作者：乔安娜·富尔福德
出版社：外语教学与研究出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
维京情史试读：
Chapter One
East Anglia—Six years later
Wulfgar stood at the ship's prow, his keen gaze scanning the curve of yellow sand and the rolling dunes beyond, but the small bay was deserted save for the gulls riding currents of air. Heavy cloud scudded across a lowering sky, the remnant of the previous night's storm. The only sounds were the wind and the crash of the surf along the shore where churned sand and a line of bladderwrack and driftwood remained to testify to its passing.
'This will do well enough,' he said. 'We'll bring her in here.'
Beside him Hermund nodded. 'Where do you reckon here is?'
'The Anglian coast probably, although it's hard to be certain.'
'Well, it seems quiet enough, my lord.'
'All the same, we'll send out a party of men to check.'
'Right you are.'
Wulfgar gave the order and a few minutes later the ship's keel ploughed into sand. The crew shipped oars and Wulfgar, with half-a-dozen others, vaulted over the gunwale into the surf and waded ashore. They sprinted up the beach and climbed the dunes. Beyond lay an expanse of heath interspersed with rough turf and clumps of yellow gorse. In the distance were cultivated strips and stands of trees.
'It'll do,' said Wulfgar.
Hermund surveyed the surrounding landscape, his weathered face thoughtful, shrewd grey eyes missing nothing. At three and thirty he was six years older than his companion and a few strands of grey hair showed among the brown, but the quiet deference with which he treated the latter revealed their relative positions in the world.
'Aye, my lord. All the same those fields must belong to someone.'
'We'll post guards.'
'The local inhabitants may be friendly, of course.'
'Perhaps,' replied Wulfgar. 'Although I wasn't planning on staying around long enough to get acquainted. We have an appointment to keep.'
'Rollo won't quibble; he needs warriors and he wants the best.'
'He'll get them, and pay handsomely for the privilege.'
Hermund grinned. 'Naturally.'
They turned and led the way back to the ship where teams of men had already begun to drag her higher up the beach.
'We've done all right in the last six years,' Hermund continued. 'If luck stays with us, we'll be able to retire soon on the proceeds.'
Wulfgar made no reply. His silence was not due to inattention; he had heard the words perfectly well and privately acknowledged their truth. He commanded a body of fighting men whose reputation went ahead of them: they could name their price in the full expectation of it being paid without argument. And luck had certainly been with them in that respect. Some even went so far as to say that their leader bore a charmed life for he emerged unscathed from every conflict. He had no fear of death; for a while he had actively sought it. Yet, perversely, death mocked him, often tantalisingly close in the heat of combat, but remaining always out of reach. He had resigned himself to it now, watching with cynical amusement as his wealth increased.
Unaware of his chief's thoughts, Hermund surveyed the damage to the ship. 'Torn sail, broken yard, cracked rudder... but we got off lightly, all things considered. Only three men hurt, too.'
'Aye, it could have been worse.'
'Several times back there I thought we were food for the fishes.'
'If we don't fix the damage, we soon will be,' said Wulfgar. 'Organise a work detail while I check on the injured.'
Moments later Hermund's voice rang out, 'Thrand! Beorn! Asulf! Get that sail down! Dag and Frodi, help them to free that yard! The rest of you over here...'
As they hastened to obey, the ship became a hive of activity. Wulfgar watched for a few moments, then went over to see the injured men. In the course of the storm one had fallen and concussed himself and a second had a deep and ragged gash along his arm, which was going to require stitching. The third had broken ribs. However, now that they were ashore the injuries could be treated more easily, and Wulfgar offered what reassurance he could.
Having done that, he rejoined the others. Several days' hard labour lay ahead, but he didn't mind it; hard labour meant forgetfulness, his mind focused on the present. Time dulled pain, but not memory. Only work could do that, for a while at least.
It was about an hour later when one of the lookouts recalled his attention. 'Riders approaching, my lord.'
