"IRELAND" "The soft will conquer the hard." "That's how dripping water eats through a stone, how the pen overpowers the sword." "Remember that my children." "They seem to have plenty of silver here in Ireland." "What shall we do with him?" "He's too young." "He won't last the journey." "Kill him." "He's old enough to have seen too much." "Run!" "THE RAVEN FLIES" "ICELAND 20 years later" "What news of Norway, merchants?" "King Harald hasn't cut his hair yet - and says he won't until he controls the whole of Norway." "And keeps on killing you." "I heard that one of his assassins killed Erik's father this winter!" "So Harald's had him murdered like the other rebels." "The old man should have come to Iceland with his son Erik." "He was on Viking raids with us in Ireland." "They're more careful now in Ireland." "It was easier to take slaves when the blood-brothers fled to" "Iceland nearly twenty years ago." "They didn't flee, they were looking for new land, we wanted to be free." "Is Thord expecting a visitor?" "There is a passenger from Norway." "He has business with Thord." "That's him, the one with the staff." "What does he want with Thord?" "He didn't say, just that he had to get to Iceland no matter what the cost." "One of Harald's assassins?" "He's not armed." "He just carries that staff." "We'll soon see if he's armed or not." "You have business with Thord?" "That's a heavy knife." "I asked if you had business with Thord?" "I was asked to give him this bag of silver." "BY Whom?" "Bjorn." "He said Thord had lost it and would pay well if it was returned." "Where did you meet Bjorn?" "That's between me and Thord." "Show me the way." "Who's this Bjorn?" "Bjorn cheated Thord and Erik when they were on a Viking raid." "He disappeared with some silver they took in Ireland." "I can't see how the likes of him could have got the silver if it's the same lot." "What do you know about him?" "Nothing, but he was always asking about Erik and Thord." "What did he ask?" "How they lived in Iceland and how they were getting on." "He seemed to know them." "I don't trust people who answer a question with a question." "This knife is supposed to be heavy." "I want the furs back that I packed the slaves in." "You can see the goods are unspoiled and in fine condition." "The lads will give one or two some treatment." "If we do that now they'll be as meek as lambs even if we rip the clothes off their backs." "Is that what you're looking for?" "A heavy knife." "Spare us!" "Spare us!" "This is a big country and sparsely settled." "Now you'll have to fend for yourselves." "Why are you doing this for us?" "They visited my father in Ireland and then there was no one to help." "Keep away from the shore." "Hurry!" "I said I had business with you, Thord." "Mother, Mother, the black stallion has come back alone." "Father!" "The stallion came back alone." "Did it come home alone?" "Yes, all alone no rider." "It is the black stallion, Father." "I'd know it anywhere." "Father, is there blood on the horse?" "Is that blood on the horse, Father?" "Who are you?" "Show Erik this brooch and he will see me." "There's a guest." "He asked me to give you this." "There's a guest." "Who are you?" "I come from your father in Norway." "Why did he send you?" "King Harald has fallen." "Your father has accepted the title of earl." "He wants you back in Norway." "He wants you to take over his affairs." "I asked why he sent you?" "When there's silver on offer I don't say no even if there is a long journey involved." "How did you come?" "With the merchants that do business with Thord." "And have you spoken to Thord?" "No." "His men lent me this horse so I could come directly to you." "How can you prove what you say?" "Your father said," ""Erik always keeps the other part of this brooch on his person."" "He also said you would reward me handsomely when you got it, in silver." "Come in." "We'll have some ale." "I think I'd rather be on my way to Thord." "First I've got to pay you." "When there's silver on offer, I don't say no." "They've been here but the merchants are gone." "Why didn't we meet them on the way?" "We shouldn't have sent them on their own." "It's the same old story." "They've stopped off at Erik's and we missed them." "And the blood on the horse ..." "You are an honest man." "Why are you then called a fox?" "How did you know that?" "I heard it at your father's house." "That was when Thord and I were on our Viking raids." "Then I was a dubbed fox, because I am a fox." "What kind of fox?" "A crafty fox." "No one can trust me" "And I trust no one