Read Emer's Quest (Manannan Trilogy) for Free Online Page B

on the deep oceans and he trades with the Landnám islands amongst other places. He told me he goes there several times a year. As it happens, I own another of these ships, which my son sails for me. The journeys are often unpleasant and I am getting too old for such things now. Rolf is young, keen and a good sailor. He can easily take us there. If you will return with me to Skuy, I’ll give you passage on Rolf’s ship and sufficient silver to buy your father’s freedom.”
    “Why would you do such a thing for me?”
    “In return, once your father has returned home, I want you to remain in my house as the wife of my son. When I ask you to do it, mix your substances and dream your dreams so I shall know what is about to happen. I have several trading ventures which are risky and I would be very glad to find out whether they will succeed or not.”
    “ You spoke of marriage. There is something I must tell you. I cannot be sure I would be able to dream again once I am married. When I was born my mother never dreamed again, nor did her own grandmother, although my…” Emer stopped herself suddenly.
    “Go on — what were you going to say? My?”
    Emer bit her lip, her thoughts whirling wildly but she could not find words to explain her slip.
    “My grandfather begot a child and yet his visions continued.”
    “So this ability to dream occurs in men and only in women who have never been pregnant? Is that so?”
    Emer nodded.
    “Then my offer still stands. If you have no baby you will dream for me, or, if you do, your children will. Do you accept?
    “I would never see my mother again if I agreed to your proposal!” Emer’s tears leapt into her eyes at the thought.
    “Your home is f ive days at most from Skuy . My son shall take you to visit your mother. What do you say?”
    “Do I have time to think about it?”
    “You have until first light, when Dag proposes to sail. If you wish to come with me, creep out while he is making his farewells to Dubne. A boat will be waiting for you. They won’t follow you onto my ship and, if they did, there are places where you may lie concealed.”
    Emer spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, trying to make up her mind. If she returned home with Dag, she would be with her friends and her mother again. She would also be in time to help with the birth of her brother or sister. Yet she had a shrewd suspicion that another voyage north to search for Olaf would not be anyone’s priority except her own and her mother’s. Even if it was, she would be unlikely to be taken on the next trip. Could she sit idly at home while terrible things might be happening to her father?
    I f Atli meant all he said, Fadir would be free and able to return to her mother. Yet she knew nothing of Atli or the place he lived. She would live her life far away from her home and her own people, perhaps never see them again, if her husband did not choose to take her there.
    Atli was a slave trader. What was there to stop him selling her as a slave? She felt vulnerable and scared at the thought. Yet he had said a girl with her gift would never be a slave. She turned his words over in his mind. They had the ring of truth. He valued her for this awful ability she had inherited from her mother. Perhaps he would treat her well and let her find her father. The price would be to wed this unknown boy. She realised suddenly that she had always expected to marry Finnr, one day. They had never spoken about it, but she thought he had become more interested in her now she was growing up. Could she give him up? If she must, it would be kinder to do it before anything was settled and Finnr considered her to be his own. The choice came down to instinct in the end. It was a gamble and she had always been impulsive.
    Before the light was in the sky, Emer crept from her bed and left the longhouse. She slipped away towards the beach where, sure enough, a small skiff was waiting.
    “Who are you?” a gruff voice grunted out