As Ylva prepared to return to the castle and organize the welcoming feast, Richard said to her, “I’ll join you this evening in the solar. I want to finish the fortifications along the eastern wall.”
“Of course,Faðir. See you tonight.” She kissed her father’s cheek. “Good day, Lord Falk. Until this evening, at the feast.” Ylva smiled politely and started up the hill with her two maidservants as the Falcon fisted his chest in fealty and bowed before Richard. “Jarl Rikard,” he said, using the Old Norse title of respect for her father. “Á kveldi.Until tonight.”
****
Ylva glanced around the oak table where Björn, several high-ranking knights, Richard’s man Enguerran, and Haldor Falk sat with Gyda, Maeve, and Úlvhild in the castle solar. Outdoors, in the light of the rising moon, Haldor Falk’s men feasted with the knights ofChâteaufortat tables set up under the canopy of beech trees along the castle wall. Here in the private parlor, Ylva and her guests had just finished a sumptuous meal of roast pheasant and grilled salmon, fresh vegetables from the garden, fruits and cheese, with apple tart, fresh cream, and mulled wine fordessert. Now that the welcoming feast was finished, Richard was discussing his plans to visit Paris, fortify the Norman coastline, and prepare for the siege of Fécamp. As he sipped his mulled wine, the spicy scent of cloves wafted in the cool evening breeze.
“TheFoire de Saint-Denisis the annual autumn fair in the heart of Paris that begins on the ninth of October and continues for several weeks. With dozens of merchant ships docking alongla Rive Droite, hundreds of people milling about, buying and selling goods, it will be the perfect opportunity for us to smuggle the boy out of the royal palace and up the Seine River on a Frisian ship.” Richard eyed the intrigued Falcon and leaned back in his carved wooden chair.
Haldor Falk had washed the falcon paint and runes from his bearded face. Without his ominous leather armor and crested coif, he was indeed handsome in a grey tunic edged in dark blue with black linen trousers and a braided leather belt. Around his neck, a thick silver torque etched with Nordic runes glistened in the candlelight. Suspended at the bottom, carved in amber, was the same image of Freyja as a falcon that Ylva had glimpsed in the crest of his leather coif. Haldor’ s velvety voice was deep, rich, and smooth. “You’ll need to obtain the proper documentation and permission to sell wares at the fair.”
“The perfect legitimate excuse to visit my former brother-in-law, Hugh Capet. As the Count of Paris, he’ll be able to provide the necessary licensing, stamps, and approval for us to set up a stall under the guise of selling Frisian wool at the autumn fair. While I finalize the formalities with Hugh in our upcoming visit to Paris, you’ll have the opportunity to fly into the towers of the Royal Palace and discover precisely where Harald’s son is being imprisoned. When you rejoin Hugh and me with this vital information, we’ll formalize a plan to rescue Sweyn during theFoire de Saint-Denis.” Richard raised his silver chalice, which an attendant promptly refilled with more mulled wine. “After next week’s visit with Hugh, you and I will sail back here, equipped with the necessary documents to participate in the fair. So that when Skårde returns from Denmark, you and he will sail the Frisian ship to Paris and implement Hugh’s plan to recuse Sweyn and bring him safely toChâteaufort.”
A somber Richard spoke solemnly to Ylva. “You must keep the boy safe here until after the siege of Fécamp. If we prevail, Skårde can reunite Sweyn with his father. And if we fail, then you must find a way to bring the heir of Denmark and Norway home to Harald.”
Ylva held her father’s resolute gaze. “I promised Skårde that I would. And I give you my word as Lady ofChâteaufortand Countess of thePays de Caux.”
Björn’s blond brows furrowed in concentration and concern. “It will take several days to sail to Paris. And the same for the return voyage. If you and the Falcon depart tomorrow, you won’t be back until mid-September. We need to set up armies to cut off any attempts by the Franks to reinforce Fécamp.”
Richard nodded vigorously as he swallowed a hearty gulp of spiced wine. “The Count of Anjou has allocated one hundred knights and three hundred foot soldiers, which we will position to the east. My cousin Adelaide—who just happens to be the wife of Hugh Capet, the Count of Paris we plan to visit next week—” Richard flashed a sly grin at Haldor Falk, “—is the daughter of the powerful Duke of Aquitaine, William Towhead, who has assigned two hundred knights and five hundred men-at-arms to fortify our position south of Fécamp.” Her father’s warrior eyes blazed with brilliant blue fire. “And my longtime ally Conan I, the Duke of Brittany, has committed not only one hundred knights and five hundred foot soldiers, but two trebuchets, three siege towers, and a battering ram. They are being disassembled and transported by land as we speak. I expect his men to arrive in three weeks.”
“William Towhead’s army will take a month to arrive from Aquitaine. Possibly five or six weeks. We should position some of our own men to the south until his reinforcements arrive.” Björn tugged on his long blond beard, contemplating military strategy.
