‘Will his ribs heal?’
‘Yes. As long as he doesn’t get into any more fights.’
’I never wanted to fight him in the first place. He’s a kinsman of Knut’s, but he’s not the one I need to speak to. I came to Skíð for the woman—Hilda. She’s my father’s widow, my stepmother of sorts, although she hates to be called that. She’s married to Joarr now.’
‘So you came to ask questions of her?’
‘Yes.’ He lowered his head, his shoulders heaving as if at some heavy burden hanging around them. ‘I came to find out if she murdered my father.’
Chapter Ten
Danr laid his forearms across his knees, staring at the ground beneath his feet. It was mostly compact earth with a scattering of twigs and pine needles, as well as five woodlice, one spider and a pair of ants skittering towards the stump. Erika-Bersa hadn’t made any response to his last statement, presumably because she was waiting for him to explain, but it was hard to know where to begin. With the massacre on Alarr’s wedding day? No, if he was going to tell her about Hilda then he had to go back even further, back to the aftermath of his mother’s death.
‘I told you that Rurik and I moved into our father’s hall after our mother died. He was the Jarl, but we were acknowledged as his bastards. I looked so much like him that it would have been hard for him not to acknowledge us, but we were still treated differently from his other sons. Hilda saw to that.’
‘You mentioned Brandt and Alarr before.’
‘Yes. Brandt is the eldest, Alarr was born the same summer as Rurik and I, then Sandulf is the youngest. We were always close, as close as full brothers could be, but Hilda hated Rurik and me from the start. She let us know that she didn’t want us there and in return I made it clear I loathed her, too. I thought it was the least I could do for my mother.’
‘Didn’t your father intervene? Try to make peace?’
He gave a curt laugh. ‘Peace was never high on the list of my father’s priorities. Our feud amused him. And I was just a bastard, after all. It didn’t really matter how I behaved or what I said. He liked me to be wild. He liked to hear of my exploits, too. Stupid, dangerous things at first, like diving from cliffs into the sea or fighting other boys twice my size, but as I grew older, it became all about women.’ He looked up to watch her reaction. ‘For some reason women always liked me. It was almost too easy to bed them. And the more women I bedded, the more it amused my father. Sometimes he invited me on to the high bench at nattmal just so I could tell him about my latest partner. He always made sure it was in Hilda’s hearing, too.’
‘Do you mean mates?’ She drew her brows together, her expression faintly quizzical.
‘Temporary mates, yes. They were all willing, but some of them wanted more from me than I could give. Marriage, commitment...’ He dropped his gaze back to the dirt. ‘I treated them badly. All I thought about was myself, never their feelings.’
‘So you treated them the way your father treated your mother?’
‘What?’ He jerked his head up again, angry at the comparison. ‘No! I never deceived a woman the way he did my mother. I never laid hands on an innocent either. All those women knew what they wanted. Half of them only wanted to bed the Jarl’s son.’
‘You just admitted that you never considered their feelings. It sounds similar to me.’
‘Well, it wasn’t. I might have let them deceive themselves, but I never promised them anything.’ He winced and muttered an oath. ‘Which maybe isn’t much better. Perhaps I’m even more like my father than I realised. Hilda said I was empty and shallow, that I had inherited the very worst of his qualities.’
‘Maybe that’s the reason she disliked you.’
‘Are you siding with her now, too?’ He glowered across the fire pit. ‘But the fact that she hated my behaviour only spurred me on. There was no love lost between her and my father by that point, but they both seemed to have the best interests of Maerr at heart. Then, about three years ago, I noticed her acting differently. Joarr, too. I knew enough about conducting secret affairs to guess what was happening.’
‘Did you tell your father?’
‘That he was a cuckold? No.’
‘Why not? Especially if you disliked her so much?’
‘I’m not sure. Maybe because I didn’t entirely blame her for betraying my father. Maybe because I didn’t want him to kill Joarr in retaliation. I knew that if it carried on then he’d find out sooner or later, but I’d hoped Joarr would come to his senses before then.’
