In the wake of Odin’s abrupt departure, Björn, Søren, and Leif all stared at the spot where the rainbow had swallowed him, as if they expected him to reappear. After an awkwardly long time they seemed to snap out of it, and I felt three pairs of eyes on me, burning with questions.
Sighing, I waved my hand through the air in a vague approximation of circle. “Go on.”
“Was that really-”
“Did that just-”
“Why would he-”
“Stop!” I shouted. “Let me specify—one at a time, ask away.”
“Was that really Odin?” Leif apparently was a little shaken by the Asgardian’s abrupt appearance and disappearance.
“Yes, that was the old bastard himself. Congratulations, consider yourselves blessed.” I made an approximation of the cross, then realized they wouldn’t get the joke.
“And the Bifrost—that’s what that was, right? I didn’t think it would look like that.” That got analytical fast.
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, that’s how it looks.”
“Strange. I thought it was a bridge.”
I sighed, already weary of this line of questioning. “It’s a bridge between worlds… it’s more of a figurative bridge. If Odin needed to actually walk to Asgard in that old man's body of his, it’d take him ages. Obviously there is magic involved.”
“So why did he come here?” Björn sounded genuinely confused.
“Seriously? You heard him.”
“He wants you to help Skarde—to do exactly the opposite of what we’re trying to do.”
“Right.”
“And in exchange, he’ll give you your armor, which you already have.”
“Sort of.”
Søren interjected. “She said it differently. Did you notice?” His shrewd eyes met my gaze, a ghost of a smile on his stern face. “You said ‘my armor is mine’ not ‘you will give me my armor.’”
I grinned in return. “Yes, exactly. So he can’t complain when he discovers that I already have my armor—it becomes moot.”
“Moot… What does that mean?”
“Nevermind. The point is, the agreement is that I keep my armor if I help Skarde appear before the Jarl for recognition at the end of the season.”
“I don’t see how you’re going to do that while we beat him.”
“Simple: I’m going to invite him to join our team.”
At this, all three of them guffawed. “Skarde will never join our ship.”
“Not at first, no. But I will leave the offer open. And when he comes crawling back, after realizing that we are far outstripping him, I’ll renew the offer. With the addition that he will continue to captain his own ship and declare us lead ship. Porp will bring in far more gold and treasures than that other village, we will guide Skarde to a few choice spots to raid, and when the Jarl summons us, Skarde will be with us. That is the offer I will make him, when the time is right.”
Søren’s sharp green eyes clouded as he considered, then turned to me, positively luminous. “That might work,” he agreed. His lips curled into a genuine smile, by far the biggest I’d seen in the three weeks I’d known him. “You’re cleverer than I gave you credit for, Brenna.”
“Thanks, I’ll take that compliment.” A dash of heat rose to my cheeks in response, but I returned his grin.
Leif glanced between Søren and I, still holding each other’s gaze. His open expression dipped into a small frown, but he said nothing.
“So, what now?” Björn asked.
“Now, I think the three of you ought to make yourselves scarce while I have this conversation with Skarde,” I hinted. “There’s no need for you to antagonize the man. He’s already coming all the way here to request my help.”
“Oh no, I want to stay here and witness this,” Björn’s thick arms crossed his muscled chest, and he widened his stance as if he intended to grow roots in the spot.
“She’s right,” Søren interjected. “Let’s wait in the barn. Come on,” he tilted his head toward the structure and stepped off, expecting the others to follow.
With a sigh, Björn left, and Leif remained behind, still watching me with a slightly confused expression.
“Leif… is everything okay?”
“I dunno, Brenna. Is everything okay?”
My eyes drifted from the longhouse, to the path that led to the village, then toward the barn and the backs of two retreating men.
Slowly, I returned my gaze to Leif and smiled reassuringly. “Yes, I think everything is going to be okay, Leif. Go on, I’ll follow up when Skarde leaves and give you guys all the details. Promise.”
Sighing, Leif turned and followed the others. I was just on my way to splash water on my face and freshen up when Skarde’s figure appeared on the path from town.
