Read Online Return of the Ravens (Ulfrik Ormsson's Saga Book 6) by Jerry Autieri - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jerry Autieri
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"The price is too high. I will travel elsewhere for help."
He picked up his switch to begin guiding his horse, but Mole-face grabbed it by the bridle. "You're not leaving until we get the rest of that gold."
Reaching for his sword, he froze when he heard a heavy thud behind him. He whirled to see an arrow next to Finn's prostrate body.
"Hand over the bag," called a guard from the wall, "and keep that sword sheathed. You may get away alive if you do."
Ulfrik stood facing Mole-Face and his smirking companion. "You are all a disgrace to the noble jarl you serve. Hrolf is a generous lord, and yet you steal from his people. You are scum."
"We're practical," said Mole-Face. "And you're a fucking stranger with a dying man in his wagon. You're probably one of the traitors gone over to bandits or the Franks and things went bad for you. So now you come crawling back here and expect to be welcomed? Surrender the gold and don't let me see you here again, or we'll fill your wagon with arrows."
Ulfrik threw the bag far to the side, hearing the gold clink in the grass. "If my friend dies because of you, I will cut out your hearts and feed them to pigs. Count on it."
"Be gone, old man," Mole-Face shoved his horse and it began side-stepping.
Trundling away with the derisive laughter fading behind him, Ulfrik brooded on his next steps. Finn began to moan and in a moment of clarity called out.
"Are we almost at Hrolf's? I ... I'm on fire. I can't think. Hurry, please."
He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. "Yes, we're almost inside. Just hold a little while longer."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Runa sat beside the loom, a basket of yellow thread on her lap. Groa worked next to her, feeding thread into the weight stones that she handed off to a young girl working the loom. Runa continued to stare into her lap, her mind not focused on anything. She felt Groa's glances as she worked, seeing from the corner of her eye gnarled hands moving up and down. The young girl mumbled something, but Runa did not answer.
Days had passed since Konal had discovered her gems, and she still burned with anger and humiliation. She detested her foolishness for not giving the gems over to Hakon, who was now old enough to possess an inheritance. Now he might never possess the wealth his father had left for him. She shook her head and fished out a thread to begin creating embroideries for the cloth her women wove. She had done this all her life, and the movements were automatic. Her mind continued to spin in its own loathsome thoughts.
Konal emerged from their bedroom. She heard him yawning. It was midmorning and the shame of his late rising did not affect his mood. His raspy voice filled the hall. "Good morning! Seems another fine summer's day is underway."
Runa put her head down and continued to work, but the girl at the loom stopped to attend to Konal. "There is still food in the pot. I will heat it for you."
Groa continued to look at Runa, but she acted as if Konal had not spoken. Since his threat, he had behaved no differently than any other day, but she knew underneath his anger was hot. At night, he no longer reached for her, nor did he seek her company. They occupied the same bed as strangers.
"Runa, come sit with me while I eat."
"I'm not hungry."
She heard the bench drag along the floor, then silence. Groa stared at her, and finally Runa relented. Setting aside her thread and embroidery, she took the seat Konal offered. The girl produced another bowl for her, and returned to heating the soup.
"There's much work to be done yet. A whole day of spinning wool lies ahead, and I don't have time to idle at the table."
Konal shrugged and asked, "When is Aren to return home? He has been gone overlong and I expect him to be by my side."
"Perhaps in another week."
"And Hakon?"
"Einar is fostering him, and decides when or if he may travel. Why do you care?"
"You don't need to know."
"They're my
He picked up his switch to begin guiding his horse, but Mole-face grabbed it by the bridle. "You're not leaving until we get the rest of that gold."
Reaching for his sword, he froze when he heard a heavy thud behind him. He whirled to see an arrow next to Finn's prostrate body.
"Hand over the bag," called a guard from the wall, "and keep that sword sheathed. You may get away alive if you do."
Ulfrik stood facing Mole-Face and his smirking companion. "You are all a disgrace to the noble jarl you serve. Hrolf is a generous lord, and yet you steal from his people. You are scum."
"We're practical," said Mole-Face. "And you're a fucking stranger with a dying man in his wagon. You're probably one of the traitors gone over to bandits or the Franks and things went bad for you. So now you come crawling back here and expect to be welcomed? Surrender the gold and don't let me see you here again, or we'll fill your wagon with arrows."
Ulfrik threw the bag far to the side, hearing the gold clink in the grass. "If my friend dies because of you, I will cut out your hearts and feed them to pigs. Count on it."
"Be gone, old man," Mole-Face shoved his horse and it began side-stepping.
Trundling away with the derisive laughter fading behind him, Ulfrik brooded on his next steps. Finn began to moan and in a moment of clarity called out.
"Are we almost at Hrolf's? I ... I'm on fire. I can't think. Hurry, please."
He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. "Yes, we're almost inside. Just hold a little while longer."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Runa sat beside the loom, a basket of yellow thread on her lap. Groa worked next to her, feeding thread into the weight stones that she handed off to a young girl working the loom. Runa continued to stare into her lap, her mind not focused on anything. She felt Groa's glances as she worked, seeing from the corner of her eye gnarled hands moving up and down. The young girl mumbled something, but Runa did not answer.
Days had passed since Konal had discovered her gems, and she still burned with anger and humiliation. She detested her foolishness for not giving the gems over to Hakon, who was now old enough to possess an inheritance. Now he might never possess the wealth his father had left for him. She shook her head and fished out a thread to begin creating embroideries for the cloth her women wove. She had done this all her life, and the movements were automatic. Her mind continued to spin in its own loathsome thoughts.
Konal emerged from their bedroom. She heard him yawning. It was midmorning and the shame of his late rising did not affect his mood. His raspy voice filled the hall. "Good morning! Seems another fine summer's day is underway."
Runa put her head down and continued to work, but the girl at the loom stopped to attend to Konal. "There is still food in the pot. I will heat it for you."
Groa continued to look at Runa, but she acted as if Konal had not spoken. Since his threat, he had behaved no differently than any other day, but she knew underneath his anger was hot. At night, he no longer reached for her, nor did he seek her company. They occupied the same bed as strangers.
"Runa, come sit with me while I eat."
"I'm not hungry."
She heard the bench drag along the floor, then silence. Groa stared at her, and finally Runa relented. Setting aside her thread and embroidery, she took the seat Konal offered. The girl produced another bowl for her, and returned to heating the soup.
"There's much work to be done yet. A whole day of spinning wool lies ahead, and I don't have time to idle at the table."
Konal shrugged and asked, "When is Aren to return home? He has been gone overlong and I expect him to be by my side."
"Perhaps in another week."
"And Hakon?"
"Einar is fostering him, and decides when or if he may travel. Why do you care?"
"You don't need to know."
"They're my
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