“Shh, keep your voice down,” Grim whispered. “Come on then, he’s not far off. Now that’s a man will be even gladder to see you than we are. He thought the islanders had accounted for you that day at Ramsbeck, and dragged your body away to feed the carrion.”

“We’re sure of victory now,” Erlend said, grinning fiercely. “Thor’s hammer, I can hardly wait. My blood boils in anticipation, my heart beats as it did on the longship’s prow, with Danes in sight across the whale’s way. Four of us together in the vanguard; four of us screaming Thor’s name and wielding bright weapons together! I’ve a great thirst on me for blood, lads.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” grunted Grim. “That was an endless winter. Spring will be glorious; we’ll wipe out this scum and set our own names on the land as we should have long since. Our own names: our own king.”

“Somerled,” Eyvind said. “Take me to Somerled. Now.” He saw the three of them exchange glances; it seemed to him he could see more with each moment that passed, as if dawn were not so far off. Gods, had it taken him all night to walk here? An infant could have done it quicker. Why were they frowning? Had he said something wrong, had he shown some sign of weakness? He held his head high, his back as straight as he could; he willed his legs to carry him on.

Somerled had made his headquarters in one of the fishermen’s cottages near the point. There were no lamps lit, but the sky was perceptibly lighter now. Armed men waited in total silence all around the cottage, and Eyvind could see them deployed along the shore, keeping down behind crumbling stone wall or low scrubby bush, invisible to any sentry who might be patrolling the shores of the Whaleback. A forest of spears, a wall of swords, a deadly rain of arrows. Odin’s bones, nearly every Norseman able to draw arms must be here save Thord and Eirik, who had strangely not been called. This force would surely outnumber anything Engus could maintain in the small settlement on the Whaleback by three to one. Let her be safe.

He went in silently, unannounced. “Somerled?”

In the shadows within the hut Somerled’s white face jerked around toward him, Somerled’s dark eyes widened, and then, something Eyvind had never seen before, Somerled’s features were transformed by a dazzling, joyful smile.

“Eyvind! Thor be praised!” Somerled took two steps forward and threw his arms around his friend in a strong, brief embrace. “They told me you were slain; then they said you were a ghost. I cannot believe this! It is surely a miracle that you are here now, at precisely the time when we most have need of you. Where have you been? You’re a mere shadow of yourself, old friend. What have they done to you? Come, sit here awhile. We still have a little time left.”