Heroes of the Valley (27 page)

Leif, who had been listening with bulging eyes, could restrain himself no longer. 'They're mad!' he cried. 'It is an insane act!
Why
should they do this?'

'To catch us and the other Houses napping,' Halli said, his eyes shining darkly. 'No one thought they would act so soon! By the time the thaw and torrents are done, and the Council stir themselves for spring, it will all be over. Our House will be taken or destroyed, and Hord and Ragnar left in charge of all our lands; they will be even less inclined to listen to the other Houses than before. Well, it is an audacious adventure, more than I thought they were capable of. Finish your story, Snorri.'

Leif gave an angry cry. 'Wait! Who's in charge here!'

Halli shrugged. 'I forgot. Please—'

'Finish your story, old man,' Leif said.

'That night the twenty men slept in my hut, with one on guard at all times. The next morning ten went off to Rurik's House to get horses. They returned—'

'Hold on,' Halli said. 'You mean they
stole
the steeds?'

Snorri clicked his tongue. 'From what they said I rather believe the men of Rurik's House had the horses ready for their use.'

At this many of the people in the hall cried out in alarm and fury, and dashed the hilts of their weapons on the floor. Leif 's face was ashen. 'So Hord is in league with our neighbours? I can't believe it!'

'Why? For generations the Rurikssons have considered you an arrogant. warlike House,' Snorri said. 'Whereas. watching you waving agricultural tools around your heads I can see that's an utter fallacy. Anyhow, they came back with twenty horses. Hord wished to attack last night, but his men were weary; they voted to wait until today. The Rurikssons had given them ale; they drank and grew merry. I saw my chance, and when all were asleep, stole a horse and made my way here.'

'They'll know we're warned,' Halli said.

'No. I rode east as if I fled towards the gorge, leaving prints as I went. Four miles further on I turned and looped up here. I hope you consider my debt paid back now, Halli Sveinsson.'

'I do, and more so. Thank you, Snorri. We owe you our lives.'

They clasped hands, smiling. From the audience came a plaintive cry: 'That's lovely, but oughtn't we to
do
something? Tonight we're going to die.'

'You're right.' Leif cleared his throat. 'Halli, get off the stage – and you, old man. People of Svein's House, listen well. The Hakonssons won't arrive till nightfall. That gives us time. We'll be gone long before they show. This morning we pack whatever we can carry. Everything else we spoil or burn. We'll take as much livestock as it's possible to drive along with us and cut the throats of the rest, so they don't fall into Hord's hands. At noon we'll set off on the western track, heading for Deepdale and the edge of Gest's lands. Some outriders can go ahead to warn Kar Gestsson. He'll have to put us up in his hall until things settle down. It'll be a squash, and some of you may have to bed down in the stables, but we can't help that. It'll only be for a month or two. When the torrents are over, we can send word to the Council. They'll look dimly on Hord's aggression and he'll have to sue for peace. We'll get our lands back and more besides. In the end, justice will be done. Right!' Leif clapped his hands. 'Let's get to work!'

He stopped and looked about the hall.

Once or twice during his speech, Leif 's oratory had faltered as he sensed the void into which his words dropped and vanished. It was not that any of his listeners made hostile sounds or movements; indeed it was their very stillness, their utter silence that was unnerving. When he had finished, this silence did not break, but was indefinitely extended, like a thread of spider's silk being gently pulled, pulled, pulled . . . Its elasticity was remarkable, but soon it was going to snap.

Leif knew it; for a few moments he withstood the tension, then, face suffused with anger, gave in. 'Don't just
stand
there, you fools!' he shouted. 'Our enemies are coming! We must flee or die! What is the
matter
with you all?'

In the centre of the hall Grim the smith, burly, tousle-bearded, slowly raised his hand. It had a mallet in it. 'Why do we run?'

Leif smoothed back his hair with both palms. 'Did you not hear what the old beggar-man said, Grim? Hord and his men have forged
swords
. We have no swords.'

'I have this hammer.'

Kugi the sty-boy gave a cry. 'I have this dung-rake!'

Shouting over numerous similar announcements, Leif called for calm. 'Yes, yes, all this is true, but we know the old tales, do we not? Did Svein wield a dung-rake? No. He used a sword. Why? Because swords are the finest weapons and can easily cut a man in two. Listen to me – we will not be able to withstand this attack. We have no option but a tactical retreat!'

At these words many of the onlookers made noises of muted agreement, but others gave shouts of derision. 'You ask us to flee our House!'

