Emer's Quest (Manannan Trilogy) (6 page)

At th
ese words Hari raised his head at last and Emer realised that his face was marked with the red rash of youth. He was frowning. He opened his mouth to speak but Atli was already answering Rolf.

“No
, Hari stays here to become acquainted with Emer. Par can provision the boat, while you search for these materials. He’s capable enough and I will oversee the loading. I want Emer’s information spread between as few people as possible. How much do you need of each of these substances?” he asked Emer.

“A beaker
of each of the first three and two beakers of the yellow one.”

“
Start now,” Atli said to Rolf. “You can take my horse; it’s the fastest.”

Rolf
said no more, he saluted his father, smiled provocatively at Emer and then turned on his heel and left the room. Hari stood up.

“If you have no further need of me,
Fadir
, I will go back to my work.”

“
You will stay and speak with Emer. She will become your wife as soon as we return from the
Landnám
Islands…”

“
Fadir,
you know I don’t wish to marry, but to return to the brothers on
Eyin Helga
. I agreed to come back here in order to teach
Faraldr
reading and reckoning, so he can take over my duties. I want to convert to the Christian faith and become a monk.”

“And it is my will that you
stay here, marry Emer and worship the gods of your fathers. You are my eldest son and your duty is to me, not to some group of weaklings who have neither the wit nor the strength to call themselves men. Even their god is weak, letting himself be killed without fighting to save his life. How can he help anyone else if he could not help himself? Let’s hear no more of this nonsense. You have everything you need here.”

“
Fadir
…”

“Enough. You know what I expect. Now you will get to know the
bride I have selected for you. Your duty is to be a husband and my son.”

Atli rose and
went down the longhouse to speak to his wife. Hari slumped into his seat with a sigh, saying nothing more and staring bleakly into the fire. Emer felt shaken and ill, both for his sake and her own. How could their marriage be happy if Hari detested the thought of it so completely? After the silence had dragged on for several minutes, she said timidly,

“I am sorry to be the cause of putting you and your father at odds.”

Hari raised his head and looked at her closely. He had dark grey eyes, the colour of the winter sea, strangely bright and beautifully shaped. They were his best feature although, unlike his brother, he seemed not to know or care how he appeared.

“
We’ve been at odds for as long as I can remember. What did he say about me before you got here?” he asked.

“
Nothing about you
or
your brother.”

“He did not tell you that he had sent me to
Eyin Helga
to learn reading and figuring and that I wanted to remain there?”

“He did not.”

“I see.”

Silence fell again for a while then he said, “Why did
n’t you ask about me?”

Emer hung her head, blushed and did not answer.

“Tell me!” he shouted, bringing all eyes upon them. People looked and then turned away at Hari’s angry gesture.

“Because it didn
’t matter to me!” Emer stared into his eyes defiantly. “I only cared to free my father and Atli’s swore an oath that he will rescue him. He told me I would have to marry you, but, once my father was safe, I did not care. I haven’t got enough money to ransom him myself and my friends were going back to their home. This was the only way I could be sure that
Fadir
would be freed and taken home.”

“You must love him very much.”
Emer caught a trace of wistfulness in his words.

“I do.”

“Enough to wed a man who does not want you?”

“If that is what is demanded of me.”

“Suppose I ask you to tell Atli that you will not go through with this marriage?”

“I can
’t do that, even if I would. I also swore an oath on a sword hilt to obey Atli in all things and I cannot revoke it now.”

“
I
have sworn no oath and I tell you plainly that I want no wife, especially someone who is a total stranger to me.” As he said the words, his eyes seemed to sparkle even more, as if he was trying to suppress his tears. Emer had a sudden thought.

“
There was a girl you wanted to marry, wasn’t there?” she asked softly.

He stared at her aghast and raised his
arm as if he was going to strike her. Then his hand dropped and he turned away.

“What was her name?”

“Kata.” He spoke so quietly that Emer had to strain her ears to hear him.

“What happened
to her?”

“When
Fadir
sent me to
Eyin Helga
, she promised to wait for me. She did not. She married only a month after I left, she cared so little for me. She is now the wife of
Afvaldr who lives on
Colonsey
.”

“Perhaps she had no choice in the matter,” Emer murmured.
“Women rarely do.”

