shaking their heads.
‘You’ve got yourself a scrap now, merchant,’ said a dark-haired Viking.
‘Surely not,’ said Leshii. ‘He was defending himself. There’s no recompense due for that!’
‘I hated that bastard, but there’s a monastery full of his brothers up there,’ said another.
‘He attacked the boy; the lad’s entitled to defend himself,’ said the first.
Leshii rolled his eyes and said to Aelis, ‘I think you’ve started a blood feud.’
‘I am of the line of Robert the Strong,’ said Aelis, ‘and I will no longer bow to these heathens.’
‘I really wish you would,’ said Leshii. ‘It would make life immeasurably easier. I do. Look, it’s easy.’ He gave the Vikings an extravagant, deep bow.
Aelis stood, shaking the sand from herself. ‘You do what you like, but I keep this sword. They may rape me, they may kill me, but one, maybe more, will die before they do.’
‘Lady,’ said Leshii, ‘when you are Helgi’s bride and sit in splendour in the prince’s hall in Ladoga, surrounded by the fruits of many lands, the silks, the gold, the wine and the pearls, you remember how I worked for you here, how I rescued you and cared for you.’
‘So you mean to sell me as his wife?’
The merchant smiled. ‘That is your destiny, your safety. Is that not what your wolfman said?’
Aelis resheathed the sword. ‘I’ll come with you to the Viking king. We will tell him the truth. I am valuable for ransom, and if he has sense he will offer me his protection. You will translate for me. I’ve had enough of being in your care.’
‘I think that’s a very bad idea,’ said Leshii.
Aelis stared at him. ‘You are a merchant. You buy and sell. Leave the thinking to your betters.’
Leshii could see there was no arguing with her so just waved his hand and cursed his luck. He wondered if he’d get a dihram for her when they finally got to Ladoga. Still, he was going to have to make the best of what he had.
He turned towards the dark-haired Viking. ‘Will you take us to Giuki?’
‘If you like. Gets me off this freezing beach, anyhow.’
They walked up off the beach to a sandy path and followed it to the monastery. The smell of cooking was on the air. Aelis almost felt like crying. It reminded her of her childhood, coming home from days on the river or in the fields, catching the aroma of baking drifting from the walls of the fortress. More and more she seemed drawn to the past, her mind slipping back into memories, strange sensations coursing through her, strange knowledge coming to her. How did she know that the brown seaweed at her feet could be boiled and its juice used to treat stiff joints? How was it that the face of that monster the Raven haunted her, but not as she had seen it, torn and pocked, but whole and handsome? Aelis’ own mother was still alive. But she thought of another woman, saw her outside a strange low house with a turf roof, drying herbs in the sun, and when she tried to speak her name, she said, ‘Mother.’
The sand path turned to stone and soon they were at the monastery. There was a large pile of books at the door. The Danes — she thought of them as Danes — had stripped the leather and thrown them to the elements.
There were no great signs of attack or slaughter, no bodies or burned roofs. It was a pleasant day.
‘Friend,’ said Leshii, ‘you will allow me to tell Giuki that one of his warriors is dead?’
‘Can’t do that,’ said the Viking. ‘If I do, his brothers might think I’ve been concealing the information.’ He looked at Aelis. ‘If I was you, I’d run for it now.’
‘He thinks we should run,’ said Leshii.
‘Where to?’ said Aelis. ‘I’ll face my destiny here, good or bad.’
‘You sound like a Varangian,’ said Leshii.
‘I am to become one if you have your way,’ she said.
‘Yes, but a lady of the court, not a warrior. You kill like a Varangian; let’s hope you don’t grow a beard like one.’
They passed through the open door of the monastery, along a short passage and into the cloister, a tight square of buildings with a covered walkway around a courtyard. The kitchen roof vent was trailing a finger of smoke into the cold blue sky. Four mail hauberks lay on the ground along with padded jackets, shields and helmets. Spears and bows were leaning against walls, and a couple of Vikings sat in the sun sharpening their axes. At the centre of the square, deep in discussion with ten or so warriors, was an lean figure in a golden-yellow tunic and blue silk shirt. From the way the men all gave him their attention, Aelis guessed this was Giuki.
The men with the axes put down their whetstones and the conversation around the king died as Aelis and Leshii stepped out of the shade.
‘Slaves, warrior?’ said the man Aelis took to be Giuki.
‘I don’t know, lord. This one says he knows you.’
Giuki peered at Leshii. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘How do you know me, easterner?’
‘At Aldeigjuborg, sir. Leshii, merchant of that place, servant of Helgi. Thank the gods that it is my blessing to be charged with fulfilling his wishes.’
Giuki glanced from Leshii to Aelis. ‘And who’s that?’
‘Don’t know, lord, but he just left Brodir dead on the beach.’
There was a great cry from one of the men near Giuki and he leaped at Aelis, drawing a long knife. Aelis pulled her sword from its scabbard and faced him.
‘Hold,’ said Giuki. ‘Kylfa, as you are my kinsman and my retainer, I’m telling you to stop.’
The man with the knife rocked back and forth as if straining against some invisible leash.
‘It’s my right to take his life,’ he said.
‘No. It’s your right to take his life if the law allows. Otherwise you can ask for weregild, which avoids a feud. You are servants of Helgi, merchant?’
‘Yes, lord. It’s me, Leshii the silk man. I sold you your shirts.’
Giuki nodded. ‘You Slavs all look the same to me. How much did I pay?’
‘Only three dihrams a shirt, my best price.’
The warlord laughed. ‘Have you come to ask for more or to give me my money back?’
‘Neither, lord. May we speak confidentially?’
‘No. These are my kinsmen, and whatever you have to say to me you can say to them.’
‘Lord.’
‘Am I to kill this murderer or not?’ said Kylfa.
‘We’re trying to work that out.’
‘I am Lady Aelis, daughter of Robert the Strong, sister of Eudes of Paris, beloved of Helgi of Ladoga,’ said Aelis. ‘Tell him this, merchant.’
‘Lady, I will not. You can’t let all his men hear that — you’ll be raped on the spot. Let me do the talking.’
‘Is that your bodyguard, merchant?’ said Giuki. ‘He looks about ten years old. No wonder he’s so full of fight, he’s hardly ever been in one.’
‘He killed my brother and so must die,’ said Kylfa.
‘Lord, I am on a mission to Helgi. This boy is a eunuch monk of the west and very dear to Helgi. He will pay well for his return. I am here to ask safe passage to Aldeigjuborg.’
Giuki nodded. ‘I give my fealty to Prince Helgi. He is a great man and has secured us a great deal of work and plunder in the east. It would please me to please him and make a bit of coin into the bargain. We’re returning to Birka now and it’s only three weeks further journey. We’ll take you.’
Leshii prostrated himself on the floor. ‘Lord, you will have many rewards for this.’
‘What about my vengeance?’ said Kylfa. ‘Will you not give me my right? Do not unman me, lord.’
‘I can’t sanction the killing of one of Helgi’s men.’
‘The warrior attacked the boy, lord. He was going to rob him,’ said Leshii from the floor.
‘My brother was an honourable man, merchant,’ said Kylfa, ‘and I’ll cut your throat to prove it if you want me to.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t, on balance,’ said Leshii.
‘Our law provides us with an easy way to resolve this and one with which Helgi can hardly quarrel if he discovers it. You’ll have your right before the law, Kylfa — holmgang — though tomorrow just before we leave. I
