Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny) (36 page)

"I cannot."
"Yes you can. We can come back for the others."
"There are things you do not understand, Kristen."
"Explain them to me."
Finn was torn. He still thought it best if she didn't know
who he was. But, if he told her, perhaps she would come back
to help. It was a hard decision, but he still wanted to protect
her in any way he could.
"I cannot."
Kristen narrowed her eyes and her lips thinned into a
straight line.
"Then I'm not leaving." She crossed her arms defiantly
over her chest.
"What? Yes, you are." said Derrick.
"You must leave, it is the only way." Finn added.
Kristen stepped away from both men. She wasn't an
idiot, she had figured out who Finn was, though she didn't
understand why her mother had lied to her about it. She
wasn't about to leave her father behind and possibly in trouble
with her disappearance. Nikolas had seen him, and though
she believed he was trying to help, a part of her still didn't trust
him. Caution was a necessary evil in this case.
"I'll not be told what I can and can't do by the likes of
either of you. Now, either you come with us, or I don't leave. I
won't have you in trouble for my disappearance, and we can
come back in a stronger position to save the others. The king
and I have unfinished business anyway."
Kristen was still seething about him punching her. She
had been down in the dungeon for a month with nothing but
bread and water to sustain her, though from time to time,
Nikolas would sneak her some meat and cheese. He told her
that the king intended to keep her down there until her
willfulness broke. He estimated two weeks of nothing but
bread and water would be enough, but when he sent for her
and she had given the guards some rude gestures, the king
decided she needed a couple more weeks. Nikolas told her
the king intended to visit her personally in the morning to see
how she was doing.
"Kristen, we do not have time for this." Finn hissed.
"I'm well aware of that. Nevertheless, either you're
coming with us, or I go back in there until you agree to come."
"Why are you pushing this?" Finn didn't understand.
He knew why he was attached to her, but she didn't
know him. He had given her no reason to be attached. But, he
couldn't bear the thought of her being here any longer, not
with what the king had planned for her tomorrow. When Finn
heard about the Englishman in town, he hoped it was the one
Kristen spoke of in her sleep. He turned to Derrick now and
implored him.
"You must talk some sense into her."
Derrick didn't understand what was going on, but he
knew Kristen had to have a reason. Still, they were wasting
precious time, and he still needed to get back to the inn before
the others got worried. He took a step toward Kristen.
"Kristen, we have to go. I can't let you stay here."
She held her ground, but turned to look at Derrick.
"Derrick, I love you, but I will not be cowed on this. Not
even by you."
Derrick drew up short. "You love me?"
There was a bemused expression on his face that,
under other circumstances, Kristen might have found funny,
but just now there were too many lives in the balance.
"Of course, I love you. What kind of question is that? I
married you didn't I?"
Derrick chuckled. "No offense, but you married me
because you had to."
"I did not - "
"Could you perhaps discuss this another time? You
need to leave." Finn interjected.
Kristen turned back to him. "You're coming and that's
final."
"What is going on?" Derrick asked.
Kristen sighed and looked at Finn apologetically. She
suspected he had his reasons for keeping his identity a secret,
but she was out of time.
"Please forgive me, I wanted to let you tell me in your
own time, but you're making that impossible just now. I'm not
an idiot, I know you're my father. So, you're either coming with
me or I stay. I've lost one parent permanently, I won't lose you,
too."
Derrick's jaw dropped, though that tidbit certainly made
the conversation on the way in more relevant. Finn crossed
his arms over his chest. He should have known his daughter
would figure it out. She was just like her mother. Marie had an
uncanny way of seeing things and figuring them out. But, it
didn't change anything.
"Kristen, if I leave the king will know Nikolas helped us.
He has been an ally, and I would not bring trouble down upon
him. If you do not wish to take the throne as its rightful heir,
then he must rule in his father's place when the king is
destroyed."
"Then Nikolas is coming with us, as well." Her tone
brooked no argument. "I'll not hear another word on it, father.
You go get him and meet us at the docks in one hour. Do you
understand me? One hour. If you're not there, I'm coming
back for you and you won't like the way in which I do it." She
rounded on Derrick. "And so help me God, if you get in my
way on this I swear I will ask the king of England for a divorce.
He was a good friend of my grandfather's, you know."
Derrick raised his hands in surrender. He looked at
Finn and shrugged, but Derrick knew Kristen well enough to
know she wouldn't budge on this. If Finn and Nikolas weren't
on that boat in one hour, she would tear down the palace to
find them. Finn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You're just like your mother."
