Ragnar the Murderer (15 page)

*  *  *

Entering the Huskarl longhouse, Bjarni knocked on Steinar’s door.

“
Yes?” The scarred face of his master peered round.

“
I was wondering how Ragnar’s trial went today, sir.”

Steinar ushered him in. The room appeared more like a storeroom than a bedroom- the bed took up most of the floor space with a narrow gap to walk round it. Clothes were folded neatly on the bench, which gleamed with cleanliness. There were no cobwebs on the ceiling and Steinar’s spear rested upright in a corner.

Leofrun was getting dressed on the bed, but Steinar ignored her and sat down in front of her, indicating for Bjarni to sit too.

“
Not good. Your friend is to be exiled.” Steinar pulled down his tunic and straightened his trousers.

“
What?” Bjarni gulped.

“
Didn’t realise that not only did Kjartan see him leaving the longhouse the night of the murder, they found Hauknautr at Eadbald’s hut.”

Bjarni’s mouth hung open.

“
Kjartan? And Hauknautr at the-“

“
Can’t believe he used his own sword, the fool.”

“
You don’t believe he did it?”

“
There’s too much evidence against him. He’s a valiant warrior, but-“

“
Hold on. It was Kjartan who saw him leaving that night?”

Steinar nodded.

“
Ragnar told me Kjartan’s fucking the lady Yngvild. And Kjartan told Aelfwyn the same thing.”

“
What?”

They stared at each other.

“
But if Ragnar knows about Kjartan and Yngvild, and he saw Ragnar leaving the night of the murder, couldn’t he be lying to get Ragnar out of the way and keep his secret?” suggested Bjarni.

“
And how would Kjartan know Eadbald was going to be murdered that night? Unless-“

They stared at each other again.

“
We need to do something,” said Bjarni.

“
We do. I’m not having my best Huskarl exiled!”

“
Thanks! The Jarl won’t believe us if we just tell him though. He’s so in love with his lady, he’d probably exile us as well.”

Leofrun coughed. “I’m the lady Yngvild’s maid remember. She tells me everything, even about Kjartan and the place he takes her. We can catch them at it, easily.”

Disgust and admiration fought for dominance on Steinar’s face. Relief and amusement did the same on Bjarni’s.

“
I’ll kill that dog for dishonouring the lady!” Luckily Steinar kept his voice down.

“
Later,” said Bjarni. “We have to trap him first.”

*  *  *

The next day, a red cloaked figure walked towards the entrance of Byrnstanham. Maegla performed gatekeeper duties that morning and saw him coming many gyrds away. He tensed, but then smiled.

“
Bjarni! Brother!” They clasped hands, as they had fought side by side against the Norwegian Vikingr.

“
I have come to visit my in laws.”

“
Best of luck. In laws are never easy.” Maegla smiled and patted him on the back as he entered the village.

Other young Anglisc men greeted him as brothers in arms, but the older ones watched him suspiciously.

“
Good day, father and mother,” he announced at the door of the hut. Aldulf and Cwenburg were together having lunch while Aelfwyn stirred a pot of stew over the fire.

Aldulf stepped towards him, frowning.

“
Is something wrong with Saehild?”

“
No, she is perfectly well. I just thought you would like to know the fate of Ragnar.”

“
The Dane who killed Eadbald?” Cwenburg stood next to her husband.

“
We don’t know he did. Anyway, he’s been found guilty and sentenced to exile.”

A sob escaped Aelfwyn’s lips and she gazed at her brother in law, lip trembling and eyes filling with tears. Bjarni hated hurting her like that but the news had to be passed on. And he had other news for her anyway.

“
Come in, take some food with us.” Cwenburg offered, even though her husband glowered. Bjarni entered the hut, dipping his head a little in the lower doorway.

The stew consisted of onions, carrots, peas, barley grain with a little chicken.

“
How goes your farming?” asked Bjarni, through a mouthful of carrot.

“
Very well thank you,” replied Aldulf formally. “How is your training?”

Bjarni gave him brief details, while observing Aelfwyn. She looked even paler and thinner than usual as she hurried about doing most of the work: serving food and drink, stirring the stew.

“
Let me help.” He stood up, catching his head on a bunch of herbs hanging to dry on the ceiling. He collected the empty bowls, meaning to help Aelfwyn clear away.

“
But you are our guest, you should not be doing housework,” said Aldulf.

“
It doesn’t matter. Huskarl training includes menial tasks to keep us in our place.” He chuckled. “We all need keeping in our place from time to time.”

He went with Aelfwyn to the stream to wash the bowls, knives and spoons.

“
Oh Bjarni, how will I live when he’s exiled?” blurted Aelfwyn when they reached the burbling water. She burst into sobs, which he guessed had been long stifled.

“
I’m trying my best to save him, believe me. Steinar’s with me, I’m sure between us we can prove Ragnar’s innocence.”

“
Oh, can you? You’re not lying?”

“
Of course I’m not-“ He realised her distress and softened his voice. “Of course I’m not lying. We have a good chance. But I need to know what Kjartan said about Yngvild. Did he talk about any particular place he meets her? We know it’s a cave, but where?”

Aelfwyn blushed.

“
It might- it might be the same place I went with Ragnar.”

“
You went- ah, I see.” Bjarni suppressed a smile thinking of his secretive friend. He hadn’t known he’d had clandestine liaisons with Aelfwyn.

