Never Fear by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

they
could remain still no longer, the children rushed into the yard and
met their father with the enthusiasm of youth. “We’ve missed you,
Father. You have been gone so long. We have so much to tell
you—”
    “ There will be much time
for talk later. Reynir and I have traveled far this day. Let us get
settled and warmed by the fire,” Snorri said, ruffling Leifur’s
hair.
    Magnús started, “But
Father—”
    Berglind gave him a stern look.
“Please, Magnús, later.”
    Chastised, Magnús said, “Yes,
Mama.”
    Snorri raised his head in the air and
sniffed. “Biscuits?”
    “ Gáttathefur,” Reynir
whispered, his blue eyes darkening.
    Berglind’s own eyes grew wide. “Oh,
Snorri…”
    Snorri looked at her, concerned. “Is
that who the biscuits are for, Berglind? The Yuletide Lad? What has
been happening here?”
    “ Come inside. We have
needed you so much. But we have managed.” Berglind pushed open the
door and ushered everyone inside. The children stayed oddly
quiet.
    The men divested themselves of the
packs and outer clothing and positioned themselves by the hearth
while Berglind and Lilja finished up with the biscuits.
    Leifur sat on his father’s lap and
said, “Have you brought us gifts, Father?”
    “ Leifur, only good
children receive gifts,” Reynir said jokingly, taking a quaff of
mead from a stein Berglind had given him. “Everyone knows what
mischief makers you three are.” He lightly cuffed the boy on the
side of the head.
    “ Mischief making—” Snorri
began but was cut off as Berglind thrust a small tray with hot
biscuits in front of them.
    “ After we have eaten and
the children are asleep, we will talk,” she said, a shadow crossing
her face.
    “ The Yuletide Lads have
been here every day, Father,” Lilja volunteered from the kitchen
area, where she was enjoying her own hot biscuit with Magnús. “But
we have been having fun tricking them.” She took a large bite and
filled her mouth.
    “ Berglind, is this true?”
Snorri said.
    She sighed heavily. “Aye, it is. We
have only heard the Lads, not seen them. And they have been
mischievous is all, not much of a bother. But now that you and
Reynir are here, we will rest easier. Perhaps your being here will
scare away the last two Lads.”
    “ I hope what you say is
true,” Snorri said. A look of worry came over his strong features.
He brushed a long blond lock from his forehead.
    “ What is it, Snorri? What
is troubling you?” Berglind grabbed his arm.
    “ It is nothing. Reynir and
I… It is nothing.”
    Berglind stared at him for another
moment. “Tomorrow Ketrokur comes.”
    “ The meat hook,” Reynir
interjected. “For St. Thorlakur’s Day. You will have the smoked
lamb?” He munched on his third biscuit and drank his mead,
apparently content.
    Berglind noticed how much the two
brothers had grown alike, while only two years apart in age. Both
were tall, blond, and broad. “I have an extra shank prepared,
should Ketkrókur lower his hook down our chimney.”
    “ Perhaps
I shall lay in wait for him and pull him down the chimney, instead of his
taking our meat,” Reynir said, taking yet another biscuit from the
tray and another long pull from his stein.
    Normally a man of few words, Reynir
seemed to be in a talkative mood, Berglind noted, then said, “No
need, Reynir. We have plenty of lamb. Even enough to fill your big
gullet. Although I may need to make more biscuits for
tonight.”
    “ Reynir laughed and took
the remaining biscuit from the tray. “You might. They are quite
good, a little peppery.”
    Magnús and Leifur exchanged a
look.
    “ I like you, Berglind,”
Reynir continued. “You speak your mind. You are a good woman. And I
trust you have enough hay in the barn for me to rest my ‘big
gullet’ on?” He laughed again and finished his drink.
    Berglind took his stein to refill it.
“You will stay through Christmas and the new year then?”
    “ Aye, if you will have
me?”
    “ Of course.” She