‘There are two sheep missing,’ I said.
‘Well, one of them is dead. You saw it yourself.’ Fridrik yawned.
‘Not the one you were kicking. There are another two besides.’
Fridrik gave a nasty smile and I knew at once what had happened.
‘You killed them.’ Sigga let out a sob, and Fridrik stood up. He walked over to me and bent close. I could smell his sweat.
‘Agnes. You might like to know that Sigga and I have been talking this morning.’ His voice cracked with anger. ‘Natan has been taking advantage of her.’
I waited until I could speak calmly.
‘I already knew.’
Sigga burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry, Agnes! I wanted to tell you so bad!’
Fridrik paused. ‘You knew?’
‘I thought she’d agreed to it.’ My voice was brittle.
‘He’s been raping her!’ He began pacing the floor. I noticed that he held Sigga’s green silk nightdress in his hand, a present from Natan. ‘I’m going to kill him.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Go ahead. A lot of difference that will make now.’ I turned to Sigga. ‘Did he force you?’
‘Of course he forced her!’ Fridrik sat down again next to Sigga and punched the mattress. Sigga gave a start.
‘I don’t know,’ she whispered.
I thought back to the night I heard him moving inside her. The night after the death waves. The hurried breathing. A quick, light moan. There had not been a struggle.
‘It’s against God,’ Fridrik said.
I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘I don’t think any of this has much to do with God.’
Sigga looked panicked. ‘Agnes? Are you very disappointed in me?’
‘Why would I be disappointed?’ My voice was as smooth as the ocean.
Fridrik glared, looking down at the nightdress. ‘He’s a bastard. I’ll kill him.’
‘I don’t want Natan to die.’ The simper in Sigga’s voice made me want to slap her.
I laughed. ‘Fridrik’s not going to kill anyone.’
‘Yes I am.’ He stood up again, his hands in meaty fists.
‘No, you’re not,’ I said. ‘Anyway, what does it matter? You’re still going to marry her.’
Fridrik sneered. ‘I wouldn’t expect a woman like you to understand.’
I felt my mouth grow dry.
‘Sigga said Natan’s been having his way with you as well. Only we seem to think that you enjoy it a sight more than Sigga!’
I stepped towards Sigga and saw her flinch. ‘I’m not going to hit you,’ I said. But I could have. I wanted to.
Daníel came in and Fridrik fell quiet. I was shaking with anger. I hated Fridrik. I hated his pimpled skin, flushed red by the cold. Hated his blue eyes and their sticky rim of blond lashes. I hated his high voice, his smell of horseshit, his constant visits.
‘Go home, Fridrik.’ It was Daníel who spoke first.
‘There’s a snowstorm coming.’
‘Then go get caught in it.’ I was suddenly grateful for Daníel’s presence.
‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Fridrik said, and he sat down again next to Sigga, putting an arm around her protectively.
‘It’s true, isn’t it?’ Daníel asked, whispering. ‘It’s true about Natan sharing a bed with the both of you.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s unholy.’
‘Fridrik has killed some sheep.’
‘What? Here?’
‘I think he took at least two to Katadalur last night, or early this morning, and killed them there.’
‘Natan will murder Fridrik!’
‘Not if Fridrik kills Natan first,’ I said. ‘He’s in a temper.’
Daníel ran his hands through his hair, and looked over at the couple on the bed. ‘He’s a fool and a thug,’ he sighed. ‘I’ll talk to him once his blood cools.’
*
Natan returned to Illugastadir three days later. Fridrik was not there when he came home. I cannot imagine what would have happened if he had been. As it was, Natan wasn’t overjoyed to hear the news of Sigga and Fridrik’s engagement. I told him. Sigga slipped out to the storeroom at the sound of his arrival in the yard.