Wulfgar looked up quickly, narrowing his eyes against the wind. He saw the strangers at once: six horsemen reined in on the edge of the bay some hundred yards distant. Their attention was clearly focused on the ship.
'Damn.'
The word was softly spoken, but Hermund caught it all the same. 'What do you want to do?'
'That depends on them. We'll wait and discover their intent. It may just be curiosity.'
'Perhaps.'
Wulfgar surveyed the newcomers. 'We're not looking for trouble. Tell the men to keep their weapons within reach, but no one's to use them without my say so.'
'Will do.' His companion glanced at the riders again. 'At least there are only six of them.'
'That we can see.'
'Point taken.'
The horsemen rode out on to the beach at an easy pace. Now they were closer Wulfgar could see that all of them were armed. However, their hands were conspicuously clear of their sword hilts. He noted it; if there really were only six, they weren't about to stir up trouble, particularly when they didn't know as yet whom they might be dealing with.
The riders halted a few yards clear of the nearest crew members. Their leader, a burly figure in his late thirties perhaps, leaned on the saddle pommel and looked around, stony-faced, impassive, cold eyes taking in the details. Sound died as the crew returned the attention. For several moments both groups weighed each other up.
'Part of somebody's war band or I miss my guess,' murmured Hermund.
Wulfgar nodded almost imperceptibly. 'My thought exactly. The question is, where are the others and how many?'
The leader of the horsemen broke the surrounding silence. 'Who is chief of this rabble crew?'
'That would be me.' Wulfgar strolled forwards. 'Was there something you wanted?'
The stranger's lip curled in a sneer. 'You're trespassing.' 'The shore belongs to no man,' replied Hermund. 'Not this bit of shore.' 'Unfortunately my ship was damaged in the storm last night,' explained Wulfgar. 'We need to carry out repairs.' 'Well, go and do them somewhere else. You're not wanted here, Viking.' Wulfgar held his temper. 'The work will only take a few days. When it's complete we'll leave.' 'You'll go now if you know what's good for you. Lord Ingvar doesn't like intruders, especially not pirates.' 'That is unfortunate.' 'Unfortunate for you right enough.' He smiled nastily, an expression mirrored in the faces of his five companions. 'That remains to be seen.' 'So you're telling me you're not leaving?' Wulfgar nodded. 'That's about the size of it.' For a moment the other met and held his gaze. Then he shrugged and turned his horse's head. 'Don't say you weren't warned.' With that the mounted group turned and cantered away. 'Nice,' said Hermund. 'I reckon we can expect another visit quite soon, and with reinforcements.' 'They could have been bluffing,' replied Thrand. Hermund shook his head. 'Not a chance. He'd never have made the threat unless he knew he could back it up.' 'Hermund's right,' said Wulfgar. Thrand grinned. 'Do we get ready for a fight then, my lord?' 'We do.' The men around them exchanged anticipatory glances.
Thrand's fist closed on the hilt of his dagger. 'I'll look forward to silencing Big Mouth myself.' 'Don't count your chickens,' said Hermund. 'We don't know how many friends Big Mouth has got yet.' 'Just so,' replied Wulfgar, 'which is why we need to be ready for them. Arm yourselves.'
