‘Rouse yourself. We need to go into town and you will be required to help. Go down to the stream and wash the filth from your face.’
Rowena did not need to be told twice, so with one of the dwarves as her guard she plunged into the stream fully dressed, scrubbing the dirt from her body and tattered clothes, plunging her grimy hair beneath the icy, sparkling waters. The heavy-eyed dwarf took little notice of her, his eyes more intent on closing. When she emerged from the water she felt fresher than she had in a long time, and much brighter too. It was an autumn day but the sun was shining, allowing a little warmth to her bones.
She dried off by the fire as she cooked the breakfast, wondering what the town would be like, excited that she would be able to see something other than the drab encampment. Her heart soared; mayhap she would be able to escape from her servitude, from the cruel people who held her captive.
When she set off in the little cart that was drawn by a donkey, Maeve watched dejectedly, her heart filled with as much hate for Rowena as ever.
Dubh Linn lay at the point where the rivers Poddle and Liffey met, and Rowena gazed with pride at the place of her ancestors. The town was busy, teeming with life, now that the Vikings had returned years earlier, settling as merchants. Market stalls were heaped with all sorts of goodies and Mageen fingered some sweetmeats greedily. Aed smilingly bought her some, for they had been out on a raid the night before and returned to the camp loaded down with booty.
Rowena followed in their footsteps, the hood of her mantle pulled up over her bright hair, the sack she was carrying filling swiftly with Mageen and Aed’s purchases. The shouts of the traders were a boon to her ears, their bright smiles a panacea for her bruised heart. Even the whores, who plied their trade well on the streets of the town, wiggling their bottoms, lifting nearly bare breasts and promising each man they saw a good fucking for a few coins, could not upset her today.
Aed tugged impatiently on the rope around her waist when she lingered for too long at a fish stall, and her happiness faded, for it reminded her that she was no more than a slave, and that she would be hard pushed to escape the two.
The sights of Dubh Linn ceased to thrill her and she followed dejectedly behind Aed and Mageen, dragging the sack that was becoming heavier by the moment. A huge red-haired man with drawn brows blocked her path and Rowena looked up at him fearfully. If he delayed her Aed would pull on the rope and she would surely be punished on their return to the settlement. But he gave such a loud exclamation of surprise she was momentarily shaken out of her ill humour.
‘Grainne!’ The man shook with emotion and his complexion drained of all colour. ‘Grainne, you have come back to me.’ He ran his fingers through locks every bit as fiery as her own, and Rowena stared at him in confusion.
He started towards her and she took a swift step back, trying to ward him off with her arm. As she did the hood of her mantle fell back and the man came to a halt, his arms stopping in midair as he began to reach out for her. He took in the flame tresses that curled about her shoulders, and gave a loud cry like a huge beast in deep anguish.
‘Who are you?’ he demanded. ‘Why have you come to haunt me?’
Rowena was as shaken as he. Why would a stranger call out her mother’s name in such a way? She glanced around to see that Mageen and Aed were busy sorting through some bright cloth, quite oblivious to what was happening to her. ‘Who am I?’ she cried. ‘You call out my mother’s name and ask who I am.’
The huge stranger fingered a stray curl tenderly. ‘Mother? Grainne is your mother?’ Tears ran unbidden down the well-weathered face. ‘Then she was with child when she fled from me. The gods have brought my daughter to me.’
Rowena’s bloodless lips moved, but there was no sound. He suddenly embraced her and she clung to him. This was her father, but far from the heathen she had expected he was warm and tender. ‘Godmund the Red… father,’ she whispered.
They were not to be in each other’s arms overlong, for Aed, having found what he wanted on the stall, took up the slack in the rope, tugging Rowena away from her father. But when Godmund realised what was happening he roared, stopping Aed and Mageen in their tracks.
‘What is this infamy? Who are you to treat my daughter so?’ Before Aed and Mageen were able to give any explanations they were surrounded by Godmund’s men and borne away. It was all too much for Rowena and she fainted clean away in his arms.
When she awoke it was to find that she was in a huge bed, swaddled with furs. A woman moving around the bedchamber immediately came to her and gave her some water before asking after her health. Then she went and brought Godmund to her, and they spent the next few hours catching up on each other’s lives and adventures.
Rowena looked at the thick red fringe tinged with grey on his forehead. He swept it aside to reveal the serpent-shaped blemish that matched the one on her wrist. She smiled. ‘No one could dispute our kinship.’
But Godmund was sombre. After learning what had been happening to her he was stiff with anger. ‘The dwarves will be punished,’ he promised. ‘There have been many tales of their thievery and murders, but they have been clever at averting discovery, moving around frequently. And the Irish woman will be sent away so she will be unable to hurt you again. A life of hard servitude is no more than she deserves.’ He paused. ‘As for Sigurd, I have another punishment in mind for him.’
