Mark of the Hunter: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Lords of Alekka Book 2)

by A. E. Rayne

  Despite an overwhelming desire for ale, Reinar kept moving, wanting to ensure that everyone was taken care of, no matter whose side they’d fought on. He stopped by a table, peering down at an unconscious pale-faced man.

  ‘Lief Gundersen,’ Sigurd said behind him. ‘I should’ve killed him.’

  ‘Why didn’t you?’ Reinar turned around, eyeing his brother.

  Sigurd looked puzzled. ‘I heard Alys in my head, begging me to stop.’

  ‘His wife helped her and Eddeth, apparently. She promised the woman she’d keep her husband safe.’

  Sigurd was surprised, relieved that he hadn’t followed through on his desperate need to stick his sword through the sullen prick’s back. ‘Dreamers.’

  Reinar nodded, smiling wryly.

  Sigurd turned to him. ‘You alright?’

  Shrugging, Reinar saw Vik coming towards him, Ollo Narp beside him. ‘This should be interesting,’ he smirked, nudging Sigurd.

  ‘My lord!’ Ollo exclaimed, hands open, eyes gleaming. ‘I was delighted to help you reclaim Slussfall for Ake!’

  ‘Is that so, Ollo?’ Reinar narrowed his eyes. ‘I’m sure Sirrus will be just as delighted to hear it. Sigurd, go get Sirrus’ head down so Ollo can tell him how happy he is!’

  Ollo frowned. ‘We all make mistakes, Reinar.’

  ‘Well, true, though most don’t end up with our lord’s head hanging from the gates, and his sworn enemy taking command of his fort, threatening the whole of Alekka. That’s perhaps a little more than just a mistake, Ollo.’

  Ollo looked embarrassed but slightly hopeful. Reinar didn’t sound ready to kill him.

  Yet.

  Reinar bent his head, peering at him. ‘You helped Jonas and Vik. Helped get Alys’ boy out of the fort. I’ve heard what you’ve done. Keep on that path, and we all might view you more favourably one day, but don’t expect miracles. No one will forget how you betrayed Sirrus. You’ll carry that scar with you till the end. Like Hakon Vettel, you’ll forever be marked by your betrayal.’

  Ollo squirmed, unhappy to hear the truth delivered in such unpalatable terms. He dropped his head, though he felt a flutter of hope, for he was still alive.

  ‘You saw that mark on Hakon’s chest, so you know who stands behind me now. Betray our people again, Ollo, and I will come for you.’ And threat ringing in Ollo’s ears, Reinar turned away, inclining his head for Vik to walk with him. ‘Is Jonas back?’

  Vik shook his head. ‘Not that I’ve seen. And Alys?’ He noticed the twist of discomfort on Reinar’s face.

  ‘She’s in the hall, with the women. We’ve taken the most seriously injured in there, by the fire. It’s cold out here.’

  That was true, Vik thought, thinking of his cottage for the first time in days, remembering his ruined old fishing boat, and his smokehouse. And glancing around at the gates as Jonas rode back into the fort, he thought of Lotta, knowing that it would be some time before he saw his home again.

  Reinar turned back to the hall, watching as Alys stepped outside, torn green dress hanging off her, black cloak gone now. She’d been tending to the wounded, and it was too heavy, swamping her, making it hard to work carefully. She looked up, seeing the horses, unable to believe it was real.

  After all this time?

  And bursting into tears, Alys flew down the steps as Vik hurried to the horses, slipping his arms around Magnus’ waist, helping him down to the ground. ‘Magnus! Magnus!’ Alys couldn’t see. She was crying so much that she couldn’t see a thing, and then there he was, her baby, Magnus, standing right before her, and she saw glimpses of him on the beach; that one last look as she urged him to leave, to take his sister and run.

  ‘Mama!’ Magnus couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t stop crying as he fell into her arms, feeling her hands on his back, his shuddering, trembling back. And then she was pulling him close, enclosing him tightly, making him safe. ‘Mama!’

  He heard her sobbing, her heart beating.

  And he knew that he was home.

  51

  Eddeth was exhausted, back aching, but she took the saw from Aldo with a determination to get the job done. ‘You’ve held that blade in the fire, then, Aldo Varnass? Kept it there, burning hot?’ Eddeth didn’t know if she had the energy or the fortitude to hack off another limb, though the gods were going to need every man for the battle ahead, even the one-armed ones.

  Then blinking, Eddeth wondered how she knew that.

