Tuttugu stepped backward into the boat, almost falling as he turned.
What are you doing here, Tutt? Snorri reached out to steady him whilst I grabbed the sides. Stay. Let that woman of yours look after you. You wont like it where Im bound.
Tuttugu looked up at Snorri, the two of them uncomfortably close. Undoreth, we. Thats all he said, but it seemed to be enough for Snorri. They were after all most likely the last two of their people. All that remained of the Uuliskind. Snorri slumped as if in defeat then moved back, taking the oars and shoving me into the prow.
Stop! Cries from the quay, above the clatter of feet. Stop that boat!
Tuttugu untied the rope and Snorri drew on the oars, moving us smoothly away. The first of Jarl Sorrens housecarls arrived red-faced above the spot where wed been moored, roaring for our return.
Row faster! I had a panic on me, terrified they might jump in after us. The sight of angry men carrying sharp iron has that effect on me.
Row faster! I had a panic on me, terrified they might jump in after us. The sight of angry men carrying sharp iron has that effect on me.
Snorri laughed. Theyre not armoured for swimming. He looked back at them, raising his voice to a boom that drowned out their protests, And if that man actually throws the axe hes raising I really will come back to return it to him in person.
The man kept hold of his axe.
And good riddance to you! I shouted, but not so loud the men on the quay would hear me. A pox on Norsheim and all its women! I tried to stand and wave my fist at them, but thought better of it after nearly pitching over the side. I sat down heavily, clutching my sore nose. At least I was heading south at last, and that thought suddenly put me in remarkably good spirits. Id sail home to a heros welcome and marry Lisa DeVeer. Thoughts of her had kept me going on the Bitter Ice, and now with Trond retreating into the distance she filled my imagination once again.
It seemed that all those months of occasionally wandering down to the docks and scowling at the boats had made a better sailor of me. I didnt throw up until we were so far from port that I could barely make out the expressions on the housecarls faces.
Best not to do that into the wind, Snorri said, not breaking the rhythm of his rowing.
I finished groaning before replying, I know that, now. I wiped the worst of it from my face. Having had nothing but a punch on the nose for breakfast helped to keep the volume down.
Will they give chase? Tuttugu asked.
That sense of elation at having escaped a gruesome death shrivelled up as rapidly as it had blossomed and my balls attempted a retreat back into my body. They wont. . will they? I wondered just how fast Snorri could row. Certainly under sail our small boat wouldnt outpace one of Jarl Sorrens longships.
Snorri managed a shrug. What did you do?
His daughter.
Hedwig? A shake of the head and laugh broke from him. Erik Sorrens chased more than a few men over that one. But mostly just long enough to make sure they keep running. A prince of Red March though. . might go the extra mile for a prince, then drag you back and see you handfasted before the Odin stone.
Oh God! Some other awful pagan torture Id not heard about. I barely touched her. I swear it. Panic starting to rise, along with the next lot of vomit.
It means married, said Snorri. Handfasted. And from what I heard you barely touched her repeatedly and in her own fathers mead-hall to boot.
I said something full of vowels over the side before recovering myself to ask, So, wheres our boat?
Snorri looked confused. Youre in it.
I mean the proper-sized one thats taking us south. Scanning the waves I could see no sign of the larger vessel I presumed we must be aiming to rendezvous with.
Snorris mouth took on a stiff-jawed look as if Id insulted his mother. Youre in it.
Oh come on. . I faltered beneath the weight of his stare. Were not seriously crossing the sea to Maladon in this rowboat are we?
By way of answer Snorri shipped the oars and started to prepare the sail.
Dear God. . I sat, wedged in the prow, my neck already wet with spray, and looked out over the slate-grey sea, flecked with white where the wind tore the tops off the waves. Id spent most of the voyage north unconscious and it had been a blessing. The return would have to be endured without the bliss of oblivion.
Snorri plans to put in at ports along the coast, Jal, Tuttugu called from his huddle in the stern. Well sail from Kristian to cross the Karlswater. Thats the only time well lose sight of land.
A great comfort, Tuttugu. I always like to do my drowning within sight of land.
Hours passed and the Norsemen actually seemed to be enjoying themselves. For my part I stayed wrapped around the misery of a hangover, leavened with a stiff dose of stool-to-head. Occasionally Id touch my nose to make sure Astrids punch hadnt broken it. Id liked Astrid and it sorrowed me to think we wouldnt snuggle up in her husbands bed again. I guessed shed been content to ignore my wanderings as long as she could see herself as the centre and apex of my attentions. To dally with a jarls daughter, someone so highborn, and for it to be so public, must have been more than her pride would stand for. I rubbed my jaw, wincing. Damn, Id miss her.
