however, still formidable in appearance, and Garret knew the entourage would have to be cautious.
“Keep your hands off your weapons,” the Queen commanded. “We don’t want to alarm them. But be ready.”
Siobhan held her hand up in greeting as the trio approached the Northmen. Their leader, an impressive young man with large shoulders and an even larger hammer, greeted them with a polite nod. The man next to him was expressionless, yet remained calm and inquisitive.
“King Ulrich, of the Tribe of the Wolf, I assume,” Siobhan said, turning her horse to the side to view him in a neutral gesture.
“You assume correctly,” Ulrich replied. “We mean you no harm, I assure you.”
“Why are you here in my lands?” Siobhan asked. “Our soldiers have clashed in the past. You risk war.”
Ulrich placed his hammer on the ground before him. His two henchmen did the same.
“I have come to offer you a truce,” Ulrich stated. “We wish no enmity between our people and yours. We only ask for sanctuary in your lands.”
“Interesting,” Siobhan said, dismounting her horse and stepping right up to Ulrich to look him in the eye. Ulrich’s partners were impressed, and remained still. Ulrich smiled.
“As the new Jarl of your tribe,” Siobhan began, “what do you have to offer in return?”
“We are not only warriors,” Ulrich explained, “but we are fishermen and hunters. We will keep good trade relations with the nearby towns, and offer our weapons in their defense, should the need arise.”
Siobhan stepped back, looking Ulrich over thoroughly. Garret felt a slight twinge of jealousy, not really understanding why. Fergis noticed, grinning as he watched Garret’s expression.
“I have no doubt that your men are capable of battle,” she said, walking over to Ulrich’s right-hand man and looking him over as well.
“And what is your name?” she asked him.
“Ceor,” the man answered simply.
“Ceor. Tell me of this man who has taken up the helm of your tribe.”
Ceor was silent for a moment, looking to his Jarl. Ulrich nodded.
“Ulrich is my best friend,” Ceor replied. “We have been so since we were children. He is an honorable man, unlike his predecessor. He desires peace, for our children and yours.”
Siobhan smiled, returning to Ulrich to face him again. “I have the feeling your friend speaks the truth,” she said.
“Ceor is also an honorable man,” Ulrich said. “He is incapable of speaking anything but the truth.”
Siobhan nodded, turning to Garret and Fergis, exposing her back to the three Northmen.
“And what do you think, Garret, Fergis?”
Fergis cleared his throat. “Our previous tensions never ended in outright battle. The Northmen seem like honorable men.”
Siobhan turned to Garret. “And you?”
Garret looked the Northmen over, still feeling that same sense of familiarity. “The lands they occupy are not currently in use. I feel they would not be a burden, and may possibly be an asset in the future. I leave the decision up to you.”
Siobhan turned back to Ulrich, drawing her sword and holding it straight up in front of her. “Then, by my fathers, I grant you those lands, Ulrich. I give you my oath that you will be safe here and under my protection.”
“I thank you, my Lady,” Ulrich said. “I also give my oath that we will not be a burden.”
Siobhan nodded turning to mount her horse. “Then I bid you farewell, Northman,” she said. “And good hunting.”
With that she spurred her horse into a gallop. Fergis and Garret followed. Strangely, there was a spot of blood on the queen’s back, growing larger as it soaked into the material of her tunic. He briefly thought that she had been attacked by the Northman, but thought better of it. Fergis didn’t seem to notice, though, he too, kept his eyes on the queen.
His heart sank as he looked down at his side, seeing that his dagger bore the stain of blood; fresh and slowly running down its sheath. Garret
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