  ‘The gods are a mystery!’ she cried, grinning at Aldo as he crouched beside her, ready to help.

  Falla frowned at Eddeth, who was making enough noise to wake the dead. She leaned over Lief, who was paler than she’d ever seen him, feeling worried. ‘You need to sleep.’

  ‘I need more ale.’

  Sighing, Falla poured him another cup, feeling useless as a caregiver, already impatient with it too. ‘I’ll talk to that Reinar Vilander when I get a chance, don’t worry. He just hasn’t stopped. Hasn’t stopped for a moment!’

  ‘Talk to him about what?’ Lief wondered sleepily, smiling at Borg, who sat on Falla’s knee, playing with her hair, pleased when the boy smiled back.

  ‘About you becoming the lord here,’ Falla hissed, as though Lief should know what she was talking about.

  He looked bemused. ‘The lord? Here? Why? Why would he want that?’

  ‘As a reward, of course! For all the help I provided. And you! You didn’t kill them, did you?’

  ‘Not as many as I’d have liked to.’

  Falla slammed her hand over his mouth. ‘Lief! That will hardly endear you to the Vilanders. And they’ll have sway with Ake Bluefinn, won’t they? They’ll tell him who was heroic. Who deserved to be saved. Who deserves to be rewarded!’ Looking down at her husband, who had nearly lost his leg, she worried that he hadn’t been heroic enough. She hoped that wasn’t true. Slussfall was an enormous fort, one she would gladly be the lady of. She didn’t want to go back now, not when she’d come so far. Not when she’d suffered so much to help them both rise.

  Lief gripped her hand. ‘Stop,’ he breathed, ready to pass out. ‘Stop thinking.’

  She glared at him, confused, his big hands reaching up to hold both sides of her face. ‘What?’

  ‘I love you, Falla. You’re all I could think about today. Not Hakon. Not Slussfall. Not Stornas or my oath, just you. You and our family. And whether I’m a lord or a warrior or a farmer, I just want to protect you and love you and raise our children together and be happy.’ He slumped back, exhausted, eyes closed.

  And then he felt the most perfect lips in the world, soft and warm, kissing him tenderly, and he smiled.

  Karolina turned away from them, Anders in her arms. Reinar walked towards her, and she trembled with fear. He was handsome and big, with a deep voice and a stern face.

  ‘Do you have any family?’ Reinar wondered, trying to get her to look at him, softening his voice. ‘Somewhere to go? Someone to help you?’

  Karolina shook her head, tears leaking from terrified eyes. ‘No one. Nowhere.’

  Reinar frowned. ‘You’re welcome to stay here, in Slussfall.’ He saw Alys out of the corner of his eye, with her son, and he smiled. ‘A new lord will be installed soon, though perhaps I’ll talk to Ake, see what he thinks about Lief Gundersen remaining. The men here will respond to him, I think?’ He was testing her out, seeing what she thought.

  ‘They will, they will, my lord,’ Karolina insisted. ‘Lief has their respect.’

  Reinar nodded. ‘I’ll talk to Ake, then, ask him to consider it. And in the meantime, you may stay here, raise your son. Raise him well, not like his father. It’s important. I... it’s important that he doesn’t become like Hakon.’

  ‘Yes, I will, my lord, I promise. I hated Hakon. I... had no choice!’ Karolina felt relief and more tears came quickly.

  Reinar watched her closely, seeing what Alys had been trying to tell him, hoping it would be enough for Ake. And then there was Alys and her son, Vettels themselves, and they wer
e coming towards him, and there was nowhere to go.

  Sigurd came up to him with two cups of ale. ‘You might need something to drink, Brother,’ he grinned, then frowned, confused by the look on Reinar’s face. And turning around, he saw Alys with her son.

  He was a tall boy, Sigurd thought, almost up to Alys’ shoulder, and she was a taller than average woman. He looked worn out and dirty, a fierce look in his sea-green eyes as he considered the two big men.

  And neither Vilander could blame him for that.

  ‘Magnus, this is Sigurd and Reinar,’ Alys said softly. ‘My friends from Ottby.’ She smiled at the men, who looked like they both wanted to run away from the ten-year-old boy.

  Magnus scowled at them, feeling the warmth of his mother’s hand on his shoulder. ‘You stole my mother.’

  That was true. They couldn’t deny it.

  ‘But you killed my father, and so you saved her too.’

  Tears filled Alys’ eyes, and she dropped her head, feeling embarrassed.

