CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

They smelled them before they saw them.

The scent of pine and spruce mingled with sweat and horseflesh. Then they heard the crackle of dawn fires and muttering voices.

‘Sviggar’s scouts!’ cried Kai.

And suddenly a shout went up. There was a clatter of armed men getting to their feet, a babble of startled voices. The three of them rode on into the camp, nodding at the dirty faces gawping up at them. For the first time in a long while, Erlan felt secure. Kai was grinning like his head might split.

‘By the fires,’ said a hoarse voice. ‘We never thought we’d hear from you again!’ Earl Bodvar was pushing his way through his men. For a change, the flint-faced old bastard was smiling.

‘You nearly didn’t,’ returned Erlan.

Bodvar slapped Kai’s leg. ‘And you, young rascal – we can’t shake you, can we?’ He turned to the princess. ‘Lady Lilla – your father will be overjoyed to know you’re safe.’

‘Where is he?’ Her beautiful face was creased with anxiety.

‘With the main force. We’re just ten. The king and two hirds are perhaps half a day’s ride behind us.’

‘How many?’ asked Erlan.

‘Nearly three hundred men in all.’

‘You took your sweet time. You’re nearly four days behind us.’

Bodvar gave a surly grunt. ‘We lost the trail after the snowfall. Eventually we found your markings and by then the king’s force was catching us up.’

‘Can we go to him?’ said Lilla. ‘He must know I am safe.’

‘Of course, my lady. My men can be ready at a moment.’ He turned to the other scouts. ‘Well, you heard her. We leave immediately.’

The huddle of men split obediently and set about breaking camp.

Bodvar gave Lilla a craggy smile. ‘I promise you’ll be with your father before nightfall.’

And he was right.

Three leagues further on, they made contact with the king’s vanguard. Sviggar’s hirds buzzed with excitement to see the princess and the stranger among Bodvar’s men. But Lilla hastened on through them all, impatient to greet her father.

It was Earl Heidrek who told them that her father was a little way back among his men. The earl’s wiry face was even paler than usual. ‘He’s not well, my lady.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The king is no longer a young man.’

‘Oh – why do you always have to talk in circles!’ she snapped. ‘Tell me quickly – what’s wrong?’

‘Forgive me, my lady. The weather has worn hard on him. He suffers from a breathing sickness.’

‘Take me to him at once,’ she said, hurrying on. Erlan followed with Bodvar, Kai bringing up the rear.

They found him soon after, propped up on his horse’s back by Finn the archer and another attendant. But he seemed hardly able to keep his seat. His head hung low, his body slumped like a half-filled sack of grain.

Lilla cried out, slid from her horse and hobbled to him as fast as her injured feet would allow, pushing aside Finn’s horse. ‘Father! My father, I’m here! I’m alive.’

Erlan was shocked to see the old king. His breath rattled in his throat like the sea sucking shingle. Sweat beaded along the wrinkles of his hanging brow.

‘Lilla,’ he croaked. ‘My child – you’re returned to me.’ His cheeks flickered a smile.

Lilla reached up and caressed his thigh. Her cheeks were wet with tears. Sviggar blinked down at her, almost in a stupor, then bent over to stroke her hair. Suddenly he slumped forward and would have fallen on her but for Finn’s quick reaction holding him on his horse.

‘The old goat’s in a fine fucking state,’ whispered Kai sidelong. Erlan shot him a warning look. Now really wasn’t the time.

‘This is madness,’ Lilla cried. ‘He shouldn’t even be on a horse.’ She tried to ease him out of his saddle, and glanced angrily round at Erlan. ‘Help me, can’t you!’

Within moments, furs had been thrown on the ground and the ailing king lain upon them. By now, the whole force had come to a halt and was dismounting. Lilla sent Kai off to fetch water and the lad scurried off to retrieve a skin from his horse.

‘I’m all right, I’m all right,’ croaked Sviggar, trying to prop himself up, while his daughter fretted over him. ‘A winter fever, nothing more. Here, help me.’ Lilla got him comfortable and pulled the fur tighter round him.

‘You must lie down and rest, Father.’

‘Of course,’ he wheezed, ‘but how could I rest till I knew you were safe?’ Suddenly the fever shivered right through him. Kai arrived with the water. Lilla snatched it from him and put it to her father’s lips. The old man drank a while before pushing it away. She moistened a corner of her cloak and started mopping his brow.

