CHAPTER SIXTEEN #2
Katrin suspected the sorrowful gesture was only partially an act, though she understood in some measure. The idea of losing her own gift left her terrified. She refused to dwell on that now, needing to know everything of her past. She tapped her former mistress' shoulder.
"Go on."
A deep shuddering breath shook Gunilla's frame, which oddly appeared smaller and frailer than ever before. Katrin remained still, aware that Hradi and the others watched closely, though made no move to interfere.
"In order to survive and continue to bring good fortune to those I encountered in my travels, I needed someone who truly possessed the gift I had lost." The silver-haired woman raised her gaze. "When I met you and your mother, I knew you were the one who would best assist me."
"Serve you, you mean."
"Did I not love and nurture you? I cared for you, fed you and raised you as if you were my own."
"I am not yours. That has never been in question." Another suspicion took root. She carefully folded her arms and positioned her wand so it aligned with her stature. "What truly happened to my mother?"
The woman hesitated, long enough for Katrin to realize that her family's deaths had not been because of her father's treachery, but Gunilla's.
She folded her arms, the only way to restrain her fists from striking out.
She needed to hear all of it first. Then she would give Gunilla over to Hradi and his father to deal with.
She dared a glance at him, unable to read his stone-like expression.
Ignoring the uneasiness creeping along her spine, she returned her attention to the old woman.
"Tell me!" Her voice boomed and she took a significant pleasure in seeing Gunilla flinch.
"I was the one who set the attackers on your family."
Pale eyes searched Katrin's, clearly pleading for forgiveness. She forced herself not to reveal her fury. So many questions sprang into her thoughts. "Who did you hire? When did this happen? What clan am I from?"
"I learned several years after I took you in…"
At Katrin's growl, Gunilla amended her words. "After I took you, your clan searched for me. There was a young man I met a few summers back, who brought word that they had finally gotten close enough and that we were in danger. That was the first time we fled under cover of darkness."
Katrin began to understand what Hradi had meant when he had dragged her to the secluded hut, accusing her of betrayal. "Who is this young man?"
"He was able to help me create allies in the various villages we visited. He also stayed behind to offer explanations for our sudden … departure."
Katrin still had no idea who the man was.
She had never seen Gunilla speak with anyone other than the girls, and those residing in whichever town they were in.
Katrin had been beside her almost always.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not think of one person Gunilla could have met with in secret.
The silence in the hall grew thick, all those gathered listening intently.
"Who is he?"
"His name is Bjark."
"I don't know him."
Gunilla shook her head. "No. He was never revealed to you."
The confusion multiplied, muddling her anger. She recognized a twist of guilt as well. How had she been so blind? Why hadn't she seen what the woman was doing? How many had been hurt because she had not realized what Gunilla had been doing with no one's knowledge?
"How did I not know of your treachery? You never let me far from you, for as long as I can remember. So how did I not know?"
Again, the older woman wrung her hands together before her. Several times, it appeared she was about to speak, only to remain silent. Finally, she responded.
"On the nights I met with him, I…"
Katrin narrowed her eyes at the hesitation, finding it hard to contain her aggravation. She gritted her teeth and held back the urge to strike the older woman. "You what?"
Gunilla's gaze suddenly bored into hers, filled with a strange and frightening glow. "Gave you a sleeping draught so I could slip away long enough to learn what he had discovered."
Katrin's vision went white for several moments, the rage too overpowering to resist. It surged in her veins and roared in her head, until she feared the pressure would drive her to something she never imagined herself capable of.
Her fingers clenched hard on the wand, relief and comfort chasing the fury with the thrum of the wood's connection to the elements needed to keep her grounded.
In the periphery, she felt Hradi moving closer. She shook her head, waving him away. She needed to finish this all on her own. Closing her eyes for several breaths, she once more faced her mistress.
"Why?"
A strange expression twisted Gunilla's face, her eyes darkening with something Katrin had never seen before. She shivered to find pure evil such as she had never seen boring into her soul.
Anger soon pushed aside her fear and she straightened once more.
She released the hold on her disgust, her wand now thrust close to Gunilla's face.
The wood vibrated under Katrin's fingers.
The familiar tingle that preceded a vision came upon her quickly, more powerful than she'd ever felt before.
But she found that instead of draining her, the sensation made her even stronger.
Something within her changed and while she didn't understand exactly how, she thanked the gods for the obvious blessing.
More visions came at her, too fast for any single one to solidify, but she absorbed them all, knowing she would have enough time later to recall them with a special offering ceremony.
Again, she didn't have the time to examine the reasons or forces behind this knowledge.
Only one thing mattered now. Getting the truth from Gunilla.
"It ends now. You will not harm these people, this town. I won’t let you!"
Gunilla smirked. "It’s too late. Whether you agreed to it or not, you are allied with me in this fight. You will pay alongside me."
"I have heard enough. Take her!" Hradi's command was laced with disgust and fury. Katrin faced him, despair and anguish melding within her at the sight of the rage he sent her way. Was Gunilla right? Had she failed to convince him she was not complicit in the older witch's plans?
Heaving sobs threatened but she somehow held them back. If it must be, it must be. As she straightened, she realized the men had passed her and now surrounded Gunilla. Breathing remained difficult and unsteady, but warm hands on her shoulders soon calmed her.
