Page 69 of Her Celtic Captor
“Most of our people are here now, or at least all who chose to accompany us across the North Sea.”
“You have brought everyone? But… why? Where are they?”
“Most remained on or close to our longships, until such time as I could speak with Taranc and with you. I had no desire to create panic here by coming ashore with dozens of Viking warriors at by back. That would have created quite the wrong impression.” He paused, then, “As to why… you will recall Olaf Bjarkesson.”
“Of course. He would have been my kinsman had Eirik lived. Yours too.”
“Aye, but he became my enemy when Eirik and Astrid died. You know he blamed me for their deaths.”
“Yes, he was wrong, but…”
Ulfric’s expression was grim. “The feud continued, grew worse. Olaf’s attacks became more frequent, more deadly. His men set upon Fiona and Njal when they were out of our village on one occasion, and followed that skirmish with a vicious assault on Skarthveit itself. We managed to repel them with the help of our thralls, though I had to promise them their freedom in exchange for their aid.”
“You freed the thralls? All of them?” Brynhild could barely comprehend her brother’s actions.
“I did. Fiona can be most persuasive when she sets her mind on something. And in truth, I had little option if I was to defend Skarthveit successfully as we were seriously outnumbered. But it was just one battle, one attack fought off. There would be more and I might not always prevail. I have my family to think of, my people. We need to live in peace on our own shores if we are tothrive and prosper, to grow crops and raise our families. It was obvious that Olaf would never relent. So I decided to leave.”
“You just gave up? Gave him Skarthveit? She could not conceal her shock, her dismay that her childhood home was lost. “You allowed him to drive you out? To drive all of us out?”
“The settlement is just longhouses, a few crops and a half-built harbour. Olaf was busy destroying our farms in any case, and we can rebuild our houses elsewhere. I had no stomach for the life we would have had there, so I decided to move on and invited all who would to follow me.”
“So you came here?”
“Of course. Where else?”
“Anywhere. You could have gone anywhere else.”
He shook his head. “No, it had to be here. I had to see you, to know that you were well and content. I believed that Taranc could make you happy, that he would take care of you. I would not have entrusted you to him otherwise. But until I saw for myself…”
“So you are here for me?”
“I am. I had to come after you.”
“How did you know we would be here at Aikrig?”
“I didn’t, not for certain. But I suspected, and where else would he go? This is Taranc’s home. And now it is mine too. Ours.”
“Taranc has agreed.” It was a statement, not a question.
“He has, and Dughall also, who will tolerate me and the rest of our people for the sake of his daughter. But I would know I have your welcome too. Despite everything.”
“It appears I have little choice in the matter.” She stood, intending to fetch ale from the barrel she kept close to hand.
Ulfric caught her elbow as she passed him. “Perhaps not. But you do have a choice over how you respond. Will you welcomeme? My family? Fiona? Will you welcome all of us as we make our home here?
Brynhild regarded him for several moments, her beloved elder brother, the one she had relied on all her life … until Taranc. Her decision was made. It was made earlier as she wept in his arms in the great hall at Pennglas.
Slowly, she nodded. “You are welcome here, brother,” she whispered. “You and yours.”
The words were easy. Now, she must work at making them a reality.
"I shall send for Fiona.She has some skills with herbs, perhaps?—"
"Aagh!" Brynhild seized Murdina's hand and squeezed hard as a fresh wave of agony caused her distended abdomen to contract. She panted in the half-light of the house in Aikrig, perspiration beading across her forehead as she laboured to deliver her child into the world.
She shook her head. "I do not want her here. Oh... Taranc! Where is Taranc?"
"I am here." He came to kneel beside the bed and took her other hand in his. "It will not be long now." He looked to his mother as though seeking confirmation.