‘What happened between you and my mother?’ she asked curiously, for he had hardly mentioned Grainne since their meeting.
His expression was grim. ‘I was a stranger, an interloper in her land. I saw her and wanted her, so I took her. It is not the way gentle bred maidens imagine they will be treated, so she ran away from me.’ He sighed. ‘I am older now and the world has worn off some rough edges, but I loved her more than I have loved anyone since.’
‘I know what it is to love like that.’ Her eyes filled and Godmund’s sad gaze fell on her agonised face with pity, for she had told him about Leif. But feeling his strength she shook off her self-pity; she would be strong like her father. ‘And what of Sigurd?’ She asked guardedly, wondering why he hated her father so.
Godmund ground his teeth angrily. ‘I suppose he had reason to hate me, but he should have sought me out like a man, not used my daughter so.’
He paced around the room and Rowena took in the kindly features, the huge shoulders, with delight. He was hers and no one could part them now. ‘Father,’ she said quietly, breaking into his thoughts, ‘will you not tell me what happened?’
Godmund paced some more before stopping at the foot of her bed. ‘I fell in love with Sigurd’s mother. She was unhappy and Thorkel treated her worse than the lowest thrall. She was a good woman but she was ripe for love, and I gave it to her.’
‘I see.’ Rowena strove to take in the news. ‘But she died?’
He gave a small groan. ‘Aye, we decided to run away together, taking the child. But we were captured by Estonian pirates.’ He swallowed hard and his eyes misted as cruel memories were forced to the surface. ‘Helgi’s heart gave out. All I had left was the boy. I swore to protect him with my last breath, but we were separated and I never saw him again until years later when he was almost a man.’ His eyes were haunted. ‘He recognised me and came at me with much anger. I refused to fight him, but what can a man do when faced with a battleaxe but defend himself? Unfortunately I disfigured him, you know the rest.’
He was at her side and she took his hand in hers, pressing it to give him her support. ‘Oh, father.’
‘I have loved but two women in my life and brought naught but death or sorrow to them both. And so I live here now, in your mother’s land, converted to her faith, hoping her God will forgive me.’
Rowena soothed him with gentle words. They held each other until the door knocked and Godmund went to see who it was. When he returned it was with a mysterious smile. ‘If you are feeling better, daughter, I su
ggest you repair to the hall. I shall await you there.’
He left her in the capable hands of a kindly maidservant, who gowned her like a queen. Her hair was braided and upon her head was placed a gold circlet. Her shift was neatly pleated, her tunic of the finest wool in a rich blue that fell in folds around her, accentuating every curve and detail of her lovely body. The jewels she wore were the richest she had ever seen. Thus attired, she made her way to the hall, intrigued by her father’s sudden change of mood.
Godmund’s hall thronged with his people, who nodded gleefully to see their beloved chieftain reunited with his lovely daughter. It was full of the treasures he had brought from abroad and Rowena admired them as she glided up to him, the perfumes of the east wafting around her.
He held his hand out and greeted her with a kiss. ‘Rowena,’ he began, a frisson of excitement in his voice, ‘there is someone here to see you.’
Rowena frowned slightly, wondering who it could be, for no one knew where she was. But when the golden-haired man with the bluest eyes she had ever seen, walked up the aisle of the hall towards her, a broad smile on his face, she went to him on feet as light as angel’s wings. ‘Leif,’ she breathed, as he embraced her in powerful arms, ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I thought over what had happened between us,’ he replied, hugging her close, ‘and I decided I acted too hastily, so I returned to Iceland only to find you gone and Sigurd set off after you.’ He looked to her father, who nodded and he went on. ‘Only Sigurd’s boat was caught in bad weather and he was lost at sea.’
Rowena’s head was spinning with all this new information, and seeing her dilemma Godmund whispered something to Leif, who led her from the hall and back to her bedchamber.
Standing in the beautiful chamber Godmund had given over to his daughter Leif kissed her fingers. ‘Forgive me, my darling, I should have known better than to believe any of those things you told me in the barn. I should have realised you were only thinking of saving me from Sigurd’s wrath.’
‘But how did you locate me?’ she asked, afraid she would wake up and find herself back in the camp of the dwarves.
‘Algitha told me of your plans. And as I knew Godmund I decided to stop off at his hall first.’ He smiled and her stomach seemed to somersault. ‘But I never suspected to find you so quickly.’
She led him to her bed. ‘It was fated,’ she whispered, slipping out of her blue smock and kirtle, reclining on the large bed, welcoming her lover.
‘And will you miss Sigurd?’ he asked uneasily, shedding his clothes to reveal the corded strength she was unable to resist.
Rowena shook her head, a wicked smile lighting her face. ‘No, but I do like a man to conquer me. A little rough with the smooth is good for the soul.’
She giggled as Leif’s cock reared and he lifted her from the bed, flipping her over his lap. ‘Then, shall we see just how pink we can make this naughty little bottom?’
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