'To leave it unprotected!'

'What leadership is this?'

'This is cowardice, Leif Sveinsson!'

The tumult in the hall rose to fever pitch; on the dais Leif stood speechless. From beneath the swell of sound came a rhythmic banging that quickly imposed itself; one by one the people fell silent. The old manservant Eyjolf, gaunt, emaciated, standing in the centre of the crowd, continued striking the shaft of his hoe upon the flagstones until all around was still. Finally he stopped and said, 'It is clear Leif means well, and what he says has merit. Certainly there is no point staying here to be slaughtered.'

Leif held up his arms, exasperated. 'At last! Some sense! Thank you, Eyjolf.'

'
However
,' Eyjolf went on, 'it is not clear to me that such slaughter is inevitable, and like most of you I believe that it would be a great wickedness to abandon our House. Before we do so, we must examine the other option. Perhaps we
can
defend it. I suggest—' Here he had to wait while certain persons, Leif included, attempted to interrupt and were shouted down. 'I suggest,' Eyjolf went on, 'we listen to the views of the one person among us who has active and practical experience of violence and feuding – Halli Sveinsson.'

At this there was silence. On the steps of the dais, where he had loitered, Halli stood irresolute, uncertain what to do.

Leif made a wild, indignant gesture. '
Halli?
He is the
cause
of all this trouble!'

'He is a scurrilous individual, granted,' Eyjolf said. 'But who of the rest of us have actually killed a man?'

'Which of us has burned a hall?' shouted another.

'Yes, Halli broke into their House!' a woman cried. 'He must have killed dozens of men to get to Olaf. He can lead us now!'

'At the least let us hear him!'

'Have him step up before us!'

'Halli!'

'Halli! Step up here!'

The hall now echoed to the sounds of implements being banged upon the floor. On the stage, Leif stood slack-jawed, dumbfounded. Still Halli hesitated. Glancing aside, he saw Gudny and Snorri watching him, and also – by the drapes, from which they had evidently just emerged – old Katla and Aud. He couldn't quite see the expression on Aud's face.

Slowly Halli climbed onto the stage. The noise in the hall reached a crescendo, then swiftly died away. More than fifty faces stared up at him, tense, unsmiling, waiting for his words.

Halli stood in the centre of the dais, looking steadily around him, meeting the eyes of the people of his House. At last he spoke. 'Some of you have called Leif a coward,' he said. 'This is not so. During the fight at Rurik's hall, when Hord attacked our mother, Leif struck him down. He fought valiantly throughout the skirmish. He is as brave as any of us here.'

He paused. Silence in the hall. 'As for me,' Halli went on, 'I am held to blame by many of you for these troubles. In part this is true. I
did
travel to Hakon's House to avenge the murder of my uncle Brodir. Because of my actions Olaf died and his hall was burned, events which Hord now uses as excuses for his feud with us. But I will say this. When I lay concealed in Hakon's hall, before going to Olaf 's room, I overheard Hord and Ragnar talking of just such a raid as this. Hord spoke of his contempt for the Council, his impatience with its rules, and his desire to expand his lands. He also referred to work his smiths were undertaking – work I now believe resulted in the swords and armour Snorri has mentioned he saw. In other words. my friends, Hord has been planning this a long while. Perhaps Svein's House was not always his intended victim – and it may be I am to blame for that – but this means it falls to us to thwart the Hakonssons now, just as our great Founder defeated Hakon so many times. I believe this is not an ordeal but an honour, not a time for fear but a time for pride. I believe that we can face our assailants, and with ingenuity and valour, we can win.'

He halted; he let his words drift amid the smoke above the people in the hall. The ensuing silence was of a different order to that which followed Leif 's speech; it was a ruminative one, a silence of digestion, as everything he said was considered, weighed and judged. He saw one or two people – Grim the smith among them – nodding slowly, heard a gradual murmur of agreement swelling in a score of throats.

Leif said thickly, 'All well and good, but pride alone will not save our skins.'

'We must not be frightened,' Halli said. He glanced towards Aud. 'Svein knows, there are worse things to face than mortal men. And there are many strategies we can use. What is the weather, for instance? I have not been out today.'

Unn the tanner raised a great brown hand. 'There is a mist. It lingers.'

'Good. If it holds we can use it to our advantage. We know the land.'

'There'll be a full moon tonight,' a woman called.

'That too we might use,' Halli said.

