by Phoebe Conn
"You need not thank me for telling Aldrick and Hagen of your plight, since you undoubtedly have already expressed your gratitude to them for rescuing you from owners who could not possibly have been so kind as they."
Amused by her spirited taunt, Andrick laughed loudly and gave her a warm hug. "Come, let us begin this journey, for it cannot end too swiftly to please me." He joined his brother in the last-minute preparations to sail, while Celiese stayed close by his side, unwilling to join the huddled crowd in the bow when she knew how greatly they despised her.
She leaned against the rail near where Andrick stood holding the tiller and let the breeze blow through her long hair as if she were the most carefree of passengers as the heavily laden ship left port on the rising tide. When Hagen relieved him, Andrick stepped up to her side, and she turned to thank him again.
"I am as desperate to see this voyage end as you must be, Andrick, but I want to thank you again for not believing the worst of me, for I do not deserve the abuse your servants seem to delight in hurling at me."
Andrick had found the lithe blonde so sincere in all she said that he could not bring himself to believe his brother would rebuke her for her part in Raktor's deceit. "I am grateful you could recognize that our family is unlike the Torgvalds. We are hunters and traders, we do not raid your homeland as they often do. Mylan is a tireless hunter and explorer. I doubt he will ever be content as long as there is the prospect of new lands to discover, but he finds the bargaining we enjoy a tedious bore. He is adept at the excitement of adventure, while we are the ones considered best at shrewd trading."
Celiese found the charming young man's company most welcome and hoped he truly liked her, for she knew she would need all the help she could possibly gather to win Mylan's favor when next she saw him. "You do believe me, don't you, Andrick? I would never betray my husband nor allow him to suffer the smallest harm if I had any way to stop it. You have been so sympathetic and kind, but Hagen does not trust me, and I am greatly worried about what will happen when we reach your home."
Andrick quickly reassured her, "My brother has too quick a temper, but often when he has time to reflect more thoroughly he chooses the right side to an argument. He is as worried as am I. It is his concern for our family that makes him so irritable, but do not judge him too harshly. Perhaps Raktor knew we were away when he agreed to my father's offer of a marriage between our families, but when we return home we will be swift to avenge this wrong, if Mylan has not already done so."
Celiese believed his confidently voiced vow. "I cannot bear to think of any of you risking your lives now. Raktor's kin are not worth your trouble to kill, and I beg you to turn away from revenge, for you may not be able to escape harm yourself, and I would always feel I was to blame."
Andrick shook his head as he disagreed firmly, "You must leave this matter for us to settle, and do not waste another moment fearing for our safety, for we are all men who learned at an early age to look after ourselves." He continued to speak in a confident manner until he was certain she believed him, and as soon as she had eaten and was resting comfortably he took Hagen aside to begin making their plans for an attack Raktor and his clan would never forget.
* * *
The Vandahl brothers sailed home far more swiftly than the men who had manned Raktor's ship that had carried Celiese and the others to Kaupang. She marveled at their skill in commanding their craft and wondered if Mylan possessed the same talent upon the seas. His name rang in her heart and echoed in her mind, but she was frightened for him still, despite Andrick's constant reassurance that he would see his brother and all his kin promptly returned to their home. If Mylan had somehow managed to free his relatives on his own, would any have told him where she had been taken? She worried constantly about him and prayed fervently for his safety, not once stopping to consider how little respect a pagan would have for her God.
Aldred rode down to the shore to meet his sons' ship as it docked. His right arm was heavily bandaged but healing well, and he scarcely felt any discomfort until he saw Celiese, and then he could not suppress a cry of outrage as he withdrew his dagger from its scabbard at his belt. "I would kill you now, but that would deprive Mylan of gaining satisfaction for your treachery!"
"No, you are mistaken, for I have done my husband no wrong!" She was quick to defend herself for she had expected his insult, but she had not considered he would be so incensed he might murder her on the spot.
Aldred shoved her rudely toward the waiting horses. "You were no wife to my son, only a spy sent to destroy him. He will see that you are punished severely for your evil deeds."
