“That’s right!” said Gunnar. “Thorfin takes the Long Road to Miklagard.” He helped his younger brother walk out of the barn and into the sunlight. “Last night, you swore an oath to join Thorfin and serve a term with the Southern Emperor’s Royal Guard.”
“Sacred Odin,” breathed Hakon. “Why didn’t anyone stop me? I must have been drunk out of my mind!”
“It’ll be good for you, lad,” rumbled Brynn. “Save you from moping around the docks, looking for a certain someone who’s not likely to be back for a while. And besides, your brother’s going along with you.”
“You signed up as well?” blinked Hakon.
Gunnar laughed again. “I wasn’t going to let you go on your own, was I? You don’t get to claim all the glory. I don’t care how good you are with a sword, you’re still my little brother!”
Hakon began to feel a little steadier on his feet then suddenly stopped. “Oh gods. Does Mother know yet?”
Brynn gave an evil grin. “That’s your first battle, Son. Face it bravely.”
Chapter One
Present day
“Pull, you lazy maggots!” snarled the shipmaster. “We mean to make the Jomsburg on the high tide, and it’s almost finished. If we have to fight the ebb current, the job will be twice as hard and take four times longer! Sopull, blight you, if you want to reach the docks with the sun still in the sky!”
Some of the rowers grumbled, but Sif Astridsdottir merely smiled quietly to herself. Egil was a decent enough shipmaster, but the man worried like an aging grandmother about the tides. Sif had grown up sailing in these waters and knew that the high tide had at least an hour’s flow left, more than enough time to reach the docks of the Jomsburg.
I wonder if Hakon is home yet.Then, on the heels of that thought,Fool! And why would it matter if he was?
Sif shook her head as if to clear it and brushed stray strands of golden hair away from her face. The young woman was aware that the eyes of several of the crew were following her, but she paid them no mind.This close to the Jomsburg, the phrase “Huw of Hestur’s daughter” worked stronger than spellcraft.
Could I defend myself with spellcraft if I needed to? I know I’ve done it in practice, but never in the heat of an urgent moment…since that one time, with Alvar.
Such a long time ago, it seems now.
Sif swore she could hear the words of her mentor, the Lady Brede, in her ear.So many doubts, girl. Follow them back through the soil of your mind and pluck them out by the roots. Your spirit should have no room for doubt-seedlings.
Sif let her breath out, slowly, in the way that she had been trained.
With thirty strong backs and thirty pairs of arms pulling as one, it was not long before the longship flew past the channel markers and up to the docks themselves. “Oars up!” came the cry from Egil, and the ship coasted smoothly up to a long wooden jetty.
Even as the crew were carefully shipping the oars, Sif stepped gracefully between them, and moved from ship to dock, bunching her skirts in one hand to do so. She felt the warm benevolence of her father’s gaze even before she looked up from the wooden planks.
“Father,” said Sif, breaking into a dazzling smile as she regarded him.
“Daughter,” replied Huw softly, his smile wide. The proud warrior put a hand on her shoulder and leaned his head forwards to lightly touch hers.
“Let’s look at you, my child!” cried Astrid, bustling forwards. “The very picture of a woman, indeed! Look how you’ve grown!”
“Grown more beautiful,” said Huw proudly, beaming.
“While my father’s beard grows grey,” teased Sif.
“As it should!” laughed Huw. “Always beware a greybeard warrior, my daughter. They’ve lived long enough to learn a thing or two.”
“Then you must be a genius, my husband,” interjected Astrid, taking their daughter by the arm and steering her down the jetty. “Come, we must make haste if I am to have a hot meal for the pair of you before night falls.”
“We could always find a supper at the Wanderer,” said Huw. “That way you can join us for the food rather than fussing over the fire. Even if you deserve a smacked bottom for mocking my age.” Even as Astrid prepared a stinging retort, Huw looked at his daughter, his eyes twinkling. “Besides,” he added, “word on the waves is that Gunnar and Hakon will be coming home right on the edge of the high tide, and that they will be telling tales about their voyage to Miklagard tonight.”
“That sounds very interesting,” said Sif politely, hoping her cheeks did not look as warm as they felt under her father’s amused gaze. “And I agree, it would be nice for Mother to sit and join us for the meal. We have much to talk about.”
“Your father just wants an excuse to drink with Brynn, that’s all,” muttered Astrid. “Ilikecooking! I know I didn’t used to, but I’m starting to get the hang of it.” She gave a mild squeak as Huw’s hand connected firmly with her shapely bottom.
“What wasthatfor?” she protested.
