CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Despite the silence between them when they returned to the longhouse, Katrin knew Gunilla was not pleased with what had been shared.
Clearly, the jarl and his sons already distrusted her mistress.
Katrin warned Gunilla to take care and not be so hostile to their hosts, but the older woman refused to see that she was behaving badly.
Katrin sighed. She might not be able to change Gunilla's fate, but perhaps she could protect some of the younger girls in the retinue.
They had done nothing but blindly followed the older witch's orders, oblivious to the dangerous games played, games that even now, Katrin still barely understood.
Gunilla was unwilling to allow any of the girls to choose husbands, the only way Katrin knew to save them.
She opened the doors to the hall and the murmur of questioning voices briefly grew louder before fading once more, and the celebration paused.
Aware that everyone stared, she forced her gaze to remain locked with Hradi's, the knot in her stomach easing when he beckoned her to the head of the long main table, before the dais where Jarl Thorfinn was, as usual, seated on his throne.
The jarl stood, his eyes serious and probing, a hint of a scowl lining his face.
"You say you can indeed see the future. It is time for you to prove that to us all. Tell me what fate the gods have planned for me."
The buzz of excitement grew louder and the villagers' questions bounced around the room. Katrin knew that while they feared risking the wrath of the gods by daring to learn their fates, they also wanted to know what was to become of them, and their families.
Though she had done this many times in the past, for the first time, she dreaded what she might see. This was the first village where she had been able to interact with anyone away from Gunilla's constant presence. Sharing news of any deaths would be harder than any other futures she had ever seen.
She gave the jarl a respectful nod. "I will tell you what I can. Sometimes I see visions clearer with some people than others. I make no promises that what the gods allow me to see is what they truly intend."
A strange smile curled the older man's mouth. "Already you are denying your visions are real?"
"Not at all." Katrin lifted her chin. "But surely you know the gods toy with me as much as they do you, and everyone else. Sometimes, they let me see just a tiny moment, and it is not enough to understand. But perhaps you will understand it better than I."
The jarl grinned and the knot loosened further. Her fingers firm on her wand, she pointed it toward the table. Thorfinn urged the onlookers to silence before taking a seat on one of the benches. Katrin lowered herself to sit beside him, her wand pointed upward and ready.
"Give me your hand." She held out hers. The jarl complied.
Katrin closed her eyes and took a moment to clear her mind.
She murmured a prayer to the gods to allow her to receive their messages.
Almost immediately, the familiar tingle began in her fingers gripping the wand and she allowed the exhilarating magic to spread through her.
She opened her eyes and stared deep into Thorfinn's dark gaze, so like his son's, yet so different.
After several moments, with the magic pulsing in her veins, an image slowly came into view.
She saw the jarl seated on his throne, much as he had been moments ago, surrounded by several small children.
His grandchildren? The sight brought a smile.
These were the types of visions she preferred.
Not only were they pleasant, they didn't drain her as much as most of the others.
Calm took over, allowing her to absorb the sight of Thorfinn ruffling the hair of one young boy, while hugging a girl child seated on his lap.
The sight dimmed and disappeared. An instant later, the familiar haze of premonition once more took hold and another image usurped the previous. She closed her eyes and let the vision take hold.
A celebration in the hall came into her mind's view.
Thorfinn raised a flagon and gave thanks to the gods, accompanied by cheers, much like the feast of yesterday morn.
This was different, though very near in the future.
Katrin inhaled deeply, the vision growing sharper and revealing that Gunilla and her retinue sat near the jarl.
The woman appeared to be watching Thorfinn much like a cat would eye the mouse caught in its paws, with eager malice.
Again, Thorfinn proclaimed something which drew shouts and laughter, though Katrin could not hear his words.
Clearly this vision would soon come to pass.
She barely had time to wonder how soon when the image faded away.
The surge of warmth from her powers grew stronger, heralding another vision. Something was different this time.
Outside, near the docks. Screams and battle shouts, the air tinged with the scent of blood. Skirmishes everywhere, from the shallow water, to the sandy riverbank. Swords colliding, the unholy shriek of metal drowning the thud of ax heads sinking into flesh.
