by Quinn Loftis
“This is an example of a kingdom ruled by fear,” Clay said. “People do not feel comfortable to be out and about. If they are hidden in their homes, then they aren’t in Cathal’s line of sight. They hope to be out of sight and out of mind, and thereby avoid his wrath.”
“What a terrible way to live,” I said. As we progressed through the grounds, I noticed a few people peeping out of cracked doors and shutters. Their eyes were guarded, their faces tense.
“Hurry up,” a guard growled behind me, shoving me in the back. I’d apparently slowed my pace as I stared at my surroundings.
“Don’t touch her,” Brant snarled, taking a menacing step toward the pushy guard.
I moved in front of Brant to keep him from getting closer to the man, not wanting the overzealous guard to have a reason to use my Viking as a pin cushion for his sword. ”Slow down, big guy,” I cooed. “I’m fine. No harm done.”
“Harm or not, no one touches you,” Brant said, glaring at the guard.
The guard started forward, reaching for his sword. Grabbing Brant’s arm with my tied hands, I yanked as hard as I could. “There’s no need to get out the pointy objects,” I said to the guard. “We’re moving. Aren’t we, Brant? We’re walking. We’re walking,” I chanted as I attempted to tug him after me. He finally began following. “Crisis averted,” I breathed out.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. It was just a little push. I barely felt it.”
“You stumbled.”
“I’m clumsy.”
“You’re full of it.”
I sighed. “You can’t go trying to attack everyone who pushes me, especially when you’re tied up,” I pointed out.
“I can and I will.”
“And if they kill you? What will I do then when I really need you?” When he didn’t answer, I glanced over at him. I could tell my words had made the impact I intended. We were quiet from there on out as we followed the guard who was, no doubt, leading us to our doom. I was just full of sunshine and rainbows.
We passed into the castle through oversized double doors. I wasn’t surprised to find it stark and gloomy inside. Cold, bare black and grey stone dominated the structure. No creature comforts were to be found. There were no tapestries on the walls or rugs on the floors. There was just stone, stone, and more stone.
“I’m getting the feeling Cathal is going for a dungeon theme,” I said. Clay coughed on a laugh, and Brant just rolled his eyes.
We started up a spiral staircase. By the time we reached our destination, I was winded and seriously considering a new exercise regimen to help me stay in marching shape. And by new, I meant actually starting one. I was huffing and puffing like an overweight horse that had just run several miles with an overweight rider. Not a good combination.
The guards opened a dark wooden door before motioning for us to enter. We marched in to stand before a throne. On it sat the man I remembered secretly tormenting my sister. I wanted to leap on him. Rip his eyes out. Brant must have sensed me tense.
“Easy,” he breathed. “Take your own advice.”
I clenched my teeth, knowing he was right. It wouldn’t do any good to get my head taken off now. Because I’d never live to see Cathal get gutted as he deserved.
Gisele and Evelyn both scoffed at the space, but Calder seemed impressed. I let my gaze wander from Cathal to the rest of his throne room. There were heads of dead animals mounted on the walls: elk, bear, moose, and even a couple of wolves. Fur rugs rested on the floors that must have once been attached to the heads. The room was like a shrine to the lives Cathal had taken. Honestly, I searched carefully for any hint of his past wives in evidence, but I didn’t see any heads or hides that appeared human in origin. Thank goodness.
“The only reason you aren’t in my dungeon…” the king spoke.
“Does he understand his castle is literally a dungeon?” I whispered to Brant.
“Hush,” the mountain growled at me.
“…is because you are the brother to Magnus and you have her.” Cathal pointed at me.
“So glad to know you haven’t forgotten me,” I said with a smile. It wasn’t a nice smile. “I do like to leave an impression.”
“I’ve never met a more insolent woman,” Cathal spat.
I glanced at Gisele. “He’s obviously never met you or your partner in crime, has he?” I motioned to Evelyn.
