Vengeance Hammer (Viking Vengeance) (11 page)

How could she face the two of them? Be in the same chamber without emptying her stomach? When had she become such a quailing coward?

Ghazi motioned for her to stand. “You cannot refuse him.”

Nay. She could not. A refusal would give Godfraid an excuse to invade and none would fault him, not even the king. But she knew ’twas no chance arrival. Godfraid, Néill, and Magnhildur had chosen their timing well.

“We will not leave you alone with him. It is best that the girl and the nurse go to a room near to your mother’s.” Ghazi gestured for her to precede him.

Xára understood the man’s reasoning. Having all those he was sworn to protect in one spot made for an easier defense. She took a deep breath. ’Twas not the time to panic. All she needs do was to ensure neither Godfraid, Néill nor Magnhildur were ever alone with her, Evie, or Jennie. She would greet them and offer them hospitality, but fall sick before they could utter a word.

“I have guards at Lady Nyssa’s door. She sleeps. Do you wish me to wake her?”

Temptation dangled before her like the devil himself. What she wouldn’t give to have the fierce Nyssa at her side. But, nay. ’Twas her duty to protect Nyssa and ’twould be perfect if the queen slept until Lord Konáll returned.

Sweeping a glance around the turret, she decided to have this chamber prepared for Godfraid. With only one exit and entrance, it would be easy to track Godfraid’s movements.

Néill and Magnhildur she would put in the last chamber of the west wing. It was isolated and they could be watched surreptitiously.

Xára wrote her intentions.

Ghazi surveyed the room after reading her words. “Aye. ’Twill do well. ’Tis a shrewd plan. When you retire, I and others will stand guard o’er your chamber. We must make haste, my lady.”

With a quick nod, she rose, linked hands with Evie, and signaled for Ulna to walk with them. They followed the warriors down the steep stairs. When they reached the great hall, Xára glimpsed Arnfinn’s steward, Haakon, sitting at a table with a group of villagers. She halted, tugged on Ghazi’s arm, and pointed to Haakon.

The warrior’s forehead creased and then his brows relaxed. “Mayhap the steward can greet Earl Godfraid on your behalf?”

Xára hesitated. The lure of using Haakon as greeter proved irresistible even though she knew Néill and Magnhildur would view the act as one of her cowardice. Aye. She nodded and then pointed to the archway leading to the kitchens.

Ghazi frowned. “You wish Haakon to accompany you to the kitchens?”

She shook her head.

“My sister will inform the cook to prepare a welcome feast while Haakon prepares to greet Earl Godfraid,” Evie declared. She jammed her hands onto her hips and tilted her head to meet Xára’s stare. “I must stay with you to be your voice.”

Dare she trust Evie not to say some wickedness?

“I vow on the Lord, I will only do what you want.” Evie pressed a hand to her heart. “If you say nay, I will steal away and follow you anyway.”

Xára rolled her eyes. Evie would be the death of her.

Giving her sister a behave-yourself stare, she nodded.

“We will go to the kitchens and then retire to our chambers until ’tis time for the meal. Is that not so, Xára?” Evie addressed her words to Ghazi, though the question was for Xára.

Once again, Xára nodded.

“These two men will accompany you to the kitchens.” Ghazi indicated the two Vikings who flanked him. “I myself will fetch you for the meal should Lord Dráddør not return before then. I will take my leave of you now, my lady.”

In truth, Xára was relieved to see Ghazi leave. She had too much to do to worry about sneaking around the Viking.

Time seemed to race ahead of the tasks needing to be completed.

Xára, assisted by Ulna and Evie, organized the rooms for the coming guests. When it came the time to choose the ale and mead for the evening repast, Xára had an epiphany. She grinned at the barrel of ale. Lara, the healer, had used a powerful emetic to try and cleanse the poison from Jennie’s body. The ground herb had little taste and could easily be added to the pitcher she would designate for Godfraid, Magnhildur, and Néill. ’Twas hard not to jump up and down at the notion of using Magnhildur’s nasty tricks on the wicked woman herself.

But to put her idea into effect she had to escape the two guards Ghazi had assigned to them and persuade Evie’s mischief cohort, the smithy’s son, Ívarr, to serve the guests exclusively. The two Vikings proved markedly vigilant and Xára realized the tunnels would be the only way to dodge their scrutiny.

First she had to ensure Evie remained hidden away from Néill.

