Blood and Loyalty Read online

  “We match!” Roe declared as he slung his arm around Disa’s shoulders. He was wearing his usual trousers, but clean, and a long sleeve blue tunic embroidered with a pattern at the sleeves.

  Disa shook him off and shot a scathing look at Grim. “I see you made quite the effort.” He glanced down at his own dirty trousers and a simple spun green woolen tunic and shrugged. Disa pulled back before he could sling his arm around her shoulders too and walked beside Finn instead. Finn glanced down at her briefly before looking forward. “What?” Disa barked.

  Finn shook his head. He thought she looked pretty, but he wasn't about to voice it. It would rile up Grim and Roe all over again, and besides, she looked pretty for his brother, not for them.

  Disa let out a sound of annoyance and crossed her arms. She was already prepared for this night to end well before it had started. She was so self-conscious; she wanted to melt into the ground. She wasn't used to fancy dress. Nan had tried to braid her hair and wear something other than silver but Disa refused. The dress was nipped at her waist just a little too tight and she couldn't stop fussing with it. Her breasts had grown since old Nan had made it for her and she felt like she was on display, a feeling only amplified by the boys’ teasing and Finn’s dismissive glance. His inattention should make her feel better but she just crossed her arms tighter.

  The walk through the main encampment was a bit of a blur. Finn had to take her elbow twice to keep her from falling over ruts in the path. She was dimly aware of the humming crowds. Mead was flowing and packs of young girls were giggling as they watched the boisterous men they would likely marry in a few weeks time. Disa was envious of their carefree excitement. The closer they got to the largest set of buildings and tents, the more she thought she may lose her breakfast in the grass.

  “My brother is a very easy person to meet,” Finn whispered so the men wouldn't hear. Disa looked up at him startled. “He will guide the conversation. He would never let undue attention fall upon you.”

  “I'm fine,” Disa lied.

  She refused to show any sort of weakness. Finn had noticed this chiefly over the last few weeks. He nodded his understanding, not wishing to press her further.

  “Thank you,” she added grudgingly after a minute or so had passed.

  Grim stopped suddenly and Disa ran into his back with an audible expulsion of air. Finn pulled her behind him, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he scanned the area that had caught Grim’s attention.

  Oblivious, Roe had walked on a few steps before realizing he was alone. “What?” he asked when Grim didn't move again. Roe saw nothing amiss.

  “Thralls,” came his terse reply.

  “Shit,” Roe said under his breath as Disa peeked around Finn’s arm for a better view. “Grim--”

  “Does your brother own slaves?” he asked, turning abruptly and bumping his chest against Finn’s.

  “No,” came his restrained reply as he yoked his anger.

  “Then why do I see a mass of thralls outside his hall?” he snarled between clenched teeth, his hand groping fruitlessly at his back for an absent axe.

  Disa looked again and thought she spotted them. There was a dozen or so men and women sitting at the side of the hall, some attending cook fires, some hurriedly eating or brushing off their poor attire, Disa assumed because they'd soon be attending the masters inside. She nimbly stepped from behind Finn and put a calming hand on Grim’s chest. “We can leave,” Disa offered. “Right now if you wish.”

  “She’s right, Grim,” Roe affirmed.

  Grim looked at both of them and Disa could see the rage induced fog begin to dissipate. “They do not belong to your brother?” he asked again, his tone leaving no doubt as to his opinion of the word.

  “No,” Finn confirmed. “However, they probably came with someone inside. No doubt attempting to impress his wealth upon the others. There may be more inside to serve those in attendance.”

  This reply seemed to satisfy Grim, in no small part because it was more information than Finn usually supplied. “Right,” he said before turning away and heading straight towards the gathered Thralls.

  “What…” Finn trailed off as he watched Grim go.

  “Grim will be dining with the slaves,” Roe supplied. “He won't sit under the same roof as a slaver.”

  “Unless he means to kill the slaver,” Disa added.

