Magnus sat back. His brow furrowed for a minute then his eyes grew wide. “You cannot,” he said. “Gunnar has not granted you permission. I will not allow you to do this.”
“Magnus I must find a way to rouse him so we can get him to drink. I promise I will not engage any longer than I have to.”
“And I will not see you collapse when it becomes too difficult for you and I have to tend to you both and watch Ulfhild pray for not one, but two of you.”
“Magnus, this is the best, easiest way.”
“No, Elspeth. Find another way,” he said. “He is my brother and you are my wife. Freydis is not here to help you this time. And I cannot help you with this. Do not do it.”
“Magnus, I must. I am worried about your brother and if we do not find a way to help him now, I do not know what will happen.”
Gunnar coughed from the bed and they both looked over to him. She hoped he’d wake again, but after calling his name several times, there was still no response.
“Magnus, you must trust me. You must let me try to reach him.”
“I do trust, you,” he said. “It is this gift of yours I do not trust.”
Her heart was punctured. “How can you say that after everything you and I have shared? Freydis was not present when we shared my gift in the tower and she was not needed then. I understand this now. And I know how I can be useful.”
Magnus shook his head. “I do not like it. And you were safe in the tower because I kept you safe.”
“You had less control over what happened there than you care to admit.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means there are other forces at play here that are much bigger than you and I and any idea that we are fully in control is a fantasy.”
“You are bent on doing this, aren’t you?”
“I am. I believe I can help your brother.”
Magnus scrubbed his hand down over his face. He looked tired and worn. While she understood his concern, she knew with every fibre of her being this was the right thing to do and she believed in her ability to do so without Freydis’ or anyone else’s help.
She didn’t wait for his approval. Lifting his big, meaty hand into hers she focused on his face and closed her eyes. She focused on the place where their hands connected and envisioned energy passing from her to him and back again. Slowly, she willed that connection to travel up his arm and could feel him responding with little jerks from his hand and arm.
When she reached his neck, she paused. No more time for doubt, no time for anything but to fulfill her purpose.Odin help me.
Elspeth turned around and opened her eyes. She was in a large grassy field with cattle being called home by a beautiful young woman. Gunnar gazed upon her with such love and light in his eyes. She watched the couple as they laughed when the cattle came running to the woman. Elspeth had heard of this, it was a kulning song, specific to one group of cattle. Only the group who’d been taught it from infancy responded and were drawn to it.
The young woman’s song ended and then she turned. She smiled at Elspeth and reached up to Gunnar and kissed him on the cheek. She walked away to the other side of the field. Gunnar watched her go then walked toward Elspeth and frowned.
“I want to stay here,” he said, his voice filled with anguish.
“You cannot,” Elspeth said. “We need you.”
“And I need her.”
Elspeth had no words of comfort for him. She nearly doubled over with the ache consuming his heart.
“Please Gunnar, you must wake. I am here to help.”
A single tear slid down his cheek then he reached out his hand to her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
With a great gasp of air, Gunnar awoke. Magnus had watched tears fall from his brother’s eyes and Elspeth’s too. He would never understand how this worked, but he was grateful for the moment that it was over. Gunnar sat up in bed a little and reached for the cup Elspeth held out then downed it and passed it back to her. She refilled it and gave it to him again.
“How do you feel?” Magnus asked him.
