Troubled Waters: Day 8

Word Count: 48,019

Summary of Events:

After a day of fruitless pursuit in which even the sturdy ropes failed to hold Nótt, Hallbjörn was given a bed for the night by Bergljót's father. The next morning her father shared a plan for catching Nótt which he had come up with that might work better seeing as ropes weren't even successful; the plan involved men on horseback forming a tight perimeter around Nótt and driving him into Tryggvi's barn. Hallbjörn, although doubtful of the plan's success, participated in its enactment . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

The leader called for another man by name to join Hallbjörn in steering Nótt toward the door in the barn as the north and south flanks met in the west and the circle steadily closed in.

Nótt was not pleased at having two horses chasing him more concentratedly than the others and proved to be a challenge to steer in the right direction.

Hallbjörn called instructions to the other rider — whom he was grateful to note heeded them — such as calls to release the pressure on Nótt when he started heading east toward the door, but to put it back on when he started to turn away from the door.

As the circle closed in tighter, a second circle of abreast horses following close behind it — and the men who were to help shut and brace the door trailing behind on foot — Nótt was running out of places to run, but he seemed to be resisting the urge to escape into the barn, even though the release of pressure on him to move when he headed that way should’ve encouraged him to go in.

It was starting to be an uncomfortably small area for three horses to be in when Nótt reared and screamed before charging at Hallbjörn, who was ready for the blow.

Nótt slowed, but didn’t fully stop, and reached out his head, seizing his teeth about Hallbjörn’s forearm.

Tears of pain sprang to Hallbjörn’s eyes, but he resisted the urge to cry out and slap Nótt with the tail end of his reins.

Instead, he used his other hand and seized the leather cheekpiece of the halter on Nótt’s head.

Pushing the stallion away from himself while asking the gelding underneath him for a tight pivot, he turned himself away from the barn door to be alongside Nótt and then fought to push the stallion around to face the door.

All of the men around the edge hollered and bellowed, objects swinging to urge Nótt toward the doorway.

Hallbjörn switched to his left hand on the cheekpiece, taking the rein ends in his right hand. He drove his gelding forward with leg pressure while slapping the rein ends against Nótt’s powerful hindquarters until he’d ridden into the barn with Nótt.

Immediately he released Nótt and stopped slapping. Nótt charged away from him and Hallbjörn quickly reversed the gelding out of the barn.

The other men surged in close to the door to keep Nótt from getting out as the men on foot heaved the door into place, then they put the bracing into position as everyone slowly backed away and dispersed, not fully letting their guard down until all the bracing was solidly set.

Just as the last piece was set into place everyone was startled by a bang. Nótt had bucked at the door, but the door had held sway and there were no concerns. Finally Nótt was contained.