Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny)

by K. Young

  "You must talk some sense into her."

  Derrick didn't understand what was going on, but he knew Kristen had to have a reason. Still, they were wasting precious time, and he still needed to get back to the inn before the others got worried. He took a step toward Kristen.

  "Kristen, we have to go. I can't let you stay here."

  She held her ground, but turned to look at Derrick.

  "Derrick, I love you, but I will not be cowed on this. Not even by you."

  Derrick drew up short. "You love me?"

  There was a bemused expression on his face that, under other circumstances, Kristen might have found funny, but just now there were too many lives in the balance.

  "Of course, I love you. What kind of question is that? I married you didn't I?"

  Derrick chuckled. "No offense, but you married me because you had to."

  "I did not - "

  "Could you perhaps discuss this another time? You need to leave." Finn interjected.

  Kristen turned back to him. "You're coming and that's final."

  "What is going on?" Derrick asked.

  Kristen sighed and looked at Finn apologetically. She suspected he had his reasons for keeping his identity a secret, but she was out of time.

  "Please forgive me, I wanted to let you tell me in your own time, but you're making that impossible just now. I'm not an idiot, I know you're my father. So, you're either coming with me or I stay. I've lost one parent permanently, I won't lose you, too."

  Derrick's jaw dropped, though that tidbit certainly made the conversation on the way in more relevant. Finn crossed his arms over his chest. He should have known his daughter would figure it out. She was just like her mother. Marie had an uncanny way of seeing things and figuring them out. But, it didn't change anything.

  "Kristen, if I leave the king will know Nikolas helped us. He has been an ally, and I would not bring trouble down upon him. If you do not wish to take the throne as its rightful heir, then he must rule in his father's place when the king is destroyed."

  "Then Nikolas is coming with us, as well." Her tone brooked no argument. "I'll not hear another word on it, father. You go get him and meet us at the docks in one hour. Do you understand me? One hour. If you're not there, I'm coming back for you and you won't like the way in which I do it." She rounded on Derrick. "And so help me God, if you get in my way on this I swear I will ask the king of England for a divorce. He was a good friend of my grandfather's, you know."

  Derrick raised his hands in surrender. He looked at Finn and shrugged, but Derrick knew Kristen well enough to know she wouldn't budge on this. If Finn and Nikolas weren't on that boat in one hour, she would tear down the palace to find them. Finn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  "You're just like your mother."

  "And like you."

  Finn looked at her and smiled. He nodded and stepped forward to kiss her on the cheek.

  "We will meet you there in one hour."

  Everyone tensed as they heard the door to the dungeons open and close. They could hear the echo of footsteps but it was hard to tell how many there were, though they knew for certain the steps were coming toward them. Derrick ground his teeth. He did not want to put Kristen back in that cell, but if they were caught, all three would be hanged. He glanced at Kristen, but he should have known, she was already through the cell door and closing it behind her. Finn motioned for Derrick to hide and he stepped back into the shadows in a corner that was hidden from the main view.

  When the door leading to their hallway slammed shut, the footsteps quickened and not long after Finn was greeted by Adrian and his new ladylove.

  "Finn."

  "Adrian." Finn nodded politely.

  "Alice!" Kristen said happily.

  Alice smiled and rushed to Kristen's cell. The two clasped hands and Alice looked her over for any damage. "Has anyone hurt you?" She demanded.

  Kristen shook her head and saw Derrick step out of the shadows.

  "Alice?" He asked in disbelief, his eyes glowing in anger.

  Kristen looked between them. "Oh, that's right. You two know each other." Kristen grinned.

  Derrick flushed, and Alice lifted a brow at Derrick. Adrian stepped forward.

  "Finn, who is he?"

  "Kristen's husband."

  "What is going on?" Kristen asked. "Alice?"

  "Adrian and I are here to get you out. He has only just told me what the king has planned and - "

  Finn cleared his throat loudly. Kristen narrowed her eyes at him.

  "What?"

  "Nothing."

