After an hour of waiting around as the last of the pebbles were collected Chief Bryne blew his rams horn once for silence. Evelda had relayed Turuk’s message, and it was now time to beginning the choosing for the Maiden’s run.
“As you all know we owe the revitalization of our town, our building prosperity and our very lives to our new patron.” You mean the devil we made a deal with? Evelda bit her lips. Just because she couldn’t see Turuk, doesn’t mean he wasn’t there. Valdis had been right earlier, and she doubted he wouldn’t take advantage of watching men and women scramble around in his forest for his own amusement. That, and to protect the chastity of those he had short listed. “All the Lord of Skygget Forest requires is a wife. As he is in the process of making that choice we will ensure that only those who are already wed will fully embrace the maiden’s run. However, only sex is off the table. Everything else goes in the spirit of Fødsel.”
Evelda didn’t know what sickened her more. The fact that Turuk thought that that was a reasonable concession to make, or the jeers that came from her clansmen. Was both an option? From the look on Valdis’s face it was the latter for sure. “So with that said, let all maidens come and be sorted by the will of the Maker.”
As was tradition a black sack was put over the heads of each women before they could reach into the wicker basket to prevent any cheating. After what felt like an age Talita, Valdis, Freydis and then Evelda reached the front of the queue. The sack went over Talita’s head and Evelda crossed her fingers. The blonde raised her fist into the air and then pulled the sack from over her long golden hair with a smile. She turned and opened her palm upwards for inspection by her father. “Ah. The Maker has selected my Talita to join the Maiden’s run!” The crowd cheered, and the Chief took the pebble from her. Before she could walk off the Chief pushed a dagger into her hand, and winked at her.
So Valdis wasn’t the only one with the same idea after all. Talita walked forward, her white dress made of fine linen with golden lace around her sleeves, neckline and belt. She joined a line of women at the open gates and faced the forest.
Dagger in hand.
Valdis was next. She clearly wasn’t making as much of an effort as most of the other women. She was only wearing a brown dress with a white apron over the top. Although she didn’t look as pure or as glamorous as the others, she actually had the right idea. Her dress was practical, so she would likely be able to run a hell of a lot faster than all the other women. Valdis grumbled as she approached and the sack went over her braided ebony head. She swore under her breath and shoved her hand into the basket. With borderline annoyance she grabbed the first stone her fingers touched and yanked the sack off her quickly. It was shoved into the hands of a volunteer and presented the stone to the chief.
“…what the…you have GOT to be F-”
“Another maiden chosen to run for the Maker!” The Chief cut her off, swiped the stone like he feared she’d bite him if he lingered, and pushed her towards the line of waiting women. Evelda caught Valdis give a worried glance over her shoulder at the crowed, so she followed her eyeline. She was looking at Anor, who looked rather pleased with himself. Maybe she would need that breast knife after all. “Come Freydis, don’t take all day.”
“I’m just making sure it’s random.” The poor girl was shaking like a leaf under the hood. After she returned home to change for the choosing Anor had pulled her aside and filled her head with horror stories about what could happen to her in that forest. In no uncertain terms her big brother had told her, whilst smirking, that she’d likely not be a virgin come the morning. She was also to marry whomever caught her as a child conceived at the height of Fødsel was incredibly lucky. A blessing directly from the Maker. Anor followed this piece of news with a declaration that he would make the one who bedded her, marry her.
The stories he then filled her with made her physically sick. It took all her strength to pull on a plan white linen dress and a hooded riding cloak.
“Freydis? Hurry or I will select it for you.” Chief Bryne persisted.
“O-ok.” She turned with the hood still on and opened her hands to show her stone to the Chief. She did a silent prayer to the Maker for anything but a white chosen stone. “Am I safe?” with her other hand Freydis pulled the hood off to look at her the Chief with hope…that shattered when she saw the look of confusion on his face. “…Chieftain?”
“Yet another chosen Maiden…?”
“What?!!” Freydis whimpered and tried to turn back to towards Evelda, but her arms were taken by two strapping Viking warriors. “But but I don’t want to run through the forest!”
“Of course you do.” The Chief didn’t look convinced by his words, but had to keep up appearances. “I’m sure this is the Maker’s will.” Bryne turned to look at the final few women and spotted Evelda. A question lingered in his aged blue eyes, but he quashed it for now. “Only 10 maidens of age remain. Come. Let us finish the choosing so we can start the Maiden’s run.”
Even as Freydis was marched over to the line of women Evelda turned her head to scan her eyes around her desperately. The odds of two women pulling out a chosen stone one after the other was low. But three in a row? After turning her head left and right a few times her hazel eyes landed on a very familiar looking silver cat sprawled on its side on the roof of the house nearest to them. At first she openly glared at the creature, but when its eyes flashed fiery orange at her, she visibly paled and snapped her head to look at the basket before her. Oh yes, it was Turuk alright. Coincidence my ass. He is doing this. But why? He specifically told me to tell the chief that he didn’t want his potential wives being deflowered, but then adds them to the Maiden’s run? “Evelda?”
“Yes Chieftain.” Evelda darted her hazel eyes back over to the rooftop but the cat was nowhere to be seen. That made sense, as all the women she knew to be on his list were now added to the run. Whatever he had planned for them during the run he had no doubt disappeared to prepare for it. Evelda reached into the basket before they could put the hood over her head.
“You have to have your eyes…oh.”
Whatever Bryne said next went over her head. She stared down at the stone in her hand and saw the red rune staring back up at her. She was still in shock as she was dragged over to the line of chosen women. Evelda turned her head to look down the line. In her shell shocked state she saw that six women, two whom were married, 3 who were a similar age to the rest of them, and one who was a widow. They stood dutifully in line with Talita, Valdis, Freydis and Evelda, facing the forest. Only the two married women had an expression that wasn’t akin to nauseous dread.
“Th-this can’t be happening.” Freydis was weeping and holding her aching gut. “It’s impossible.”
“Stop whining!” one of the women from further down the line barked over at the trembling girl. “It’s an honour to be a chosen maiden.”
“But you don’t understand!” She cried out, and Evelda had to grab her shoulders to stop her from leaving her position in the line. “We only painted 5 stones. Yet twice as many of us are chosen? How can there be ten of us if only 5 choosing stones were in the basket?”
They didn’t get chance to let that ominous fact fester, as Chief Bryne blew his horn. The Maiden’s would only have a few moments to flee before they were chased. Evelda leapt forward, only to dig her heels in and whip her head round behind her. Everyone had already thundered through the gates and into the forest, but young Freydis simply trembled on the spot.
“Come on!” The redhead took tight hold of one of her wrists and dragged the girl behind her. “We don’t have time for this! We need to run and hide!”
“Where?!?” Freydis was still crying her eyes out but at least she was running now. A few yards into the forest and all the maidens had spread out in all directions. For all they knew everyone else were safe, or caught. The shadows of the trees were thick and hid many dangers. “Where could we possibly hide from all the men of Douma?!”
Evelda started to panic as well when she heard distant jeering, but her hazel eyes landed on something she recognized. A voice in her head told her this was a bad idea, but it was quieted when the jeering got closer.
“Silence your tears and follow me. I know where we can hide.”
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