Lord of the Runes (30 page)

“The same for me,” Leif said.

“And me.” Rorik crossed his arms. They all looked at him and he shrugged. “What? I haven't killed anyone all winter. My sword hand is itchy.”

Shaking their heads, they split up, moving back to where their men waited. Silent as the forest itself, Eirik and Rorik led their men down the mountain. Asa walked between them. It was just first light, and a thin mist hugged the land, hiding them as they approached. Perhaps the gods smiled on them this day.

She touched the thigh sheath where she had hidden a small dagger. Her tunic was slit in the front so she could ride astride and she could reach the hilt without bending. She also carried her seax suspended horizontally below her belt. Her sword was in one hand and her shield on the other arm. It made for a difficult descent, and she slipped a bit on the steep ground. But she didn't want to sheathe her sword or sling her shield across her back in case the outcasts lay in wait for them. The moment it would take to prepare might be the difference between life and death.

When they got to the flat ground at the bottom of the mountain, they stopped and crouched in the underbrush. No women were outside as one would expect at this hour. They should be getting water from the well, gossiping, and going for grain from the granary. Instead, only hard, dirty men stumbled about, as though they were drunk from the night before. All the better for battle, but where were the villagers?

Eirik nudged her and pointed without speaking. The longhouse stood just to the right. She nodded. After the first assault, she would head there with the other shieldmaidens.

She swallowed. Did the hands of the other warriors sweat as hers did? Were their mouths as dry? She gripped her sword, willing strength into her hand so it wouldn't slip. All around her, the others braced for battle, some praying under their breaths, others checking their weapons.

She cleared her mind of everything except determination and confidence. The day's outcome was already fated. All she could do was meet her destiny with honor and a good display for the gods to enjoy.

Eirik looked at her and smiled, and confidence filled her. They would be victorious. He would accept nothing else and neither would she. She returned the smile and gave him a short nod.

“For Haardvik!”

At Eirik's soft cry, they swept out of the cover of the forest and over the village like an avenging wave. The shouts of the warriors of Thorsfjell echoed around them as Leif and Magnus's forces joined them from both sides.

The outcasts unsheathed their swords as more poured from the buildings, yelling. Asa, with Eirik and Rorik at her side, met them head on, clashing in an explosion of steel. They cut through the men like a warship through the waves, leaving death in their wake.

A man brought his sword down on Asa's angled shield and she batted it aside, following through with a thrust to his gut. He fell, screaming. Another came at her, swinging an axe. She went to her knees, her shield over her head, and it glanced off it, jarring her. But she rose, spinning, and sliced his side open. She stabbed the edge of her shield down into his throat and he died.

The sound of wind behind her warned her and she fell to the ground, rolling as a man's sword passed right over her. She used her momentum to come to her feet and he charged her. She took a blow to her shield, her shoulder and arm absorbing the impact. Then she swiped her shield from the outside to the inside, across his front, and trapped his sword arm. She cut his legs and he fell. After ending his pain, she looked for her brothers and Eirik.

Eirik fought only a few steps from her. Several men already lay dead around him, but he never slowed. He kicked the bottom of his opponent's shield upward. The upper edge smashed into the man's throat, and Eirik dispatched him with a short stroke of his sword. He glanced at her.

“Asa, we're fine here. Get to the longhouse.”

She didn't hesitate. Shouting to the other shieldmaidens to follow her, she ran for the building, but skidded to a stop. Hakon's men were setting the thatch roof on fire. Some of it had caught already. She had only six women with her. If they tried to kill the men, the people inside might suffocate before they could get them out. If she didn't stop the outcasts, they would spread the fire even more. Either way, the villagers would never have a chance.

K
aia hefted her sword. “You get the people out. We'll take care of the offal.”

Before they could act, a large group of warriors burst onto the street from the woods. Asa raised her shield, muscles braced. Were these more of Hakon's men?

But they cut down the men who were setting the roof on fire. A large, auburn-haired man led them and he slew several of them before he rushed to the doorway. She met him there, and stood before the door, holding the sword to his throat. He didn't challenge her.

“Who are you?” She watched him as two of the shieldmaidens stood at her side, spears trained on him. “What are you doing here?”

He sheathed the sword he carried. “I can ask the same of you, but there's no time. I'm Jarl Eirik's thrall, and I protect his mother and sister. They're in there, along with most of the people, and we need to get them out and the flames doused. Unless you want to stand here and discuss it while the house burns.”

She lowered her sword and backed away. They would get answers later. He drove his shoulder into the door, which was locked on the outside, but it didn't give. Then Magnus was there beside her, his shoulder and arm covered in blood. She didn't have time to question him about it. He nodded to Nuallen and they both hit it at once. It burst inward.

Cries met them as they moved into the crowded room. Women and children huddled in the corners as two women came to meet them. One was older, yet still beautiful, with dark, silver-touched hair. She carried a rune staff, an aura of power surrounding her. The other woman was Asa's age. Her hair was white-blond, and her eyes were a silvery blue, like the finest steel.