Celiese gasped as Hagen leaned down from his horse to pull her up in front of him. He gripped her waist tightly as he rode to the well-fortified stone dwelling upon the cliff. He tossed her roughly to the ground at his mother's feet, his disdain for her clear in the cold gleam of his angry stare. "I will leave this woman in your care, Mother, for I do not trust myself to have the patience to wait for Mylan to see to her punishment."
Thulyn greeted the disheveled blonde with a vicious whisper. "So they found you, did they? I will lock you in Mylan's room and he may do with you as he pleases when he returns. You will find no horror you can imagine will prepare you for the revenge my son will extract, but I will warn you now, no matter how loudly you scream for mercy, he will not hear you!"
Celiese rose gracefully to her feet, brushing the dirt of the path from her gown before turning to stare at the woman who had once been so kind. "You will never hear me scream." She ceased to listen to the woman's cruel threats as she made her way to Mylan's room. The furs were soft upon his bed, and she thought only of the sweetness of her husband's kisses as she stretched out upon them. She had been loved for such a brief time, but it had been more wonderful than she had ever dreamed possible, a memory she would savor for the rest of her days, no matter how many or few they might be.
When Thulyn shoved a plate of food in the door she did not get up to eat it, for if none there believed in her innocence she would not plead for their understanding. She planned only to die as proudly as she had lived and returned to sleep, lost in the memories of the love filling her heart with such happiness there was no room for any fear, not even of the gruesome fate that Thulyn and Aldred had promised awaited her upon Mylan's return.
Chapter 6
Olgrethe bent down beside the large bed and caressed Celiese's tangled curls lightly. "Dear friend, I thought you were lost to me forever. I am sorry you have grown so pale and thin. I can see you have suffered dreadfully for my father's warlike ways."
Celiese sat up slowly, her voice filling with alarm as she pushed her hair away from her eyes. "Olgrethe, who has brought you here to Aldred's home? Are you being held as a prisoner, too?" She had been asleep for many hours, days perhaps, but could not imagine how Olgrethe had come to be with her.
Laughing brightly, Olgrethe tossed her tawny curls at such a ridiculous thought. "No, of course not. I am to be married tonight, as it was agreed in the beginning, but now that I have met the man I am certain it will be for the best." Curling up on the foot of the bed to get more comfortable, she began to talk in an excited whisper.
"I wish you had been there to see the fight, Celiese. Aldred's sons agreed to pay the ransom my father had demanded for the safe return of their kin, but rather than hand over such a fortune when those men were brought forth they turned their swords upon us.
"There was not one of my brothers who could outfight them, and they soon made my father admit he had not accepted the proposal for my hand in good faith. The Vandahls are so different from my family, every bit as brave, but with a kindness I have never seen displayed in my home. I do not think of myself as a prisoner, nor as a captive bride, and I know you and I will be very happy living here."
"You expect me to remain here with you?" Celiese was appalled by that possibility. How could she stand the sight of Mylan with Olgrethe after having known the joy of his love herself? "No, please don't ask
me to stay here, I cannot."
"But why not?" Olgrethe's pretty features assumed the pose of a pouting child, frustrated by not having her way.
Celiese simply stared at her friend for a long moment, and then shook her head sadly. "The Vandahls were all so quick to condemn me, to believe the worst of me, and I do not want to live where I will never be trusted." She could say no more, her throat ached with the pain of unshed tears, and she turned away rather than let Olgrethe see the depth of her anguish.
Puzzled by Celiese's solemn mood when she was so happy, Olgrethe left the room quickly, intent upon making the final preparations for her wedding before she saw to her former maid's problems, which she was certain could not possibly be so acute as the young woman believed them to be.
When Olgrethe walked out leaving the door wide open, Celiese wasted no time in leaving Mylan's room, for she had no desire to be found there when he came looking for Raktor's daughter. She pushed herself off the bed, and after a few moments' dizziness moved swiftly down the narrow staircase and out into the bright sunlight. She took the first path she found, following it down from the cliff to the flat expanse of plain that led to the sea. She walked until she came to the water's edge, then sank down in the soft sand and stared out at the distant horizon, wishing with all her heart there were some way for her to return to her homeland where she might live in peace, if not with love.
