Elska Read online

“I noticed the glorious coloring of your sister's mare from across the river and hoped for a better look.” The tall man dismounted from his horse. He walked over and gave me a pat.

  “She looks to be an obedient mount with a fine tölt,” he said to Amma. “Does she pace as well?”

  “Oh yes!” Amma sounded proud. “She is the fastest horse on our farm.”

  She urged me into a flying pace. I responded eagerly, speeding away from the others and then back again. Even though there was no other horse racing me, I went as fast as I could just for the fun of it.

  “Very nice,” Alfvaldr said when we stopped. “Do you mind if I ride back to the house with you? I would like a few words with your father.”

  “Of course, sir,” Valdi said. “We can go right now.”

  I had nearly forgotten the meeting an hour or two later as I dozed in the farmyard with the herd. Then I saw Alfvaldr riding out on Haddingur. Amma and her father were on foot beside him. Amma was crying.

  Moments later, Alfvaldr was ponying me away on a lead line. I didn't understand why, but I went with him. That was what Amma had trained me to do.

  “You can come visit her if you like, child,” Alfvaldr said, pausing beside Amma and her father.

  “Thank you again for your kind help with the land dispute between myself and Bergsveinn,” Amma's father said to Alfvaldr. “The gift of this fine mare is the least I can do to repay you.”

  Alfvaldr bowed his head, then gave a tug on my rope and rode off. I followed along with his horse but cocked an ear behind me, worried by the sad sound of Amma's sobs. But before long we were halfway across the big, dry field on the far side of the house and I could hear her no more.

  At the Homestead of Alfvaldr

  The farm of Alfvaldr was larger than the one I had just left. Otherwise, it looked much the same. A long, low building housed the humans, and many sheep and horses were in the surrounding fields, along with cattle and even a few pigs.

  A tall, lanky boy came running out to greet us. “What have we here, Father?” he cried. “Is that the mare I noticed in the rettir?”

  “Indeed it is, Magni,” Alfvaldr said. “A gift to our family from our neighbors. And you were correct—she is fast.”

  I didn't understand why I was here. Alf-valdr's mount, Haddingur, sensed my confusion.

  My master is important among the men, he told me in his dignified way. He receives gifts of many horses and other animals. You will live with us now.

  I still didn't understand. My home was on the other side of the river with Amma, Silfra, Tappi, Tyrta, and the others. Why would I live here?

  Magni took the lead line from his father. He looked me over and seemed pleased.

  “May I try her, Father?” he asked.

  “Of course, my son.” Alfvaldr watched from atop Haddingur as Magni vaulted onto my back.

  His legs were longer than even Valdi's. He sat easily, asking me with those long legs to walk forward, and then trot.

  He spent a few minutes putting me through my slower paces. When he pushed me into a flying pace, he let out a happy cry. Encouraged by his pleasure, I sped up even more. We crossed the nearest open field in a matter of seconds, then turned around and returned just as quickly.

  Alfvaldr had a smile on his face. “She suits you, Magni. Enjoy her.”

  “I will!” Magni sounded breathless. “With this mare, I will never lose a race again!”

  A little later, I found myself with Alfvaldr's herd. There were three or four mares there who sometimes ran with my herd during the summers, and they greeted me and helped me settle in among the others. Magni came once to see me, along with some other humans. They all patted me kindly.

  But by the time the long, dim twilight was half over, I was growing restless. I thought of my familiar herd and wanted to be with them. I wanted to see Amma as well. I missed the musical sound of her voice and the way she always found the itchiest spots on my crest and withers.

  Thank you for helping me, I told the mares from my herd. I will see you again when summer arrives.

  Then I jumped over the low stone wall keeping us in and started running across the next field.

  My instincts told me which way to go. I chose a shorter route than the one Alfvaldr had taken. Instead of looping around through flat, open fields, I crossed a rocky area filled with moss and went down a steep hill covered with scree. This brought me to the river at a deep but narrow spot.

