“Hold!” roared Gull, surging toward us, and there was a flurry of movement. I crouched down, my hand on Ardal’s shoulder. He was so still. So terribly still. I could hear the rumbling approach of the Ankou in his cart of stones. Then, nearer at hand, there was the sound of a blow and a thud, and Gull’s voice. “Sibeal, if you can get up, take my candle, light the two lamps and bring me a length of rope. Ardal, are you injured?”

I did as I was told, knowing nothing could be done for Ardal without good light. With great presence of mind, Gull had set his candle on a shelf as he came back in. I touched the flame to the wicks of two oil lamps. A warm light spread through the chamber, revealing the prone form of Knut, facedown and evidently unconscious. Gull’s foot was planted on his back.

“Ardal’s hurt,” I said. I did not sound like a person who had just performed an act of elemental magic. My voice was that of a frightened child.

“Sibeal, the rope. Evan has a coil out the back.”

When I brought it, Gull said, “You’ll need to make the knots for me. Wrists behind his back, ankles together. He’ll come to soon; I only hit him hard enough to stun, and I’ve cause to know how strong he is.”

“Ardal—”

“I’ll help him as soon as this is done. Not like that, wind it through and over . . . that’s it. Then I must ask you to go for help. I won’t leave you with Knut, even trussed up. What in the name of the gods was he doing? Did he try to assault you?”

“He would have killed Ardal. I woke up and he was there, pressing his fingers into his neck. And then he slashed at him with a knife. Gull, please see if Ardal’s all right. He’s unconscious, and I think he’s bleeding . . . ”

“This job needs doing first. Now the ankles. I got a good blow in because he wasn’t expecting it. I wouldn’t like my chances a second time. Tie it firmly.” He hauled the Norseman over to the wall, propping him in a sitting position.

Gods, don’t let Ardal be dead, please, please . . . I’ll do anything, anything you want . . .

He lay as I had left him, head on one side, face chalk white. There was a dark stain of blood on the floor by his side. Please, please . . .

“Bring a lamp over, Sibeal.” Gull put his hand to the fallen man’s neck, feeling for the rhythm of the heart. My own heart strained to beat for Ardal’s; I sank my teeth into my lip, waiting.