‘If it pleases my lovely wife!’ He let go of my arm, bowed and turned to walk back towards the farmstead.
‘Go then! I’ve managed months without you!’
‘I will!’
‘Sigurd!’ I screamed as the pain gripped my stomach, searing me from the inside. It was too soon much too soon. It bent me doubled. Dropping to the floor I pressed my hands into the dirt. ‘Sigurd!’
At my fearful cry, he ran to me, falling to his knees. ‘What is it?’ He took my hand in his. ‘Where does it hurt?’
I shut my eyes tight as the pain washed over me again. ‘It’s the baby,’ I said, tears streaking my face. ‘Something is not right.’
Without another word, he scooped me up, cradling me. I wrapped my arms around his neck as another sharpness rippled across my belly.
‘Help!’ he shouted as we drew nearer to the farmstead. ‘Help!’
Brigid appeared at the noise, colour draining from her face. ‘Fergus! Fetch more blankets, Lady Olith has taken ill.’
Inside, I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the low light. The room was lit only by the dying embers of the fire and small candles dotted about like stars. Through the small hole in the thatched roof, I could see a small flash of starlight.
‘This way,’ said Brigid. ‘Put her on the pallets by the fire.’
Sigurd hesitated, then strode across the room. I moaned again as he placed me down on a rushed pallet, cradling the pear shape of my stomach. I felt a dreadful pain spread across my back.
‘There’s something wrong,’ I moaned.
‘It may just be pains,’ said Brigid with an air of uncertainty, hands slipping and pressing around the hardness of my belly. ‘The babby is far from comin’ and mebbe telling you to ready yourself.’
‘How can you be sure?’ Sigurd asked nervously.
I gritted my teeth as another pain washed over me, reaching out for his hand. He held it tightly.
‘She knows what she is doing,’ I snapped.
‘I have birthed seven strong laddies and girls besides.’ She rubbed my leg. ‘She must rest. All we can do now is pray.’
Pray. At that point, I did not know to whom. A God that had forsaken me or gods that I did not know. Now, I know my gods and I make sacrifices to them often, but then I was weak and unsure.
I vaguely heard Brigid leave quietly through the door. Sigurd sat on the floor next to me, back pressed against the wall. I will never forget the look on his face until my dying day.
‘I did not mean any of what I said.’ All the rage had gone from his voice. ‘It was my pride that was hurt and nothing more.’
A nod was all I could manage. Keeping my concentration on the pulse of pain.
‘We have traded in thralls from Constantinople to Iceland and made a good living from it. It is like the roots of the trees. You have seen, even our people serve as thralls if the punishment is fitting. Help me understand why it upsets you. These are our laws, laws that cannot be changed.’
‘It is not…’ I closed my eyes as the pain gripped me again. ‘I cannot see another woman beaten, mocked and sold as cattle to be raped whenever someone chooses.’ The words came through gritted teeth. ‘My father did it to me. It is not a life I would force on anyone.’
‘When you are well.’ He stroked my hair. ‘We can talk about it, maybe there is more that can be done? I do not know, yet, but I will speak at The Thing. Can you forgive me?’
He had done nothing wrong. They were not laws that Sigurd could pick and choose. I was playing at being the wife of a Jarl, medalling in customs I did not understand and were not mine to change. I had been nothing more than an unreasonable, foolish child.
I let out a small noise like a whimpering dog.
‘You will be all right.’ He kissed the back of my hand. ‘The Volva spoke of our son. It has been written that he will be a great warrior, and his mother will be by his side, always.’
I kissed him on the cheek. ‘There is nothing to forgive,’ I whispered the pain easing. ‘I have been reckless and my decisions ill-considered. I am sorry for any disrespect I may have caused you.’
He laughed, an odd sound in such a still moment. ‘You are rebellious and spirited and for that, I am truly grateful.’ He kissed my forehead. ‘We will talk no more of it now, but I promise when we arrive home safely.’ He touched his other hand to my stomach. ‘All of us. I will be open to your suggestions forour trading ports. I cannot be certain how much we can change but perhaps we can make it better.’
