Shieldmaiden Read Online Free PDF

sacrifice, a brooch or an armlet, if they would only overlook my rash behaviour.
    I washed my face in the cold water. I wished I’d stopped to pick up my head-scarf. My hair had worked loose of the pins and hung in heavy tresses down my back. I looked at my muddy shoes sticking out from under the torn, soiled hem of my dress. But for my jewellery, I must look like a runaway thrall. I twisted my hair into a bun and returned up to the path the way I had come. Then I heard voices from further up the valley. Men on horseback, never a good sign to a woman alone. I climbed as fast as I could up the slope. My body trembled and my breath caught in my throat. I scanned the hillside, searching for shelter, but no rock was large enough and no plant grew tall enough to hide me. I was alone, unarmed and exposed. Was this punishment from the gods already?
    There were five of them. The horses struggled on the boggy ground and the riders steered them up towards the drier slopes, where I had taken refuge. I squatted among the sparse tufts of grass to make myself small. The riders had to concentrate on their balance as the horses slipped and stumbled on the loose, stony ground. They were coming ever higher, ever closer. They carried full armour, swords at their sides, spears in hand and shields on their backs, axes, bows and arrows tied to their saddles.
    One of the horses lost its footing and the rider was thrown forwards in the saddle. He swore, dismounted and bent down to check the front legs of the horse. As he stood up he looked straight at me. A grin spread across his leathery face and his eyes glinted like cold iron. I leaped up, gathered my skirts and ran. The men below roared their pleasure at the unexpected entertainment. The man following me was heavy but his sturdy boots gave a firm grip on the treacherous ground. My soft leather shoes slid on the damp grass but I was light and fear gave me speed. The slope became steeper and it was hard to keep upright. I needed one hand to steady myself as the run became a scramble. One foot caught in the hem of my dress. That was all it took. My scream echoed round the valley. I fell, rolled down the slope into the arms of my assailant. He laughed and his companions cheered.
    â€˜What have you there, Thorfinn?’
    â€˜A wench, fit for some sport.’
    â€˜Bring her here, let’s have a look.’
    He dragged me down to where the others were waiting. He twisted my arm up my back and forced me to bend forwards. I struggled but couldn’t look up at the faces around me.
    â€˜Get her shift off and let’s see what we’ve got.’ A young voice breathless with excitement.
    â€˜What I’ve got you mean.’ Thorfinn’s voice rumbled in my ear. ‘Mine to keep or to trade, as I please.’
    â€˜To share with your brothers!’ The young voice became agitated and there was a murmur among some others. I thought of Snakebite, left behind in my temper. I closed my eyes. I would die and I must be brave.
    â€˜I claim the girl for what you owe me in gambling debts, Thorfinn.’
    â€˜So do I, he owes me more than you.’
    Several of the riders were now dismounting. Thorfinn had stopped laughing.
    His grip on my wrist hardened. More horses arrived. A new voice interrupted the growing discord, a cold voice which I recognised but couldn’t place. I tried to turn my head to see who it was but he had come up behind us.
    â€˜What are you doing? We need to make haste. Your lives are in danger and you quarrel over a wench. Get back on your horses.’
    â€˜She’s mine, I found her and I caught her.’ Thorfinn sounded a lot less sure of himself. The rest were already mounting. ‘I’ll catch up with you.’
    â€˜That’s up to you. We call in at Becklund but not for long.’
    That’s when I recognised the voice. ‘Jarl Swein,’ I called but too late. The horses and men made too much noise, nobody heard me.