Bo

TOVA

After an entirely enjoyable breakfast with Lady Ulka, I was escorted down to the stables where I began to saddle Bo. 

Bo was being naughty today, nuzzling my hair and pushing me, not allowing me to cinch the straps.  I giggled and braced my feet and he pushed against me harder.  Then he growled.

I turned my head to see Gunhild, another one of the King’s children, standing outside the stable and making faces at me.  She was only thirteen but was born without an ounce of kindness.  She was rude to the servants and cruel to the animals.  I hated that she was allowed in the stables. 

“Go back to the castle, child.  Bo is not amused by your presence,” I warned.  Bo stomped his feet.  With eight hooves, it is impressive.

She stuck her tongue out at me and flung a horse apple at me, a hardened ball of horse shit.  It hit me on the side of my leg.  I sighed and patted Bo.

“Sorry, Buddy.  I’m not going to let this one go.”  I dropped the saddle tool on the ground and took off after Gunhild, seeing her racing for the back of the large pasture.  I was taller and I was faster, and I almost caught up with her when she crested a hill.  Laying in wait on the other side were three more of the king’s children, including Knud.  He stood up as I lurched to a stop.

“Not so sure of yourself now, are you Lady Bovine?”  He grinned at me, wanting me to cry or run away.  I snickered. 

“Really? Lady Bovine?  That’s the best you can come up with?  How old are you?  Ten?” I mocked him.

His eyes narrowed and he waved at his half brothers and sisters.  “You better start running now, Lady Bovine.  Because when we catch you, we’re going to make you bleed.”

I looked at the other three and weighed my options, but I knew that I wouldn’t run.  There was a serious stubborn streak in me that wouldn’t allow me to run and hide behind others.  I sighed, wishing I hadn’t dropped the saddle tool.  I could have used that to hit one or two of them in the head.

One of the things that Arne, my defense instructor, had taught me was to never wait.  So, I didn’t.  I decided Gunhild was the weakest, and I was going to take her down, and then I was going to take Kelse down.  Once both girls were out of the equation the odds would be better.

I launched myself at Gunhild who saw me coming and screamed and rolled into a ball.  I used my boot to kick her in the side of the head and then turned towards Kelse before anyone had a chance to react.  I used the heel of my hand to hit her chin, knocking her backwards on to her butt where she promptly burst into tears.  Knud finally started to react, coming at me.  I ignored him and went for his brother, Toke, and kicked him hard in the stomach. 

Knud grabbed me from behind, pinning my elbows together.  I stomped backwards, trying to get his feet but he moved them and we fought in a weird sort of dance.  Toke got up, winded from the blow to his stomach, and came at me, punching and kicking.  I took a blow to my stomach which doubled me over and then a kick to the head which made me lightheaded.

I was bent over, Knud holding my elbows tightly, so I decided to try to flip him over the top of me.  I had successfully done it to Arne, but it was different when the opponent was actively trying to kill you.  I braced myself, backed up and tried to push into him but all that happened was that I fell on the ground with him on top of me.  I would have to ask Arne to go over that lesson with me again, because it obviously didn’t work when I tried it.  I took a few more blows to the head before I heard low growling and a loud squeal.

“It’s the monster!” Toke screamed and I was let go while the four ran away, back to the castle.

Bo neighed and bumped me with his nose, trying to move me.  I rolled over and grabbed his face, kissing his massive nose.  “Thanks, buddy.  I was in a little bit over my head.”

“Knud again?”  Birgir was standing on the hill above me, looking down at me with a smirk.  I shrugged. 

“Don’t know.  Didn’t see.”

“Bullshit.”  Birgir said.  “Bo broke through his stall door and raced for the edge of the pasture.  Figured you got yourself into trouble again.”  He walked down the hill and stuck his hand out.  I grabbed it and he pulled me to my feet and handed me a kerchief.  I dabbed it to my nose, stopping the blood.

“Care to tell me who did this?”

I shrugged.  “No, not really.”

