Blood and Loyalty Page 2

  "Sir?"

  Finn turned with a look fierce enough to give the messenger pause. Finn raised his eyebrows, trying to soften his expression. The young boy had surprised him -- not an easy feat. "Yes?” he encouraged.

  "Sir," the youth continued. "Your brother requires you."

  "I'm already where my brother requires me to be." Finn turned away, his eyes returning to the ridge.

  "Sir," the boy continued. "He said you may say that. He bid me ask you to come anyway. Sir," he added as a nervous afterthought. Finn's jaw stiffened but he made no attempt to move. The boy looked exceedingly uncomfortable now. "Please, sir. He said if that didn't move you, I was to remind you that as your brother, he requests. But as your Lord..." the boy hesitated. "But as your Lord, Sir-"

  "As my Lord, he does not request. He commands."

  "Yes, sir," the boy let out on a sigh, glad his part was over. "His words, sir."

  The boy was young and clearly new to his position. He was tall with bright blue eyes and shaggy brown hair that fell just below his ears. He must have joined his brother's party while Finn was in the North. Despite his youth, Finn could tell by his broad frame and bulging shoulders that the boy could steer a ship and probably had. He should talk to Rurik about letting him see to his training. If his agitation was any indication, the boy preferred action to words and lengthy pauses. Finn suppressed a smile and clapped the messenger on the shoulder. "You did well. Next time, walk into the eyeline of the intended. Force him to look at you. Say what you're charged with and then lead the way." The boy nodded though he still seemed doubtful. Finn lowered his voice. "If you are uneasy, look at the man's nose. Just here." He tapped the bridge of his own nose. "Most men only pretend to possess power. You need only to pretend right back. Stand straight, chin up, and you'll have Lords in your wake."

  The boy relaxed a fraction and managed a smile at Finn. He clearly wasn't used to feeling off balance. "Rurik requires you," he repeated, his arm outstretched before him. The boy was quick.

  Finn sighed with one last glance at the still horizon. "Lead the way."

  The two walked swiftly along the footpaths, both silent except a terse instruction from Finn to veer through a small wood that was more like a large brush tangle. He preferred the rougher path to cutting through the center of the camps. There were too many people that way. Their family's wealth, his brother's position, and Finn's renown in battle meant the journey through camp would take twice as long. Whenever Finn was forced in that direction, he was besieged by everything from merchants and marriage peddlers to mead-soaked youths spoiling for a fight. Finn learned quickly he would have to forge a path through the wilderness surrounding the low hills and valleys where the Thing took place each year if he wanted to move unharassed. It had only been a few days, but it was long enough for him to think the Northmen had the right idea claiming the rocky coast for their encampment. The sod houses were always in some state of disrepair and the chill from the water could be biting, but being on the other side of the hills had its advantages. There was quiet in the isolated spot, something he would have thought impossible at a gathering this size.

  Finn was wondering whether he should send a man to watch Disa while he was absent when they broke through the cover and found themselves at the back of his brother's camp. The boy shook his head in surprise. "That was quick."

  He pulled himself back to the present with some difficulty. He'd been so focused on the girl's safety these last few weeks that he was having trouble thinking of much else. He should have been showing the boy how to see paths through the brush, not storming ahead with misplaced concerns. "Yes," he finally responded. "Never trust the main path just because it is popular. Trust no man's word but your own. So on and so forth." Finn shook his head. He sounded like his father. He hadn't meant to. If the boy thought him imperious, he made no indication. His eyes looked searchingly across the wood as if still fascinated it had delivered them.

  "Let's finish this." It was the boy's turn to be pulled from his reverie.

  Neither of them needed to ask where Rurik was. The main hall was awash with firelight and the high stone walls echoed the gravelly laughter of his brother's many friends. Finn ducked through the open door, blinking at the sudden heat. Though the vaulted ceilings were tall, taller than any of the other surrounding buildings, and the walls were set with numerous narrow windows, the heat from the roaring fireplaces at either end and the twenty or so men scattered throughout was oppressive. Most in attendance were strangers to him. Some stood, some sat on the fur-draped benches, all were oblivious to his arrival.

