Solvi’s men betrayed even less with their expressions than did Solvi. Ragnvald was not surprised; he had only mentioned them to make sure the jury knew that any other men who might speak for him today stood with Solvi. Two of them had, indeed, stood behind Solvi when he had stabbed Ragnvald, keeping any of the other men from rushing to his aid. They would be no help.
Ragnvald waited, watching them. The crowd looked to Solvi too. “They do not speak,” said Ragnvald finally. He handed the speaking stick to Hrolf, who banged it on a stone until there was silence.
“Solvi Hunthiofsson,” said Hrolf. “You have been accused of wounding this man, Ragnvald, on the face, with the intent to kill him. You may now defend yourself.” He held the stick out to Solvi. Solvi leapt up on one of the log seats, waving off the stick as though he did not need its authority. He grinned at the assembled crowd. He had ever been their favorite, from when he was a small fierce boy, made doubly fierce by surviving his burning. He had been the first into any trouble and the last out of it. He could turn them back to his cause now, Ragnvald knew, with little more effort than it took to flash his teeth at them.
Solvi had opened his mouth to speak when a commotion from beyond the circle drew all eyes. Ragnvald saw a woman run up and for a moment did not recognize Svanhild in such disarray. Svanhild bent over to catch her breath, her hair barely restrained by a soiled wimple, her mouth reddened.
“Solvi Hunthiofsson speaks now,” said Hrolf loudly.
Ragnvald looked back at Solvi and was surprised at what he saw. Solvi looked stricken, pained at Svanhild’s appearance. Ragnvald did not know why, but he realized suddenly that Svanhild had been the woman Solvi had been riding with, and that was why no one had spoken her name to him. Solvi must have said something to her that he would not want repeated—which was why he looked so shocked. Ragnvald would scold Svanhild later for her rashness; now it seemed as though it might help him.
Solvi glanced around, more ill at ease than Ragnvald had ever seen him. Then he seemed to make a decision. He smiled again, a little abashed.
“Ragnvald sailed with me,” he said. The voice that commanded warships rang out over the plain. “And yes, I gave him that wound.”
10
Solvi smiled as a shocked roar rose from the crowd. He glanced at Svanhild, who planted her hands on her hips. Ragnvald looked as though he had been rooted to the ground.
“I wish I hadn’t, now,” Solvi continued. He turned his gaze to the jurors; he could not keep his tone as light as he must if he continued watching Svanhild. He could still hold them, charm them, hope they would see him as a mischievous boy too bold to stay out of scrapes but too honest not to own up to them.
“Ragnvald deserves his share of the treasure we raided. And I’ll pay the wergild.” He looked down at Ragnvald from his perch. “But if you try to fight me . . .” He grinned again, this one sharp-edged. “Your family will not like to pay the cost.”
Svanhild’s eyes narrowed. “He admits it,” she said, only loudly enough so those nearest Solvi and Hrolf could hear. “But there is more. I heard him talking to my stepfather, Olaf Ottarsson. Olaf paid—”
Ragnvald stepped forward eagerly.
“Quiet, girl,” said Hrolf. “No one asked you to speak.”
Ragnvald held up a hand. “I must talk with my sister. She knows more.” He looked around, as if for support. “She will testify against Olaf. It is not only Solvi who compassed this.”
“No,” said Hrolf. “You have made suit against Solvi, and you have won.” He banged his stick on a rock for silence. “Since there is no argument about what happened, if the jury does not object, I will set the sentence.”
“There is an argument,” said Svanhild. “Ragnvald, this is your chance.”
Ragnvald hesitated.
Be a clever boy, Solvi thought, take what is offered, and wait to take more later.
Hrolf named the price for the injury, a double handful of silver, a price both high and fair. Solvi voiced his agreement. He could afford the injury price with treasure he had brought.
“Are you satisfied with this?” Hrolf asked Ragnvald. “Will you consider the matter closed?”
Ragnvald took a deep breath and drew his shoulders back. The look on his face made Solvi nervous. This should be enough. Ragnvald had been a cautious warrior when he fought for Solvi. He would not overstep now.
“Ragnvald,” said Svanhild again. “I can help you. Please. We must.”
Ragnvald glanced at Solvi, a moment’s indecision in his expression, before he frowned and set his jaw. “No. I say that Solvi did not act alone,” he said. “I say that my stepfather Olaf threatened, bribed, or otherwise compassed my murder with him. I say that he did this to keep my father’s land from me, and now that I am old enough to be counted a man, he should turn my land over to me. I say that my sister Svanhild will testify to what they plotted.” He looked at Svanhild, who nodded.
Solvi stepped forward and said quietly to him, “Be warned, I will not let that accusation stand.”
“Why not?” said Ragnvald angrily, stepping back and speaking so the whole crowd could hear. “I thought you were in a truth-telling mood.”
“Leave it be,” said Solvi, still under his breath. “You will not like what follows.”
“Oh, are you a prophet now?” Ragnvald asked.
“An accusation has been made, unless you’d like to withdraw it,” said Hrolf.
Ragnvald turned to the crowd and said, “No, I do not. Why deal me this wound? Why throw me in the water?”
Solvi took the speaking stick, too aware of Svanhild watching him. “Who said anything about killing?” he asked. “Is it not the duty of a captain to lesson his men?” He punctuated his gestures with the stick. Men around the circle nodded in agreement. “This boy, Ragnvald, fell, injured, without his treasure, and I thought to make him whole again. Now he levies baseless accusations against me and his honored stepfather. I demand payment for this insult.” He passed the speaking staff to Hrolf.
“Solvi Hunthiofsson is not the only one insulted here today,” said Hrolf. “Does Olaf Ottarsson wish to respond to these charges?”
“It’s not an insult if it’s true,” said Ragnvald.
“You’ve had your turn,” said Hrolf in an angry undertone.
Olaf paced across the ground slowly, deliberately. He took the stick from Hrolf, frowning, every inch the disappointed parent. Solvi would have admired his acting skills under other circumstances. “I would take responsibility for this,” said Olaf, “but Ragnvald has seen twenty winters now. He must take responsibility for his own choices.”
“Do you deny these charges?” Hrolf asked.
“Of course I do,” said Olaf. “If my honor is in doubt, surely no one could doubt the son of King Hunthiof.”
“Then it is decided,” said Hrolf.
“I have made a new accusation,” said Ragnvald. “You must allow me to call and question my sister.”
“She is a girl-child,” said Olaf scornfully. “She cannot testify.”
“A woman may testify, if no men were present to witness what she testifies to,” said Ragnvald. “Were any men present to witness what you saw?” he asked Svanhild.