“You don
’t know her. She has a mind of her own and is pretty enough to have her way in most things. She
chose
to marry Afvaldr.”

“
Then you have had a lucky escape, for she would not have been true to you,” Emer said. “Is that why you want to be a monk, to live without women?”

“That and other things. There is a peacefulness on
Eyin Helga
and a sense of purpose also…” He shrugged. “But what is the use of talking? I have never defied my father and I cannot see myself doing so now. Whether I wish it or not, we will be wed.”

“I shall try to make you a good wife,” Emer said, trying to smile at him.

“You don’t really understand, do you? I don’t want a woman in my life, any woman. They are fickle, shallow and cruel. My life is better without any of them. The best you can do for me, now and in the future is to keep away and leave me alone.”

He got up and barged out of the longhouse
, bumping into things and swearing as if he was not aware of his surroundings.

“Poor boy,”
Emer murmured to herself. “Kata must have hurt you very much.” Although she understood the reason for Hari’s unhappiness, it did not change the dreadful prospect of their future together. Her shoulders sagged. She had not realised until then how stiffly she had been holding herself. She could not help the dark wave of depression that rolled over her. She had condemned herself to a loveless marriage and a bleak future with a man who detested women.

I will spend my life
far away from the people I love and who love me
, she thought, fighting back her tears.
I’ll live and die in this foreign land with a man who despises women
. For the first time, she wondered if she had been right to barter so much for Olaf’s freedom. What a fool she had been to blindly follow Atli’s suggestion, almost without serious consideration. Then she thrust the evil thought away.

It has to be worth it. Fadir is worth it. He would do the same for me and never regret his actions.
I know how brave he is. I would never have stayed still while someone broke my arm or burnt me with hot metal as he did. I’m his daughter and I must be like him. What kind of a coward would I be if I asked Atli to release me now and leave him to his fate? Whatever happens, I will do as I swore to do. I will be a good wife to Hari, whether he wants me to be or not.
She hesitated, remembering her first sight of the two brothers, then she murmured, “And I won’t think about what my life would be like if I married Rolf instead.”

6

Rolf
returned from his errand just as the night meal was ending. He looked tired and strained and he had not stayed to remove the dust of travel from his clothes. He bowed to his father and then went straight to Emer. Her heart jumped as she watched him approach. She looked up into his face and saw the curve of his smile. She smiled in return, feeling suddenly breathless. Rolf carried a large bag which he dumped unceremoniously at her feet, drawing all eyes upon them, especially those of a dark haired girl who sat a little apart. She was very pretty but she was frowning and, if looks could kill, Emer knew she would certainly be dead.

“I
’ve brought most of what you sent me for. I will get the rest tomorrow.”

“Thank you,
” she murmured, unable to say more and feeling suddenly shy.

Rolf
nodded and went over to his seat, took a long horn of ale and gulped it down. His cronies made room for him and obviously were asking him about his strange errand for a buzz of talk arose. Rolf, however, did not seem to be satisfying their curiosity for he kept shaking his head and saying little. After a while the dark-haired girl joined them, fawning on Rolf and laughing at his jokes. She kept darting glances over at Emer and smirking as Rolf fondled her absently.

“Who is that girl who keep
s looking at me?” Emer asked the woman sitting next to her.

“Oh, her!” There was contempt in the woman’s voice. “That’s Brina
, Rolf’s latest woman. He picked her up on his travels and brought her here, more fool him.”

“She’s a captive?” Emer asked, startled. The girl had none of the demeanour
she associated with slaves.

“She is and she isn’t — if you get my meaning. She’s risen above herself
, as long as she finds favour in Rolf’s eyes. His women generally don’t last long, but she’s done better than most.”

“What will happen to her then?” Emer felt horrified
, although she knew such things went on even in her island home.

“He’ll pass her on to one of the others or sell her, I suppose. Good riddance when he does. That one has a sharp tongue and she’ll go too far one of these days. I’d watch her if I were you. Perhaps she sees you as a rival.”

“She needn’t; I’m not her rival.”

“But perhaps you’d like to be, hey?” The woman shot her a sharp look and Emer opened her mouth to answer when she sensed someone near and looked up.

“Come with me.” Atli had risen and come over to her, picking up the bag. “Let’s go, so you can check these things Rolf has brought.”