"The invaders are not in search of us."
Hradi's voice, now free of anger and filled with reassurance, left her thoughts whirling.
"I don't understand."
"It is quite a tale. We will discuss all of it soon. But there is something you should know."
She searched his eyes, elation taking over her fear to realize he finally, truly believed her. All the hopes that had been dashed earlier rose again.
"What is that?" she asked, hoping her voice sounded as steady as she tried to make it.
"They were looking for you."
Fear returned, though it was different than what she'd felt when she thought Hradi did not believe her.
Why were they searching for her? What had she ever done to make her the target of invaders?
For the first time, she looked straight at the three men standing behind Hradi, silent, but clearly trying to get a glimpse of her.
Behind them stood Jarl Thorfinn and Kori.
She nodded toward them. "They searched for me? Why? Who are they?"
"They are from a clan far in the north. They have been traveling for years."
Hradi's statement held no logic.
"What have they to do with me?"
He took a step closer and gathered her hands in his. "Look at them. Do you notice anything that seems… familiar?"
She looked at him, wondering if he had gone mad from the battle. When he nodded, encouraging her to look at the men, she did.
They were all tall, clearly seasoned warriors. All of them had fiery red hair, much fashioned into elaborate braids alongside well-groomed beards. They looked alike, and she realized they must be brothers, or at least related in some way.
"They are from the same clan no doubt." She chuckled. "They almost look like me."
The breath whooshed from her lungs a half-moment later.
No! No! It couldn't be. Thinking of what she had just learned brought everything into sudden focus.
Katrin's entire life had been a lie. Had been taken from her.
Agony, fierce as a rusty blade slicing into her heart, burst within.
She whirled about, looking ever more closely at the three warriors.
Anger and despair overwhelmed her, spots dancing at the edges of her vision. Every part of her trembled, knees shaking so badly, she knew she would eventually collapse. She looked to Hradi and the panic in his own expression warned that she –
***
A strange familiarity came over Hradi when he leaned forward to catch Katrin before she fell.
Her eyes rolled back, the realization he was too late sickening him when she crumpled to the floor.
He slid to his knees beside her and gently rolled her over, aware of the three brothers surrounding him.
He drew her limp body into his lap and brushed the hair from her face.
"What’s wrong with her?" the eldest brother asked.
"Sometimes, when she…" He trailed off, not sure if they were aware of Katrin’s gift. He looked between the three men, finding concern and curiosity in their stares. "She will be fine with some rest. She… has visions, it’s a gift she possesses."
"Like our mother!" the youngest stated.
The pronouncement roused several intriguing hints.
He could pay them no mind now. Now he must focus on Katrin.
He studied her pale face, the dark red of her hair making her appear ashen, almost blue, as if she was already cold.
The very idea tore at his heart. He brushed his fingers across one soft cheek, relieved to find her warm, despite her appearance, and breathing so shallow, one might think her dead.
"Katrin, wake up," he said softly. Again, this time a little louder. "Katrin, wake up!"
"She is lost to you. The gods have stolen her spirit!" The cackling words came from Gunilla, her arms now bound behind her. The look in her eyes bordered on pure madness. Before he could rise to face her, the eldest brother stalked over to her.
"You’ll pay, old woman, for all that you’ve done to us, and most of all to our sister and mother. I’ve waited many summers for this day. You will suffer, this I promise before the gods."
The harsh words and deadly tone sent a shiver along Hradi’s spine. He gave thanks these men were now Grindafell’s allies, instead of enemies. Hradi had no doubt he could handily beat the younger man, but that depth of rage made him more dangerous.
The old woman shrank away from Katrin’s brother.
Hradi gave them the order to take her away.
Waiting until they had left, Hradi scooped Katrin against him and rose, striding to the back room.
In a few moments, he laid her upon his bunk, much as he had the first day she arrived in Grindafell.
Her fingers still clutched her wand, and he held back a smile before sitting beside her, aware her brothers watched his every move.
After a few attempts to gently shake her awake, her eyelids finally fluttered. It took several more moments before he looked into the familiar blue of her innocent gaze. Confusion and fear mixed there. He offered a smile and another gentle caress of her cheek in an attempt to calm her.
The touch worked. Relief and affection sprouted in her clearing eyes. She looked past him and he knew the moment she recalled what she’d learned before fainting.
"They’ve been searching for you for a long time," he said quietly. He turned to Henrik and waved him closer. "Tell her what you told me."
Katrin pushed herself up to sit, pushing away Hradi’s hands when he would have stopped her. "I am fine now. I wish to speak with … my brothers."
"Of course. Would you like me to leave?" He couldn’t completely ignore the hurt that she seemed not to want him by her side at such an important moment.
"What? Why will you leave?" She tilted her head, her brow furrowed in obvious confusion. "No, I want you to stay."
A burst of pure excitement chased the gloom and he nodded, afraid if he spoke, he might appear weak and soft.
"I am Henrik," said her brother. "I am the eldest. Artur is the middle son, and Oleg the youngest."
"Where do I fit?" Katrin asked.
"You are the youngest of all. Our mother despaired of ever having a daughter and then you were born." Artur said this, stepping closer. Oleg did the same.
Hradi focused on them, but soon realized he had no need to protect her. He should be relieved, but oddly, the knowledge bothered him.