‘But he didn’t?’
‘No. Then a little while afterwards, my father arranged my brother Alarr’s betrothal. It was a good match, one that would have made Maerr more powerful than ever. Guests came from all over for the wedding and there was going to be a great feast, followed by days of celebration. Then a few hours before the ceremony was about to begin, a messenger came with news of trouble to the north. Brandt and Rurik went to deal with it, leaving me and Sandulf behind.’ He stood up, too agitated to keep still now that the words were flowing. ‘It seemed a much better alternative at the time, even though there was a strange atmosphere in the air, too. I couldn’t place my finger on what it was exactly, but it was a kind of tension, as if people were waiting for something to happen. I put it down to the excitement of the wedding.’ He realised that he’d paced to the far side of the clearing and turned around again. ‘The ceremony had barely started before the assassins struck. Our father didn’t stand a chance. Alarr was badly injured and his betrothed Gilla and Brandt’s wife Ingrid were slain in cold blood. Ingrid was carrying a babe at the time.’
He stopped pacing to look at her. Her skin had turned a deathly shade of pale and her expression was even more horrified than he’d expected. For a moment he wondered whether he should have told her his story after all.
‘Go on.’ Even her voice sounded different, as if she were forcing the words through clenched teeth.
‘It was a massacre. They burnt half our boats and houses. By the end, almost our whole village was destroyed.’
‘I’m sorry.’ The words were oddly clipped. ‘But what about you? Were you injured as well?’
‘No.’ He flinched even though he’d been waiting for the question. ‘When the attack started I was...elsewhere.’
‘You mean you were lured away like your brothers?’
‘Something like that.’ He felt bile rise in his throat. Perhaps he ought to tell her the whole truth, but just the thought of it made him feel sick. ‘By the time I realised what was happening it was too late to save my family. I helped to put out fires and did what I could, but...’ He curled his hands into fists. ‘It wasn’t enough, not even close to enough. I should have been there.’
‘Do you think you could have stopped what happened?’
‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘There were too many of them and they were too well organised, but the assassins must have come for my father, not Ingrid or Gilla. Maybe I could have saved them. I would have given my life if it could have saved either of them.’
She was silent for a few moments. ‘And you really think your stepmother was behind it?’
‘I think she’s involved somehow, though I admit it took me a while to see it. She seemed as distraught as anyone to begin with. It never occurred to any of us to suspect her.’ He sat down on the stump again. ‘But we’ve been following clues, my brothers and I. Alarr and Rurik went to Eireann, Brandt and I pursued leads in Alba, and Sandulf travelled all the way to Constantinople where he came upon some of the assassins. Gradually the clues all pointed towards Hilda. That’s why I’ve come here, to discover the truth once and for all.’ He sighed regretfully. ‘I just wasn’t very tactful about it.’
‘You mean you just asked her outright?’ Her brow furrowed again. ‘That doesn’t sound like a very good plan, especially if she’s as ruthless as she sounds.’
‘It wasn’t.’
‘And why were you the one sent to confront her? If she hates you so much, wouldn’t it have been safer for one of her own sons to do it?’
‘Probably, but Rurik and I are the only ones she can’t manipulate. Besides, there wasn’t much choice. Sandulf discovered the evidence that implicated her, but he had to go to Eireann. I’m supposed to join him and our other brothers there before winter to tell them what I discover.’ He made a wry face. ‘I’m usually the best at making plans.’
‘You?’
‘I said usually, not always.’ He scowled as her gaze flickered to his arm. ‘You don’t have to look so surprised. I had a lapse in judgement, but in my defence, I intended to go to the village first, to pretend that I was just passing through and then speak to Joarr before I confronted Hilda. Only when I arrived she was all alone and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. My temper got the better of me. When Joarr found us I was pointing my sword at her throat.’ He spread his hands out. ‘You can see why he was angry.’
