There it was. I could feel my indignation bubble.Equal.We were not equal outside of our bedroom. He was Jarl and I, simply his wife.
‘Oh please.’ I knelt extravagantly before them both. ‘Forgive my rudeness. If it pleases my husband, then you may untie them.’
‘Untie them,’ Sigurd said and turned to me. ‘Do not try that again.’
As their hands were unbound, they trembled, eyes wide with fear. The taller of the two began to cry.
‘You are safe now.’ I laboured the words. I turned to Sigurd. ‘You will make them free women. Both of them.’
‘I will do no such thing.’
I watched my husband stalk off for the second time that day.
?
Winter always comes early this far north, with a bitter chill in the air.
The sun sat cool against the unblemished sky. I had followed my sullen husband on my mare as he’d reined his horse through the dispersing crowd, all the while beckoning the women to follow.
Before long we were moving back towards our home. Sigurd had barely uttered a word to me since we’d left the maze of stalls in Hamnavoe. We had ridden in grim silence. He was furious.
I was in no mood for his anger. I was upset and angry with myself for ever thinking that I had been his equal. That I would ever be anything more than a pretty trinket for his arm like hisgold circlets. Soon I would be back in Atholl, bringing my sister home and setting us both free from my father.
Going had been slow with two frail women in tow. Bare feet and naked but for a few torn rags. I had taken off my cloak and gave them it to share. The bairn in my belly lit me like a brazier.
We travelled until dusk. Drest and Freyja circling high above. My body ached as though my bones had been rattled. Up ahead in the distance, I saw the faint smudge of a farmstead hoping that they would be able to give us shelter.
‘Names?’ I said slowly.
They shook their heads.
I tried again in what little Norse I knew. Still nothing.
‘Olith.’ I patted my chest to explain. ‘I am Olith.’
They did not answer but stared at me doubtfully.
‘You are safe. No harm will come to you.’
I had taken on two women from who knows where and expected that they would be grateful for my help. As I stared at their empty faces I felt a flutter of regret, something I would not be telling my husband about.
As we drew closer, I watched two ravens settle on the eves of a crooked farmstead in the distance. Below, a man and woman stood before he ducked his head and disappeared inside, coughing and spluttering.
‘Sigurd.’ I called out after him, but he would not listen, passing the farmstead without so much as a glance. Too busy sulking. I had done nothing wrong. If I had travelled there alone and purchased them, they were mine to do with as I saw fit, it was not a decision for him to make.
As we reached the walled boundary of her land, the stout walked towards us, taking short quick strides across the field.
‘Can I help ye?’ she said, bristling.
Instantly, I recognised my voice in hers. If my husband was going to insist on ignoring me then I would find my own shelter and he could sleep in the barn with the swine.
‘Aye, I am wearied by the journey.’ I paused. ‘Would it be possible to trouble you for somewhere to rest our heads?’
‘Who did ye say you were?’ She said, looking first at my Viking husband and then at the half-naked women with us.
My husband reined his horse back around to meet us.
‘Why did you no say? Of course.’ The woman gave a nervous smile and ushered us over. ‘You must stay here tonight. I’ll no hear another word about it. You can rest your horses in our barn. And your thralls?’
