“Have you not wondered how my father and I seized the trade ship alone?”
Eilish recalled the dark shapes that had passed beneath the water that night, the far distance Leif must have swam to reach the cargo ship and Agnar questioning her about tales of sea monsters. She wished she could have laughed away his seriousness, but she knew there was more to be revealed.
“Word of the Kraken passes very few lips, for scant survivors exist.” Leif took a breath and said, “My father’s chance sighting from his skiff changed our lives forever. The power and size of the beast was something he could not ignore. Once he mastered its shape, he began to plot his future, and when he discovered I was given the same power, he forced me to find a more powerful fylgja than the albatross. He wanted me to strike fear in the hearts of our victims, to embody the strength of the ocean to represent our kin.”
She was uncertain how truly frightful he could become. “Do you lose yourself when you become this monster?”
Leif shook his head, sending droplets flying from his eyelashes and nose. “My mind and heart stay true, no matter my shape.”
“Then I am safe from you.” Eilish lifted her chin. “I have courage.”
When he sank beneath the tides, and she lost sight of his flesh. She had witnessed him change his shape. It was jarring and awe-inspiring every time. Though when he took the form of a bird, it didn’t cultivate fear. She found herself holding her breath as she stared through the water at the strange creature he’d become. Eilish counted eight twisting arms that were each individually longer than she was tall. Its huge bulbous head had two pale eyes that stared back up at her.
It took all of the courage she’d boasted about to push beyond her initial instinct to run screaming from the shallows. She took many deep breaths, understanding the fright a sailor would have if a creature like this attacked his ship at sea. The first time he suctioned his smooth tentacles around her wrists to pull her through the water, she was stunned at his strength.
After Leif had changed back to his human form and they were getting dressed on the beach, he told her it was time to gather provisions for her hideout. They inconspicuously took a tent, furs, a flint strike-a-light and a hand axe along with food and water from the farm. Both burdened with the heavy load, they ventured northeast across the island to the beach where Leif had been teaching her to swim.
He pointed toward the headlands. “If you go farther north along the coast, there are other settlements, so it is best not to wander from this place. You are protected from view by the tall bluffs.”
They set down their load onto the patchy grass and sand-covered basin which they’d visited earlier for their swimming lessons. Gulls called out from the beach. Leif pointed to a mound of turf nearby. Eilish had never thought anything of the sloped landscape. She could now see the stones stacked beneath its rise and what appeared to be a low opening.
“When our presence will go unnoticed, Agnar and I slip onto the sea for the day, never more. We constructed a boatshed where we have stowed a small faering boat where none have found it. It will be your way off the island.”
The plan was becoming more real. She had grown to trust Leif implicitly, but that did not keep away her anxiety. Not entirely. He was powerful, although he didn’t have power over all things. The alternative was worse. She’d prefer risking injury or death to reunite with her father and escape the life of a thrall.
Eilish folded her arms together, looking at the carved wooden posts and woolen fabric on the ground, and sighed. “Best show me how to put this tent together.”
Together, they put it up. The breeze puffed at the white linen fabric that draped the wooden frame. It blended with the landscape nicely. The furs were tossed inside, and the casket of food was buried in the sand so no animals could forage before Eilish needed it.
Leif held up the fire-steel and said, “Use this only if you feel your bones might turn to ice.”
After everything was in its place, Eilish took a deep breath. He’d certainly provided for her. They began to walk south again, making their way back home. She felt like she’d eaten a basket of fish that were flopping in her stomach. The time was coming, and he still hadn’t made any comment about running away with her.
“My father should be back soon—any day. Tonight I will speak to Rúni about taking you out fishing tomorrow. You are ready.”
His words only worsened her distress. Thinking about being alone with that man turned her insides.
As if he knew her mind, he said, “I do not like the thought of you alone with him. I will travel with you, beneath the surface where you cannot see me. He likes fishing in the loch. Though the waters are darker, they are more still than the sea, so you cannot hide behind the waves.”
