“Good-night my friend. I will see you at the mid-day meal.”
Elspeth donned her gown and the fur she wore yesterday, straightened her hair and threw a few extra logs on the fire for Vigdis. She left the chamber as quietly as she could and made her way to the hall. The place reeked of stale ale and farts. She held her breath as she made her way to the doors and only exhaled when she was outside.
The morning was beautiful and bright. She waited a few moments until her eyes adjusted to the light before scanning the beach. A lone figure sat facing the water. His blonde head was bowed low. Tingling started at the base of her neck again and grew stronger. She took a step toward him as pain shot into the back of her skull and brought her to her knees. Managing to cry out his name before she completely doubled over, she saw him running toward her from the beach just as everything went black.
CHAPTER SIX
Magnus must have dozed off. He woke to the sound of a seagull screeching. Or something else high pitched. A cold breeze picked drifted from off the water bringing him fully awake. His mind identified the sound to be his name. He turned around and found the source on her knees and about to fall forward. He was on his feet in an instant and running to her. How long he’d been on the beach he couldn’t say, but his tight muscles from remaining in one position for so long confirmed it had been quite a while.
On his knees he gently turned her onto her back and listened for her heartbeat. It was strong, thank the gods. Magnus scooped her up and brought her inside the hall and onward to kick open the door to Vigdis’ chamber. His sister sat up rubbing her eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“Lady Elspeth collapsed outside,” he said. “Who has been healing the sick in Freydis’ absence?”
Vigdis was on her feet and helped Magnus get Elspeth onto the bed in an instant. She touched the woman’s forehead and her cheek with the back of her fingers.
“She’s not feverish.”
“Sister, who can I fetch to help?”
“There’s no one, Magnus. Freydis did not have an apprentice.”
“That’s not true,” Gunnar said from the doorway. “She’d been training someone in secret for many months in the event her gifts were discovered. But, Magnus, you will not like it.”
“Who?”
Somewhere in the pit of his stomach, Magnus knew who the person would be. He looked down at a pale looking Elspeth who remained unconscious and asked himself what choice he had.
“Fine, but you will tell her this is for healing only and that she will be watched.”
“You will not have to worry about her,” Vigdis said. “I will not leave Lady Elspeth’s side.” She went to the side table and examined the food and drink. “Who brought this to her last eve?”
“I had Sigrid bring it in,” Gunnar said. “Why?”
“Just ruling out any external possibilities,” she said.
“Wait, you think someone could mean to harm her? Here?” Magnus asked. The thought was incredible.
“I believe until we know what is going on with her, we must assume every possibility and rule them out one by one. I will take the goblet and trencher to the cook and have him examine it all for anything that could have tainted it. By the smell I do not think it soured, but let us be sure.”
With that Vigdis gathered up the food and drink and left the chamber. Magnus sat on the bed and smoothed Elspeth’s amber tresses from her face. She looked so peaceful at the moment, so ethereal as if her skin glowed from a source within. Perhaps it was just the light, but he could swear there were gold strands in her hair.
“Shall I summon Yrsa?” Gunnar asked.
“You will speak with her and be clear of her purpose here? I cannot handle one more word from her about a relationship with me. Do you understand? If she cannot help, we will board my galley and sail for the mainland today.”
Gunnar nodded and left the chamber. Magnus pulled the covers around her tighter and tucked them around her to keep her warm. He hoped it was exhaustion from her travels, but he feared it was something no regular healer could manage. The thought of letting Yrsa anywhere near her made him cringe, but he did not believe the girl would harm Elspeth. She would surely know better than that.
Vigdis returned with Osgar who came to the side of the bed and touched Elspeth’s cheek.
“She had episodes like this when she was a small child.”
“What was the cause and what can be done for her?”
“No one knows the cause, not even she. But my mother used to call on an old healer from the village who would sit and sing to her. Old songs that I’d never heard before in a tongue I don’t know.”
Magnus knew what had to be done, there was no more delaying it. “Vigdis, prepare anything we will need for the voyage. I am sorry to leave your festivities, but I must get her to Freydis. I know in my heart she will be able to help.”