  “Mm,” Roe agreed. “This should be an interesting night,” he smiled at Disa and offered his arm, which she readily took, and they all proceeded towards the glowing entrance.

  Disa found herself facing a row of wrinkled, frowning old men, and though she was loathe to admit it, she was disappointed her brother hadn't mentioned her husband would be quite so much older than she. Her smile hitched higher on her face as Finn gave brief introductions.

  “Roe Erlingsson, this is Agnar and his brother Ragnar Bragason. They are particular friends of my brother’s and advise him in many matters.” Roe greeted them both kindly regardless of their stern visage. They both had the look of strong men that had succumbed to a peaceful life and gone somewhat to seed, their bellies each straining their fine, silk-bordered tunics. Agnar was clearly the younger of the two, his black hair streaked through with gray while Ragnar’s was white, except where the evening sun caught him from behind, reflecting a brilliant orange.

  Disa gave them a perfunctory look before settling on the third man: younger than the brothers, yet his skin had something of a sickly yellow hue and his deep set eyes seemed almost bruised, like someone had tried to push his face inside of itself. The man was watching her with definite interest. He was dressed more simply, a stark white tunic and thick belt, both impractical for such a place where crowds were likely to drunkenly hurl things just to see it dirty.

  “This is Ragnar's wife, Abi,” Finn continued, gesturing to a beautiful woman in the shadows Disa hadn't seen when they first arrived. She couldn't be much older than Disa. Her hair was braided and turned up off her neck, and a green, exotic silk headscarf was woven throughout the style, the perfect contrast to her blood-red locks. Her dress was a deep purple, the neck scooping lower than was normal. Disa met her defiant stare and blushed furiously at having been caught gawking.

  “And you must be the beautiful Elydis,” said the yellowed stranger, moving forward with an outstretched hand.

  Disa stepped back instinctively and before she had time to be embarrassed once again at her reaction, Finn had pulled her behind him, hand at his sword for the second time in as many minutes. “Who are you?” he demanded.

  The man stared for a moment at Finn’s looming frame before turning his oily smile on him instead of Disa. “I'm Oslaf. I am the Lawspeaker.”

  Finn was immediately suspicious. Lawspeaker was a difficult and honored role. The man had to memorize the laws of the land and recite them at will, dispensing justice and helping pass judgment. They naturally gained reputations. Finn had never heard of Oslaf. “Where is Elrik?”

  Oslaf frowned. Being questioned was wearing thin his sociable demeanor. “Elrik was delayed. Ragnar recommended me as a replacement.”

  “He is Lawspeaker to my clan,” Ragnar confirmed. “When Elrik didn't join our party as expected, I offered his services to your brother.”

  Finn accepted the explanation, but he wasn't anxious to pull Disa out from behind him. The man unnerved her. She'd nearly tumbled into his chest, and he'd tucked her away to save her pride and assuage his suspicions, but as long as her fist was gripping the back of his tunic as it was now, he wasn't going to move.

  “Brother!” Rurik called as he entered the hall from the small door in the back. “Or brothers, perhaps?” he grinned at Roe. “For we’re nearly brothers, yes? Have I missed introductions?”

  Disa peeked through the small space between Finn’s arm and body and felt a surge of selfish relief. Rurik stood before them, smiling boyishly and completely at ease. He wasn't quite how she'd pictured him but not in an unpleasant way. He was shorter and slighter than his
brother, fit but not bulging. A fine sword sat at his narrow hips and his hair was clean and short where Finn's was long and sun bleached. His jaw boasted a few days growth of beard, but it was the only unruly thing about him. He was nothing short of beautiful.

  Finn felt Disa’s hand fall, her knuckles no longer bunching fabric and pressing into his back, the lack of sensation feeling suddenly odd. He immediately stepped aside. “Rurik, this is--”

  “Elydis,” he breathed, his eyes wide and brows raised.

