Catla and the Vikings by Mary Nelson Read Free Book Online Page A

air. A knot formed in her empty belly.
    â€œYou, you there!” The old man’s voice was hard and loud. “What’re you doing? Who are you? Where’d you come from? Take off, before I set the dogs on you!”
    Catla’s voice wobbled at this harsh greeting. “We need help.”
    â€œVikings! Norsemen!” Sven shouted. “Covehithe is burning.”
    â€œNord-devils! Nord-devils are coming on the river!” Catla cried. “Call a council. Call everyone!”
    The man scowled. “Call a council? Who do you think you are? I’ve a good mind—” He raised his stick over his head.
    â€œWulfric, wait! Father.”
    Catla turned and saw her mother’s friend, Edith, coming from a nearby cottage.
    â€œFather, you know these young folks from Covehithe, the Village in the Morning Sun,” Edith said. “We see them every summer at the gathering.” She turned to them. “Norsemen in Covehithe? Tell me.”
    â€œEdith, I was talking to them first.” The old man’s querulous voice protested the interruption.
    â€œI know, Father. You remember Catla and Sven. We have to listen.”
    Relief made Catla’s body sag, and her voice shook as she reached out and clutched Edith’s arm. “Edith, you have to help us! Nord-devils burned Covehithe last day after sunup.” The words tumbled out of Catla’s mouth. “I was on the heath so I didn’t get caught, but the cottages are burning. Men in black tunics came in a warship.” Catla watched Edith’s eyes widen as she listened. “Sven and I saw them again today on land and in their ship. They’re coming here, up the river. You’re in danger.” Catla pulled Edith’s arm closer before she said, “And Edith, I don’t know what’s happened to my family.”
    Edith reached over and gathered her into her arms. “Hush, hush, now. We’ll help you.” As Wulfric sounded a metal hoop to gather the villagers, she said, “But softly, Father. We don’t want to alert our enemies.”
    â€œAch, they’ll not hear it on the water. They’ll be fighting the rapids about now.”
    â€œNorsemen! Norsemen on the river! Council! Council!” Wulfric shouted with the authority of someone who was used to being obeyed. Edith settled Catla and Sven while she went back into her cottage. People came, everyone talking at once. A small boy spat at Sven and got a cuff on his back from his mother. A little girl sidled up to Catla and said, “Your name is Catla, isn’t it? Your mother fixed my dolly last summer. I remember you.”
    â€œI remember you too, Mathilda.” But Catla could not think about dolls. She gently turned Mathilda back toward her mother as Edith appeared with some flat bread and two horns of ale.
    Wulfric roared for quiet. “These two, Catla and Sven, asked for a council. They need help, and they bring a warning. They’ve seen Norsemen on the river today.”
    Sven started to speak, but Edith said, “Wait. People need to settle. You two. Sit there under the oak.” She pointed to some three-legged stools. “Eat and drink a little.” She turned to the villagers and said, “Council, is this the kind of order you bring to a council ring?” The villagers shuffled into a rough circle, sitting on the ground or on logs and stumps as the talking subsided.
    â€œI didn’t recognize you,” Wulfric said to Catla and Sven. “Now I see you are from Covehithe. I was too gruff. It’s my old-man eyes.”
    â€œAnd your old-man bark,” Edith said. She patted his arm affectionately. “Now, Catla, you have the place of speech. We’ll hear your story.”
    As Edith spoke, a tall man with a gray beard and a head covering of felted wool moved toward them. The people parted to allow him room and nodded to him in respect. He strode forward, his stave in his right