Gone Viking 06

_______________

Gone Viking 06

Time gone awry.

Ellat leapt from the boulder with a beautiful arcing dive, entering the water with only the smallest of splashes. The American judge would have given that dive a nine-point-five out of a possible ten.

In less time than it had taken me to think that Ellat had swum the distance from the boulder to shore. He emerged hardly winded, but a little frightened. "Something magical is happening here."

He could not elaborate and sank down next to Mestigoit on the thick-mossy bank. Mestigoit had mastered the art of not looking flustered in unusual circumstances, and gruffly waved me towards the river.

"Woman of Power, you will see what magic is at work."

At the best of times, I was not the strongest swimmer. I would enjoy frolicking in the waves at the beach, at the seashore in August. But a swim in an early spring river in April, with unknown underwater hazards?

But as a 'Woman of Power,' I had responsibilities; even though I did not have a cool set of tights to go with that responsibility.

Taking a deep breath, and then another, and yet another, I braced for the swim. Then I removed the baldric with the still sheathed knife and handed it to Mestigoit. I removed my t-shirt, bra, jeans, and shoes. Some false modesty left my panties in place. I tested the waters with a toe, shivered, and then thought, 'what the fuck,' rushed into the frigid waters, and started a slow, even breaststroke, my only competent swimming stroke.

It took me many times longer than Ellat to reach the boulder. Once I touched it, I tread water for a minute, gathering my thoughts and courage. Ellat had seen carvings. He had indicated with hand gestures that these carvings were on the landward side of the rock.

I took several deep breaths, held the last one, and went under the surface.

The water was murky. I felt the surface of the stone from the water's surface to a foot below-- nothing.

I surfaced, then took several deeper breaths, and held the last going deeper. Still, the visibility was bad. I felt nothing unnatural. Nothing. But no moss or slime or algae, as though the boulder had not been in the water for exceptionally long.

The third dive. This time, a flattened surface... something done with chisels. I ran out of breath. This was the longest period of underwater swimming I had done since summer camp, and my lungs ached.

The fourth time-- Magic. The water cleared and a beam of light shone on the smooth area of the boulder. There, one word became visible-- 'Lan.'

I was elated and terrified; 'Woman of Power' you are into some crazy shit, I thought.

I surfaced and started toward shore. Ellat was there, still naked, but with Mestigoit on his shoulders. They stared out at me, waiting for a signal or some information. I merely waved and returned to the boulder.

The one word was now joined by a number 'Lan 1'. I stared until my eyes hurt from the freezing water, but I could see another number appearing, so I swam back to shore. I had to confer with Mestigoit. Even as a 'Woman of Power,' I needed another wise head for guidance.

Ellat's face was set in stone, like a leader does to show his people that he is not afraid. But the man saw my nipples hugely erect by the ice-cold water, and his manhood was not invisible anymore.

I begged forgiveness from him, but I needed to speak in confidence with Mestigoit. Ellat need not leave. We would converse through our mind connection, as we did on Wave Horse.

Mestigoit listened as I gave my report. "There is magic happening as we speak. The boulder is being carved now, not here but somewhere in the past or the future."

Again, as with Ellat hiding his emotions for his crew, Mestigoit acted as though all this was routine for a shaman.

"Then, woman of power, you must return and see what the message, or warning is. I will have Ellat make a fire to warm you. If someone else is carving the stone, this will take some time."

"Food and hot drink, too, please," I called back, over my shoulder.

Mestigoit's magic had then focused on the carved surface of the boulder, and I could clearly see the layout marks the carver had placed on the stone. The Magic illuminated only the first line. What was visible in the early dives was the carver deepening the cuts in the stone on the letters already marked out.

That first line read: Lan 1674 du règne de Louis XIV Roy de France.

I had taken French in school, but that was some time ago, but my best guess was: Year 1674 of the reign of Louis XIV, King of France.

It was not clear to me the year these Vikings were in, but it sure as hell was A LOT earlier than 1674!

What to do? The Woman of Power must confer with the Shaman.

(To be continued...)

Many thanks to my editor Kenji Sato!

_______________