Emer's Quest (Manannan Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

floor. They did not ache as much as they had this morning. Obviously Renny’s ointment was working its magic. She pushed herself onto her knees and struggled to stand. She swayed at first then, biting her lip, she hobbled out of the door in the direction of the privy. No one would question her right to go there. She took the long way back to the longhouse, circling the village. She was not comfortable, nor did she move with her usual grace. Yet the exercise warmed her and she returned to her bed much encouraged. Finnr was waiting for her.
    “I’ve brought you some clothes,” he said , showing her a small bundle. “Boy’s things but they should fit. Put them on and cover up your hair. It’ll gleam if there’s a moon and it’s too long. You still want to come?”
    “I do, but why are you doing this for me, Finnr?”
    “Because I know what you ’re feeling. I felt the same when Ragnar told me I couldn’t go.”
    “ It’s not the same. I’m a girl, you’re a man.”
    Finnr grinned. “You didn’t say that when we wrestled last autumn and you pinned me down on the ground. Olaf taught you well and you’re strong or you wouldn’t have made it through the snow. You’ll survive. As Dag said, it’s the cold we have to face not armed warriors.” He rose. “Meet you at the tree.”
    Emer did not close her eyes for the rest of the night. She was afraid she would oversleep and be left behind. When the watchman came into the longhouse to rouse the sleepers, she crept outside and made her way down to the riverbank. Although she had often visited the village with her parents, she did not know it as well as she did the area around her home. She stumbled a few times before she got there. The big old tree loomed darkly against the first faint light of dawn. She leaned against the wood, heart pounding as she breathed in the icy air. She started to shiver and hoped that Finnr would not be long. Then she heard the tramp of feet and the occasional words as the men made their way down to the ship. Silence fell as they passed and she wondered if Finnr had forgotten her. Then a hand caught her shoulder and she almost jumped out of her skin.
    “Quickly, put these on,” he hissed and thrust a nother bundle into her arms. She tugged on the extra garments, wrapping the fur cloak round her thankfully. Finnr jammed a fur hat onto her head over the scarf she had wrapped round it. “Push all your hair inside,” he ordered. “In this light, you’ll do.”
    He grabbed her hand and set of f at a run, leaving the path at the first opportunity and circling round the marching men. They reached the boat as the watchman jumped ashore to greet Dag and the others. Finnr dragged Emer around the other side of the ship and boosted her aboard. Then he followed her and pushed her into an obscure corner, piling bits and pieces in front of her.
    “Stay there until we’re too far out to take you back,” Finnr ordered. “Keep still and don’t make any noise.”
    He whisked himself away and sat down it the bows, just in time. Emer peeped through a gap in the coverings and saw him leaning back nonchalantly.
    “Ho! Look who’s here.” It was a voice she knew — Tostig’s. “Couldn’t you sleep, lad?”
    “I slept like the dead,” Finnr replied, “but I don’t need hours to get to the boat, not like you lot! Ow!” Tostig had cuffed him.
    “Well, if you’re so lively , you can help push the boat out instead of lounging here. Be off with you.”
    A scu ffle and then the boat began to shift on the sand and slide forward as it was manoeuvred into the sea. The crew scrambled over the sides and picked up the long oars to row out into the bay. Emer made herself very small and pressed as tightly as she could against the creaking hull. Men sat near her, but no one bothered to remove the coverings and she breathed easier. She was very tired and, in spite of her cramped position and the sounds all around her, she must have dozed.
    She was woken