第一章
东安格利亚——六年后
沃夫加站在船头上，专注地看着远方连绵起伏的黄沙丘。这座小小的海湾一片冷清，只有几只海鸥在空中飞翔。乌云在低空中飞速掠过，那是昨晚那场风暴残留下来的痕迹。只能听到大风与海浪拍打岸边的声音。被海水卷上来的黄沙连同墨角藻和浮木留在海岸线上，证实风暴已经离去。“这块位置足够好了，”他说道，“我们要带她来这儿。”
站在身旁的赫尔蒙特点了点头说：“您认为这里是什么地方？”“有可能是安格鲁海岸，不过还难以确定。”“嗯，这里看起来足够安静，大人。”“不过，我们还是要派一些人过去查看一下。”“您说得对。”
沃夫加下达了指令。几分钟之后，船体就进入了这片海滩。船长放桨，沃夫加和其他六个弟兄从船舷边缘撑杆跳进海浪里，涉水上岸。他们在沙滩上快速奔跑，爬上沙丘。远处广袤的荒野上，野草遍布，还有黄色的金雀花成簇盛放。更远处是耕种的田垄和林立的树木。“这里可以的。”沃夫加说道。
赫尔蒙特考察了一下周围的环境。他饱经沧桑的脸若有所思，灰色的眼睛释放出敏锐的目光，将一切尽收眼底。他今年三十三岁了，比他的同伴年长六岁。他棕色的头发中已经出现了几缕白发，但他对后者却言听计从。从这里就可以看出他们的主仆关系了。“是的，大人。这些土地也同样一定属于某个人。”“我们要派人防守。”“当然，当地人也许会很友善。”“有可能，”沃夫加回答道，“尽管我并没有计划长期呆在这里，熟悉这里的人民。我们还有任务要完成。”“罗洛不会耍花样的，他需要武士，而且需要最好的。”“他会得到这些的，而且会为享有这种特权支付一笔可观的酬劳。”
赫尔蒙特咧嘴笑了笑说：“这是自然的。”
他们转过身，回到船上。在那里，一队队人马已经开始用力把船往沙滩上拉拽。“过去六年，我们一直都做得很顺利，”赫尔蒙特继续说道，“如果好运能够继续相随的话，我们很快就能领完酬劳歇手不干了。”
沃夫加没有作出回应。他沉默并不是因为他走神了。赫尔蒙特的每一句话他都听得非常清楚，他自己也觉得这些都是有道理的。他指挥着一帮名气在外的武士，他们不负众望，完全对得起他们的身价。有些人甚至还说，他们的头领吉人天相、天庇神佑，每场战斗都毫发无伤。他对死亡毫无畏惧，有一阵子，还会主动找寻死神。然而，死神经常捉弄他。在激烈的战斗中，常常与他亲密接触，而又始终达不到目的。随着财富的累积，他对待死亡的态度变得轻松起来，让自己顺其自然。
赫尔蒙特检查着战船损坏的地方，并没有察觉到头领的这些想法。“风帆撕破了，船舵裂开了……但总的来说，我们的损失还是比较小的。也只有三个人受伤。”“嗯，情况本会更糟糕的。”“几次回到那里，我都以为我们要被喂鱼了。”“如果不及时修理的话，我们很快就会那样了。”沃夫加说道，“安排一个详细的工作流程，我去看一下那几个伤员。”
一会儿过后，赫尔蒙特的声音响起：“斯兰德！贝奥恩！阿萨夫！把风帆放下来！德格和弗洛德，帮他们把帆桁松开！剩下的去那边……”
他们很快按照吩咐行动起来，帆船变成了一个热闹的活动场。沃夫加监管了一会儿，然后就过去看望那些伤员了。在风暴中，有一个弟兄摔了一跤，造成了脑震荡；另外一个弟兄手臂上划了一道很深的裂口，需要马上缝合；还有一个弟兄摔断了肋骨。不过，因为他们已经上岸了，这些伤员治疗起来就更容易了，沃夫加也尽力安抚他们。
安抚完他们，沃夫加又回到其他人那里。还要再辛苦几日，但是他并不介意。辛苦劳动会让他健忘，他的注意力会集中在当下的事情上。时间会减少痛苦，但不会磨灭记忆。唯有工作才可以做到，至少暂时可以。
差不多一个小时后，其中一个瞭望员拉回了他的思绪。“大人，有骑兵过来了！”
沃夫加迅速抬起头，迎着风眯起眼睛看着前方。他立即看到了那些陌生人：六个骑兵就在百码远的海滩边上慢慢停住。他们的注意力明显集中在了这条船上。“该死！”
这句埋怨说得非常轻，但赫尔蒙特还是听到了。“你打算怎么做？”“那得看他们怎么做。我们等着，看他们到底是什么来意。也许他们只是好奇罢了。”“有可能。”
沃夫加观察了一下这些不速之客。“我们不是来找麻烦的。告诉弟兄们拿好自己的家伙，但是没有我的允许，谁都不许动手！”“遵命！”赫尔蒙特再一次扫视了一下那些骑兵，“至少，他们只有六个人。”“那只是我们能看到的。”“了解！”
那些骑兵从容地来到这片沙滩上。现在他们走近了，沃夫加才发现他们都是全副武装。然而，他们明显没有紧握着身上的刀剑。他注意到，如果真的只有六个人的话，他们就不会兴风作浪，尤其是在他们还没有弄明白要去应付的人是谁的时候。