“Nuallen, you came,” the older woman said. “We need to get the others out. And the warriors. They're chained in the weaving room.” She looked at Asa and Magnus. “Hakon kept them alive to ensure we cooperated with him. If anyone disobeyed, he'd have one of them tortured or killed.”

“I'll see to them, mistress,” Nuallen said. “Help the women get the children and the elderly out as fast as you can.”

Asa held her hand up and went to the door to make certain it was safe for the people to leave. The men Nuallen had brought were dousing the flames. She stepped aside and leaned her shield against the wall. The villagers poured from the longhouse and took over the firefight, freeing the warriors to join the battle in other parts of Haardvik. She went to the back room where Magnus and Nuallen were. The ceiling was filling with smoke, and even though the fire was under control, they still couldn't take any chances. They had to save the men.

The captive warriors were in terrible condition. They'd been starved and neglected, and looked as if they had been kept in chains the entire winter. Magnus hefted an axe he carried in his belt and brought it down on the main set of chains attached to the wall. They could free them individually later. Right now, they had to get them out of there.

Magnus and Nuallen helped several of them to stand. The young blond woman put her shoulder under another's arm and staggered as she tried to help him walk.

“Here.” Magnus set his hand on her arm. “Let me do that.”

They looked at each other and both of them stilled. Magnus inclined his head to her.

“If I might help you?” He spoke low and soft.

“Of course.” She met his gaze and the corner of her mouth came up in a half smile.

He took the ill man from her. Other men came into the room and, together, they evacuated everyone.

Asa walked out into the street. Villagers dumped water on the roof of the longhouse, and the flames were dying out. The fighting had wound down and the dead lay everywhere. Small groups of men still fought at the outskirts of the village, but the outcasts had been defeated.

Where was Hakon? Had he been found? And where was Eirik? She kept her sword in her hand as she crossed the clearing in front of the longhouse overlooking the fjord. A flash of white-blond hair near a small house caught her eye and she stopped, her blood heating.

Estrid. She'd recognize that hair anyplace, and Estrid would know where Hakon was.

Keeping an eye on where her cousin had gone, she started after her. But someone grabbed her from behind, setting a sword blade against her stomach. He wrapped his other arm around her, holding her arms to her sides.

“I thought she would catch your eye. I only needed you to let down your guard for an instant.”

She froze. That harsh voice. That unwashed odor. The feel of his clammy flesh on her skin. The memories roared back and she gasped. Hakon.

“Now, drop your sword, Asa, and you won't get hurt.”

Her hand wouldn't work. All around them in the clearing, angry warriors gathered in a semicircle open to the cliff, their weapons in their raised hands. Eirik burst through the line, her brothers and Rorik following.

“No farther, or I cut her now.”

They skidded to a stop, their faces dark, murderous.

“If you harm her,” Eirik said, “when I kill you, I'll follow you to Hel and slay you every day until Ragnarok takes the gods themselves.”

Hakon swallowed hard enough for her to hear him. “I said drop the sword.” His voice lacked confidence, but his blade pressed into her. Even though she wore a metal-ringed leather tunic, he could still slice her under it. “Your illustrious brothers must have taught you to defend yourself because of what I did. Without a sword, though, you're just another woman. Nothing.”

He was wrong, but she willed her hand to work and the sword fell to the ground.

“Better. Now we can all talk.”

“There's nothing to talk about, Hakon.” Magnus's eyes blazed. “We have you surrounded. There's no place else to go.”

“Yes, there is. You must have a fleet of longships somewhere along the shore, and I think I have enough men left to crew one of them. I intend to take one of them and leave this place. Maybe gain my own fortune where I'm not known.”

“You won't get far.”

“Oh yes, I will. Because I'll take Asa with me as assurance that you don't follow me. Any sign of you, and she dies. In the meantime, I can enjoy her as I should have long ago.”

She couldn't even draw a breath. Eirik surged forward, but Leif grabbed him.

“You said you'd take
me
.” Estrid pushed aside the men in the circle and stood in front of them, her face reddened, her fists clenched. “You said we'd always be together, like you did so long ago. But you chose her then, and now you've done it again. And you'll leave again, like they all do.” She collapsed onto the ground and wailed.

Nuallen, who stood among the crowd, came forward and helped her to her feet. He held her arm, but she didn't seem to notice. She just stared at nothing, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Hakon tightened his grip. “Bring a small ship to the docks below. And you'll free any of my men you captured. Don't be too long. I haven't time to waste.” He leaned close to her ear. “You've grown into quite the beautiful woman, Asa. Once we're alone, you and I will continue right where we left off six years ago.”

Asa's blood turned to ice. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. The horror wound through her mind like a poisonous serpent, leaving a trail of darkness behind. Eirik moved and she met his gaze. He gave her a very small smile and a slight nod, as he would to another warrior, confidence in her shining in his eyes.

What had she told Eirik a few days ago when they'd made love? She took a deep breath and reached through the darkness into a moment of brightness and stars. To a place where a golden dragon played, the spirit that guarded her. She'd told Eirik she was no longer a young, defenseless girl. And Hakon had no idea what she was because of him—a shieldmaiden. She was worthy of a dragon
fylgjur
, and it would slay the serpent in her mind.

