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Back A Night of Flames
Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise forMATTHEW HARFFY
  3. BY MATTHEW HARFFY
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Maps
  8. Epigraph
  9. Contents
  10. Place Names
  11. One
  12. Two
  13. Three
  14. Four
  15. Five
  16. Six
  17. Seven
  18. Eight
  19. Nine
  20. Ten
  21. Eleven
  22. Twelve
  23. Thirteen
  24. Fourteen
  25. Fifteen
  26. Sixteen
  27. Seventeen
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Twenty-Three
  34. Twenty-Four
  35. Twenty-Five
  36. Twenty-Six
  37. Twenty-Seven
  38. Twenty-Eight
  39. Twenty-Nine
  40. Thirty
  41. Thirty-One
  42. Thirty-Two
  43. Thirty-Three
  44. Thirty-Four
  45. Thirty-Five
  46. Thirty-Six
  47. Thirty-Seven
  48. Thirty-Eight
  49. Thirty-Nine
  50. Forty
  51. Forty-One
  52. Forty-Two
  53. Forty-Three
  54. Forty-Four
  55. Forty-Five
  56. Forty-Six
  57. Forty-Seven
  58. Forty-Eight
  59. Forty-Nine
  60. Fifty
  61. Fifty-One
  62. Fifty-Two
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Sixty-Two
  73. Author’s Note
  74. Acknowledgements
  75. About the Author
  76. An Invitation from the Publisher

“He is sleeping,” she replied. Her voice had the same timeless quality I had noticed earlier, but it was softened with weariness now. “He will sleep long, and, if he awakens, he will still need many days of rest.”

“You are not sure he will awaken?”

“Nothing is sure in Miðgarðr,” she said. “I have told you, his life is in the hands of Frigg and Eir. Not mine.” For a time it seemed she would say no more on the subject, but then she relented. “Your friend is strong. With luck, he will live. I have done all I can, and it should be enough. Now, go see him, if you would like, but disturb nothing in my home.”

Runolf rose. Bealdwulf stood too, and they made their way towards the hut.

“When you have checked on Sygbald,” Gudrun called to them, “pick up the pot that is over the hearth, and the bowls and spoons I left there too.” At Runolf’s frown, she sighed. “I would not have my guests go hungry.”

They brought back the pot and the bowls, setting them down before Gudrun.

“Sygbald seems well enough,” said Bealdwulf to us all. “He is asleep, but there is more colour in his cheeks, it seems to me.”

Gudrun nodded, clearly unsurprised by this declaration.

“I have worked quite enough today,” she said. “Serve the food yourselves. I have no ale, but the water of the lake is fresh. Send someone down to fetch water and bring back your other men too. I would not have them want for food. Your boat will be safe on the beach.”

Hereward understood most of her words and I interpreted the rest. He bit his lip.

“No, I will not leave the boat unguarded,” he said at last. “It is our only way off this island. Gersine, Hunlaf, take some food down to Eadmaer, Os and Beorn. And bring back water.”

I sighed, catching Gersine’s eye. But where I was angered at once again having been given the job of a servant, or a boy, Gersine grinned and seemed happy to help.

“Help me get this byrnie off then,” I said. “If I am to carry water like a thrall, no need to be burdened like a warrior.” In this, Gersine appeared to agree with me, and we both shrugged off our heavy iron-ring shirts.

Ladling pottage into three bowls, I took one, leaving the others for Gersine. We picked up Gudrun’s water skins from where they hung on a peg by her door, and strode off into the shadows of the wood.

I hurried, not wishing to miss any of the conversation back at the fire in the glade. Gudrun both frightened and intrigued me, and I would hear what she had to say.