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  A sound of horror surged through the great hall. Heads turned and eyes found the bench where the men of the Jarlabanke family sat. Both Loke and Ragnar were staring at Hilda. While Ragnar’s face had turned even redder in deep angst, Loke’s face remained as blank as a rune stone without inscriptions. After having received a cue from Fjodor, Hilda spoke again. “My brother, Ragnar Jarlabanke, tried to kill me so that he could blame it on Leif. All of you are probably wondering why he would do such a terrible deed. Well, let me tell you: Ragnar wanted Leif’s wife, Thora, that badly. The only way for him to get her was if he could get rid of Leif. And he knew that no one would doubt that Leif was capable of such a crime. Which most of you didn’t, either. But I am telling you now that Leif was convicted despite being entirely innocent. It is therefore the people’s responsibility to reverse his sentence.”

  Hilda turned to the Law Speaker, who was contemplating her quietly, and waited for him to speak. But before he got a chance, Loke’s deep voice tore through the room. He had gotten to his feet. “Please forgive me for speaking before having asked for your permission, sir Law Speaker, but I cannot help myself. I am sure that everybody in here understands that.” He made a theatrical pause. “My brother and I are as stunned as everyone else in this People’s Assembly to see that our beloved sister is alive. But please do not misunderstand: we are both very happy to find one in our family to be alive after the sudden horrible accident that killed our father four days ago. We are going through a rough time right now. So we are surprised but glad to find that our sister is alive despite all. We are just sad to learn that her wits are no longer with her. It must be clear to everyone in here that our sister has gone mad, that what she is saying carries no basis in truth. My sister was always desperately in love with Leif Blackhair and, apparently, she still is. She is so in love with him that she refuses to face what he did to her. But that doesn’t change the fact that Leif Blackhair raped and tried to kill her. He and the Blackhairs got the sentence his horrible crimes deserved. Therefore, there should be no reversal of any sentence. Thank you for letting me speak, sir Law Speaker.”

  The Law Speaker gave Loke a curt nod, and then his eyes searched out the men of my family, which today only consisted of Egin, Petter, and our two field hands. “Do you have something to say?” he asked Egin. Egin nodded and got to his feet. “The Blackhairs demand that the people give our family a retrial and of course that Leif’s sentence is reversed, at least for the time being. Hilda has not gone mad. The one who has gone mad is Loke Jarlabanke, who killed his own father because his father was a just man who wanted fairness to prevail.”

  There was another unanimous cry of dismay in the People’s Assembly. I glanced at Loke. His face, already pale, turned one shade whiter and his eyes widened so slightly I doubted most men realized it. I knew then that we had been right in assuming he was behind Bjorn’s accident.

  Egin let his words settle before he continued. “Hilda is telling the truth; Ragnar tried to set up Leif so that he could marry Leif’s wife. And, as we all know, Ragnar did marry Leif’s wife, Thora. Thank you, sir Law Speaker.” Egin took a seat back down between Styrbjorn and Jerker.

  The people’s murmuring in the hall grew stronger. Their eyes darted from my family to the Jarlabanke clan to Hilda and her two companions, who were still standing in the middle of the court square next to a thoroughly befuddled Sverker Holmare. Sverker looked like he had a hard time remembering why he was there now. The Law Speaker rapped the gavel.

  “Quiet in the People’s Assembly!” he demanded and signaled for his assistant to fill up his horn with mead. Johan immediately obeyed orders. After having wetted his throat with the drink, the Law Speaker spoke. “From what we have witnessed in here today, I believe the People’s Assembly should reverse Leif Blackhair’s sentence for the time being and give him a retrial.” He looked over at the twelve judges. “Do you wish to discuss the situation and come back with a decision, Chief Judge?”

  The bald, grave-looking judge turned to his associates and asked whether any judge thought there shouldn’t be a retrial based on what had happened in the People’s Assembly today. No one objected, so the Chief Judge said, “We think Leif Blackhair deserve a retrial based on what has happened today.”

