These words were harder to convey, butCai did his best, blushing with pleasure at the sound of them.“Fenrir forbids the Torleik to harm me.I am his… More than hisbrother.So they won’t harm my tribe either.Not even you, oldman.”
“Caius, you whelp.Is thatViking on my bloody horse?”
“No.On mine, since yougave her to me.She’s called Eldra now.”Cai stopped, distracted bya rumble of hooves and wheels.Sigurd had finally broken rank.“Fen, is he frightened of Gleipnir?Take it back.”
“No.I have to make himfrightened of me—it’s long past time.”Fen waited.He manoeuvredEldra so that she stood fearlessly between Sigurd’s oncomingchariot and Cai, and as Sigurd tried to rush past him, seized hisrein.A sound of disbelief rose from thevikingrtroops, and Cai understood that this wasFen’s challenge—a head-on contest for leadership, one warlord toanother.“Sigurd, I have given Gleipnir to this man, to do with ashe wishes.He is worthy.”
“Worthy?You have given ourpower to him, you traitor.”
“This poor strip ofleather?You believe that?”
Sigurd’s face suffused withrage.He tried to jerk the rein free, but Fen held fast.“Of coursenot.Buttheyall do, and so I can command them.”
“Not anymore.I give myallegiance to the Britons, and they aren’t easy prey, not now.There will be resistance…” Fen paused, glancing in amusement atBroc’s army.Some looked like fierce Roman soldiers.Others werebrandishing pitchforks.“As you’ll find out, if you start a fight.Go back and tell them that.Now.”
Cai braced.Sigurd’s browlowered until he looked ready to spit thunderbolts.Fen was goingto lose this standoff, surely.Cai would live with the results.Hewrapped Gleipnir round his wrist and reached for his sword.Itwouldn’t be a bad end, to vanish fighting underneath a waveofvikingrwrath.To drown there with Fen by his side.
“Traitor,” Sigurd repeated,but his voice rasped on it.He shook his rein again, and this timeFen let him go.Cai watched in disbelief as he pulled his horsesround and began to retreat.
Fen brought Eldra snorting andprancing to Clover’s side.“Holy gods almighty,” he declared,swallowing audibly.“I never thought that would work.”
“Younever did…”
“Oh, Cai.Listen to me, please.”He laid a hand on Cai’s arm, and Cai put his own hand on top, heatrushing through him at the touch.“When I left you… I promise you,beloved, I thought I could help my people.I thought Ihadto.For nothing lesswould I have…”
He faltered.Cai squeezed his fingers.“I know.”
“But when I got there,Sigurd wasn’t in exile.He’d come back, and he was rousing aninvasion force to come here and ravage this country for everythingwe need at home.I tried to stop him.I told him the only way tomend things was to mend our land.But winter is coming.The Torleikare starving.”
“And he wouldn’t listen toyou.”
“No.When he knew I hadGleipnir, he put all his faith in it and set out here.So all Icould do was ride with him, then take my chance once I got here.I’ve backed him down in front of his men now, and given youGleipnir.”
“What happensnow?”
“He’ll obey me.And you, ifyou’re strong enough.”
“What do you want me todo?”
“Speak to them—my men andyours.”
Cai nodded.Fen was so close that hecould catch his longed-for scent in the air.He would have doneanything.“I will.What else?”
“What else?”
“Something more you want toask me, love.I can see it in your eyes.”
Fen shivered.“Breath wasn’t worthdrawing for me once I’d left you behind.I want your forgiveness.To stand once again at your side.”
“Yes.Always.Go back toSigurd now, though.”
“Oh, gods.Why?”
Cai raised the hand he held.Hepressed its knuckles to his lips, in full view of Broc’s warrior’sand Sigurd’s.“Because if I’m going to speak to him, you’ll have totranslate forme.”
Caius held the sacred relichigh.It was like a powerful wave, he thought, rushing up a wide,lonely shore.Thevikingrwarriors shifted like kelp in the currents, leaning towardsit yearningly, shrinking back when the wind made it swing roundtowards them.Only Fen sat proud and still.He had taken up a placeby Sigurd’s chariot.The warlord was waiting.He looked tired, asif some vital essence had passed out of him.Off to Cai’s left,Broc was waiting too.It was time.
Cai rode Clover slowly into themiddle of the sun-blown turf.When he moved, he felt invisibleshapes move with him in the wind, keeping close to him, casting noshadows.Leof,he thought, for the first time with no pain.Theo—now I know howthe treasure of Fara can bring peace.