  Magnus slipped his hand into hers, squeezing it. ‘And when we find my sister, perhaps we will come to Ottby and visit you, see where you took our mother. She was happy there, I think.’

  Reinar blinked, remembering Elin.

  Heart torn in two.

  Sigurd peered at Magnus de Sant, finding it hard not to like the scowling boy. ‘You’d be welcome, Magnus. Ottby will forever be grateful to your mother. She saved us too. That might almost make us... even?’

  Magnus frowned, and no one was convinced by that. He looked around, seeing a familiar face as Bjarni led Stina and Elin into the hall. ‘Stina!’ And running forward, he almost knocked into Ilene, who turned to glare at him, before smiling sweetly at Sigurd.

  Alys lifted her eyebrows at Sigurd, who ducked his head, looking away.

  ‘Magnus!’ Stina burst into tears, relieved to see him, wrapping her arms around the boy. ‘You’re alright! I... I’m so relieved. But where’s Lotta?’

  Alys’ smile faded. She shook her head, meeting Elin Vilander’s eyes as she ran for Reinar, wrapping her arms around his waist. ‘I don’t know. Gone north in a ship. We have to leave and find her.’

  ‘Tomorrow?’ Stina wondered, letting go of Magnus and hugging Alys tightly, so happy to see her again.

  Alys nodded, slipping out of her embrace, turning to face the woman who she could now feel staring at her.

  Reinar didn’t know where to look. ‘This is my wife,’ he croaked. Then clearing his throat, he tried again. ‘This is Alys, the dreamer who helped us get into the fort. She helped us defeat the Vettels in Ottby too.’

  Elin blinked slowly, staring at Alys as though she was an enemy she was ready to strike. She held Reinar’s hand, her body pressed against his side. ‘We’re so very grateful to you... Alys. For all your help. I’ve heard so much about you, from everyone in Ottby. From Ilene. She told me so many things.’

  Reinar frowned, hearing the edge in Elin’s voice.

  Stina frowned, seeing the venom in Elin’s eyes.

  Alys just blinked at Elin, tortured by the memory of kissing her husband. ‘Well, I’m just happy to think it’s over. That there are no more Vettels to threaten the peace of Alekka anymore.’ She felt odd, knowing that she was a Vettel; that Magnus, who stood beside her, was one too.

  No one knew what to say, and the silence quickly became uncomfortable.

  Sigurd looked for an escape. ‘I need to make sure everyone’s got shelter for the night. Weather doesn’t look too promising.’ He nodded at Alys, smiled at Stina, and slipped away.

  Reinar stared after him, feeling envious.

  Inspired by Sigurd’s abrupt departure, Alys sought to leave too. ‘I need to find you a bed, Magnus. I’m not sure you’ve slept since I last saw you, or eaten. What have Jonas and Vik been feeding you?’

  ‘Mother!’ Magnus groaned, not wanting to go to bed yet, already forgetting how much he’d missed the sound of her voice. ‘Just a while longer!’

  ‘For what? To see more injured men and dead bodies? No, you need some sleep. Come on, we’ll find somewhere quiet, hopefully with a fire burning.’

  Magnus saw Jonas and Vik, and he disappeared with a wink.

  Alys turned back to Reinar with a smile. ‘We’ll leave in the morning, if we can find a ship. Hopefully, we can find a ship.’

  ‘You’re sure you don’t want more help? More men?’ Reinar wondered.

  Alys shook her head. ‘I’ve got Jonas and Vik. That’s enough.’

  ‘And Eddeth.’

  ‘Yes, and Eddeth. She’s never been to sea, so she’d be unbearable if I left her behind,’ Alys smiled as Stina turned her head, called away by Eddeth, who needed some help.

  Leaving Alys alone with Reinar and Elin.

  ‘I imagine she would,’ Reinar said, cringing at the sound of Eddeth sawing off another limb.

  ‘Well, it sounds as though there’s a lot to do,’ Elin murmured, eyes on Alys as she unpinned her cloak. ‘I’ll go and see how I can help.’ And turning to Reinar, she pushed herself up onto her tiptoes, kissing him softly. ‘I’m so glad you’re alright.’ And she was. Despite her discomfort around the dreamer and her annoyance at having been left down on Fury with Stina for company, Elin was happy to see Reinar again. It only reinforced how much she wanted him.

  How determined she was to keep hold of him.

  ‘I wish you a safe journey,’ she said coldly, unable to smile at Alys as she stepped past her, heading for Eddeth.

