The Roots of Yggdrasil by Katherine Buel

Author:Katherine Buel [Buel, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katherine Buel
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

GUNNAR KNOCKED ON HIS sister’s door, only then realizing he had not yet changed out of his ruined finery. Too late to think of such a thing as the door flew open; and no matter, for she, too, yet wore the soil and soot of their disaster, and her eyes seemed to see only his face in any case. Gunnar knew his expression to be grim—he felt it—but Gudrun sagged with relief.

“You found no body. I knew he could not be dead.”

Gunnar could not spare her. “That we have found no body does not mean that he lives. And even if, by some small chance, he does …”

“Then he is prisoner to Atli.” Gudrun turned and stalked across her chamber, a space of rich tapestries and plump cushions, all color and feminine comfort. Her rose-colored gown swished around her developing curves, and a wide green belt cinched her tiny waist. When had she grown up? He had looked away for but a moment and the girl was gone, a young woman in her place. She insisted, “Atli will ransom him. He must know we will pay.”

“Of course we would but—”

“He is not dead! I know he is not!”

“Where are your women? Where is Mother? You should be with—”

She spun to face him, color high in her milk-white cheeks, her eyes blazing green. “Do not dismiss me so, Gunnar!”

“You are upset—do you think I am not? He is my brother and my friend. And not only that—it was he who turned the battle. He went straight for Atli. It distracted the Hunaheimers, distracted Atli himself. It was Sigurd’s brave and stupid charge that gave us time to organize and drive them off. But he is lost, Gudrun, I am sure of it. In my heart, I am sure.”

“You are sure of nothing! I have dreamed it. He is mine. I have seen him—older, changed, but it is him—and he is mine. I know this.”

Her forcefulness took Gunnar aback. Even amid the horrors of the moment, it took him very much aback. Memories heaved up, altering: Gudrun smiling shyly as she poured wine for him and Sigurd; Gudrun passing by the training yard, watching with pink cheeks; Gudrun blushing when Hogni told Sigurd to dance with her at the mid-winter feast. Gunnar shook his head.

He tried to speak gently. “A girl’s dream. It doesn’t mean anything, sister.”

“It means everything. It is a true dream, such as I have had all my life. I dreamed of what happened to Father before it happened. I dreamed you brought home a shadow, and you did. I dreamed the swan that became my babe, mine and Sigurd’s—”

“Enough, Gudrun!” He gripped her slender arms through the rose-colored linen. “Calm yourself. This is not like you. Such madness—” She wrenched away with unexpected strength, with what seemed to him unnatural force. It frightened him and, in some way he did not understand, offended him.

“Ask Mother! She knows my dreams are true, she will tell you! She herself—”

“Enough, I said! I have men’s concerns to think of, duties.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.