  The Law Speaker looked out over the sea of men and asked if there was anyone except the two involved families who had any objections, and that they would speak up now in that case. But no one did, so it was decided that the retrial would take place one week later.

  That week passed rapidly. There was a lot to take care of that had been neglected on the farm since the day I returned for a second time. But performing the many piled-up chores was easy now that we were doing them for ourselves, not in order to pay the high monthly tenancy payments to the Jarlabankes. Since Fjodor and Mikail were no longer needed to protect Hilda, they returned to their own home on the ship on which they had arrived with Hilda. The only cloud in the sky was Orvar’s legal status; he was still a forest man. And if people found out about our family harboring him, our chances to win the retrial would decrease dramatically. Fortunately, the likelihood of people finding out was small. Few if any remembered Orvar, and if they saw him now, they would barely recognize him as he had grown out all his hair and beard. And he no longer wore his dull brown slave clothes, but nicer, more colorful clothes that my family had given him.

  Overall, Hilda and I were satisfied with how everything had turned out at the Assembly-gathering. Loke’s objections had not surprised us. On the contrary—being far more astute than Ragnar, turning Hilda’s words on their head in a matter of moments was along the lines of what we had expected. Anything less would have been odd.

  The only thing that continued to bother us was his considerable indifference when we got our way in the end, and the retrial was set. Loke had not made a single attempt to use his influence to try to make the people, the Law Speaker, or the judges—who used to be his father’s associates after all—change their minds. The way matters stood now, it sure looked like the Jarlabankes would lose a retrial. Had the fact that Egin accused him of having murdered his own father paralyzed him to such a degree the man lost his ability to speak momentarily? We could only hope this was so. Unfortunately, knowing Loke—especially the callous one he had revealed himself to be—it was more likely that he had something hidden up his sleeve, something that he thought would guarantee the Jarlabanke clan winning. And we had to figure out exactly what that was before the next Assembly-gathering.

  It was the middle of the fourth month now, and spring was making its way through Ostergotland. We woke up to birds chirping and cats and dogs yowling. All the snow was gone and trees that had been bare yesterday suddenly sprouted green leaves. More and more lilies, globe flowers, and anemones sprung up in the woods. Each day it got a little warmer, the sun shining a little longer. In the evenings, Hilda and I resumed taking walks, just like we used to do years ago, when everything was good, life the way it should be. The better part of our conversation revolved around what Loke could be up to. What could be of such importance it could sway the people’s will his way even after Hilda’s appearance and testimony at the Assembly? What could be so significant, yet so inconspicuous we failed to figure it out?

  Even though we couldn’t come up with an answer, I wasn’t worried. I knew that I should be worried—very worried indeed—but the mild air felt so pleasant when it blew softly against our faces, and the forest had never smelled better. The sky, glowing in shades of gold and purple, looked so beautiful with the sun slowly disappearing behind the thick row of darkening firs.

  Despite my foster brother and friend having taken such terrible actions against me, despite Thora turning out to be a weak, despicable person instead of an earthly goddess, despite my father being so sick he was close to death—despite all of this, I couldn’t make myself stop smiling. And I was trying hard, for it was not an appropriate face for me to display in such difficult times. But no matter how hard I tried, I kept failing
, and instead I could feel how the grin grew wider. My feeling of elation was magnified each time I turned and looked at the short girl walking beside me. I could tell that Hilda shared my great mood this evening because she, too, was smiling widely.

  The sun had disappeared completely below the ragged edge of the many treetops now, and the sky rapidly turned darker. A slice of moon began its steady climb toward the vault of heaven, while more and more stars ignited behind the thin veil of gray clouds. We approached a little pond next to which a tree had fallen headlong. I suggested that we have a seat on the trunk. When Hilda gave her assent, we sat down.

  For the first time in the entire evening none of us had anything to say. So we just sat there silently, letting our eyes rest on the black sheet of water that spread out in front of us. The air didn’t move, and it was so quiet around us it seemed as though every living creature except us were asleep.