  Alys swallowed, not wanting to be left behind with Elin’s husband.

  She stared at her boots, the silence filled with all the things she couldn’t say.

  They stood close to a fire, and it was warm, and its glow was deep and comforting. Rain fell loudly, hammering the roof, and Alys yawned suddenly, ready to sleep for a year.

  Hands by his sides, Reinar didn’t move, though he knew he had to. ‘I have to go. See what more there is to do.’

  Alys nodded, stepping back. ‘I’ll see you in Ottby. Soon, I hope.’ It was the worst thing to say, a pointless wish, for Reinar wasn’t hers.

  He would never be hers.

  ‘I’ll see you in Ottby, then, Alys de Sant.’

  ‘Thank you for coming, Reinar,’ Alys murmured. ‘I knew you would.’ And turning, holding her breath, she walked away, sensing Reinar’s eyes following her, forcing herself not to turn around, gripping her hands tightly in front of her old green dress.

  Eddeth yawned until her eyes watered. She couldn’t remember when she’d last slept, and her body slumped against Stina’s. ‘I need a bed!’

  They’d settled everyone down for the night, and Stina felt free to join Eddeth in yawning uncontrollably. There had been so many men milling around the square, coming in and out of the hall; those from Slussfall, Ottby, and Stornas; from Hovring and Vika too. They had tried to help as many as they could, not wanting to head off to sleep when even one man was suffering. But now, it was finally time to go. Though where to, Stina didn’t know. ‘Any ideas?’

  Eddeth nodded. ‘A stinking old cottage, but there’s a bed. Just for one, though I don’t mind sleeping on the floor!’

  ‘Come on, then, Eddeth, before you have to carry me!’

  They staggered past Jonas and Vik, who were debating their chances of finding a bed themselves.

  ‘May as well sleep in a barn if they’re going to leave that door open all night,’ Vik grumbled.

  Jonas’ eyes lit up, thinking of the barn they’d slept in when they first arrived in Slussfall. ‘That hay wasn’t so bad.’

  ‘No,’ Vik agreed, heavy eyes almost closing. And too tired to wait another moment, he slapped Jonas on the back, urging him out of the hall.

  Sigurd walked past them, back to his brother, who seemed reluctant to leave their injured men. Holgar had been carried into the fort, still unconscious, Bolli by his side. Torfinn had been stitched up and was now sound asleep and snoring. They both felt on edge, but Sigurd knew that they were going to struggle to e
ven see in the morning if they didn’t get some sleep. ‘Come on,’ he sighed, tugging his brother’s sleeve. ‘Go get Elin. I’ve found us all a cottage.’

  ‘You have?’

  ‘Mmmm, Falla Gundersen’s offered us hers. She seems to think we have some sway with Ake, and who I am to tell her that he’d likely listen to his children before he listens to us!’ His eyes met Ilene’s, and she smiled smugly at him, arm through Berger Eivin’s as they headed out of the hall together, cups of ale in their hands.

  Sigurd muttered to himself, insisting that he didn’t care.

  Berger was welcome to her.

  Reinar wasn’t listening as his brother mumbled along beside him. Just the thought of bed had his body feeling heavy and lumberous. He stretched his hands above his head, trying to ignore battling feelings of guilt and desire, glancing around the hall, looking for Elin, though his mind was on Alys.

  She would be gone in the morning, and yet he’d only just found her again.

  He rubbed his eyes, feeling annoyed.

  Sleep would help, he tried to convince himself.

  Sleep would help to set him right.

  Alys was sure that she’d never been more tired in her life, though that wasn’t true, she thought, remembering Ottby. And thoughts of Ottby whirled around her weary mind, trapping her in a state of exhaustion, unable to sleep at all. Magnus lay beside her, curled into a ball, and she couldn’t quite believe it. She’d stroked his newly shorn hair as he fell asleep, head on her chest, and now he’d rolled away to the other side of the bed.

  Leaning over, Alys pulled the furs up over his shoulder, wanting to keep him warm.

  She hadn’t wanted to sleep in the chamber Hakon had tried to rape her in – the one where Ivan had died, his blood still staining the floor – so Aldo had found them a tiny cottage tucked down past the hall, near the harbour gates. It reminded her of Lotta. She’d seen glimpses of her daughter sleeping in one of the cottages, frightened and cold. But where was she now?

  Mind straining with weariness, Alys closed her eyes, one hand on Magnus’ back, slipping into a dream.