‘Don’t you think he might have been involved, too? If he could betray your father’s trust with his wife, then maybe he might have betrayed him in other ways?’
‘No.’ Danr shook his head adamantly. ‘I saw Joarr fighting on our side that day. He would never have murdered our people. Unfortunately, he’s blind when it comes to Hilda. No doubt she’s lied to him and he believes her.’ He sighed. ‘So that’s my story, the reason I’m here.’
‘Mmm.’
‘That’s all you have to say?’ He lifted an eyebrow in surprise. Considering what he’d just told her it seemed a somewhat lukewarm response... No words of sympathy or condolence, just mmm, almost as if she doubted the truth of his words. ‘What do you mean, “mmm”?’
‘I’m not sure yet. I’m thinking.’
‘What is there to think about?’
‘Shhh.’ She waved a hand to quiet him, staring with pursed lips and a look of intense concentration into the distance for a while before shaking her head. ‘No. It doesn’t make sense.’
‘What? Which part?’
‘The part about your stepmother being responsible. Did she hate your brothers’ women, the ones who died?’
‘No. She was fond of them both, especially Ingrid.’
‘Then why would she have killed them? Her own grandchild, too?’
‘I doubt that was supposed to happen. Things probably got out of control. Maybe that’s why she was so upset afterwards.’
‘But you said that your brother Alarr was badly injured as well. Why would she have ordered an attack on her own son’s wedding? Surely there were other occasions she could have used? Why risk him and your other brother, Sandulf?’
‘I just told you, because things got out of hand.’
‘No.’ Her tone was infuriatingly matter of fact. ‘If all she’d wanted was to leave her husband then there are easier ways. Why so much violence?’
‘It’s not just a theory. I have proof!’ He reached for the leather pouch he kept on a cord around his neck, tipping the contents into his hand. ‘These are the pendants Rurik and Sandulf discovered were used to pay the assassins. They recognised them as ones that belonged to Hilda, presents our father gave her after the birth of each of their sons.’
‘They look valuable.’ She reached a hand out, running a finger over one of the gold and silver ridged arrows. ‘Still...’
‘What now?’
‘That’s evidence, not proof. Did the assassins say she was involved?’
‘No. We never gave them a chance.’
‘We?’
‘Sandulf killed one in Constantinople. I killed another in Strathclyde.’ He frowned, feeling a need to defend his actions. ‘The man was a cold-blooded monster and he was about to kill Sandulf.’
‘Then what about Hilda? What did she say when you asked her about them? Did she have an explanation?’
‘I don’t know.’ He cleared his throat awkwardly. ‘I didn’t get that far. Joarr found us before I could even mention the pendants.’
‘So you didn’t think to ask her about them before you threatened her at swordpoint?’
‘As I said, I lost my temper, but it was a bluff. I thought I could make her confess.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘What do you think your brothers would say if you told them this?’
He gave a brusque laugh. ‘Brandt wouldn’t say anything. He’d just glower. Alarr would call me a fool. Rurik would give me a shove and then try to defend me and Sandulf would probably shake his head and say it was all his fault somehow.’
‘Well, at least you know you acted stupidly.’
‘You know you can stop talking again whenever you want.’ He clenched his jaw. ‘Yes, I acted stupidly, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong about Hilda.’
‘It doesn’t prove that you’re right, either.’ She leaned forward towards him. ‘Using her own jewellery to pay the assassins doesn’t make any sense. Why would she use anything that could be traced back to her so easily?’
‘Because she never thought she’d be found out.’
‘But she would have known that her sons would want revenge for their father. That means she would have known there was a strong chance they’d go after the assassins. Why would she have risked them recognising these pendants?’
‘Maybe she made a mistake.’
‘The kind of person who could plan such an intricate attack doesn’t sound like someone who makes mistakes. A clever person would have used gold.’
‘Then maybe she’s not as clever as she thinks.’
‘Or maybe you just want her to be guilty?’
