High above, flecks against the murkiness of the evening sun, a flicker, a flash of sweet black feathers and then they were gone again. We scurried back to shore, leaving the clearing.
‘Thank Freyja! Where have you been?’ Halldora scowled at me, face like thunder. ‘I was expecting to find you dead at the hands of that slave girl.’ She glowered at Ligach. ‘I can have you bound again,’ She hissed.
‘It will take more ‘an you.’
The women went toe to toe.
‘Do not test me, girl I have taken down bigger men than you.’
‘Try it, you sour-faced bitch.’
I stepped between them. ‘That will not be necessary.’
The shoreline was littered with women. Skirts billowed and water splashed about their knees. They could have been our women, fishing on the river. Bringing fish back to sell. We were not so different us and them.
Some glanced. Others grunted. I forced a smile, but none were welcoming.
‘I must apologise.’ I lowered my gaze. ‘It took longer than expected.’
Estrid’s laugh made me start.
‘Do not lower your eyes girl, you are the Jarl’s wife and as I understand from Thorkell, he has left you to rule. Do not be commanded by Halldora. She is lower than a worm.’
I had no doubt that Sigurd would be furious when I returned. If Thorkell had been dispatched to relay his messages.
‘You are a bitch, Estrid.’ Halldora huffed.
The other women all laughed as they hauled their nets filled with gasping fish.
‘I… I…’
‘You’ll learn what it takes. It will not take you long.’ She smiled and offered me the corner of her net.
I took it gratefully hoping that there would be no more mention of Halldora or my inadequacies as the Jarl’s new bride.
To the West, the sun glinted against the polished wood of Sigurd’s ships. I raised an arm, trying to gain a better view.
‘Where is it they sail to?’
Estrid turned and followed my eye line towards the ships.
‘They sail to Frankia.’
On raids no doubt.
‘But first, they must attend The Thing at Dingieshowe.’
I did not think to ask. I had heard of sacrifices at our standing stones before God had shone his light upon us when everything was dark. Like Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Then I thought our days of being heathen monsters long gone. More is the pity. I just assumed that The Thing would have been a sea of blood, like our wedding and not a court of our Chieftains. I have attended many since my husband was chosen by Odin. There, I learned in Viking law you can avenge the death of your loved one without consequence, and that is exactly what I have spent the rest of my life doing.
A look of horror washed over Ligach’s face at the thought of sacrifice.
‘Estrid!’ Halldora shouted. ‘These fish will not catch themselves.’
‘Do they travel by sea?’ I said, lightly, being more of a hindrance than a help.
‘They will. It is not far,’ said Estrid. ‘They’ll sail at dawn.’
My eyes travelled back to the ships, like serpents with their mouths open, being loaded on Sigurd’s makeshift docks.
