Fire and Ice - By J. E. Christer Page 0,3

face as he listened. His eyes filled with tears when she took him by the hand and led him back to Sara’s hut where she decided she would tell him about the new lord and his expectations. When they arrived her mother was at the door looking out. Her eyes widened with surprise and delight at Erik’s return and Sara insisted he come inside and stay with her away from de Gant’s men, some of whom were still at the Hall.

“Who is this de Gant, Juliana?” he asked suddenly.

She looked at the floor unable to look him in the eye and confess the awful reality. She shook her head so her mother answered for her.

“He’s the new lord of Bertone. His name is Richard de Gant, sent by his Norman king to take possession of the land and everyone in it. He’s decided he’ll take Juliana too - as his prize.”

Erik jumped up and stared at her. “You mean you’ve given yourself to this man, Juliana?”

“N...n...No!” she stammered, her throat blocked with emotion.

“Erik,” Hilde soothed, “sit down and I will tell you what has happened. It’s too difficult for my daughter.”

Erik listened to their news and began pacing the floor, shaking his fair hair and muttering dire threats on all Normans. “This cannot be, Juliana. We must find the priest to marry us immediately. We’ll see then how this de Gant reacts.”

“We must not anger him, Erik,” she replied. “He is quite capable of killing us both.”

“I would rather be dead than live to see you taken against your will.”

“Please,” she asked in earnest, “Spend a while here with Sara and listen to her wisdom before coming to the Hall. Sir Richard will be away for at least another week.”

“I’ll stay here, Juliana, but only to plan revenge on this Norman lord who would turn you into a whore.”

Her eyes widened in horror as he spoke and she knew he was telling the truth but was helpless to know what to do about it. His eyes told her he was sorry for being so abrupt and held out his arms to her but she didn’t walk into them as he wanted, so he said, “We must think of somewhere to run away to then. We will leave tonight and...”

“No!” Juliana interrupted, “I won’t leave my mother and the townspeople to suffer at Sir Richard’s hands through any action of mine. You don’t know what we’re dealing with, Erik. Wait a few days then come to the Hall and we’ll see what’s to be done, but don’t do anything to bring this knight’s wrath on our people.”

Erik looked suitably chastened and bowed to her mother before turning his back on them all.

They said goodbye to Sara who followed them outside whispering that she would look after Erik and try to calm him down. She handed a pouch to Hilde and they returned silently to the Hall.

As they entered the yard at the back of the Hall they were horrified to find more Normans milling around shouting to the servants to stable their horses and feed them. Hilde’s face was white with apprehension so Juliana looked around for someone in authority. One man who appeared taller than average with wide shoulders and wearing a fine-linked hauberk, was sitting astride his large war horse deep in conversation with a blond-haired man who had not yet dismounted. The blond man saw the two women approaching and nodded to the first, who turned and watched them thoughtfully.

As the women approached he slid down from the saddle with practiced ease and bowed politely.

“Good afternoon, mother, my lady.” His English was good but deferred to Hilde in the Norse manner.

They curtsied and waited for him to speak again, not daring to say a word in case Sir Richard’s men reported back to him. He looked around the yard seeming satisfied that his orders had been carried out as far as stabling and his men were concerned then looked back to the women. He was a good head and shoulders bigger than the hateful de Gant and had an air of authority which charmed rather than threatened, but he was still a Norman Juliana reminded herself.

“I am Ulfric, knight of King William and have been endowed with this Hall and lands by the King himself.”

His statement surprised them since de Gant had claimed the Hall and town as his own, but they didn’t refute it. Hilde seemed unwilling to respond so Juliana answered for her, “My mother is