Helgha sighed and put Biorn down. She had carried him for the last two hours.
“I swear he"s got heavier since we left Jorvik,” she said.
“I can walk, Mummy.”
“You"re going to have to. My arms feel as if they’re dropping off. Now, hold my hand tightly. The forest isn"t a safe place.”
The women continued to walk as quickly as they could, carrying Hartvigg and with Biorn jogging along as he tried to keep up.
The trees continued to thin as they walked until, at last, they emerged onto wide-open moorland. The heather was beginning to fade, but it still looked beautiful, tingeing the rolling hills with purple. The sun was still high in the sky and a few wispy clouds occasionally obscured it. Helgha was grateful for the warmth.
This wide-open countryside had few paths. The one they were tra
