Eva Johanne Stensrud

Book Two

The Guldberg Saga

Broken Bonds

Translated by: Isabel Algard

Chapter 1

A sudden realization came crushing down over Johanna. While the world kept turning in its usual motion, fear overwhelmed her. She reached the outer fence just as the stable boy raced to meet her. She could read her own growing worry in his eyes. Without a word he flung the gate open. It banged hard against the whitewashed picket fence. In an instant they both slipped through. The gate’s iron hook caught Johanna’s dress, but she took no notice as she rushed on.

Johanna knew leaving the gate open on a farm was considered a deadly sin. It allowed animals access to the garden, but right now no one gave it a second thought.

People emerged from every corner as the shot still echoed in her ears. Loud barking followed the commotion. One ragged, grey mutt seized the opportunity to snap at a farmhand’s pant leg as he dodged past at the last second.

Skirt in hand, Johanna ran as fast as she could. Paying little heed to the surrounding movements, her eyes were fixed on the stable door, which made her shudder. It resembled the gates to hell.

Who fired the shot? What had happened?

Anxiety gripped her heart in an iron fist, making it hard to breathe. Still she took the last few steps in one big leap.

Startling hens pecking gravel along the short end of the stable, a figure appeared rushing around the corner. It was Annar. He stopped short to catch his breath as he reached her. Johanna saw her own fear reflected in his eyes. In another instant, they were both inside.

It took their eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting. The deafening sound of horses neighing, wooden stalls splintering and iron clapping against the stone floor filled the stable. Fresh gunpowder hung in the air. Still breathing heavily, Johanna took two steps forward. It was too dark to see ahead. Then the odor hit her. The scent of warm blood filled her nostrils as she spotted a shape on the floor in front of her. Johanna suddenly realized it was a human body. For a moment, she froze and her world stopped turning.

“Father!”

Annar strode past her and threw himself on the ground next to the body. Peter was on his back, stretched across the hard stone floor. The rifle next to him was still smoking. His hands kept opening and closing. Gurgling sounds followed each gasp for air. His eyes were wide open and he was in shock.

“No! Oh my God!”

Nausea flooded her stomach as Johanna gazed down at the man. Nearly stumbling, she leaned against a pole. Half his face had been blown off. In small pulsations, blood spread onto his shoulder and the puddle around his damaged head kept growing.

More people gathered. Screams followed. Annar grabbed his father’s hands and squeezed them hard while sobbing helplessly.

The shot had hit Peter Einarson from below. His chin and jaw were destroyed. The bullet had taken off his left ear including tissue and muscles all the way to his cervical vertebra. The sight was horrifying and there was nothing they could do. No one can survive such an injury, Johanna thought in despair.

Peter’s glassy eyes turned grey. Johanna kneeled down next to Annar and placed a firm hand on his back as the noise began to subside. Only Ikaros kept going, neighing loudly. The sound pierced her bones.

More people gathered around Peter. Their worried eyes shifted between the wounded man and each other. Some were crying. The pauper, little Hans, wept loudly.

“Our Father…”

Annar could barely utter a sound. Johanna joined in, feeling her throat closing on her.

“Who art in heaven…”

Ikaros kept neighing, but no one noticed. With bowed heads they steadily continued their quiet prayer, gathered around the dying man before them.

“Hallowed be thy name…”

The bleeding diminished. The twitching hands stopped. Annar embraced his father’s blood-drenched chest, sobbing so hard he was shaking.

“Father… my dearest father…”

Johanna felt her heart break. She stood up and took her place among the others. Hands folded, body trembling, she knew there was nothing else they could do for Peter.

Quiet hissing escaped the man’s mouth, then turned into rattling. His glazed eyes locked on his son’s face. After two fast blinks, he was gone. Peter Einarson was no more. A devoted, hardworking man had reached the end of his time on this earth.

Bending down, Johanna gently closed the deceased’s eyelids. Other eyes watched filled with tears. Sighs slipped from their throats.

Another piercing noise from the horse turned their heads. One of the maids walked over to check.