  Roe and Grim were present, standing together near a far window, and Roe nodded in acknowledgement. Finn nodded back. Grim cocked his head disapprovingly, though of what, Finn couldn't say. All he had done was walk through the door. It didn't bother him. Grim seemed to disapprove of him more often than not.

  Finn quickly located Rurik. He was sitting on an ornately carved throne, for there was no other word for it than ‘throne’, listening delightedly to one of Agnar's bawdy stories, no doubt. Finn skirted the crowd, sticking to the walls until he'd reached Rurik's side. Finn placed a hand on his shoulder and his brother immediately put up a finger to silence the old man. Finn leaned down and spoke lowly so no others could hear. "Must you always sit this close to the fire? It's hotter than Agnar's undersides in this miserable hall."

  Rurik nodded sagely though Finn could see the twinkle in his eye. He leaned close to Finn's ear. "I had hoped it would drive them all off by now but they do insist on welcoming me thoroughly. I have missed you, brother."

  Finn nodded seriously in agreement. This was a tactic they had developed when they were still green boys. Though they shared many of the duties in running their large piece of the islands, and Rurik rarely interfered with Finn's command of the men, they found it useful to keep Rurik in front for the politics of it all. They often engaged in what most would perceive as grave reports but in actuality was a childish game of nonsense to try and make the other laugh.

  "Agnar, you must finish this tale tonight. Dine with us perhaps? My brother and I have much to discuss." Agnar smiled importantly, Rurik's charm working on the man's pride as intended. "Men," Rurik called, quieting the room with a word. "I thank you for your presence here. Not just in my hall but at this year's Thing. Our great gathering is a sacred time. Grievances aired, laws established, and marriages negotiated," he smiled at Roe and Grim, and Finn was perversely pleased to see Grim's frown deepen. "We are free men and there is nothing greater than our freedom. Our fathers left their homeland to escape the tyrannical grip of self-proclaimed kings. But there is a shadow looming over us all." The crowd murmured in agreement. "In the west, kings fight kings, brother slaughters brother in the name of greed and power. Power they stole. Power they took at the edge of a blade. Our fathers respected the old ways. One man, one vote. They left their homeland to give us our own. These islands are ours. These waters are tamed by our vessels, these lands tilled with our sweat, and I will protect these borders with my own blood. We must stand together. We WILL stand together!” Rurik was pacing now and the crowd, rapt with interest, shouted agreement or beat their chests.

  All except Finn. Finn, whose mind was not trapped under a heavy heat but instead enjoying the chill breeze off the water and an idle curiosity as to what was going on just over that stony wall.

  After the crowd departed, Finn stretched out on the bench closest to his brother's seat, his role as silent watchman was complete.

  "I think they've bruised me," Rurik complained as he flexed his fist. He'd grasped one too many arms today with the energized crowd as they pledged their intentions to stand with him before departing.

  "Leave it to your silver tongue to unite clans before the meetings have even begin."

  Rurik grinned boyishly and flopped down onto his wooden monstrosity, one leg thrown casually over the arm. "And how was your northern stay."

  Finn shrugged. "Uneventful."

  Rurik star
ed at him a few moments before laughing. "Two weeks gone and I get a shrug and a word?"

  Finn shrugged again and Rurik continued to stare as if he had all the time in the world. Finn sighed and sat up straight. "It really was uneventful. The journey was easy, the people were kind, and no one tried to kill your intended."

  "Ah, yes. My bride."

  Finn looked down at his feet. He knew this moment was coming but for some reason he'd been hoping to avoid it. Rurik would want to hear about the girl he'd never met but had already agreed to spend the rest of his life with. His tongue felt heavy. "She's...nice." Finn almost smiled thinking of the look on Disa's face if she could hear him.

  "Nice."

  He shrugged yet again. "Nice."

  "Finn," Rurik sighed.

  "I don't know, Rurik. I barely spoke to her. She is respected by her people, she is clever, she loves her brother..."

  "She sounds boring."

  "No," Finn countered faster than he ought.

  "No?" Rurik smiled and leaned forward, his chin propped lazily in his hand.

  Finn forced himself to keep his gaze steady. "She's nice."

  "Fine," Rurik said, falling back into the chair and losing his interest just as quickly as it had piqued. "I'll just have to find out for myself tonight."

