Thrown Through Time

Chapter 2

Three months had passed and now snow covered the ground. The air was bitter cold. Colder than anything Sophie had ever experienced before, but she was getting used to the thick woolen clothes and heavy furs the villagers wore. And she kept her hair covered, just as Svanhild had suggested.

"Have you seen Sigurd?" Svanhild asked her one evening.

"No, I haven't," Sophie replied. "I think he was going to speak to the council about something. Would you like me to see if he's coming for supper?"

"Would you? You can take the boys with you, if you like."

"Of course," Sophie smiled. The boys were always up for an outing, even in the snow. "Torstein! Leif!" she called from the bottom of the stairs.

The boys came bounding down and already had their furs on before she reached the door. Knowing it would be a quick walk up the street and back, she only grabbed one of the thick wool shawls by the door and pulled it around her shoulders. "We'll be back shortly."

Svanhild was busy stirring supper in a big pot as she held the baby on her hip and smiled as they headed out.

"Something's going on!" Leif saw a crowd up the street and the boys took off running. Sophie smiled but didn't hurry. As she drew closer to the crowd, she began to feel like something wasn't quite right. There had been plenty of times that a group of people had gathered in the street, but this was different. There were several men she didn't recognize and it was easy enough to spot them from up the street as they stood nearly a head taller than most of the men from the village.

She could hear shouting as she walked closer and she suddenly had a sinking feeling in her stomach. When the boys appeared outside the group again, she waved them over to where she had moved into the shadows of the nearest house. "Maybe we should go back," she said softly.

"Those men have Father!" Leif cried, running into her arms.

"What do they want?" she asked, hugging him and trying to see what was going on.

"I don't know!"

"Let's get you back home, quickly!" Sophie said, ushering them away from the crowd. She kept her hair covered underneath the gray shawl.

"What's wrong? What's the matter?" Svanhild asked when they burst back into the house and Leif was nearly in tears.

"There are men in the town square," Sophie said. "The boys say they have Sigurd!"

"Oh dear," Svanhild laid the baby, now asleep, into the cradle in the corner. "Torstein, are they the same men that were here before? Do you remember?"

"I don't know if they're the same ones," Torstein shrugged. "But I think they're from the same clan. They're tall, and I think they're looking for the same thing." He glanced at Sophie.

"Me? They're looking for me?" she asked.

Svanhild latched the front door. "They came looking for someone. We don't know that it's you. But they were just here a few months ago. Right before you came here. Have you kept your hair covered?"

"Yes! I always do." she said. She couldn't remember a time when she'd gone outside without it being covered. Even before it grew cold.

Svanhild shook her head. "They have spies everywhere. Someone must have seen you, otherwise they wouldn't have come back so soon. Especially not now that the weather has turned."

"Should we be worried about Sigurd?" Sophie asked. "Will they hurt him?"

"I don't know. But we can't let them see you. Get upstairs and stay there until I tell you. They've been known to search houses!"