At last, slowly, as if each word were a burden: “Wha’ I hae
found dear in ye is your mortal womanness. But my second sight-och, I dinna ken, for ‘tis all blurred, yet-o’ a sudden I grow frightened 0’ ye. Such strangeness blaws doon the wind, oot 0’ your tomorrow.”
He let her go and trod backward. “Forgi” me,” he mumbled, his palms raised as though in defense. “I shouldna hae spoken. Farewell, Ingeborg.” He turned and walked from her.
“Whilst I beget my son,” he called through a drifting curtain of mist, “I will be thinking 0’ ye.”
She heard him wade outward. She heard him swim. When the fog had lifted, the ship was on the horizon.
There could be no real leavetaking. Persons had done what they were able, two by two, before the anchor sank. Niels and Ingeborg gazed north until the last sight of their lovers was lost among waves. Heaven stood open; rays from the west made waters blaze; distant and black winged a flight of cormorants. He shook himself. “Well,” he said, “if we want to reach Als before dark, best we start off.”
They meant to sleep that night in her hut. If it had been tom down during her absence, maybe Father Knud would share his roof. In the morning they must confront the terrestrial world, but at least that could begin among folk who knew them.
Ingeborg fell into step. Sand scrunched underfoot. “Remem-ber,” she said, “at first, let me carry ~ost of the speech. You’re not used to lies.”
He grimaced. “Especially lies to those who trust me.”
“Whereas a whore is faithless.”
So harsh was her tone that he broke stride and swung his
head-stiffly, in his weariness-around for a glance at her. She stared straight down their path. “I meant no harm,” he blurted.
“I know,” she said as if by rote. “However, do curb your tongue until you’re out of this dream you’re awash in, and have your judgment back.”
He flushed. “Yes, I miss Eyjan, that’s a loss which flenses,
but—oh-“
She relented, reached up to stroke his hair as they walked, said mildly, “Later you, the man of us, will take the lead. It’s only that I know men in Hadsund who I think will aid us for a pinch of gold, without asking many questions. . . and tell us somewhat about men of power whom we’ll approach afterward. We’ve talked of this erenow.”
“Indeed. “
“Nevertheless, best we keep sure that we’re in full understand-
ing, you and I.” Her laughter was brittle. “Has Faerie ever held anything more outlandish than our intent?”
They trudged on south.