Chapter Five #3
“You four, leave us, but do not go far,” the Jarl snapped. “I must confer with my councilors. Remain outside the council chamber.” He waved at the guards to escort them out, and a moment later, the four companions were left looking at each other in a hallway outside the chamber.
“Not what I was hoping for,” said Thorulf.
“What just happened?” demanded Hakon.
“It’s the old prejudice,” said Sif bitterly. “The Jarl suspects treachery on the part of my Sisters; he must believe our stories of the Skraelings are a pretext for an invasion of Visby by the Ironwood.”
“That’s what I saw,” agreed Gunnar. “Jarl Birger looked as though he was going to burst a vein when you told him that the Sisters are coming. And so now we stand alone.”
“Loki’s balls!” swore Hakon, thumping his fist into the timber wall. “We don’t have time for this!”
“Politics is a fallow field,” observed Thorulf. “Only the hardiest of weeds grow there.”
“Lives hang in the balance,” said Hakon angrily.
Suddenly, the doors to the council chamber burst open.
The councilor called Eirik pointed at the four companions and said, “By order of the Jarl, these people are to be bound under the law and held for questioning.” As the guards surrounded them, Eirik addressed the four directly.
“Surrender yourselves and make no trouble,” he warned.
Hakon had mere moments to make a decision, and at the forefront of his mind was Sif’s safety. The odds against the four were great, but he would not be parted from Sif’s side. He prepared himself.
Thorulf, however, had reached the end of his patience. “Hold!” he bellowed, and such was the force of his anger that everyone momentarily froze. “I am a citizen of Visby and a free man, who has broken no law!” said the homesteader fiercely. “On what grounds do you seek to hold us?”
The guards looked to Eirik the councilor, who looked momentarily uncertain. “The Jarl suspects treason,” he said finally. “This supposed Skraeling attack is a pretext for the Ironwood witches to infiltrate and take over our city.”
“He may suspect whatever he wishes,” Thorulf shot back, gritting his teeth, “but unless he wishes to convene a Thing gathering and present evidence to that effect, we have done no harm and broken no law. The Jarl may not hold us simply because he wishes to!”
There was a brief disturbance at the doors of the council chamber, and the guards parted to make way for Jarl Birger himself. One hand clenched a knotted wooden cane, while the other pointed directly at Thorulf.
“Thorulf Ulrikson,” the Jarl rasped, “by my authority under the law, I declare you and your companions a threat to the city, and therefore banished. The four of you will be escorted to the East Gate and cast out of Visby. Your lives will be forfeit should you attempt to return. If you wish to exercise your rights under the law,” he sneered, “you may appeal my decision at the next Thing gathering. Until then, begone!” The Jarl gestured with finality then turned back to the council chamber.
***
At the East Gate, the captain of the Jarl’s guard gave them a final warning. “I know you for a good man, Thorulf,” said the captain, “but do not think to find mercy from the Jarl or his officers. Should you be seen in the city, your lives will be the price.”
“Thank you, Anders,” replied Thorulf. “I know that you but do your duty.” The homesteader turned and began to walk down the road, followed by the others. After they had walked out of earshot of the guards, Gunnar asked, “So what do we do now?”
“Well, we cannot simply leave,” said Thorulf. “Ignetha and the twins are inside the city. The Jarl will seal the city, for he fears treachery from the Ironwood, and they will be trapped inside.”
“Gods, the stupidity of that man!” fumed Sif.
“Can’t be helped,” said Thorulf simply. “Might as well head back to the farm and get ready to warn the Ironwood Sisters when they arrive.”
“What about my foster mother and the twins?” asked Gunnar.
“Their safety depends on their ability to keep their heads low,” replied Thorulf. “Any attempt to get them out at this point will only put them in greater danger. My family has many friends in the city. They will be safe,” he emphasized, as much to himself as to anyone else.
Hakon remained silent as they walked back to the farm. What an accursed situation! By shutting its gates to the Sisters, Visby had hamstrung its own defenses. Yet Hakon and his companions could not walk away even if they wanted to, for Gunnar’s foster family lay inside the city.
Sif had come to the same conclusion. “Goddess, how do we help to defend a city that won’t even let us inside its gates?”
“Fool of a man,” said Gunnar in uncharacteristic anger. “That old Jarl sees enemies in every shadow, and he’s dooming the city in the process!”
It was an unhappy journey back to the homestead. The house was uncharacteristically quiet, as Ignetha and the twins had taken the dogs with them.
“I must communicate with my Sisters,” said Sif. “They need to know what has taken place.”
“Not alone,” said Hakon immediately. “I will join you and keep watch over you while you weave your spell.” Sif nodded.
As they stepped out of earshot of Thorulf and Gunnar, Sif said miserably, “Hakon, I failed. The first thing the Sisters asked me to do, and I failed.”
“You’re not responsible for an old man’s paranoia,” replied Hakon shortly.
“The Sisters told me that no matter what, I had to persuade Jarl Birger of the danger Visby was facing,” said Sif.
Hakon gave a bitter laugh. “Well, you succeeded,” he said. He stopped and drew Sif into an embrace, stroking her golden hair. “Look at it this way, my love. You achieved your goal, after a fashion. Visby has shut its gates and prepares for an attack. The city will not be caught unaware.”
Sif leaned her head against Hakon’s strong, broad chest. “Oh, Hakon,” she murmured, “do you really think so?”
The warrior nodded, continuing to stroke her hair. “I do.”
Sif took a deep breath and let it go. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. Visby does not lie open to attack, and perhaps the Sisters can work out some way to ease the Jarl’s fears.”
Privately Hakon doubted this but kept his thoughts to himself. “We can only hope,” he said.