Birgir sighed deeply.  “You’re too stubborn for your own good, Tova,” he said.  “I can make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

I grinned at him.  “No, you can’t.  King Erik won’t punish his kids they way they need to be punished.  And if you were to try you would be exiled and I would lose my most favorite person in this entire kingdom.”

“Favorite, huh?” he looked pleased.  He dug a package out of his jacket pocket and handed it to me.  “Happy Birthday, Tova,” he said. 

I took the package wrapped loosely in fabric and tied with a piece of string.  Curious, I untied it and looked at the lump of brown substance that now sat in my hand.  Tears stung my eyes.

“Is this pemmican?” I asked in a whisper.  He nodded at me.

“I remember you said your mom used to make this for you and you missed it.”  His voice was a little gruff and he looked away in embarrassment.

I threw my arms around him and hugged him.  “This is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” I said.  “Who made it?”

He grinned.  “It’s safe to eat.  I went to a little village on the other side of the lake.  They had a lady there that was from the Forest Country like your folks.  She said she knew how to make it.  I’ve never had it, so you’ll have to tell me if it’s good.  If it is, I’ll get you more.”

I sniffed.  I couldn’t believe he remembered.  I broke it in half and handed a piece over.  “Try it.”

He looked at it with suspicion.  “What is it?”

“I was only six when you came and got me.  I don’t remember!  I just know I loved it.”  I sniffed my portion deeply, memories flooding me.  I took a bite and almost swooned. 

“Birgir! It’s amazing!” he looked pleased at my enthusiasm.  He took a bite of the portion he had and then shrugged, handing it back.  “Probably an acquired taste?”

I laughed.  “Probably.”  I carefully wrapped the remaining and tucked it into a saddlebag.  I finished cinching Bo’s saddle and then turned to Birgir. 

“Do you want to come with?” 

He nodded.  “Yeah.  I already dismissed your guard.  I’m going to have a talk with him, though, for allowing this to happen to you.”  He gently touched my swollen eye.  I grinned at him, though a little lopsided from my swollen lip. 

“It wasn’t his fault.  I ran out the back door.  Plus I gave more than I got,” I said, proudly. 

“I know you did, little one,” he said.

Our castle was on a huge island in the middle of a large lake.  For six months out of the year it was frozen, and we were able to ride across it.  Spring has started and the ice was no longer stable, so we were unable to leave the island.  We decided to ride around the shoreline, most of which was on top of a cliff.

We galloped for awhile and I let Bo take the lead.  Birgir was on a borrowed beast, another eight-legged beast named Troi.  She was not as fast as Bo but willing to follow and give it her all.  I laughed with delight as Bo thundered along the cliff, dangerously close.  I heard Birgir shout in alarm behind me, but I ignored him.  Bo was surefooted and he knew what he was doing.

We waited for Birgir and Troi at the highest point of the island, on top of a cliff overlooking the sea.  The wind blew my hair straight back from my head as I looked out over the gray, foreboding lake.  He slowed Troi to a walk and came up on me. 

“You’ve turned into a beautiful woman, little one,” he said.  I turned to him with a smile.

“Thank you, Birgir.  That’s a great compliment!”

He looked confused.  “Do you not hear that from anyone?” 

I shrugged, pulling my cloak around me tighter.  “Not really.  Lady Ulka talks to me about how to be beautiful.  The Illegitimates tell me I look like a pig or a cow or a horse’s anus.  The Concubines hide behind their hands and talk about how unfortunate my hair color is, or my fat lips or my skinny legs.”  I looked at him.  “So, nope.  You’re the only one that has ever told me I’m beautiful.”

He looked at me with disbelief.  “You realize the illegitimates and the concubines are angry and jealous, right?”

I laughed.  “It doesn’t bother me much.  The only time it does is when I find that King Erik is in the castle, and he finds time for one of his other women.” And he doesn’t come see me, but I didn’t add that out loud.  That would be presumptuous of me to say.  The High King can see who he wants to see when he wants to see them. 

A horn sounded in the distance and Birgir turned his steed back towards the castle.  “Speaking of the High King, it looks as if he will be there for your birthday dinner tonight,” he said.  “You had better get back.  You need to give your ladies in waiting time to deal with your black eye.”