  "You didn't tell her?" Adrian asked accusingly.

  "People, we're wasting time here. We need to get moving." Derrick added.

  "Oh, for God's sake." Alice cursed and rolled her eyes. "Kristen, the king intends to visit you in the morning, and if he still feels you were willful and insolent, he is going to have you executed."

  "That son-of-a-bitch!" Kristen hissed.

  Finn and Adrian, not used to such language from women, looked at her as if she had sprouted another head. It seemed that while the Viking culture was certainly different than the English culture, they did share the same antiquated notions about how a woman should behave.

  Derrick chuckled. "Welcome to my world."

  "Hush you!" She said giving him a dirty look. "We need to leave. Father, you will have to move your time table up. Meet us at the docks in half an hour."

  Finn nodded left the hall. Kristen pushed the cell door open and went to Derrick's side. Adrian gave Derrick a quelling look and stepped up next to Alice, wrapping a protective arm around her waist, though Kristen didn't think Derrick even noticed. Alice blushed.

  "Let's go." Kristen said and started for the door at the end of the hall.

  "I can't go." Alice blurted.

  Kristen stopped and looked at her in confusion. Adrian furrowed his brow.

  "Alice we talked about this." He said gently.

  "Yes, and I can't leave you here to face punishment for my leaving."

  "Then you both come with us." Kristen said.

  "I can't leave, he'll hurt the others." Adrian said.

  "What others?"

  "The girl's I've trained to be his assassins."

  Derrick frowned. "There comes a time when you can't protect them anymore and you must choose between the life you knew, and the one before you." He tilted his head at Alice and Adrian looked at her.

  Alice would say nothing on the matter. The decision to leave or stay was his, but she couldn't leave him either way. She didn't like it, but for now, her fate was tied with Adrian's. Kristen snapped her fingers to get everyone's attention.

  "We need to move. Now. Adrian, I promise you we're coming back and we'll save as many of your girls as we can, but Derrick's right. You have to make a choice, so do it quickly."

  Adrian looked at her and thought she would make a lovely queen. She was authoritative, but not in the tyrannical way that Sander was, and she was decisive and quick to follow through with it. He nodded and grabbed Alice's hand.

  "Let's go."

  The ice around Alice's heart was slowly being chipped away. That he chose her over the only life he had known, the one he had introduced her to, made her want to cry. But, there was no time for that now. They needed to leave the dungeon before the nightly guard rounds.

  Chapter 39

  Adrian led them through the wooded area, and Derrick hoped they would make it back to the inn before his brothers did anything rash. They didn't waste a lot of time talking, each couple just held hands and ran. Derrick loved that about Kristen; the fact that she could focus on what needed to be done, but still understood how she felt about things. When they reached the narrow path that lead back to town, they stuck to the outskirts and Kristen kept her head down in case anyone saw her.

  At the inn, Derrick insisted the others wait outside while he went in and looked for Tristan, Oliver, and Guy. They agreed, and kept Kristen hidden behind a hay wagon. Th
ey didn't have to wait long because whatever Derrick had told them had all four men out in a hurry. Kristen recognized Tristan and Oliver, but she wasn't sure who the third fellow was. Derrick looked around to make sure no one was following them and then he waved them out. Kristen stayed shrouded by Adrian and Alice, and they walked quickly to the rest of the group, then they all huddled around her and headed for the docks.

  Every once in a while, a Viking would eye their little group closely and the guys would slow down and fall over themselves, but not so much that it seemed suspicious. Kristen had to hand it to them, they made it to the docks without issue. But, trouble definitely found them once they reached the docks. When they got there, Finn and Nikolas were already waiting. Nikolas was covered in a cloak and his hands were bound in front of him. Kristen walked up and looked at Finn questioningly.

  "In case we run into trouble, it is best for Nikolas to look as though he has been kidnapped."

  "Nikolas?!" Adrian said in alarm.

  "Easy, old friend. He is an ally."

  Nikolas nodded once in greeting, but Adrian was still wary. "This is a dangerous alliance we make, my friend."