Brant cursed under his breath while he glared daggers at me. I probably should’ve heeded his warning and shut up but…if I were going to die anyway, why not go out insulting the evil people of the world?
“Where is your brother?” Cathal asked Calder, completely dismissing me.
“I don’t know,” Calder said. “He left my clan with your bride in tow.”
Cathal studied me. I shook my head immediately before he could speak. “I’ve been locked up with that one controlling me like a puppet on a string.” I pointed to Gisele. “I have no idea where my sister is.” And that wasn’t a lie since they were most likely on their way to Tara, which meant they were somewhere in the middle of the ocean. I couldn’t guess as to exactly where.
“Who are you?” Cathal asked Brant.
“He’s my prisoner,” Gisele said. “As is the other man.”
“Why did you bring them with you?”
“Leverage,” the witch answered.
“If you don’t know where my bride is, then why the hell are you here?” the king of Tara barked.
“If you would swallow your questions for a few minutes, we will tell you,” Evelyn piped up. Her voice was soft, but it was sharp as a double-edged sword.
“You dare to speak to me in such a way?” Cathal’s voice grew deadly as he stared the witch down.
“I do,” Evelyn answered. “And if you want to survive what’s coming, you would do well to listen.”
The two vipers locked eyes, and the tension in the room rose several notches.
“Why do I feel like they’re just as likely to rip each other’s clothes off as kill each other right now?” I asked quietly.
“Only you would think of sex at a time like this,” Clay grumbled.
“Oh, please, everyone is thinking it. I’m just the only one brave enough to bring it up.”
“Hate is a very passionate emotion,” Brant said. “For people who only seem to feel hate, it would make sense they would be attracted to it.”
I smiled. “I love that you get me.”
“I love that I get you, too,” he said with a grin, which disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. We turned our attention back to Cathal and Evelyn because they were the biggest threats in the room.
“Fine, you’ve stroked my curiosity. What’s coming?”
“That’s not all he wants her to stroke judging by the gleam in his eye,” I muttered, causing Clay to choke and Brant to chuckle.
“Clan Hakon is headed this way as we speak,” Gisele stated. “They are planning to exact revenge for your attack on their village.”
“How do you know?” Cathal asked.
“I’m a witch,” Gisele said as she lifted her chin and pulled her shoulders back. She was obviously quite proud of her declaration, almost as if she had just announced she was the queen of some country.
“Okay,” Cathal said, his shrewd eyes narrowed. “So what?”
Gisele sighed like the conversation bored her. “I use blood magic. I cannot begin to explain to your simple mind all the things that gives me the power to do. Suffice it to say that when I tell you something is going to happen, then it is going to happen.”
“And I’m just supposed to trust you?” Cathal asked. His tone made it clear he thought Gisele a complete nutter.
“Well, it’s either that and prepare for war…or completely ignore me, get blindsided, and have your royal arse handed to you when an army of Vikings lands upon your shores.”
“It would be completely inappropriate to laugh right now, wouldn’t it?” I said under my breath.
; “Considering of all the people in this room, we are the least powerful, yes, it would be inappropriate to laugh,” Clay said.
“Always spoiling my fun.”
“Why would we lie to you?” Evelyn asked Cathal. “Why would we travel all this way to waste our breath? What would be the benefit to us?”
Cathal seemed to consider her words as his eyes roamed over our group. I wasn’t sure if he thought he had some supernatural ability to sniff out a lie, but it felt as if it took him forever to come to a decision.
“When are they to arrive?” he asked.
“Tomorrow night,” Gisele answered.
“And it is only Clan Hakon?”
“No, three others have joined,” the witch said.
“How formidable are these clans?” Cathal asked.
“I honestly don’t know,” Calder said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my brother’s clan, and we are not exactly sure which of the other clans have joined. But I’m sure they’re no match for your army.”
Calder scoffed. “As if anyone is a match for my army.” Then he addressed me. “What about your father? I haven’t heard any rumblings that he’s up in arms about his two daughters missing. Is he trusting that Viking to rescue the two of you?”