Her throat went dry, and she nodded, still unable to speak.
“I will help you to shore and bring you here if everything goes to plan. After my father returns home, he will be ready to feast. I will send Agnar to you with enough silver to ensure you will not want for anything and you may buy your father’s freedom.”
Her distress over what was soon to come was forgotten as she focused on Leif. “What is your freedom worth to you?”
He stopped walking and turned to her. “Nothing if Agnar and you are not safe.”
“You are just as stubborn as I. Maybe I will not leave after all!” She shook her finger in his face and stormed ahead of him.
Leif jogged to catch up. He grabbed hold of her arm and spun her around. His hands cupped her jaw, forcing her to look into his angst-filled eyes. “You must promise me you will leave. If you remain, my father will sacrifice you to Ægir.”
“What?” she sputtered in surprise.
“That is where it will happen,” he pointed off the coast to a rock-lined cove that separated them from his father’s farmstead. “He will sink the trade ship loaded with treasure and thralls to be sacrificed in tribute. It is done every year.”
Eilish stared at the rocky harbor. The water was dark blue, revealing its depths. She imagined the skeletons of the ships and innocent servants who must have met their fates at the bottom of the sea. Tears formed at her eyes, and she looked at Leif.
“I will not be taken as a sacrifice,” she whispered defiantly.
“Good.”
Her answer seemed to comfort him. He drew her into an embrace, one she was happy to accept. Eilish wrapped her arms around his waist, closing her eyes. She didn’t want to let him go.
Leif was relieved that she seemed to understand the importance of her escape. It was all he cared about, not freeing himself from his father’s hold.
He knew it would be hard sending Agnar away as well. His friend would resist him just as much as Eilish, but in the end, he would go. Agnar was an honorable man who would do as Leif asked. Imagining the two people who mattered most to him living their lives freely sustained him. And that was enough for now.
The entire way back to the farm he could see and feel Eilish’s frustration in her stomping steps and balled-up fists. It showed just how much she cared for him.
It was with her safety in mind that he put on a performance that night in the hall of the longhouse. “Rúni—you were right about Aiden.”
His uncle finished his mouthful of herring and rested his knuckles on his hip. “Who do you speak of?”
Leif pointed to Eilish, sitting in the dark corner hunched over her food. “The scrawny thrall. He is near useless on the water and does not know how to use a line to fish.”
“I am glad you finally see my wisdom. There may be promise for you yet.”
Leif nodded in agreement. “I have always said you are the best fisherman I have ever seen. Not even Ægir could coax so many on his line.”
He laid the groundwork, and Rúni did as Leif expected, offering his expertise. The man licked his greasy fingers clean and said, “I could show him how to hold the line—the rest is a gift from Odin, such that he will not have. Fishing must be in your blood.”
“On
ly dead fish follow the stream,” Leif answered. “I can spare him tomorrow, but I tire from teaching him without gain. No need bringing him back if you find he has no use.”
Rúni burst out in laughter, sending a bit of food flying from his mouth. “Whatever has got into you, boy, I like it.”
Leif raised his cup to his uncle and took a deep breath. Everything was set.
The evening wore on and everyone fell quiet and settled on the benches to sleep. Leif lay back beside Eilish. He pulled a scratchy woolen blanket over his shoulder, returning her nervous gaze. In the dark, their fingers knit together until finally, they both found sleep.
The morning came in a blink of an eye. Noises around the cavernous hall woke him, and he found Eilish was already staring across at him. Her brows tugged together in worry. She offered him a reassuring smile, but he saw through it. She was just as anxious as he was about the coming day.
Leif uncovered himself, stood up and breathed in the smoke from the cooking fire. His uncle walked over to him and said, “Tell the thrall to meet me at the boatshed. The goddess Ran might take her sacrifice before Ragna gets home, but he should not be angry—it is a tribute given just the same.”
