Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [131]
But there was more to Holgerstead than hard toil and grim tales. When the day's work was done, the men joined in games of chance, bracing swims in mountain rivers made fast and icy by melting snows, and friendly contests of strength and skill. At first Fyodor was hesitant to join in these contests for fear of evoking a berserker frenzy. But Wedigar scoffed at that notion, pointing out tlhat fully threescore of berserker warriors might be enough to hold him down and keep him from harming himself or others. Feeling a little sheepish, Fyodor agreed, and to his delight he found that the feeling of safety Wedigar's assurances gave him seemed to hold the killing rages at bay. It was a joy to hold a good sword again, to practice the art of fighting without the heat of the frenzy driving his arm.
Not even the unexpected arrival of Hrolf's first mate managed to dull Fyodor's pleasure in this newfound brotherhood. Ibn had come the morning before, bearing his share of the goods from the Elfmaid's recent trip to sell in the northern stronghold. The red-bearded mate-turnedmerchant kept at his work from dawn untillong past dusk, so Fyodor did not have occasion to speak with him. Nor did the man seem eager to have words with Fyodor; he averted his eyes whenever the Raslhemi was about or busied himself with his accounts. As the day wore Olh, such reticence from the usually forthright sailor began to worry the young warrior. Once before ibn had attacked Liriel; Fyodor wondered whether the man had something to hide, and he began to fear for the safety of his drow friend.
And so he fortified lhimself with a swig of jhuild – for some reason, a bit of the Rashemi firewine seemed to strengthen his connection both to his homeland and the faint gift of Sight that was his heritage-and sought out the first mate.
"is all well in Ruathym village?" he asked bluntly.
ibn took the pipe from his mouth and met Fyodor's gaze squarely. "The captain is dead."
Fyodor fell back a step. He had seen Hrolf ilh battlesurely such a fighter would not give ilh to death liglhtly! "That does not seem possible! How did he die?" "Drowned," the mate gritted out. "No sort of death for a Northman. For that you can thank them damned sea elves and the female who's so all-fired cozy with 'em!"
"Liriel would do nothing to bring harm to Hrolf," the Rashemi said with complete conviction, and then he returned his stunned thoughts to his original purpose. "is she safe and well?" he demanded.
"Sad to say," the sailor respolhded, and there was such bitterness in his voice that Fyodor did not doubt the truth ofhis words.
"i thank you for the news," he said and abruptly turned away to seek out the First Axe. Fyodor was free to come and go as he wished, but still he wanted to inform Wedigar of his plans to leave for Ruathym village at once. Fyodor knew Hrolf had been extremely fond of Liriel, and he suspected the drow returned this affection in equal measure. Although the proud and resourceful girl seemed to have little need of him, Fyodor did not like the idea of her being alone at such a time.
He arrived at Wedigar's cottage to find the First Axe's household engulfed in frantic preparations. Dagmar had come to join the household, to acquaint herself with the ways of his family before being taken as second wife. No one-not Wedigar's grim-faced wife or curious young daughters, not Dagmar, not Wedig8i himself-seemed pleased by this. Nonetheless, a feast of celebration was the custom and so preparations were underway.
Wedigar listened to Fyodor's plans and then drew the young warrior aside. "Stay in Holgerstead this