“Is this a trick?” one of the girls stammered. “Are you just teasing us?”
“No,” he replied, crouching down and speaking softly. “You’ll soon be back with your families.”
As they finally let out gasps and relieved sobs, he glanced around the hold in search of the glass vessels he knew were stored there. Seeing several boxes in a corner, he found the right container, selected a small glass cone, and smashed it against the wall.
“I’m going to release you,” he declared, hurrying back to them and using a shard to cut through the rope.
“Did you say Ailith is waiting?” one of the girls asked, but before he could answer, she added, “But she was captured too.”
“I have claimed her. She’s mine now. She asked me to free you.”
“But she doesn’t even like us. Why is she doing this?”
“Because she can,” Ulrick said sternly, growing annoyed with their chatter. “Would you prefer I let you stay here?”
“Astrid, stop asking so many questions,” another girl said sharply, then turned her pleading eyes up at him and lowered her voice. “No, sir, we definitely don’t want to be here and we’re very grateful for your help.”
“That’s more like it,” he muttered, dropping the broken glass on the floor, planning to leave it as evidence of their resourcefulness. “When you reach home you’ll tell everyone it was Ailith who did this for you,” he ordered, removing the ropes from around their bodies. “This was her idea, and hers alone. She also has new clothes for you.”
Though the three girls shared a surprised glance, they quickly rose to their feet and followed him to the steps.
“As you leave, stay quiet and do exactly what she says,” he continued. “You won’t see me, but I’ll be shadowing you in case of trouble.”
In spite of their strained relationship with Ailith, when they climbed out of the hold and saw her, they immediately threw their arms around her, murmuring their heartfelt gratitude.
“Rather than run along the beach in front of the sleeping warriors, it will be much safer climbing along the rocks on the side of the cliff,” she whispered. “It won’t be hard. They’re just like the ones above the river at home.”
Ulrick had been watching his men. There’d been no movement, and he motioned Ailith to start down the ladder into the shallow water. As the girls started their risky journey near the huge boulders in front of the cavern, he’d wander along the beach, and if anyone woke up, he’d distract them. Reaching the massive boulders, he was about to wish the three girls a safe journey home, when Ailith suddenly glanced at the passage leading into the cavern.
“I’ll only be a moment,” she said softly, then disappeared into the narrow opening.
“Where did she go?” one of the girls whispered.
“She’s fetching something, but she’ll be right back and you’ll be on your way.”
As a light breeze wrapped around him, he lifted his eyes to the sky and saw faint clouds float past the moon. He looked forward to the trip home, and he hoped the seas would stay calm.
“I wish she’d hurry up,” one of the girls muttered. “I’m so nervous.”
Dropping his gaze, he was about to reassure her when Ailith emerged from the rocks. He knew immediately something was wrong.
“Go into my cave,” she said urgently, her wide eyes filled with alarm. “I’ll take the girls to the forest and meet you in the cavern as quickly as I can.”
Panic seized him.
He already knew the gold had disappeared.
* * *
Entering the dark, empty cavern, the only light came from a low glow emanating from the far wall. The fire in the tiny cave in which Magnus slept was still burning. Wanting more light, he hurried to the back of the huge chamber and peeked into the tiny alcove. Varig and Magnus were sleeping. Creeping to the low fire, he lifted a burning stick and strode the short distance to Ailith’s small cave.
The glow of the flame confirmed his fear.
The stones had been moved.
The entrance gaped open.
His heart racing, he crawled into the chamber.
“No, no, no,” he muttered, straightening up and moving around the empty space. “It can’t be—yet it is.”
But Ulrick had achieved great success not just because of his physical strength, fighting prowess and leadership skills. In times of crisis he possessed the unique ability to remain unfazed. His mind cleared, he analyzed without panic or fear, and was able to see beyond the obvious. As the familiar cloak of calm settled over him, logic took hold. There was only one explanation. When Ailith had led him and Ekrem to the treasure, they had been followed.
Closing his eyes he visualized the walk from Ekrem’s boat to the boulders. He’d stayed aware, constantly looking behind him, and when they’d entered the cavern he was sure they’d been alone. When they’d left—
His eyes popped open.
“Bjørn,” he mumbled. “He claimed he was on his way into the cavern, but he must have been leaving, and simply turned around when he heard us approach.”
Though he believed Bjørn was a noble and loyal warrior, even the most faithful follower could lose their allegiance when faced with the prospect of great wealth.
But Ulrick didn’t race off to find him.
Moving the torch across the floor, he narrowed his eyes, searching for anything the thief may have dropped.
Something glistened in the fire’s light.
Crouching down, he discovered it wasn’t an object, but water.
Lowering the flaming stick, he could make out the clear outline of footprints. Sweeping the torch toward the entrance, the intruder’s track was clear. One person had been working alone, and he had come in from the ocean.
Straightening up, Ulrick considered the weight of the chest. Ekrem had said the two of them would have to carry it.
“But Ekrem is slight,” he muttered. “Perhaps two men his size would be needed, but I have three times his strength. So do my warriors, and that includes Bjørn.”
