I nodded.
“It is from the Saga of Calder the Foolish.Calder commanded a great raiding party and was obsessed with finding new lands to explore, new treasures to steal, new lovers to have.He raided all year, even in the winter.
“One day, he heard tell of a great treasure in the dwelling place of Egil—Egil is one of the gods in this land, god of mischief and illusion.”The king grinned.“Calder knew the god would try to trick him, but he could not quench his desire for the treasure, so he made his way there.
“As he neared the island, he passed a beautiful woman swimming naked with the whales.He fished her out and had her against her will before throwing her back into the sea.In her sorrow, she held onto the body of a whale as it swam deep below the surface, and she did not let go until she had drowned.
“When Calder reached the dwelling place of Egil, he found a mountain of treasure guarded by Egil himself.
“‘What must I do to earn this treasure from you?’Calder asked.
“‘Only a fair trade will persuade me to step aside, and only one thing in the world is worth this mountain,’ Egil answered.
“‘Tell me what it is, and I will find it for you.’Calder was willing to sail off the map and climb back upon it for such a large reward.
“Egil smiled wickedly.‘There is a woman who swims in the sea near this island.She is protected by Valla, and I cannot touch her while she is in the water.But once she is on land, Valla’s protection will be lifted.Bring her to me alive, and I will give you what you seek.’
“Calder sailed back to where he had fished the woman out of the sea and found her body floating.When he pulled her aboard, he knew she was dead, and he knew his actions had led her to kill herself.He knew he had prevented himself from plundering the greatest treasure the world had ever known.He went mad and attacked his crew, stabbing and slicing, until they banded together and ended him.”
The king paused to let the story settle before he continued.“Do you know why I tell you this tale?”
I felt the tale was a threat, but didn’t say this to him.I shook my head and played unknowing.
His eyes narrowed.“Because countless small things had to go perfectly wrong and perfectly right for you to end up here in my court.I was given word that there was a prisoner I would very much like to have freed—one of my beloved bards.The message did not say which one, only that the cart carrying this prisoner would pass a given fjord on a given day, around a given hour.I had one chance to free them without a siege or full-on battle.The first person I sought to send to the rescue refused me.This is highly unusual.People do not simply refuse me.He cited the gods as his reason.The second was Valya—you have met her already—only sometimes she entertains me naked, and I was hoping that would happen again soon.So I did not send her, though I knew she would handle the quest perfectly.She is very… meticulous.I sent my third choice, thinking… well, I will not tell you why, only that it was my third choice.
“Somehow, you were travelling by the fjord the very hour they were waiting to strike.Somehow, you were in a prisoner’s cart.Somehow, you had an instrument with you.A single day before you arrived, another message came, confirming that Gunnar, my prized, wondrous Gunnar, was captive in your country.And then, you are delivered to me in his place.A goldkeeper no less.Someone with blood and skill much valued by my enemies.This feels like too many chance events, no?Especially as you handle the cold so poorly, so even to return you home, it would be wise to wait until the colder seasons have passed.The cold seasons last several moons here.There must be a reason the gods have sacrificed Gunnar and given you to me.Some conversation we are meant to have, some talent or gift you have for me.When we have figured that out, and it has completed its quest, then we can discuss your return to your country.”
The wordenemiesblazed in my mind.
“You see, Gentlewoman.I am Calder in this tale and you are the woman swimming with the whales.I will not toss you back into the sea until I know what possibilities you create for me.”
Thirteen
Iapproached the king’s hall, my heart pattering quick and light, and my breaths—so deep without the weight of my gown—providing a foreign, tide-like pleasure.
A deep, sucking, wildinfeeling.
A whooshing, hot, whirlingoutfeeling.
The king had invited me to his hall after telling me the tale of Calder, warning me that there would be a crowd gathered, and that he was expected to speak to them about me.He had requested, as he’d put it, ‘the entire city chant for my recovery,’ and now that I was well, his courtiers wanted to see me.He was also to appoint a protector for me.I was a guest, he said, in a foreign land.I should have a defender.He’d told me he would go to his court first, that I should wait some time, and then come.
I’d set myself on begging Dania to attend with me, but I think she’d already figured to invite herself because she agreed with no persuasion at all, confusing me a little.I had come to expect, from our short conversations, that she was a person who enjoyed being difficult.I was correct in this, only she enjoyed parties more than she enjoyed being disagreeable, and I hadn’t yet witnessed this.
The guard who’d claimed to be seeking her affection followed us seemingly without an invitation.But of the three of us, he was the only one who knew the layout of the palace, so I quickly came to realize that King Arik must have bid him to guide us.
And a guide was much needed.
The palace was a series of halls, each longer than the last.The floors of unpolished wood were covered in woven rugs of grey and red and black.Large paintings covered the walls from floor to ceiling, depicting snakes and gruesome battles filled with headless warriors or naked fish-people brawling beneath the sea.Driftwood pillars that were carved to look like giant bodies held up the vaulted ceilings.I admired none of it.I had parted from my purpose—guarding Loric’s gold.It was no longer hidden in the wall, but lay flat beneath a shaggy fur rug, the furniture of my accommodations moved very slightly from their original positions to pin the rug in place.Neither Dania nor the guard had watched me do this, and it wasn’t visible, but if someone were to walk across the fur in bare feet, theymightbe able to feel the textured difference and know something lay beneath it.I’d lain two blankets folded neatly beneath the rug, hoping to disguise the texture difference, but if someone were looking specifically for the gold…
The separation itched and ached in a way only someone who’d committed the one act they were raised never to commit could understand.I told myself repeatedly that I must part with it for a short time if I were to bring it home again.I needed to please the king as quickly as possible, get released as quickly as possible, and transport it back to Loric without a single piece of gold missing.I couldn’t guide a ship myself, so I would need help.
My mind understood the separation to be necessary.My body did not.
As we walked, Dania and the guard chatted in the deep, rough sea dog words, laughing together.
When I glared at her because she didn’t seem to be taking the severity of the moment seriously, she shrugged and said, “He says Jorn the Calm is very ‘not calm’ this evening.Says he walks in a circle like a duck swims on a pond.Arik’s raiders are placing wagers on what this means.”
When I continued to glare, she laughed.“You Islish are so rigid.”
