‘I didn’t know. I have only just returned from felling one of the trees for firewood. Oddmund instructed me to do so.’
‘I am sure he did!’ snapped Agnar. ‘Which direction did they head?’
‘That way!’ pointed the man and, with one nod from Agnar, the men began gathering their weapons. But Agnar didn’t want to wait and he strode towards the forest. Skadi came running out of the hall, looking more terrified than before.
‘She’s not in the hall! We looked everywhere!’
‘Oddmund has taken her.’
‘No!’ She shook her head, but at this point her denial was weak and full of torment. As if speaking to herself, she whispered, ‘Why am I always such a trusting fool?’
‘I will find her,’ he declared, turning to the rest of the people gathered around. ‘Split into five groups. One is to remain behind and keep the fire burning, prepare food and medicine just in case. The remaining four groups are to sweep out in a line. No path, tree or rock is to go unchecked. But move quickly, and take torches. The sun is beginning to set.’
He strode forward, snatching a torch that had been lit outside the lodge’s doorway. ‘If Oddmund went this way, then I will follow. Vali, I need you and two others to come with me.’ Agnar took a sword and shield from Vali and his hand went to the old axe hanging off his belt, patting it for luck and reassurance as he moved out of the clearing.
The rest of his men were tripping over themselves to organise their parties. His parting comment was to shout, ‘I want my heir safely returned. If Oddmund has taken her by force, then kill him. But Princess Astramustlive!’
Skadi grabbed a sword and shield from a nearby warrior and ran to catch up with him. He didn’t deny her, he couldn’t deny her anything—besides, she was a good shieldmaiden and Astra’s mother. The only thing that worried him was that she would put herself in danger to protect her child.
He was made aware of the other person to join their team when Vali hissed, ‘Go back, Brenna! There’s nothing you can do!’
‘I’m coming!’ she replied firmly.
Vali cursed, but managed to call over Leif to join them, before they made their way through the trees a few feet away from each other in a fan. Winter meant there was little undergrowth and plenty of rotting leaves, so progress was quick, although the weather seemed to be against them. The snow fell heavier, darkening the sky and whipping through the trees with an icy chill. It felt like a bad omen and when he glanced towards Skadi, he could tell by her expression that she was broken with fear.
He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, swearing to himself and the gods that he would return Astra to her, or he would die trying.
* * *
Skadi’s mind was racing with a flurry of a thousand fears, each one striking her like shattered glass. She couldn’t stop imagining the very worst possibilities. Several times she had to breathe deeply to stop her mind spiralling into chaos.
We will find her.
She pledged the same words over and over, focusing on the ground and every step. Her eyes sweeping back and forth, not realising for a moment why she did so, then saying to the others, ‘Astra is clever! She knows about animal tracks and hunting. She will also try to struggle, look for areas of disturbance…’ But the snow was falling steadily and whatever tracks there might have been were being smothered with each moment that passed.
Nobody dared point that out to her, though, and diligently they also scanned the ground as they moved.
They arrived at the clearing around the mine and a chilling dread washed through Skadi. She’d sent the miners home for the winter, which meant three possibilities. Oddmund had taken her into the mine, or he’d used the dangerously steep miners’ path down the mountain… He could even have taken her onwards into the forest—although that seemed unlikely, all that would await him there were the cliffs.
Agnar seemed to be wondering the same because he walked around the miners’ camp, glancing into the hut and then walking back out again. ‘Is there any way out of the mines—other than this entrance?’
Skadi shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think so…’ She was beginning to doubt everything… Oddmund, Agnar…her own mind.
‘And what lies beyond here?’
‘More forest and then the cliffs. There’s no way down that way, at least not until further down on the second ridge.’
Brenna gave a shout. ‘Look! I think these are Astra’s beads!’
They ran to Brenna, who stood by the pulley system that helped take the ore carts up and down the mountain. A bell was attached to the top and, when the rope was pulled, it would ring to tell the miners that an empty cart needed to be brought up. Draped across the top of the pulley was a broken string of beads, the kind Astra wore between her turtle brooches.
‘It’s hers,’ said Skadi, grabbing the beads and clenching them tightly before tucking them into a pocket of her cloak. ‘He must have taken her down this path.’
* * *
Grabbing hold of the rope, Skadi began to climb down the mountain with a speed that Agnar found terrifying. ‘Slow down, Skadi!’ he barked, running down behind her, the rope burning beneath his hand as he tried to keep up with her. ‘We don’t know for certain that she went this way!’
‘Then go another way if you think it’s better!’ she hissed back, ignoring his warning.