“Agreed. You and Enguerran will coordinate with Geoffroy’s men—setting up tents, distributing weapons and supplies. I have mobilized garrisons of knights from both Rouen and Bayeux. I’ve also summoned soldiers and equipment from Caen, and sent for skilled craftsmen to reconstruct the siege towers and trebuchets. Once Haldor and I return fromParis, we’ll join you in preparing for the attack. Which take place after theFoire de Saint-Denis, once Skårde and the Falcon have freed the boy.” Richard turned to Ylva. “They will bring him here to you, then join me in attacking Fécamp. Björn and the knights ofChåteaufortwill remain here to defend you here during the siege until—Odin willing—victory is ours.”
“Tomorrow, when you and Haldor set sail for Paris, we priestesses will chant avardlokkurto bless your voyage and safe return.” Úlvhild smiled at Ylva and Maeve, sitting beside her at the table, as she addressed Richard. “During your absence—while the knights prepare with military strategy for the upcoming siege—we will imbue charms, bones, and gems withgaldrmagic, so that your army will have protective talismans to shield them during battle.” Úlvhild’s golden eyes glowed like her cat Kól’s as she cast a contented feline smile atHaldor Falk. “Thank you for answering my summons. I am grateful you heeded my call.”
Haldor inclined his head in unspoken response, his penetrating gaze feral and fierce. A crackling current sizzled between thevitkiand thevölva,igniting Ylva’s curiosity.
Were Úlvhild and the Falcon once lovers? Perhaps that’s how she was able to reach him. Through the magic shared between them.
Richard leaned forward to address Haldor. “We’ll depart tomorrow morning with a crew of twenty. Ten knights from my personal guard will also join us, with their armor and weapons concealed under cloaks.” His shrewd eyes shone above his blond braided beard. “We’ll sail one of the two Frisian shipping vessels that Skårde seized in a raid on the Frankish port of Dorestad. I commissioned a new banner for the ship—and a ram’s head carved from yew for the prow. Disguised as wool shipping merchants, sailing a Frisian knarr trading vessel, we won’t attract any unwanted attention from King Lothaire’s spies when sail up the Seine into Paris.” Richard raised his arms overhead and stretched out his back, stifling a yawn. With ducal grandeur, he swept back his red velvet robe and arose from the table, signaling an end to the evening. His men stood in unison as a sign of respect. “For those who wish to join the revelry, there is music, mead, and dancing around the bonfire in the courtyard. I plan to retire for the evening, for we sail at first light.” He firmlyshook Haldor’s hand. “Again, I bid you welcome and thank you for coming to our aid.” Richard cast his regal gaze at the valiant Vikings gathered around the table. “Goodnight, men. Until tomorrow.”
As the knights and Viking warriors filed out of the private solar, Ylva spoke to Úlvhild and Maeve, who were spending the night at the castle. “Goodnight. I’ll see you both in the morning.” She kissed their cheeks, and Richard—who had dismissed the men and now stood at Ylva’s side—bowed his head gallantly to the two weary priestesses.
“Bonne nuit, mesdames,”he murmured as Úlvhild and Maevefollowed servants down the hall to the guest quarters they shared.
While Dagny waited patiently to usher Gyda to bed, Ylva kissed the old woman’s soft, wrinkled cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
Richard kissed Gyda’s cheek as well, smiling as Skårde’s grandmother left the solar with her faithful servant. He turned to Ylva, admiration shining in his paternal eyes. “You make me proud, Ylva. You’re a gifted Celtic healer, like your mother. You’re a Nordic priestess, withgaldrandLjósálfarmagic. You ruleChâteaufortand thePays de Cauxlike a glorious Viking queen.” He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “Bonne nuit, ma fille. Je t’aime.” Smiling softly, he watched as Norhild and Eydis escorted an emotional Ylva from the solar.
Her attendants unplaited her hair, dressed her in a soft chemise, and helped her into the empty bed where she yearned every night for Skårde.
Throat constricted with a blend of longing, loss, and love, Ylva gazed at the opalescent moon through her open window and smiled through her tears.
For the first time in ten long, lonely years, her father had said that he loved her.
Chapter 29
A Cleansing Catharsis
Ylva, Maeve, and Úlvhild chanted avardlokkuron the grassy riverbank in front of the castle ofChâteaufort.Thevölvarhythmically thumped her staff on the ground as the trio of melodic voices wafted on the wind that whipped the blue square sail of the outgoing ship. Surrounded by servants, knights, and Viking warriors who had come to see Richard, Haldor Falk, and the crew ofRan’s Ramdepart from the dock, the three priestesses summoned the protective spirits and sought the blessing of the Nordic gods as the Frisian vessel headed west to the seaport of Le Havre to sail up the Seine River and onward to Paris.
The divine musical invocation continued until the ship disappeared on the horizon.
Björn, the knights ofChâteaufort,and the Danish Viking warriors who had come to Normandy with Skårde returned to the port, reinforcing the defensive ramparts along the harbor.
Enguerran—Richard’s man from Rouen—rode west toward Fécamp with a bevy of knights to meet the reinforcements from Bayeux, Caen, and Rouen and coordinate with the army sent by the Count of Anjou.