'Wait!' Only by the shaking of one hand did Leif display his agitation. His voice, though strained, was relatively calm. 'We have not yet decided,' he said softly. 'Are we to leave or fight? In my view all Halli's pretty words will not forge us a single sword. I say again: we have to flee.'

'I say we fight,' Halli said.

'And
I
say,' said a voice from the corner of the hall, 'that you should follow Halli's leadership. 'As one, all looked: all saw, standing in the shadows of the drapes, the tall, slim form of Astrid, Lawgiver of the House. Her face was pale as a moon-cast, her hair spilling like willow fronds about her shoulders; her kirtle glowed white like snow. She had not been seen in public for many weeks. 'Your Arbiter,' she said, 'is dying now. Today perhaps, tonight, tomorrow – it will happen soon, and it will happen
here
. I do not choose that he should die out on the road, a fugitive from his own House. You may leave if you wish, but if you do, Arnkel and I will not go with you. My sons have both offered valid choices; it is up to you whose advice you take. I only say this – what would Svein have done? Now I am going back to my husband. Gudny, dear – we need fresh water; can you bring it, please?'

The drapes fluttered; Astrid was gone.

Leif took a deep breath. He looked at Halli. 'All right, brother,' he said. 'What do you say we do?'

T
HE HEROES MET ON
a meadow midway along the valley, and to begin with there was much bristling of beards and flexing of shoulders, and every hand was on its sword-hilt.

But Svein said: 'Friends, it's no secret we've had our differences in the past. But today I propose a truce. These Trows are getting out of hand. I suggest we stand together and drive them from the valley. What about it?'

At last Egil stepped forward. 'Svein,' said he, 'I'll stand with you.' And one by one, the others did likewise.

Then Thord said, 'That's all very well, but what's in it for us?'

Svein said, 'If we vow to protect the valley, it henceforth belongs to us twelve for ever more. How's that sound?'

The others said that would do very nicely.

Then Orm said, 'Where shall we make our stand?'

Mid-morning, and the mists had withdrawn only a little from around the House. The dark wedges of the nearest fields showed faintly, receding into whiteness. Solitary trees were dim grey outlines, encased in silence. Nothing moved on the road; distant bird flocks twisted briefly and were gone.

At Svein's House all such stillness ended. Here was constant movement, never ceasing, never slackening, remarkable for its intensity of purpose and extreme variety. Even during preparations for the Gathering the year before, nothing like it had been seen.

Amongst the reeds and grasses of the old dry moat a host of people bent and scrabbled, gathering stones fallen from the walls. Women and children scooped up the smaller pieces, while men carried bigger ones up to the road and in at the gate. The very largest rocks were hauled by horses or manhandled bodily by straining groups of three or four. Inside the gates, other teams assessed the stones and distributed them to various portions of the tumbled walls, which were slowly taking renewed shape.

Inside the House, at the workshops abutting the central yard, another process was in full swing. A great pile of logs, removed from dry storage, had been stacked here. Men came, chose logs and rolled them into the workshops; from within came the rhythmic chopping of the axe and the rasp of saws.

Close by, in Grim's forge, red light glowed strongly. Grim's voice rose above his hammer strikes, bellowing orders to his sons.

Away beyond the far side of the House, near the south gate, where the wall had entirely fallen, a small group of youths worked with spades and mattocks, digging the soft ground.

Meanwhile, from every cottage, women hurried with baskets, boxes, kegs and churns, bringing them to the hall. Livestock was led from the sties and stables beyond the wall, up through the gates and into the yard; pigs, chickens and goats roamed free amongst the bustling throng.

And in the centre of it all, in the middle of the yard, stood Halli Sveinsson, watching, listening, giving orders to all who came.

Here waddled Bolli the bread-maker, red-faced, sweating. 'The loaves are almost risen. Where shall they be stored?'

'Gudny is organizing the kitchens; she will tell you where to take them.'

Here was Unn, emerging from the tannery. 'I have four vats prepared. Who wants them?'

'One for each side. Get Brusi to roll them down.'

Here strode Grim, a glowing poker in his hand. 'I need more pails or buckets. How many of these things are we making?'

'As many as there are logs. It is a long wall.'

Grim paused, wiping a burly forearm across his brow. 'You think this will work?'

'It worked for Svein, didn't it? Kol was completely fooled.'

'Well, I have sixteen completed already and they are cluttering up my forge. Someone will need to take them.'

'I will ask Leif to do so. He is commander of the wall.'

