"Ha-harummh..." Narfi sighed and rubbed his forehead. "The matter is thus. Sigvat of Jorvik lies dead in his bed with no mark upon him, and his man here says that you cursed him after he attacked you."
Bera swallowed, seeing only hostility in the faces around her, or an avid curiosity. "He lies. You were there. I did not even ask compensation--"
"Because you meant to work seidh upon him and get your own vengeance!" Ospak exclaimed.
"Why should I--" she began, but the little man was still shouting.
"You were alone in the outbuilding. Can you prove you did not?"
"I will swear on Thor's silver ring that I did no evil!"
"But if you are evil, what good is your word?" said someone. The murmur around her grew more threatening.
"This tale will get around the countryside, and the Voelva Groa, who trained me, will hear whether you have dealt justly with me--" Bera said desperately. And what Groa heard, Jarl Sigurd would know as well. The unspoken threat hung in the air.
Narfi frowned. "If you were a man, you could clear your name in battle. I will not touch your life, but you cannot remain when we make the offerings to the gods."
He will grant me lesser outlawry-- she thought, as if I had already been judged guilty.
"Sir, you condemn me without a trial. I am a Voelva, but what man will welcome me to his hearth when this is known? I have here no kinsmen, no powerful friends to take oath in my support. Only the spirits who help me can clear my name."
"What do you mean?" He looked doubtful, but at least he was listening.
"In the forests above the fjord, there are wolves and bears, is it not so? At this season they are hungry. Let me sit out through one night outside the garth, with neither steel nor fire for my protection. If morning finds me safe and sound, you will know that I speak truly. And perhaps my spirits will help us to understand this mystery."
)
