Lord of the Seas

by Sabrina Jarema

  The roar that went up probably reached the earl in his distant keep. Rorik smiled as his men dispersed to load the vessels. His reputation was safe.

  Leif stayed behind after the men had gone. His usually light-hearted manner was absent as he bent his head to keep his words hidden from the others. “I trust you don’t mean what you said to them about the woman.”

  “Of course not.” He kept his voice low, as well. “I’ve never sold a woman in my life. I’ve bought a few to save them from the slavers, then set them free, but that’s all. I’ll keep my word to her. A few raiding trips, silver in their pouches, and the men will forget about all this.”

  “When will you tell her about the change of plans?”

  “Not until after we’ve made the crossing, if even then. I’m certain she doesn’t know where Hedeby is, or the Danes’ land for that matter. She won’t have any idea where we’re going. I can better handle any problems with her if we’re on dry land. Also, she’ll be on Kaia’s ship and I don’t want to saddle my sister with a distraught passenger. She’ll have her hands full with her as it is. I can take Elfwynn to Hedeby before the fall. I’ll still get what I want, she’ll be free, and this will all blow over. What could go wrong?”

  Leif rolled his eyes. “The gods laugh when we ask questions like that. Now, I came along with you on this trip on a whim. But I need to decide what to do with the rest of my summer. Will you stop at Eirik’s village on the way back?”

  “Only if I need provisions after the crossing. And if that, I’ll stay as short a time as I can to reload the ships. I have to get back to Trøn-delag. I’m afraid I can’t spare the time to take you home to Thorsfjell. It’s a day’s journey to the end of the Sognefjorden where it is, then another day’s voyage back to the sea. It will take too long.”

  “Then you’re stuck with me.” He glanced at Kaia. “I can think of worse places to spend the warm months than drinking your ale and eating your food.”

  “And I can think of worse company. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. You’re family, twice over, after all, with your brother and sister marrying my cousins.” Rorik hit his shoulder. “We could make it three times over.”

  “I don’t have another sister for you. At least, not one I know of.”

  Rorik shook his head. “The gods spare me. I wasn’t referring to me. Being at Vargfjell will give you more time to be around Kaia.”

  “She is beautiful. But her tongue is as sharp as her sword. I don’t want to lose any part of me to either of them.” Leif looked at Kaia as she brought a bowl of stew to the little Christian.

  Elfwynn set it in her lap, but didn’t eat. She stared out over the river, her shoulders slumped, her eyes reddened. She seemed defeated, resigned to a horrible fate, but there was a determined set to her jaw as she straightened, picked up the bowl, and sniffed at it.

  “I think I will stay with you for the summer.” Leif glanced between him and Elfwynn, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “It could be interesting.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all. I have to load my things on the ship.” Leif sauntered off.

  Now Rorik understood why Magnus always looked as if he wanted to pound Leif into the ground. Still, he had a feeling Leif saw more than he let on. That could be useful. Or not.

  The camp was simple. In an emergency, they could leave everything and board the ships. The vessels could move in either direction. They’d be out on the river in moments, beyond arrow shot, without having to turn around. With so many warriors working, the ships were ready to sail quickly.

  As the men waded out to board the vessels, he walked to the woman. She’d finished her stew and had settled on the tree trunk, waiting.

  “We need to get you on Kaia’s ship.”

  She stood, not looking at him. Her eyes still glistened.

  She squeaked as he scooped her into his arms. “You wouldn’t be able to go through the water or climb on board with your long skirt.”

  As he headed to the ship with her, she trembled. But she hung on to him, her arms around his neck. Her scent was sweet, like the roses he’d smelled in other lands. Her hair was a cloud of curls around him as the breeze blew it. She was so light, he had no trouble lifting her over the side of the ship.

  One of the shieldmaidens reached to steady her, but she held up a hand. “I can do this.” She walked over to a sea chest and sat down.