  "These are dangerous times." Finn added.

  Kristen nodded. "We need to hurry. I think there were several villagers who were suspicious of us on the way here."

  She turned to find out whose ship they were on when she finally got a good look at the fourth man in their group. She gasped.

  "Guy!"

  He grinned at her. "Hello, Kristen."

  She smiled happily and jumped on him hugging him tight. He laughed, though he looked cautiously at Derrick.

  "Oh my goodness, has Mel seen you yet?"

  "Yes, but let's discuss it on the ship. We need to go."

  A large bullhorn sounded from the village.

  "Damn. We've been discovered. Let's go." Kristen urged.

  Finn grimaced, but they all ran for the ship. Kristen was suddenly struck by an idea.

  "Derrick, you guys get the ship ready to move. Oliver, you come with me."

  "Where are you going?" Derrick asked, concerned.

  "No time to explain, please just hurry!"

  Derrick groaned, but turned to do what she asked. Oliver followed her up the dock, and she shouted over her shoulder.

  "Disable the rudders."

  Oliver grinned. "Brilliant!"

  They moved quickly, and it helped that there were only five ships in port, but the call to arms by the villagers had been heard throughout, and men were stomping their way toward the docks. Kristen and Oliver were on their way back to the ship when a large Viking grabbed Kristen around the waist. Oliver cursed and tried to punch the guy, but the Viking swatted him away like a bug. When Oliver hit the dock, she heard the unmistakable crunch of his shoulder dislocating. Moments later he yelled out in pain.

  "You bloody pig's ass!" Kristen screeched.

  She twisted around and poked the Viking in the eyes, hard. He dropped her and tried to rub his eyes, yelling that she had blinded him. Kristen didn't have a lot of time since more villagers were on the way, so she quickly stomped down on the Viking's knee from the front, breaking it, and when he fell on his other one, she swung a roundhouse kick to his face. The Viking fell over, though he was still conscious. He was in serious disbelief at being felled by a girl, though.

  Kristen grabbed Oliver's uninjured arm and hauled him to his feet. He looked at her in disbelief, and she snapped her fingers in front of his face.

  "We have to move, now!" She screamed at him.

  He nodded and followed her as they raced up the dock, onto the plank of their ship, and they both dove over the side as Derrick and Finn knocked the plank into the water to prevent the Vikings on Kristen's tail from coming on board. The Vikings on the dock cursed but doubled back to their own ships.

  Kristen picked herself up from the deck and started to race toward the lower deck.

  "Now where are you going?" Derrick demanded.

  "We disabled the rudders, but that doesn't stop their cannons. Until we get out of range, I'm going to fire on them first."

  The men watched after her, their mouths agape.

  "Derrick, you didn't tell me she was so damn smart." Oliver teased.

  "Of course she's smart, she's a Viking." Finn said proudly.

  "Oliver, meet Kristen's father, Finn. Finn, my brother Oliver. I'm afraid the rest of the introductions will have to wait until we're in the clear. I'll go help Kristen. Oliver stay out of the way until we can set your shoulder."

  Everyone scrambled to do what needed to be done. Guy and his crew were already manning their stations, so Derrick went to help Kristen below deck. When he got there, she was loading a cannon ball into the cannon.

  "Here, let me help you." He offered.

  "I'm good here. Take up the next cannon over there and help me by blowing them out of the water."

  Derrick didn't argue. They loaded their cannons and fired on the ships. Kristen tried to spare the people, but, at the same time, make it as difficult as possible for them to follow Guy's ship. Derrick followed suit. Between the two of them, they sank the five ships before the villagers managed to get one shot off from their own cannons. Kristen sighed in relief. She turned to Derrick and flung herself in his arms, holding on as tightly as she could.

  "Kristen, what is it?" Derrick asked fearfully.

  "They told me you were dead. I thought I'd never get to see you again."

  She pulled back and grabbed his face between her hands. She searched his eyes and smiled when they began to glow faintly.