"And like you."
Finn looked at her and smiled. He nodded and stepped
forward to kiss her on the cheek.
"We will meet you there in one hour."
Everyone tensed as they heard the door to the
dungeons open and close. They could hear the echo of
footsteps but it was hard to tell how many there were, though
they knew for certain the steps were coming toward them.
Derrick ground his teeth. He did not want to put Kristen back
in that cell, but if they were caught, all three would be hanged.
He glanced at Kristen, but he should have known, she was
already through the cell door and closing it behind her. Finn
motioned for Derrick to hide and he stepped back into the
shadows in a corner that was hidden from the main view.
When the door leading to their hallway slammed shut,
the footsteps quickened and not long after Finn was greeted
by Adrian and his new ladylove.
"Finn."
"Adrian." Finn nodded politely.
"Alice!" Kristen said happily.
Alice smiled and rushed to Kristen's cell. The two
clasped hands and Alice looked her over for any damage.
"Has anyone hurt you?" She demanded.
Kristen shook her head and saw Derrick step out of the
shadows.
"Alice?" He asked in disbelief, his eyes glowing in
anger.
Kristen looked between them. "Oh, that's right. You two
know each other." Kristen grinned.
Derrick flushed, and Alice lifted a brow at Derrick.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Finn, who is he?"
"Kristen's husband."
"What is going on?" Kristen asked. "Alice?"
"Adrian and I are here to get you out. He has only just
told me what the king has planned and - "
Finn cleared his throat loudly. Kristen narrowed her
eyes at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You didn't tell her?" Adrian asked accusingly.
"People, we're wasting time here. We need to get
moving." Derrick added.
"Oh, for God's sake." Alice cursed and rolled her eyes.
"Kristen, the king intends to visit you in the morning, and if he
still feels you were willful and insolent, he is going to have you
executed."
"That son-of-a-bitch!" Kristen hissed.
Finn and Adrian, not used to such language from
women, looked at her as if she had sprouted another head. It
seemed that while the Viking culture was certainly different
than the English culture, they did share the same antiquated
notions about how a woman should behave.
Derrick chuckled. "Welcome to my world."
"Hush you!" She said giving him a dirty look. "We need
to leave. Father, you will have to move your time table up.
Meet us at the docks in half an hour."
Finn nodded left the hall. Kristen pushed the cell door
open and went to Derrick's side. Adrian gave Derrick a
quelling look and stepped up next to Alice, wrapping a
protective arm around her waist, though Kristen didn't think
Derrick even noticed. Alice blushed.
"Let's go." Kristen said and started for the door at the
end of the hall.
"I can't go." Alice blurted.
Kristen stopped and looked at her in confusion. Adrian
furrowed his brow.
"Alice we talked about this." He said gently.
"Yes, and I can't leave you here to face punishment for
my leaving."
"Then you both come with us." Kristen said.
"I can't leave, he'll hurt the others." Adrian said.
"What others?"
"The girl's I've trained to be his assassins."
Derrick frowned. "There comes a time when you can't
protect them anymore and you must choose between the life
you knew, and the one before you." He tilted his head at Alice
and Adrian looked at her.
Alice would say nothing on the matter. The decision to
leave or stay was his, but she couldn't leave him either way.
She didn't like it, but for now, her fate was tied with Adrian's.
Kristen snapped her fingers to get everyone's attention.
"We need to move. Now. Adrian, I promise you we're
coming back and we'll save as many of your girls as we can,
but Derrick's right. You have to make a choice, so do it
quickly."
Adrian looked at her and thought she would make a
lovely queen. She was authoritative, but not in the tyrannical
way that Sander was, and she was decisive and quick to
follow through with it. He nodded and grabbed Alice's hand.
"Let's go."
The ice around Alice's heart was slowly being chipped
away. That he chose her over the only life he had known, the
one he had introduced her to, made her want to cry. But, there
was no time for that now. They needed to leave the dungeon
before the nightly guard rounds.
Chapter 39

Adrian led them through the wooded area, and Derrick
hoped they would make it back to the inn before his brothers
did anything rash. They didn't waste a lot of time talking, each
couple just held hands and ran. Derrick loved that about
Kristen; the fact that she could focus on what needed to be
done, but still understood how she felt about things. When
they reached the narrow path that lead back to town, they
stuck to the outskirts and Kristen kept her head down in case
anyone saw her.

