Dragon Bride

Chapter 34 Island in the Sun

Lothar was famous for his long bushy salt and pepper beard and hair so Eleanor shaved his beard and cut his hair short. His youngest daughter cried when she saw him beardless for the first time and he comforted her by hugging her and promising to grow his beard back just for her. Then a long strip of cloth was wrapped around his head like a wound dressing obscuring half his face and one eye. After which he covered with Eric's short hooded cape. Then walking with a sturdy pole and limping he followed as all five of them set out for the inn.

Karliene and Unni were wearing their finest dresses, and Karliene's wore dress intended for her wedding. They had applied makeup and had their hair in a long braid and weaved a colorful ribbon in the braid. They were accompanied by Bjorn and Olaf. They walked slowly and deliberately through the village talking quietly together as they made their way to the mead hall. Brenda joined them in the village. She had spent the morning telling everyone that Karliene was miraculously back home but nothing else. Villagers watched their progress from doors and windows. Others, still friendly to her stopped to greet her and were told that Karliene and Unni had planned to serve at the inn tonight. "With the ships in I always come and serve," Karliene told a friend rather loudly.

When Gretchen arrived at the inn's back door she presented her cousin with four hams. Loki carried an amphorae of his precious wine under each burly arm. "We brought extra food and an excellent wine for you. Expect a blow out crowd tonight," Gretchen said, "Karlie and Unni plan to serve as usual and sing if you ask. Lothar entered with them unnoticed and sat quietly with Loki at his regular table.

By the time Unni and Karliene arrived to serve the inn was filled with additional tables outside under the covered awning also filled. Villagers continued to come and Unni and Karliene along with other servers were kept busy. Every one was watching Karliene. Some appeared angry or shocked but most just curious. Gretchen's cousin asked the sisters to sing. So standing on a tabletop they took the inn's drums and performed some of their more popular song and dances.

Then late that night Vada accompanied by Halfdan and two other friends walked into the inn. Karliene and Unni were standing on the long table singing when Vada shouted, "It's true then! The little whore, the dragon's bride is back!"

"It's good to see you too, Vada," Karliene said. Several in the packed crowd reacted to her tart remark by laughing. The crowd hushed.

"So the dragon discovered you were soiled goods and sent you packing?" Vada shouted, "perhaps we need to give your pretty younger sister to the dragon instead. She too bears the mark of the dragon and is a huldra."

"There was never a dragon. Dragons take dragons as brides and you and Gorm knew that," Karliene said with her voice loud and clear. "How many young women have you and your evil priests and false religion sent to their deaths, to be eaten alive by trolls, to be humiliated and paraded naked before their friends and family. All appease a dragon that does not want to be appeased. Was it for power? For control? Or do you simply like hurting helpless women?"

"I was there Karlie, I saw the dragon take you."

"You did not! You and Gorm planned to rape me and give me to the trolls. I had my knife that Unni had slipped to me." She held out her hand and Unni handed her the little black knife. "I slashed Gorm's chest and belly open and the charged you." Karliene dramatically sliced the air. "You ran naked and screaming into woods in fear of ME! FIERCE LITTLE ME!" the crowed again laughed and then became silent. Everyone was watching Vada. Many appeared angry. Karliene continued "The trolls netted me and carried me off. They tore Gorm in half and ate him alive."

"You're just a lying little slut!" Veda shouted back.

"No I proved the truth of my words by the ordeal of trial."

"Then why did you agree to be the dragon bride?" Halfdan shouted.

"Vada and Gorm knew that I had won by submitting to the trial and that I could not be sacrificed. They told me they would frame Unni and sacrifice her. That they would kill my cousin Oonagh and blame Unni of killing her to obtain her fat for a flying spell. I agreed to trade my life for two people that I love. They promised to spare Unni and Oonagh, a promise that you Vada never planned to honor."

"I will not stand hear and trade words, I have rights, I claim ritual right of combat against this lying whore," Vada shouted. "Is this not my right?"

Geert, the blind speaker of the law stood to speak but before he could Lothar who had by now remounted his disguise and stood on the table with Karliene and was recognized. "ENOUGH! Vada you dishonor yourself, your family and your clan. All that Karlie has said is true. You sent Halfdan and Bo to Denmark to assassinate me and even now plan to seize power. Bo paid with his life."

With a signal from Lothar, Eric, Olaf, Bjorn and Loki seized Vada and his friends and they were removed from the inn. They were unceremoniously locked in the cellar of the keep. When the men returned to the inn Unni and Karliene were still dancing on the table, playing drums and singing. They served tables and were treated with awe and respect by everyone in the crowed inn. The morning sun was visible on the horizon as they walked back to the long house.

"You were amazing," Bjorn whispered to Karliene.

"Yes I was..." she paused smiling with mischief and continued, "Would you like me to sneak into your room tonight Bear?" Karlie whispered biting his ear gently and playing with his hair. "Unni plans to sneak into Olaf's." Bjorn kissed her.

"Yes I would like that, however Olaf and I will be rooming at the castle until our wedding. Your uncle likes the plan." Karliene pouted.

"We will be over every day to help with the planting and plowing. We'll even take you to your swimming pond with your cousins."

"I just kinda thought..." Bjorn responded by holding her tight and kissing her.

"Lets move the wedding date up, I can't wait until summer," Bjorn whispered harshly and Karlie nodded.

The three day later in the morning the prisoners were marched to the village green. A large area had been roped off and a crudely constructed cage sat in the roped off area. Vada and his group of conspirators were placed in the cage and the door tied closed. The villagers were gathered around the enclosed area. They were all speculating about the fate of the prisoners. Lothar accompanied by Eleanor and his son Arnie walked out followed by Unni, Karliene and their family. Lothar held up his hands to silence the noisy crowd.

"I have always been a man of piece. That is why I have pledged my sword and honor to King Sven king of kings. That is why I now embrace the faith of Fr. Francis. Today my son and his cabal will be sentenced for their multiple criminal acts against this community. I will not break the peace by taking your lives but I banish you from Norway forever. You are hear-by declared outlaw. If you ever try to return you may be killed by any or all upon sight."

"I'll be back father," Vada said viciously, "I'll raise and army and take what is mine."

"I don't think so," Karliene said loudly, "behold the dragon!" The crown gasped as Loki uncloaked. His silver scales glittered in their full splendor in the morning light. "And behold the true dragon bride." Loki's golden dragon uncloaked standing next to him. "Unni and I will fly you cage and all to your new home, a lovely island in the sun on the other side of the world. Unni and Karliene mounted their dragon and Loki seized the cage and took flight.

Loki placed the cage on a sandy beach of a large island. Then he landed and Karliene stood by the cage. "I expect that you will make short work of opening your cage so I will not be opening it for you. Enjoy you new home. It has plenty to eat and fresh water."

"Be careful of the fish," Unni added, "the ones that puff up when you touch them and the ones that look like butterflies are poisonous."

"Those big nuts you see everywhere," Karliene said waving her hand, "are hard to open but contain a sweet water and their white flesh taste good. We eat them when we visit our island. I can't recall their name."

"Coco nut," Loki said and then added, "if you get lonesome for human companionship you do have neighbors. But I'd lay low...they're cannibals."

Unni and Karliene waved to the caged men and Loki cloaked and returned home. The men in the cage remained speechless.