  I plunged into the water. It was icy cold with the melt from faraway mountaintops and glaciers, but I didn't mind. On the far bank I shook myself dry, then continued on my way.

  The other horses heard or smelled me coming from some distance away. Their nickers of greeting caused me to speed up from a trot to a tölt. When I arrived, I saw Amma standing among the horses with her arms around Silfra's neck and tears on her face.

  She gasped when she saw me. “Elska! You're back!” she yelled. She flung herself at me and buried her face in my mane. I don't think she even noticed that it was still damp from the river crossing.

  I looped my neck down around her and snuffled into her ear. It was good to be home.

  Back and Forth

  I was dozing in the farmyard the next morning when I heard angry voices. It was Alf-valdr. Magni was with him, along with a boy only slightly bigger than Amma. The others called this smaller boy Tassi. The name reminded me of my herdmate Tappi, and the boy reminded me of him, too. Though one was a horse and one human, their eyes held the same playful look.

  “Where is my horse?” Alfvaldr roared, swinging down from his stallion's back.

  Around me, the herd stirred uneasily. The anger of humans is a fearsome thing. Nearby, the sheep whirled in a panic and ran away.

  Magni hurried into the yard and spotted me. “You were right, Father!” he yelled. “She is here!”

  Amma's father emerged from the house. “What is all the noise out here?” he cried. “Oh, Alfvaldr! I did not expect your visit.”

  “What else would you expect?” Magni asked. “You stole back my mare!”

  Amma and her brothers emerged from the house.

  “What?” Jarl cried. “My father didn't steal anything!”

  “My son speaks the truth.” Amma's father puffed out his chest. “How dare you accuse me of stealing!”

  Alfvaldr pointed toward me. “How dare I? The proof stands there on four hooves!”

  “I am telling you, I had nothing to do with it!” Amma's father said.

  “It's true!” Amma's voice sounded very small among the angry men. “Elska came back on her own—last night. She missed me.”

  Her father rounded on her, looking startled. “And you did not tell me this, daughter?” he exclaimed. “Are you trying to cause a blood feud between Alfvaldr and me?”

  “No, Father!” Amma started to cry. “Of course not! But Elska is my horse!”

  Alfvaldr's younger boy, Tassi, looked confused. “I thought Elska was ours,” he said to his father.

  “She became mine when she was gifted to me.” Alfvaldr's face was hard. He dropped a hand onto Tassi's shoulder but kept his eyes on Amma's father. “I take that seriously, neighbor.”

  “As do I, neighbor.” Amma's father raised both hands in a calming way. “Please accept my apology for this inconvenience. Of course you will have your mare back. Along with another horse of your choice, three of my finest sheep, and a pup from my best dog's next litter.”

  Alfvaldr stroked his chin. “It is done,” he said. “Come, boys. You can help me choose our new horse.”

  Amma was still crying. She took a step toward me. But her brother Valdi grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her back into the house.

  I arrived back at Alfvaldr's homestead along with Leira and several sheep. But I was not worried. Why should I be? I could jump the fence and be home again that night.

  But the other horses cautioned me. They were wiser than I was in the ways of humans. An older mare named Faxa tried to help me understand.
r />   The humans have their odd ways, she explained. In the summer, they allow some of us to wander free. But in the cold months, they want all of us to stay where they enclose us. This I have learned in my many years.

  But my home is with my herd, and with Amma, I protested. Why should I not return there?

  Faxa lowered her head. It is for Amma's sake that you should not, she told me. Your leaving made Alfvaldr angry with your other humans. That is not good for your Amma.

  My ears were askew as I tried to understand. Was my staying here truly better for Amma? It made no sense to me. But several of the other older horses joined in to agree with Faxa.

  I still did not understand. But horses do not lie, so I knew the others were only trying to help.

  And so I would stay—for Amma's sake.