except my blood-brother, Thord." "No thank you." "Don't you drink?" "You've got a reason for drinking, just had some good news but I have to press on and see Thord." "No need to hurry." "Yes, otherwise he might think I didn't exist." "What do you mean?" "If the news I brought you had been brought by a stranger you hadn't seen." "Would you have believed it?" "A fox like you doesn't believe until he's seen the man and the proof." "Until you've seen a man he doesn't exist." "I must touch everything both things and people." "You are real enough ..." "aren't you?" "Well I've got to hurry." "Have some food first." "I'll send a man with you." "I have an errand with Thord." "You don't trust me?" "No, why should I?" "I wouldn't either if I were a crafty fox like you." "Help yourself." "It's Thord's horse." "That's certain." "Show this Gest to Thord's place and don't let him out of your sight." "Someone dropped his knife here." "Do you recognize it?" "It's covered in blood." "It belongs to one of Thord's men." "How do you know?" "I killed him." "Don't, don't kill me..." "I know your face." "You saved my life in Ireland when I was a boy." "For that I spare you now but only on condition that you go directly to Erik and say that Thord and his men lay in wait for us and killed me and that you managed to escape alive." "Go to Erik and take him this news then I will not kill you..." "He'll never believe me." "Show him the wound I inflicted on you, then he'll believe you." "Tell him I'm dead then waste no time in leaving Erik and you'll live for I will kill them all." "I've searched through many lands for you." "I killed Erik's father and slew Bjorn in Norway and Thord's men who went to the beach and they'll all die." "For Odin has given me strength." "Be assured that if you don't do what I say" "I'll follow you like a shadow and cut you up into carrion for his crows." "You've heard the news?" "At long last we can go home." "What news?" "King Harald has fallen, and we can leave this place." "The exile is over." "Who says so?" "Gest, didn't you get the news?" "Who is this Gest?" "The man who came with the merchants and brought me the brooch from my father." "You must have met him on the way." "He has just left for your place." "And he brought you the brooch from your father." "Let me see it." "Father told me that if he ever sent me the brooch it was a sign that he needed me." "What's that?" "He's forgotten the money." "Who?" "Gest." "And he seemed so careful and proper." "Did Gest bring this money?" "No, it's the money I was going to pay him with." "Where did you get this money?" "I've had it since we were on our Viking raids." "Why do you ask like that?" "Don't you recognize it?" "These coins are identical to the ones Bjorn disappeared with." "The men are found." "Their bodies are lying here in the sheep pen." "Gest." "This is Gest's doing." "We've got to find him." "Get the horses!" "Do as I told you." "Where is Gest?" "Why have you come back on your own?" "They ambushed us." "Who?" "Thord and his men lay in wait for us and killed Gest." "They wounded me." "But I managed to escape." "Liar!" "I'm not." "You are." "Where is Gest?" "Gest is dead." "Tell me where Gest is or I'll kill you." "Thord killed him." "You're lying about my blood-brother and for that you're going to die." "What have you done?" "He was lying about you." "He said you had killed Gest." "That I killed Gest?" "He said you ambushed them and killed Gest." "Why did he say I killed Gest." "I don't know." "I would have liked to have asked him." "But he lied about you." "Weren't you a bit too quick off the mark?" "Now you've killed the only witness who could back up your story." "I'll find him." "I'll get him." "Come on!" "He can't have got far." "He was on his way to your place." "Let's go there." "Einar, you're not to go in there." "You know you're not allowed to play here." "This is your father's sacred place." "Where are you, you naughty thing?" "You're the best mother in the world." "Father, did you find the men?" "I'll tell you later." "Now we' re alone with the gods." "Now we can talk." "I fought by your side against King Harald and came with you to this awful land." "We've always been able to trust one another." "This Gest wants us dead so we have to stick together or we both lose." "What do you mean?" "If we stick together like we've always done then we' re invincible and Gest knows it." "That's why he's trying to sow the seeds of distrust between us." "But I don't know if he's Harald's assassin or not." "He said Harald was dead and I believed him