  At some point during that time, I turned around and kissed Hilda.

  32

  The day of the retrial had arrived. Hilda and I sat next to each other in the family wagon on our way to the People’s Assembly. Egin, Petter, and the field hands sat on the bench behind us. I held the reins with my right hand, and with my left I held one of Hilda’s.

  Nobody was saying anything; the tension within each of us was too great. We had yet to figure out what had made Loke appear so unruffled at the last gathering. No matter how many times we had turned over the issue in our heads, we still could not come up with a good enough explanation. In the end, we decided that he must have just feigned calmness or that Egin’s accusation had simply paralyzed him, for, surely, we couldn’t all be that dim-witted. Loke was probably betting that the unease would throw me off during my pleading.

  We soon arrived at the Assembly site. Even though it was early, there was already a long row of men pouring in through the wide open doors of the tall-roofed building, all of them looking eager to witness the outcome of this unprecedented court case. Even toddlers as young as two were there, trying their best to walk on unstable, bow-shaped legs. There were hardly any women around, as they weren’t desired in these settings.

  I steered the wagon to a large yard behind the Assembly where all the visitors were supposed to leave their carts and horses. I jumped to the ground, and then I helped Hilda down. Egin, Petter, and the field hands descended as well. Together, the six of us walked around and into the white-painted stone building.

  People turned their heads discreetly, watching us as we approached the bench reserved for the feuding parties of the day. The Jarlabankes had already arrived and were sitting on the bench on the opposite side of the hall. Taking a seat, I caught sight of Thora sitting in between Ragnar and Loke. I let my eyes rest on her for a long moment, and it was confirmed to me yet again that those huge, uncontrollable feelings I used to feel each time I saw her were gone. There was no despair, no hate in its place; I simply didn’t feel anything at all. I realized then that I didn’t even think that she was particularly beautiful any longer. The eyes of the girl squeezed in between the two Jarlabanke brothers seemed too large for her face, bulging unattractively. The mouth was too small and its lips were pursed together in a manner that made her look haughty and small, not aristocratic and grand, like I used to think. Her flood of blond hair was too long and stringy-looking, and that upturned nose I used to adore made me think of a pig. As I was about to turn away, Thora turned her head and looked straight at me. There was a tiny smile of defiance on her thin lips, but the sad expression in her eyes told me a different story.

  The Law Speaker entered the hall and walked up the two steps to the podium where his table was ready for him. He took a seat and then he rapped his gavel. The murmur infiltrating the space immediately died down.

  “Good day, men of Ostergotland province,” he said. “We have gathered here today to settle the dispute between the Jarlabanke family and the Blackhair family. I can see that both parties are here. Therefore, let’s begin.” He motioned for his assistant to bring him a horn of mead. “I will let the Blackhairs start since they are the ones who demanded a retrial. Will Leif Blackhair or the representative for him stand up and plead his case, please?”

  I got to my feet and walked to the center of the court square. The time had come when I would give the most important speech of my life. I took a deep breath and turned around so that I was facing the men of the Assembly rather than the Law Speaker and the judges. Trying to meet the eyes of as many of them as possible, I spoke.

  “As most people in this room surely know already, my family and I were wrongfully sentenced. I was sentenced to become a forest man and my family to become tenant farmers under the Jarlabanke clan. Ragnar Jarlabanke dared me to a drinking contest, knowing that I would be too proud to refuse such a challenge. At the time, I didn’t understand that he called me out because he had an ulterior motive.” Again, I tried to make eye contact with as many of the men as I could.