He
picked up a horn lantern and led her out of the longhouse. A small hut stood nearby with a low doorway, which Atli had to stoop to enter. Emer followed him in and he shut the door behind her, barring it carefully. Emer looked round. The hut had a table with pieces of vellum stacked on top of it. Chests and sacks lined the wall and a couple of stools stood beside the table. Atli hung up the lantern and pushed the vellum aside. He put Rolf’s sack on the table, opened the thong and stood back, gesturing to Emer.

“
Has he found the right materials?” he asked.

Emer laid out the containers on the table
. They had been sealed with pieces of hide and tied with thongs. It took her some time to open them and to check each one.

“The
se three are correct, as far as I can tell. Only the yellow soil is needed to complete the mixture.”

“Good.” Atli
helped her reseal the beakers and hung the sack onto one of the pegs. “No one comes in here except Hari, Faraldr and me. It’s where we do the figuring and trading. It is also where I store certain items. Everyone knows that they are not to enter unless they want to feel my displeasure. The bag will be safer here than in the longhouse.”

Emer
nodded. “Atli…” she started to say and then stopped.

“Yes?”

“I have only ever seen this done once before and I have never tried it myself. I cannot be sure that it will work or that I will be able to see what you want me to.”

“
I accept that, but you will try?”

“
Yes. I promised to obey you and I don’t break my promises.”

“Good. Let
’s hope this works, it would make life easier for all of us, but don’t fear if it does not. No doubt your dreams will come again, unaided. We can only wait and see.”

Atli picked up the lantern and started towards the door when Emer said,

“If you free my father, I will wed Hari, but Hari does not want me.”

Atli stood still and laughed. The sound was not pleasant. “
Hari does not know what he wants — he never has, which is why I make such decisions for him. In any event, his wishes do not concern me. He is my son and he will obey me. Wed him. Stay barren and continue to dream, or give him sons who share your talent. That is what I want you to do.”

“He will not be
happy.”

“Neither does his happiness
interest me. Once it did. I had great hopes for him but that was long ago, before his mother died. He was a bright little boy but he changed. He has never been a credit to me since. It’s you who is the important one. I want you to be part of my family and to use your talent for our good.”

“
But why Hari? Why not Rolf? I would far rather marry Rolf.” Emer blurted out and blushed as she said the words. She had the strong feeling that, if she did not ask now, she would not be able to in future. The thought of marriage to Hari sickened her and gave her the courage to ask. The reply was unexpected. Atli laughed, stuck a finger under her chin and lifted her face to the light. He looked deeply into her eyes.

“So you are yet another
silly girl who has fallen victim to Rolf’s charm. You would soon regret that choice, take my word for it. Rolf is not all he seems. He loves women and then discards them, as if they were a worn out garment. I have no reason to think that he will change and certainly you are not the person to change him. You would have little pleasure as his wife and much grief. He has a vile temper and would not hesitate to beat you for any fault or none. You would also have to share his attention with other women, which I don’t think would sit well with you. I do you a favour in marrying you to Hari, despite his shortcomings. He is not an evil man and won’t do you harm. You need not stay with him for the rest of your life. If you bear children and, as a result, cease to dream, you can divorce Hari and go where you please with my blessing and support. Provided, of course, you leave your children behind you. Now come, let us go back to the others.”

Atli swept out and Emer followed him,
shaking. This man had cynically dismissed the feelings of his son and would dispose of her as soon as she had fulfilled her purpose. For a brief moment she wondered again if her father’s freedom was worth the price she and Hari would have to pay. Then she thrust the thought into the back of her mind as she had done before. It had to be.

Next morning,
Rolf set out again and Drifa sent for Emer.

“While you are here, you may as well make yourself useful,” she said. “What can you do?”

“Anything you ask of me,” Emer replied, ignoring Drifa’s frown.

She was
set to work with the other women washing and mending clothing in one of the huts. Emer was pleased that Freydis was among them, sewing up a long seam. Emer quickly took a seat next to her.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Here.” Freydis put the garment, a man’s tunic, into her hand. “Sew up this other side for me.”

The two sat s
titching, saying nothing as the other women gossiped around them. Most of the women looked at Emer speculatively but it was not until Halla, Drifa’s body-servant, had left the group that one of them asked,

“Where did Atli pick you up?”

