish you wouldn't sneak up like that, Olvir!'

‘I'm sorry. I heard you talk. I'm not sure now. Maybe it didn't happen. Maybe I dreamt.'

I could see Toki's patience was about to run out, and intervened.

‘Are you feeling strong enough to come and sit outside, Olvir?'

He nodded. Drizzle had given way to the pale sun of early autumn. I found a seat by the main cook-house.

‘You have never lied to me, have you Olvir? You are one person I can always trust to tell me the truth.' I heard him sniffle. ‘I do wish I knew what really happened to you. It wouldn't be a very good idea to get all the king's men looking for a murderer if…'

‘Oh Sigrid, please, I didn't mean…'

I put my arm round him. ‘Tell me what happened.'

‘I can't.'

‘Olvir, someone gave you a poisoned drink. You could have died. You must tell me who it was.'

‘It wasn't anyone.'

‘Don't tell any more lies. I know you were given toadstool. Tell me who.'

‘I did it myself.'

I felt like life itself drained from my body. My arm dropped from Olvir's shoulder. I closed my eyes, struggling with the thought that my foster-son, my faithful companion, had tried to kill himself.

‘Why, Olvir? Why?'

‘I can't tell you. Please Sigrid, don't be angry.'

Angry, I thought, yes maybe that's what I should be. But instead tears blurred my vision and the cold hand of misery squeezed my belly.

‘Why did you want to kill yourself ?'

‘I didn't. I took too much by mistake. I didn't mean to. I didn't.'

‘Are you trying to tell me, you don't know how dangerous toadstool is?'

‘No, yes, no I do know, but…' He took my hand and held it against his cheek. It was wet. I wiped his tears and then my own.

‘Where did you find it?' He sat silent with lowered head. ‘Look at me, Olvir. Where did you find it?' He didn't move. I grabbed his head and turned him to face me. I had never had to do anything like this before. Olvir had never lied or been disobedient. ‘Tell me! Tell me immediately! Don't lie to me!'