Having a last hunt to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, he crawled back into Ailith’s cave. The wet footprints coming and going from the cavern were easy to see, and they appeared to be fresh.
The culprit might still show signs of his swim, with wet hair or damp clothing.
“Unless he waded along the shoreline,” Ulrick said to himself, “but then I would have seen him. No. The man must have been swimming. He used the boats for cover, then emerged near the rocks.”
An idea sprang to mind.
Moving quickly back to the beach, he walked past where he’d said goodbye to the girls, and shone the torch on the sand. A lone set of tracks led back and forth to the water’s edge.
“Ulrick?”
He was so deep in thought Ailith’s whisper almost startled him. Turning around and finding her directly behind him, he pushed the bottom of the blazing stick into the sand and opened his arms.
“What will we do?” she murmured, panic in her voice. “Who could have stolen the chest? How did they find out it was there? The only person who knew was Magnus.”
“Take a deep breath and calm yourself,” he said softly. “Did you run into any problems?”
“No, they’re probably through the forest by now, but what about Ekrem’s coins?”
“The first thing we have to do is tell him what happened.”
“Shouldn’t we try to find his gold first?”
“If he decides he wants to visit his treasure and finds it gone—”
“He’ll immediately think we took it!” she declared, cutting him off.
“Exactly, and no matter how much we deny it, the shadow of doubt will remain. If we wake him up and give him the news, he’ll see the situation in a completely different light, and, Ailith, I believe I know the culprit.”
“I’ve been thinking about that too,” Ailith said earnestly, pulling back and staring up at him. “I suspect Bjørn.”
“How did you com
e up with that?”
“When I was leading the girls across the rocks, I tried to remember if anyone was around when I took you to the cavern with Ekrem. We ran into Bjørn coming in, but he might have been going out, and just turned around when he heard us.”
“I imagined exactly the same thing,” Ulrick declared, “but we have no proof, and I’m not going to condemn a man on anything so flimsy. After we speak with Ekrem, I’ll leave you there while I hunt down Bjørn. If he’s missing, we can safely assume it was him. If he’s still here, I’ll find out very quickly if he’s the guilty party, but before we head off...” he muttered, turning his gaze to the rocks.
“You think the chest might be there?”
“If I had stolen it, I wouldn’t risk taking it far, and I certainly wouldn’t try smuggling it onto one of the boats. I’d leave it somewhere safe and return for it, even if it meant coming back in a small boat by myself much later. A fortune like that would be worth the risk. Stay here while I take a look.”
“Be careful.”
“Ailith, I’m always careful,” he replied with the hint of a smile.
But as he headed off, he had second thoughts about the treacherous exploration. The sharp edges and slippery surfaces were challenging enough in bright sunlight.
He paused his step.
“How would you carry a chest in there,” he muttered, staring at the menacing rocks.
Glancing across at the side of the cliff, he decided to climb up the smooth boulders to view the area from above. Hoisting himself up on the first, he looked across to the second. It was a short hop, but as he landed, he almost tripped. Catching his balance just in time, he looked down to see what caught his foot. At first he thought it was a piece of wood, but as he bent down to pick it up, he discovered it was a rope.
His heart skipped.
Picking it up and giving it a tug, the thick cord barely moved.
Lying flat on his stomach, he stared into the myriad shadows and shapes. Though he could barely make it out, he spied the outline of the chest nestled in a tide pool. Thrilled by the discovery, a moment later he was trying to think who put it there.
Bjørn?
Letting out a heavy sigh, Ulrick felt a wave of doubt.
Chapter Nineteen
Climbing carefully back to the beach, Ulrick gave Ailith the good news. Overjoyed, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “This is amazing. How did you know?”
“I’m a bit like you. Sometimes I just know things,” he replied with a relieved sigh. “Now I must wake Ekrem. You should—”
“Please don’t send me back to your boat,” she begged, cutting him off.
Abruptly placing his hand over her mouth, he delivered a quick, stinging swat on her tender backside.
“I was going to say,” he declared, looking into her wide, shocked eyes, “you should come with me. That clever brain of yours might have something to contribute. Next time let me finish.”
“Sorry, Master,” she murmured as he lowered his hand.
“It’s when you listen, you learn. Remember that.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wrapping his fingers around hers, he started off at a fast clip toward Ekrem’s ship, but as he strode along the waterline he searched the beach for Bjørn. Finally sighting him at the far end, he was with the same small group Ulrick had seen him with earlier. They appeared to be sleeping like the rest of his men.
Reaching the elegant vessel, he climbed up the sturdy ladder and helped Ailith onto the deck. Arriving at the ornately carved door, Ulrick took a moment to silently thank the gods for leading him to the treasure. He believed Ekrem would become a valuable friend, and working with him to uncover the thief would forge their alliance.
Ailith’s small hand squeezed his. He glanced down at her.
“It’s such a blessing you found that chest,” she whispered. “Now he’ll know he can trust you, and you’ll grow closer looking for the thief.”
“I just had the same thought,” he murmured with a smile, wondering if she really could read minds, then raising his closed fist, he knocked loudly.
