by Speer, Flora
“Lenora will stay here with me for as long as I want,” Erik insisted.
“You will pay dearly for this insult,” Eirena hissed. “Both of you will pay.” She stalked out of the room, her tiny figure stiff with anger.
“She frightens me,” Lenora said. “She is determined to marry you and to do me harm.”
Erik gathered her into his arms, his face buried in her fragrant curls. “She won’t succeed,” he whispered.
Chapter 28
They sat through another evening meal during which Eirena was a charming hostess, hiding what Lenora knew was bitter anger under a smooth, placid manner. When the main course of roast lamb with garlic had been cleared away and trays of fresh apples and grapes, dishes of sweetmeats, and small silver bowls of raisins, almonds, and pistachios had been placed on the table, Eirena leaned back in her chair and smiled sweetly at Erik.
“Did you not tell me once that you have a brother?” she inquired.
Maura set her wine goblet down so hard the ruby liquid splashed across the table. She began to tremble. Lenora sat unmoving, sure Eirena was plotting something but uncertain what it could be.
“Snorri,” Maura whispered.
“Yes, that was the name. Thank you, my dear.” Eirena transferred her smile to Maura. “You look frightened. Is anything wrong?”
“What about Snorri?” Erik’s voice was harsh, cutting across Eirena’s honeyed tones.
“One of my servants brought me news late this afternoon that a man calling himself Snorri Thorkellsson has landed at St. Mamas not far from here and is looking for you. Shall we invite him to the villa, Erik?”
“No!” Maura burst into tears. “Eirena, how could you? Basil, don’t let him come here. Oh, I knew we should never have left the city. We were safe behind the walls.”
Lenora leapt from her seat and hurried to comfort Maura, who clung to her in desperate fear.
“You know what Snorri will do to me,” Maura wept. “Don’t let him hurt me again.”
Basil, too, attempted to calm Maura.
“You saw all the guards I have here,” he told her. “No one can enter the villa grounds without my permission. You are perfectly safe, poulaki mou. I won’t let anyone harm you.”
“What in the world is the matter with her?” Eirena was the picture of baffled innocence. “All I suggested was a simple family meeting. I thought your brother might like to come to our wedding.”
Lenora had had her fill of Eirena. “You bitch,” she spat, “you vicious, contemptible, trouble-making bitch!”
Barely concealing her boredom, Eirena headed for the door.
“Really, Erik, I wish you would make your mistress watch her tongue. This unnecessary display of emotion is dreadfully tiresome. I am going to bed.”
“Just a moment.” Erik stood between Eirena and the door. “Who informed you that Snorri had arrived in Grikkland?”
“I told you, one of my servants.” Eirena did not meet Erik’s eyes.
“Which servant?”
“I don’t remember. There are so many of them, and they all chatter so. It’s not important.”
“Did you see Snorri yourself?”
“I? Of course not.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You had better believe me, Erik. I am going to be your wife.” With that, Eirena left the room.
“No,” Erik said after her, “you are not.”
He turned back to the others, who were still attempting to calm the terrified Maura.
“Do you think she did that deliberately?” a furious Lenora asked him.
“I am certain of it.” He bent over Maura. “Are you better?”
“A little. I’m sorry to make a scene and anger Eirena, but Erik, you know how much I fear Snorri.”
“I understand, Maura. It was a cruel thing for Eirena to do. Basil,” Erik looked his friend in the eye, “I must speak plainly. If you plan to marry Maura, you should beware of Eirena. She will do everything she can to make both of you unhappy. She may even betray you.”
“I understand more than you think, Erik. Maura will be safe with me. I have learned some surprising things about my sister since you returned to us. You are not going to marry her, are you? You never even asked her, did you?”
“No.”
“Then you had best leave Greece at once.”
“I plan to do just that, after I have seen your new agreement with the Rus completed to your satisfaction.”