when I saw father's brooch." "You must believe me." "Believe me." "I believe you." "But what are my men to think?" "All eyes are on me." "Go home and get the bodies of my men and the silver." "I'll wait here." "Then we'll find this Gest." "Erik's going home to get the silver and the bodies." "You brothers ride after them." "Watch what they do, but keep out of sight." "Were the men's bodies in Erik's sheep-pen?" "Be careful." "I am relying on you not to be hasty"" "This Gest stole the silver from Bjorn." "He probably followed him to all the way south to Rome." "Then he comes all the way north to Iceland to leave it on Erik's table." "It's a strange man who steals from the poor to give to the rich." "I'd like to meet him." "Who said Bjorn took the silver in the first place?" "Wasn't it Erik?" "Go immediately and try to find the merchants." "Ask them who Gest is and if Harald has fallen." "Thord said they had gone." "Do what I say." "Has anyone seen Gest while I've been away?" "I don't even know what he looks like." "I didn't see him." "You saw him." "Yes, I think so." "You think so?" "I didn't really take a close look at him." "Don't you understand the trouble we' re in?" "Three of Thord's best men were found dead in our sheep-pen." "On, on!" "We've got to keep going or all is lost." "The horses are coming." "A surprise gift from Erik!" "Where is Erik?" "And the brothers you sent after him?" "You know, I'm not betraying my blood-brother by returning to Norway." "Our men have been killed in ambushes and Gest has so cunningly confused matters between me and Thord that it will be a along time before the truth comes to light." "We can't live on this barren rock any longer." "Home in Norway" "Harald is dead and my father is an earl." "I'll share this silver with you if you come home with me." "Bring out all our weapons." "To arms." "Now we'll see what stuff you're made of." "Why are you going to war and who is the enemy?" "The one who murdered my men." "And who is he?" "I'll find out." "If Erik has failed you then weapons won't repair your friendship." "You're a Christian, and that's your problem." "How many more of us does Erik have to kill before you believe me?" "Why?" "Why?" "What more do you want." "Can't you see he's killed them because he's going to flee to Norway his father, an earl, sends him the brooch an earl under King Harald who sends Erik the silver in settlement and now Erik is going to flee and join King Harald." "He has betrayed us." "On!" "On!" "What's the news?" "The merchants are in the north." "They say they brought a man from Norway who went to meet Thord." "He was with the men who were found dead in the sheep-pen." "What's the news from Norway?" "They told me that your father and two of his men were killed by a stranger last winter by one of Harald's assassins, so the story goes." "Is Harald still alive then?" "According to them." "Perhaps Gest is Harald's assassin." "Not a word about this." "We're leaving all the same." "There you see." "He's getting the boat out." "He's going to flee." "I'll attack them from the other side." "You wait here." "I'll give you a sign." "Show what you're made of." "Kill him." "Don't kill me." "On your feet, dog!" "Idiot!" "You're not worth killing." "Run for your lives." "Defend yourself traitor, and die with honour." "I have betrayed no one." "I'm innocent, and you can have the silver." "You don't believe Gest exists." "That's just what he wants ... but he's real, and when you find him you're doomed too." "If you must see me dead, blood-brother, then at least be man enough to do the deed yourself." "Carry our men into the house and put Erik in the temple." "Father, was it a great battle?" "How many men did you kill?" "Is Erik dead?" "The power of our weapons is a gift from you." "With your spell I saw through Erik's treachery." "The dead will go to Valhalla tomorrow." "Gather all our firewood." "I will lay Erik to rest in the hillside above the farm in the tomb I had reserved for myself." "His tomb shall bear witness that I kept my part of our blood-brother oath." "I will honour your memory though your cunning nature got the better of you." "What's that Father?" "Ill-gotten gains ..." "and not for children." "What is it?" "It's the silver I took from cruel giants in Ireland." "How were they cruel?" "They breathed fire and had two heads." "What did you do?" "I cut off their heads and took the silver." "And did they die then?" "Is there a lot of silver in Ireland?" "I'll tell you the story later." "No." "Well now, Father, It's time you went to bed." "Mummy, did