  Finn frowned. His brother's astonished expression was a little much. Finn had to admit she made quite the sight with her hair shining and her eyes reflecting the perfect blue of her outfit as it hugged her waist and hips to accentuate her figure, but the open appreciation didn't sit quite right. Maybe it was because Finn knew she'd rather have her hair knotted out of her face and that the only reason the dress fit so snugly was probably because she hadn't worn it since it was made. Although he supposed it was better she be ogled by her future husband than the handful of strangers that had greeted them.

  “Disa,” she corrected automatically. She preferred the nickname somewhat irrationally and her brother smiled at her lack of self-control. She had been determined to be ladylike, and failing that, she was hoping to avoid embarrassment. The night was not a success so far.

  Rurik didn't seem to notice the rudeness or at least didn't care. He took her hand and pulled her forward, kissing her knuckles. “It's good to meet you at last.” Disa smiled easily at the gesture. “Come, let's sit and eat and talk about nothing,” he said to the room at large, keeping Disa’s hand in his as he pulled her towards the large wooden table set in the center of the room. “People do insist on talking to me today and I don't think I can stand much more substantive discussion.”

  Rurik placed himself at the head of the gathering in a large, ornate chair. The arms were covered with carvings of different runes and small vignettes of animals and hunters that disappeared under the furs draped lavishly over the seat and back. It was lovely, though Disa had to wonder at the practicality of hauling such a large piece from home for a handful of days abroad. Rurik saw her seated next to him and insisted Roe sit on his other side in the place normally occupied by Finn, who waved off Roe’s protests and instead seated himself on Disa’s other side, separating her from Oslaf. Ragnar sat at the other end, across from Rurik, and his brother Agnar on his left, leaving Abi in the middle. Disa thought it was rude of the girl’s husband, but she didn't seem to care at all. In fact, she was one yawn short of declaring how bored she was with them all.

  “Where is Elrik?” Finn asked as soon as everyone was seated.

  “This sounds nothing like nothing,” Rurik groaned.

  Finn ignored the admonishment with ease. His brother never could be persuaded to be serious when he was set against it. Come to think of it, Finn could never be persuaded to be at ease when it wasn't in his nature. “It's unusual for him to not send word.”

  His brother looked at him in exasperation for a few moments before deciding to answer. “Rumor has it he lost his temper with an elder’s son in Holmlond. He's been delayed. Indefinitely,” he added when it looked like Finn wished to continue.

  “Over a woman, I hear,” Oslaf piped in.

  “Now that is nonsense!” Rurik laughed jovially. “I’m sure Elrik couldn’t identify a woman unless she was carved upon the shield of an enemy and even then only to admire the work. Agnar, tell us some naughty tale from the far south. I hear you're all heathens with more than a few of those Christian monks determined to prove it to you.”

  Disa found herself relaxing as the hours passed. They were indeed waited upon as Finn had predicted--a beautiful young girl with olive skin draped in yellow silks, and brown curling hair that fell below her waist. She didn't look like a Thrall, but Agnar declared proudly that she belonged to him. Disa’s eyes briefly met Roe’s before they both looked down at their plates. Being served was making Disa's skin crawl, and she tried to thank the girl with every pass until Agnar frowned at her and declared she was mute so why waste her breath.

  Rurik gave him a disapproving look and waved away the girl as he leaned forward to pour Disa’s mead himself and engage her in conversation. “Ignore him. He's very southern.”

  “Anyone below our village is very southern,” Disa smiled. “Yourself included.”

  Rurik threw back his head and laughed, his tanned throat making her stomach flip flop.

  “Indeed,” Rurik grinned. “That's why I'll have only you. No doubt you'll have me northern by week’s end.” His foot bumped against hers and she flip flopped again.

  Finn was seriously considering leaving the table. He didn't think anyone would notice. His brother’s friends were drunk, Roe had managed to trick the perpetually frowning Abi into conversation, and Rurik and Disa only had eyes for each other. He wasn't needed here.