  “My sister will take care of you.” He hesitated as her chin quivered. She stared beyond the other side of the ship, her eyes dull. He almost jumped up there to reassure her that she would be unharmed, but his men were watching, waiting on him. If he put too much importance on a foreign captive, they’d see it as a vulnerability. She’d probably be more comfortable with the women around her anyhow. Even shieldmaidens.

  He left and climbed aboard his ship. Not his flagship, the Sword of the Waves. That lay burned and blackened on the shore farther up the river. Or probably in it.The earl wouldn’t want other Norsemen to know what he did, so he’d most likely sunk the evidence. That suited Rorik.

  He didn’t want them to know, either.

  Standing at the stern, he glared down the river as the men lowered the oars and turned the ship to the east. The loss of his daughter obviously hadn’t bothered Edward, so he still hadn’t paid for his treachery. But he would.

  Rorik gripped the afterstem rising at the back of the vessel until his nails bit into the wood. No, if his beautiful ship was at the bottom of the river, it would keep the other Norsemen from seeing it and destroying Edward in revenge.

  That was a pleasure he wanted for himself.

  * * *

  The banks of the Humber slid past them. Elfwynn had known them all her life, but had never seen them from this angle in the middle of the river. She couldn’t enjoy the sight. Huddled under a fur cloak Kaia had given her, she was numb to everything, which was a blessing. In the boat ahead, the Northman stared behind them. He was so strong and arrogant, he could crush her like he’d crushed her life. At least she’d be away from him soon. Away from all of them.

  She had to admit they’d treated her well. And they’d released the horses they’d no doubt stolen from a nearby farm instead of killing them. Perhaps there was some humanity in them after all. But she’d thought her father was a good man and look how wrong she’d been about him.

  How had she so misjudged him throughout her life? She’d have given her loom rather than believe he could betray her like this. But a few weeks ago, she’d have denied he could behave so dishonorably toward the Northmen by burning their ship while negotiating with them. He had to have known it would have repercussions.

  Perhaps he felt he got off light with them taking only her. It was obvious he didn’t care about her. Why had he always acted as though he loved her? Was it to find favor with her mother so he could continue to have her whenever he wanted? Rohesia might have been nothing more than a convenience, but her daughter wasn’t. Had he suspected she was planning on taking Rohesia to her people in Strathclyde and this was a way to stop that?

  What would her mother go through when she found out she was taken? The loss of her son had almost killed her. If Edward thought he could have her to himself now, he might lose her anyhow. Her mother was so weak already.

  Oh Lord, grant her the strength to live with her shock and sorrow. And grant me the strength to survive the Northman.

  Once the church in Hedeby paid the ransom, she couldn’t remain there. It was a major trading center. There must be ships from all over the world coming and going. The silver and gold she had hidden in her pouch might buy passage back to Northumbria. Redbank wasn’t home any longer, but she had to get back to her mother before she faded away from even more grief. Then she’d take her mother to Strathclyde, even if she had to sell her beloved loom and harp to raise the money to do so.

  Her muscles quivered and it was all she could do to sit still. She wanted to hurl the chest she sat on as hatred, hot and p
ainful, rose in her. For her father. For the Northman. If it weren’t for both of them, she’d be back at her loom, with her mother embroidering by the fire.

  “Elfwynn?”

  She shook her thoughts away and looked up at Kaia. She sat down on a chest nearby.

  “Once we leave the river, we’ll be making a crossing through the North Sea. I’ve ordered a shelter put up for you at the front of the ship so you can have privacy and protection. Now, I thought you should meet my warriors. Perhaps they won’t be so frightening to you then.”

  She nodded behind them and Elfwynn turned around. The five shieldmaidens and several men who weren’t rowing stood in front of the mast, watching her. They were dressed in leather and were all fully armed. Frightening indeed.

  “Not that I expect you to remember their names, but this is Visna, my second-in-command.” The chestnut-haired woman inclined her head. “The next is Aldis, then Svala, Valka, and Hafthora. The overly handsome man who is staring at you, and shouldn’t be, is Galinn.”

