Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 07 - Nemesis

The girl was called Stella and was quite pleasant to look at. A clean, shining face and straight blond hair. Her eyebrows expressed a constant sense of surprise. Her parents were Holzenstern, which almost made Tancred laugh. Stella Holzenstern, which means Star Wooden Star. They probably had not thought of that when they baptised her. Her parents smiled at Tancred and seemed to like the idea of having him as their son-in-law. Well, this was because Ursula understood how to hint at it – in very hidden terms.

Tancred gritted his teeth as he had an awkward conversation with the family. But then a young man of his own age rescued him. They had already been introduced to each other. As Ursula had said: “Tancred, this is Dieter, who I thought of marrying off to your sister had she not chosen a miner.”

“Oh, there you are, Tancred,” said the young, blond Dieter. “I’ve been looking for you. Excuse me, but can I speak to him for a while? I need to know something about the training to become an officer. My parents are threatening to send me to the military.”

“And you don’t want that?” laughed Count Holzenstern.

“I don’t want to leave Jutland,” smiled Dieter. “Not at this beautiful time of year.”

Tancred was grateful for the interruption.

Dieter put his arms confidentially around Tancred’s shoulders and led him to another room.

“When I said this beautiful time of year, I meant that I’ve found a friend here,” he smiled openly. “But nobody’s supposed to know that.”

“Are the Holzensterns your relatives?”

“Only neighbours. They live in Askinge and are trying to link me with Stella. Only I’ve got other interests. If only they knew ...”

He laughed secretly to himself.

“But now to the career of officer: is it anything worth concentrating on?”

“I don’t know,” said Tancred hesitatingly. “It’s a tradition in my Dad’s family so I wasn’t left with any choice. But I probably have some of my mum’s wild blood in me because I just don’t like the thought of being bossed around.”

“Neither do I. Wild blood, did you say? That sounds exciting!”

“Yes, she descends from the Ice People of Norway. And they’re capable of a bit of everything – although I probably belong to the quieter ones. No, I think you ought to give it a try ...”

They had an animated discussion on the pros and cons of the life of an officer.

Of course, Ursula had arranged it so that Tancred sat next to Stella at the table. Tancred tried to entertain his neighbour at dinner but either she was shy or else she was stupid and rigid because his small jokes were lost on her. The conversation close to him was not very witty either. He began to feel bored.

Ursula called to Countess Holzenstern across the table: “What a pity that your sister, the Duchess, had to return so early. I had been looking forward to seeing her.”

‘Confounded snob,’ thought Tancred, ‘making up titles like that!’ He took after his relatives among the Ice People more than he realised himself.

“She only stayed for one week,” the Countess called back across the buzz of the other voices.

A tipsy major barked at Tancred: “You’re a Paladin, aren’t you, young man?”

“Yes,” admitted Tancred.

“That’s something to be proud of,” said the elderly man, slapping him on the shoulder behind Stella’s back. “The first Paladin fought on Frederik Barbarossa’s side at Jerusalem.”

Wrong, thought Tancred. It was with Frederik II during the fifth crusade. But he did not have the energy to argue in the middle of all that noise.

When they finally left the table he sauntered dejectedly through the parlours with a fake smile. A couple of old hags were gossiping in a sofa.

“Of course, it’s young Jessica once more,” said one of them. “I heard that she’d run away.”

“Yes, and it’s the third time she’s done so,” said the other old hag. “They’re doing everything for that girl and this is her way of thanking them. It’s so embarrassing for them. We all know how people like to talk.”

‘And that comes from you,’ thought Tancred.

The first gossiper said: “It’s the impossible Molly who’s leading her astray. That servant has a lot to account for. Only God the Almighty knows what those sluts are up to when they’re on their own!”

Tancred’s heart missed a beat when he heard what she said. He pretended to stop to fasten his shoe. He was just about to say something about Molly but he did not want these old hags to have more to gossip about. Besides, he remembered her request that he keep quiet and not say anything.

But where was young Jessica, her mistress? Probably deeper into the forest.

This was when Tancred lost all interest in the party. He waited impatiently for the guests to leave, but they were taking their time. However, in a moment’s peace and quiet, Tancred managed to talk to his aunt one-to-one in the butler’s pantry.

“Who’s Jessica, Aunt Ursula?”

The aunt’s thoughts moved away from the noise of the party to his question.

“Jessica? Who’s Jessica? Oh, now I remember. That hopeless girl! She’s not at all your cup of tea.”

“I don’t think so either. But why has she run away?”

“Love of adventure. They took her into their home when they took over the estate a few years ago. Jessica’s parents owned it and when they came down with smallpox they left the estate to them, provided they would take care of Jessica Cross until she came of age and could manage it herself. But the girl is quite unruly because Molly incites her. Molly worked there while Jessica’s parents were alive and she fills her ears with the wildest stories. However, there are bad genes in Jessica’s family,” said the aunt with a lowered voice. “I could tell you a thing or two ...”

There was too much “they” and “them,” thought Tancred. He could not make head or tail of Aunt Ursula’s confused talk.

“Where does Jessica live?”

“Tancred, do you have to ask about so much when my mind is occupied with more important matters? Have you seen the sauce spoon? The cook has been unable to find it after the dinner. By the way: What do you think of Stella?”

Wax doll, he thought. On a more cautious note, he said: “I don’t think she has a good sense of humour. She didn’t catch my subtle jokes but was in stitches at the poor waiter, who tripped on the Baroness’s train.”

“I agree, he was clumsy,” mumbled Ursula, who had just as much sense of humour as a doornail. “Sorry, I really don’t have the time for this. Why are you so interested in Jessica Cross?”

‘Because she can take me to Molly,’ thought Tancred.

“No particular reason,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders. “She sounds strange, I thought. And I just wanted to know whether she’s one of Stella’s friends. I hope not.”

Aunt Ursula smiled immediately, misunderstanding him completely. “That was sweet of you. Now go in to Stella ...”

“No, Aunt Ursula, I have a splitting headache so it would be best if I could retire now. I haven’t had a rest since I arrived this morning.”

“Oh, how thoughtless of me. Of course. You just go to bed. Then we’ll soon pay a visit to Askinge, won’t we?”

“Certainly,” lied Tancred.

Chapter 2

Tancred didn’t go to bed.

He felt uneasy for little Molly, “The impossible girl.” He had to be attentive while she was in the area. Later on she would disappear and then he would no longer be able to help her. He hadn’t heard of any immediate danger that may threaten her, but you never know. It was best to be prepared.

While the guests continued to speak loudly in the drawing rooms, Tancred crawled out of his window and ran towards the forest. He did not want to take the horse because he could move more freely without one.