Shardfall, The Shardheld Saga, #1

CHAPTER 6 - MORE PERILS

Muus returned to the world on gusts of consciousness. Slowly he felt the hard floor against his back. 'Kjelle?'

'You're awake.'

Blinking his eyes, Muus recognized the face of the Holderling.

With Kjelle's strong arm in his back, Muus sat up. 'A cave?' Then he saw Birthe. 'You here? What happened?'

'Swinne,' said the two together. Birthe's reaction was the fiercest and Muus looked at the girl's bandaged face.

'You're the Völva's disciple. Did you leave the lady alone?'

'She's dead.' A lament sung from Birthe's lips. With her arms around the bag on her lap she rocked back and forth, her eyes turned inward.

'Swinne's men have killed Asgisla and her people,' said Kjelle. 'While they plundered Belisheim, Birthe came to warn me that we had to flee. I couldn't wake you.'

'And then?' Muus clenched his fists.

'Then I carried you. That meager body of yours doesn't weigh much.' Kjelle looked at him obliquely. 'You're eating too little.'

'A hunk of bread, now and then,' said Muus. Then he grasped Kjelle's hand. 'Thank you.'

The Holderling snorted. 'I didn't want to lose you, Bryt. You're the only one who can confirm whom I am.'

Muus patted Kjelle's arm. 'I'll swear a thousand oaths, Holderling.' A feeling of depression came over him and he looked at the snow outside the cave. 'Now I'll never know what the Völva learned about me.'

'Of course you will.' Birthe sat upright, her face expressionless. 'I am a Völva, after all.'

Muus looked at her. 'Don't you have to be old for that?'

'I've been married,' snapped the girl. 'Old enough, if you're born with the power.'

'Muus,' said Kjelle and he sounded strained. 'She has a babe with her.'

Birthe lifted the bundle of furs from her bosom and through its folds a tiny, serious face with blue eyes looked at Muus. 'He's called Búi,' said she. 'Búi Birthesen. My son, my name. His father almost killed the bear that lived in this cave, but the bear won. Barn was no hunter. He hoped to impress me; instead, he made me a widow. The fool.' She wiped her tears away. 'I was three months pregnant, when I went and killed his bear for him, just as long as we'd been married.' She cradled the little one in her arms. 'I could find another man, but I don't want to. Never again.' From her belt the girl took a slender metal rod, about as long as her forearm. 'I'm of the völur now, wand-wed. I don't need a husband.' Búi began to cry. She unbuttoned her coat and her vest. Moments later, the newborn's mouth had found her nipple and sucked his meal down. 'He's always hungry,' said she. 'Just like his father.'

Muus looked at her. 'I'm sorry.'

'So am I.' The girl sounded bitter. 'We were too young.' Almost angrily she gripped her wand. 'We were talking about you and what the Völva knew of you.'

'All right,' said Muus. 'Tell me what the lady discovered.'

Birthe looked at him. 'You're a Bryt.'

'I know,' said Muus. 'I've heard her say so.'

'You were stolen by Skid Largassen, the one named Bearjaw, the Viking of Helmshaven.'

'I saw him in my dream,' said Muus. 'Images of the raid, his longship with the bear on its sail, of Helmshaven and the slave market.'

'You have the power of magic.'

'Yes.'

'But not enough.'