Ragnar the Murderer (14 page)

She wondered what he meant, even while trying to resist him.

“
I want you so badly,” he whispered, pulling up her skirt.

She gritted her teeth. If she had to put up with this before seeing Ragnar, so be it. Bjarni would be back soon and then she could see Ragnar.

Her skirt raised above her waist, Kjartan began to loosen his trousers, when he was pulled violently backwards.

“
What in the gods’ name are you doing to my sister?” snarled Bjarni. “Control yourself, you fiend!”

Kjartan merely chuckled, and stared at Aelfwyn.

“
Get lost or I’ll kill you!” continued Bjarni.

He took the sensible path and hurried off.

“
Are you alright?” asked Bjarni. “I’m sorry to have left you so vulnerable.”

“
He’s obsessed with me. He’s got all these plans for me.” She shuddered.

“
What plans?”

“
He wants me and some woman called Yngvild to be his lovers and pleasure him in turn.” She felt sick.

“
Yngvild?”

“
Yes, the name sounds familiar, can’t think where I’ve heard it before.”

“
Oh- probably just around the village.” But Bjarni’s mind began working fast. First Ragnar, now Aelfwyn mentioning something going on between Yngvild and Kjartan. Could it be true that the Jarl’s wife and the Huskarl were intimate?

*  *  *

Aelfwyn stepped into Ragnar’s room, sick with nerves. Loitering near the wall, his face lit up when he saw her. He lifted his shackled hands and brought them down over her shoulders, holding her tightly.

She pressed against his solid chest, so reassuring and hard and- if the other Huskarlr hadn’t been in the room, she would have taken him inside her that second. Her earlier arousal had been made worse by Kjartan pressing himself against her like that. However scary he was, he’d still got her physically excited and she trembled against Ragnar.

He sat down carefully on the floor, bringing her with him, and kissed her passionately.

“
I’ll be outside,” said Bjarni, and hurried out. The Huskarl guards were gazing at the couple, open mouthed.

“
Fuck off, you perverts,” said Ragnar, between kisses. They gathered themselves and turned back to their knucklebones game.

“
So, you believe I didn’t kill Eadbald?” he asked when they stopped for breath.

“
Of course! It’s not in you to do that. You’re honourable.”

“
Ahh,” said one of the guards. “Aren’t you sweet?”

“
I just told you to-“ snapped Ragnar.

“
Alright, alright. I’m just saying I can see why you like her.”

“
Well, she’s mine, so piss off. Aren’t you?”

“
Of course.” Tears pricked her eyes. “I never doubted you.”

“
The trial is coming up. It’s at the Thing.”

“
What do you mean, the Thing?”

“
It’s the gathering we Danes hold every so often to sort out disagreements. And crimes.”

“
It’ll be alright.” She cuddled up to him again, hoping it would be.

*  *  *

The outdoor assembly area where they always held the Thing was within Hallfridby on a piece of plain grassland, open to all witnesses. The clouds were scudding across the blue sky, blown by the fierce early summer winds.

Ragnar stood shackled by his wrists. The Jarl and his wife sat in ornate chairs on one side of him. Twelve Huskarlr sat opposite them. Some frowned, some smiled uneasily but most appeared simply impassive. They were all dressed in their smart Huskarl uniforms of red cloak, grey trousers, over tunics, hair platted neatly. Bjarni had been excused due to his being Ragnar’s closest friend.

An accused Huskarl was not allowed to wear the uniform, however so Ragnar wore a plain brown over tunic and trousers with his hair tied back severely.

“
Welcome all to the Thing,” began Jarl Thorvald. He glanced round and the crowd were silenced.

“
The main dispute today is a very serious one.” He turned to the defendant. “Ragnar Long Reach, you are accused of murdering Eadbald, the potter from Byrnstanham. He was killed in the Danish way, so the Anglisc are agitated and eager to find the murderer.

It pains me to see you accused, as you have been like a son to me, but I will not let that divert me from seeking justice. We must review the evidence.” He turned back to the crowd.

“
On the night before Eadbald’s wedding to Aelfwyn, daughter of Aldulf, also of Byrnstanham, he was brutally murdered in his bed. The killer crept in at the darkest moment of night, cut his throat and then stabbed him in the buttock to humiliate him.

It is well known around that Ragnar Long Reach has been associating with Aelfwyn, at least they have been seen together many times. He was observed leaving the Huskarl longhouse that night and heading towards Byrnstanham.”

A blond figure approached the scene, with hair so pale it could only be one person. Ragnar stepped forward but his Huskarl friends shook their heads violently at him and he controlled himself.

Kjartan stood in front of the Jarl and his wife.

“
Did you see Ragnar leave the Huskarl longhouse on the night of the murder?”

“
I did.”

“
In which direction did he go?”

“
I can’t be sure, of course, but he seemed to be walking out of Hallfridby, towards Byrnstanham, carrying his sword under his cloak.”

“
How can you be sure it was his sword hidden under his cloak?”

“
I can’t, but he definitely was carrying something under there.”

Thorvald stepped away.

“
So Kjartan, a Huskarl also of blameless character-“

Ragnar made a scornful noise, but turned it into a cough. He noticed Kjartan still stood near Yngvild, gazing at her. She gazed back but hastily tore her eyes away.

“
-is certain that Ragnar Long Reach left the longhouse that night, with his sword, heading towards the village where Eadbald dwelt. There is no one who can vouch for him remaining asleep in the longhouse, I regret to say.

Not only that…” The Jarl paused for effect. “the potter’s oldest child found Ragnar’s sword next to the body of Eadbald.”

