“You cannot hide your weapon so well that it cannot be easily attained when needed,” she said. “Up your sleeve is ideal, or on a strap on your leg. But the most important piece of information I can give you is this, be fully sure the person is an enemy before you attack. It is easy to be spooked and you do not want to stick your blade into one another when getting a start in the kitchens.”
The women continued to work on the defensive and offensive moves Saga showed them. She moved about the hall to raise an elbow here, position hips there, lift a chin and such.
Her back was to the door when gooseflesh formed on the back of her neck. Without turning she sensed a shift in the air. Tension spread amongst the women and a few dropped their arms and stared.
Somehow, Saga knew who she’d find standing there when she turned.
She didn’t expect to see her husband standing with the woman from the night before, however.
“Wife. I would have a word.”
To the women, she said, “You will continue to work on your lessons. I shall return, and I will show you how to trip a man. Even a tall one,” she said with a grin.
Giric met her halfway between the women and the seer. “How goes the training?”
“Very well, husband. Most of these women have been fighting off the guards and other men of the castle for years. I will say this much. Some of your men will find a different result the next time they try to take one of these women without her permission.”
He smiled. She was pleased he approved for had he not, they would have had a real problem on their hands.
“I will enjoy their discomfort,” he said.
“Where did you find the woman?” she asked.
“Find her?”
“That is the woman with whom I spoke last evening,” she said, motioning to Eloisa.
“I did not realize that. She was at the gates asking to come in to speak with you. She says she is here to help you on your journey.”
“I am going somewhere?”
“I believe she means a spiritual journey.”
“She said last night that she was here to help me. I do not understand. Do you trust her?”
“I was hoping to ask you the same thing. Between us both, I believe we are a good judge of character, but I cannot gauge this woman at all.”
“Very well, let us interview her together,” Saga suggested.
“My lady, it is good to see you looking so well,” Eloisa said as they approached.
“You disappeared last night,” Saga said. “Where did you go?”
“Upon meeting you, I realized why I needed to be by your side and needed to travel to my home to gather some things.”
“I do not understand,” she said.
“I have had visions of your coming for many months,” she said with a smile. “I’d heard talk of the king marrying his daughter to a Viking warlord, and started having visions of you shortly after. I knew you would come here.”
“Are you a witch?” Giric asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Some may call me that, but what I am is a healer,” she said to him. “Your wife will need my aid in the coming months and I am here to answer that call.”
“And what do you get in return?”
“The work you do here, my lord, is important for us and for Scotland. She cannot continue as she is, peace must be found or I fear we will never find a way forward.”
“Insightful words for a peasant.”