Someone covered the dead with a quilt while a few men ran to find a large trapdoor they could use to move him. Johanna wiped her eyes.

“We shall put him in the big coop, Annar.” Johanna’s voice was low. “Leaving him like this is out of the question.”

The young man showed no reaction, still kneeling next to his dead father. Johanna could tell the shock had paralyzed him. Bewildered, she didn’t know what else to say.

“Johanna! Yer father!”

Johanna blinked. Her gaze shifted towards the maid.

“Yer father’s lyin’ in here! With the horse!”

Could she have heard wrong? Johanna snapped out of it, realizing what the girl had just said.

Within seconds she crossed the floor.

Ikaros stood in the middle of the stall, legs spread. His ears lay flat against his head. Wild, blood-spattered, brown eyes looked straight at them. Intense shaking wracked the magnificent animal’s body, but he wouldn’t budge. Johanna felt her heart drop when she saw why. On the floor, between the horse’s legs, lay Erik Guldberg. Less than an inch away from her father’s head, one of Ikaros’ hoofs was firmly planted in the straw. A cold chill ran down Johanna’s spine as she raised her arm to warn others behind her to stay back. She didn’t take her eyes off the body on the floor, not even for a second.

The horse quieted down at the sight of her, but its shaking continued. Considering the state the stallion was in, she feared its reaction. Gently placing her hand on the gate to the stall, she carefully watched the animal’s movements: ears rising, nostrils widening.

“Ikaros. Good boy, Ikaros.”

The horse heard her voice break and flung his head back, staring straight at her. Johanna stopped, but kept trying to soothe the animal with quiet, gentle affirmation.

The commotion behind her had stopped as well. Everyone held their breath. Then the stable door slammed open.

“Erik! Where is he?” Mille entered.

The horse instantly started neighing.

“Stay back. Keep her there.” Johanna spat the words over her shoulder. She knew she had to ignore her stepmother’s protests. Complete silence followed. Johanna walked softly forward, eyes fixed on her father. There were no traces of blood. Perhaps he wasn’t hurt? Still, something felt terribly wrong. Dangerously positioned between the horse’s legs, Erik’s face appeared grey, as if all blood had drained away. Empty, half-open eyes stared at the animal above. He was breathing, thank God.

“Father? Father, can you hear me?”

Not even a twitch. A cold shiver passed through Johanna. How serious was this?

“Is he alive?” Mille’s anxiety was obvious in her fragile voice.

“Yes. I see breathing.” Johanna glanced back, caught her eye and made her understand.

“Shall we get help?”

Johanna nodded.

“We need Lintrup. Send Even to bring him here as fast as he can.”

She could hear the familiar clopping sound as the stable boy led one of the horses outside and then took off. If anyone could bring Lintrup here in a hurry, it was Even. But how would she get her father out from between Ikaros’ legs?

“Ain’t it best guidin’ the horse out first?” the maid whispered carefully.

Johanna knew the horse wouldn’t budge while its master lay helplessly on the ground below. She moved closer, one step at a time. His ears shot back. Inside the stall, Johanna reached out her hand. Ikaros’ soft muzzle brushed her fingers. Gently she approached the animal, caressing its shivering neck. Another jolt ran through its massive body.

“Good boy. Calm down. Everything is fine.”

Stroking its neck, she slowly kneeled down, hand resting on the horse’s leg. Johanna was right next to her father. Why was his breathing so faint? Ice-cold drops of sweat trickled down her neck.

Her father’s head was in between the horse’s back legs. His lower body laid diagonally. Ikaros’ front hoof was right next to his hip. Johanna saw no other option but to pull him out from under the horse through the opening of its front legs. It was potentially a fatal move, but there was no other way. Johanna stood up.

“Can someone who knows this horse carefully step inside?”

She sensed movement behind her. The horse protested, laying its ears flat against its head and flinging its mane back.

“Stop.” She had to make a quick decision. “I shall do it myself.”

Positioning herself in front of the horse, she bent down and grabbed her father’s boots. He was heavier than she thought. At first the body wouldn’t budge, but slowly it began to move. She pulled harder. Thank God for her strength.

