Valknut

CHAPTER|20 Bitter Sweet

Catriona” Olaf whispered holding his head in his hands. 

Now that they were temporarily out of harm’s way and Olaf had a minute to think clearly, all he could do was wonder what kind of dangers she was facing. Had the Dark Knight reached Rognvaldsey? He hoped Njord had opened up the sea and swallowed the fleet! That the whole McDermott army that had sailed to Rognvaldsey was now settled in watery graves. That he would return to find that all was well. He knew though, somewhere deep inside, that he was wishing foolishly. They had sailed to Pictland through the same weather. They had arrived safely. The same would be true for the Dark Knight. He felt the same anxiousness Kieran had felt. The urge to simply run to the shore, climb into his ship and sail home on angry waves. 

The thought of his ships brought his mind to more immediate concerns. His ships? His men? Klaufi? What had become of them? Did they by any miracle survive? What escape plan did Brian have for them? If he had escape plans that is. So far the man had proved loyal to Kieran’s cause. But one never knew right? Feeling too restless to sit, Olaf began pacing the floor furiously. How he hated waiting! Something needed to be done. But no, he was stuck here! 

He grunted as he glugged down more ale and his thoughts returned to Catriona. For once he was glad the lass could wield a weapon as deftly as any man. To think that the horrors of war had befallen her, his woman, in his absence, made him curse. Unable to break free from ugly thoughts, he threw his ale mug across the room with a furious roar. By Odin and Thor! If she were harmed, there would be no mercy. No hell hole would be able to hide the Dark Knight from him. He vowed to tear the man, limb by limb, with his bare hands! For the first time in a long time, Olaf felt like the teenage boy he once was. The boy that had been enamored by war and bloodshed. The boy that lived for the smell of blood and death on the battlefield – every bit as barbaric as his people were rumored to be. 

Over the years he’d grown tired of it. The pain, the loss, the havoc that was rained on his people. The victories were many, but so were the casualties. If the thinning population in his village wasn’t enough, the loss of his father and brother in battle for a mistake he had made, had been enough for him to hang up his bear cloak. The beast inside him had been subdued through sheer will power. But it hadn’t died. No. not even after all these years. It still lurked... right there… just beneath his skin. Pacing inside him wild with fury just waiting to be unleashed. He hadn’t sought the Volvo since that night to help him bring out the beast in him. He swore to no longer be the man of Odin that he had been raised to be.

But now… now he sorely felt the need to unleash that fury. 

The sound of hooves drew Olaf’s attention from his thoughts. Rushing to the window he shifted the curtain just a tad it to get a glimpse of who was approaching the house. Excitement washed over him as he recognized Brian’s form. 

Olaf made it to the hall just as Brian entered but didn’t get the opportunity to speak with the man. He paced the hall grunting and cursing as he waited. 

In his chambers, Brian was quickly giving his wife orders to pack – and to pack lightly. He spoke with her about the situation and pressed into her the need to leave. She simply nodded her head. When he was done speaking, she lifted her skirts and rushed out the room in search of the servants. Much needed to be done and not enough time to do it in. 

As she left his room, Brian hollered for Olaf who appeared in a flash. They sat at the table, nursing mugs of ale as they spoke in hushed whispers. 

“Yer men are in the dungeons. The ships are safe. The fool was greedy and left them unharmed hoping to make use of them. We must leave shortly” 

What Brian said next left Olaf feeling a little empty. 

“Sadly, I cannot say the same for Klaufi. I have asked and I have looked, but no one seems to remember them coming down to the castle. If we cannot find them before we leave, then they must remain behind or find their own way home. We cannot wait for them.” 

Olaf grunted. This turn of events, as bitter sweet as it was, made things easier for them. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly enough. While the men spoke of plans to distract the night watch and free whatever men were in the dungeon, the servants rushed around packing. 

“What to do with the boy?” Brian asked staring at Kieran. 

Olaf shrugged. What can be done? He thought. 

“Perhaps he should wait for us at the ships. He will be of no use to us at the dungeons” Brian suggested. Olaf nodded. 

When everything was ready, Brian brought out a change of clothes for the two men. It simply wouldn’t do to have them running around in Norse clothes. What to do about their hair though. Sirens they were, with their bright red mops of hair! 

“Never” Olaf roared at Brian’s suggestion. Eventually though he agreed. There wasn’t much of an argument to be had here. While they could hide most of it under hooded cloaks, the beard must go. It was a case of shave, dye, or die. 

Olaf run softly across the bailey hiding behind the various dilapidated buildings that provided him with some shelter from the moonlight. He muttered a chain of curses under his breath. They had no time to wait for a darker night and had to risk discovery in this moonlight night. Brian and his son followed with ease. 

The night watch was shifting, no eyes searched for intruders from the towers or battlements. Quickly and quietly the three made their way to the inner sanctums of the castle. Brian took the lead now. He obviously knew his way around the castle better than Olaf. It didn’t take long to reach their destination. Just outside the kitchen door was a nook in the wall. Brian gently pushed a broken wooden stump through it and their efforts were welcomed by a cold draught that carried with it a most putrid smell.

Brian ushered his son and Olaf through the secret passageway that led straight to the dungeons. 

“Meet me at the end of the passage way. And don’t step out until ye hear me call for ye” he whispered just before turning around and heading back the way he came. The pair nodded solemnly and walked forward in the darkness feeling their way towards the end of the passage. 

The passageway was no different from the outside of the castle. Damp and smelly! Something was definitely rotting within the castle walls. As they stumbled through hitting their feet several times on rocks and unidentifiable things that crunched in the darkness, Olaf was secretly thanking the Gods he didn’t have a light. As they reached the end, all that now remained was to wait… endlessly… in the midst of whatever left this foul odor. Olaf wondered how much longer his nose would handle the assault. He had never smelt anything this foul before. And by Odin he was not about to retch before the boy that stood beside him. His pride would just not allow it. Impatient, he found his thoughts going back to Catriona. He closed his eyes for an instant and quickly mouthed a silent prayer. 

Meanwhile, Brian sauntered into the kitchen, looking as comfortable as he could. Kitchen maids scurried around him with naught a glance towards him. 

“Ale” he demanded. “The men below need some more ale”. A shy girl quickly brought to large pitchers and set them down before him. As she turned to gather some mugs, he said “This will do lassie” before he walked off taking the pitchers with him. 

Outside, he set the pitchers down on the table and quickly mixed a brew in them. Gathering the pitchers back up, he made his way towards the spiraling staircase into the depths of the castle.