you know that Daddy killed all the giants in Ireland." "Take these gifts with you to Valhalla in the knowledge that your death pains me." "May this tomb never be violated while I live." "Block the mouth of the cave and fence it off." "Well brother." "Now you are far more powerful and wealthy than you were before." "What sacrifice should we offer?" "What sacrifice do you have in mind?" "The blood of your battle horse." "would please Odin." "I have already marked the horse as Odin's." "That is what Odin wanted." "Wouldn't you like to ride this horse?" "Yes, but I don't dare." "Shall I ride him?" "Yes, go on." "Then Thord will kill you." "I'm his brother." "That makes no difference." "I was there when he marked the horse as Odin's." "And swore he would kill whoever mounted him without leave." "Thord can't deny me anything." "I'll be in charge before you know it." "I thought little Einar was to take over." "Son of that Irish whore." "I'll put a stop to that!" "Never!" "If he killed his blood-brother he could just as easily kill you, even if you are his natural brother." "He would not sacrifice his horse and the gods will punish him." "What's going on?" "He took the horse." "Who?" "I told you we shouldn't have taken him prisoner." "He's getting revenge for Erik." "It was just as though Erik was on the horse." "Find the horse no matter what it costs." "Ride on." "They'll never catch you on this horse." "We've looked everywhere it's as if the earth had opened up and swallowed the horse." "That horse was Odin's alone." "I shall offer you whatever sacrifice you demand." "Give me a sign and I shall obey." "Daddy, look at all the ravens." "What's that you've got?" "The raven brought it." "Did the raven bring it?" "Yes, he just flew down with the hat." "Einar, come and eat." "Is it from you?" "Even my own son." "I would even sacrifice him if that is your will but how can I be sure what you want ..." "Are you asking for my son?" "Show me a sign" "and I will obey ..." "Have you seen anything?" "No, just these ravens that are always hanging around the rock." "The ravens are Odin's." "If he has sent them, then he is displeased with me." "I'm going to sleep up in the watch cave tonight and wait for the horse to return or for a sign to come from the gods." "What sign?" "They've spoken to me before." "Guard our son well tonight." "Be calm, I am your brother." "Don't you remember our game with the hat, back in Ireland?" "They murdered our parents and abducted you." "Since then I've thought of only one thing ... finding you if you were alive." "I've searched in many countries and finally found you here." "When revenge has been taken we'll go back to Ireland together and everything will be as it was." "And I was so afraid." "Don't be afraid." "Everything that has happened has been my doing and it will soon be all over." "What?" "Killing the men who murdered our parents." "Are you going to kill Thord?" "Yes." "Do you know I have a child by Thord?" "You can't change that." "We'll take him home with us to Ireland." "Then he won't be like them." "Our father said, "the soft will will conquer the hard"." "That's how I've lived all these years, that's how I've tried to bring up the boy, as our father brought us up." "They'll take him from you when he gets older then he'll be just like them." "See these blood-stained logs." "I've turned them to the wall." "Now they'll be paralysed with terror, and they will all fall." "But if taking revenge hurts the child or me'?" "I'll never be far away." "I see everything that happens here." "Just walk out of the farm and wave if there's any danger and I'll come." "Can I be sure?" "I am your brother." "That's why I'm here." "They are angfy" "They have turned their backs on us and will destroy us all unless I give them the sacrifice they have demanded - my son." "What are you waiting for?" "Make the preparations." "We shall carry the gods out to the rock and show Odin's ravens that I would even sacrifice my own son to appease them." "The gods haven't asked for your son." "What are you doing here?" "I said, the gods haven't asked for your son." "Keep away." "You're a Christian." "Maybe that's why they've asked for the child I had with you." "The gods didn't turn themselves to the wall." "He did it." "Who?" "Gest." "He came here during the night and turned the gods to the wall." "Come down here, quick." "Why didn't you tell me this before?" "I was sure you wouldn't believe me." "Why should you have believed me when you didn't believe Erik, who is your own blood brother?" "And why should I