  Training Time

  I stayed with Alfvaldr's family through that spring. Magni and his brother Tassi continued my training with help from their father. They rode me all over their lands. Sometimes they ponied me from another horse, and other times they rode me and ponied others. I helped prepare the fields for the hay harvest and collect the sheep for the wool gathering. Tassi rode me to carry messages to other homesteads, and Magni often raced me against the horses of friends and neighbors. All of it was interesting, though the races were perhaps my favorite. I often won by a good margin, which pleased Magni and earned me extra pats.

  The family treated me well. Even gruff Alfvaldr often had a kind word for me. The other horses accepted me. But still I missed my first home, my old herd, and my Amma.

  At least I would soon see the old herd. When summer came, I planned to find them and stay with them until the next rettir.

  But when the day came to turn us loose, I got a surprise. Magni and his father pulled out the horses that were to stay behind for the summer. And I was among them!

  I tugged against the rope as the others galloped off for the open lands. But I did not pull very hard. To do so was against my training. Still, I could not help feeling unhappy for a while.

  But soon I got used to this new way of life, too. Sometimes I would spend a whole summer day lazing about the field. Other times I was busy almost from sunup to sundown. My work was varied and interesting. For instance, there was one time when Magni came running out to find me, his eyes wide and excited.

  “Come, Elska!” he cried, vaulting onto my back. “We must fetch the midwife. The baby is coming today!”

  We rode quite a long way at a very fast pace. On the way back, a woman rode me as fast as I could go, while Magni followed on a different horse.

  I was tired when we got back. After eating for a while, I lay down for a nap. I awoke some time later to loud, shrill, strange cries. When I opened my eyes, I saw Alfvaldr grinning down at me. He held a strange bundle in his arms. The cries were coming from the bundle.

  “Good work today, Elska!” he ex claimed. “Say hello to my new daughter, Sunnifa!”

  I snuffled at the bundle. It smelled somewhat like a human. Then I understood. This was a new human foal!

  I wasn't sure why Alfvaldr had brought it to me. But I snorted at it with interest. He laughed and pulled the baby away, then hurried back into the house.

  On other days there were different tasks for me to do. Sometimes I stayed on the farm, where I might be called upon to round up the sheep, help with the crops, or drag a rock out of a field. Other times I went out and about across the countryside. I might carry one of the humans to a neighboring homestead, haul a bundle of goods here or there, or carry a load of fish home from the big river. Through it all, I did my work as best I could. I still missed my old home and old friends. But I tried not to worry over it. After all, as Faxa and the others liked to remind me, such is the life of a horse.

  The Rettir

  The bright days grew shorter and the twilight longer and cooler. My coat thickened and the birds began to disappear. It was autumn again.

  Soon it would be time for the rettir. This was an important time for the humans. It was when they gathered and sorted their grazing livestock and brought them closer to home for the winter.

  But it was also important for other reasons. Everyone in the area worked together. The humans got to visit with their neighbors and catch up on news. It was a time for enjoyment as well as work.

  Before this I was always one of the horses being gathered. This year I found that I would be helping with the gathering.

  One brisk morning Magni came to get me. His young brother, Tassi, was with him and selected Faxa as his mount. Their father soon appeared and chose his usual mount, Haddingur.

  “Come, boys,” Alfvaldr said, sounding more cheerful than usual. “It is time for the rettir!”

  We set out across the meadows at a brisk tölt. Before long we reached an area of rough volcanic terrain. But all of us horses had grown up with such footing and had no trouble. Soon after that, we met up with neighbors from downriver and rode on together.

  “Nice horse, Magni,” one of the newcomers said. “Did you breed her from your mare Faxa?”

  “No, she was a gift to my father,” Magni said. “We call her Elska. She can beat any horse around in a race.”

  I flicked an ear back at the sound of my name. Magni leaned forward to give me a pat.

  “I can show you her flying pace if you like,” he said to the others.

  “No, you cannot,” Alfvaldr said sternly. “We have much riding ahead of us. There is no sense tiring your horse with foolishness.”