For several moments, Katrin was Thorfinn, raising a sword before fending off an attacking warrior.
Heart racing with excitement to turn and defeat another.
A triumphant battle cry came from deep within.
Sweat beaded along a forehead, fingers twisting around the hilt of the sword, raising it to swing at another opponent.
Nearby, Hradi and Kori fought sight by side, felling their opponents.
Another warrior approached Thorfinn/Katrin, his sword held high, but not in a threatening manner. Thorfinn/Katrin lowered his sword when the warrior began to speak.
Just as suddenly as it appeared, the vision faded, the face of the warrior lingering before dissolving into darkness.
Heaving a deep breath, Katrin released the jarl's hand and slumped, the invigorating hum of magic seeping from her body, leaving her momentarily weak and feeling as though she had literally just fought a battle, even though she had only seen it.
"Tell me what you saw." The jarl's deep voice cut through the the hazy afterglow of magic.
Summoning her remaining strength, Katrin lifted her head and once more met his stare. "It would seem that you will be blessed with several grandchildren."
"That is it?" Disappointment and suspicion laced the man's words.
Katrin shook her head. "There is more. There will be yet another feast, very soon. You will honor the gods with a toast and thank them for your prosperity."
"That is all? Grandchildren and a feast? This is obvious as my son's wife carries their child. And with Winternights upon us, soon followed by Jul, a feast is to be expected."
"There were two grandchildren. The oldest a boy, the younger a girl. As for the feast, it should happen very soon, for myself and Gunilla and the rest of our… family were also present."
"This still proves nothing," said Thorfinn.
"There was one more vision. One of a battle, right on the shoreline. You will fight valiantly."
Skepticism flared in the man's dark eyes. "Of course I will. And I will win, will I not?"
The tense silence was broken by shouts and questions from the villagers, many expressing doubt. Thorfinn stood and held up his hands.
"Silence! I wish to hear more!" He sat down again and faced Katrin. "Tell me more of this battle. When?"
"It is hard to say for sure when, but I believe very soon.
The skies are fair and the weather mild, much like today and yesterday.
Your sons will also fight bravely." The clarity of vision indicated it would come to pass sooner, as she had learned over the years.
With the exception of her dreams, this vision was the clearest of any other she had ever received.
"How do you know this?"
Katrin doubted she could explain. "It is a knowledge that comes with the gift. I have no proof to offer, other than my gift is complicated."
"The gods give her the knowledge! Surely you can see that!" Gunilla's voice cut through the heavy silence.
"Silence!" The jarl fixed a fierce stare on the Seeress.
Katrin held her breath as she waited for her mistress to protest further. Instead, Gunilla remained silent and resumed her seat.
The jarl faced Katrin again. "Tell me more."
"It appears this battle will be one to defend Grindafell from attack. What I saw took place along the riverbank."
"Who dares attack us?" Thorfinn demanded.
Katrin shook her head, recalling what she had seen of the jarl's opponents. "I am sorry, I do not yet know. There is a man, I believe he may be the leader. He has red hair."
Thorfinn leaned back, shaking his head. He turned to face his sons. "Which clans do we know are led by men with red hair?"
Both sons shook their heads. Katrin met Hradi's curious gaze. She shrugged.
"I warned you that not all is clear. We might not know who he is until the battle occurs. But you should know, he spoke to you instead of attacking. You lowered your sword upon hearing his words."
"What did he say?" Kori asked.
Katrin shook her head. "I am sorry, I could not hear him, but he did not appear to want to kill you. He seemed to be asking you for something, perhaps a plea, or promise of alliance."
A movement across the table drew her attention to Gunilla, now standing once more, her wand held before her in an oddly combative manner.
The older woman bore an expression of panic, her eyes wide and her skin almost ghostly pale.
Katrin had the oddest sensation that Gunilla knew more about the vision than was clear to herself.
"Can you do this again and see more?"
Thorfinn's voice scattered the questions racing through her thoughts. She blinked to regain her focus.