“Tight lines, Uncle,” Leif answered and watched the man grab a flatbread and leave the hall.
He gestured to Eilish. She rose to her feet, looking mildly sick. “He is ready for you. Do you wish a morning meal?”
She shook her head. “I am certain it would come back up.”
He glanced around to make sure no one was looking and pulled on her hand, leading her toward the door. Across the grassy field, he saw Rúni walking toward the landing beach. Leif started moving in the same direction with Eilish by his side.
“I will make sure you get in the skiff without trouble before leaving,” he told her. He noticed her eyes go wide, and he added, “You will not see me, but I will stay with you. Fall over the edge when you are ready, and I will be waiting to pull you deeper. Make sure you take a full breath.”
“I will.” He heard the worry in her voice.
They moved far enough away from the farm that it was no longer visible. The beach was not yet in sight, so Leif pulled her to him, risking being seen. “You can do this.”
He pressed his mouth to hers for a moment, tasting her lips once again. Leif brushed the hair from her face and stared into her blue eyes. He needed her to be filled with luck. He needed this to work.
“Of course I can.” She grinned at him.
Leif’s serious mantle broke, and he laughed grimly. “Let us go.”
They hurried along the trail to the beach they’d landed on a week ago. The trading ship still sat partially on shore and partially in the loch. Rúni was standing at the wide stone structure covered in sod. Its doors hung open, revealing a number of boats of various sizes.
Leif went to lift the opposite end of a small skiff, a rowboat with enough room for two. They moved it down the shore to the water. His uncle set a few things into the vessel and climbed in.
“You afraid of the water, boy?” he shouted at Eilish when she hesitated getting in. “The only thing you will catch with your mouth open is flies.”
“Go on!” Leif shouted at her in Gaelic, pointing at the skiff.
She hurried onto the boat, and Leif was quick to shove them off. The water licked at the hull, sending out ripples. Rúni adjusted in his seat and nodded at him. Leif watched them float across the water, focused on Eilish’s profile. He didn’t remain on the beach long, for he needed to follow their progress across the loch.
The wooded glade that encircled part of the shore was useful for cover. Leif hurried just out of view, hunched close to the ground, frightening away a herd of red deer. Their hooves thundering over the grasslands were the only things he heard as he shed his clothing beside a narrow channel that twisted away from the larger loch.
Leif jumped into the water, looking for Eilish’s and Rúni’s silhouettes traveling in the distance. He swam to the end of the tideway before submerging himself. He thought of the sea creature that his father had forced him to become as a young man. Except for his demonstration for Eilish the other day, he had never taken its form for anyone but Ragna. Becoming the giant octopus now to save Eilish was directly defying his father.
The change took over his body. He breathed out his remaining air before he didn’t need it anymore. His arms and legs split, creating eight suctioned tentacles, and his body condensed and shrank. The light that filtered through the water illuminated everything perfectly for him. His eyesight cut through the dim recesses. He filtered water in through his siphon, and when he forced it back out, he began to speed toward the dimple on the loch.
Eilish stared over the edge of the rowboat into the dark waters, trying to spot Leif. She trusted he was there, though she could not see him.
Rúni had spoken a few words that she couldn’t understand, but she nodded anyway. He watched her grip the oars as she grew breathless after rowing them across the loch. She tried to replay all the times she’d practiced “drowning” before. She took in a deep breath and held it, trying to prepare for her big moment.
Once they arrived at the opening of an inlet, Rúni pulled the oars on board and held up an object wound with twine. A metal hook had been fastened to the end of the line as well as a small piece of metal. He reached down to put his hand in a small basket that rested near his feet that she had only just noticed. When he withdrew his fingers from the woven bin, she recognized the insides of a gutted fish. Its fragrant smell was swept away by a gentle breeze. He secured a slippery, shiny section to the hook, checking to see if she was watching. Then he pulled many arm-lengths of twine free from the bone winder and flung its end into the water, letting the line sink far below the surface.