At the inn, Derrick insisted the others wait outside while
he went in and looked for Tristan, Oliver, and Guy. They
agreed, and kept Kristen hidden behind a hay wagon. They
didn't have to wait long because whatever Derrick had told
them had all four men out in a hurry. Kristen recognized
Tristan and Oliver, but she wasn't sure who the third fellow
was. Derrick looked around to make sure no one was
following them and then he waved them out. Kristen stayed
shrouded by Adrian and Alice, and they walked quickly to the
rest of the group, then they all huddled around her and
headed for the docks.

Every once in a while, a Viking would eye their little
group closely and the guys would slow down and fall over
themselves, but not so much that it seemed suspicious.
Kristen had to hand it to them, they made it to the docks
without issue. But, trouble definitely found them once they
reached the docks. When they got there, Finn and Nikolas
were already waiting. Nikolas was covered in a cloak and his
hands were bound in front of him. Kristen walked up and
looked at Finn questioningly.

"In case we run into trouble, it is best for Nikolas to look
as though he has been kidnapped."
"Nikolas?!" Adrian said in alarm.
"Easy, old friend. He is an ally."
Nikolas nodded once in greeting, but Adrian was still
wary. "This is a dangerous alliance we make, my friend."
"These are dangerous times." Finn added.
Kristen nodded. "We need to hurry. I think there were
several villagers who were suspicious of us on the way here."
She turned to find out whose ship they were on when
she finally got a good look at the fourth man in their group.
She gasped.
"Guy!"
He grinned at her. "Hello, Kristen."
She smiled happily and jumped on him hugging him
tight. He laughed, though he looked cautiously at Derrick.
"Oh my goodness, has Mel seen you yet?"
"Yes, but let's discuss it on the ship. We need to go."
A large bullhorn sounded from the village.
"Damn. We've been discovered. Let's go." Kristen
urged.
Finn grimaced, but they all ran for the ship. Kristen was
suddenly struck by an idea.
"Derrick, you guys get the ship ready to move. Oliver,
you come with me."
"Where are you going?" Derrick asked, concerned.
"No time to explain, please just hurry!"
Derrick groaned, but turned to do what she asked.
Oliver followed her up the dock, and she shouted over her
shoulder.
"Disable the rudders."
Oliver grinned. "Brilliant!"
They moved quickly, and it helped that there were only
five ships in port, but the call to arms by the villagers had been
heard throughout, and men were stomping their way toward
the docks. Kristen and Oliver were on their way back to the
ship when a large Viking grabbed Kristen around the waist.
Oliver cursed and tried to punch the guy, but the Viking
swatted him away like a bug. When Oliver hit the dock, she
heard the unmistakable crunch of his shoulder dislocating.
Moments later he yelled out in pain.
"You bloody pig's ass!" Kristen screeched.
She twisted around and poked the Viking in the eyes,
hard. He dropped her and tried to rub his eyes, yelling that she
had blinded him. Kristen didn't have a lot of time since more
villagers were on the way, so she quickly stomped down on
the Viking's knee from the front, breaking it, and when he fell
on his other one, she swung a roundhouse kick to his face.
The Viking fell over, though he was still conscious.
He was in serious disbelief at being felled by a girl, though.
Kristen grabbed Oliver's uninjured arm and hauled him
to his feet. He looked at her in disbelief, and she snapped her
fingers in front of his face.
"We have to move, now!" She screamed at him.
He nodded and followed her as they raced up the dock,
onto the plank of their ship, and they both dove over the side
as Derrick and Finn knocked the plank into the water to
prevent the Vikings on Kristen's tail from coming on board.
The Vikings on the dock cursed but doubled back to their own
ships.
Kristen picked herself up from the deck and started to
race toward the lower deck.
"Now where are you going?" Derrick demanded.
"We disabled the rudders, but that doesn't stop their
cannons. Until we get out of range, I'm going to fire on them
first."
The men watched after her, their mouths agape.
"Derrick, you didn't tell me she was so damn smart."
Oliver teased.
"Of course she's smart, she's a Viking." Finn said
proudly.
"Oliver, meet Kristen's father, Finn. Finn, my brother
Oliver. I'm afraid the rest of the introductions will have to wait
until we're in the clear. I'll go help Kristen. Oliver stay out of
the way until we can set your shoulder."
Everyone scrambled to do what needed to be done.
Guy and his crew were already manning their stations, so
Derrick went to help Kristen below deck. When he got there,
she was loading a cannon ball into the cannon.