He was white as a ghost, his entire expression best described as ‘confused’, and he kept looking around as if fearful someone would jump out and yell ‘boo!’ at him.
His pale blue eyes landed on me, and the relief in his gaze told me Odin hadn’t revealed that I wasn’t a normal human.
Thank Frigg for small favors.
Skarde’s reddish-blonde hair was braided completely down his back today, nothing fancy but still groomed. He wore a simple tunic and pants, with a heavy leather belt to hold it up. He marched up to me, the surprising blend of confusion and relief on his face striking me as humorous.
I decided to play dumb.
“Hello, Skarde, what brings you here today?”
He hesitated, pausing a few feet away, before speaking. “I’m not completely sure, if I’m being honest,” he confessed. “I… you’re going to think it’s crazy. But I promised the crow-”
“Crow? You promised a crow you’d come visit me?” My left eyebrow lifted, and I let my lip curl in a teasing smile.
“It wasn’t a normal crow,” he snapped in response to my derision. “It was a talking crow. And the crow said-”
“Oh, so it was a talking crow.” I crossed my arms over my chest and my smile deepened. “That makes more sense. Go on.”
“Woman, you know what a talking crow means,” Skarde stepped forward and hissed under his breath, as if afraid of being overheard. “It was Odin in disguise!”
“Oh, so you just had a chat with Odin himself! Well, that is incredible. But why are you whispering? Surely you want to tell everyone.”
“Will you-” he began shouting, but then lowered his voice. “Will you please just let me tell you what the crow said?”
I nodded and gestured for him to proceed without speaking again.
“The crow—Odin—told me that in order to succeed this summer, I need to recruit your help. So I’m here to ask you to join my ship.”
“I’m sorry, I already have a ship,” I shrugged. “You’re welcome to join mine.”
“What? No, you lost.” He seemed genuinely shocked I declined his offer.
“Perhaps I did. Perhaps the contest wasn’t fair. Either way, I have no interest in helping you succeed. What’s in it for me?”
Now it was Skarde’s turn to raise an eyebrow, as if I impressed him. “I will mention you to the Jarl when he calls me forward at the end of summer.”
“Nope, not good enough. When my crew is the most successful this summer, the Jarl will call all of us forward because we are a team. So you offer me nothing I don’t already have.”
“You assume you will outperform me? Hah, you dream, woman.”
“I dunno, Skarde, you’re the one here asking for my help, so it seems you need something I already have.”
His eyes narrowed, color rising in his cheeks above the line of his beard. “I don’t need anything from you. The crow said you were important! I don’t want your help.”
“Oh, so it’s the crow who needs me? Okay, introduce me to your feathered friend and I will see what he offers.”
“Grrreaaahh!” Skarde’s arms flew into the air in frustration, but he didn’t try to swing them in my direction.
Smart man.
“You’re welcome to join my team if your crow tells you the only way to be successful is to work with me. I will not be working under you, Skarde. Sorry.”
“You’re being stupid. Anyone can see that tiny toy boat you call a ship won’t survive a single trip across the open water, let alone a summer’s worth.”
“Well, that’s where we disagree. I guess we’ll see what happens this summer.”
Skarde scratched at his auburn beard, thinking. “What if we do another trial?”
“Why would I agree to that, when you’ve already won?”
“You just claimed the contest wasn’t fair. So what if we repeat it?”
“And how would you propose to make it more fair?”
“We could… have the chieftain set us a task, something to collect, instead of just a race. Whichever ship makes it back with the most treasure in the allotted time wins.”
I thought it over. Even if Thor helped them move faster with his wind, he couldn’t help them collect more treasure. With a smaller crew, we were at a disadvantage for helpers, but we had more room on the ship for the haul, and we were a lighter craft. We could take longer to collect the treasure and travel faster to make up for the difference.
“Agreed. Tomorrow, we’ll meet at the harbor and collect whatever treasure the chieftain designates. No beer chugging. If you win, I join your crew. If I win, you’re on your own.”
“Deal.” Skarde held out his hand. I accepted the shake. “I’ll inform the chieftain. Noon tomorrow.”
Without another word, he turned and marched back down the path.
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