Dare she trust Evie to stay with Ulna through the whole night? Nay. Evie would go to the tunnels to spy on the visitors the moment Ulna began to snore. Xára decided to bar the entrances to the tunnels from all the chambers in the west wing.

“Think you Néill rides with Godfraid?”

Evie’s whispered query startled Xára out of her contemplative trance. She glanced at Evie and her stomach sank. The sprite’s fear emanated in waves and Xára knew she had to be convincing in her pretense of bravery.

Aye
, she mouthed.

“Think you he has heard of the wedding? I hope not. For I would love to see the look of surprise on his face when he finds out.” Evie stamped a foot. “Think you, you carry a bairn, Xára?”

The question so shocked Xára, she gasped. She stared at the braided gyrdel hanging low on her belly. Could she? Oh how she longed to talk with Jennie. But could she share the wickedness she and Dráddør had done with Jennie? Was what he’d done with his mouth and tongue 2tween her thighs normal?

“Sister.” Evie yanked at her sleeve. “Do you?”

Xára hushed Evie by placing two fingers on the girl’s mouth.

The thunder of hooves pounding dirt drowned the low murmur of conversation in the kitchens.

“They are here.” All charade of bravado had vanished from Evie’s tone. Her rosy cheeks paled and she kept glancing to the great hall.

Xára squeezed Evie’s shoulder and pointed to the servants’ stairs. She picked up her skirts and hurried across the room.

Evie and Xára dashed up the steps followed closely by the two Vikings while Ulna lumbered behind them. After parting with Evie and Ulna, Xára made her way to the master’s chamber. She was relieved to find Ghazi there awaiting her.

“My lady, I must make my way to the bailey to stand ready to escort Earl Godfraid. The guards will not leave your side. Not for a single moment. I have come to find out if you have any further instructions for me.”

She could have kissed the man, but instead touched his arm and indicated that he should enter the room with her. Xára went straight to the sand tray and scribbled. When she drew back, he read her words. “Evie is to remain in her chamber with Ulna. Extra guards for their room. She is not allowed below stairs.”

Ghazi examined her face. “You fear the earl would harm the child?”

Chapter Six

“’Twas a ruse,” Dráddør shouted to be heard over the horses’ pounding hooves. By his estimate, they were but one hill range away from Lathairn. Thank Odin, they had learned of Godfraid’s true direction when they detoured to Myrtle Harbor.

“Aye. And we fell for it,” Konáll yelled.

They crested the hummock and Dráddør’s gut twisted. “Loki’s cock be nailed to a cross!”

When they had seen the three ships anchored in Myrtle Harbor, they knew Godfraid had traveled with either considerable cargo or an army or both. The earl of Leòdhas had brought a sizeable force, and from the looks of the tents being erected around the castle’s walls, expected to stay for some time.

Dráddør pulled on the reins and slowed his horse to a trot.

Konáll and Tighe did the same.

“How many?” Dráddør asked.

“By my count two score,” Tighe replied. “They have not been here for long. See you, not a canvas has been raised.”

“Aye. This bodes no good.” Konáll dragged a hand though his hair.

Their mounts pranced impatiently while the warriors studied the figures darting in all directions. Dráddør scratched his jaw. “No whores or camp followers that I can see.”

“Aye. They have not been on the move for long. Mayhap Lathairn is his first stop.” Tighe patted his restless stallion.

“His only stop. Where else can he head from here but to Kenneth’s court?” Dráddør gathered his reins.

“None, but there or back to his kingdom. Unless, brother, Godfraid intends to make Lathairn part of his holdings.” Konáll scanned the dozens of armed men.

“Dráddør would have to be dead.” Tighe shrugged. “Otherwise Godfraid goes against the King’s command and he loses all.”

“Aye, if he kills Dráddør. But what of a fall from a horse? Or bad meat? I like not this sudden arrival of a neighboring lord and
three
langskips.” Konáll flicked his reins back and forth and studied the frenzied disorder 2tween the river and the castle.

“Or poison. You needs tell your brother the all of it,” Tighe declared.

“Aye. I do.” Quickly Dráddør told his brother everything that had happened since they arrived at Lathairn.

“’Twas wrong of you to keep this from me.” Konáll’s grim tone bespoke a growing anger.

“I did not want to put your wife and babe in danger of a long besiegement,” Dráddør responded, “And knew well you would refuse to leave until any danger to me was long past.”

“Egron approaches.” Tighe jutted a chin at a warrior galloping across the field.

