Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 19 - Dragon´s Teeth

“Now listen here,” Daniel said. “My mother Ingrid writes that she would like us to go to Gråstensholm for the summer ...”

Oh no, Sölve thought. Not to Ulvhedin! He’ll notice right away! And so will grandmother Ingrid! They are both cursed!

He didn’t want those two to know. Because they had become “good”.

Also, Sölve did not yet understand the dangers of the path he was about to take. He didn’t want them to recognize what he was precisely because they had become humane and well adjusted.

Dangerous thoughts, Sölve!

Daniel continued, “grandmother also had good news to tell. Elisabet Paladin of the Ice People – I’m sure you remember her?”

Both children nodded. They liked Elisabet.

“She has been married. To a very sympathetic man by the name of Vemund Tark. They will be moving into Elistrand because he has lost his home. Everyone is pleased with this solution because, as you may recall, Ulf was very concerned over the fate of Elistrand. But now it is grandmother Ingrid who is worried about Gråstensholm. She would like one of you to take it over eventually.”

Ingela said nothing, because she was thinking of a young man on one of the farms in the parish. Right now he was the only thing that meant anything to her and she couldn’t imagine ever leaving Vingåker.

The previous week it had been another boy whom she was certain she would love until the end of her days.

But Sölve became more agitated. “But Father! Johan Gabriel has just returned home and he is going to travel to Vienna. He is going to be secretary to the Swedish minister there. And he has asked me to join him: he said there would also be work for me. I want to go so badly, Father!”

“To Vienna,” his mother said, shocked. “But that is much too far away!”

Daniel interjected, “No, Vienna is the capital of culture, so there is no danger in going there. But we cannot disappoint grandmother. She is counting on you two, that one of you will take over in Norway.”

“Yes, yes, Father,” Sölve said. “I will gladly take over Gråstensholm when she and Ulvhedin have passed away because I love it there, but not now! Give her my promise, Father, but let me see the world first.”

It was true that Sölve wanted to go to Gråstensholm, but it was for different reasons. Recently he had begun to think more and more about the sacred treasure of the Ice People. It ought to be his! But not until Ulvhedin had died. He feared Ulvhedin’s sharp gaze, and for good reason.

Besides, the most important element of the coveted collection could be found here! In his father’s house!

“But Sölve,” Daniel objected. “I had hoped that you would some day take over here. As Oxenstierna’s ever-loyal henchmen, we have served them ever since Countess Marca Christiana entered the family. I’m sure you recall that it was Tarjei Lind of the Ice People who married Cornelia von Erbach, the cousin of Marca Christiana. Since then we have unfailingly stood by them through everything. I had planned that you would continue to do so, Sölve.”

“Yes, and I will! By following Johan Gabriel through thick and thin!”

“Yes,” Daniel pondered, “That’s true, of course ...”

“But am I then to take over Gråstensholm?” Ingela lamented. “I like it here and want to stay here!”

Daniel sighed. “I am not sure, child. I am uncertain how we should go about this. I only know that one of you is to take over here and the other in Norway. It will probably all straighten out eventually.”

The discussion continued for the rest of the evening. And Daniel, who had travelled widely himself in his youth, at one point going all the way to the Kara Sea to bring Shira home to Vendel Grip, wavered between his desires to take Sölve with him to Gråstensholm and to give him permission to go to Vienna. The latter would be a unique adventure for such a bright young man.

Finally Sölve solved it himself.

“We are not going to visit grandmother until the summer. Who’s to say that I’ll remain in Vienna forever? I could return before the trip to Norway!”

Everyone gave a sigh of relief. The issue was now resolved. Despite the family’s rather weak financial state, it was decided that Sölve could go to Vienna. His mother cried a little, of course, and thought that she would never see her son again, but Daniel reassured her that Vienna was not a barbaric place. On the contrary, the Viennese most likely considered Norway and Sweden to be wild, uncivilized, primitive places at the end of the earth. His wife was unable to fathom that. Surely everyone knew perfectly well that Sweden was the centre of the world ...

On the day he was to set off, Sölve went to his father. His heart was pounding all the way up into his throat, so that he was worried that it was visible.

“Father?” he began, and had to clear his throat because his voice was so shaky, not because of having to say farewell, but because of what he was about to say.

“Father, I have a great favour to ask of you ...”

“Yes, what is it?” Daniel asked in a friendly way.

“I would so terribly like some form of protection now that I am to travel to a foreign country.”

“Protection? What do you have in mind?”

Sölve had to clear his throat again. “The mandrake, Father. I will feel safe if I have it.”

He kept his hands behind his back so that his father wouldn’t be able to see how much he was shaking. The excitement he was feeling vibrated through his whole body. The mandrake, the most coveted of all the Ice People’s treasures!

Daniel grew worried. It was a hard wish to fulfill.

“Well, Sölve, as you know, that mandrake is mine. It has followed me from the moment I was born, even before anyone ever gave me a thought. It is thanks to it that I was conceived. It is alive when it is close to me and it has always been my protection. It’s true that in recent years I have not had any need for it, because everything has gone well for us. But as to whether I have the right to give it away ...”

“But you’ll have to eventually, Father,” Sölve said as calmly as he could. “And who is closer to you than your son?”

Daniel nodded. “You’re right, I won’t live forever. But it is a peculiar ... object. I was just about to say ‘creature’. If it does not thrive it shows it right away.”

“Well, let’s try then,” Sölve said, hiding his enthusiasm.

Daniel looked thoughtfully at his son, who had to lower his eyes. “You are just an ordinary person, Sölve,” he said, because he didn’t know any better. “But on the other hand, so am I. The mandrake followed me so that I would be led to Shira and help her on her way. It is a good mandrake, Sölve. It is fighting against Tengel the Evil, who was unable to carry it. So let’s try! If you aren’t the right one you’ll feel it immediately! It will writhe and rip your skin as if it had claws.”

“And if I am the right one?” Sölve could barely speak from sheer excitement.

Daniel smiled. “Then the mandrake will settle down on your chest as though it belonged there.”

“Let me try then.”

Finally Daniel succumbed. “Very well. Come along!”

They went into the dressing room, beyond which there was a small room that Sölve had never seen. His father went inside and came out carrying a large, grotesque-looking thing in his hand.

The mandrake! Sölve started to tremble uncontrollably and had to use all his willpower not to grab it for himself. His father caressed it gently as if it were a small animal.

And that was how it looked, too. Or rather, like a doll or a human creature. The gallows flower.

Sölve had such difficulty breathing that he thought he might faint. He waited impatiently as his father slowly lifted the chain over his head.