“Thank you. For a barbarian, you are a remarkably honorable man, my friend. And you are almost subtle enough to be a Greek.” Basil allowed himself a half-smile at his own joke. “As you know, tomorrow morning we meet with Harald and his fellow traders for the last time before they return to Kiev. Once our business is completed and the agreement is signed, I will take Maura back to the city, where she will feel safer. Three days later, I will return to this villa. If you are still here, I will do what I can to help you, but I suggest you take my advice and leave before Eirena can do you harm.”
“Agreed.” Solemnly, the two men clasped hands.
Lenora stayed in Maura’s room all night. Maura could not stop trembling.
“I will never leave Constantinople again,” Maura said. “I will just stay there with Basil, forever. Come back with me, Lenora, and make Erik come too. You are my only friends. I want to know you are safe from Snorri.”
“I can’t do that. I think Erik wants to resolve this feud with Snorri now, to have it over at last, whatever happens.”
“Then you come with me. Erik will join you after he has met Snorri.”
“I can’t leave. I have my own quarrel to settle with Snorri.”
Their farewell the next afternoon was tearful. Maura, halfway out the door, ran back to embrace Lenora one last time.
“Take care of yourself, and Erik too. Be safe and happy,” she said in a choked voice.
“That is disgusting.” Eirena had come into the entrance hall in time to see Maura’s tears. She had insisted on remaining at the villa, saying she could not leave her guests. “Maura is a coward and has absolutely no sense of dignity.”
Lenora, so upset she was beyond words, hurried to the gardens to get away from Eirena. She paced along the terraces, glad of the icy wind from the Bosporus that dried the tears on her cheeks. Looking down the hill from the topmost terrace, she was momentarily diverted from her sorrow at parting with Maura by the sight of Harald pushing a small sailing craft into the water.
She watched Erik wave good-bye to the merchant and begin to ascend the winding path to the house. A few moments later he appeared beside her. He opened his arms and she went into them wordlessly, feeling the strong beat of his heart under her cheek, knowing he understood her anguish at parting from Maura.
He bent his head and kissed her. Enclosed in their own private world, in the sweet rapture of that embrace, neither of them noticed Eirena, standing in the open door of the villa, watching them.
* * *
In late afternoon Eirena let Snorri into the house.
“Leave your men outside,” she said. “That is what we agreed upon.”
“And let your guards slaughter them?”
“So long as their swords remain in their sheaths, my men will not strike.”
Snorri squinted at her, hating the strong southern sunshine that bounced off the white walls of the villa and hurt his eyes.
“I don’t like taking orders from women,” he said.
“If you follow my plan, you will have what you want,” Eirena told him. “Erik is here, and he is unarmed.”
“All right. You win. For now.” Snorri motioned to his men to remain behind and followed Eirena into the soothing dimness of the entrance hall.
Erik and Lenora were sitting in an upper room that overlooked the Bosporus. They had been talking intently, huddled over a brazier for warmth, and at first they did not notice Snorri. Then Lenora gasped.
“A pretty sight,” Snorri drawled. “I thought you would have
tired of that wench by now, cripple.”
“You let him in, didn’t you, Eirena?” Lenora’s face was white, her dark gray eyes wide. “Don’t you know he wants to kill Erik?”
“No, he doesn’t.” Eirena was completely assured. “He wants Erik to give him back the silver he stole from their father, and he wants you. In return for my help, Erik is mine.”
“You talk about Erik as though he were a bolt of silk,” Lenora said contemptuously.
Eirena looked at Erik, who had risen from his chair and now stood, halfway across the room from her, with an easy grace that did not mask his readiness to deal with whatever happened next. Eirena’s eyes lingered over every detail of Erik’s body, while Snorri chuckled beside her.
“I want him,” Eirena said, her voice low and throbbing with barely restrained passion, her painted face clearly revealing the obsession that motivated her.
“I don’t think much of your choice in men,” Snorri told her.
