"They all seem sweet at that age," Snorri said. "But I suspected she was hunting for a man. She made eyes at a lot of the younger men. And those eyes probably caught a lot of men too. Only they'd take one look at her father and know to piss off the other way."
"Only my dear friend Toki would not see that." Ulfrik sighed and shrugged. "He would charge straight in and let the plan work itself out."
"You don't know if it's true yet." Runa joined Ulfrik at his bench. She laid her gentle hand on his leg. "And if it is true, what is the harm in it?"
Ulfrik wavered a moment, wondering if he wasn't exaggerating the issue. He looked at Snorri and read the flat expression on his face. "There's much harm in it, wife. Hardar fancies himself the greatest jarl of all time. His daughter should be wed to another jarl of suitable station, one he thinks will increase his power and glory. Toki doesn't fit those demands. At best, Hardar's mood for cooperation is worsened. At worst, I don't want to think of it. You saw how he took to losing a wrestling match."
Runa withdrew her hand, dropping her gaze. Ulfrik scanned Snorri and Gerdie, both regarding him gravely. Silence dominated for long moments. Then Ulfrik let go a drawn-out breath before speaking again.
"I will assign men to watch for his return. We will know the truth of what he's doing. If he is visiting Halla, then he will understand and show good judgment."
Runa laughed and rolled her eyes. "You're talking about my love struck brother?"
Ulfrik bowed his head, and would have laughed if he could see things ending as he hoped. But Toki was as stubborn as Runa and less sensible. "He must understand, or we could have a larger problem than quarreling fishermen."
Ulfrik expected meeting outside the hall would make his conversation with Toki less confrontational. He was wrong.
Toki paced over the grass, hands gripping his curly hair. Ulfrik and Runa gave him space. The sky had turned indigo, the closest it would be to darkness during the summer months. A strong wind carried earthy scents and promised a storm. Scattered golden lights twinkled from Nye Grenner up the slope behind them. Toki muttered to himself as he circled.
"Toki, I appreciate your honesty," Ulfrik said, "but you can't be caught in secret meetings with Hardar's daughter."
"I haven't been caught, have I." He stopped pacing long enough to snap out the words, then resumed. Ulfrik looked a Runa, who shrugged and raised her brows.
"Hardar hasn't caught you yet. But I caught you. And Hardar will catch Halla. It's only a matter of time." Toki stopped pacing, putting his back to Ulfrik and Runa. He trembled, as if either to explode in rage or collapse in tears. Ulfrik rubbed his face then covered his mouth with his hand. Runa stepped into the pause.
"In any other circumstance, we would be happy for you. Please reconsider your actions. Hardar would deal harshly with you, and Ulfrik would have to defend you. Think of how that will affect all of Nye Grenner. Please, brother."
The wind gusted, flattening the grass and cracking their cloaks. Toki's shaking subsided, and he faced them. Ulfrik read the pain in his friend's face, and wanted to avert his eyes. But the situation required a firm stance. Toki swallowed and gritted his teeth.
"Neither of you understand. Of course I know what's at stake. It's why I have kept this secret. But Halla is not a passing distraction for me. She is beyond compare. Fate has put us together, can't you see that? Like you and Runa." Toki spread his hands to emphasize his words.
"Gods, Toki, the two situations couldn't be more different. You put yourself together with Halla, not Fate. Let's be honest."
Toki's face collapsed into a frown and Ulfrik's neck tensed. He opened his mouth to continue chiding Toki, but Runa seized his arm to stop him. "Your love is fresh," Runa said, strained patience beginning to show in her voice. "You believe Freya's hand is upon the two of you. It is a hard time to think clearly. But you must."
"We will be married," Toki said. He set his jaw and peered at Ulfrik and Runa.
Ulfrik nearly laughed; he looked so much like his wife when she hit her stubborn moods. He glanced at Runa, her mouth agape and eyes wide. How do you enjoy seeing yourself, he thought. Not so easy being on this side of that stubbornness. He suppressed a smile, but Toki misread him.
"You think I'm foolish? Halla is her own woman, and she will not be a piece on her father's game board."
"Toki, she is not free to make that choice. Her father and mother will marry her to another of her station. Even if I made you jarl, Nye Grenner is not Hardar's choice."
"Listen, at first I was only after her body. But over this month, we have grown past that and have found something more. I am in love with her."
"So you are. And I forbid you from meeting her again."
Wind filled the silence. Toki's face fell slack, his posture slumped. Runa removed her hand from Ulfrik's arm and turned away. Ulfrik hated what he had said, and wished he had never been in this position. But no other choice existed.
"You are clear on my orders?" he asked as Toki stood staring at him. "You are forbidden from visiting Hardar's lands on your own. You are not to send others in your place. You will not risk getting caught sniffing around Hardar's hall."
Toki remained still but for a fluttering cape. His eyes glistened in the blue light. He swallowed again, then finally lowered his head. His voice was weak and ragged. "She is the finest woman in the circle of the world. I could never find another like her."
Ulfrik glanced at Runa, who rolled her eyes. Ulfrik felt the same way. He knew Toki would be hurt and angry. He might not speak to him for weeks. But soon memories would fade and life would return to normal. Ulfrik needed to be patient and remain firm. But Toki had also not yet committed to his demands. So Ulfrik reached to the silver armband clasped to his bicep. He had worn it especially for this. He worked it off and extended it toward Toki.
"You will swear your oath to break contact with Halla. Put your hand upon the ring and swear before the gods."
"Really, Ulfrik, is this needed?" Runa wheeled to him, a frown creasing her face.
"It is. An oath sworn to the gods is beyond question." Ulfrik saw Toki's expression morph from surprise to horror. The ring flashed white as he held it forward. "Make your oath, Toki, then we will put this matter out of mind."
Toki regarded the ring as if it were an adder foisted on him. But Ulfrik kept it out, and smiled. He had no intention of wearing it again without Toki's oath. The air thickened between them. Toki stepped forward and reached toward the ring. His fingers hovered over it. He licked his lips. Ulfrik pushed it at his hand, encouraging him to grasp it.
At last he snatched the ring from Ulfrik, and held it over his bowed head. "I give my oath to break contact with Halla."
He lowered the ring and raised his head. His face was contorted in pain. Ulfrik had hoped for a stronger oath, but Toki had done all that could be expected. Ulfrik accepted the ring and embraced Toki. "Your sacrifice will not be forgotten, my friend."
When they parted, Runa stepped in and kissed her brother's cheek and cupped his face in her hands. "You have done well. You have put others before yourself, the mark of a great man."
Toki nodded, wiped his nose with the back of his hand, then turned to stride up the slope. Ulfrik stared after him, putting his arm around Runa. "Do you think he will be mad for long?"
"I don't know. But my brother is stubborn, and rarely surrenders his desires. This may not be over."
"But he swore to the gods." Ulfrik looked down at Runa, but she merely bit her lip and watched Toki disappearing into the gloom of the short-lived night.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Halla stood below the high table, watching her father squatting in his prized foreign chair. The air was thick enough to choke her. Though a typically balmy summer evening, she was cold. The night sun filtered through the high windows and broke the hall into dusty columns of straw-colored light. Her father bounced his leg beneath the table, all the while smiling at her. He kept glancing at her mother, who seemed to disappear next to him. She kept her head lowered and folded her hands on her lap.