“In
Colonsey
.”

“They say that you
came there on a longship.”

“I
did.”

“
A captive?”

“No, they
are my friends.”

“
Then why did you run away from them?”

“I didn’t run away
; I chose to come here with Atli instead.”

“
To marry that worthless Hari? Me, I’d run in the opposite direction if he wanted me!”

Someone giggled. “No
t even he’s daft enough to fancy you. Our Hari’s not made for married life. He should go back to those monks who’ve given him those strange ideas.”

“You watch your tongue, Moda
, and leave the girl alone.” An older woman came up behind them and spoke severely. “It’s not our concern who Emer is or why she’s come here. Atli will have his reasons for bringing her.”

The group fell silent and then the talk started again about other things. When the
others were distracted, Freydis nudged Emer and whispered,

“Good for Kolla. She’s stopped them for now
, but they’ll keep on at you whenever they can. If I were you, I’d make up some story about your past, as fantastic as you like. That lot’ll believe anything!”

Emer giggled, feeling suddenly carefree. Perhaps she had
actually found a friend in this strange place. “What should I tell them?” she asked, with a gleam of mischief in her eye.

The two girls spent the next couple of hours concocting fabulous stories. Emer became in turn a princess, a witch, a fairy lost in mortal realms
or a dragon in disguise. Once she pretended to be the goddess Freyja, come to earth for purposes of her own. By the time their imagination ran out, the garment was finished and a few others as well. Freydis held their work out to Kolla, who took it and examined the stitching closely.

“You sew well,” she said to Emer,
approval in her voice, “for all your tongue wags at the same time. Go and eat now but come back afterwards. I have other work for you to do. Freydis, you need not return. Attend to your other duties.”

Freydis grimaced but did not argue
. They went to the cooking place where both girls made a hearty meal.

“Tell me about Kolla,” Emer said while they were eating.

“Her husband, Knut, designs the ships we make here. Her son
, Njall works on them. He’s so handsome. His brother commands another trading vessel of Atli’s and is often away.”

“
Kolla seems to be in charge of the women, not Drifa.”

“She is
, when Drifa isn’t around. Even then, Drifa only pretends to give the orders. Really she leaves it to Kolla. Kolla’s efficient and knows what has to be done and how to do it. Drifa’s lazy, so she doesn’t bother much. She’s always been like that, ever since Atli brought her here from
Myl
after his first wife, Mabil, died. Hari was only a little boy then. Kolla is his great-aunt, so she looked after him and
Yngvarr, Atli’s eldest son who had an accident and drowned. Drifa threw her weight around when she arrived and made some changes, just so everyone knew how important she was. She’s too idle to keep it up, though, and everything slipped back into place soon enough. She’s still like that. How Kolla puts up with her I can’t imagine.”

They finished their meal and Emer returned to the other women. Kolla gave her a pile of sewing which kept her occupied for the rest of the day.
Rolf did not return. It was late the following morning when she saw him striding into the longhouse, carrying another sack.

“Come,” he said to her. “Atli wants us both.”

He led her to the small hut they had used before and he put his sack onto the table. Atli was already there. Rolf opened the sack and removed several covered beakers.

“Is that what you wanted?” he asked.

“It is.” Emer looked at Atli, sudden fear in her eyes.

“Do you need anything else?” Atli
seemed excited.

“A bowl
and a stone like those we use for grinding corn. Somewhere to work where no one will see me and, when I am done, a fire and a place to lie beside it.”

“Why do you want
no one to watch?” Rolf asked and she saw a gleam in his eye. She suddenly knew that Rolf would try to stay with her and spoke quickly to kill the notion.

“My mother said that this magic is dangerous for those who don
’t share our blood. People might try to copy me and be lost.”

“Lost, how?”
Rolf asked.

“They may die from the fumes or never wake again
, although their body lives on.”

“But you are immune?” There was an echo of disbelief in
Rolf’s voice.

“I
’m not sure. I’ve never tried such a thing before, but I know how to do it and I intend to try.”

She looked
questioningly at Atli who nodded. “You can work in here for now. I will make sure that you are not disturbed. Afterwards, we have a hut which is empty. I will have a fire lighted in it for you. You can go there when you are finished. Is there anything else?”