Snorri, Ari, and Thorvald, all his closest men and confidants. None smiled. Toki huddled in a dry cloak beside the hearth, his head bowed and his bedraggled hair covering his face. His wet cloak dried by the hearth. Ulfrik heard Gunnar squealing outside in the distance where Gerdie entertained him while Runa went to Toki's home to care for his two women.
"Friends," Ulfrik began, "we have important decisions to make. All of Nye Grenner might be affected by what we decide tonight."
"Too late for leaving us out of it," Thorvald said, casting a scowl at Toki from the high table. "He's already done the deed, and one of our own is dead for it."
"Don't you think I suffer for that?" Toki twisted to face them. "I will take that guilt to my grave."
"Before this is done you'll have more than one to think about in grave, that's for certain."
"Mind yourself," threatened Ulfrik. Of all the men he called together, only Thorvald had never sailed with Toki. He was the least inclined to understanding, though Ulfrik valued his opinions. "None of us agree with what Toki did. He broke an oath to the gods. That will be repaid as the gods deem fit."
Ari rubbed his face with both hands. His gnarled and thin form filled with shadow, making him appear carved from wood. "He broke an oath to you, too."
"And you broke your oath to Jarl Kjotve to serve me," Ulfrik replied. "Let's not throw spears at each other tonight. I gathered you to help decide the best response to this crisis. Hardar will consider this kidnapping his daughter. Toki sees it as rescuing a woman from a cruel man. What is the best response?"
His words echoed around the hall. Ulfrik smiled again, otherwise he wanted to scream. Toki had broken an oath, and oath-breakers were scum. But Toki was an old friend, a brother-in-law, and a good person. Ulfrik knew him to be a man of high passions, guided by his sense of honor and duty. But his passions too often ruled him. Combined with the thrill of lust and danger, Ulfrik understood why Toki had been unable to resist Halla.
"Do you think it's a plot?" Snorri broke the extended silence. The thought hit Ulfrik like a hammer. Others sat up straighter at Snorri's question. Ulfrik faced Toki, and the others followed.
Toki shot to his feet, throwing his unbound cloak to the dirt floor. "Then it would be some piece of work! I saw Vermund pursuing her at the festival. She told me at the festival about her fears. Halla is innocent of a plot."
Thorvald snorted at Toki's protestations. But Ulfrik held up his hand. "I believe Halla to be innocent of guile. But that does not rule out Snorri's suspicion. Maybe Hardar planned this to ruin my reputation, or worse."
"He will be searching for his daughter," Snorri said, running his fingers through his gray beard. "He will come to at least ask for your help. The sensible thing is to turn her over immediately."
Ulfrik stared at Snorri, and could no longer force a smile. "And Hardar will demand justice. And justice for kidnapping his daughter would be Toki's life."
Everyone exchanged glances, but soon all turned to Toki. He stood trembling, pale and eyes wide, his mouth working soundlessly. Ulfrik felt a derisive laugh bubble in his throat, but swallowed it. He suspected Toki had never considered where his actions would lead. He stood from the bench and stepped down from the high table.
He gripped Toki's thick arm and squeezed. "I should hand you over. But there is another way, and one I think Hardar much prefers: gold. It will be the second time I buy this fool's life for him."
Toki turned his head away and closed his eyes. Ulfrik released his grip with a shove. Thorvald drank from his mug, standing to challenge Ulfrik. "And what if Hardar won't accept gold?"
"Then it's war."
"War because this one wants a tumble with a jarl's daughter?" Thorvald jabbed his finger at Toki. "Don't we all want to fuck a princess? Should every man's blood be spilled for that?"
"Silence! I asked you here for your clear
"Friends," Ulfrik began, "we have important decisions to make. All of Nye Grenner might be affected by what we decide tonight."
"Too late for leaving us out of it," Thorvald said, casting a scowl at Toki from the high table. "He's already done the deed, and one of our own is dead for it."
"Don't you think I suffer for that?" Toki twisted to face them. "I will take that guilt to my grave."
"Before this is done you'll have more than one to think about in grave, that's for certain."
"Mind yourself," threatened Ulfrik. Of all the men he called together, only Thorvald had never sailed with Toki. He was the least inclined to understanding, though Ulfrik valued his opinions. "None of us agree with what Toki did. He broke an oath to the gods. That will be repaid as the gods deem fit."
Ari rubbed his face with both hands. His gnarled and thin form filled with shadow, making him appear carved from wood. "He broke an oath to you, too."
"And you broke your oath to Jarl Kjotve to serve me," Ulfrik replied. "Let's not throw spears at each other tonight. I gathered you to help decide the best response to this crisis. Hardar will consider this kidnapping his daughter. Toki sees it as rescuing a woman from a cruel man. What is the best response?"
His words echoed around the hall. Ulfrik smiled again, otherwise he wanted to scream. Toki had broken an oath, and oath-breakers were scum. But Toki was an old friend, a brother-in-law, and a good person. Ulfrik knew him to be a man of high passions, guided by his sense of honor and duty. But his passions too often ruled him. Combined with the thrill of lust and danger, Ulfrik understood why Toki had been unable to resist Halla.
"Do you think it's a plot?" Snorri broke the extended silence. The thought hit Ulfrik like a hammer. Others sat up straighter at Snorri's question. Ulfrik faced Toki, and the others followed.
Toki shot to his feet, throwing his unbound cloak to the dirt floor. "Then it would be some piece of work! I saw Vermund pursuing her at the festival. She told me at the festival about her fears. Halla is innocent of a plot."
Thorvald snorted at Toki's protestations. But Ulfrik held up his hand. "I believe Halla to be innocent of guile. But that does not rule out Snorri's suspicion. Maybe Hardar planned this to ruin my reputation, or worse."
"He will be searching for his daughter," Snorri said, running his fingers through his gray beard. "He will come to at least ask for your help. The sensible thing is to turn her over immediately."
Ulfrik stared at Snorri, and could no longer force a smile. "And Hardar will demand justice. And justice for kidnapping his daughter would be Toki's life."
Everyone exchanged glances, but soon all turned to Toki. He stood trembling, pale and eyes wide, his mouth working soundlessly. Ulfrik felt a derisive laugh bubble in his throat, but swallowed it. He suspected Toki had never considered where his actions would lead. He stood from the bench and stepped down from the high table.
He gripped Toki's thick arm and squeezed. "I should hand you over. But there is another way, and one I think Hardar much prefers: gold. It will be the second time I buy this fool's life for him."
Toki turned his head away and closed his eyes. Ulfrik released his grip with a shove. Thorvald drank from his mug, standing to challenge Ulfrik. "And what if Hardar won't accept gold?"
"Then it's war."
"War because this one wants a tumble with a jarl's daughter?" Thorvald jabbed his finger at Toki. "Don't we all want to fuck a princess? Should every man's blood be spilled for that?"
"Silence! I asked you here for your clear
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