骑兵们在几十码外就停住了，与站在最近的船员也有一定距离。他们的头领身板结实，看起来有将近四十岁的样子。他靠在马鞍上，表情冷漠，眼神冷酷，环顾着四周，没有放过任何一个细节。船员们把注意力转到这边来的时候，之前修理的声音就停息了。有那么一会儿，双方估量着对方的实力。“要是我没猜错的话，他们来自某一个战队。”赫尔蒙特喃喃自语道。
沃夫加点了点头，几乎没有人察觉到。“我想的也正是这样。问题是，其他人在哪儿，有多少人。”
那些骑兵的头领打破了四周的沉默。“谁是这群乌合之众的头领？”“我！”沃夫加上前了一步，“您有什么事吗？”
这个不速之客歪了歪嘴，摆出一副不屑的样子。“你越界了。”“海岸不属于任何人。”赫尔蒙特回答道。“这片海岸可不是。”“很不幸，在昨晚的风暴中，我们的船坏了。”沃夫加解释道。“好吧，去别的地方修理吧。你在这里不受欢迎，海盗。”沃夫加控制住脾气。“修理工作只需要几天而已。一结束我们就会离开。”“你要是知道什么对自己有利的话，你现在就该离开。英格瓦大人可不喜欢入侵者，尤其不喜欢海盗。”他不怀好意地笑着，他的五个同伴的脸上也露出了相同的表情。“那还未可知。”“所以你是告诉我你们不会离开。”沃夫加点了点头。“那取决于修理工作的大小了。”对方迎上他的眼神并凝视了一会儿。然后他耸耸肩将马掉过头。“可别说你们没有被警告过。”接着这个骑着马的队伍都掉头慢慢离开了。“很好，”赫尔蒙特说道，“我猜我们可以期待再次与他们见面。很快，而且他们会有增援部队。”“他们也许是在虚张声势而已。”斯兰德回应道。赫尔蒙特摇了摇头。“绝不可能。除非他知道他会有援助，否则他绝不会作出恐吓。”“赫尔蒙特说得对。”沃夫加说道。斯兰德咧了咧嘴。“那么，我们要准备战斗了吗，大人？”“当然。”围着他们的勇士们交换着跃跃欲试的眼神。
斯兰德的拳头握紧了匕首。“我很期待我能亲自肃清这片海域。”“不要把话说得太早。”赫尔蒙特说道，“我们不知道这块海域现在有多少朋友。”“正是如此，”沃夫加回答道，“我们才需要做好迎战准备。你们也做好战斗准备吧。”
Chapter Two
Anwyn held her mount to a steady walk, her gaze on the horizon where the grey sea formed a darker smudge against the sky. White caps chased across the bay and even from this distance she could hear the roar of surf along the strand. The breeze was cool and smelled of salt and damp earth, a reminder of last night's storm. Even so, it was good to be out of doors again. Good to have the choice.
'The clouds will soon be gone now, my lady.'
She glanced at her maid riding alongside her and smiled faintly. 'I hope so, Jodis.' Privately she wondered if the clouds were not gathering about them rather than dissipating. However, to have said so just then would have been to destroy her companion's cheerful mood.
The girl had accompanied her when, five years earlier, Anwyn had been sent by her father to wed Earl Torstein. In those dark days she had acted more as friend and confidante than personal maid. At twenty Jodis was much of an age with her mistress, too, though taller and more sturdily built. Now she gestured towards the older man and child who rode a little way ahead.
