Eira: Banished (Viking Guardians Book 1), стр. 19
“It began long ago,” he said. “My father was the clan leader and I was in my early teens. The village was a happy place; my father was a good clan leader and made wise decisions. He started to teach me how to lead a clan because he was certain that one day I would follow in his footsteps.”
“Where was Taft?” Eira asked.
“Taft lived in the village, too. He was older than me, as was his sister, Astrid, although she is younger than he is.”
“My father died unexpectedly, leaving the clan without a leader. Many of the people wanted me to be his successor because they knew that he had been training me and I was already skilled at farming and in battle. But others thought I was too young.
Taft had always cherished an ambition to be the leader someday. But with the clan divided, he couldn’t just assume the leadership for himself. It would have caused strife and war and would probably have split the clan apart. So, the clan decided to take a vote. Everyone of marriageable age could have their say and cast their vote.
The votes came out evenly divided. When it came to the last one, it was up to Astrid to cast the deciding vote. She struggled to make a decision but, in the end, chose me over her brother. When asked why she made that decision, she said that her brother had a problem with his anger and she believed that I would be a better clan leader.
She left the village to marry Bjarni not long after that, but Taft never forgave her. He has harbored this anger in his heart all this time.”
“It is sad for him that it is eating him alive,” Eira said. “But I do not know why he takes it out on me.”
“You are like your mother. I remember her well. She was kind and beautiful and also a great healer. Every time Taft looks at you, he is reminded that his ambition remains unfulfilled because of your mother.” Halvar turned to look at her.
“Eira, it is not easy to say this.” He paused, searching for the words. “Words don’t come easily to me. I am a man of action.”
“Go on,” Eira encouraged.
“You will not be able to live with Taft when we return. I have reason to believe that he set up your kidnapping.”
Eira gasped. “But that is such an awful thing to do to your own kin. Why would he do that?”
“Because he does not wish to be reminded of what he failed to achieve every time he sees you. Therefore, it was an easy way to solve his problem.”
“But where will I live? Will I be safe?”
“For now, you can have a corner of the pit-house. I will ensure that you are safe.”
Eira shuddered. She would again be living in fear for her life. Would there ever come a time when she could live in peace?
CHAPTER 8
T he village was quiet. Many of the villagers were working on their farms, while the women who weren’t at the farms were down at the stream, washing clothes and fetching water. The day was sunny and warm and Taft was basking in the sunshine outside his house. He should have been working at the farm but he felt that he deserved a day to relax in the sunshine. He’d finally taken revenge on his sister for the years of misery he’d endured as a result of her decision and it felt good.
He was certain that Halvar and his men wouldn’t find Eira. In fact, with each hour that passed, he was growing more confident that he would never have to see her again. He spat contemptuously. Fools! The traders were good at simply vanishing into the forest. Once they had captured a person, it was highly unlikely that the village would ever see that person again. The cool wind caressed his cheeks while the sun warmed his back. He felt sleepy and closed his eyes, hearing only the faint sighing of the wind in the trees.
“How dare you!” roared a voice right in front of him.
Taft jumped with fright as he awoke to see Halvar standing over him. Taft had never seen Halvar so angry. "What madness is this, Halvar?" he asked, trying to play it cool.
Halvar was boiling with rage. "You sold your own family to the raiders?! Your own blood?!!"
Taft feigned surprise. "That is nonsense. We all know she was taken by them because she ventured beyond the boundaries!"
“Oh no, she did not. There’s an arrow still stuck in a tree on our side of the boundary to prove it. You told them when to come for her and you set her up yourself.”
Kaarina spoke up then. "I saw you with one of them, Father. That was why you questioned me about where Eira goes to pick her herbs. It was you!”
Taft looked from one to the other. He hadn’t spotted Eira so he assumed that they had been unable to find her. He was relieved. He could put up with their accusations; in time, everyone would forget and life would go back to normal.
But his relief was short-lived. Eira stepped around the corner of the building, and at the sight of her, his stomach churned. He rose to his feet, bubbling inside with anger.
"So what if I sold you into slavery?” He tossed the words contemptuously towards Eira. “I could have killed you myself but I saved you the agony."
"You have no shame, Taft," Halvar responded. "Now, pick your weapon and fight like a man!"
The villagers who were left behind began to gather in trickles. Whenever a chief asked a man to pick up his weapons, it usually meant a match to the death. There had been a