Heart of a Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga Book 1) by Melanie Karsak

Author:Melanie Karsak [Karsak, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clockpunk Press
Published: 2024-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

That night, while the common people gathered, drank, and ate, the gothar collected privately under one tent.

“It is not seemly for us to mix in revelry,” Arja told Gudrun and me. “The people come to us to speak to the gods for them, to heal them when they are sick, to pray for their dead. Unless invited by someone of importance, we do not mingle with the others. You must hold yourself apart as much for their sakes as for our own.”

“Yes, Arja,” Gudrun said.

“Now, with that said, I will go attend Katya. Unnur and Gorm have gone to sit with the chieftain. There is food here. Drink and eat, then take your rest.”

With that, Arja turned to leave.

Gudrun scowled briefly at me, then went off to eat.

“Arja,” I called, catching up with her. “With your permission, I want to help you attend Katya.”

Arja paused a moment, then considered. “Very well. She will not be herself. Be warned.”

With that, I followed Arja from the feasting tent, retreating again to the small tent where we slept. Within, Katya lay on her cot. Ebba sat beside her, a worried look on her face.

“Have you given her the tonic to help clear her mind?” Arja asked.

Ebba nodded. “She is coming around slowly.”

Arja knelt beside Katya, gently lifting her eyelids to look at her eyes. She frowned. “Perhaps a bit of night root.”

Ebba nodded. “I thought the same.”

“Watch her breath, Freydis,” Arja told me then she and Ebba went to the other side of the tent to work on their mixture.

Katya lay on the cot, muttering in what I realized must have been her native tongue. Had she been a thrall once, or had her family come here, like many others, in search of a better life? I looked down at the amulets hanging from my neck, including my mother’s silver amulet of Mjölnir. I touched it briefly, thinking of the mother I would never know. Had she come to this blót too? Had she once spoken for the gods?

I jumped when Katya grabbed my arm.

“Kat—”

“Freydis,” she whispered in a voice hers and not hers all at once, “do not fear the skrælings. Follow… Follow the red bird. You will find an isle of forest, a place where love may bloom… Freydis… Follow… Freydis…” she said then began to shake.

“Arja!” I called in alarm.

Arja and Ebba rushed to join me. I stepped out of the way so they could work.

Ebba slipped behind Katya, helping her sit while Arja held her body.

“Her legs, Freydis! Hold her legs!”

We held Katya in place until the shaking subsided. Once she was still, her eyes seemed to clear. Katya looked at Arja, “Arja?” she asked groggily.

Arja nodded. “You’re all right. You’re coming out of it now. You’re all right.” Arja rose and retrieved the drink they had prepared for Katya.

“Here,” Arja told Katya, returning with the brew. “Night root. It will help.”

With a shaking hand, Katya took it, sipping the liquid.

As she did so, she stared before her, a distant look in her eyes.

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