Spreading News

Following her meeting with Erland and their somewhat uncomfortable exchange, Ingrid's journey through the market returned to a more tranquil pace.

A few minutes of walking had her calm, though with each stride she was reminded of the dampness that remained between her thighs.  She had always hated that the wetness stayed so long after the warmth had faded away, and now she found it a constant reminder of the awful desires that had created it.  She tried to distract her thoughts, focusing on the calm air and the homely scenery.

She saw a friend of her son's, and her mind drifted to her husband and children.

I'm very fortunate to have a loving husband and family she told herself, feeling a warm sense of satisfaction at how well her children had grown into adults.

Her sons had become strong, handsome men, and her daughters were beautiful and courageous women.  All of them had taken after the best of their parents, and she felt enormous pride whenever she thought about them.

As she reached the center of the town, she stopped and took in the atmosphere that had arisen with the growing population and trade of the past ten or fifteen years.  When her children were born, the town had felt so small and calm; nowadays, it had begun to feel like a bustling port, and she could even spot a number of people who she had never met.

When she saw an unfamiliar mother and daughter walking along, she felt a sudden surge of anxiety.

I hope that Sigrid is alright she thought to herself, worrying about what her daughter might be doing at that very moment.  She's so young and naive about the pain that exists in this world.

Ingrid had tried to instill in her children an appreciation of life and all its wonders, but also a sense of the trials and dangers that all people faced; with Sigrid, she felt that she had failed in achieving the latter.  She had existed largely in a world of fantasy, chasing after the dreams that Ingrid had held onto for too long into Sigrid's childhood.  Perhaps if she had told fewer stories of battles, spoils, and glory, then Sigrid wouldn't have become so obsessed with proving herself by those same measures.

Before she could dwell on the thought any longer, she spotted a young couple walking towards her, immediately recognizing her eldest son Bjarn and his wife.

Bjarn's wife was a woman whose beauty was only surpassed by her strength, which was not an opinion that Ingrid had of many women besides herself.  Her son was a powerful and handsome man, and she wasn't surprised that he had managed to earn an equally impressive wife – though she had thought for some time that no such maiden existed in these parts.

Despite the odds, and Bjarn's combative attitude, he had managed to find an excellent wife, which made Ingrid very happy as a mother.  She could almost imagine her grandchildren, who she knew – if Bjarn had half the appetite that his father did at his age – would be along quite soon.

When the two of them approached, she tried to clear her mind of all the negative thoughts which had been floating through it throughout the day and focus on how fortunate she was in her life.  A smile slowly spread across her face, and she saw the approaching youngsters smile in response.

“Mother!” Bjarn called out to her, obviously glad to happen across her in town.

He had built a house on the other side of Osfjoll a few years back, where he lived with his wife and where they planned to raise their children.

“Well met, Son” Ingrid replied as she reached them.  “How goes it?”

Bjarn grinned. 

“It goes well.” he replied.  “We decided to walk the town after some business in the market.  And you?”

“Heading through town to clear my mind, and fetch some supplies for the next few days.”

Bjarn shifted uncomfortably.

“That's good to hear.  Hopefully there's nothing too awful to clear away” he said, chuckling.

“What's bothering you, Bjarn?” she asked him.

The way his eyes flitted between the two women standing by him told her that he didn't want to tell her, and that his wife already knew, so she decided to become more direct.

He opened his mouth to give some excuse, but his mother interrupted him before he could.

“I know you're hiding something” she accused.  “Out with it!”

Her son still stayed silent, but now his wife spoke.

“Just tell her, husband” she demanded.  “You're not the sort of man who can keep a secret from his mother.”

He shot her a bitter glance, but caved in to the pressure from the two women.

“Alright, alright.  I'll tell you – though you might wish that I hadn't once I open my mouth” he grumbled.

“Well?” his mother pushed, impatiently.  “Tell it.”

Everyone could tell that Bjarn wasn't pleased at how easily he had been coerced, but began to speak regardless.

“We were speaking with Erland, and he told us about something...” he preambled.

Ingrid's heart nearly stopped, her mind racing at the possibility of what he had told her family.

“Apparently there are rumours of beasts in the North...” he continued.

Ingrid felt calmed for a moment, but then hesitated on why the news had been so secretive.

“And why did you want to keep that from me?” she prodded, her son still looking uncomfortable.

“Well... there are a group of warriors being sent to investigate the rumours...” he continued, dragging out the ordeal.

“And?” Ingrid repeated, starting to become frustrated.

“We thought you'd be upset if you knew...” he warned.  “They were sent by the Earl personally...  and Sigrid is among them.”

At those last words, Ingrid felt her body become cold and stiff.  Imagining those beasts attacking her daughter, and what they would do to her if she couldn't resist them...

“I have to go home” she said abruptly.

Bjarn wasn't thrilled by the response, though it was by no means the worst that he could have expected. 

“Don't do anything rash.  She's with very respectable warriors, who are sworn to her safety.  You don't have to be concerned for the safety of a capable shieldmaiden like her.”

Ingrid smiled.

“Then you don't worry about me” she shot back.

“You don't have to worry about Sigrid, mother, she'll be fine” Bjarn assured her.

Despite their words, Ingrid was already turning away from them.  “Take care of yourselves” she said, quickly walking away.

“What are you going to do?” Bjarn called to her, demanding an answer.

“Don't worry about me” Ingrid called back to him.

Bjarn began to ask her word that she wouldn't do anything hasty, but before they could hope for another response, she had completely disappeared.

“Do you think that she'll be alright?” Helga said, genuinely concerned.

Bjarn paused for a moment, thinking on it.  “I'm not entirely sure...” he said, pausing.

“She's a strong woman, but I think that I should ask my father to check on her – just in case” he concluded.

The two of them stood there, thinking about Ingrid and all that was happening.

“These recent weeks have been difficult for her” she said with a sigh.  “I hope that she'll be alright when this is all over.”