Grim departed. In the interlude that followed, Halli took stock. All was in order, so far as he could see. No one was idle; everyone worked for the desired outcome. This was not to say that they were happy doing so. Some at least were visibly sceptical, some downright hostile – his brother Leif among them. But from the first faltering moment when he began outlining his suggestions, no one had challenged him. Suggestions had become orders; caution had given way to confidence. With increasing vigour he had outlined his ideas; his people had absorbed his plan – and something of his energy too.

'Halli.'

He looked up, startled; the voice jolted him from the novelties of the present situation; he felt suddenly smaller, back to normal.

'Aud!' A wave of guilt rose in him. He hadn't spoken to her since early morning, when Katla had whisked her off and he had gone to rouse the House. In the hall she had been an isolated figure on the fringe of the debate. He had not had time to consider how she was feeling. 'I'm so sorry,' he said. 'I should have—'

Aud waved her hand; it was lightly bandaged. 'That's all right. You've had things to do. I'm better. Almost.' She grinned at him. Her eyes were clear; the terror and anger of the night before had gone from them.

Her ankle was bound with new strapping. 'Looks less swollen,' Halli said.

'Katla made a paste this morning and smeared it on. A black, foul-smelling gunk. I dread to think what's in it.'

Halli winced. 'I know the stuff. Did she cackle as she mashed it in a mortar?'

'Yes. Still, it's working wonders. I'm sore, but I can walk again. I've been down at the wall, shifting rocks with the others. The bit by the gate's looking good now.'

'That's fine— Oh, wait.' Halli raised a hand and hailed a passing girl. 'Ingirid, could you run to the north gate, check that Leif 's getting the hinges fixed? I forgot to remind him before. Thanks.' He turned to Aud. 'Sorry – it's just you reminded me—'

'Like I said, it's all right.' She looked at him. 'I know it's hard to think about, with all this going on, but . . . how are you feeling about . . . last night? I can't get it out of my head.

When I close my eyes, I'm back in the darkness, with that—'

Halli reached for her hand and squeezed it. 'Me too. It's there always. But. Aud, listen – we survived it, and it's made us stronger.'

'You reckon? How's that, exactly?'

'Are you truly afraid of Hord Hakonsson after what we've seen?'

She sighed without replying. At last she said: 'I listened in the hall this morning. You did well there, Halli.' She gestured round at various hurrying forms. 'The people believed your words; they're acting on them.'

Halli shrugged, watching two anxious, bent-backed men rolling barrels to the porch from outside stores. They glanced at him, and he waved them on. 'That's as may be. My father would have done the same, and they'd have loved him for it. They're no fonder of me than before – they just need someone to tell them what to do.'

'Tell
me
something,' Aud said.

'Mm?'

'Is it going to work? Your idea?'

Halli didn't answer for a moment. 'It
might
,' he said. 'It might in part. I think we
will
take Hord by surprise. maybe do enough damage to send him packing, but . . . He's not someone easily dissuaded. Setbacks anger him. Aud, as they do me. And he does have swords.' Halli hesitated. 'Which brings me on to a different matter. I've been wanting to talk to you about this. Now that you're in one piece, I think you should leave.'

Aud looked at him. 'What?'

'Take your horse; go by the west track to Gest's House. You'll be able to follow the field walls even in mist. Get them to take you in. I'd rather you were safe, and—'

'Have you quite finished?' Aud said.

'Well, no, actually, I was in the middle of a sent—'

'Then shut up.' She stepped close to avoid a convoy of pigs that trotted across the yard, driven by a small boy with a switch. 'You think I'd just run away like that?' she said. 'Like Leif was going to?'

'I'm not saying run away. But you're a guest here. It's not your—'

'It is,' Aud said. 'Of
course
it is. It's as much my fight as yours.'

Halli folded his arms. 'And how do you work
that
out precisely?'

Aud folded hers. 'Hord threatens all of us. Nowhere in the valley will be safe if he wins the battle here. Is that, or is that not, so?'

Halli wrinkled his nose. 'Technically "
so
", I suppose.'

'Hence it's my job to foil him too. So I stay.' She grinned triumphantly.

Halli chuckled. 'Good. Are you done? That argument would just about hold water if you were a big bearded fellow with muscles like iron and a fine line in swinging a stake mallet. As it is, you'll be less than useless if it comes to fighting, and will be slaughtered in seconds. If you want to stay in the hall with Gudny and the women, that's fine. There'll be babies needing changing, I don't doubt. Or, as I advise, you can get on your horse and g— Ow! Great Svein! Don't kick me in front of everyone! Think of their morale. And that was your bad foot and all.'