  Visna slapped the back of his head. He muttered something to her, then grinned with a good-natured shrug.

  “Shieldmaidens are all so beautiful,” Elfwynn said. “Men would give you every comfort. Why risk yourselves in war?”

  Kaia’s silver-green eyes hardened as she raised her chin. “Any woman can spill her blood giving birth. We spill ours protecting our land. Both carry our people into the future. Besides, have you done so much less for your own people? You may not have accomplished it with a sword, but you saved them just the same by giving, not your blood, but yourself for them. You show the heart of one of us.” A tint of admiration colored her voice.

  Elfwynn shook her head. Kaia and the others would never be afraid of anything, or anyone. It showed in their pride of bearing, their confidence, and their strength. She was shaking, frightened half to death, a thought away from flinging herself overboard. But then, Rorik would lose his precious ransom, turn back, and attack the keep. He didn’t have to tie her to make certain she didn’t escape. Her own conscience chained her here.

  Two men walked between them, carrying a large piece of cloth similar to the sails. They went to the front where there was a small deck and tossed the material over the front rigging so it formed a tent of sorts. They tied the two ends to the sides of the ships.

  Kaia watched them. “It’s not much, but it’s raised and we have furs we’ll put in there for you. We don’t have luxuries here. Everyone is the same on a longship, and sleeping under the stars is good enough for us. We weren’t expecting to bring along a—” She paused.

  “A prisoner?”

  “You’re not a prisoner. Rorik said you were a guest.”

  “Is that what you call holding someone for ransom?” Her shoe was wet and she looked down. There was water in the bottom of the boat and she brought her legs up with a gasp. “God spare me. We haven’t even left the river and already the boat is sinking.”

  Kaia laughed. “We’re not sinking. There’s always some leakage, especially with the damage because of the fires. The planks forming the ship overlap and we seal the spaces with tarred animal hair. It’s not entirely watertight and the heat from the fires probably melted it. But with this large a crew, no one has to bail for very long. Sometimes we measure distances by how often we take turns.”

  Was she serious?

  “Wait until we get to the sea. We build the ships so they bend in the waves and then they leak even more.”

  They were insane. “You go to sea in ships that aren’t solid and leak like a broken bucket. Don’t you fear death?”

  “No, we don’t. These ships have carried us all over the known world and beyond. There’s nothing else like them. They’ll get us where we’re going.”

  “It’s a good thing no other ships are like this. The sea floor would be piled high with sunken wrecks. And don’t expect me to bail.”

  “Of course not. You’re a guest, after all.” Kaia chuckled and stood. “Keep your feet up and you’ll be fine.” She strode to the back of the boat, calling out orders.

  Elfwynn picked up the dripping hem of her skirt and wrung it out. She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Just how far was Hedeby? Or the land of the Danes, for that matter? Days? Weeks? She had no idea.

  Wulf had told her of faraway places from the time she was young, but she had no idea where they were. Their priest had mentioned the ransom, and at least she’d remembered it. With all the Northmen camping in the region, he’d warned them to be careful lest they be taken. It would cost the Church precious money to free them from the heathens’ terrible influence.

  She just never thought his exhortation would apply to her.

  Redbank, the keep of Earl Edward of Northumbria

  Wulfric breathed a sigh of relief as he, his father, and their men rode into the bailey. All seemed normal. He’d been afraid the Northmen had attacked while he and his father were both gone. They had argued about it. He’d believed it was better for one of them to remain, but his father wanted them to head to different places in order to bring back as many of their men as possible, then meet again to head back home.

  They were spread too thin. Between providing men to King Osbert for the constant conflicts with Mercia to the south, and having to ward off attacks by King Kenneth MacAlpin of the Picts to the north, they had few enough forces to guard their own lands from the northern invaders. That was why he’d followed an unorthodox path his father didn’t know about in regards to the Northmen.