"Here, let me help you." He offered.
"I'm good here. Take up the next cannon over there
and help me by blowing them out of the water."
Derrick didn't argue. They loaded their cannons and
fired on the ships. Kristen tried to spare the people, but, at the
same time, make it as difficult as possible for them to follow
Guy's ship. Derrick followed suit. Between the two of them,
they sank the five ships before the villagers managed to get
one shot off from their own cannons. Kristen sighed in relief.
She turned to Derrick and flung herself in his arms, holding on
as tightly as she could.
"Kristen, what is it?" Derrick asked fearfully.
"They told me you were dead. I thought I'd never get to
see you again."
She pulled back and grabbed his face between her
hands. She searched his eyes and smiled when they began to
glow faintly.
Derrick grinned. "Did you miss me?"
"Definitely not." She sniffed but pulled him back to her
for a hug.
He laughed and stroked her hair. "I missed you, too."
Kristen was cognizant of the fact that she had told him
she loved him, and he hadn't said it back to her. She
wondered if she should apologize for blurting it out, especially
in front of her father, but they were interrupted. Tristan came
down the stairs to check on them.
"Everything alright down here?" He called. "Should I
hang a handkerchief on the latch up here?"
Kristen looked at Derrick, confused. To her, "he's being
crude." To Tristan, "bugger off, we're coming."
Tristan chuckled but went back up the stairs. Derrick
grabbed Kristen's hand, and they followed Tristan to join the
others on the upper deck. Finn had already removed Nikolas'
bindings, and he removed the hood of his cloak, but Adrian
was still wary of his presence. Kristen could understand his
concern, though. It wasn't exactly an easy decision to betray
ones family, but when they got right down to it, no one was
certain that Nikolas would be able to go through with it when
the time came to face his father.
But, as Kristen assessed the state of everyone else,
she frowned. Oliver was holding his shoulder.
"We should set that soon." She said.
Oliver grimaced. "Yes, but I'm procrastinating."
Tristan rolled his eyes. "For the love of God, have you
seen Kristen's face? Imagine the punch she took to receive
that bruise and man up a bit, Oliver."
Kristen shrugged as everyone looked at her, then
turned back to Oliver. He gave them a sullen look before
sighing loudly.
"Well, bloody hell. If everyone's going to make such a
big deal out of it, let's get on with it, then." He shoved past his
brothers to the large mast that was situated behind them.
Kristen winced, knowing what Oliver was about to do
was going to hurt worse than the actual fall which had
dislocated his shoulder in the first place. Oliver took two quick
breaths and then slammed his shoulder into the mast. He
screamed in pain as his shoulder popped back into place, then
he fell to his knees.
"Yep, I'm seeing stars." He groaned pitifully as he sat
down and leaned against the mast for support.
There was some chuckling around the group, but Oliver
gave them all a rude gesture with his finger and they stopped.
Finn looked at Kristen.
"So, what's the plan?"
Everyone turned their attention to Finn and Kristen.
They had taken a significant risk by bringing the Vikings with
them, especially the crowned prince. But, the alternative was
unacceptable to Kristen. She shrugged.
"I'm not sure yet. I guess the first thing we should do is
visit the king in England. See if he's willing to help."
"Do you think he will?" Nikolas asked.
"I think he would like to, and it would depend on a few
things. My mother used to tell me that when we first got to
England, the king insisted on sending his army to help my
grandfather reclaim the throne. So, it will most likely depend
on how England has profited from the new rule in Norway."
Kristen said.
"Not much." Guy added. "The reason I've been making
so many ambassadorial trips to America is because King
Sander has closed trade with us. But, I spoke with him before I
left and he would like to help, but it is a risk. For now, it has
declined to provide troops."
"Your king does not know the whole story. My father is
planning to start a war with England, hoping to lay claim to its
land and resources. He's used up a lot of the natural
resources in Norway for his campaign to gain more power."
Nikolas added.
The group was surprised that Nikolas offered the
information. On one hand, it was vital information to take to
the king, but on the other, if they were being set up, it would
seriously damage any chance England had of repairing the
relationship with Norway while Nikolas' family ruled the
country. Nikolas watched the expressions of his companions
and felt a little uncomfortable. He knew gaining their trust
would not be easy, but Norway had suffered enough at his
father's hands. He would do what he could to save his country.