"Not right now. I need time to recover and offer more prayers to the gods for clarity."
Hradi's hand came to rest on her shoulder. "Can you see visions of other people in the meantime?"
Katrin gave a half-shrug, half-nod, trying to ignore the way the warmth of his touch spread a very different sort of tingle through her veins.
"Perhaps. But I will still need a short time to rest first."
"Of course." Hradi sat beside her, his body pressed close. Katrin sucked in a deep breath and faced the jarl.
"Once I have regained my full strength, I will be happy to see others' fates, if they so choose. I will be able to see yours again tomorrow."
Thorfinn nodded. "We must plan so we are ready at all times. Based on what you say, if this battle is imminent, attacking during our Winter Nights celebration is when any invaders would think us vulnerable. We will prove them wrong."
"Unless their intentions are as Katrin said, not to attack, but to seek an alliance," Hradi said.
Thorfinn gave a thoughtful nod. He stood and faced the restless crowd. The murmuring hushed once more.
"We must be prepared to face this unknown invader. We will make another sacrifice to the gods before tonight's feast to ensure we protect our village. And if it is as the Seeress hints, we will make a new alliance that will make our town stronger and still more prosperous."
He turned and motioned to Kori and Hradi to accompany him toward the back of the hall.
Katrin felt cold when Hradi stood and she held his gaze for several moments before he turned away.
She wondered at the pleasure she read in his eyes.
Before she could question it further, Gunilla slid onto the bench and yanked on her arm.
"What did you see?" the older woman asked.
Katrin glanced at the group of girls still huddled at a nearby table. Would this battle place them in danger? If only she had seen more. She faced her mistress.
"Just Thorfinn, fighting off attackers. I do not know who they are." Did she dare ask? She had to know. "Gunilla, you understand what my vision means, don't you?"
"How dare you question me!" Gunilla's grip tightened almost painfully on her arm. The anger darkening her eyes alarmed Katrin. But instead of merely accepting Gunilla's intimidation, Katrin straightened her spine.
"You have been keeping secrets for many months now. Perhaps longer. When we arrived in Grindafell, I sensed you had brought us here for a reason. I want to know what that is."
Gunilla released her. "You are turning against me."
"No, I am not. But we both know that my remaining time with you is short. I must know all you do so I can understand these visions and what they might mean to my future as well as Grindafell's."
Skepticism mingled with the remaining anger in the silver-haired woman's eyes. Katrin's excuse for asking Gunilla to divulge her secrets was true, but only half of the reason. If the older witch meant harm to Grindafell in some way, Katrin had to stop her.
"You are mistaken, Katrin. I do not know why you are seeing visions of battle."
Another thread of their long-standing bond unraveled. Gunilla still lied, of that Katrin was sure.
"Very well. But know this – I intend to do what I can to help protect Grindafell, should this battle come to pass."
"What has he promised you?"
"Nothing. But I feel a certain… affection for this clan and this village. I don't wish to see any harm done to them."
"You are a fool. He has tricked you somehow, and you will pay for that with the loss of your gift. And when it happens, you will see I was right."
"He has done nothing."
"He has you besotted. You are too unfamiliar with the ways of men to understand. I do not like this bargain you have made. It makes you depend on him too much."
As I depended on you all these years? She didn't voice the errant thought, unwilling to start a fight now, in front of all those assembled, and fully aware that many watched them closely. Katrin suspected Hradi would enjoy witnessing her argue with Gunilla. Thankfully, he was no longer present.
"Fear not. He has done nothing but ask that I help with cooking and tending his home. I might think he depends on me more."
Gunilla's lips pressed tightly together, her brow furrowed with anger, but she said nothing.
Katrin heaved a deep sigh and leaned back against the chair, closing her eyes.
She still had much to uncover about her mistress, but knowing she would be expected to summon more visions today, she wanted the coming hours to be peaceful and calm.
This afternoon, when she finished receiving premonitions, she would need to sleep.
After that, with her body and mind restored, she would give thought to confronting Gunilla once more.