led the captain’s daughter astray.’
‘And later on, it didn’t bother them at all that it wasn’t a daughter, but a son.’
‘If they hadn’t told me afterwards, I’d never have guessed,’ Einar concluded. ‘But it’s Gudrun we’re talking about! If old Gest found out, they wouldn’t even have anywhere to run to.’
‘You’re telling me?’ Surt looked grim. ‘I know, but I suppose they think…’ He didn’t specify with what his two older brothers were thinking.
‘I just hope Gest was celebrating all night in the settlement, otherwise there’ll probably be nothing left of them,’ Einar groaned.
‘I don’t think there were any shouts during the night, so it seems the blacksmith hasn’t come home yet, but we’ve still got to be careful.’ Surt looked around again. ‘You’re better at sneaking around,’ he added quickly. ‘If I go in there, I’ll wake everyone in the neighbourhood before I even reach the hut.’
‘I won't argue with that.’ The younger boy stretched and looked at his brother. ‘I’ll try to get them out in one piece, and you run home and help Dad and Bragi.’
‘Right.’ Surt patted Einar on the shoulder and ran towards the house.
Einar took a detour to approach the blacksmith’s cottage from the forest side. Judging by the silence, Gest was either asleep or had not yet returned from celebrating the successful expedition.
With his hearts beating a little faster, he approached the rear windows of the building and peered inside through a gap between the half-closed shutters. It was dimly lit, so in the half-light Einar could only make out that there was no one in the large room which served as a kitchen, dining room, living room and, to some extent, a workshop.
He carefully opened the window, praying to every god in turn that the blacksmith really wasn’t at home. He slipped inside and stood silently on the wooden floor. He’d been afraid it would creak, but to his surprise he found that it didn’t even give way beneath him. Taking slow, careful steps, he crossed the room and peered through the
