Chapter Thirty-three
An hour into the Thing and Tormod had made up his mind about how to go forward.
Aoife stood near him but on the outer edge of the circle and every so often he saw her tense when her people were spoken of.
The first time, he had smiled over at her just to reassure her that simply because he must listen to every accusation, did not mean he must believe it — and he certainly did not believe any of it reflected on her.
“And what does the Lady Aoife have to say about all of this?” Ulf asked. Again. Why was his cousin insisting on emphasising that his wife was a Briton?
Tormod ran his hand over his face. What was his cousin up to? He had hoped their victory would have put Ulf’s fears to rest but apparently not. “How can you expect my wife to know what her father, whom she has not seen for two years, plans to do?”
“These are her people who attack us.”
“They were her people, Ulf. As you are kin to the other Norsemen. Do you know what Ivarr the Boneless has planned for today? Tomorrow? Next summer?”
“No…”
Aoife chose that moment to move around to the causeway and when Tormod nodded, she crossed it. A hush fell around the circle.
“Herre,” began Ulf. “Surely we cannot—”
“All have a right to speak and be heard, Ulf. That is the law of our people.”
Ulf folded his arms, and Tormod fought to unclench his fists. He was sure they had resolved this last night. What was Ulf up to?
“I know nothing of the plans of my father,” Aoife stated clearly, in slow but accurate Norse.
“But if I did, I would tell my husband. The men who tried to attack last night were not my father’s men.
” She paused for a moment and Tormod could see her swallowing as if trying to work out what exactly to say next.
“I believe the men who attacked from the south are kinsfolk of my stepmother, Lady Ula. Before their marriage, Ula’s brother, Marcant, had tried to take my father’s lands by force.
I am worried they may have tried to do so again.
Perhaps they already have. Perhaps it is not my father who has betrayed you. ”
Ulf stood facing her. “My lady, how do we know you are telling us the truth? You may have simply tricked our jarl into believing you to leave us vulnerable, leave our village open to attack. It would not be the first time you have been fooled by a pretty face, Tormod.”
Tormod pushed himself to his feet, incensed that Ulf had the gall to challenge him and insult Aoife.
Ulf winked at him and he frowned. Realisation dawned.
Ulf was forcing him to address the fears of the village in public.
“Aye, Ulf, you are right. Who among us has not?” And with that, Tormod laughed.
When he stopped, all around the circle stood in silence watching him.
“Husband?” Aoife put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him, worry in her eyes.
Tormod looked around at the assembled villagers, desperately trying to work out how to say this in the most effective way without admitting just how much of a fool he had been in the past. “Cousins, friends, villagers. Ulf is right. I was deceived in the past. It nearly cost my cousin his life and led to an attack on my father’s village in the Norselands.
I was young, and foolish. But I have learned since then.
Grown older and wiser and I will not make the same mistakes again.
Although I may make others. I am only human, after all. ”
He paused for a moment and met Arne’s eye. His cousin acknowledged him.
“Lady Aoife is merely a pawn in her father’s scheme.
Her father’s—or whoever is controlling him—which I suspect is the real truth of the situation.
Everyone makes mistakes, and we pay for those mistakes, but let me assure each and every one of you I went into this marriage in the full knowledge Cadell may well have been deceiving us.
It did not matter. We hold this land and we are strong enough to keep it without Cadell as an ally, and even with Cadell as an enemy.
Whatever mistakes I made with my first wife were not repeated with my second.
An alliance with Lord Cadell was a luxury, not a requirement.
Ingrid’s son Einar will live and train with Arne, allowing any children Lady Aoife and I have together to take over these lands in the future.
It is only right that lands which we hold due in part to her presence, pass to her children. Hopefully far into the future.”
“Tormod,” Aoife said, but he shook his head.
“The past is behind us. Cadell’s intentions no longer matter. All that matters is Lady Aoife is my wife, head woman of this village. Her knowledge will help us settle here. There is nothing for me to regret in this marriage, nothing for me to hide.”
Aoife covered her mouth with her hands and gasped. He put out a hand and took hers, holding it firmly, pleased at the shy smile creeping across her face. He pulled her to him and kissed her. There were mutterings from all around the circle which sounded positive.
Tormod held Aoife at his side and faced the villagers. “Now, I suggest we consider how to respond to these attacks. First, we should approach Lord Cadell. Then we will look for enemies further afield.”
“I agree,” said Bjorn.
“And I,” added Arne.
There were general mutterings of assent from around the circle.
Tormod looked at Ulf, waiting for his response.
“And I,” Ulf said loudly, grinning at him.
Tormod smiled.