* * *
The setting sun cast long shadows across the path as Andrick drew his high-spirited mount to an abrupt halt. In his haste, sand shot up from the beast's hooves went flying all over Celiese, and she had to leap to her feet to avoid being trampled. Ignoring the danger his careless actions had presented he extended his hand as he issued a terse command, which he clearly expected to be obeyed.
"Get up behind me, girl. Mylan allowed none to accompany Olgrethe, and she refuses to prepare for the marriage ceremony without you to attend her."
"Your mother must have someone who can serve as her maid, or why not Thulyn herself? She was willing to help me, will she not assist Olgrethe as well?" she argued as she caught her breath and shook the shower of sand from her hair.
Andrick shook his head emphatically. "She will not do, it is you Olgrethe wants, and it's you I'll bring."
His stern tone and hostile glance offered no other choice but to comply, and Celiese took his hand to mount his powerful chestnut horse. When she was comfortably seated behind him she wrapped her arms around his waist and asked shyly, "Was Mylan pleased with Olgrethe?"
Amused, the blond man turned his horse toward his home as he gave a noncommittal reply, "Ask him yourself, if you are so curious as to his opinion."
Her cheeks burned with a bright blush at that teasing rebuff. She would probably never have an opportunity to speak with Mylan alone ever again, nor would she seek it. How could she inquire as to whether he preferred his second wife to his first, the real Olgrethe to her? The wind whipped her hair and stung her eyes, but she shed no tears. Her situation had been hopeless from the moment they had met, and she had been a great fool to believe Mylan could have grown to love her as swiftly as she had come to adore him.
When they reached the house she slipped from the horse's back and ran inside before Andrick noticed she was gone, but she soon realized she was uncertain as to where Olgrethe might be waiting. She climbed the stairs, believing Mylan's room was the most logical choice. Hearing no sound as she approached the door, she opened it slightly to peer inside.
"You!" Mylan turned, an oath upon his lips. He stood stripped to the waist, clutching his left side as he attempted to stem the flow of bright red blood that oozed from between his fingers. "As long as you've seen so much, you might as well come in and help me. Bolt the door so I am not disturbed again."
Celiese entered the room quickly, shoved the bolt into place, and rushed to his side. "Why did no one tell me you had been wounded? Oh, Mylan, this is dreadful, you might bleed to death!"
She placed her hands over his to add more pressure in hopes of stopping the flow of blood. His flesh felt warm to her touch and filled her with a longing that the severity of his injury did not quell. She had no right, she told herself, no right to want him so badly when he now belonged to Olgrethe, as indeed he had from the very beginning, but that realization did not lessen the force of her desire. She wanted to hug him tightly, to kiss him again and again and tell him how desperately she had missed him, but she dared not speak a word. His greeting could not have been more insulting, and she knew that no matter how she felt he was obviously not pleased to see her.
"The Torgvalds got the worst of it. This is nothing, a mere scratch from a blow deflected off my ribs, but when I stepped out of my bath just now I tore it open again and cannot make the bleeding stop. I am expected to appear in the best of health tonight, not as a damn invalid!"
Celiese looked up, unable to comment upon how he would be spending his evening. "I did not mean to disturb you, please forgive me, I was looking for Olgrethe, as she wants me to help her dress."
He continued in the same volatile mood, ignoring her apology as if he had not heard it, "You will help me instead. There is linen in my chest. Tear enough into strips to bind my side, and make haste to do it before Andrick comes seeking my company and discovers this bloody mess."
She rinsed her hands in the tub of water he had used to bathe, and searched through the contents of the chest for the clean fabric. When she turned with the cloth in her grasp she was startled by Mylan's insolent gaze, for his golden eyes raked over her slowly with a disapproval so scathing she could scarcely bear it.
