TLV - 02 - The Road of the Sea Horse by Poul Anderson Page B
Authors: Poul Anderson
Tags: Historical Novel
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darkness, he tried to imagine she was Thora.
IV
How Anchors Were Dropped
1
The time of waiting did not go too slowly for Harald, for he found much to do. There was Olaf's church to finish; he got workmen, but it was not completed for another couple of years. There was his royal duty to giving judgment in certain cases; he tried to be fair in an ordinary dispute between men, but hanged thieves and robbers, which caused some ill will. At the midwinter Thing he called for changes in Magnus's law, notably he wanted to raise taxes to support the land defense and build more warships; but here he was defeated, for Einar Thambaskelfir spoke otherwise with little deference, and the folk shouted agreement. A suit he brought, to take a northland estate belonging to a chief known to have had dealings with Svein Estridhsson, was also decided against him.
He throttled his rage, for he could not go too roughly as yet, and showed his displeasure by leaving the town. With a few men, he fared north by sled and ski, a hunting trip which took him far into Haalogaland, to great winter-white forests thronged with deer, elk, bear, wisent, and aurochs.
Elizabeth, who had tried to be more as he wished, bade him farewell so cheerily it was not till later he remembered her hope that he would remain with her. His leaving was even more hard-souled now, when word had lately come of her mother's death. Well, in spring he'd send to Russia for the priests she wanted.
It was a sorrow to her that they did not get another child, but she turned herself more and more to little Maria, who was becoming a bonny girl with big gray eyes and light-brown hair. She said she would not let the lass go to a foster home, as was the practice in great families, and Harald yielded to that.
The first thaw quickened his blood; he returned to Nidharos and prowled hungrily about, wondering when Thora would be here. Nevertheless, she came earlier than he had hoped, not decorously in a wagon but riding a drenched and staggering horse through melting drifts and across mountain slopes where landslides grumbled. It was a chill blustery day when she and her attendants came into the town; wind hooted in the streets and churned ice floes together in the Nidh; out in the fields, crows flattened themselves under its rush, spreading dark wings over the drenched and steaming earth.
She dismounted stiffly before the king's hall. Mud was caked on her skirts and her shoes squelched, but she wore gold and silver. The smoky-red hair tossed about a flushed face, her cloak blew wildly and the dress was thrown tight against the long slim legs.
Elizabeth came up behind Harald, where he stood in the doorway. She paused a moment, looking at the young woman. "I understand," she said finally, in a low voice. Her head lifted, and when Thora came in she smiled and said, "Welcome," through pale lips.
Harald and Thora stood looking at each other, not speaking, for a long time. Then she sneezed and laughed: "That was a wet journey. I'd not have made it for anyone else!"
"Come," he said. His hand trembled a little as he took her arm and led her inside.
That evening he gave his largest feast so far. It lasted for a week, and he was lavish with gifts. But the first night he and Thora went to bed early. As the torches fluttered before them, up the stair and into the royal bedchamber, as if this were in truth a wedding, they heard the guffaws from below which meant that the coarse jokes had begun. Thora laughed as well.
"Shameless," he grinned.
"No, only happy." She leaned against him, he felt the live suppleness of her. "But for you, Harald, yes, I am shameless."
And when they were alone, she came eagerly into his embrace. He fumbled at her clothes, and despite Northern usage she slipped them quickly off and stood before him. "Let the candles burn," she said. "I want to see you." She shivered, crossing her arms above breasts which were full for a maiden. "Come, don't wait, it's cold here."
Even
IV
How Anchors Were Dropped
1
The time of waiting did not go too slowly for Harald, for he found much to do. There was Olaf's church to finish; he got workmen, but it was not completed for another couple of years. There was his royal duty to giving judgment in certain cases; he tried to be fair in an ordinary dispute between men, but hanged thieves and robbers, which caused some ill will. At the midwinter Thing he called for changes in Magnus's law, notably he wanted to raise taxes to support the land defense and build more warships; but here he was defeated, for Einar Thambaskelfir spoke otherwise with little deference, and the folk shouted agreement. A suit he brought, to take a northland estate belonging to a chief known to have had dealings with Svein Estridhsson, was also decided against him.
He throttled his rage, for he could not go too roughly as yet, and showed his displeasure by leaving the town. With a few men, he fared north by sled and ski, a hunting trip which took him far into Haalogaland, to great winter-white forests thronged with deer, elk, bear, wisent, and aurochs.
Elizabeth, who had tried to be more as he wished, bade him farewell so cheerily it was not till later he remembered her hope that he would remain with her. His leaving was even more hard-souled now, when word had lately come of her mother's death. Well, in spring he'd send to Russia for the priests she wanted.
It was a sorrow to her that they did not get another child, but she turned herself more and more to little Maria, who was becoming a bonny girl with big gray eyes and light-brown hair. She said she would not let the lass go to a foster home, as was the practice in great families, and Harald yielded to that.
The first thaw quickened his blood; he returned to Nidharos and prowled hungrily about, wondering when Thora would be here. Nevertheless, she came earlier than he had hoped, not decorously in a wagon but riding a drenched and staggering horse through melting drifts and across mountain slopes where landslides grumbled. It was a chill blustery day when she and her attendants came into the town; wind hooted in the streets and churned ice floes together in the Nidh; out in the fields, crows flattened themselves under its rush, spreading dark wings over the drenched and steaming earth.
She dismounted stiffly before the king's hall. Mud was caked on her skirts and her shoes squelched, but she wore gold and silver. The smoky-red hair tossed about a flushed face, her cloak blew wildly and the dress was thrown tight against the long slim legs.
Elizabeth came up behind Harald, where he stood in the doorway. She paused a moment, looking at the young woman. "I understand," she said finally, in a low voice. Her head lifted, and when Thora came in she smiled and said, "Welcome," through pale lips.
Harald and Thora stood looking at each other, not speaking, for a long time. Then she sneezed and laughed: "That was a wet journey. I'd not have made it for anyone else!"
"Come," he said. His hand trembled a little as he took her arm and led her inside.
That evening he gave his largest feast so far. It lasted for a week, and he was lavish with gifts. But the first night he and Thora went to bed early. As the torches fluttered before them, up the stair and into the royal bedchamber, as if this were in truth a wedding, they heard the guffaws from below which meant that the coarse jokes had begun. Thora laughed as well.
"Shameless," he grinned.
"No, only happy." She leaned against him, he felt the live suppleness of her. "But for you, Harald, yes, I am shameless."
And when they were alone, she came eagerly into his embrace. He fumbled at her clothes, and despite Northern usage she slipped them quickly off and stood before him. "Let the candles burn," she said. "I want to see you." She shivered, crossing her arms above breasts which were full for a maiden. "Come, don't wait, it's cold here."
Even
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