Eirena ignored him and spoke directly to Erik. “Give Snorri the silver hoard you stole from your father,” she said.
While Erik’s attention was focused on Eirena, Snorri lunged at Lenora, catching her by the wrist. Lenora cried out as he pulled her back against him, but ceased her struggles when she felt Snorri’s sharp dagger pricking at her throat. The rancid smell of his hot body nearly choked her. She thought she would faint from terror.
“Let her go,” Erik demanded.
“Give me the silver.”
“Give me Lenora first.”
There followed a tense silence during which Erik and Snorri faced each other across the brazier while Lenora held her breath. Snorri’s muscular arm encircled her waist, pressing her tightly against him. Her every nerve revolted at his touch. She tried to pull away and she felt a trickle of blood as his dagger pushed deeper into her throat.
There was something else, something worse than the threat of having her throat cut. She could feel Snorri rubbing himself against her with obvious, obscene intent. His hand slid down across her abdomen and pushed her back harder against him. Unable to control her reaction, she felt her stomach heave. She retched, bending away from him.
Suddenly Snorri twisted her arm cruelly and thrust her at Erik. Lenora stumbled and nearly fell against the red-hot brazier. Erik caught her and steadied her.
“Tie them to the chairs,” Snorri ordered.
“What?” Eirena clearly had not expected this.
“I said, tie them up, woman!” Snorri roared at her.
“How?”
“With the cords from those draperies, idiot. Put their arms behind them. Do it!”
Eirena, visibly shaken, bound Erik and Lenora to two heavy wooden chairs while Snorri stood threatening them with his sword. At last, satisfied the knots were secure, he poked at Erik with the point of his sword.
“Now the silver, cripple. Where is it?”
“The silver is safe at Limfjord. Freydis has it. Your long journey was for nothing, brother.”
“You lie.”
Erik shrugged beneath the cords holding him. “Believe what you will, Snorri.”
Snorri looked at the brazier with a reflective air.
“Perhaps a few hot coals applied to a sensitive place will open your mouth.”
“No!” The cry was wrung from Lenora. “He’s telling the truth. Don’t hurt him.”
“I do what I please,” Snorri told her. “You there.” With his free hand, Snorri motioned to Eirena. “How many bundles did he have when he arrived?”
“Erik came to my brother’s house with only the clothes he wore and the two women,” Eirena said. “I believe he has left the silver with Harald the merchant, or else buried it somewhere.”
“You told me the silver was in this house.” Snorri was growing angry.
“I told you Erik was here, and that he could tell you where the silver is hidden.”
“I don’t like women lying to me.”
“I haven’t lied. I brought you to Erik.”
“And no silver.” Snorri regarded Eirena thoughtfully. “Your brother is a wealthy man.”
“There is no gold in this house.”
“You are mistaken. There is a fortune here. You.” Snorri walked around Eirena, appraising her in much the same way she had looked at Erik earlier. “You don’t look like you’d give a man much pleasure, but we’ll see about that later.”
“What are you going to do?” Eirena’s carefully composed veneer had begun to crack in the face of Snorri’s menacing attitude. Her voice trembled.
“I’ll hold you for ransom. Your rich brother will pay well to get you back. In the meantime, you can share my blanket.”
“This is treachery!” Eirena was outraged.
“You dare to speak of treachery?” Erik accused her. “You let him in here, betraying me.”
“I wanted you for my own. I wanted to be rid of Lenora.”
Erik’s voice was bitter. ”A woman of your accomplishments should have known better than to trust Snorri.”
“I should have known better than to trust any Norseman.”
“Be quiet, all of you,” Snorri growled, brandishing his sword. “I could kill you right now, Erik, but I have other plans for you. You will die slowly and painfully, and as you die, you will watch me using your precious Lenora. I’ll have her over and over again before your eyes, and you won’t be able to do anything to stop me. Then I’ll give her to my men. If she’s still alive when you die, she’ll join you soon enough.”