‘You mustn’t fuss, child. I’m not dying.’ He coughed a deep rasp in his chest. He bloody sounds like he is, thought Erlan. At last, Sviggar recovered himself. ‘Where’s the stranger? Is he with you?’

Erlan stepped out of the circle of men.

Sviggar looked up and smiled. ‘So my bet was a wise one.’

‘Or lucky.’

‘Ha! Either way, you’ve rendered me a service greater than any man alive or dead. I’ll not forget it.’ He coughed again, hard. ‘Tell me. I must know. What is this enemy? You have seen them?’

‘Aye.’

‘And? Are they men? Or beasts?’

Erlan glanced at Lilla, then back to her father. ‘Perhaps men who’ve become beasts. Though they had a king who was certainly no man.’

‘Had?’

‘I killed him.’

Sviggar grimaced. ‘Bravely done. You’ll be honoured for it – you have my word. What manner of king was he?’

So Erlan told him, and all the company lent a full ear as he described his descent into that demon’s warren. He told of the Witch King and the Nefelung thralls, of the overlords and the mysterious Vandrung. They listened to his account of the hall of horrors, of their escape through the darkness back to the light. And lastly, how, thanks to Kai’s madcap plan, they had sealed them in the depths for ever.

‘For ever?’ Bodvar sounded doubtful.

Erlan exchanged glances with Lilla. She gave a curt nod. He shrugged. ‘Say until the Ragnarok. That’s long enough for me.’ It would take a giant to clear through all that rock and rubble.

‘From what you describe of the place, much of the entrance is sealed by this icefall. Is that right?’ When Erlan nodded, Bodvar gave a sharp snort. ‘And what happens when the spring thaws come? What seal protects the kingdom then?’

The truth hit him like a slap in the face. How could he have missed it? Perhaps it was the shock of his ordeal, or relief at their escape, but something had blinded him from seeing what was so damned obvious. Blinded all of them. ‘Fuck.’

‘Quite,’ agreed Bodvar.

‘Perhaps summer doesn’t reach this part of the land,’ piped up Kai, ever the optimist. ‘You wait, my lords. It’s the very end of the world! The ice – why, it’s thicker than the walls of the greatest hall – ten times higher than the tallest tree. I’d bet my arm that icefall would stand a hundred years if it stands a day!’

‘The lad’s arm will be poor recompense if these Nefelung are able to break free again,’ said Bodvar.

‘I fear, my lad, your confidence may prove ill-placed,’ said Sviggar hoarsely. ‘How many of them were left?’

‘Many,’ conceded Erlan.

‘Then the business is not finished.’ Sviggar grimaced. ‘The kingdom won’t be safe until they are slaughtered in this stronghold of theirs.’ A sudden fit of coughing racked his body. Erlan saw blood fleck his withered lips. ‘A red day,’ he croaked. ‘Is this not what I’ve promised my people to avenge their blood? A red day for my son.’

‘Father, is it not revenge enough that their king is dead?’ exclaimed Lilla. ‘You’re sick. You can’t fight. You know you can’t.’

A grim expression settled on his face. ‘If I can but hold my sword—’

‘Father, you must not break the seal on that place! Though you kill every last one of them, there are things unseen down there – things not of this world – which must not be released. If they are, I fear for all of us.’ She turned and appealed to Erlan, eyes imploring him. ‘Tell him, Erlan! The seal must not be broken!’

But the king spoke before he could. ‘How you talk like your mother, sweet Lilla! You must forgive an old man his obstinacy. I deal in things of flesh and blood. These ill spirits and such you speak of – it is beyond a king to protect against these. But the kingdom must be secured.’

‘Lord, like you I know little enough of any spirit worlds,’ said Erlan. ‘But your daughter is right. There is untold evil down in those caverns. Perhaps what you have now is the best you can hope for. Perhaps, as Lady Lilla says, it is best to let it lie.’

‘Do you expect all these men to have ridden through this bollock-freezing wasteland just to crawl back to Uppsala with their blades still dry?’ said Bodvar, the lines in his face hardening. ‘Now? When the road to their enemy is finally clear?’

‘Oh, how the talk of you men sickens me!’ cried Lilla. ‘I have a blade wet with Nefelung blood. Am I more of a man than you because of it?’ Her gaunt features flushed with passion. ‘Well? Am I?’

The grizzled earl only returned her question with a wan smile.

