It was Astrid who burst in shouting. "They're going to kill her, Bjarni! They're going to kill her!"
He was taken by surprise. "Kill who?!" He hated it whenever someone startled him this way.
"Eira! They're going to burn her, you fool! Are you deaf? You want to tell me you cannot hear them shouting?!"
He didn't wait for her to say anything else. He grabbed both of his axes and ran out of the house, shouting as he ran towards the gathered crowd. He looked like a madman as he advanced on the crowd, wildly swinging both axes. People scrambled out of his way. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of a blow from Bjarni. The shouting stopped and everyone drew back to watch what would happen next.
Bjarni cut the rope that bound Eira and told her to stay behind him. "Which of you is next?!" he roared, brandishing his axes. "Who is next?!" His fury was unrivalled. Only enemy warriors in the heat of battle had ever seen him like this. It was terrifying.
Many of the men melted to the back of the crowd. They knew they stood a good chance of being injured or killed and this was not a cause worth dying for. The boldest ones remained, drawing their weapons as they faced Bjarni, forming a wall of defiance.
Astrid got there just in time. "What is this madness, Arne?" she asked the leader of the group.
Arne swung his axe menacingly in Eira’s direction. "Your daughter is a bad witch and we will rid this village of her evil works before we all die!"
“Come on, you know that’s not how we do things in this land. Eira is as worthy as anyone else of a fair trial before she is condemned for evil-doing!” Bjarni said, trying to persuade the villagers to think rationally. His efforts proved to be futile as the crowd yelled in response.
It appeared to Bjarni that this was a planned attack. He had suspected it would come to this for a long time but he hadn't expected nearly everyone to side against his family. Even if he could protect his daughter, it was a matter of time before he tired out from fighting so many men at once. He was in a precarious position and he couldn’t see a way out.
Astrid looked at her husband and child. This was a crucial moment. If they didn't do something to salvage the situation, not only would they kill the girl but Bjarni stood to lose his position as head of the clan. He might even lose his life. Their two sons came and stood beside them, ready to help their father defend the family.
"So, you would kill a girl without having any evidence to back up your accusations?!" Bjarni asked the seething crowd.
"Oh, come on, Bjarni! We all know she's an evil witch. Even you! Deep within your heart, you can't ignore the fact that she does things that you cannot explain. She has done many things to make us fear that she will strike us down with a curse or some other evil sorcery." Arne had the crowd's support and he was determined to press home his advantage
"She is my daughter, you fool! Why would you think I would let you kill my own daughter?" Bjarni shouted back. "Besides, as the leader of this clan, I have the power to make you stop this nonsense. Or you will find yourselves before the judges of the land for murder."
Arne moved closer to the big man, his axe pointed downwards. "Well, then,” he said menacingly. "If that is how it is, I guess it is time we had a new leader."
Astrid stepped in. "Arne, what is your problem? Stop this at once! It is madness!"
Arne moved close and shoved his face in front of hers. "You stop this. Give us the child and everything will be back to normal."
Astrid knew exactly where this was going. It was a game and Arne thought he was winning. She decided to change the outcome. "Very well, then. Since you would kill the girl, there is another alternative."
There was silence as she walked away from the two men and stood before the crowd. "Eira is hereby banished from these lands! She is never to return for whatsoever reason it may be." She paused and turned to Arne. "If for some reason, she does return, you have my permission to kill her."
Eira gasped as she heard the words. She had seen her mother hunch her shoulders up in defiance but she knew it was a cover for her real feelings. Her mother was hurting as she spoke those words. She didn’t want Eira to go anywhere. Finally, Eira understood the reason her mother wanted her sent away. It was for her own protection.
Arne stepped back. This hadn't gone the way he had planned it but Astrid had offered an alternative to killing the girl. If he refused to take it, he would be on trial for murder.
"You have done well," he said to Astrid as he walked past her.
She looked at him with disgust in her eyes. “Get out of my sight,” she spat as she turned away. For now, her anger fueled her to keep going; she feared that she would collapse with grief in front of the hostile crowd. She must appear to be strong and ruthless in front of them. There would be time for grief later when everything had calmed down. She could hardly face thinking of a future without her beloved daughter. Of all her children, Eira was most like Astrid. Talking to Eira was like being with a younger version of herself.
It took less than two hours for Eira to prepare herself for the journey ahead. Her heart broke as two warriors,