“You told me I could have Erik,” Eirena said angrily. “You said you wouldn’t hurt him.”
“And you said my silver hoard was in this house.”
Eirena stared at him, unable to speak for rage.
“Now, woman,” Snorri went on, “you must call off your guards so we can all leave here. And we will send a message to your brother demanding gold for your release.”
“I won t do it.”
“Oh, you’ll do it.” Snorri advanced on Eirena with a threatening gesture. She stood her ground.
“I have a better idea. We needn’t hurry, Snorri.”
“I don’t trust you, woman.”
“I have never known a man with a beard.” Eirena’s voice was suddenly seductive. She moved closer to Snorri. “Must we leave at once?”
“What are you up to?” Snorri stepped back, looking at her suspiciously.
Eirena laughed, spreading her arms wide as though to prove she was no danger to the guarded man before her.
“What could I, a tiny, helpless woman, do against someone so large and strong as you?” she asked. “You wondered whether I would give you pleasure. Let me show you how I will receive you.”
“I don’t trust you,” Snorri repeated. “Get away from me.”
“If you won’t touch me, how will you take me to your bed?”
Snorri did not answer.
“You are so clever,” Eirena cooed. “You have tricked us all. I admire cleverness in a man.”
“I am known for my crafty ways,” Snorri told her, flattered in spite of his reservations about this devious woman.
“I am sure you are. And you are so handsome, too.”
Snorri pulled himself up, puffing out his chest.
Eirena drew nearer. She put out her little hand and stroked Snorri’s sword arm, and this time he did not draw away from her.
“How strong you are, Snorri.” Her hand slid up his arm, squeezing at his bulging biceps.
“Oh-h, Snorri.” Eirena’s voice was a carefully modulated moan of naked desire. “How could I ever have imagined I wanted Erik?”
Snorri grinned down at her, completely distracted by her open admiration.
“I will show you the most intimate secrets of Greek women,” Eirena promised,
“I’ll show you a few secrets too,” Snorri told her.
Eirena’s small, claw-like left hand caressed Snorri’s blond beard, then moved to tangle in his long hair.
“I have never kissed a bearded
man.”
“Never kissed a man at all, I’ll wager.”
“You will be the first.”
“Good. I like virgins. They always scream.”
“I promise to scream for you, my beautiful Snorri.”
“I’ll see to it that you do.” Snorri grabbed at Eirena’s hips, pulling her hard against the bulge that strained at his breeches.
“Kiss me, Snorri,” she whispered.
He lowered his head and Eirena reached up to him. Their lips met, as Lenora and Erik watched, frozen in astonishment.
Lenora saw Eirena’s right hand slide between the folds of her dress and emerge with a long, thin, wicked-looking knife. She slid her arm around Snorri’s waist.
“Again, please,” she murmured, and Snorri kissed her once more.
Eirena’s arm moved suddenly, like a snake striking its victim, and her knife found its target between Snorri’s ribs.
He knew something had happened, but he wasn’t sure what. He released Eirena and staggered backward, staring at her with disbelief in his rapidly glazing eyes. She stabbed him again.
He tried to speak, but no sound came from his lips. He raised his sword arm to strike her, but the sword slipped out of his numb fingers and fell to the marble floor with a loud clatter. It was the last sound Snorri ever heard.
He crashed face-forward onto the floor, falling into the brazier and sending red-hot charcoal scattering across the polished surface.
Lenora, gaping at the scene before her, heard echoing through her mind the words of a long-ago prophecy: “Treachery and double treachery ... death at the hands of a woman.”
Eirena stepped back with a dainty little movement, just in time to avoid having her gown splattered with Snorri’s blood.
“Filth,” she muttered, wiping her mouth as if to erase Snorri’s imprint. “How dirty he was. An evil-smelling man.”
She turned to Erik and Lenora, still bound to their chairs.
“I should kill you two and blame it on him,” she said in a conversational tone.