“What my father is doing isn’t really any of your concern, but, not to be redundant, I’ve been a little tied up to keep up with my father’s actions,” I pointed out yet again.
“It’s not like he has the means to attack me,” Cathal said. “The whole reason he was throwing his eldest daughter at me in the first place was because of the poor state of his kingdom.”
I bit my tongue because I knew if I opened my mouth, I was going to say something that would most likely get me killed. Then Brant would do something stupid, causing a domino effect that would end with him and Clay dead as well. See, I could be reasonable and self-controlled when I tried.
“If I get your sister back, I might consider helping him still, or…” He paused, his lips turning up into a sinister smile. “I might just burn England to the ground and enslave whoever lives.”
“And I might just kick you in your man parts hard enough to make you choke on your ba—”
“Dayna!” Brant barked, cutting off my words.
Okay, so maybe I overestimated my ability to control myself. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Cathal stood and started toward me, but Gisele stepped in front of him. “She is not your prisoner. She is mine. Do not think for a minute you have any right to her, previous association be damned.”
“Awe, Gizzy, I didn’t know you cared so much,” I practically sang. “I’m so glad the attachment isn’t one-sided.”
Gisele whirled on me. “Would you please just shut your trap and try not to get killed? I still need you at the moment…but there will come a time when I won’t. Remember that.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I won’t forget,” I said, eyes on the witch I had mentally promised myself to kill with my bare hands.
“Recall the army and make ready for battle,” Cathal said to the guard next to him. “All forces.”
“You’re going to believe us then?” Evelyn asked.
“I have nothing to lose by believing you. But I might experience a minor inconvenience if I choose to ignore your warning. Dealing with Clan Hakon will be like batting at a mosquito, but even a mosquito can be damaging if allowed to bite over and over. Better to kill it the moment it comes near.”
“Torben’s going to love being compared to a mosquito,” Brant murmured.
I shook my head. “It’s not an insult. A mosquito can spread disease and kill a lot of people. It’s actually a stealthy and formidable foe if you don’t know to be leery of them.”
“We will meet you at your castle gates tomorrow at dusk,” Gisele began.
Cathal shook his head. “I’m not letting you loose on my lands. You will stay here, under my watchful eyes.” He motioned for the guard, but the minute the man stepped toward the two witches, both women moved at once. Before I could blink, I heard a couple of hollow thunks. Two knives protruded from the guard’s chest. He glanced down, wide-eyed, then fell to the floor.
“We did not come here to become your prisoners,” Evelyn spat. The rage in her eyes was unmistakable.
“I don’t know who you think—” Cathal started, and I wanted to tell him what an idiot he was for even attempting to argue with the witch, but then I remembered I didn’t care if he lived so I sealed my lips.
“I am Evelyn, a witch of great power, and I can destroy you,” she cut him off. “You live because you are of use to me, and that is the only reason. Now, let me explain how this will work. We have things we must do to prepare for the arrival of Clan Hakon. You are going to allow us to go about our business, and you are going to go about yours. We will meet you at the castle gates at dusk tomorrow evening. You will not attempt to interfere with us, nor will you attempt to take our prisoners. If you do, I will personally cut you into pieces, slowly and over the course of many years.”
Cathal looked as if his head were going to explode. I would bet he’d never had a woman threaten him in such a way.
Evelyn sounded amused when she spoke again. “You seem ready to attack. Please do. I’m feeling parched, and your blood would no doubt quench me nicely.”
“I think I just threw up in my mouth a little,” I whispered as the image of her drinking Cathal’s blood filled my mind. Gross.
“Get out,” Cathal snarled, then glared at the still-alive guard. “Get him out of here, then get this cleaned up.” He pointed at the dead man and the blood pooling around him on the floor.
