Valknut

CHAPTER|32 War and Matchmaking

Three days later, Olaf woke with a splitting headache. He groaned as he rolled over. His body felt like he had barely survived a horse stampede. His stomach growled mercilessly though. As he struggled to sit up, a familiar scent caught his attention. Apples and cinnamon! She was here. Before his eyes could seek her out, a warm hand rested gently on his shoulders. He turned. 

“Ye'r a sight for sore eyes.” 

“So are ye. Ye have been asleep for three days. Ye must be famished. I'll call for some broth. Perhaps a bath too” she said pinching her nose. 

He laughed as she walked to the door. 

“Maybe ye would like to join me?” 

She turned slowly and with a raised eyebrow she replied, “Is that so.” 

“For a meal my love. Though I wouldn’t mind if ye joined me in the tub as well.” Olaf said grinning wide. 

“We’ll see” she chuckled before turning back to the door again. 

“Och dinnae torture me so pretty one.” 

He could hear her laughing as she left his room and turned the corner that would take her to the stairwell. Within minutes, his room was flooded with visitors. Kieran, Agnar, Klaufi, Sverting, the maid with the bowl of broth, the servant boys dragging in the wooden tub for his bath… Everyone had so much to say. There was so much noise! His head felt like it would explode! 

“Enough! Out!” he boomed. “Give a man a minute to catch his bearings will ye” he said while nursing his head when the noise had dimmed. 

“What? A great beast like ye can’t deal with a little pain”? Kieran joked as he ushered the others out of the room. 

He then returned, carrying a chair. Plonking down on it, Kieran extended the broth to Olaf who accepted it gratefully. As he began glugging down the too-hot meal, Kieran spoke. “We have matters to discuss.” 

“Did she watch the duel and after?” 

“Only the duel… for a few minutes. She couldn’t take any more after a while.” 

“Ta for making sure she didn’t see me like that ... towards the end.” 

Kieran nodded. “Ta for the sacrifice. I know it wasn’t easy on ye, but it was a fitting end. My family's death was avenged... just like ye assured.” 

A moment of silence passed, interrupted by the boys carrying several buckets of hot water. 

“I’ll see you in the study when yer done cleaning up?” 

“Work! Work! More work!” Olaf grimaced. 

“I have some ale for ye... only the finest brew!” 

“Ah! See now you tempt me!” Olaf grinned. 

A long soak, harsh scrub, and fresh clothes later, Olaf found himself in Kieran’s study. As was customary, the two men sat across from each other, feet on the table, nursing mugs of ale. 

“So what’s this business you wanted to speak about?” 

Kieran took a deep breath before speaking. “As you know, Drest mac Dúngail seeks to lead the army of Pictland against Ecgfrith of Northumbria. He sent a missive that reached earlier today seeking our participation.” 

“Ye mean forcing it?” 

“Aye, he means to still hold hostage, the Chieftain's brothers. As ye know, they went to court years ago when the treaty was signed. They continue to live there as guarantors of our compliance to the Pitcish king's order.” 

“Ye no longer have to comply. With the Chieftain dead, ye rule Orkney. There is no blood relation, just marriage. Ye could break free of Drest. If the case were strong, he would see no need to hold the Chieftain’s brothers as hostage any longer. They might finally come home.”

“He's aware of the situation in Orkney. Read the missive. He still threatens the brothers’ wellbeing if we don’t comply. Their families still reside here, at least the survivors do. We still have our duty to them, at least I do as the Chieftain's step son and only legal heir.” Kieran extended a rolled up parchment to Olaf to inspect. 

Unfurling the parchment Olaf replied, “So we prepare for war? How long do we have?” 

“Not sure, at the moment he's still seeking out allies that will join him.” Kieran got up from his chair to pour more ale. Topping up both mugs he spoke again, “Perhaps a few months at the most.” 

Olaf grunted. “So now what? Ye swore vengeance on behalf of the Chieftain. We still have Fergus to take care of. Are ye truly thinking of fighting for the Pictish king, alongside Fergus?” 

At the reminder, Kieran growled. He slammed the mug on the table before continuing, “I have not forgotten my vows! But I will not cause my family more pain. I must think of the Chieftain's brothers. We need to find a way to bring them home... alive…” 

“Then we must first ensure their safety. We should reply with our promise to join the war. The Chieftain would surely have spies already at court? Do ye know of them? Can we rely on them to give us information to have the brother's removed safely? Tell me again why the Chieftain hasn’t tried in all these years?”

Kieran sighed. “The Chieftain wasn’t a war general. Sure he commanded the Orkney Islands into following him, but a large-scale war? Not his mug of ale. And yes, every year he sent spies to court but they never last. The lifestyle here is very different from court. I doubt anyone as simple minded and trusting like an Orcadian is capable of surviving the manipulation, secrecy, and dangers at court.”  

“Well, ye aren’t Orcadian’s anymore, are ye?” Olaf said grinning. 

“But ye and yer people aren’t Caledonians nor Saxon. How do ye plan on fitting in at court?” 

“Ye havent met Agnar's brother yet have ye?” 

Kieran raised his eyebrows. He leaned back in his chair, hands in front of him, fingers joined together. 

“If he can be as inconspicuous as ye say, we just might have a chance at what yer suggesting” 

Both men grinned. 

“Tell you what, you draft the missive to the King assuring him of our involvement and I … I have a girl to chase”. Olaf chugged his ale down, spilling some down his chin, while quickly standing up. 

“Give mah loue...to Nia”, Kieran said winking. 

Olaf snorted. “Catriona will have my balls piked if I do... ye know that.” 

Kieran feigned horror “She will?” 

Olaf grunted as he strode towards the door. “Nia will need an owner. I have no use for a bed slave anymore. She'll make ye very happy, if ye will have her.” 

“I have no use for a bed slave either. I need to be thinking about a wife and heirs. Ye should free the lass then. Maybe she and Catriona can be friends” 

Olaf’s jaw scraped the floor as Kieran rolled around laughing loudly. 

“Ye laugh now. Ye will not laugh for long. I think I have a wife in mind for ye. Oh yes! She will be perfect!” 

It was Kieran’s turn to mop the floor with his jaw. “Ye wouldnt!” He hollered after Olaf’s retreating back. “Dinnae ye dare!” He yelled when he heard Olaf’s loud chuckle. 

“A Norse woman who can whip yer arse. Oh yes, she will be perfect.” Came Olaf’s reply, his voice echoing through the halls.