* * *
Ulrick had expected the door to be opened by a sleepy man, but dressed in a bright red, flowing robe, Ekrem appeared to be wide awake. As he ushered them in and gestured toward a table in the corner of the room, Ulrick noticed the bed was undisturbed.
“What brings you here at this late hour?” Ekrem asked. “Have you found Gander’s killer?”
“Prepare yourself,” Ulrick declared. “Your gold was stolen, but I’ve found it. The thief has it hidden in the craggy rocks near the cavern.”
Ekrem had been leaning forward in his chair, but jerked backwards as if he’d been hit in the jaw.
“Who stole it?” he abruptly demanded. “Tell me! I will slice his throat!”
“I’m not sure. I do have someone in mind, but I’m not convinced. I plan to speak with him right away, but I wanted to alert you first. I’ll know very quickly if he’s the guilty party.”
“How? How could anyone have found it?” Ekrem muttered, abruptly lowering his voice and shaking his head. “We weren’t followed, I’m sure of it. I’m very aware of such things. Many times my life depends on it.” Then taking a breath, he added, “If the thief isn’t this man you’re about to question, how do we find him?”
“That’s the question, Ekrem. How do we find him?”
“May I...?” Ailith asked softly.
“Please do,” Ekrem exclaimed.
“Could we lure him back to the chest somehow?”
“That’s a very interesting suggestion,” Ulrick remarked. “I’m sure we could come up with something.”
“I agree,” Ekrem said thoughtfully. “Please, Ulrick, speak with the man you suspect. Rule him out first. I’ll stay here and think about Ailith’s idea. Is my chest difficult to reach?”
“A rope was wrapped around it, and it was lowered into a tide pool. Pulling it back out should be easy enough. Ekrem, would you mind if Ailith stays here while I question my man? I don’t want her alone with this bastard on the loose.”
“Quite right,” Ekrem said solemnly. “Our thief will probably be the same man who murdered Gander.”
“I think so too, and I need to find him before he can do any more harm,” Ulrick said grimly, moving toward the door. “This won’t take long. I’ll be back shortly.”
* * *
While there was something about Bjørn that made her uneasy, and he had been in the passage between the boulders after she’d taken Ulrick and Ekrem to the gold, her inner voice was telling her Bjørn wasn’t the guilty party...
“Would you like anything to eat or drink?” Ekrem asked, breaking into her thoughts. “You didn’t have much when you were here earlier.”
“I am rather hungry,” she admitted, shifting in her seat.
Her backside had been tender, and the quick, sharp, stinging swat hadn’t helped.
“Do you find that chair uncomfortable?”
An annoying flush crossed her cheeks.
“Not at all,” she managed. “I’m just restless.”
“That’s understandable. I’ll fetch you something to eat. That will help.”
Taking a deep breath, she thought back to the village girls as she’d left them at the forest. Not wanting to trust them with the gold coin, she’d dropped it into a small urn, one of several she’d found in the past during her explorations in the cavern. Dropping in pebbles to hide it, she’d placed the urn in the bag and told them it was for Thomas, the wise, elderly leader of the village.
“It’s for him only,” she’d said solemnly, giving them a fierce gaze. “You were right about me. I do practice magic, and if you try to steal it you’ll be cursed. Only Thomas can hold it. Tell him it contains a secret for his eyes only. Remember, if you don’t do as I say, you’ll be cursed.”
They’d stared back at her, their eyes filled with fear, then ran off into the forest.
“This will help you
feel better,” Ekrem said, breaking into her thoughts as he placed a dish of aromatic, bite-sized morsels and a glass of cloudy water in front of her. “You’ll like the drink. It’s lemon juice, sugar, and water.”
“Lemon? I don’t know what that is.”
“A lemon is a sour fruit, but made into a drink it’s delicious. Try it.”
Tentatively raising the glass to her lips and taking a sip, she broke into a smile.
“I like it very much. I know about berries. All kinds of berries,” she exclaimed. “There are some that are poisonous, like the ones that killed Gander, and others that are... that are...” Her voice trailed off as a vague notion popped into her head.
“Ailith, are you all right?”
“I, uh, I’m not sure,” she replied, trying to grasp it.
“You’re probably dizzy from not eating enough.”
Though she knew that wasn’t the case, she picked up a small pie and took a bite. As the rich flavor filled her mouth, she rolled her eyes with pleasure.
“Delicious,” she exclaimed, reaching for another. “My goodness. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
“Empty the plate. I’m sure you’ll feel better for it.”
As she devoured the food, he moved away and sat down at a small desk across the room. She wasn’t sure if he was busy, or just pretending to be so he wouldn’t interrupt her meal, but she was grateful. Finishing all the tarts but one, she washed down the supper with the tasty drink.
“Thank you, Ekrem,” she declared with a satisfied sigh. “I was starving.”
Rising to his feet, he walked slowly back to her.
“We’re alike,” he remarked, sitting down. “When we start thinking, we forget about the needs of our body. Solving the puzzle becomes the priority.”
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “That’s exactly what happens.”
“Ah, Ulrick has returned,” he murmured, loud footsteps above their heads warning of his arrival.
“They’re so noisy,” she remarked. “How do you sleep if there are people on board?”
Rough Warrior Page 14