"I understand all of your concerns about my presence
here," Nikolas added. "But, please know that I genuinely want
to help my country. Truthfully, I don't feel good about betraying
my family, but I feel worse letting a man who should not be
king remain in power. Kristen is the rightful ruler of Norway,
and it is she who should be upon that throne."
"Now just a minute - " Kristen started.
"If you did not care, you would not be planning to go
back." Nikolas pointed out reasonably.
"But, I don't know the first thing about running a
country." She insisted.
"You will have help."
"That is not my life. I have a life, in England." She
looked at Derrick, her concern for leaving England being him.
"With Derrick."
Derrick smiled and kissed her hand. "While I'm touched
you considered me in the decision, my dear, the fact remains
that I am not an overly important lord to the king of England.
My stewards can run the properties I do own, and I am free to
be with you, where ever you decide to go."
"Well, we can clearly see who wears the pants in this
relationship." Tristan said sardonically.
"You know what? I will punch you again." Kristen said,
deadpan.
Derrick laughed. "Pay him no mind, he's just irritated
because Chelsea's not here."
Tristan crossed his arms defensively and glared at his
brother. He had been more on edge with her not near him.
Part of his fear was that they had been gone long enough for
Chelsea to have booked passage home. He originally agreed
to let her stay with Mel in hopes that she would leave and he
could feel as if he had done the right thing, even though he
hadn't. But, now that they were heading home, he was hoping
she stayed.
"I'm still not convinced that I'm the one to lead our
people once Sander is removed, but we'll cross that bridge
when we get there. The bigger issue is taking him down from
his high and mighty pedestal in the first place." Kristen said.
"Well, what about the other royals?" Finn asked. "There
were plenty who left with you and your mother, surely they
could assist you in this matter?"
Alice straightened her spine. She had a feeling that
things were about to be particularly uncomfortable for her, but
she would not hide from her responsibility in this matter.
However, Kristen continued to surprise her, and Alice's jaw
nearly hit the deck.
"I am the only one left. I think being married to Ashby
was bad luck for my mother and our family because every one
of them died in strange accidents."
Derrick frowned at her, knowing full well that the rest of
her family had died under suspicious circumstances. He
caught her glance at Alice and suddenly the pieces started
falling together. Derrick knew when he met Alice that she
wasn't British, but she served her purpose and that suited him
just fine. She had her moments when her gaze was always
predatory, and Derrick often wondered what she had
done before she came to England. Then, after he broke it off
with Alice, Ashby ended up dead, and Kristen was abducted
and put into a fighting ring where it was intended she die in an
"accident" based on her lifestyle, just like the rest of her family.
Kristen said it was a woman, and that she recognized the
voice, though she couldn't place it. He ground his teeth at the
realization that Alice had tried to kill Kristen.
Kristen saw Derrick's eyes light up like a beacon at sea.
She squeezed his hand, hoping that he wouldn't give Alice
away. Kristen accepted that Alice had a colorful past which
she wasn't entirely in control of, and Sander was a formidable
man. When he wanted something done, those tasked with it
either did it or faced the consequences. Kristen knew Alice
didn't want to hurt anyone, but she had orders to follow and
people watching her every move. She deserved to start over
just like the rest of them, and Kristen was of the opinion that
Adrian would be just what she needed.
Derrick looked at Kristen, and for reasons he couldn't
fathom, she didn't want Alice's cover blown in front of the
others. He reined in his anger, but he wasn't going to just let it
go either. Alice had killed Kristen's entire family, and for
someone who was so fiercely loyal to those she cared for, he
didn't understand why she was so willing to let Alice live.
"My God." Finn said sadly.
Alice opened her mouth to admit the truth, but Kristen
began talking before she could.
"It is a tragedy, but we need to focus on moving
forward. If the king decides not to help us, we'll need a plan.
Because, one way or another, Sander's reign as king of
Norway has come to an end."
"What do you propose to do if the king isn't inclined to
help, Kristen?" Oliver asked.
Kristen pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "I'll
go back and kill him myself."
Everyone stared at her in shock. Derrick frowned.
"Kristen, I only just found you. I'm not going to lose you
again."
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "You're not going to
lose me, I promise. But, I can't sit in England and do nothing.
That man is responsible for a lot of death and suffering, to
include my family. I will make sure he meets justice for what
he has done."
"What I want to know is why the crowned prince, son to
this man, is on this boat. Seems to me he's a spy." Tristan
said suspiciously.
Finn tensed and took a step in front of Nikolas, but
Nikolas rested a hand on Finn's shoulder.