“
It’s a cave by the cliffs, near the waterfall. Where the hazelnuts grow.”

“
I think I know where you mean.”

“
Just follow the stream and you’ll find the caves. Kjartan was talking about caves the other day, that must be what he meant.”

“
Thank you, that is really helpful. Don’t worry, me and Steinar will save him.”

He embraced her impulsively, and she felt a slight flicker of hope, even though she still felt sick with nerves for her lover.

*  *  *

Jarl Thorvald went to visit Ragnar. The Huskarl guards had taken pity on him and allowed him to play Hnefatafl with them, sitting on the floor. He controlled the king piece and had nearly managed to get it to the corner of the wooden board without the opposite pieces trapping him. The game had been played so much that the carved bone pieces were wearing out.

“
You’ve always been skilled at this, Long Reach,” said one of the guards.

“
It looks like my last game though.” Ragnar sighed.

Thorvald watched from the doorway, his heart heavy, then stepped into the room. Ragnar looked up, but the usual happiness in his eyes at seeing his Jarl did not appear.

“
Come speak with me,” requested Thorvald. “Leave us,” he ordered the guards.

Ragnar dutifully went to sit on the bench next to him.

“
I’m sorry it’s come to this. Is there anything you can say to convince me you didn’t murder Eadbald?”

“
If my word isn’t enough, then nothing else will be.” Ragnar set his jaw.

“
If Kjartan were not such a blameless character, it would be different.”

“
You believe him over me?”

“
I’m sorry, but yes.”

“
If only you knew-“ Ragnar bit his lip, not wanting to sound insane with wild accusations of the lady Yngvild.

“
Knew what?”

“
It doesn’t matter.” Bitterness dwelled in his heart and would never leave, he knew that much.

“
Exile is the law. Maybe the Anglisc will be satisfied and leave you alone when you go. I know other Danes, you could get safe passage away from here and start afresh.”

“
It’s a bit late for that now! And what would I do if I didn’t know anyone?”

“
You- you- would survive and even prosper. A resourceful man like you-“

“
After knowing me from childhood, you still don’t know me well enough to believe me? I can’t believe I called you father! What happened to the man I loved, married to my foster mother Katla? She would never have stood for your treatment of me! What happened to you after she died?”

Thorvald stared, uncomfortable.

“
I- I found happiness again with Yngvild, I-“

“
Yes. I believe that’s what happened, in some way or another. Please leave me.” Ragnar would never have dared order his Jarl around before, but now he had nothing to lose.

“
But Ragnar-“

“
I will soon be gone and you’ll never see me again, so better make a quick end to it.” He turned away, so after a few minutes, Thorvald walked out. His cloak seemed to take Ragnar’s side as it caught round his ankles and tripped him, but he continued on his way.

Ragnar brooded. All he’d ever done was serve Thorvald, he deserved better reward than this. He’d go far away from here when exiled. He could become a mercenary and forget Hallfridby, and Aelfwyn. His resolve flickered when he thought of her, but he hardened his heart.

*  *  *

Bjarni was woken by someone shaking his arm.

“
Hurry, I have news.”

Saehild snored in bed by his side so he got up and followed Leofrun outside into the mild but moonless midsummer night.

“
My mistress is to meet Kjartan tomorrow morning at that cave they use. I can’t stay long, I just slipped out of the hall to tell you. It seems Jarl Thorvald is going on a tour of his furthest estates, so she’s taking advantage of the free time.”

“
So how are we to get the Jarl to catch them at it?”

“
I’ve done my bit, Bjarni, it’s up to you now. I have to return before I’m missed.”

“
Alright. Thank you.” His brows furrowed as he thought. Some crisis would have to be invented to keep Thorvald at home. And how could they get him to the cave?

“
What are you doing?” Saehild appeared at his side, so he explained the situation, putting his arm round her as the night breeze strengthened.

“
I have an idea.” She giggled and whispered in his ear.

*  *  *

Steinar chose his time to speak to Thorvald carefully. After breakfast, the lady Yngvild always went to bathe. Her husband stayed alone in his room, preparing to depart on his travels.

“
We’ve found something important, my lord,” said Steinar, his scarred face impassive as usual.

“
Oh yes?” Thorvald asked distractedly, mentally calculating how long it would take to travel the thirty miles to his furthest lands.

“
It’s a weapon hoard. We think it’s Anglisc, so we are worried they are planning something against us.” Steinar was accustomed to pretending. He put on an act of being strict much of the time whereas really, he liked his Huskarlr.

“
A what? Are you sure? Who found them?”

“
A couple of Huskarlr. They heard rumours and investigated. It’s hidden in a cave by the waterfall near the cliffs. We should act quickly to prevent something happening.”

“
I must take a look. I can put off my journey for a couple of hours. I’m very grateful, Steinar, you are a stalwart.”

“
Thank you sir.” Steinar wondered if he would say the same after he found out the truth.

“
Excuse me while I get ready.”

Steinar hastened to find his woman.

“
Has the lady left yet for the cave?” he whispered in Leofrun’s ear, pressing his stocky body to her curvy one, wishing he had time to have his way with her.

“
Yes, she set off immediately after bathing. I must go.” Leofrun disentangled herself and went to tidy her mistress’s clothes.