would talk with your daughter and her women. I am sure that we have much to learn from each other."
My daughter looked as excited about the prospect as Angharad. "It would be good, father, for me to learn from another volva. As High Priestess this lady will know magic which can help our people. Mother died before she could teach me all of her skills."
I could not see how it would hurt us and so I stood, "Then you are welcome to stay but I should warn you that soon the weather will change and this land becomes cold and hostile. Unless you wish to stay the winter you had best keep an eye on Olaf and the skies."
My daughter scowled, "Father! That is not polite. It sounds as though you are telling our guest to leave."
I kissed my daughter on the forehead, "No, my daughter, I am being practical. Our guests need to know what our weather is like. This is not On Corn Walum. The weather here, as you know, can change in the blink of an eye."
Angharad nodded too, "Your father is right although we did know about your climate." She closed her eyes, "The weather will not change for another half moon. We have time for us to get to know each other."
My daughter looked excited, "You can detect the weather too?"
"Yes, my child. I can teach you. Come we have much to share and may skills to discover."
My son escorted me out to our horses. "She seems harmless enough, father; what troubles you?"
"I do not know but we have rarely had visitors who brought us good fortune." I shrugged, "Kara seems happy enough and she has the spirits to guide her." I pointed to the warrior hall. "Watch those bodyguards though. Ask my Ulfheonar to keep an eye on them too. I like them not. They look to have dark hearts."
Aiden was pensive as we rode east. He had been silent since we had met our guests. I reined in my horse and asked, "What troubles you?"
"I do not know. I felt danger when I saw the party approaching our land but when I met the priestess the feeling was gone."
"Surely that is a good thing."
"No for why did I have the sense of danger?"
"When, exactly, did the feeling disappear?"
He looked at me and said, "When the High Priestess spied us riding into the settlement."
We continued our journey home in silence. We were both deep in our own thoughts. Once back in my hall I cleaned my sword and hung it from my bed. I know not why but I took out the sword of the Warlord which I had found in a cave in Cymru. For some reason it seemed to call to me. I held it in my hand. It was too old to be risked in combat but it was a fine weapon and I enjoyed holding it. The balance, still, was perfect. Normally holding the weapon made me feel better but not so this time. I replaced it in its chest and retired.
I spent a restless night worrying about our visitors. When I had no dream and I awoke I felt slightly better. My wife oft times visited me from the spirit world when there was danger. She had not come that night. I wondered if I was imagining things.
As events turned out I had little to do with our visitors. The women were kept closeted with Kara and her women. Cynan and his men went hunting with my Ulfheonar and explored the land around the Water. Haaken One Eye and Cnut came one night to my hall to talk about them. Aiden sat and listened. He always did that well.
"They are dour men, these warriors from On Corn Walum."
"I would say miserable!"
"That is because you are always joking, Haaken and they do not understand either your jokes or your words. How can they laugh? They have more in common with the Welsh than with us. They are moody. They are good hunters and I would fight with them in a shield wall." Cnut was always honest.
"They are similar to the Welsh, Cnut, for they come from the same blood. They are the last of the old people of this island. I have their blood in my veins too. Am I miserable?"
Haaken shrugged, "I am just saying that they are not like us."
I poured them some ale. Kara's women had brought a new barrel to me across the
My daughter looked as excited about the prospect as Angharad. "It would be good, father, for me to learn from another volva. As High Priestess this lady will know magic which can help our people. Mother died before she could teach me all of her skills."
I could not see how it would hurt us and so I stood, "Then you are welcome to stay but I should warn you that soon the weather will change and this land becomes cold and hostile. Unless you wish to stay the winter you had best keep an eye on Olaf and the skies."
My daughter scowled, "Father! That is not polite. It sounds as though you are telling our guest to leave."
I kissed my daughter on the forehead, "No, my daughter, I am being practical. Our guests need to know what our weather is like. This is not On Corn Walum. The weather here, as you know, can change in the blink of an eye."
Angharad nodded too, "Your father is right although we did know about your climate." She closed her eyes, "The weather will not change for another half moon. We have time for us to get to know each other."
My daughter looked excited, "You can detect the weather too?"
"Yes, my child. I can teach you. Come we have much to share and may skills to discover."
My son escorted me out to our horses. "She seems harmless enough, father; what troubles you?"
"I do not know but we have rarely had visitors who brought us good fortune." I shrugged, "Kara seems happy enough and she has the spirits to guide her." I pointed to the warrior hall. "Watch those bodyguards though. Ask my Ulfheonar to keep an eye on them too. I like them not. They look to have dark hearts."
Aiden was pensive as we rode east. He had been silent since we had met our guests. I reined in my horse and asked, "What troubles you?"
"I do not know. I felt danger when I saw the party approaching our land but when I met the priestess the feeling was gone."
"Surely that is a good thing."
"No for why did I have the sense of danger?"
"When, exactly, did the feeling disappear?"
He looked at me and said, "When the High Priestess spied us riding into the settlement."
We continued our journey home in silence. We were both deep in our own thoughts. Once back in my hall I cleaned my sword and hung it from my bed. I know not why but I took out the sword of the Warlord which I had found in a cave in Cymru. For some reason it seemed to call to me. I held it in my hand. It was too old to be risked in combat but it was a fine weapon and I enjoyed holding it. The balance, still, was perfect. Normally holding the weapon made me feel better but not so this time. I replaced it in its chest and retired.
I spent a restless night worrying about our visitors. When I had no dream and I awoke I felt slightly better. My wife oft times visited me from the spirit world when there was danger. She had not come that night. I wondered if I was imagining things.
As events turned out I had little to do with our visitors. The women were kept closeted with Kara and her women. Cynan and his men went hunting with my Ulfheonar and explored the land around the Water. Haaken One Eye and Cnut came one night to my hall to talk about them. Aiden sat and listened. He always did that well.
"They are dour men, these warriors from On Corn Walum."
"I would say miserable!"
"That is because you are always joking, Haaken and they do not understand either your jokes or your words. How can they laugh? They have more in common with the Welsh than with us. They are moody. They are good hunters and I would fight with them in a shield wall." Cnut was always honest.
"They are similar to the Welsh, Cnut, for they come from the same blood. They are the last of the old people of this island. I have their blood in my veins too. Am I miserable?"
Haaken shrugged, "I am just saying that they are not like us."
I poured them some ale. Kara's women had brought a new barrel to me across the
Similar Books
The Would-Begetter
Maggie Makepeace
Noah
Kelli Ann Morgan
One Wild Vegas Night
SJ Thomas
Bob Skiinner 21 Grievous Angel
Quintin Jardine
Saving Persephone (The Haberdashers Book 4)
Sue London
Stealing the Bride
Mary Wine
Golden State
Stephanie Kegan
Angle of Attack
Rex Burns