In that moment of light, when they'd become one, Eirik had told her he loved her. She'd never spoken the words back to him. There was only one way to end this, and if she didn't survive it, she wouldn't leave him without telling him.

“Eirik.” She raised her chin in defiance as Hakon shifted the blade to her side as though preparing to slice it into her. She moved so that the bottom of her tunic flared open. Eirik would be able to see the dagger there and be ready. A smile touched his eyes and his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. She lifted her head. “I love you.”

“How touching. But you won't love him for long.”

Without moving her upper body, she eased the dagger from its thigh sheath. Shifting her hips to the side, she slammed it into Hakon's leg. His leather trousers were thick, but the dagger penetrated deep enough so that he roared. His arm convulsed and the blade he'd held to her stomach cut into her side. She broke away from him, spun, and brought her small dagger in a reverse strike across the top of his arm.

He came after her, swinging his sword, but Eirik lunged in front of her and met his blow with his shield, blocking it. Magnus ran to her as she clutched her bleeding side and swept her up in his arms. He carried her to where Rorik and Leif stood.

“We need to get you to a healer.” He set her down and bent to look at the cut, but she leaned past him to see where Eirik was. He and Hakon circled each other.

“I'm staying. I won't leave Eirik.” She sheathed her dagger. Magnus pulled her to him so she could lean against him. Kaia gave her a clean cloth and she held it to the stinging wound as Eirik spoke.

“What do you hope to gain, Hakon? Give up now and you'll have a chance to walk to your execution as a man. The gods watch how we die and take that into account when we meet them.”

“The gods have damned me already. And if I take you with me, that bitch who ruined my life will lose you. If that's the only revenge I can have, then so be it.” He bent to pick up a shield from the ground, but Eirik rushed at him and he had to dart away.

“You have a shield,” Hakon said. “You would fight with such an advantage? Where is the honor in that?”

“You used Asa as a shield, so where is the honor in
that
? But you're right.” He tossed his shield away, standing armed with only his sword.

Hakon blanched. He came at Eirik, his sword raised. Eirik hit his sword aside and slashed his arm as he passed. Now he bled from both arms and his leg. Eirik rained a hail of blows on him, never letting up. Hakon blocked, retreating, and the men in the line on that side moved to clear a path. They jeered at him, for he showed no bravery, refusing to stand his ground like a man.

Eirik stopped and backed up into the circle with a grin, motioning him to follow. Angry, Hakon ran after him, picking up a shield from the ground as he came. Eirik thrust his sword into the ground and Asa almost cried out. What was he doing? She bit down her scream, for it might distract him.

Eirik ducked Hakon's ill-aimed sword stroke and grabbed his shield by the bottom edge. Rising, he brought it with him and smashed the shield into Hakon's nose, breaking it. Blood spurted over Hakon as he dropped the shield. Eirik pulled his sword from the ground and raised it, grinning. They stood only a man's length apart.

Hakon, his face covered in blood, glared at Eirik. “Would you have it said you were a coward who killed a man only when he was weakened from loss of blood?”

Eirik smiled. “You're not weakened yet. But you're right. I shouldn't wait until then.”

He moved so fast, Asa almost didn't see the strike. He hit Hakon's sword hand and the weapon spun away from him. He screamed and lunged for it, but Eirik brought his blade down and Hakon's head fell away from his body, his silver hair drenched in his blood. He had died a coward's death, without a sword in his hand.

Eirik was safe, his father's death avenged. Asa sagged in Magnus's arms as her side throbbed with pain and she grew dizzy. Eirik came to her as the men around them cheered, banging their swords on their shields.

“My mother should look at that cut.” He picked her up.

“I'm fine. I just need to wash this. There are many others here who are hurt far worse.”

“It'll need to be stitched.” Magnus nodded to Eirik.

Before he could leave with her, a scream pierced the village. Estrid broke away from Nuallen and ran toward Hakon's body. She threw herself on the bloody ground beside him, keening. Magnus started to go to her, but Leif stopped him.

“She hates you and Asa. Let me take her somewhere safe. She doesn't resent me quite so much.”

But as he approached her, she snatched Hakon's sword and rose with it, holding it in front of her. Her eyes were distant, as though she didn't quite see the world around her.

“Father left me.” She almost sang the words in a strange, high voice. “Mother left me. Hakon left me twice, and now I have lost Eirik, too.” An ugly expression crossed her face as she focused on Asa. “I sent you into the water. I tried to kill the dragon. I stabbed it and poisoned it, and still it would not die. It took everything from me. Now there is nothing.”

Asa looked at Eirik. Estrid had, indeed, damaged her skate and the dragon.

Leif held his hand out. “There's your family, Estrid. All of us. Come back home with us and we'll take care of you.”

“No.” She backed toward the fjord cliff. Several of the men tried to move into her way, but she darted nearer to the edge and grasped the sword blade in her palm. She drew it across and held up her hand so that the blood flowed onto the ground. “Pretty rubies falling down, sacrificed to the gods.”

Leif took a step toward her, but she matched his movements, going closer to the edge. He stopped.