  Derrick grinned. "Did you miss me?"

  "Definitely not." She sniffed but pulled him back to her for a hug.

  He laughed and stroked her hair. "I missed you, too."

  Kristen was cognizant of the fact that she had told him she loved him, and he hadn't said it back to her. She wondered if she should apologize for blurting it out, especially in front of her father, but they were interrupted. Tristan came down the stairs to check on them.

  "Everything alright down here?" He called. "Should I hang a handkerchief on the latch up here?"

  Kristen looked at Derrick, confused. To her, "he's being crude." To Tristan, "bugger off, we're coming."

  Tristan chuckled but went back up the stairs. Derrick grabbed Kristen's hand, and they followed Tristan to join the others on the upper deck. Finn had already removed Nikolas' bindings, and he removed the hood of his cloak, but Adrian was still wary of his presence. Kristen could understand his concern, though. It wasn't exactly an easy decision to betray ones family, but when they got right down to it, no one was certain that Nikolas would be able to go through with it when the time came to face his father.

  But, as Kristen assessed the state of everyone else, she frowned. Oliver was holding his shoulder.

  "We should set that soon." She said.

  Oliver grimaced. "Yes, but I'm procrastinating."

  Tristan rolled his eyes. "For the love of God, have you seen Kristen's face? Imagine the punch she took to receive that bruise and man up a bit, Oliver."

  Kristen shrugged as everyone looked at her, then turned back to Oliver. He gave them a sullen look before sighing loudly.

  "Well, bloody hell. If everyone's going to make such a big deal out of it, let's get on with it, then." He shoved past his brothers to the large mast that was situated behind them.

  Kristen winced, knowing what Oliver was about to do was going to hurt worse than the actual fall which had dislocated his shoulder in the first place. Oliver took two quick breaths and then slammed his shoulder into the mast. He screamed in pain as his shoulder popped back into place, then he fell to his knees.

  "Yep, I'm seeing stars." He groaned pitifully as he sat down and leaned against the mast for support.

  There was some chuckling around the group, but Oliver gave them all a rude gesture with his finger and they stopped. Finn looked at Kristen.

  "So, what's the plan?"

  Everyone turned their att
ention to Finn and Kristen. They had taken a significant risk by bringing the Vikings with them, especially the crowned prince. But, the alternative was unacceptable to Kristen. She shrugged.

  "I'm not sure yet. I guess the first thing we should do is visit the king in England. See if he's willing to help."

  "Do you think he will?" Nikolas asked.

  "I think he would like to, and it would depend on a few things. My mother used to tell me that when we first got to England, the king insisted on sending his army to help my grandfather reclaim the throne. So, it will most likely depend on how England has profited from the new rule in Norway." Kristen said.

  "Not much." Guy added. "The reason I've been making so many ambassadorial trips to America is because King Sander has closed trade with us. But, I spoke with him before I left and he would like to help, but it is a risk. For now, it has declined to provide troops."

  "Your king does not know the whole story. My father is planning to start a war with England, hoping to lay claim to its land and resources. He's used up a lot of the natural resources in Norway for his campaign to gain more power." Nikolas added.

  The group was surprised that Nikolas offered the information. On one hand, it was vital information to take to the king, but on the other, if they were being set up, it would seriously damage any chance England had of repairing the relationship with Norway while Nikolas' family ruled the country. Nikolas watched the expressions of his companions and felt a little uncomfortable. He knew gaining their trust would not be easy, but Norway had suffered enough at his father's hands. He would do what he could to save his country.

  "I understand all of your concerns about my presence here," Nikolas added. "But, please know that I genuinely want to help my country. Truthfully, I don't feel good about betraying my family, but I feel worse letting a man who should not be king remain in power. Kristen is the rightful ruler of Norway, and it is she who should be upon that throne."

  "Now just a minute - " Kristen started.

  "If you did not care, you would not be planning to go back." Nikolas pointed out reasonably.

  "But, I don't know the first thing about running a country." She insisted.

  "You will have help."