The horse seemed confused.

“Steady, Ikaros.”

Her arms ached. Carefully she pulled the lifeless body from under the terrified horse. The animal stood perfectly still. When her father’s face appeared under its front legs, the horse bowed its head. A low whinny escaped the horse’s throat and its muzzle nudged the face in the straw below, gently caressing its master. Johanna thought she caught a glimpse of movement in her father’s eyelid. Was she deluding herself?

The tension in her limbs started to let go. Fear overwhelmed her. Was he ill? Unable to identify what was wrong with him, she wondered why he wasn’t waking up.

With dangerous hoofs now at safe distance, Mille instantly rushed over.

“Erik! What happened?” The man in front of her wasn’t responding. “We have to get him inside the house.”

Johanna helped move him onto a second trapdoor the men had brought in. Towards the stable door she could see them carrying Peter away. His blood still covered the floor.

What had happened? What triggered the accidental shot? It was rare for people to carry a rifle without a purpose. Did they plan to put down one of the animals? She quickly dismissed the thought. If that were the case, she would’ve known. Animals were rarely slaughtered using a rifle, so that couldn’t be the reason either.

Was Peter going hunting? Unlikely. The laborers were still digging the last potatoes out of the ground. Her unanswered questions had to wait. They needed to get her father inside the house first.

Even greeted her as she stepped outside the stable. The black horse glistened with sweat and the stable boy appeared confused.

“The doctor weren’t home. He’s gone away. Won’t be back till late.”

Johanna could see the despair in Mille’s eyes.

“Then you must get Christian instead.”

Johanna nodded. There was no time to hesitate. Her father needed a doctor. They had to explore all options. Then it sunk in: would it even make a difference? Doubt filled her mind. Johanna felt helpless. Was her father really going to leave them behind, so suddenly and before his time?

Johanna walked over to the improvised stretcher and found Mille weeping. Her father lay before her, chest moving steadily, face still pale. His skin felt cool against her hand. People started to gather, watching her with anxious eyes. A sense of powerlessness began devour her insides as she wrestled with nauseating panic. They all looked to her for guidance. Filled with new determination she managed to pull herself together. She swiftly bent down to kiss her father’s cold cheek. Her knees shook under her heavy skirt, but all they could see was her strong, resolute face.

“Carry him inside and keep him warm. I shall return as soon as possible.”

Johanna returned inside to get Ikaros. Even walked up beside her.

“Are ya sure it’s a good idea ridin’ him? He’s difficult as is, worse now that he’s frighted and all. ”

Johanna turned to meet the old stable boy’s eyes.

“Do you want me to save the landowner, Even?”

Even’s eyes avoided hers, looking down at the stone floor.

“‘Course I do.”

“Then we have to risk it.”

She opened the horse’s mouth and placed the shiny bit between its strong teeth. The animal felt unsteady as she led it out of its stall, still somewhat confused from the commotion earlier. As they moved towards the door, the scent of blood filled its nostrils. The horse snorted and began to rear. Johanna pulled him down and placed a firm hand on top of his muzzle.

“No other horse can ride as fast and far, Even. We can trust him to bring the medical student down from the mountain.”

As she reached the door, she turned towards the old man who’d served his landowner faithfully for all these years. He gave her a nod.

“If he could think for hisself this one, he’d do anythin’ for Erik.”

Johanna could see the worry in Even’s eyes.

“I know I would,” he continued.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze. For a moment she hesitated. What if her father died while she was gone? Wouldn’t it be better if she sent someone else? No. It would have to be her.

She grabbed Ikaros’ mane and swung herself onto the horse’s back. As soon as her knees pressed its sides, the animal took off. It was as if all its pent-up tension finally released as raw power. They grazed the barn wall with only an inch to spare, kicking up dirt behind them and splashing mud as they stormed off. Those who witnessed it would later say the horse ran as if the devil himself was chasing it. The young woman clinging to the horse and shedding brave tears did not, however, waste a single thought as to how they appeared. She was far too busy praying to God.