  Everything appeared peaceful, so perhaps it was working. The people came out of the keep to greet them as they rode through the gates. A long line of warriors followed them and soon the bailey was filled with horses and crowds of villagers.

  As Edward swung down off his horse, Wigberht ran to them. Wulf had never liked the man. He was one of the men Mildburg had brought with her from Wessex as part of her dowry. He had always been too close to his mother for Wulf’s liking. More of a personal bodyguard, as though that was needed in the keep. He’d never been able to catch them at anything improper, and his father, as usual, was oblivious to all except warfare.

  He leaped off his horse as Wigberht reached them and addressed the earl. “My lord, there is grave news. Vikings took Elfwynn. We believe it was Rorik, the Northman whose ships were burned. He must have taken her in revenge.”

  The earl froze as Wulf dropped his horse’s reins and took the smaller man by the shoulders. “When did this happen?”

  “About a week ago, my lord. A couple of men and I searched, but we never found anything. Only the remains of their camp on the shore to the east. Although a farmer thought he saw a body—a woman’s body—in the river not long afterward.”

  Wulf shoved him away, heat flaring through him, his muscles tightening in rage. “Three men? There were only three men searching for her?”

  “It—it was all we dared, my lord. Who knew if that was only the beginning and they’d attack full force? We had to defend Redbank, the Lady Mildburg, and your sister.”

  “Rowena. Where is she?” Edward was pale, the side of his neck twitching.

  “She is safe, my lord. She was disobedient and so the Lady Mildburg locked her in her room. Thank the Lord, or she might have been taken as well.”

  “How did it happen?” Edward’s voice shook. The people in the courtyard were silent, listening.

  “She wanted to go to a farm to get a certain type of wool, my lord. She was taken then.”

  “She promised me she would take guards if she went anywhere.” Wulf clenched his fists.

  “Two men did go with her. Litwin and Oshern, my lord. But they disappeared as well and we fear the Northmen killed them to take Elfwynn.”

  “How could this happen? My girl. My precious, beautiful girl.” Edward’s eyes glistened. “I knew I should have made her live in the keep. She was my heart, everything to me. So precious.” He looked at Wulf, his color high. “What of Rohesia?”

  “I’ll go see to her.” He jum
ped on his horse and rode out of the bailey at a gallop, people scattering in front of him. He didn’t care. How had this happened, indeed? This was because of the burned ship. If they had negotiated with Rorik, he wouldn’t have come back for revenge. Instead, someone had instigated the burning and subsequent battle. And this was the result.

  There was no doubt Rorik was the Northman who took her. Earl Edward was a very good man, but all he knew was warfare. Wulf had contacts with the northerners in the area his father didn’t know about. He’d kept a peace of sorts with them. Because of this, they’d left the population alone, for the most part. Elfwynn had always been able to go to the neighboring farms in safety.

  Until now. Whoever took her could not have been operating from this area. In other words, Rorik. He had the reason and the anger to avenge the loss of his ship and his men.

  Wulf pulled his horse up in front of Rohesia’s small house, jumped off, and burst inside. She was sitting by the cold fireplace, staring into space and shaking. He found a shawl and wrapped it around her.

  “Rohesia?” He turned her face to him. Her eyes were red and watery. “Look at me. Tell me what happened.”

  She remained silent for a moment, then sobbed as though she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Oh Wulf. My baby is gone. It’s not enough that God took my son. Now He’s taken her, as well.”

  “We don’t know that. Only that a Northman kidnapped her. She might still be alive. Tell me what occurred on that day.”

  When he said she might still live, Rohesia’s gaze found his. “Two of the earl’s men came here. They said the Lady Mildburg wanted the pure white wool from Henfrith’s farm, and only Elfwynn would know which was the highest quality. They left here on their horses.” She bowed her head, tears falling. “The last thing she said to me was that she loved me.”