  "What's tonight?"

  "We're going to meet," Rurik explained sarcastically with exaggerated care.

  "Before the feast? But everyone celebrates engagements at the feast."

  "Well, I'm not everyone," he quipped lightly. "It was her brother's idea."

  Finn felt his lips twitch in understanding. His brother was being tested and he didn't even know it. Roe loved his sister more than any alliance. If Rurik wasn't to Disa's liking, there would be no marriage.

  "What?" Rurik asked.

  "Nothing. Just her brother," he added.

  "Yes?"

  "He's nice, too."

  Disa spent the afternoon waist deep in the frigid salt water, shivering violently as she scrubbed away any trace of dirt from head to toe, scraping under her nails until they bled. Nanna would turn her right back around if she returned anything less than pristine.

  Disa’s eyes strayed involuntarily to the shaded spot she’d last seen Finn. “Where’s the Great Shadow?” she asked as she ducked into the dim sod longhouse, thankful for the roaring fire in the pit at the center of the large room.

  Roe laughed and Disa turned to see her brother lounging on one of the long wooden benches set against each wall. “Great Shadow. I like that. Your Great Shadow has been called back to his brother.”

  Disa felt her heart skip a beat. She would be meeting her husband in a few short days. She hadn’t thought much of her impending marriage. It had all seemed so far away until now, like it was happening to someone else. She knew her duty as Roe’s only sister and it was a duty she was happy to fulfill, especially if it meant the continued safety of her people. It would be strange though to leave her small world nestled safely on the northernmost island in the Faroes for the bustling townships of the south. Strange it may be but such alliances were vital if they were going to remain free from the violence to the east.

  “You’re to meet tonight, if that would suit you,” Roe broke into her thoughts.

  “Tonight?” Panic rose suddenly in her chest.

  “I thought it might be better,” he said, eyes soft with concern. “Many marriages will be negotiated over the next few days but seeing as yours is already set, I thought you might want to meet away from the scrutiny of the feast. All the formal bits will still take place at the feast of course, but just...in case.”

  “In case of what?” Disa asked though she thought she knew the answer already.

  “In case you don’t like him, of course.”

  “Roe…” They had been through this on more than one occasion.

  “Don’t misunderstand me: I still think it’s a good match. But spending time with him reminds me how very...southern he is.”

  A snort of laughter issued from the doorway alerting them both to Grim’s presence. “That’s a quaint way to put it, brother. What he means to say is he’s quite a pretty story.”

  “When did you meet Rurik?” Disa asked, ignoring his common rebuke of any man he deemed not battle tested.

  “Just came from great hall of the lord himself.” Grim smiled. “Big eyes and large pockets, little bee, and he means to tuck you right in.”

  “Stop,” Roe commanded not unkindly. Grim shrugged and fell heavily onto a bench opposite, the large vertical beam he now rested against groaning quietly under his weight.

  “I see what I see,” Grim added cryptically as he pulled Disa’s small sword from the heavy wooden table and began to sharpen it on a whetstone he’d pulled from Gods know where.

  “He does seem somewhat anxious to unite,” Roe conceded. “And his friends do seem somewhat…”

  “Pretty?” Grim supplied with another grin.

  “Lordly,” Roe finished instead. “These are not strikes against him, Disa. I just want to make sure you’ll be comfortable. It will be a more restrained life, I think, than what you’re used to.”

  Disa smiled. “I will miss you, too. Both of you,” she added with a look to Grim who, though not related by blood, was her brother nevertheless. “I’m sure I will manage just fine. Meeting him this evening does sound preferable, though - if it’s no trouble. I’ve never enjoyed the Thingfeasts.”

  "We'll meet with him then. There will be quite a few others there as well, so it shouldn't be too awkward."

  Disa wasn't listening. He was back. She was sure of it. Nan limped into the room to answer the unspoken question, wiping her hands on the hem of her apron dress. “Why do you leave that poor man outside? The wind is going to carry him away,” Nan admonished as if she hadn't chased Finn away mere hours ago.

  “I don't see you inviting him in, Nanna,” Grim countered.

  She waved away his words and took Disa’s hands in hers, inspecting the cleanliness of her nails. She puckered her lips, but could find no dirt to complain about. “Your hands are too rough.”

