"Juliet Marillier - Wolfskin 1 - Wolfskin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marillier Juliet)

in any event; the storm looks likely to prevent further travel for a little. The Jarl himself was urgent for
home. He has a new son, bred when we came back from the spring viking; he is gone ahead, but we
have time before we must join him. He will not set out again before spring's seeding is attended to." He
glanced at his brother, and his tone changed. "Eyvind? I've a favor to ask you."

"What?"

There were new sounds from outside now, the rapid approach of many folk, voices raised in greeting.

"Later," Eirik said.

Eyvind asked him no further questions, though it was hard to wait. Eirik was his hero. Eirik was a
Wolfskin. That was the most glorious calling in the whole world, for surely nothing could surpass the
moment when you heard Thor's call to battle ringing in your ears, pulsing in your blood, filling every
corner of your being with a red rage that shut out any thought of fear. To charge forward in pure courage,
inspired by the god himselfтАФthat bold vision tugged at Eyvind's thoughts by day and filled his dreams by
night. What matter if a Wolfskin's life were short? Such a warrior, once fallen, would be carried straight
to Thor's right hand. One day he himself would pass the test, and become one of that band to which Eirik
and Hakon belonged, as had many of Eyvind's kin in times past. The men of Hammarsby had a noble
tradition in the Warfather's service. So Eyvind practiced with the bow and with the axe. He ran and
climbed, he skated and swam. He shoveled snow and hunted and grew strong, awaiting that day. Eirik's
tales kept his dreams alive. Later, perhaps his brother would tell of the autumn viking, the riches
plundered, the battles won.

The folk of the district crowded into the temple, along with the men of Jarl Magnus's household, warrior
and swineherd side by side. The high seat, its wooden pillars carved with many small creatures, was
allocated to Ulf, kinsman of the Jarl, and by him stood the two Wolfskins, gold-bearded Eirik and the
taller, hawk-featured Hakon. Each wore his short cloak of shaggy fur, fastened on the shoulder with an
ornate silver brooch. Both were well armed: Eirik had the lethal skeggox, or hewing axe, on his back,
and Hakon bore a fine sword, its hilt plated with copper. The nobleman, Ulf, was young: not so much
older than Eirik himself, Eyvind thought. He had many folk with him, probably housecarls called into
service for the autumn viking, with a few richly dressed men who might be part of Jarl Magnus's
household elite, or Ulf's own retainers.

Eyvind's eldest brother, Karl, began the ceremony, his solemn features glowing warm in the fire's light.
Eyvind was pleased with that fire; the smoke was rising cleanly through the roof opening to disperse in
the cold air outside. Karl was no warrior. His choice had been to stay at home and husband the land, his
brothers' portions as well as his own. It was a decision that, in hindsight, had been both wise and
prudent, for their father, Hallvard Karlsson, had died in his prime, falling nobly in the service of the old
Jarl, and leaving Ingi a widow. A young man with a young family of his own, Karl had simply stepped
into his father's shoes. Now he and his mother controlled a wide sweep from hilltop to fjord, and
commanded great respect in the district. All the same, Eyvind had never understood how his brother
could prefer that existence over a life as Thor's warrior. Yet Karl seemed content with what he was.

"Master of storm, tamer of waves, iron-fisted one!" Karl now addressed the god in ringing tones. "Hewer
of giants, serpent-slayer, worthiest of warriors! In blood, we honor you! In fire, we salute you! In the
shadow time, we seek your protection. May your strong arm guard us on land path and sea path. Smite
our enemies and smile on our endeavors."
"Hewer of giants, serpent-slayer, worthiest of warriors!" the assembled folk chanted, and their voices
rose with the fire's heat to ring out across the snow-blanketed hills and the dark fir trees, straight to the