Here. Snorri thrust a battered pewter mug toward me.
Rum? I lifted my head to squint at it. Im a great believer in hair of the dog, and nautical adventures always call for a measure of rum in my largely fictional experience.
Water.
I uncurled with a sigh. The sun had climbed as high as it was going to get, a pale ball straining through the white haze above. Looks like you made a good call. Albeit by mistake. If you hadnt been ready to sail I might be handfasted by now. Or worse.
Serendipity.
Seren-what-ity? I sipped the water. Foul stuff. Like water generally is.
A fortunate accident, Snorri said.
Uh. Barbarians should know their place, and using long words isnt it. Even so it was madness to set off so early in the year. Look! Theres still ice floating out there! I pointed to a large plate of the stuff, big enough to hold a small house. Wont be much left of this boat if we hit any. I crawled back to join him at the mast.
Best not distract me from steering then. And just to prove a point he slung us to the left, some lethal piece of woodwork swinging scant inches above my head as the sail crossed over.
Why the hurry? Now that the lure of three delicious women who had fallen for my ample charms had been removed I was more prepared to listen to Snorris reasons for leaving so precipitously. I made a vengeful note to use precipitously in conversation. Why so precipitous?
We went through this, Jal. To the death! Snorris jaw tightened, muscles bunching.
Tell me once more. Such matters are clearer at sea. By which I meant I didnt listen the first time because it just seemed like ten different reasons to pry me from the warmth of my tavern and from Eddas arms. I would miss Edda, she really was a sweet girl. Also a demon in the furs. In fact I sometimes got the feeling that I was her foreign fling rather than the other way around. Never any talk of inviting me to meet her parents. Never a whisper about marriage to her prince. . A man enjoying himself any less than I was might have had his pride hurt a touch by that. Northern ways are very strange. Im not complaining. . but theyre strange. Between the three of them Id spent the winter in a constant state of exhaustion. Without the threat of impending death I might never have mustered the energy to leave. I might have lived out my days as a tired but happy tavernkeeper in Trond. Tell me once more and well never speak of it again!
I told you a hundr-
I made to vomit, leaning forward.
All right! Snorri raised a hand to forestall me. If it will stop you puking all over my boat. . He leaned out over the side for a moment, steering the craft with his weight, then sat back. Tuttugu! Two fingers toward his eyes, telling him to keep watch for ice. This key. Snorri patted the front of his fleece jacket, above his heart. We didnt come by it easy. Tuttugu snorted at that. I suppressed a shudder. Id done a good job of forgetting everything between leaving Trond on the day we first set off for the Black Fort and our arrival back. Unfortunately it only took a hint or two for memories to start leaking through my barriers. In particular the screech of iron hinges would return to haunt me as door after door surrendered to the unborn captain and that damn key.
Snorri fixed me with that stare of his, the honest and determined one that makes you feel like joining him in whatever mad scheme hes espousing-just for a moment, mind, until common sense kicks back in. The Dead King will be wanting this key back. Others will want it too. The ice kept us safe, the winter, the snows. . once the harbour cleared the key had to be moved. Trond would not have kept him out.
I shook my head. Safes the last thing on your mind! Aslaug told me what you really plan to do with Lokis key. All that talk of taking it back to my grandmother was nonsense. Snorri narrowed his eyes at that. For once the look didnt make me falter-soured by the worst of days and made bold by the misery of the voyage I blustered on regardless. Well! Wasnt it nonsense?
The Red Queen would destroy the key, Snorri said.
Good! Almost a shout. Thats exactly what she should do!
Snorri looked down at his hands, upturned on his lap, big, scarred, thick with callus. The wind whipped his hair about, hiding his face. I will find this door.
Christ! Thats the last place that key should be taken! If there really was a door into death no sane person would want to stand before it. If this morning has taught me anything its to be very careful which doors you open and when.
Snorri made no reply. He kept silent. Still. Nothing for long moments but the flap of sail, the slop of wave against hull. I knew what thoughts ran through his head. I couldnt speak them, my mouth would go too dry. I couldnt deny them, though to do so would cause me only an echo of the hurt such a denial would do him.
I will get them back. His eyes held mine and for a heartbeat made me believe he might. His voice, his whole body shook with emotion, though in what part sorrow and what part rage I couldnt say.