Dragonsong by Mia Marlowe

Author:Mia Marlowe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2013-11-26T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“Come, girls,” Aud said when the women finished lifting the last of the provisions from the back of the wagon. Moira and Colleen, aided by Brother Kevan, had jumped into the void left by Regin and Orlin’s absence. Sometimes all three of them labored and grunted under a load that Orlin would have lifted without thought, but they finally managed to finish unloading and storing Aud’s purchases.

“Where are we bound?” Moira asked.

“As near the top of Mount Slaettaratindur as we can manage,” Aud said. “From there, we’ll be able to see a good ways out to sea and have a clear view of the beach where they’ll be driving to the kill. Come now, up you go.” She held her hand out to Moira to help her up on the wagon seat. Colleen clambered into the back of the rig, holding Niall tight in her thin arms. Brother Kevan waved them off. Since he believed God had a purpose for all His wild creatures that didn’t include slaughter, he had no wish to watch the hunt.

“How did you find the market, Colleen?” Moira asked in Norse.

“It was many . . . too much things,” she stammered, then lapsed into excited Gaelic. “Ye should see it, my lady. They had bales of cloth from someplace called Cathay. Clear on the far side of the world, Aud told me. Real silk, they said it was. And Frankish glassware and a silver smith what made whatever kind of necklace a body might want. He said he could even do a cross for me provided I had the coin to pay for it, of course, which I don’t. And there was perfumed oil from someplace called Miklagard. Sweeter than honeysuckle. I never smelled the like. How do ye suppose such strange things came to be in a bitty remote place like this?” The girl finally paused to draw breath.

“What’s she jabbering on about?” Aud wanted to know.

When Moira translated for her, Aud laughed and slapped the reins on the backs of the round ponies pulling their wagon. The pair quickened their pace from a trudge to a begrudging trot.

“Tell her the market here is nothing compared to Kaupang or Birka,” Aud said. “We are a sea-faring people and take delight in oddments from faraway places. There’s no limit to what goods you might find at our markets.”

“It was exciting, but ‘tis not a bit like home,” Colleen said, her voice now dispirited and flat.

Moira recognized the ailment for what it was and knew the only cure for homesickness was to see the girl safely back to Ulaid. Since that wasn’t likely to happen, she would do the next best thing for her. Moira could let Colleen talk about home.

“It’s been some months since I set foot on Erin,” Moira said. Counting back in her mind she realized it would be a whole year in less than the turn of a season. “Tell me all the news from Ulaid.”

Instead of rattling on with excitement, Colleen was quiet for several moments as the wagon jolted up the overgrown mountain track.

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