"You are a sorry sight, Celiese, I am amazed Andrick was willing to pay so much for you. I would have given no more than..."
"Hush!" she insisted angrily. "My appearance is of no consequence, it is you who needs immediate care." She ripped the cloth with vicious tears, and pushed his hands aside to inspect the gruesome gash more closely. "You call this no more than a scratch? Who did this to you, do you know the man's name?"
"What? You expect me to reveal the brute's name so you may avenge it yourself? My battles are of no concern to you, girl, I do not need your assistance to seek revenge, for I'll not risk another of your tricks." He drew his breath in sharply as Celiese began to wrap the linen around his ribs. "Your touch was tender when last we met, why is it so brutal today?"
"I am never brutal," she denied heatedly and choked back her tears. Did the man think her devoid of feelings, incapable of offering the devotion he inspired? "I am merely attempting to bind your side securely so you'll lose no more blood." Satisfied with her handiwork, she tied the end of the last linen strip in a firm knot, and stepped back.
"There, that should hold for the night, and tomorrow you may find another to apply a fresh bandage, someone whose touch pleases you far more." She began to move toward the door, thinking her task completed, but Mylan stepped quickly to block her way.
"I want no others to know of this, you must promise your silence. If the dressing needs changing, then you will be the one to do it."
She thought his demand unreasonable, for surely Olgrethe ought to be the one to tend him. She would be his wife and his care one of her rightful duties, but she had no desire to point out so painful a point to him if he did not see it. "I must go, Olgrethe sent for me."
Mylan moved closer still, forcing her against his door, where he held her captive between his outstretched arms. "You have kept not one of your promises, but I'll see you keep this one. No one must learn I have been harmed, no one."
The lovely blonde's eyes filled with a curious glow as she stared up at the man who had been her husband so briefly. "I have broken none of the promises I made to you." He inclined his head, his intentions clear but a surprise all the same, and his kiss ended her protest with a soft sigh of surrender. She made no move to resist his forceful embrace, but lifted her arms to encircle his neck as she returned his deep kiss, unable to stifle the need his loving touch created within her heart. This kiss was as marv
elous as all his others, soft and slow. It swept her ordeal from her mind, the days they had been apart disappearing from her memory, and she was again his bride. Then as suddenly as he had drawn her near he released her, shoving her aside as he backed away.
"Did you really think I'd be fool enough to wait at that door for you? Did you truly think you could hand me over to Raktor so easily as that?" His eyes grew dark with disgust. "Is there no end to your treachery?"
"I did not meet you because I couldn't!" Celiese grabbed his arm, imploring him to listen. "Raktor locked me up with those he had taken prisoner the moment I stepped through the door. Did none of your kinsmen tell you I was with them, or that later they had seen me taken aboard the ship for the voyage to Kaupang?"
Mylan brushed her aside, turning his back upon her as he began to sort through the clothing laid out upon his bed for what he wished to wear. "Another of Raktor's schemes, no doubt. My kin were too clever to believe anything you said after what you had done to them. That he sold you is not surprising, for he knew you would betray him as swiftly as you had betrayed me."
"Why is it you continually choose to ignore the truth in my words? I tried only to help you."
"With any more such help I'd soon be dead! Now go and find your mistress, and spin your lies together with her, as you always have."
She dared not leave when he understood nothing about either her or the proud young woman who would soon be his bride. "Olgrethe is not like her father, Mylan. She is spoiled, for she has been pampered all her life, but she is kind, her heart is filled with goodness. Please do not think ill of her simply because you despise me."
He snarled through clenched teeth, "She sent you to me, did she not? You said it was her idea. Was that a lie also?"
"No, that was the truth, but I tried to explain it was only because..."
"Get out! I have no further need of you, be gone!"
Celiese sped through the door as Mylan picked up a heavy brass box, clearly meaning to hurl it at her should she not obey him. She could not blame him for his anger, but neither would she remain and risk needless injury. She had taken no more than two running steps down the hall when Olgrethe opened a door and saw her.