Fire and Ice

Chapter 15



Ulfric’s patience had been tried and tested over the past two to three months. Outbreaks of rebellion would still flare up in small communities who wanted to resist the Norman influence on their lives and he and his men were tired of being sent here and there to quell the uprisings. He was heartily pleased when the time came to pass on the command of the troops in Lincoln to their permanent leader and looked forward to seeing Bertone and his Juliana once again. He also had a surprise for her, the King had granted him the title of Earl of Lindsey and released him from his army position to go and settle in his new town. He also offered the same privilege to his own men and said they could either stay in Lincoln or return to Bertone and marry some of the local women. Some chose to stay in the army but others immediately rode off to be with their women.

He had to admit to his pleasant surprise when the order came with his new title deeds and as he and his horse, Elding, plodded wearily on their way home he welcomed the thought of marriage at last. Juliana would indeed be a wife to be proud of, her bearing and intellect would round off his rough edges and she would make a wonderful mother to their children. Unlike his own mother, he knew Juliana would never send a young boy away to live in foreign parts to take his chances with jealous siblings always fighting for attention from their father. It was a long ride home and he had had little sleep in the past three days with one thing or another and just when he was thinking about dismounting and sleeping in woodland away from the road, an inn came into view. The lights were shining with the promise of a good meal and even better ale, so he tied Elding up outside the inn, put a nosebag around his ears and took off his saddle to enter the hostelry. Most people had left and gone home to their beds and the innkeeper was less than pleased to see Ulfric at his door but could do no other than invite him in.

“If you want food, sire, you’ll have to make do with bread and cheese or rabbit pie,” he grumbled when Ulfric asked for a room for the night.

“Bring me all three and a quart of ale, my good man.”

“I want payment now. I don’t trust soldiers to stay put. I’ve met them that clear off in night and nivver pay.”

“Certainly.” Ulfric was all smiles now that his bed for the night was assured and he was led to a room at the back where a straw pallet waited for him. The food and ale were hastily brought and placed on a battered wooden table while a fire was lit to warm the room. Ulfric paid the innkeeper generously and settled his saddle on the pallet and covered it with furs; whereupon he fell upon the food and devoured it in no time. After a few belches and scratches he removed his hauberk, wrapped himself in his cloak, and settled down to sleep the rest of the night away, dreaming of his Juliana waiting impatiently to see him.



***



Ulfric’s dream of a triumphant return to the Hall was quashed as soon as he entered the stable yard. Servants were running here and there, Erik was shouting at Father Matthew and Thorvald’s voice could be heard above all the others from inside the Hall. No one took any notice of him and he felt quite put out until he stepped over the threshold when all heads turned and everything went quiet. He looked from one to another and Erik with Father Matthew in close proximity entered behind him. Thorvald was even paler than he normally was and Sara was crying quietly in a chair.

“What’s happened?” Ulfric asked, breaking the silence in a low voice.

Still no one spoke until he clenched his fists together and shouted, “WHAT HAS HAPPENED?” Then everyone spoke at once. With barely restrained impatience he held up his hand and the silence was immediate.

“Thorvald – tell me,” he looked towards his second in command who shuffled his feet before replying.

“It’s Juliana...” he began.

Ulfric ran up the stairs without waiting to hear the rest of the sentence. He raced into their chamber expecting to find Juliana either very ill or dying. There was no sign of her so he ran into Hilde’s room but found only a servant tending her mistress.

He ran down the corridor shouting her name until Erik came to find him and led him back downstairs. Thorvald handed him a goblet of wine and urged him to sit down. Ulfric’s temper was now raging and he threw the goblet to the far corner of the room before turning on everyone. “Where is she?” he demanded.

“Sire,” Erik began tentatively, “Please sit down and listen to Sara.”

Until that moment he had not taken any notice of the sniffling woman but took a deep breath to calm himself before speaking, “Sara, tell me what these buffoons appear to be unable to. Where is Juliana?”

