Read Online Storm at the Edge of Time by Pamela F. Service - Free Book Online Page A

large smelly Viking. And the overwhelming fear and strangeness didn’t help either.
    The moorland looked more tended than it had in that brief glimpse they’d had of Urkar’s time. There were well-marked fields and pastures, and an occasional huddle of stone houses. But this was also clearly not the Orkney on which she’d just been vacationing, with its paved roads and television antennas. The salt wind whipping at her face tore away Jamie’s last shred of hope that this was a dream. In its place sat a hollow chilling fear. This was real, and it was up to three clueless kids to get out of it.
    So maybe she’d better start with a crash course in current events. Trying to sound as casual as possible on this jolting horse, she said, “So, tell me more about this news you’re bringing.”
    The man snorted. “Some wool merchant’s brat wants to be part of state councils? Well, no matter, the word will be out soon enough. King Harald of Norway is out to avenge the death of his Orkney ally, Earl Rogenvald. He’s promised men, ships, and arms to Rogenvald’s followers to move against Earl Thorfinn. So when the seas warm in the spring, any of you merchants stillaround may find yourselves in the midst of a grand battle.”
    Jamie frowned, wishing she had read a bit more of those guidebooks. Who
were
those people? Well, it probably didn’t matter, as long as they could find that wretched stick and get out of here—soon.
    Their road threaded through the moor, crested a hill, and swept down toward the sea. Fields and houses clustered more thickly near the shore; beyond a stretch of choppy gray water, a wedge-shaped island tilted out of the sea. More buildings clustered on its lower, landward side.
    The wind was stronger here and whipped the horse’s mane into Jamie’s face. Heading north of the mainland village, they stopped on a low cliff opposite the island. She and the other two passengers were swung roughly to the ground.
    â€œYou’re on your own from here, O great Arni Arnorson,” the leader of the men said. “Now just you remember this kindness when you set about casting evil spells.” Laughing, the men guided their horses down a steep path to the beach.
    Without getting too close to the cliff’s edge, Jamie watched them. “Where are they going?” she asked Arni.
    â€œJust down to the beach. The tide’s nearly far enough out to cross over.”
    She studied the narrow channel of gray water between the shore and the island. Along a straight strip, it was churned into white foam with occasional rocks bereaking the surface. “You mean when the tide’s out, that’s not an island?”
    The red-haired boy nodded. “For several hours at low tide, you can walk across at just this one spot. That’s what makes it such a good defensible stronghold for the Earl. No one can easily attack by land.”
    Taking shelter from the wind behind a grassy hillock, the three waited and watched the spine of exposed rock gradually widen. The first to break the silence was Tyaak.
    â€œWas it necessary to tell them I was a slave?” he asked crossly.
    Arni shrugged. “Better than telling them you were from another world. The priests might end up by calling you a demon. Besides, not many of us have seen people from these southern countries.”
    Jamie tucked her woolen cape more closely around her. “I’d think your talk of working magic could cause just as much trouble with the priests.”
    Arni scuffed a foot in the sandy soil. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. But they didn’t even believe me.” He gave the ground an angry kick. “And why should they? I can’t really work it anyway!”
    â€œWell, we’d better start trying,” Jamie said, “or two of us are going to get stuck in a world where we don’t belong.”
    â€œThen it is hopeless,” Tyaak said