  “They are no rougher than yours, Nanna.”

  “But I am not the wife of some great Jarl.”

  “Marry me,” Grim said, moving to take Nan’s hands. “Marry me and your hands will be smooth as the day they were born.”

  “No, marry me!” Roe cried. “Grim has sworn to never take a wife, but I am not so foolish. Marry me and stay by my side always, dear Nan.”

  Nan beat them both about the ears but she smiled as she did, a flush high in her cheeks. “You two,” she admonished. “You should each try and make a match this year before you're too old to lift your blade. Then what woman will have you!” Disa’s ensuing snort drew a glare from Nan, no doubt for its lack of decorum. “Disa, come help with the fish.”

  “I'm not sure her new Jarl will want a fishy wife,” Grim frowned.

  Nanna smacked him on the side of the head and Disa had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing again as Grim yelped in surprise. “Don't speak ill of the lady’s husband.”

  “I'm not, I was just saying maybe she should keep away from the fish.”

  Nan raised her hand threateningly. “Don't speak in riddles, boy.”

  “We are to dine with Rurik tonight,” Roe hurried. “Disa will be meeting him in advance of the feast.”

  Nanna stared at them all in mute horror for a few moments before flapping her arms madly at the men. “Out! Get out! You should not be in here, either of you. Meeting tonight,” she grumbled. “And no one thought to tell me?” She was alternately shrill and mumbling, and the men were enjoying it immensely, letting her chase them around the fire like little boys while deftly avoiding blows and sneaking kisses on her cheeks. “Out!” she howled, aiming a kick out the door at their retreating forms.

  Finn watched in bewilderment at what must have been quite the scene to an outsider, and Disa smiled sweetly, waving as Nan pulled the door firmly closed.

&nbs
p; Disa’s good humor ended abruptly. Nan shoved her onto a bench close to the fire and produced a comb from the pouch at her belt. Disa’s long blonde hair had started to curl slightly as it dried and Nan attacked her scalp with fervor, racking it over and over for what seemed like an eternity until it tingled and burned. Nan had clearly achieved the desired result. She cooed softly as she ran her hands through Disa’s hair, and the strands that fell softly over her shoulders reflected the firelight in brilliant facets. Disa sighed dramatically. “All done?”

  Nan rapped her knuckles with the comb. “You look beautiful,” she said sternly. “Like your mother.” Disa snapped her mouth shut and looked down while Nanna kept stroking her hair. “Let's get dressed,” she whispered with a squeeze to her shoulders.

  “Disa!” Roe banged on the door. “Let's go.” Nan yelled something Roe couldn't hear. He looked over his shoulder at Finn and Grim. “What could possibly be taking this long?”

  “Maybe she decided not to marry your brother after all and slipped out the back,” Grim suggested as he smiled innocently at Finn.

  Finn gritted his teeth and tried to keep looking bored. Truth be told, this wasn't quite like Disa and her absence was beginning to unsettle him. If something happened to her, he would tear apart the country until he found her. For his brother, of course. Finn shifted his feet.

  “Disa?” Roe called again.

  The door shot forward and Roe stumbled backward to avoid being hit. “Calm down,” Disa admonished, pushing her loose hair out of her face. Grim and Roe burst out laughing. Disa lifted her chin and strode past them before they could close ranks around her. She looked unimpressed with their outburst but Finn saw the fierce blush that stole down her cheeks and chest.

  Finn pushed aside the stab of annoyance he felt and fell into step with Disa. She definitely looked different than usual. Finn had never seen her dressed in anything but overly large boy’s tunics, trousers, and boots, her hair knotted at the base of her neck, her face and arms smeared with dirt. She wasn't dressed like a boy tonight. Her hair was loose, falling below her shoulders in white blonde sheets. Her snowy linen shift skimmed the top of her slippered feet while the ice blue apron dress she wore over it matched her eyes perfectly, the hem falling at her ankles. The overdress’ straps were a few fingers thick, secured at the front with matching beaten metal brooches, connected to each other by several plain silver chains that draped across her breasts. Finn lifted his eyes to the path ahead, tensing slightly at the sound of Roe and Grim’s footsteps as they trotted to catch up.