Or did it? She couldn’t be sure and though she’d vowed earlier to give him her innocence, that the risks were no longer as great as before made that vow seem suddenly weak and worthless. While she had much to question the gods about, this one fact seemed suddenly the most important. The chance to do so seemed impossible, at least for the moment, for she suspected it would bequite some time before Hradi and her brothers let her out of their sight.
The sound of the jarl in the great hall, calling for his sons ended any further discussion. Hradi looked at her and held out a hand. Aware that her brothers all watched intently, she laid her fingers in his palm and accompanied him to the hall, her brothers following closely.
She held back a bittersweet giggle. She had brothers. A family. A clan of her own. Somewhere she truly belonged. One of her childhood wishes had been granted, but with it came a startling realization.
She had felt a part of Hradi's clan as well these last days, had begun to entertain the notion that she may have found a home, despite her eagerness to embark on her own journey. Now she had too many places where she belonged and a still-strong desire to take the journey she'd anticipated for years.
How would she decide which path to take? The decision would have to wait.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Katrin took a seat beside Hradi, grateful he still twined his fingers with hers. It was the only thing calming the shake of her hands. Her gaze moved over the crowd gathered in the square. Finally, her stare settled on the three men standing in the very first row. Her brothers. She hadn’t even known until a day ago that they existed; to learn they lived still left her breathless with excitement, eagerly looking forward to learning more of her family. The anger at so many stolen years rose up again, but she forced it back. She couldn’t change the past, but she intended to make the coming days happy.
She glanced at Hradi and the familiar heat in his eyes jolted through her. Memories of the night before flashed, sparking a different sense of anticipation. She allowed herself a moment's indulgence and smiled, winking to show him she shared his recollections. And looked forward to repeating them. A squeeze of her fingers against his, accompanied by a deep breath, soon had her focus returning to what lay immediately ahead. At least she had not been asked to implore the gods for their blessings. While she had no doubt Odin, Thor and the others condoned the sentence about to be carried out, she wanted no part in deciding upon justice. She was merely a vessel to share the gods' wishes, not interpret or declare them as her own.
Jarl Thorfinn strode from the longhouse to the dais set with his throne, flanked by his sons. He stood before the elaborate seat and faced the crowd.
"We have been betrayed, as have others. The criminal responsible for these terrible crimes will now pay the price for her treachery." He turned to toward Katrin. "You have been harmed the most. You are aware of the judgment passed yesterday. Do you agree with the sentence?"
She hesitated. Holding someone else’s life in her hands left her feeling oddly uneasy. This was far different than sharing visions of someone’s future. She held no responsibility other than to reveal what she had seen. Now…
Now, she let her earlier suppressed anger off its leash, letting the fury course within her. This was right and just. She had seen the visions and knew this was indeed what the gods wanted. She lifted her chin.
"I agree," she said, her voice loud and steady.
The jarl smiled, a hint of bloodthirst in his expression. She realized she shared the sentiment. Catching Hradi’s gaze, she squeezed his hand.
"Are you sure you can watch?" he asked.
"I’ve already seen it."
He stared at her. "You had visions of this day?"
Katrin nodded. "I didn’t understand why until yesterday, and truthfully, I was not even sure they would come to pass. So I kept them to myself."
She avoided his knowing gaze. Her visions had always come to pass, and she had proven that several times over in the last ofSól's journeys.
"I am sorry you must endure this."
"Don’t worry for me. I am finally free. And the other girls are safe. The only regrets I have are because of what she did to me. We will have our justice and I can… move on."
"You are not going anywhere."
"We will not discuss this now." She met his stare steadily, daring him to refute her. Instead, he gave a half-smile and turned to face the crowd again.
Shouts and cheers rose up within the throng, many curses and jeers directed at the woman being led by two powerful warriors to stand before the jarl. Hands tied between her back, her long silvery hair knotted atop her head, Gunilla looked suddenly tiny and frail.For several moments, she kept her head down, until the jarl spoke once more.
"Gunilla, you have betrayed our clan and tried to destroy us. You are responsible for the deaths of Katrin’s mother and father, as well as the kidnapping of Katrin. You have been deemed guilty by the gods, as well as I, and Katrin and her family. You will pay for your crimes with your life."
"No!" Gunilla screamed and swayed and might have collapsed if the warriors beside her hadn’t held her up. She turned to Katrin. "Please! You must save me! I loved you, raised you as my own!"
Katrin narrowed her eyes, burning with rage. She stood, never relinquishing Hradi's hand. His touch gave her the strength she needed. When he stood behind her in solidarity, courage flooded her veins.
"You stole me! Killed my mother and father! You lied, you used me. My powers! And you harmed countless others with your treachery. You have sealed your fate. No one can save you now."
Jarl Thorfinn motioned with his hand and the two warriors dragged Gunilla, fighting against their hold and screaming curses, to the wooden block set right before the jarl’s throne. The older Seeress resisted being pushed to the ground until one of the men grabbed her bound arms and yanked them up hard. A painful shriek followed and Gunilla fell to her knees. A moment later she was bent over the block, her head hanging over the far edge. Another signal from the jarl and a burly man stepped forward, a large pole-axe in hand.
Katrin sucked in a breath, the roar in her ears muffling the shouts and encouragement from the crowd. Hradi leaned in close.
