Chapter 36
SEREH
Sereh woke with a start. She glanced outside the cave opening. The sky was ablaze, the sun well over the horizon. She must have slept far longer than normal. She was astonished. She’d not slept so long since she was a child.
Her entire body felt heavy and uncooperative. She forced herself to sit up, every ache and pain letting itself be known. Beside her, Erann slept, his breathing slightly too fast, but his face no longer flushed or deathly pale. Arrow was missing from her place between them.
Something was different about the cave. It was warm, inviting almost. A tantalising smell filled the air.
She could have been at home, waking from a long nap to find her mother smiling at her from where she prepared her favourite hare stew.
Coming more fully awake, she was aware of a soft humming. Sereh twisted on her elbows.
The fire was blazing, and leaning over a simmering pot of something that smelled delicious was the most beautiful woman Sereh had ever seen.
Her nose was wide and straight, her mouth small and mobile.
She had dazzling blue eyes and long blonde hair that must reach past her waist when down.
It was tied to the top of her head in an intricate pattern of coiled, looping plaits. It raised her height substantially.
Sereh shut her eyes and then opened them more slowly. She was so sure she must be dreaming, but the woman was still there. She smiled at her quizzically.
‘You’ve been asleep a long time. Come, have something to eat. You’ll feel better afterwards.’ The words were spoken in a beautiful, lilting tone that Sereh had never heard before.
Sereh blinked in shock, questions burning her tongue. But she said nothing. Instead, she slid out gently from Erann’s side and staggered to her feet.
Her legs wobbled beneath her. She glanced at the woman, but she had turned back to the pot and was adding some herb that spiked the air with a sweet earthy smell. Sereh was glad. She didn’t want this stranger to see her like this.
Eventually, she made her way outside the cave to empty her bladder. It was bitterly cold. Sereh relieved herself as quickly as she could, and then refastened herself into her multiple layers of clothing.
She dawdled in the mouth of the cave to look at the woman, whose face was clearly illuminated by the fire as she bent over Erann.
Although they’d only spoken a few words, there was something familiar about the woman.
Sereh racked her memories, as the woman went back to the pot to stir whatever it was she was cooking.
The woman looked young and graceful, though Sereh thought she could detect faint wisps of grey in her hair in the shimmering light.
She hummed quietly to herself, a song Sereh recognised without knowing its name.
Her body was lean and muscled. Her clothes were well-made and, while not new, were still in excellent condition.
Whoever the woman was, she was well cared for.
Sereh couldn’t help wondering how she’d found them in the wilds of Vatna Jokull and why she was helping them.
Sereh was riven by indecision. Had Rankil somehow spread the word about her disappearance? What if this woman had come looking for her?
She chewed her lip. Erann slept. If she lied about who she was now, and he contradicted her story when he woke, then the woman might leave – and they desperately needed her help.
Her stomach growled loudly, and the woman looked at her.
‘Come, have something to eat.’ She gestured Sereh to her side.
She’d have liked to refuse until she’d made her mind up about a few things.
However, the kindness in the woman’s voice had her moving before Sereh fully understood what she was doing.
By the time her mind had caught up with her feet, it was too late.
She found herself standing by the roaring fire almost before she realised where she was.
The woman motioned for her to sit and handed her a warm bowl of stew, huge chunks of meat floating in it. She looked around – Arrow would love this. She spotted the wolf-dog happily gnawing on a huge meaty bone at Erann’s feet.
‘Where did you get the meat from?’
‘Your wolf-dog found the hare and kindly brought it home. I suspect she found it at the back of the cave, somewhere. It was quite big and meaty. It was also very frozen. I think she just found it and realised it would taste nicer if it were thawed.’
Scooping up a chunk of meat from the stew with her fingers, Sereh stuffed it in her mouth.
It was scorching hot, and she could feel it burning her mouth.
She was too hungry to care but not too hungry to refuse the cup of water Emma passed to her.
She drank the water gratefully, then swallowed her mouthful of meat.
It burnt a little on the way down, but the taste was fabulous and far outweighed any discomfort.
She sat back for a moment, a feeling of contentment spreading. A smile again lit up the woman’s face.
‘There’s plenty more. There’s no need to rush so.’
Sereh returned the smile and took another huge bite.
Emma looked at her with amusement.
‘What’s your name?’ Sereh asked, wolfing down another steaming chunk of meat.
‘I’m Emma Flokisdottir.’ She held out her hand for Sereh’s empty bowl. ‘And yours?’
‘Sereh Hagonsdottir.’ She danced her fingers around the edges of the piping hot bowl, wondering how to ask Emma how she’d found them. But Emma had already turned her attention to Erann.
‘Your friend’s sleeping, I see. His leg’s badly injured. I’ve had a look and re-splinted it. I hope that you don’t mind?’
Sereh looked at Erann with a guilty start. She’d forgotten to check on his broken leg. She thought again of the way the bone had pierced through the skin.
‘You did well. I’ve examined his body and can see no sign of internal injury other than bruising.’ Emma nodded encouragingly. ‘He was lucky to survive.’
Sereh found herself struggling for words.
What was wrong with her? This woman had come from Gods knew where, set up camp and examined Erann’s injuries, all while she slept soundly by his side.
She didn’t know who she was, or where she was from, and yet she found herself unable to voice a single question that might have Emma explain herself.
Emma seemed totally at home and completely undaunted. Surely it should be the other way round.
She ate, feeling more and more unsettled, then heard a soft moan from Erann. She rushed to his side, reaching for his hand as he slowly woke up.
He was obviously in a lot of pain, yet he managed to squeeze her hand, as he propped himself up on his elbows. He turned his head.
‘Hello there, Emma.’
How did Erann know Emma? Had he woken when she first arrived? Her eyes widened with shock. She glanced between Emma and Erann, waiting for an explanation.
‘How’s the leg doing?’ Emma asked conversationally, as though they’d discussed it before.
Erann again squeezed Sereh’s hand, dragging her away from her uncertainty about Emma. He attempted to sit upright but slumped back down, his face ashen.
‘I’m sure I told you to stay lying down,’ Emma commented and bent to pick something up before passing it to him. ‘I think you might need this. Come, Sereh, give the man some peace.’