'Eyvind has taken well to horsemanship,' the maid observed.
'Yes, he has.'
'He used to be such a quiet child but he's gained more confidence since—' Jodis broke off and amended hastily, 'gained more confidence now.'
'It's all right. You can say it. He has gained confidence since his father died.' Anwyn's green eyes deepened with contained emotion. 'Of late he has really begun to come out of his shell.'
Jodis nodded. 'That he has.'
'Ina has played a large part in that. He is a good mentor for the child.' Anwyn smiled faintly. 'Eyvind looks up to him. These days almost every sentence starts with "Ina says..."'
'Aye, it does. I think if Ina told him to stand on his head in the midden, Eyvind would do it.'
'That he would. For all his gruff ways, Ina has been more of a father-figure than Torstein ever was.'
'You are both free now, my lady. Torstein cannot hurt you more.'
'He cannot.'
Jodis heard the inflection and understood at once. 'But Lord Ingvar could.'
'His reputation is well known.'
Jodis shuddered. 'And well earned, too, as we have proof.'
'No solid proof; he's too clever for that. The loss of livestock or the burning of a rick might easily be attributed to other causes.'
'That's a lot of unexplained mishaps.'
'Too many, and yet I dare not openly accuse him. In any case it is his men who carry out these deeds, not he himself. Thus he can pretend innocence. By keeping up the pressure he thinks that I'll give in eventually.'
'How does he dare to face you?'
'Pretence comes naturally to him. The man is a predator. One only needs to be in his company for ten minutes to know it.'
The maid looked up quickly. 'He has not taken liberties, my lady?'
'No, he's not that stupid. He hides cruelty behind a smooth manner and honeyed words. I will never deliver myself or my son into his clutches, nor my people, neither.'
'No-one could blame you for that. All the same, he grows more importunate.'
Anwyn sighed. 'Don't I know it?'
Lord Ingvar's face loomed large in her mind; with its almost aristocratic lines framed by pale gold hair some might have considered it handsome, but for the thin-lipped mouth and the slanting gold-brown eyes that reminded her of a hunting cat. A little above the average height, he also had the lean form of a cat. The words of their last conversation were etched on her memory...
'Think about it, Anwyn. Beranhold lands adjoin yours. What could be more practical or more sensible than to merge our two estates? My war band is strong. Put yourself under my protection.'
'I thank you, my lord, but I have protection enough.'
'Ah, yes. Torstein guarded you well, did he not? I don't blame him for that; I would do exactly the same.'
A sudden chill raised gooseflesh along her arms. 'I am quite sure of it.'
His voice grew softer, almost tender. 'Would you not prefer to let a man shoulder the burdens for you?'
'I can shoulder my own burdens well enough.'
'That you are courageous is not in doubt. However, widowhood is a sad condition and a lonely one, especially for so lovely a woman.' One hand reached out and lightly touched the edge of her braid. 'Do you not long for a man to share your bed again—especially a man who appreciates beauty and knows how to please a woman?'
Her gut tightened. 'I am not ready to marry again.'
'You say so now, but I know how to be patient.'
'Do not hold out hopes of me, my lord.'
'When I set my heart on something I use every means at my disposal to get it.'
Anwyn suppressed a shiver at the memory. 'I refused his suit long since,' she continued, 'yet barely a week goes by without his calls on some pretext or other.'
'He is much smitten.'
'Smitten with lands and wealth more like.'
Jodis shook her head. 'A woman alone is vulnerable. You won't be able to hold him off for ever, unless...'
'Unless what?'
'Unless you were to find another husband.'
'I have no desire to marry again.'
'If you do not, your father will choose for you.'
'He has already intimated as much,' replied Anwyn, 'or at least my brother did when last he visited. Torstein had barely been dead three months! Osric takes after Father in his determination to increase our family's wealth and holdings.'
'Both of them are determined, my lady, and they see you as the key to future success.'
'Another marriage for me; another step on the ladder to power for them. A wealthy northern earl, Osric said.' Anwyn grimaced. 'But I will not suffer them to make another match for me.'