believe you now?" "He said he would return tonight and threatened to kill me if I didn't give the all clear sign." "If I give the sign you'll get him." "Take him, take him." "Who are you?" "Gest." "That's no answer." "I want to know who you are." "Then you have to ask many questions." "I've got plenty of time." "Who are you?" "I was your agent when Bjorn tried to buy his life with the silver." "Answer my question or you'll die a slow death." "I was King Harald's assassin when Erik's father was slain and I took the brooch." "And who are you now?" "Now?" "I seem to be your guest." "And given a chieftain's welcome." "Haul him up." "We'll let him hang there until he's come to his senses and told us the truth about himself." "Who are you and what do you have against Erik?" "Why did you make me kill him when he was innocent?" "Or was he going to flee?" "I have prepared a feast for you." "Now let us celebrate." "We're in no hurry." "He must not die before we find out who he is." "Hjorleif, guard him well." "I trust you." "Take that up to him." "I had to tell." "Thord was going to sacrifice the boy." "Leave this place and never return." "I can't get far." "Where am I to hide?" "Go out to the tomb where Erik is buried." "It is sacred and they'll never look for you there." "He has gone." "Who?" "Gest has gone." "Hjorleif!" "Don't say anything." "Gest escaped from me ... so I have to flee or they will kill me." "Look at me." "If you had something to do with Gesfs escape, then tell me now before we find him." "I gave you Gest." "Why should I release him?" "No, it was the sacrifice that smoked Gest out." "The sacrifice made you talk." "If you won't talk now I'll have to sacrifice to the gods again." "They have not failed me." "Someone once said to me, "the soft will conquer the hard"." "Don't you think enough blood has been spilt." "While Gest walks free the blood- sacrifices will continue." "So it was all the work of a man and I thought you were angry with me and were demanding my son." "I didn't understand that the sacrifice was the means you gave me to trap Gest." "Now I have no choice but to play the same trick again we'll smoke him out." "Stop the search." "We will only find Gest with the help of the gods." "Bring them out and prepare for a sacrifice." "What are you doing?" "appeasing the gods." "You must do exactly as I say." "You know what they demand" "It's difficult but you've got to do it." "We'll go out together and you lie down where I show you with your eyes closed." "You mustn't open them, no matter what happens." "If you succeed you'll have shown the gods the courage they demand of their men." "And if I open my eyes?" "Then you'll never be a hero or a Viking." "I know you can do it." "And it's alright even if mother gets frightened." "She's just a woman." "You're a man." "I'll tell you a story." "What story?" "Wait and see." "Close your eyes." "Once upon a time there were two invincible giants." "When they were attacked they stood back to back and fought as one man." "Once they went to sleep at the bottom of a high cliff." "A little boy like you appeared on the scene." "He climbed up the cliffs and dropped a stone on one of the giants." "The giant woke up and said to the other, "Stop kicking me."" ""I didn't do anything," said his friend crossly." "They went back to sleep." "The boy threw another stone." "The giant jumped to his feet and shook his friend angrily." ""Stop it, or you'll be sorry."" ""Leave me alone," said the other giant." "Then they started to fight." "Once they'd started they couldn't stop because they were friends." "And at the top of the cliff sat the boy, enjoying himself immensely as the giants beat each other to death." "The tomb." "Gest is in the tomb." "Look out." "Now you no longer have the advantage of being out of range." "Now we' re equal you with the bow and me with the knife." "I would have liked to have met you on these terms sooner, but you were too many, and the knives too heavy." "This is just between me and you." "Who are you?" "Tell me." "You once said he was too young." "But he was old enough to have seen to much, like Bjorn said." "That's why I'm here." "You killed my parents" "and made my sister your whore." "That's why you have to die" "Father, Father...don't leave me." "Now I'll take you back home to Ireland." "I'm staying." "These were Father's books." "It's best you have them." "I want you to go." "I have buried the weapons." "From now on the pen will replace the sword." "The power of the mind will conquer the hand." "He's old enough to have seen too much."