Byzantium

18

Gu

They were standing in the yard by the house. Little Ulf fidgeted under his mother's embrace; he had a new knife tucked into his belt. And Helmuth, I noticed, was wearing new leather boots, and carrying a bundle of cloth.

"Where is this stranger?" Gu

"I have not seen him since the killing," Karin said.

Gu

"He helped me to-ah," I tried to think of the word.

"Bury them." Karin completed the thought for me. "He helped Aeddan to bury the bodies."

"There were two of them?" growled Gu

"Yes, two. One killed Odd, and then Surt killed him," I explained as best I could. "The other killed Surt."

"Surt killed one?

"Heya," I said.

"They said they are King Harald's men. They came for you, husband," Karin told him, and continued, but I lost the thread. "…they said only Gu

The two began speaking to one another so rapidly that I could not follow what they said, but I think they were discussing how the killings had taken place; I know Ylva's name came into it, and also my own, for Gu

Helmuth, standing near, said, "Gu

To Helmuth I said, "Tell him that I only thought to protect Odd, but I did not act swiftly enough to prevent the attack."

My master said something else and placed his question again. Helmuth relayed his words to me. "He asks if you loosed the dog. Tell him the truth."

"Yes, I did that," I replied, and, Jesu forgive me, I confess I felt no guilt.

"Good," Gu

Just then Helmuth raised his pigstaff and pointed across the yard. "Master Gu

Gu

Karin took Ulf's hand in her own and pulled him away with her. As they disappeared into the house, Gu

"Is that the man?" Gu

I nodded. "Yes."

When only a few dozen paces separated us, Gu

"You say you are King Harald's man," Gu

At this, the warrior blanched. "No one raped your kinswoman," he muttered. "We only wanted to talk to her."

"What of Odd? As he did not understand your speech, no doubt you thought he would understand your sword. I think he understood you well."

"Eanmund killed him," the dark man replied. Raising an accusing finger at me, he said, "He killed Eanmund. He loosed the hound. As to the girl, we did not know she was your kinswoman; we thought she was a slave."

"Because of you," Gu

"If you think yourself aggrieved, take your complaint to the king. For myself, I say only this: My name is Hrethel and I am accustomed to holding council in the halls of jarls and kings, yet you keep me standing here like a slave or foreigner."

"Do you expect the welcome bowl even now? After bringing death and strife to my house, you think I should pour out my best ale for you?" Gu

"I am a man of rank," the stranger said. "I merely meant for you to bear that in mind.

"Then cease your worrying on that point," Gu

Hrethel frowned, but abandoned any further attempt to gain the better of Gu

Gu

"Ragnar Yellow Hair has pledged fealty to Harald. Therefore, you are summoned along with your king. If you fail to attend, your lands will be seized in forfeit to King Harald."

"I see." Gu

"I am charged by my king to deliver the message to the jarls and free men of Skania, not," Hrethel sneered, "their wives and slaves. This I have done, and now I will leave you."

"Go your way," Gu

Hrethel nodded, his frown indignant. "That is your right."

He turned on his heel and walked from the yard, across the meadow and into the forest. Gu

If the message Gu

When I was not practising, I prayed as it seemed right to me, and my mind turned again and again to my brothers on the pilgrimage. I often found myself wondering where they were, what they were doing, and what had happened to them since I last saw them. I prayed for them in the daily round, praying the protection of Michael Militant and his angels to shield them on their way.

Summer drew on and the days passed; the time for the theng approached. One day a free man from a neighbouring holding came to speak to Gu

From that day Gu