The onlookers gasped. A clash made them jump further: a Huskarl’s spear had fallen over in the wind, hitting his shield below like the toll of a funeral bell.

The Jarl beckoned a slave, who stepped up, bearing a burden wrapped in animal skins. He opened it to reveal Ragnar’s sword, Hauknautr, with the blood stains still on it.

Ragnar gasped audibly.

“
Is this your sword?”

He nodded, in shock, recognising the hilt. He didn’t use it much, except when Steinar arranged sword training. The Huskarlr generally used spears. Why hadn’t he taken more care of his sword instead of keeping it hidden for safety?

“
What have you to say for yourself?”

“
I did not kill Eadbald! I was asleep all night on my bench, I swear! I do love Aelfwyn but I’d never kill her betrothed!”

A ripple of unrest grew at his declaration of love for an Anglisc woman.

The Jarl regarded him sadly.

“
I’m afraid the evidence is against you.”

The Huskarlr and others were all looking at them, but Ragnar could see Kjartan and Yngvild behind the Jarl, mouthing words to each other.

Ragnar made a noise of shock, but Jarl Thorvald took it to be aggression and stepped back in alarm.

“
Do not threaten me!”

“
I wasn’t! I just- I-“

“
Be careful, my lord,” warned Yngvild, her voice as smooth as honey. “He cannot be trusted. Remember, despite your careful upbringing, he is tainted blood. Others have proved more trustworthy.” She indicated Kjartan.

What lies had she been whispering in her husband’s ear? Ragnar felt sick.

Arnbjorn, the Law sayer, stepped up.

“
This crime has taken place against a man about to be married. He was a ceorl of Byrnstanham, a well respected man with eight children to support.

The accused is also well respected, a Huskarl who has completed most of his training. Previously of noble character, he has never committed a crime such as this before.”

The audience muttered, and their voices grew louder.

“
Silence!” roared Steinar, who up until then had been quiet at the head of the Huskarl group. Everyone obeyed, knowing his reputation for swift punishment of disorder. He turned and looked at Ragnar. Had he briefly smiled or had it been wishful thinking?

“
The law states that in such a case of murder, the guilty party should pay the victim’s family compensation of the equivalent to one hundred cows. This would include all the murderer’s family members paying. As Ragnar has no blood family, the fine would be paid by the Huskarl company including Jarl Thorvald.”

The lady Yngvild whispered to her husband, who nodded adoringly and caught the attention of Arnbjorn. Ragnar felt rage kindling in his heart. If only Jarl Thorvald knew his devoted wife had been consorting with Kjartan behind his back. But who would believe someone accused of murder? Anyway, the relationship had nothing to do with this crime, revealing it would surely make him look worse. Ragnar sighed.

“
The Jarl reminds me that this punishment would not be appropriate,” said Arnbjorn. “The Anglisc are furious at this disrespectful death. They are represented by the thegn Cyneric, friend of the deceased.”

He gestured and the finely dressed Cyneric approached, his cloak whipping in the wind. Ragnar had not noticed him until then.

“
Eadbald was well respected and loved,” said Cyneric. “His children are heartbroken, especially the daughter who found his body with the Danish sword. His young betrothed is also heartbroken that her friend could commit such a crime and never wants to see him again.”

Ragnar’s own heart shuddered at this thought. Aelfwyn had seemed to believe him when they met in his room, but doubts crept in now.

“
We, the people of Byrnstanham demand a harsher punishment. We demand exile.”

The Huskarlr shuffled and muttered, forgetting their discipline. The watching villagers whispered and exclaimed. Exile meant Ragnar would be at the mercy of anyone who had a grievance against him. No one would be allowed to help or hide him, he would be completely alone, a worse punishment than death in many ways.

Yngvild spoke again in her husband’s ear, her face calm and beautiful, but her words surely poisonous. Jarl Thorvald nodded.

“
This seems, though it pains me, to be the answer. Huskarlr, what do you say?”

Reluctantly, one by one, the twelve raised their hands to indicate their agreement. None looked happy.

“
Ragnar, what have you to say?” asked Thorvald.

“
I am not guilty! I didn’t kill this man! But if you must punish me, I will accept it manfully.”

Kjartan sneered and even the lady Yngvild allowed a brief whisper of triumph to cross her face. Ragnar realised they wanted him to pay for knowing about their relationship. But how could he fight against their unity?

Threotiene

“
When are you going to clear up this mess?” asked Bjarni later as he lay in bed with Saehild. Clothes lay everywhere on the hut floor, dirty plates and cups piled up, and the candles all needed trimming. If Steinar saw it, he’d probably throw him out of the Huskarlr.

“
Oh, I don’t know. There’s more to life than cleaning.” She fiddled with the blond hair on his chest lazily. “I want fun, like you just gave me.”

“
We can’t have sex all the time, even though it’s tempting,” he tutted. “Life has boring times but we have to live properly.” He sat up and pulled his clothes on. “I’m going out for some fresh air.”

“
Where? I’ll come too!”

“
No, I’m going to talk to Steinar. I want to know how Ragnar’s trial went.” He strode out, still straightening his clothes.

Saehild looked round the hut. Cleaning had become so tedious. Should she go and find Ljotr? If Bjarni was visiting the Huskarlr longhouse, he would see her if she went there however. Her obsession with Ljotr had grown as she hardly ever saw him. Since that time in his shelter by the lake, where she’d learned and revelled in the dominant position, she’d only seen him once more, at Valbrand the Smith’s forge, where they’d only managed to kiss before someone had almost caught them. And while at fighting practice in the distance. It couldn’t be more frustrating.