Storms Over Skaill by Douglas H. A

Author:Douglas, H. A.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2019-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Einar stood in the partial shelter of his porch and stared out through mists and rain at the blurred shapes of sand dunes. He could see nothing more; beyond the low humps of the nearest mounds, all was just grey and indistinct. Drizzle had turned the stones of the doorway shiny and slick with wet, feeling cold through his plain leather shoes. Even his thick hose and his heaviest woollen kirtle couldn't keep out the autumn chill, and he could feel water soaking into the linen shirt underneath.

“We need this storm to blow over,” he murmured quietly, wrapping his arms around his chest and exhaling clouds of steam into the chill air beyond. “How in all the worlds are we supposed to get the harvest in with this hanging over us?”

“At least we don't have to move the sheep around like we used to,” observed Skapti, clustered with some of the other bondsmen behind their master. “They can stay where they are all year round, according to the Orccamen.”

Einar turned to look closely at his followers. “Nice comb,” he grunted. Thorfinn grinned.

“Got it from across the way: young Moren, Bran's son, has a knack for 'em.”

Einar raised an eyebrow, then shrugged to himself. Everyone else was settling in far better than he felt he was, and the irony was not lost on him. What to do about it remained the problem.

“What do they say about this weather, then?” he asked eventually, after another bout of staring out moodily at the grey wall of mist. “There's no point standing here and just looking at it,” he decided, “we might as well go back inside and make our plans in comfort. Come on lads: back to the fireside, and you can tell me what our neighbours have to tell you whenever you go over there. Like it or not, we're here now, and it's still better than if we'd stayed under Harald's nose. You've all got used to the idea: it's about time I did as well.”

Behind his back, eyebrows were raised and looks of wonder exchanged. Then they all followed Einar back to the hall, where the fire was bright and warm and drove away the outside world for a little while. Their neighbours remained, as did the climate on this coast; but it was easier to discuss such things, and others besides, when there was no need to look out on them.

“I speak with Rhodri from time to time,” ventured Eyjolf once they were back on the benches and the cups had been filled. “He helps the smith over the way sometimes, but otherwise he's one of Drosten's labourers out in the fields. He digs peat, too, which is a useful skill to have in these parts...”

“And what does he say about the clouds and the rain?” replied Einar. “How do they usually judge when there's likely to be a patch of clearer sky, eh?”

Eyjolf shrugged. “As far as I can tell, lord, they don't. They just wait for it as we do, it's so unpredictable.

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