Winterfire

Chapter Twelve

Lif

The next thing I remember was a feeling of comfort and warmth. Except for the gentle rocking, I felt like I was sleeping on the mossy ground beneath the summer sun, and I dreamed of my home of a long time ago. After a time, I heard voices. My eyelids felt so heavy I couldn’t open them to see who was talking, and, at first, didn’t care.

“Never have I seen a human—child or adult—with such fire! I tell you, she fought me with all she had, and if I’d been a mortal man, she’d have escaped!” said a deep, vaguely familiar male voice.

“I’m not surprised. You question my judgment, but I know what I saw the first time her eyes met mine. She is the one,” said Mistress’s voice, “She will do what must be done.”

“Before you get too full of yourself remember: you knew she would be in that group of thralls,” the man said. “True, you did recognize her as the one, though. I can’t take that from you.”

“Gudrek and Dag said that she was hardy, resourceful, and courageous when they took her from Beal,” said Mistress, “Though a bit of a crybaby at first.”

“And we know she is quick and sure-footed,” added the man. “Hopefully, she has more than speed and spirit. I wonder if the boy has been found. Odin’s ravens saw him once, but he had not yet taken Tyrfing; perhaps he has by now.”

“I believe she is full of surprises,” said Mistress, “And in time, her strengths will be revealed. In any case, we haven’t much time to prepare her; we are already into the third year of the Fimbulwinter.”

I had been listening to the conversation, pretending to be asleep. I had no idea what Mistress and that man were talking about; it was difficult to lay still, feigning sleep, with such an intriguing conversation taking place beside me, but I remained motionless. I waited a good, long time before I opened my eyes. I was lying in my own bed. Mistress smiled down at me. I tilted my head slightly to see to whom Mistress had been talking and felt a throbbing pain. I closed my eyes again and waited for the pain to subside. When I opened them, the man who’d caught me was staring at me. He had a kindly twinkle in his blue eyes, and I knew that if I’d seen his eyes first, I’d never have run from him. There was something about his open face, his warm smile, that comforted me straight away. He was taller than anyone I’d ever seen before. His long, red hair flowed past his massive, bare shoulders. He wore a leather tunic and breeches, but his shoulders and arms drew my eyes. A tattoo of a tree wrapped both of his arms, hand to shoulder. There were animals in the leaves; I saw a fat pig in what looked like roots on the backs of his dinner-plate hands, and a squirrel clinging to the branches at the top of his arms. Its body hid beneath the vest and its head poked out. It seemed to be staring at me. My vision must have blurred, because I thought I saw him cock his head the way a real squirrel would do. I closed my eyes and snuggled back into my pillow.

When I awoke again, Erna was sitting in a chair next to the bed working on her embroidery. “Well, miss, you’re finally awake! Do you know how long I’ve been sitting here? Look, I’ve done a whole row of violets while you’ve been sleeping.” She held up her work for me to see.

“Erna, it’s beautiful,” I said absently. “But I need to know: why I am here, and where exactly is “here”? Why did the Danes take me if it was not to make me a slave?”

“It’s not for me to say,” said Erna, laying down her work. “Thor and Mistress will tell you soon enough, I imagine. In the meantime, keep your eyes open and your body strong. Learn what you can and be ready for anything.”

“Well, I suppose that’s useful advice,” I said. “but it doesn’t tell me anything.”

Erna rolled up her embroidery and prepared to go. “The truth, all at once, would astonish you so much, you’d be unable to handle it. I’m not trying to scare you; it’s just that there are some facts your people don’t know much, if anything, about. It will not hurt you to learn these truths slowly.” She walked through the door, and then stuck her head back through. “I’ll let Mildred know you’re awake, and I’ll be back with your supper soon.”

The next day, I got out of bed and washed and dressed for the first time since I’d run into the tree; according to Erna, I’d been asleep for two whole days. Though I knew it wasn’t my job, I made my bed and tidied up the room. When Erna came in with my breakfast, I sat at the little table and ate everything.

I decided to take Erna’s advice make the best of my circumstances until an opportunity for escape presented itself. I would bide my time and take advantage of all that was offered me until then. Soon, Mildred declared me well and allowed me to leave my room. Mistress came in one evening as I lay in bed.

“Lif, I’m so happy you’re well. I trust you won’t try to get away again. … ”

“No, Mistress,” I said, “I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Good!” she said, fluffing her blond curls and examining her nails. “I have a wonderful gift for you. I’ve engaged a tutor to teach you the truths of our people! His name is Master Honir. He comes to us all the way from Vanaheim.”

I wondered if Master Honir had come of his own free will. I also wondered where Vanaheim was, but asked only when I would meet him.

“Tomorrow morning, if you are well enough,” said Mistress. “Mildred will take you to meet him and begin your lessons after breakfast. Now, get to sleep and get ready for your big day tomorrow!” She flounced out of the room, stopping briefly at the door to blow me a kiss.