‘Many of these men will die if you break in there!’

‘And when the spring comes?’ was Bodvar’s gruff reply.

She shook her head, seeing these men were not to be persuaded. ‘You should not disturb what you don’t understand.’

‘My child, I understand your misgivings,’ said Sviggar softly. ‘But the thing must be done. And done now.’ He seemed about to say more, but was suddenly overwhelmed by another fit of coughing, the worst yet.

Finn, his bodyguard, laid a hand on his shoulder, finally voicing what everyone was thinking. ‘Sire, on one thing at least, your daughter has the right of it. You’re too sick for this fight.’ The archer glowered at Bodvar to say something decisive.

‘Let Earl Heidrek and I be your hands,’ offered Bodvar, albeit with a circumspect look at the other earl. ‘Let us win you your revenge.’

The king’s breath rasped noisily while they awaited his answer. At last, he whispered. ‘Very well – I will heed my daughter’s counsel. You will do my killing for me.’

‘We shall not fail you, sire,’ said Bodvar.

Erlan had followed this, seen the way it was going. So when Bodvar turned to him, he’d already been turning over the question that the earl now asked.

‘If the entrance is sealed, do you think we can still find a way in?’

Erlan nodded. ‘Aye – I believe there’s a way.’ Though the prospect of going back down into the darkness was bitter as poison.

‘Is it far from here?’ asked Heidrek.

‘A day’s hard ride, no more. Maybe less with our tracks. I’ll show you myself.’

‘No,’ said Sviggar firmly. ‘You’ve done enough already.’

‘Lord, I’ll go again if I must. Don’t think my wounds would stop me.’

‘Wounds or no, my word is final. Your servant will stay with us too.’

Finn suddenly laughed. ‘Stranger, you’re a glutton for the king’s favour! Let these murderous bastards have their day.’ He jerked his head at the two earls. ‘I’d say you’ve had your fair portion, wouldn’t you?’

Aye – enough to burst my belly.

Erlan looked from Bodvar to the sagging figure of the king, and to Lilla beside him. ‘Then I’ll do as you wish, my lord.’ Relief washed over him. He suddenly realized he was nursing his wounded arm. A rest would be good. ‘But there is much I must tell you, Lord Bodvar.’

The earl chuckled. ‘There’s much I would know.’

The rest of the day Erlan spent in conference with Bodvar and Heidrek. He disgorged every detail he could recall of Niflagard and had them repeat it all till they knew it as well as him.

‘Above all, you need light. Without it, you’re blind. With it, you can defeat them.’

Bodvar asked how they could break the seal into the place. ‘I have an idea, but if it fails. . .’ Erlan shrugged. ‘Maybe they’re fated to stay buried down there.’

‘We’ll not let the bastards off so easy,’ returned Bodvar. ‘Tell us.’

‘When you come to the place, you’ll find a huge fall of ice and rock.’ He threw a glance at Kai, who sat warming himself a little way off, but within earshot. ‘That one’s doing. Half the cliff blocks the entrance now. But on the left, the ice seals a large part of the cavern behind it. My idea is this. Build a furnace against that part of the icefall. Pack it tight. Pile it high. The fire’s heat will melt the ice and the way will be open into the hole.’

The two earls considered this.

‘Are you certain it can be done?’ asked Heidrek.

‘Certain – no. But there’s a chance it could work.’

‘At least it stands to reason,’ said Bodvar. ‘Ice yields to fire.’ Erlan’s skin prickled with the memory of Lilla’s strange spell and he felt a pang of guilt, imagining her reproach.

The next day, long before dawn, the two earls rode out at the head of a column of karls and thanes and high-born lords. Two full hirds, nearly three hundred men. They left behind only a dozen who would ride escort to their king and his daughter, back to the Uppland halls.

Kai and Erlan rode with them.

‘Onwards!’ cried the old king, astride his horse, watching his warriors move out. ‘Onwards to a red day and victory!’

Lilla tugged her horse around and rode off. Curious, Erlan did likewise and caught up with her.

‘You still have misgivings?’

She looked at him and he saw the foreboding in her dark blue eyes. ‘Sometimes defeat looks like victory,’ she said, kicking on.

‘Then we should pray the gods this isn’t one of them,’ he called after her.

But then he recalled the Watcher’s web of words and a doubt sprang into his mind.

Were there any gods to hear their prayers?