  “See, Ragnar needed to get rid of me so that he could marry my then wife, Thora—which we all know that he has done also. He knew that everybody would believe that I was capable of raping his sister because of an unfortunate incident with a girl who accused me of rape a couple of years ago, but later withdrew her accusation. This girl, Stina, was in love with me and hurt that I spurned her. She made up the rape charge to make me hurt as much as she did. Not only that. After the death of my mother, there was a period in my life when I often ended up in fights during drinking bouts with Ragnar and our friends. I myself started some of the fights, sometimes with hardly any provocation. Because of this, Ragnar knew that my family and I myself wouldn’t seriously question the overwhelming evidence. By Odin, I was found half naked on top of a half naked Hilda, with my hands around her throat as though I had strangled her! He knew that I wouldn’t wonder why I didn’t remember actually having done anything, as I was so very drunk. Neither would I question my intense headache nor why I had passed out all of a sudden. After all, all of that had happened before when I drank. He also knew that people were aware of the close friendship I shared with Hilda Jarlabanke, an unusual friendship that was accepted because I was the great Bjorn Jarlabanke’s foster son and she my foster sister. I now know that some people apparently believed there was more than friendship between Hilda and me. Let me assure you all that, at the time, there was never anything but friendship between us. This has since changed.”

  Looking out over the sea of men, I could tell that they hung onto my every word. “I now know that Hilda was the girl I should have married all along. And because Thora has set me free to re-marry, I have asked Hilda to set matters straight by accepting my offer of marriage. She has accepted.”

  I took a breath and got ready to deliver the final part of my speech. “Good men of Ostergotland province, please believe me when I tell you that I never did any of which I was accused. Instead, my foster brother Ragnar Jarlabanke set me up so that he could marry my wife Thora. Hilda’s own words that Ragnar tried to kill her, not I, should serve as sufficient proof of what I’m saying is indeed the truth. She was the only one there. Thank you.” I bowed deeply to the crowds. Then I turned around and bowed to the judges and the Law Speaker. I left the court square and went to sit down with my family.

  The Law Speaker rapped his gavel and looked over at the Jarlabanke clan. “Which one of you Jarlabankes will do the pleading?”

  Loke immediately got to his feet. “I will, sir,” he said and walked into the court square with determined steps.

  33

  Loke Jarlabanke turned his body so that he faced the crowds in the Assembly rather than the judges and the Law Speaker. “I am deeply saddened and shocked to be forced to go through this dispute once more,” he said, “especially now that my father has just died. Due to an unfortunate accident, nothing else.” He stared at everyone, daring them to question his words. “What makes me most sad, however, is the fact that my own sister is bringing this upon her family. The accusations she has made against her own brother
, my brother, Ragnar Jarlabanke, are so horrible that I cannot find words for how they make me and the rest of my family feel. In particular our brother Ragnar, who stands so wrongfully accused. Well, let me begin by clarifying something: It was really Leif, who stole away Thora from my brother, not the other way around.”

  Loke paused, his colorless eyes sweeping the masses of men. “As we all know in here, Leif has a history of twisting the heads of other men’s women. How he succeeds with this has always been a mystery to me, him being of slave descent and all, but we all know that he does succeed. He succeeded in twisting Thora’s head as well, just as she had gotten ready to say yes to Ragnar’s marriage proposal. It was only when Leif raped and tried to kill our sister that Thora realized her mistake. So she divorced Leif and married my brother— just like she should have done from the beginning. Now to my sister, who has loved this barbarian for as long as I can remember, hoping that he would one day marry her. It must be apparent to each and everyone here today that Hilda Jarlabanke is not right in the head. The many years of unrequited love has driven her mad, so mad that she doesn’t realize just how evil the object of her affection truly is.”

  Shutting his mouth, Loke stared silently at everyone for a long moment before continuing. “This former slave, for whom my family has done so much, is so evil, so selfish, so ungrateful and forever greedy that first he takes the women away from his saviors; then he takes their kin, too—just to prove that he can! My sister loves this evil lad so much that she is willing to disregard, to forgive that he raped and then tried to kill her to cover it up. The fact that Leif is marrying Hilda now should prove to everyone here that what I’m contending is the truth. Leif is only marrying my sister for her to help make him legal again.”