'You will likely have no choice, my lady. Your father is powerful and ambitious.'
'He has furthered his ambitions at my expense already.'
'But you remain a desirable marital prize.'
'Maybe so, but the very thought of another marriage is repugnant to me.'
'I did not mean a husband like Earl Torstein,' Jodis replied, 'but a good man, a kind man even.'
'A man who is both good and kind? Now there's a thought.'
Before either of them could say more, the child's voice broke in. 'Mother, can we have a canter now?' He and his mentor had halted their mounts, waiting for her to draw level. The child's green eyes were eager, pleading. 'Ina says I can if you give your permission.'
Anwyn looked over his head at his companion. For all his fifty years the old warrior was still an upright figure whose sturdy frame spoke of compact strength. Grizzled locks and beard belied a shrewd mind and his dark eyes missed very little. He had besides an air of quiet authority. In the days after Torstein's death he had been an invaluable ally, one she had learned to trust.
'Very well, then, just as far as the dunes.' She paused. 'And be sure to take it steady.'
Needing no further encouragement, Eyvind turned the pony's head and clapped his heels to its sides. The sturdy little creature broke into a canter. Beside him, Ina reined back, checking his mount's longer stride to keep pace. Anwyn grinned and looked at Jodis.
'How about it?'
Moments later their horses were cantering after the others. It was perhaps four hundred yards to the dunes, but the swifter pace was exhilarating and Anwyn fought the temptation to let the horse out to a gallop. It felt so good to ride out again without constraint, to feel the wind in her face, to feel almost free.
When at length they pulled up she found herself laughing, her spirit lighter than it had been earlier. She leaned forwards and patted the horse's neck. Eyvind eyed her hopefully.
'Can we ride along the shore, Mother?'
She knew he was thinking of another canter along the strand, but she had not the heart to refuse. Besides, she had no mind to return just yet either. 'Why not?'
They rode single file through the dunes, letting the horses pick their way, and came at last to the bay beyond. Ina and Eyvind stopped abruptly.
'Mother, look!'
Anwyn followed the line of his pointing finger and stared in her turn, her startled gaze taking in the ship drawn up on the beach and before it the massed host of the crew. There had to be seventy of them at least.
'A warship,' said Ina.
Uneasiness replaced her earlier mood. 'But why would it put in here?'
'At a guess it's been damaged. See the sail spread out there?'
She nodded. 'That would certainly explain their presence.'
Looking more closely, she surveyed the crew. Though they were apparently giving their whole attention to the sail and yard that lay on the sand, she noted that all of them were armed with sword or axe and that shields and spears were within easy reach. She wasn't the only one to mark it.
'Professionals definitely,' said Ina.
'But apparently not aggressors,' she replied.
'No. They're coming now.' He nodded towards the force that had just appeared on the far side of the bay.
Anwyn frowned. 'Who on earth...?'
'Ingvar's war band, my lady.'
'Are you sure?'
'Quite sure. That's Grymar out in front.'
'But they have no business here. This bay adjoins my lands.'
'Which they must have crossed to reach it,' he replied.
'How dare he?'
'Even Grymar would not have presumed so far unless the action had been sanctioned by someone more powerful.'
'He takes his orders directly from Ingvar.'
'Just so, my lady.'
The implication was disturbing. Under Ina's stewardship her late husband's men patrolled and guarded Drakensburgh, and they had no need of help from Ingvar. The fact that he had taken it upon himself to send an armed force onto her land had ramifications she did not care for. It was as though he were already adopting the mantle of lord protector, a role she had no intention of granting him.
'This bodes ill,' she said.
Ina nodded. 'Where Grymar's concerned it never bodes anything else. That one would slit his grandmother's throat for the fun of it.'
'This must be a show of strength. He cannot seriously intend to fight.' She hesitated. 'Can he?'
'I have a gut feeling that's exactly what he does intend, my lady.'
Wulfgar watched the war band approaching, mentally estimating
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