  He stayed anyway, chewing on his dried mutton without really tasting it. He was glad to see Disa more comfortable. Grim and Roe treated her like their sexless sibling, but she was more than that. A blind man could see it. He felt annoyed again thinking of their walk over. He'd had to catch her twice to save her from falling she was so distracted, his hand hovering unseen just behind her waist the rest of the way, and then again when Oslaf had approached. Finn glanced at the man who he had disliked instantly. His opinion could be tainted by Disa’s discomfort, but even now, as the reedy man stared listlessly through slitted, glassy eyes, he felt his fingers twitching for a sword.

  “Roe!” Rurik called, not for the first time it would seem.

  “What?”

  “I said where is your friend. What was his name? Grim?”

  Roe glanced at Finn. He probably wanted to avoid the truth but wasn't sure if Finn would allow him to get away with it. Finn saved him the trouble. “He's dining with friends.” He saw Disa suppress a smile.

  “Grim?” Agnar suddenly sat up. “Who? Grim who?” He blinked several times, trying to keep up.

  Roe sighed and stopped Finn with a glance before he could answer for him again. “Grim Frison. Grim Grimson. Grim no one’s son. Take your pick,” Roe said casually as he took another drink of mead.

  “You invited that Thrall to this table!” Agnar spat.

  Roe swirled the liquid in his glass for a few moments. “Grim is a free man with his own lands and his own people.” He was having a hard time keeping his voice even.

  “Stolen lands and more slaves! Stolen too, no doubt!”

  Roe pounded his fist on the table and Disa stood abruptly followed by Finn. “Enough!” she shouted.

  “If any of my property goes missing, I'll have that bastard's head!”

  “She said enough,” Finn said crisply, making Disa jump. She hadn't noticed his nearness.

  “My future wife is right,” Rurik said. “Grim is like a brother to her and therefore he is like a brother to me. I'll hear no more.”

  Agnar’s mouth flapped wordlessly until Ragnar put his hand on his arm. Agnar sat heavily and glared at the lot of them. “He’s drunk, ignore him,” Ragnar said as he gestured to the serving girl to take away the mead with an imperious flick of his wrist. Agnar’s face turned deep red and a forked vein pulsed at his temple, but he said nothing.

  There was a tense silence. Finn waited for Disa to sit but she didn't, her breathing uneven.

  And then Oslaf vomited on the table.

  “I think this night is done,” Ragnar said with disgust as he stood.

  Rurik seemed momentarily annoyed to be commanded at his own table but he recovered quickly. “Yes, I believe it is.” He took Disa’s hand and coaxed her attention back to himself. “Tomorrow is a busy day. I'd like to see you though. Without the mead and other people’s opinions,” he added in a whisper close to her ear, the warm puffs of air sending goosebumps down her neck. Disa nodded her assent. “Until tomorrow then,” he finished. They stared at each other a few moments before Rurik smiled shyly and looked away.

  Roe cleared his throat
and Disa looked up to see him frowning, arms crossed. Finn stood behind him, looking somewhere above their heads.

  Disa stepped away. “Tomorrow then,” Roe acquiesced, guiding Disa through the door.

  Rurik grabbed Finn’s arm before he could follow. “You could have told me,” he hissed.

  “I didn't think you'd invite them on a night like this.”

  “They're my allies.”

  “They're bastards.”

  “Silence,” he bit, his voice low and eyes flashing. Finn fought the urge to retort, his duty to his Jarl outweighing any other desire. “Escort them home, fix this. I'll repair the damage here.” Finn nodded once and ducked into the night.

  With his long strides he overtook the pair quickly, and they walked a short way in silence. “They are not my brother’s friends,” Finn tried.

  “They sat at his table,” Roe retorted quickly.

  “They're the richest men south of the big island. They requested a meeting with my brother.”

  “Then he should have refused!”

  Finn trotted in front of him and blocked his path. “I agree with you.” Finn threw his arms wide. “I agree with you. But Rurik is important. Men like that gravitate towards him. And they have their usefulness.”

  “That may be so…” Roe trailed off as he watched the smoke trails in the distance. “We made this decision too quickly.” Finn knew he should protest, knew he should advocate on his brother’s behalf, but his mind was blank.