Page 99 of Lord of Fire and Ice

“A wise course,” Dalla said with an approving nod.

“Why didn’t you light the signal fire?” Katla asked. “Our allies would have come.”

“I’m not so sure of that, but that’s the first place I went. The signal fire was already heavily guarded by Bloodaxe’s men,” Finn said.

“You wouldn’t have needed to get close,” the jarl of Jondal said. “A well-placed fire arrow would have done the job. Or is the arm of Tysnes too weak to draw a bow?”

“I would have done,” Finn said, his voice breaking with emotion, “but Bloodaxe had strapped my only living brother to the top of the woodpile, to discourage just such a thing.”

“Haukon,” Katla whimpered.

“Then Inga and I stole a faering, and we’ve been rowing and sailing to your threshold ever since,” Finn said. “Will you help us, my lord?”

In the silence that followed, Katla heard her heart pounding in her ears.

“We are not unmoved by your plea,” Arn said. “But we must look to our own. If Bloodaxe is preparing to invade the fjord, we cannot spare men or time to mount an assault on the force that holds faraway Tysnes.” He lifted a hand to his guard. “Summon my council in chambers. We must plan for the defense of Jondal and—”

He stopped and looked around the great hall. “Where is Brandr? And the rest of his band of travelers?”

“They set sail a few days ago,” Hilde said quietly.

Arn made a disgusted snort. “Just when they might have been useful. Still, we must build earthworks. Barricades. Set the smiths and fletchers to work immediately. Every man must have a sword and a full quiver of arrows.” Then he turned his masked face back to Finn. “You and your woman may stay and aid in the defense of Jondal. We welcome your sword arm, Tysnesman.”

Finn didn’t answer, but Katla saw the muscles in his shoulders bunch beneath his ragged tunic. Arn raised himself to stand and shuffle out without waiting for Finn’s reply. The jarl leaned heavily on his guard’s arm.

“I can’t stay here while Haukon is tied to a stake,” Finn said wearily.

“You won’t go alone,” Katla said.

“I will if I have to.”

“You can’t make the trip back to Tysnes in a faering without another rower. Even if you somehow caught fair winds and won home, you’d be too exhausted to be of any use once you got there.” Katla grasped his arm.

Finn shook her off. “Just once, woman, would you stop being so blasted practical?”

“Please, Finn. I can’t lose another brother.”

That stopped him in his tracks, and he turned back to face her. “Then help me. This is something I’m bound to do. And we haven’t lost Haukon yet. I want Inga to stay here. She’ll bide safe with you, but I’ll leave with the morning tide.” He rubbed his brow. “Katla, will you do me a favor and provision the faering so I can get some rest?”

She nodded mutely and showed him to the room where Inga was already resting. “I assume you mean to marry her, Finn.”

“Of course. I always did,” he said softly. “I just hope I haven’t left it too late.”

Once Finn slipped into the small chamber, Katla’s spine seemed to collapse. She slid down the wall and sat in the corridor, knees to her chest, and wept.

She mourned for her brother Einar. She keened softly for the people of Tysnes and cursed herself for showing Albrikt Gormson everything he needed to know to overcome their defenses.

“What is it, love?” Brandr’s thought curled around her mind.

Katla drew a shuddering breath and swiped her cheeks. “Nothing. Finn has come, and I’m happy to see him.”

“You don’t seem happy.”

“How little you know of women.” She forced herself to Send the thought to him brightly. “We often laugh when we’re sad and weep when we’re happy.”

She heard the echo of his chuckle.

“I have everything we need now. We can’t try the weapon till we’re home. I’ll see your lovely face in two days.”