Danr stiffened at the accusation. Was that what he wanted? Looking back, he knew he’d wanted to accuse Hilda. That was why he’d rushed in to confront her when he should have waited. He’d wanted to hear her confess. He still did, but was it possible that she was innocent? Maybe Erika-Bersa was right and he’d let hatred prejudice his judgement.
‘Why are you defending her?’ He sought refuge in anger. ‘Even if she’s not guilty of this, she’s guilty of other things—of the way she treated Rurik and me! Of betraying my father with his own helmsman!’
‘Yes.’ She seemed nonplussed by his reaction. ‘But that’s not why you’re here.’
The words, spoken so softly, seemed to defuse his anger. ‘You’re right, but I need to find out the truth. I need to find out who murdered my family and get justice for them.’
‘I know. That’s why you should take a branch of peace and go and speak to your stepmother properly. It’s what you ought to have done in the first place.’
‘Something tells me a branch of peace isn’t going to stop Joarr from killing me now.’
‘Mmm, perhaps not.’ She pressed her lips together thoughtfully. ‘But there has to be a peaceful way.’
‘Let me know if you think of one.’
‘I will.’ There was a long moment of silence before she spoke again, her voice wavering slightly. ‘Danr, I’m sorry about your father and your womenfolk. It must have been a terrible thing to witness. I know how it feels to lose people you care about.’
‘You mean your family?’ He held on to her gaze, almost afraid to breathe unless it disturbed the new atmosphere of confidence between them. ‘Is that why you’re alone? Will you tell me what happened to them?’
She seemed to hesitate before glancing up at the sky and shaking her head. ‘Not now. I’m tired and there’s more rain coming. Heavy rain this time.’ She stood up and hesitated again. ‘Sissa. That’s my name. And I was born here on the island.’
‘Sissa...’ His heart warmed suddenly. ‘Thank you.’
‘Now, you should fix the roof of your shelter. It has holes.’
Chapter Eleven
A drop of water splashed on to Danr’s cheek. He rolled on to his good side to avoid it and put
his face in a patch of soggy and foul-tasting moss instead. He muttered an oath and rolled back again, listening to the sound of rain outside. Although he noticed it wasn’t just one sound. It was several. Quick splashes, slow splashes, soft splashes, heavy splashes—none of which sounded as if they had any intention of stopping any time soon. His pelt roof had obviously blown away and now an icy wind was finding its way through every nook and cranny in his shelter, of which there appeared to be many, chilling all the wet patches of his clothing. He’d lain down less than an hour ago and now he had a sinking feeling that it was going to be a very long night.
He gave up trying to sleep, propping himself up on his elbows to look outside. Despite the rain, the moon was still bright enough for him to make out the shape of the roundhouse in the centre of the clearing. There was a trail of smoke twisting up from the hole in the roof, unlike his own fire, which had long since given up its battle with the elements. Not surprisingly, Halvar had already abandoned him. He really should have devoted more time and attention to building his shelter, Danr thought regretfully. He probably ought to do something about it now, though how exactly he was going to block up so many holes in the dark he had no idea. Maybe if he asked nicely, Sissa would let him spend the night in her cave. It would be freezing, but at least he’d be dry.
Sissa. Just the thought of her warmed him a little. He felt pleased and honoured that she’d finally trusted him enough to tell him her name. Now that he knew it, it seemed so obvious, too. How could he ever have thought her a Bersa? She couldn’t be anything but Sissa. It suited her. Just like her wild hair and oyster-pearl eyes suited her... They were what made her beautiful. Or at least beautiful in her own way. A way that he was finding more and more appealing. Not that sitting there thinking about that was going to do anything to keep him dry. If he wasn’t careful he’d catch a fever...
He crawled forward and heaved himself to his feet, ready to make a valiant and probably pointless attempt to repair his shelter, when the leather curtain of the roundhouse moved aside and Sissa’s narrow face peered out.
Redeeming Her Viking Warrior Page 9