“Aye, you know I did. I admit, I thought you mad to consider asking a Viking for anything.”
“At least you are a big enough man to admit when you’re wrong.”
“I was very wrong. There is much about these people I admire.”
“Mayhap one in particular?”
Osgar smiled. “Mayhap. And what about you? Are you prepared to ask for the shield-maiden’s hand?”
“It would do me no good. She has said she will refuse to come to my home with me.”
“And so you will walk away from her? That’s not like you Giric. You either realize you do not want her, or you are formulating another plan. You have never given up on anything you wanted until you held it in your grasp.”
“I have to make a decision soon. Gunnar said he will engage in alliance talks with us today. We need to be clear about what we are willing to commit. We came here thinking it might be a fruitless endeavour and we’d be fortunate to return home with our lives. I had no idea we would be so welcome. It is a good exercise for me to consider my own self in the negotiations for it was wrong of me to have ever considered pushing someone else in my family to do something if I had not been prepared to do it myself.”
“It will be a good alliance as long as we can trust that they will not go back on their word.”
Osgar’s comment was somewhat surprising. While strategic, the man had not yet displayed any cynicism.
“Have you seen anything to give you cause to think they are not honourable?” Giric asked.
“No, I have not.”
“Then we must enter into these arrangements in good faith. We will stay tonight and on the morrow sail home. I will need to get word to the king to request assistance in Gunnar’s fight against Short-Beard’s war band. I do not think the king will hesitate.”
“I agree,” Osgar said. “You are following suit with the same idea he started. I think he will be pleased to hear it and pleased to be a part of anything that will bring about peace.”
“I am concerned the earl tried to convince Gunnar that Olaf was involved. I plan to remind him that an alliance with us extends to both King Constantine and King Olaf.”
What would Saga think, considering those circumstances? Would she feel further coerced or volunteer freely to protect her clan? It all made his head pound a little harder and he couldn’t entirely blame the ale.
“Why don’t you go sleep in the galley for a few hours,” Giric said. “No one will bother you there. I hope to have Gunnar and Saga show me around the village more this morning and I’ll come find you when we are ready to talk.”
“Aye, I will do exactly that,” he said as he got up too quickly and almost fell over.
“Steady man,” Giric said. “You’re no good to anyone if you’re broken.”
Osgar chuckled as he staggered down the dock toward the moored galley.
Giric turned back to the hall and noticed someone at the far end ducking in behind as he turned. Were they watching him and Osgar? Instead of walking into the hall, he walked around the other side in case the person thought to slip back inside unnoticed.
When he got to the other side there was no one there. Whoever it was must have gone up the path behind. And perhaps with everything going on and his own head aching from too much ale, his mind was playing tricks on him.
Giric entered the hall and was pleased to see his men there, all eating. He passed by the hearth and was given a trencher of meat and bread, his belly rumbling its approval. The air was thick with the irresistible aroma of roasted boar, making his mouth water in anticipation.
He sat in the same chair he had the night before beside Saga and smiled at her. She said nothing so he would not push her. Gunnar passed him a steaming cup and he smelled it first. Mead. This was a drink he enjoyed much more than ale. He sipped and swallowed, enjoying the sweet beverage as it warmed his throat, the silky honey flavour soothing as it filled his gullet.
They ate in silence and when he had consumed his full, he leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him.
“You look like you could use a bed,” Gunnar said. “You are welcome to take mine if you like. I have some things to attend to this morning, but I will have someone wake you later.”
As tired as he was, Giric could not imagine sleeping when there was so much to do and see. “I thank you, but I was going to ask you if you could give me a tour of the village.”
“I would like to, but I have to see to the ship's repairs. I am sure Saga would be pleased to show you whatever you wish to see.”
Giric could not see her expression as she turned to her brother, but watched as his eyes crinkled at the sides.
“I do not wish to inconvenience you, Saga, but I would very much like it if you would.”