Without another word, Gisele, Evelyn, and Calder marched out of the room. Clay, Brant, and I followed. I glanced back to see Cathal glaring at our retreat. I knew without a doubt he was already planning Evelyn’s death.
We spent the day on the beach near where the ships being guarded by Calder’s men waited offshore. Gisele had threatened to force me to drink that blasted beverage that turned me into a compliant fool if we attempted to escape, and Evelyn had threatened to force Brant to bed her and make me watch. I would not repeat the things I yelled at the harlot because there could be young ones listening. At the time, I didn’t care who heard what I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Night had fallen by the time I cooled down enough to keep from saying something hateful about Evelyn. Calder had the decency to at least put us in a small tent so we wouldn’t freeze to death. There were guards on all sides of the tent so escaping was not likely, but that didn’t stop me from fantasizing about it.
“I’ve got to say, Little Princess, your jealousy is quite attractive,” Brant said.
“Shut up, brute,” I growled.
He chuckled. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’d be bothered if you weren’t jealous.”
“Maybe I’m just concerned about her taking you against your will. Nobody should be forced into another person’s bed against their will, not even a man,” I said.
“Or maybe you just hate the thought of another woman touching me,” he replied.
“And if another man touched me?” I asked.
“I’d rip his arms off and beat him with them, then make him watch as I fed them to wild boar.”
Slack jawed, I stared with wide eyes. “Wow. Okay. So, we have some violence issues to work through.”
Brant scoffed. “Need I remind you that you told the witch if she touched me, you would take one of Gisele’s crow beaks and peck her eyes out? I think you’re every bit as violent when it comes to me as I am when it comes to you.”
“Don’t forget Dayna also said she’d cut off the witch’s breasts, then shove them down her throat until she suffocated,” Clay said.
“Why are you bringing up old stuff?” I asked Clay. “There’s no need to bring up the past.”
“That was only a few hours ago,” Clay said, frowning.
“Exactly. Hours ago. The past. Leave it there.”
He sighe
d. “I hope you have daughters. Ten of them—and they all drive you as crazy as you’ve driven me.”
“Take that back,” Brant all but snarled. “Don’t you dare wish that on me.”
“I was wishing it on Dayna.”
“Since I will be the sire of her children, you are also wishing it on me. Take it back this instant. The gods may decide they find humor in your request and grant it.” Brant sounded so distraught it made me laugh.
“Hush, Vixen,” he growled. “You will only bear me sons, and they will all be strong, disciplined, and honorable.”
“Tell yourself whatever you need to, big man,” I teased, then yawned. The travel and events of the day had finally caught up to me. Thankfully, our captors had untied us again. Brant pulled me into his arms, pressed my head to his chest, then kissed my forehead. A small smile curved my lips. I couldn’t wait for this mess to be done so I could start my life with my Viking.
“Sleep. You will need your energy tomorrow in case Evelyn threatens to bed me again,” Brant said, amusement lacing his words.
“I’m going to pray for all girls,” I threatened.
“Don’t you dare.”
I chuckled. Net that I really would. I didn’t want to deal with little versions of me. That would be a nightmare. But I didn’t have to let Brant know that.
* * *
“W
here are they?” Cathal yelled from where he stood on the walls of his castle. The day had come and gone, and it was completely dark.
“They will be here,” Gisele said for the fiftieth time, though I noticed her eyes appeared a little less sure than when she’d said it the first few dozen times.
“If you have been lying to me…” Cathal threatened.
“Again…” Evelyn snapped. “Why would we lie!”
Clay, Brant, and I were positioned on the insides of the castle gate just below where Cathal, Calder, Gisele, and Evelyn stood on the wall. They weren’t being quiet, so we could hear every word they said. I, too, was confounded by the lack of an attack. Had Gisele gotten the time wrong somehow? I had no idea how her witchy powers worked, but she didn’t seem like the type to get things wrong. She seemed too uptight for that, and she certainly wouldn’t waste time on Cathal if she didn’t think he would somehow be helping her cause.