At last he had detailed all of Throst's treachery, the capture of his sons, and the arrival of Theodoric. Attention remained fixed on him, and the flow of food and ale ceased as men forgot themselves. Gunther frowned angrily throughout, and at each mention of Clovis or Throst his fist clenched. When it was finished, he sat back and refreshed his mouth with the last drink from his horn.
"It is more dire than I had even considered," Gunther said at last. "King Odo has involved himself, even if only indirectly. We thought he had stopped looking west."
"No king stops looking for land, especially if he believes it to be his by right," Ulfrik said. "You hardly come to the border anymore, but if you did you would see the work I do in keeping the Franks off your backs. They pick at every loose thread, hoping to unravel the whole cloth. They think they may have found it this time. And maybe they have. Both of my sons are their hostages."
The gloomy silence prevailed as men looked into their mugs and Gunther shook his head. "What have they asked for ransom?"
"My fortune and my land, all that I possess."
Gunther raised his brow, but said nothing. Einar finally lost patience and asked the questions on everyone's mind.
"Will we be able to speak to Jarl Hrolf? Clovis has only given us seven days and two are spent already."
"He is gone to England for the winter, took three hundred men, all his family, and my son. Only my own men and a small number of Hrolf's remain behind. We cannot abandon our position."
He turned saddened eyes to Ulfrik, and placed a heavy hand on his forearm. Ulfrik pulled it back.
"You have not even heard my request, and you are already telling me what you cannot do." His heart raced and his breath grew hot in anger, yet he paused long enough to gird his emotion. "Will you at least hear me?"
Gunther closed his eye and nodded, twisting on the bench to face Ulfrik. "I merely wanted you to know the situation here. Please, speak to me as Hrolf's second and I will grant all that is within my power. You know I want to aid you."
The tone of his voice and his imploring eyes expressed more to Ulfrik than any speech. Without a doubt, he had sworn publicly to hold and defend Hrolf's land in his absence. Gunther was a shrewd man, and if he suspected Ulfrik had a plan to defeat the Franks, particularly King Odo's men, then he would want to share in that glory. He needed Ulfrik to provide a way to maintain his oath and still be able to assist. Ulfrik's beating heart calmed, and he gave the faintest smile as he rose to address Gunther. He did not need to persuade his old friend, only the men around him.
"Thank you for the opportunity. Hear what I ask, and judge whether it is within your power to help me. I think you will find aiding me is a better defense of your homes than staying put." Gunther smiled, and gestured for Ulfrik to continue. He clasped his arm behind his back and began to pace. "The Franks believe they have me in a perfect trap, that I would not sacrifice my own to defy them. They also know without help, I do not have enough men to face down Clovis and Theodoric."
"They do not know you are here?" Gunther asked.
"They believe I am here for a loan from Hrolf, so that I may pay the silver demanded of me. Were I to return with men at my back, my sons and all the others would die before we could reach Clovis's walls."
"So are you truly here for silver?" Gunther's frown filled with shadow from the light above. Some men looked at each other in disappointment or disgust. One even left the table.
"Hardly, in fact, I have prepared a gift of gold to you so no one may claim I am a poor guest." He paused and glared at those who frowned at him. "I am here for men. I am here to bring the fury of the north onto these warm-weather worms. I am here because not only will my sons and warriors be saved, but Clovis will be destroyed in one blow. With the fighting strength of your hall to help, the largest Frankish stronghold between us and Paris will be ripped open. Land and slaves will raise our treasure piles and the glory of our deed will be sung in every hall until Ragnarok."
He let his words echo in the hall, and even Einar, who had discussed the plan until exhausted, leaned forward to hear more. Gunther's eye shined with mischief, but he still had a role to play. "And this will be done without Clovis's executing your hostages?"
"He will release them before he ever sees your blades."
A murmur rippled through the hall and Gunther smiled. "Now that's a plan worth hearing. Go on."
"I will grant him all he asks. The silver is his to take, and I will give it down to my last bit of treasure. And my hall and fortress shall be his as well. My people will be waiting outside its walls, prepared to leave and never return." Ulfrik paused, relishing the drama and the wide eyes waiting for his reveal. He licked his lips before continuing.
"But inside my fortress, stuffed into every building and room, are hidden the fighting men of Hrolf the Strider and Gunther One-Eye. When Ravndal's gates close behind Clovis, the killing will begin. The gates will reopen and my men and yours will rend the Frankish army like old sailcloth. Theodoric's horsemen will be useful only as targets for your bowmen. His footmen will die in confusion. Then, when they are shattered, we turn to Clovis's home and demolish it."
The gathered men roared in delight, banging the tables and stomping the ground. Ulfrik swaggered about the table, smiling at Einar and Gunther as he gathered in the praise for his plan. Gunther, however, still had his oath and he began shouting for his men to quiet. At last, he restored order then folded his arms as he challenged Ulfrik.
"A cunning plan, certainly worthy of a song, but I fear you have wasted time coming here. My oath to Hrolf has bound me to the defense of his hall and lands, and to abandon it is to leave it open for attack."
The eager crowd was chastened at Gunther's reminder and the excited hum stilled. Ulfrik expected this, and had already determined a counter. "And to let me crumble is to encourage an attack on this very hall. I have gambled all on coming here, and there is no time left. To return now without your aid is to see my sons killed and my hall destroyed. Do not fear I will betray my own oath. I will die before a Frankish army slips across my borders. But they will. Then who will you summon to your aid? You must send messengers now; call back all you can to the defense of these lands. In one week I will be dead and my lands in the hands of the Franks.
"Unless you have the wisdom to understand Hrolf's true command. For I doubt he ever intended to allow the borders to crumble while you sit idle. In all our years, he has always sent aid to the borders and that is why your homes are not surrounded by walls and your people prosper. No Frank gets this far because you fight them farther afield. What has changed now?"
Many grumbled agreement, and Ulfrik was confident he had won the day. Gunther smiled, but then his expression grew serious.
"All very strong arguments. I must consult with the rest of my felag, and hear their thoughts. I will have your answer tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is too late," Ulfrik said, genuine surprise reaching into his voice. He had expected a quicker agreement from Gunther. "Gathering your men and moving them unseen into Ravndal will take time. Just the travel alone …"
"Tomorrow morning," Gunther said with finality. "I am moved by your need, but you must understand mine. Hrolf left no room to misunderstand his intent. Your plan is a great temptation, but it cannot be undertaken lightly. Rest today, feast tonight, speak no more of this to me. You will have your answer in the morning, and if I may aid you then I will put all speed to that task."
A hush overtook all the men, and Gunther excused himself with no further ceremony. Ulfrik stared at Einar, who returned a harsh stare of his own. He thought of Runa's fears, then slowly sat on a bench and rubbed his mouth. He had no choice but to wait until tomorrow. When the sun rose he would be at Gunther's bedside to hear the decision.