“Gods above and below,” breathed Hakon, watching the smoke roil upwards.
“It…it can’t be,” gasped the bound councilor.
“Look what you and your damn fool Jarl have done!” hissed Gunhilde.
“He—he thought—”
“I know what he thought!” said Gunhilde sharply. “He thought what you all think. Never trust a witch. The witches hate men. Beware the nets and traps of the Ironwood. You’re so wretchedly fearful that even when we come to aid you, you see daggers in hands outstretched in friendship!” Gunhilde shook her head in angry frustration.
“We can’t just leave them,” said Sif.
“My family shelters inside those walls,” said Gunnar, pacing back and forth. “I’m going in, alone if need be.”
“Not alone, Brother,” said Hakon.
Sif had already made her own decision. Where her man went, so did she. She glanced over at Gunhildeand caught her eye. Gunhilde nodded. Sif let her breath out in relief.
“The people of Visby do not deserve to suffer for the foolishness of their leaders,” said Gunhilde. “Baedi, organize the Sisters who are fit to fight and report back to me, quickly. Sigrid, take five women and collect the wounded. If you have time, you may bury the dead, but the living have priority.”
The two nodded and sped off to their tasks. Sif saw Thorulf struggling to rise from his cot and rushed over to him. “Rest now,” she said softly. “You cannot fight without killing your own self.”
“My family is there,” gritted Thorulf, looking around for a sword.
“Then serve your family by serving us,” cut in Gunhilde. “Our camp is in chaos, and I need all the fighting fit women I can put my hands on to go into the city. Take all those who are walking wounded like you and start to break down the camp. We must be ready to retreat in an organized fashion if need be. If our cohesion breaks down and things turn into a rout, we will have slaughter and chaos. Do you understand?”
Thorulf nodded, tears of pain and grief rolling down his cheeks. “I will do this. But you must save my family.”
Gunnar stepped forwards and put a hand on his foster father’s shoulder. “I will save them, Father,” he said firmly. Thorulf nodded then hobbled after Baedi to provide what aid he could.
“And this one?” asked Hakon, pointing with his bloody sword to the bound councilor.
Gunhilde smiled without warmth. “He guarantees our passage into the city,” she said then addressed Eirik directly. “You’d better hope the guards at the gate listen to you, or you’ll be of no use to us whatsoever.”
The heavily built councilor swallowed. “They will listen to me,” he managed.
“Then you still have some use to us,” said Gunhilde sweetly.
“And these bonds?” asked Eirik, lifting his hands.
“Remain until I have reason to trust you,” replied Gunhilde. She turned as Baedi returned to the center of the camp.
“We have fifty-eight Sisters fit to march with us,” reported Baedi then added, “Twenty-two will not rise.” Gunhilde shot a look at the councilor, who had the grace to flush and hang his head.
“Then let us see what we can do with those who still breathe,” said Gunhilde. “Come, Sisters!” she called. “With me!”
The women began to move, but there was muttering among them. Finally, one woman called out, “Why, Gunhilde? Those ungrateful fools would rather see us dead in a ditch! Why should we risk anything else for them?”
Gunhilde turned and faced the gathering. Her face showed stern compassion. “My dear Sisters,” she began, “when your neighbor’s house is on fire, it does not matter if your neighbor is a fool. You fight the fire, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because if you do not, it will be your own house that burns next! We fight the Skraelings in Visby so that we need not fight them in the Ironwood! In saving our neighbors, we save ourselves.”
Sif looked at the crowd of women and saw expressions of grim determination as more and more of them nodded in agreement. She felt a swelling of pride as she looked upon the strength of the gathered women.
“Witches of the Ironwood!” cried Gunhilde. “March with me!”
With a wordless cry of agreement, the women marched swiftly towards Visby. Hakon and Gunnar joined Gunhilde, Sif, and Baedi at the front of the narrow column. Gunnar grinned cheekily at Gunhilde,not intimidated in the slightest by the stern grey-haired woman. “A most impressive speech, my lady! Better than many I’ve heard behind a shield wall.”
“The fact that it was all true may have helped,” replied Gunhilde dryly.
Gunnar laughed. “Perhaps less than you think. Truth and battle speech don’t know each other well at all.” Gunhilde snorted.
