‘Tell him that it is you who speaks for me.’
‘But Sigurd,’ I pleaded. ‘I have not been your wife more than a few days, surely they can be trusted not to burn your kingdom to the ground in your absence?’
‘It is you who should have the final say, and this is just for a few days.’ He tried to sit up again but his colour paled beneath his beard. ‘They cannot see their Jarl a pathetic weakling. I would not trust them to lay claim to my Jarldom before the sun sets.’
‘I know nothing of your laws.’
‘You do not need to. I will tell you everything you need to say. I just need to stay hidden for a few days.’
‘I do not think -’
The knock saved me from repeating myself again. Behind the door, Halldora waited patiently, holding Ligach.
‘Lady Olith,’ she said, breathlessly, basket on her hip. ‘We are going fishing. Would you like to join us?’
‘I am sorry I…’ I looked back at my husband. Pale and exhausted. Knowing that once I left the room he would have to stay and there would be nothing he could do about it. ‘No, I would very much like to join you,’ I said as I closed the door on Sigurd who looked as though he were just about to protest. ‘It is Sunday, I need to attend church.’
‘The women are fishing and most of the men and the shield maidens will be training.’ He nodded towards the mead hall. ‘They will not trouble you. Go through the gap that runs along the home of the seeress, through the gate and that will lead you to the clearing. There are a few trees, but Bishop Fintan can be found giving his lengthy sermons there. I will be down on the shore waiting for your return.’
I looked at the girl Sigurd had given me, with her pale hair and moon face. Ligach could always pass for a Dane, she was as defiant as she was strong, and she came to think of herself as a Dane. Not a Pict. She was always wild and free, as angry as an adder and as spirited as a wild horse. Right then, I thought if I could just find somewhere that we might be alone, that we might talk, we might find some common ground. That was if she could be trusted. Back then she hated me as much as she hated the Danes. Maybe more.
It truly felt like a gift to be allowed to explore the lands alone, at least the most alone I had been since I had arrived on the isle. I held tightly onto Ligach’s bindings making my way in the direction of the clearing. I could not let the Danes see that I was weak and that I would allow her to roam free, that would never do. The cacophony of noise from the shore fell away the further we moved into the sparse tree line.
‘You’ll be takin’ me to sacrifice me, no doubt.’ She spat. ‘To yer new heathen gods. All you savages know to do is to steal lands built by better men.’
I tried to ignore her and pushed on. The ground was soddened with peat and heather, becoming slippery underfoot the higher we climbed.
‘Will you be quiet? Someone will hear you.’
‘Marrying a monster like that,’ she hissed at me. ‘Your offspring will be an abomination. Soul’s as black as the Danes. Children twisted and–’
Monster. By that time, I had met many monsters. Each of them with a different face. Some were in the guise of priests who wanted me to undress for them. Some in the guise of my father’s kinsmen who came calling for a pretty face to bed. Some took the shape and form of beatings from my mother when I did not please them the way I should. My husband as far as I could see was no monster.
I turned on her. ‘Would you listen?’ I said through gritted teeth. ‘You will not say another word about my husband. I am trying to help you, but by God, you are making it difficult.’
Her mouth slammed shut.
‘Finally, you listen.’ I breathed. ‘It looks like we are here.’
The clearing was a simple modest affair, not like our churches. It was covered in a carpet of purple heather and wrappings of twisted honeysuckle.
I sat Ligach down on a nearby boulder.
‘We are going to have to trust each other if you ever want to survive this.’ I held tightly to the bindings to keep her still.
She stared at me blankly, jutting out her chin and pulling her weight at the bindings. ‘Why would I want to talk to a sour-faced heathen bitch like you?’
‘I was forced into this marriage by the Laird King Malcolm, I know you’ll ken his name very well.’ I tried to stop my voice fromraising. ‘I intend to return to Atholl and retrieve my sister. If you can behave yourself for more than a moment, I’ll be taking you with me.’
I finally took a breath.
She was silent for what felt like a long while.
‘Why should I believe you?’
‘What would I gain from lying? You are already injured, and you are already one of my husband’s thralls. I do not need to lie to you.’ I stared at her, hands on my hips. ‘Would it help if I removed your binds? Mebbe I could look at that injured hand?’
I would never be able to thank Ligach for the friendship she showed me. For her good counsel. We were rarely apart after that. I think it was that which kept both of us alive.