  I could feel Magni shrug by the way his seat moved on my back. “All right, Father,” he said. “The rest of you will have to wait to see what my horse can do.”

  The humans continued chatting as we moved on. After a while, we reached a flat area where other horses and riders were gathered. Beyond on a grassy hillside I could see a large herd of sheep.

  We set to work, circling around to gather up all of the sheep. Magni and I worked hard together. I was proud to know that I was helping.

  The silly sheep sometimes tried to run off, but we kept them moving in the right direction. They rushed down the hill and through a channel between two mountains.

  On the other side of the pass, we found more riders waiting. One of them was my Amma! I recognized her right away by her scent and the sound of her voice. But her appearance had changed. She was taller now, and her hair was even lighter. She was riding Tyrta, the gentle-natured palomino mare foaled the same summer as I. By the easy way Amma sat Tyrta's trot, I could tell they were doing well together.

  I let out a snort as I came closer. Amma looked up. She recognized me, and for a moment her expression showed joy.

  But then she burst into tears. Yanking Tyrta's head around, she took off across the meadow at a brisk gallop.

  A Reunion and an Accident

  I was confused and saddened by Amma's odd behavior. Would I ever truly understand humans?

  There was no time to worry over it at that moment. Magni and I still had a lot of work to do.

  Later, it was finally time for a rest. We had reached one of the holding pens and driven the sheep inside. Magni left me with the other horses in a grassy area near the edge of the big river. Then he went to do human things with the others gathered nearby.

  I saw that Tyrta and several others from my old herd were already grazing in the grassy area. They greeted me as I wandered over and dropped my head to graze near them. I was tired and hungry and it felt good to have a rest.

  Do your new humans treat you well, Elska? Tyrta wanted to know.

  They do, I told her. There is good grazing at their farm, and fresh, cool water.

  We were still grazing a short while later when I heard human footsteps, soft and quick. I cast my gaze back and saw that it was Amma.

  “Elska!” she cried, rushing forward.

  A moment later, her arms were around my neck. Her familiar scent filled my nostrils as I nuzzled at her hair. She was taller, but otherwise, she was mostly the same.

  She hugged me tigh
tly. “I've missed you so much,” she said into my neck. “Why did you have to be the one to go? Why did stupid Alfvaldr have to notice you?”

  I rested my chin on her shoulder. It was good to be with her again.

  Finally Amma loosened her grasp. She looked around at the other horses grazing nearby.

  “My father warned me not to come,” she said softly. “He is afraid of angering Alfvaldr. But I'm not afraid of anyone, chieftain or not.”

  She sounded almost angry. I blinked at her, a little confused by her sudden shift in mood.

  A second later, she was happy again. She moved to my side and vaulted onto my back. She weighed a little more than before, but quite a bit less than Magni. Her seat and legs still felt familiar.

  “One quick ride,” she whispered, nudging me into an easy tölt. “Nobody has to know….”

  We rode to the bank of the river, then turned south and followed its path downstream. The sun was still shining, and my earlier weariness was gone. Carrying Amma didn't feel like work. It was more like playing with Tappi and Tyrta and Leira when we were all foals together.

  We slowed to a walk for a while, and she leaned forward, hugging me from above. “Oh, Elska,” she said with a sigh. “I wish we could run away together. Then you would never have to go back to Alfvaldr.”

  I heard sadness in her voice. Turning my head, I nudged at her foot with my muzzle. I did not like my Amma to be sad.

  We rode on for a while in silence. Finally Amma let out a sigh.

  “We'd better go back,” she said. “If anyone notices we're gone …”

  We turned back to return to the others. We were almost there when a shout rang out.

  “Hey! What are you doing on my brother's horse?”

  It was Tassi. He was staring at us from among the other horses.

  Amma gasped. Spinning me around, she kicked me into a gallop. We raced downstream again until we were out of sight behind a craggy volcanic outcropping.