“Your mother’s brother is not the man I thought he was,” muttered Bjarni. “He was harsh and unkind when we married. But I had no idea that he would turn out to be an enemy of his own kin.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Father. You were not to know. I am so glad I found you again.” She took his large, weathered hand. “Please give Mother my love. I have missed you both so much.”
“She misses you more than she will admit,” Bjarni said. “She will be glad to know that I have seen you and that you are well.”
“What of the village since I left? Is there peace now?”
“Do you really think there would be? There is always something for the people to grumble about. Sometimes I fear that they will no longer want me to be the chief.” Bjarni’s words were light but concern creased his brow.
Eira realized that he wasn’t telling her the complete story for fear that she would worry about them. “Father, just remember what I told you. You will always be welcome in the village of Merilant.”
“I will,” he promised.
Later, as she snuggled into the blankets beside Frida and Sigrid, Eira couldn’t sleep because she was thinking about her parents. She was overjoyed that she’d found her father again but concerned about the state of affairs in the village. She knew that several troublemakers called it home. She just hoped that her father had the wisdom and courage to do the right thing even when he faced opposition. No one could fault a village leader who was wise and strong.
CHAPTER 6
“S o long dear friend. See you on the other side,” Halvar spoke the solemn words as three young men carefully laid Harald’s body in the pit they’d dug. Beside him lay his wife, Gudrun, who’d perished in the fire. They’d tried to keep all family members together in the mass grave. They placed those they couldn't identify at the far end of the pit.
It was a grim, thankless task, but Halvar was determined that these people who’d been part of his life for so long would have the best sendoff they could manage under the circumstances. There would be no ale or mead, no feasting, no celebration of a life well-lived. Just a simple remembrance ceremony under the canopy of the weeping sky. It was all the traumatized survivors could manage.
That night, crammed into the barn with everyone else, Halvar thought about what to do next. There was no way the people were ready for a journey over the mountains, even with the warmer weather starting to melt the snow. Some of them were old and others were injured. They would need to wait until conditions were more favorable if they were to make it to the coast. But if they stayed here for too long, they risked starvation. There was no way they would have enough food to last until the crops grew again. Staying wasn’t a long-term option.
Halvar sighed as the responsibilities he now faced pressed against the heavy weight of grief in his chest.
But at least there had been one bright moment that brightened the gloom of grief and survivors’ shock. They had found Canute. Halvar remembered the joy he’d felt when he’d spotted his old friend crawling out of the ruins of a pit house, injured but alive.
“Canute!” he’d exclaimed, running to help the wounded man get to his feet. “What did they do to you?”
“I was lucky,” Canute had replied, his face screwed up from the pain of his injuries. “Taft spared me because he wanted information about you and Kaarina.”
“So that’s what this was all about,” Halvar had said bitterly. “We weren’t here so he destroyed the village.”
“They attacked at dawn while everyone was sleeping,” Canute replied.
“Cowards!” Halvar spat in disgust.
“When Taft realized you weren’t here, he and the men left. But by then, they’d already destroyed the village and killed people. Taft is a dangerous enemy,” Canute warned. “He will keep seeking you. He has no idea where you went, of course. But I pray to Heimdallr4 that he will protect you.”
Now, as Halvar lay awake, he could hear Canute moaning in his sleep. He’d entered the pit house after the fire, believing that his wife was inside. She wasn’t there and before Canute could get out safely, part of the roof fell on top of him. It would be some time before he was ready to travel but could they survive until the injured were ready to go?
Halvar hoped that by rationing the food, they would have enough to last until the weather warmed and the injured either recovered or died of their injuries. If they all made it out alive, it would only be through the favor of the gods. He wished that Eira were there with her healing skills. She would know what to do to help the injured.
As for Taft, Halvar made up his mind that one day, the man would face justice. He would be patient and wait until the time was right. And then, Taft would pay for what he’d done.
“Kaarina, I’d like you to take these eggs down to Leyna,” Emiline said, handing her a basket. “She has some cheese that she made yesterday to give you in exchange.”
Kaarina took the basket and put on her coat to shield her from the day’s drizzle. She was looking forward to getting out of the house; as much as she loved the twins, they were hard work and she seemed to be spending a lot of time with them lately while Emiline did other chores. There was much to do in springtime.
Leyna’s house was at the other end of the village, set apart from the others. It would be a good walk to get there and Kaarina needed