“She has been taken, my lord. Sir Richard de Gant took her last night into a boat and they have headed across the water. I saw them.”

“You saw them, and did nothing?”

“What could I do, my lord? I am an old woman and he would have run me through with his sword. I thought I would bring the dog back and tell everyone but the men were gone and I fell asleep waiting for them. They didn’t see me when they came back and went straight to their chambers.”

Ulfric felt numb inside but could feel a fire of hatred beginning to burn in his soul. He flung his cape across his shoulder and drew up a chair in front of Sara. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

Sara proceeded to tell him of her experiences of the night before and who had said what to whom, so by the time she had finished, Ulfric knew everything except ... “And where were you both last night when Sara came to the Hall?” he growled at Thorvald and Erik.

Father Matthew bustled in between them at this stage, “My lord, Ulfric, it was necessary to bring our plans forward regarding the lady Giselle. She was taken to the nunnery at Goxhill last night and is now safely in the care of the nuns.”

“Well isn’t that nice for the lady Giselle?” Ulfric answered sarcastically. “While Juliana is goodness knows where in the hands of that fiend. How many times have I asked you to never leave my lady alone, ever?”

“Sire, we are sorry, but please let us tell you the whole story.”

Thorvald stepped forward and began telling him about the events of the day before while Ulfric listened intently. Afterwards he called for another goblet of wine and went upstairs with deliberate steps. “Thorvald,” he shouted back to his friend. “We travel light!”

“As always, Ulfric!” Thorvald replied knowing exactly what was needed and he too went to his quarters.

They both returned dressed in loose clothing. Their legs were covered with sheepskin, cross-gartered with leather strips and both wore fur boots. Warm cloaks were over their arms and Thorvald wore a sword strapped across his back with the hilt pointing over his right shoulder for easy access. Ulfric had a large knife around his waist with others concealed in his boots. He called for two bags of grain and another of dried meat which Sam ran to get for them. They both ate a good breakfast and drank spring water rather than ale or wine. They would both need their wits about them in their search for Juliana.

When they were ready to leave Ulfric shook Erik’s hand, “Keep this Hall and my town safe for me, Erik. Do not doubt I will bring Juliana back.”

“You can rely on me, my lord,” Erik knelt as he spoke, knowing that if anyone could rescue Juliana it would be Ulfric and Thorvald.



***



Sara took them to the spot where she had found Kyle and watched as de Gant had abducted Juliana. Ulfric looked across the water to the shores of Yorkshire sparkling in the bright sunlight of a clear day. They turned at the sound of running behind them and found Kyle hurtling along following their scent hotly pursued by the Master of the Hounds. The dog’s eyes seemed to plead with them to take him along and in answer to the Master of the Hounds’ question, Ulfric nodded to leave the dog with them.

The tide was high but they had no boat of their own to use and the ferry had left earlier. Thorvald looked around and Sara felt their frustration. “Sire,” she said, “I know of a fisherman hereabouts who might be able to take you across the water.”

Ulfric looked at Thorvald and nodded, whereupon he passed a small purse to her. She felt the weight of it and nodded before turning away and heading further up the shore. The men railed at the time it was taking but could only blame themselves for not planning this far ahead. Eventually, Sarah arrived back with a burly man at her side. “My lord, this is Oswald the fisherman who lives on the other side of the town. He is usually fishing here at this time so I have persuaded him to take you across the water.”

The fisherman bowed to Ulfric, “Sire, I cannot sell you my boat as I need it for my living but can take you over the water if it means saving our beautiful lady.”

Ulfric smiled, realising how much Juliana meant to the people of Bertone. “Thank you, Oswald. You’ll be well paid for your efforts.”

The men left Sara on the bank and walked with Oswald to his boat which looked to be well kept and seaworthy. He and Thorvald took an oar each and Sara watched from the shore as they pulled away into the treacherous river. She lifted her hand in farewell but none came in response so she could only pray now for Juliana’s safety and for the men’s success in finding her.