Dráddør kneed his stallion into a canter.

The three of them met Egron halfway across the meadow. The warriors formed a tight circle around Egron.

“What news?” Dráddør demanded.

“Earl Godfraid and his wife arrived right after the None prayers.”

Egron’s rasped words knitted Dráddør’s gut into a tight coil. “Wife?”

“Aye. Ghazi said he feared Lady Xára would swoon, she went so white when she learned of his wife’s name.”

“Xára does not seem the kind of female easily cowered,” Tighe stated.

“Nay.” Dráddør recalled the way Xára had paled when she wrote the name of Arnfinn’s mistress. Magnhildur, Lady Jennie’s cousin. Nay. What man would wed another’s leman? Then he remembered a King who had married his enemy’s mistress.

“To Lathairn!” Dráddør dug his heels into the horse’s flanks. They flew over the tall grasses.

Godfraid’s warriors parted and gave the four men a wide berth.

Hordes packed the bailey and the tight press of bodies forced Dráddør to slow the stallion to a walk. The few familiar faces he recognized all showed signs of worry and fear. He noticed the people of the castle avoided Godfraid’s warriors and kept their distance.

Before the horse halted at the foot of the castle stairs, Dráddør sprang off his mount, threw the reins to one of the waiting boys, and climbed the steps at a leisurely pace, though he had to garner all his discipline to do so. Broadcasting his alarm benefitted none but Godfraid.

Konáll, Tighe, and Egron caught up with him right before he entered the great hall.

“How do we play this?” Tighe asked.

“We greet guests in the name of King Kenneth and King Harald.” Dráddør kept a firm grip on the handle of his hammer. “We extend our hospitality to Earl Godfraid and his wife.”

“My lord.” The castle steward, Haakon, stepped in front of them. “Lady Xára—”

“Is here and ready to greet her Viking husband,” Evie nigh shrieked the words as she pushed through the room towing a white-faced Xára in her wake.

Dráddør could not drag his attention from Xára and Evelyn as they threaded through the crowd.

“Your wife’s cheeks are not rosy.”

Dráddør barely heard the Tighe’s muttered words. He saw naught but the sheer terror in Xára’s eyes. He elbowed Tighe and then Evie out of the way and hooked an arm around his wife’s waist. “To me, Xára. Trust, remember?”

She gave him a poor imitation of a smile. Dráddør turned his attention to her sister. “Evelyn—”

“Evie not Evelyn.” The sprite craned her neck to stare at him and waggled her pale brows. “We must needs go to your chamber. There is much we have to
tell
you.”

Dráddør understood Evie’s frantic gesture and emphasis at once. He twined his fingers with Xára’s and the clammy feel of her palm ratcheted his rising disquiet. “Aye. Lead the way, sprite. Tighe—”

“Egron, Ghazi, and I will deal with matters. See to your wife.” Tighe inclined his head.

“My thanks, friend.”

“I am to Nyssa. My unease grows. See you how many of Godfraid’s warriors have ne’er seen a beard.” Konáll muttered. “Somewhat is amiss.”

Dráddør scanned the gathered soldiers. Most were older youths still on the threshold of full manhood. He spied only a few seasoned warriors amongst Godfraid’s army. An experienced leader would never have picked so many green boy-men to take into battle. Somewhat
was
amiss. “Agreed. But there is naught we can do but stay on guard. I must speak with Xára and the sprite at once.” Sore tempted to swing Xára into his arms, Dráddør instead bent, picked up a startled Evie, and hiked her on one hip. He set off at a quick pace.

“’Tis like being in a tree,” Evie said. She wrapped her little legs around him tighter and took ahold of a hank of his hair. “I am King of the great hall. Nay. Now I am King of the stairs.”

Xára squirmed around him to glower at Evie.

“What do you with my hair?” Dráddør winced when the little girl tugged harder.

“I am redoing your war braids. They have become loose. Vikings have war braids and they paint runes on their faces. I do not know any runes. I saw the handle of your hammer is covered with them. Have you a spare leather tie? I dropped the one I untied.” Evelyn’s nervous chattering would normally amuse him, but he was anxious to hear what had happened, and barely listened to the girl’s discombobulated prattle.

Dráddør set Evie on her feet and expected the girl to quiet, but he discovered she could talk even while doing cartwheels to the bed. “I always forget my ties and then my hair goes wild. Then I must sit forever while Ulna re-plaits it. Have you given Xára a bairn yet?”