Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 18 - Behind the Facade

“I know it’s the usual thing to marry in that way but, well, I suppose I’m afraid. I’m sure I can adapt but what if he doesn’t like me?”

“I actually think he will,” Ingrid said quickly.

“Thank you,” Elisabet said with a smile. “From what I gather, it’s certainly an excellent match. It will also be useful for him to marry into Elistrand, but what if he’s madly in love with somebody else? That would make me feel stupid!”

“I didn’t sense anything of the kind in your hand. I didn’t want to be too optimistic, but now I had better tell you: if you can fight your way through a difficult patch in which everything can go terribly wrong ... then I see a fine and happy future for you.”

Elisabet was surprised and laughed abruptly. “I say. And there you sit, frightening me like this!”

“You haven’t reached your goal yet,” Ingrid warned. “I see a lot of unpleasantness. To put it mildly.”

Elisabet sighed. She was regretful but also glad that she had asked for a prophecy.

“Ingrid,” she said hesitantly: “To change the subject ... you know how the Ice People have their legends ...”

“Yes, heaven knows I do!”

“One of them, which is rarely touched upon, is the prophecy that a child will be born with far greater natural powers than the world has ever seen. Surely that child is bound to have been born by now? Could it be Ulvhedin? Or Shira? Or Villemo, or Dominic? And why not you, for instance? Sol was pretty good at black magic herself.”

Ingrid leaned back and smiled. “We’re only small fry. No, that person hasn’t been born yet.”

“Dad tells me that the curse is eradicated?”

“Ulvhedin says otherwise and so do I.”

Elisabet was silent for a little while. “I don’t like it. Things have been quiet for many years, ever since Shira accomplished her journey. I thought she had managed to break the power of Tengel the Evil.”

“She only half succeeded. She provided us with the means to wipe him out.”

“I see. Will it be that person who is not yet born who will complete the task?”

“I can’t say anything about that. Maybe we’ll never succeed. Once Tengel the Evil wakes up, we and the world will be in dire trouble.”

“Oh, then it’s urgent, it’s urgent,” Elisabet moaned. “Can’t one of us go up to the Valley of the Ice People and search?”

“No,” Ingrid said sharply. “When not even Ulvhedin was able to, how are we supposed to?”

“The unborn ... Can you foresee anything about it? Is it a he or a she?”

“I think I know what it will be, but I don’t want to say anything in case I ruin my prestige as a fortune teller – now that I’ve clearly impressed you with my art. However, there is something strange ...”

“What?”

“Something that’s not in keeping with the habits of the Ice People. I sense that this person will be one of eight to ten siblings!”

“Oh, no. Then that child can’t be one of the Ice People. Nature has always been extremely tight-fisted when it comes to lots of children. Isn’t the record three? Are and Meta’s three sons?”

“Yes, which is why it doesn’t make sense to me. And yet somehow it does ...”

Elisabet wasn’t listening. “Anyway, I don’t plan to give birth to ten children with this Lillebror Tark! To be honest, I don’t want to have a single child by him. I don’t even want to go to bed with him.”

“You have to,” Ingrid said in a serious tone. “Besides, it’s not nearly as bad as you imagine.”

“Ugh,” said Elisabet, grimacing.

Chapter 3

The very next day, Ulvhedin moved to Graastensholm. He sat in state on the load of his possessions, straighter in the back than ever before and with a twinkle in his eyes they had not seen for years.

“Good luck, Great-grandfather,” called Elisabet, stretching out her hand to him. The old man smiled. “Same to you, Elisabet. Take care of yourself, and thank you!” he whispered secretly. Great-grandfather knew everything. “But remember, Elisabet: the world is full of wolves outside the safety of Graastensholm parish. Wolves on two legs, who eat little girls for lunch.”

“I know. I’ll be careful. They’ll get to see that this lunch isn’t so easily digested!”

Ulvhedin laughed. “I know. You’re certainly my granddaughter!”

“I don’t like it that you’re moving up to live with Ingrid, Grandfather,” moaned Tora, who had joined them. “You two in that big house – it’s inappropriate!”

“Nonsense,” Ulvhedin said. “We’re not spring chickens any more. Besides, it’s no business of anyone else what we do or don’t do. They can just turn up and pry. Then we’ll conjure up little devils to chase them away!”

The old man had won that round. Tora turned on her heel and went indoors. She had taken care of him for many years and now she was free of him.

A fine coach came to pick up Elisabet. She was taking only the bare essentials with her to start with. She knew so little about the future. Her mother’s admonitions followed her far out onto the road. “Don’t waste your chances, Elisabet, and please don’t be as stubborn as you can be. Remember that you don’t need to like a man from the beginning. He may have good qualities that you don’t know about. Do what you can for the sick relative. That will make a good impression on your future parents-in-law. Give them my warmest regards and let them know that they will always be welcome at Elistrand. Our house isn’t as big and elegant as theirs but we ... bla bla bla ...”

Elisabet sighed with relief and sadness. She turned around and cast a final glance at her beloved Elistrand, wondering what her future might hold. Her father was already at work down by the river; she had said goodbye to him in the morning. Now her mother stood so small and alone by the road, waving sadly after the coach. Elisabet felt a great tenderness towards her. Her mother had always been sweet and thoughtful. She did not mean to be a busybody; she just wanted to do her best for everyone.

This was something that hurt Elisabet right now. Her parents had wanted to follow her but she knew how busy they were, and was she not one of the most independent members of the family? She regarded her journey as an adventure.

She realized that this had sounded a bit too rash now, as Elistrand disappeared behind the hedges. It would have been nice to have them nearby. Never mind! Ingrid would never have asked for help in such a situation, and Ingrid was Elisabet’s idol and role model – something Mum was, of course, not supposed to know!

The coach driver took her to Christiania. It was a beautiful, rather chilly day and the coach was well sprung, which was just as well since last week’s rain had washed away the road surface, exposing the stones.

When Elisabet was halfway there, Vemund Tark met her on horseback. She was taken aback when she discovered how virile he actually was. Just like Elisabet, he did not seem to care about wigs and powdered hair. His hair was gathered in a black velvet ribbon on his neck and his clothes were finer than those he had worn the last time they met. Nevertheless, he gave an untamed impression, which was precisely the effect that appealed so much to Elisabet. He looked more elegant on horseback than ever before.

He let the horse run alongside and joined Elisabet in the coach, which suddenly seemed very small and cramped.

“Please forgive me for not fetching you from Elistrand,” he said, “but my time didn’t allow it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Elisabet murmured, shy as usual in his proximity. “Mum asked me to tell you straight away that my shameless and out-of-fashion natural hairstyle is because I’m allergic to powder. It makes it difficult for me to breathe. In that respect, Mum is afraid that people might think that I’m not a real woman.”