Aud was white, her voice a furious whisper. 'How
dare
you speak like that to
me
? You forget I am a daughter of a hero's line! More to the point I could at least hope to carry a sword at my belt without it tripping me up every time I moved my little pudgy legs.'

Halli's eyes bulged. 'Now stop right there—'

'You think
you
could fight in battle?' Aud hissed. 'The most to say of you is that an average sword-swing would sail harmlessly above your head! Oh, and perhaps in aiming for your heart, an enemy might cut his own toes off and topple over. Otherwise the outlook for you is not so hot.'

Halli boiled with rage. 'Is that right? Is that right? Who saved you on the ridge?'

'Oh, I
know
you saved me,' Aud hissed. 'But as I recall we faced that Trow together. Did I flinch then? Did I flee? Did I let you down then? Well?
Did I ?
'

Halli bit his lip. 'No, you didn't, but—'

'Do you think perhaps I'd fail you here?'

'No! But—'

'So what are you saying then?'

'I'm saying—'

'Well?'

'I'm saying I don't want you hurt.'

'Because?'

'Because . . .' Halli waved his hands about wildly. 'Because then your father will get mad and there'll be
another
diplomatic incident, which my House can ill afford.'

'That's the reason, is it?' Aud said.

'That's the reason.'

'I see. Well, that's very considerate of you. I'm sure my father would be most grateful.' Her voice was cold and distant.

'I'm glad to hear it.' Halli turned aside from her just as Ketil arrived to ask a question about grass netting. Then came Leif to sullenly consult about the defending of the walls, and Grim roaring for more pails, and by the time Halli had finished with them and a number of other queries, and looked about for Aud again, she was nowhere to be seen.

Late afternoon, and the mists were drawing in once more. Like wisps of wool they stole across the fields, threading through trees, muffling the dying sun. The meadows below the House were gone now; so too the road beyond the moat.

Halli stood on the wall-top, staring out at nothing.

He breathed in the air, absorbing its stillness and the imminence of danger. Hord was close now – he knew it as surely as if he crouched beside him in the fields; he was hunkered down with the little company of men that he had led successfully up the ice-bound gorge. Hunkered down, waiting for the dark.

Halli narrowed his eyes. Where? Where would
he
have gone if their positions were reversed? He'd have ridden as far as the old wood, yes, to tether the horses. Then gone crosscountry, avoiding the main road, to come out . . . where? On the north-east side, maybe, above the orchard, by that copse that fringed a little hollow . . .

He scrambled along the wall-top and peered off into the swirling murk.

Yes, in the distance, scarcely visible, a faint grey mass of trees . . .

Halli grinned thinly. That was it. Right there.

Scouts might be closer, of course, circling the House, looking for the weak points on the wall. Good – those should be obvious even in the mist. With luck they would make the obvious assumptions.

He glanced at the sky. Not long till dusk. It was time to get his people ready.

The final meeting in the hall was difficult, for with the waning of the light, tension had heightened and nerves were strained. The atmosphere was thick with fear and fresh beet soup. Everyone clustered around the tables where Gudny, Katla and other women doled out provisions. Snorri stood helping Katla, casting sly winks and side-smiles at her so that she blushed and twittered. There too was Aud – demurely ladling soup for all. Halli narrowed his eyes; Aud's passivity seemed out of character. He would have liked to talk to her, but there was no time now. With an effort he pushed her from his mind.

Halli clambered onto the dais. His first act was to order the removal of a beer cask that Leif had broached. 'Time for celebrations in the morning,' he said, over the chorus of complaints. 'Hord will not be drinking now, you can be sure of that.'

When the soup was finished and everyone had fallen silent, Halli raised his hands in a broad-armed gesture he had often seen his father use. 'People of Svein's House,' he said, 'we must go to our posts. Dusk is upon us. I do not think that Hord will move till night has fully fallen, but we should be ready even so. Mothers, children, the weak and infirm will remain here in the hall under Gudny's authority, and the doors will be barred after the warriors leave. Do not drink all the beer while we are gone, please – we'll need it on our return!' He chuckled briefly into utter silence and struck his hands together with the relish of one going to the feasting table. 'Fond tales will be told of this night by our sons and daughters yet unborn, but the widows of Hakon's House will curse it! Come, friends, let us go.'