Lord of Raven's Peak - Catherine Coulter [62]
Laren paused a moment, then said quickly, “Nay, this night you will all learn what happened to Grunlige the Dane, but first I must have mead to soothe my throat.”
Erik grunted, subsiding in his chair. It was Letta, seeing that this girl had gained everyone’s attention, including Merrik’s, who said in a loud voice, “I am tired of this endless chatter. It is silly. You, my lord Merrik, never would you be so stupid as to venture out again onto an ice floe, as did this boastful Dane. I would that Deglin finish this tale, for it needs a conclusion worthy of a great man’s skills.”
There was utter silence. Laren stared at the girl, wishing she could slap her, the insufferable little twit with her big breasts, but she said nothing. It wasn’t her decision. She thought of the silver pieces and wanted to cry.
Erik said, “She will finish the tale, Letta Thoragasson. Continue, Laren.”
In that instant she smiled at Erik, so relieved that she would have smiled at a stone had it had given her permission. He stared back at her, his eyes gleaming, and she knew that smile had been a mistake.
She said quickly, looking directly at Merrik, “ ‘Test me!’ Grunlige cried to the heavens, his arms outstretched. ‘Aye, Odin All-Father, test me!’
“Then he leapt from the longboat to the nearest ice floe. He was smiling, then laughing. He shouted back to his men, ‘Be not afraid, for I am not the fool I was before! Aye, I was vainglorious and thought not of myself as a man who could be hurt and could die. Trust me and know that Odin is testing my brain this time, and not my strength. Throw me the thickest of the otter furs!”’
There was a huge collective sigh of relief. Merrik nodded, and grinned at her.
“Grunlige shredded the ice floe, flinging the shards of ice wildly into the waters until, once again, nothing remained but slivers that wouldn’t hurt a fish. He climbed back over into the longboat. He said, ‘This is why I wanted so many furs trapped. I knew I would need them. I have demolished at least thirty of our stoutest furs in this battle. Aye, listen now closely, for I must speak softly. I didn’t tell Odin what I planned, for I guessed it was my wits he doubted and wanted to test.’
“He then stared toward the sky. ‘Have I gained your favor again, Odin?’
“There was a huge bolt of lightning that struck the center of the huge ice field that floated just off to the east. The ice field exploded, flinging shards of ice high into the air, causing the waves to swell and rock the longboat from side to side. The men fell to their knees, in fear and in awe.
“When they returned to Norway, Grunlige saw his wife and hurried to her. He held out his hands to her and said, ‘I am not the fool you believed me to be. I am home and I am a man with new humility.’
“There was much rejoicing, until suddenly silence fell and all looked toward the open doorway of the longhouse. There stood Parma, and he was smiling. ‘Do you come back with blackened claws again, Grunlige?’ he yelled into the chamber. ‘Come here and I will slay you this time and I will cut out your guts and throw them to the gulls that fly close to the shore.’
“It was Selina who answered, saying, ‘Parma, you have heard aright. Grunlige is no more. This is his spirit, come to bid us all farewell. Come here and you will see what you have wrought with your guile and your cunning.’
“Parma swaggered through the chamber until he reached Grunlige. He stared at the warrior’s hands, whole and strong and hard. He stared into Grunlige’s face. He saw the truth and knew himself doomed. He paled and turned to run.
“Suddenly, a sword appeared in Grunlige’s hand, a mighty sword of steel so bright and shiny that all would swear later that it was Odin’s visage all could see in its reflection. Grunlige raised the sword slowly, in both his hands, high over his head. He smiled even as he lowered it, slowly, so very slowly, cleaving Parma’s head into two halves, continuing downward until Parma was cut into two equal parts, each teetering, each searching for the other,