Katrin shook her head. "I do not. I see no proof that I am more gifted or revered than the others."
Gunilla slammed her hand onto the table, drawing the attention of not only those nearby, but Hradi and his father and brother as well. "I see it! I know you have been chosen and your path must be to abide the gods' plans for you."
Katrin stood. She desperately longed to look at Hradi, somehow wanting his reassurance. But she didn't need it. She kept her focus on the older woman.
"So says you. Until recently, I have never questioned you. And I thank you for all you have done for me for my entire life. I… thank you for saving me as my real mother asked. And while I know I still owe you the remainder of this season of servitude, I will find a way to be free in a way that you will not be left unprepared."
"I will pay for Katrin's release from her dependence on you!"
Hradi's words rang through the hall. A moment later, outbursts of protests and agreement erupted. Katrin turned. Hradi stood tall, his hands curled into fists at his sides. His brother and father flanked him, showing their support.
Her heart felt as if it might explode. She met his gaze. The affection and trust she found there assured her she was safe and free from any retaliation Gunilla might make.
"You would dare interfere in our partnership?" Gunilla asked, her eyes wide and angry.
Katrin held up a hand to stop the woman from protesting further. She addressed Hradi.
"That is not necessary, though I thank you for your willingness to help me. I must remain with Gunilla, for at least the rest of the season. I will fulfill the oath made when I came into her care."
Hradi grinned and nodded. "Very well. But if you –"
"I will honor our agreement as well and I expect you to do the same."
"He will," Thorfinn assured her. "Gunilla remains as my guest."
"Thank you." Katrin's heart raced with excitement. With each time she challenged Gunilla and Hradi, she felt more powerful, more mature. The sense she grew stronger than her mentor accompanied the surety her gift would grow stronger as well. "Gunilla and I must meet now. I will return here when we are finished."
She caught the smug smile Gunilla sent in Hradi's direction.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Despite the silence between them when they returned to the longhouse, Katrin knew Gunilla was not pleased with what had been shared. Clearly, the jarl and his sons already distrusted her mistress. Katrin warned Gunilla to take care and not be so hostile to their hosts, but the older woman refused to see that she was behaving badly.
Katrin sighed. She might not be able to change Gunilla's fate, but perhaps she could protect some of the younger girls in the retinue. They had done nothing but blindly followed the older witch's orders, oblivious to the dangerous games played, games that even now, Katrin still barely understood. Gunilla was unwilling to allow any of the girls to choose husbands, the only way Katrin knew to save them.
She opened the doors to the hall and the murmur of questioning voices briefly grew louder before fading once more, and the celebration paused. Aware that everyone stared, she forced her gaze to remain locked with Hradi's, the knot in her stomach easing when he beckoned her to the head of the long main table, before the dais where Jarl Thorfinn was, as usual, seated on his throne. The jarl stood, his eyes serious and probing, a hint of a scowl lining his face.
"You say you can indeed see the future. It is time for you to prove that to us all. Tell me what fate the gods have planned for me."
The buzz of excitement grew louder and the villagers' questions bounced around the room. Katrin knew that while they feared risking the wrath of the gods by daring to learn their fates, they also wanted to know what was to become of them, and their families.
Though she had done this many times in the past, for the first time, she dreaded what she might see. This was the first villagewhere she had been able to interact with anyone away from Gunilla's constant presence. Sharing news of any deaths would be harder than any other futures she had ever seen.
She gave the jarl a respectful nod. "I will tell you what I can. Sometimes I see visions clearer with some people than others. I make no promises that what the gods allow me to see is what they truly intend."
A strange smile curled the older man's mouth. "Already you are denying your visions are real?"
"Not at all." Katrin lifted her chin. "But surely you know the gods toy with me as much as they do you, and everyone else. Sometimes, they let me see just a tiny moment, and it is not enough to understand. But perhaps you will understand it better than I."
The jarl grinned and the knot loosened further. Her fingers firm on her wand, she pointed it toward the table. Thorfinn urged the onlookers to silence before taking a seat on one of the benches. Katrin lowered herself to sit beside him, her wand pointed upward and ready.
"Give me your hand." She held out hers. The jarl complied. Katrin closed her eyes and took a moment to clear her mind. She murmured a prayer to the gods to allow her to receive their messages. Almost immediately, the familiar tingle began in her fingers gripping the wand and she allowed the exhilarating magic to spread through her. She opened her eyes and stared deep into Thorfinn's dark gaze, so like his son's, yet so different.
After several moments, with the magic pulsing in her veins, an image slowly came into view. She saw the jarl seated on his throne, much as he had been moments ago, surrounded by several small children. His grandchildren? The sight brought a smile. These were the types of visions she preferred. Not only were they pleasant, they didn't drain her as much as most of the others. Calm took over, allowing her to absorb the sight of Thorfinn ruffling the hair of one young boy, while hugging a girl child seated on his lap.
The sight dimmed and disappeared. An instant later, the familiar haze of premonition once more took hold and another image usurped the previous. She closed her eyes and let the vision take hold.
A celebration in the hall came into her mind's view. Thorfinn raised a flagon and gave thanks to the gods, accompanied by cheers, much like the feast of yesterday morn. This was different, though very near in the future. Katrin inhaled deeply, the vision growing sharper and revealing that Gunilla and her retinue sat near the jarl. The woman appeared to be watching Thorfinn much like a cat would eye the mouse caught in its paws, with eager malice. Again, Thorfinn proclaimed something which drew shouts and laughter, though Katrin could not hear his words. Clearly this vision would soon come to pass. She barely had time to wonder how soon when the image faded away. The surge of warmth from her powers grew stronger, heralding another vision. Something was different this time.
