Chapter 6
Ivar
I summoned the goddess Eir to heal this woman. Suddenly, my body started to glow with a bright light, but the woman's warm body was turning cold in my hands.
"I... I see him," the woman murmured, drawing my attention. I opened my eyes.
"Who do you see?"
"I see the god, Odin," she replied.
The woman's eyes were fixed on mine, burning with unshed tears. Something was changing in her; the transformation had stopped, and she was slowly dying.
"The god Odin has come to take me," she said.
My eyes widened. Odin is both the god of war and death. Any person's who died in this village is believed to have been taken by him. He is the one eyed alfather who sacrificed his eye for wisdom. He only came to take the souls of the dead. This meant the woman was dying.
"I... I feel no pain in me," she murmured.
I heard sniffing, and when I turned, it was the woman's husband.
"She is dying," I said. "She shall not see nightfall."
"No!" the man cried. "Please…. do something."
"It is not by my power that the sick are healed," I said. "The gods decides whom to heal."
Tears streamed down the man's cheeks.
"Any last parting words for her?" I asked, standing up to give them some privacy.
"You have been a good wife to me," he said.
"And you, a good man," she smiled. "I... I won't live to see another sunrise."
"I know."
"Forgive me for not speaking about the bite that night," she whispered. "I feared you would see me as a wolven. I feared you shall not love me again."
"I... I forgive you," the man stuttered.
"Will... will you promise me you shall me well after I'm gone?"
"I... I..." he began, but the woman's body jerked, and that was all. She took her last breath as the goddess claimed her.
"I can naught," the man cried, holding her body. I walked over and closed her eyes.
"May you find peace at Odin's side," I said before rising from the floor.
….
Sunlight streamed through the thick branches as I walked through the forest toward my lake. The memory of the woman's death haunted my mind. She had been bitten by a wolven in the forest.
I hated those creatures. They had done nothing but cause pain to my people.
My stomach churned as I passed wildflowers blooming in the forest. They were beautiful, wild blossoms.
Traveling deeper into the woods, I reached the lake. Setting down the basket, I began unbraiding my hair, letting the deep waves fall free.
The lake was wide, created by a fresh spring not far from here. Tall trees surrounded the water, their branches casting sunlight across the surface. I undressed, placing my clothes on a rock, then removed my sandals and set them on the soft grass. Taking in the forest air, I felt my heart calm. I laid my sword beside the rock, its blade glowing in the sunlight.
The long waves of my hair reached my chest, covering my nipples. In this village, hair was a symbol of a woman's beauty. Men admired women with long hair.
As I tucked curls behind my ears, I prepared to enter the lake when I heard the soft crunch of boots on the grass. Goosebumps prickled my skin, and I quickly turned, reaching for my sword, my fingers brushing the hilt.
I knew instantly I wasn't alone. Someone was watching me.
I scanned the forest, glancing over my shoulder, but saw nothing. Still, the uneasy feeling gnawed at my stomach. I could sense eyes on me, though I didn't know why.
Anger rose through me. Who would dare follow a woman to the lake to spy on her bathing? As the Hirðkona of my tribe, the man watching me would face a harsh punishment from my father.
But I wanted to handle him myself. I wanted to feel my blade drink his blood.
Muscles tense, I looked around. "Show yourself!"
I heard footsteps, and when I turned, two men stepped from the shadows. Their beards were long and dark, and their skin was bronze-toned. They had lined the skin under their eyes with charcoal, giving them a intimidating look. One was bald, and the other had long dark hair.
I tilted my head, watching them approach, their smiles widening. They were the village drunkards.
"What is it that you want?" I asked, hiding my sword behind me.
The first man grinned, glancing around as if checking if anyone else was nearby.
"How fortunate that we found you alone in the forest today, Hirðkona," he said. "Where is thy maid?"
They stepped closer, and I matched them step for step.
"I shall ask only once," I said, my tone colder. "What is it that you want from me?"
"There are no guard to protect you," the second man grinned.
Did he think I needed a guard? I was fully capable of defending myself.
Pressing my lips into a thin line, I replied, "I shall overlook you did naught follow me here. I shall think it that you are lost and need help finding your way out."
Their grins broadened, and one of them fixed his gaze on my chest, licking his lips.
"We came for you."
"For me?" My expression hardened. "You should leave now. I shall naught ask a second time."
"You can naught save yourself, Hirðkona. We will take our pleasure from you."
My lips curled in disgust as I brought my sword forward, running my fingers along the sharp edge.
The men eyed my sword, and their demeanor shifted. "Do not make us harm you, Hirðkona."
"You could never harm me, even if there were five of you," I said, just as they lunged at me. I struck the first man in the stomach, making him stumble back. The second man swung an elbow, but I dodged and drove my blade into his chest. A warm hand grabbed my neck. Angered by his filthy hands, I spun around, stepping into the first man. He twisted my left arm back, making me wince in pain, but I punched him in the face, forcing him to stagger. Seizing the opportunity, I plunged my blade into his chest.
Breathing deeply, I looked down at their bodies.
"Fools," I cursed.