He appeared proud of his actions and spoke to her in his Finn-Gall language. Rúni continued to hold the line, giving it a tug here and there. He handed her the bone winder and proceeded to get another line and hook ready for himself.
When he was done and had tossed his line overboard, she felt his eyes on her. Eilish swallowed nervously and ducked her head down to allow her hair to cover her face. She remembered his hand grabbing her backside and found herself wishing there had been someone else she could have gone fishing with.
Rúni leaned forward, and his low, slow drawl sent chills down her spine. She couldn’t understand his words and didn’t want to. His hand moved with sudden swiftness, hooking under her chin. He forced her head up and stared at her with his squinty green eyes. Her chest tightened as his fingers brushed aside her hair so he could get a better look at her face. His growly speech streamed from his mouth, sending chills down her back.
Without warning he leaned forward, his thick hand went between her legs and grabbed hold of the fabric that protected her true identity. Her breath caught in her throat. She might have screamed if she weren’t so surprised in that moment.
Eilish wasn’t the only one startled. Rúni’s eyes went wide as he appeared to recognize the fact that she did not have the same parts as he did between his legs. Her secret had been discovered. The corners of his mouth slid into a wicked sneer, and she could just imagine what things he had in plan for her.
Eilish acted without thinking. She pulled back her free hand and let it fly. Her palm and fingers smacked the side of his face so hard it forced his gaze seaward. The sting of her flesh was nothing to the red mark left on his cheek. She knew he wouldn’t have time before he reacted in turn, so she jumped up and felt the boat rock precariously. She’d never been in a vessel this small and realized it was far more unbalanced than the larger trade ships she’d sailed in. This was to her benefit.
Rúni gripped the edge of the boat with both hands as she flailed about wildly. He snarled at her, presumably telling her to sit down. She didn’t need to put on an act; she was truly unsteady and reacting out of fear. Just as she let out a yelp and flipped backward out of the skiff, she took a quick gasp of air.
The cold water wrapped
her every pore. Her body sank down before rising back to the surface. It took everything in her to keep herself calm and appear frightened. It was far more challenging than it had been when she’d practiced with Leif because at the time she hadn’t been as scared as she was in that moment. The memories of thrashing in the water came back to her. Eilish’s muscles flexed; her head bobbed, and she coughed.
In the flurry of movement, she drifted away from the boat and took a deep breath, preparing for the next step. She cast an honestly petrified glance toward Rúni, who was watching her in amusement. She’d previously questioned Leif about what they would do if his uncle tried to save her. He’d assured her that Rúni would rather watch a thrall drown than get wet. It appeared he’d been right.
Their eyes locked before she stopped moving and slipped beneath the surface. It was hard to submerge while she held so much air. That was when the strong yet gentle grip of Leif’s soft tentacles wrapped around her ankle and pulled her down. If she had not been expecting it, she might have screamed, imagining a merrow coming to claim her soul.
Pressure mounted in her ears and chest, but she pushed through the discomfort. This was her only chance. The last thing she wanted was to be caught trying to escape. She kept her eyes pinched shut and felt the hold release on her leg as Leif’s tentacle grabbed her hand and begin to pull her through the water. She did just as he’d told her. She kicked her feet as quick and hard as she could and trusted he’d lead her away.
A strange noise rustled in her ears, and the pain and pressure mounted. Just as Eilish thought she wouldn’t be able to hold her breath any longer and that she’d become a sacrifice to the Finn-Gall gods, her body grew light she was allowed to ascend. She raised her face just as it broke the surface. It took everything in her not to gasp loudly.
Though she wanted to let her upper body rise out, she kept only her nose and lips above the gentle rocking current. Eilish drew in another long breath and squeezed Leif’s suction-cupped appendage. Again he dragged her under, and she was pulled an unknown distance as she kicked her feet, helping to propel herself forward.
Tides (Time of Myths: Shapeshifter Sagas Book 3) Page 15