Rakel didn’t waste any time. She put the letter down, ran out, saddled up, and set off towards Holmestrand. The letter was from the proprietor of a grocery store – and she’d written that Jenny was staying with her. She was willing to hand Jenny over for a hefty bounty.
Bergan must have gone there to arrest Jenny! There wasn’t an address, but Rakel knew exactly where it was. When she was younger, her father had visited a friend who was a farmer in the mountains and she’d gone along with him. They’d passed by the shop then. If she was lucky, Bergan thought it was at the foot of the mountain. In that case, she could still get there before him and get Jenny to safety.
The sky was dark with heavy clouds now, and the heavens opened up as she passed Nykirke. She was soaked to the skin in the blink of an eye. It was difficult to see, and the road was soon muddy and difficult to move on.
“All right, Blakka,” she said comfortingly, patting the horse on the neck. “We’re over halfway there, and afterwards you’ll be able to rest in the dry stables and I’ll give you extra hay. But now we have to save Jenny from Bergan!”
Rakel sat up straight in the saddle and pushed Blakka up to full speed. They had to get there before him.
She rode in the rain for a long time, but now she was finally getting close. She turned off the main road onto a narrower path over the mountain. There were some cliffs and steep slopes, but Blakka kept a steady pace and continued despite the rain and slippery ground. Now they just had to get around the next turn.
She barely had time to think when she heard a wagon approaching. She looked around. There was a vertical mountain face on one side of the road, and a steep slope on the other. She didn’t want to fall down there. The road was narrow and she held Blakka as close to the mountainside as she could. It was the safest place for them to meet an oncoming wagon in this weather.
Rakel didn’t look at the wagon all that carefully when it came around the bend; she just wanted to get past it safely. But there was something about the horse that caught her eye – it was black as coal. She gasped. It was Odin!
She quickly shifted her gaze to the driver’s seat. And there sat Ask Bergan. He was wearing the cloak she’d seen him in when they first met in the tavern and had his hood up to protect himself from the rain. When his eyes wandered over her, he jerked and pulled back on the reins. The horse stopped, and Rakel rode forward in front of the wagon.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, hoping he hadn’t found Jenny. When she glanced back in the wagon, though, she saw it was too late.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied. “You’re soaking wet and should get home before you fall ill.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “You’re not passing me until you let Jenny go.” He straightened up.
“Move your horse, Rakel,” he said.
“No,” she answered, dismounting. She took hold of Odin’s reins. “You’re not getting past me,” she said, staring the sheriff straight in the eyes. She felt strong and invincible, but that feeling disappeared in a flash when he hopped down and strode towards her with quick, determined steps.
“Let me pass, Rakel,” he said, stopping right in front of her.
“No,” she said, straightening up. “I know you have Jenny, and you’re not going anywhere until you’ve set her free!”
One corner of his mouth curled up in a snarl.
“You give me nothing but trouble. I have a job to do, and I order you to move your horse so I can deliver my prisoner.”
“In that case, you’ll have to arrest me too,” she said angrily. “Because I’m not moving.”
She shook her head so her wet hair danced around her face.
He stared at her as though she were mad.
“Do you know how small and frail you are? I could throw you over my back and heave you in the wagon with your friend without any difficulty at all.”
“I don’t think you want to do that,” she said. “Because you know what I’m capable of.”
“Oh, that won’t work on me,” he said, leaning forward. “You know I’m not going to kill you, and you have to fear for your life to use your powers.”
She realised he’d seen through her and changed her tactic.
“Please,” she asked instead. “Don’t do this to us. Help us instead!”
Before he could answer, a whip snapped in the air behind them. Odin moved suddenly, tore the reins from her hands, and bounded past her at full speed. Bergan pulled her out of the way just as the wagon came thundering after. Confused, she looked up at the driver’s seat. There Jenny sat, whip in hand, looking down at them in horror.
“Rakel!” she cried desperately. “Help me!”
Rakel looked after her, wide-eyed. Jenny had never driven a wagon before, and Odin thundered off in fear.
“Dammit!” the sheriff shouted, running after them. He threw himself at the carriage and managed to grab the footholds of the coach’s seat, but it was slippery and wet, and one hand slipped off. Still, he didn’t give up and clung on with the other arm.
Fear gripped Rakel’s chest.
“Jenny! Stop the horse!” she cried desperately. She saw her friend pulling back on the reins, but it was too late. The wagon skidded in the mud and was approaching the slope at full speed. Jenny screamed in terror. The sound frightened Odin even more and he swerved to one side. The movement was so powerful that the wagon hitch snapped right off. Odin was freed and the wagon lost control entirely. Rakel sprinted after it, but there was no chance of her being able to catch up.
“No!” she cried desperately, but there was nothing she could do as the wagon hurtled down the steep slope.