by Sandra Hill
Pressing a sword against Eirik's throat so that it drew blood, the burly soldier growled, "Who are you? Do you come from Ravenshire?"
Eirik refused to answer and felt the blade press tighter. " 'Prepare to meet your maker then," the guard threatened.
Eirik said a silent prayer for his immortal soul, figuring his death was at hand, but then he stiffened with determination when he realized that Gravely would escape once again. With renewed strength born of the need for revenge, he kicked the soldier's vitals. At the soldier's momentary gasp of surprise, Eirik shot both arms up and out against the massive chest. In seconds, the guard lay below Eirik, face uP, with Eirik's sword through his chest, spilling his life's blood. Eirik pulled his blade out with distaste and wiped it hurriedly on the man's tunic.
He turned and almost jumped out of his skin.
Tykir stood leaning against the parapet, smiling widely. "Well, 'tis glad I am that I did not have to rescue you."
"Bloody Hell, Tykir, what are doing here? You are supposed to be with Sigurd."
"Do you think I could let you climb a wall without me? I was ever the winner in that contest."
Eirik shook his head hopelessly at his brother's teasing, knowing the ill-timed humor masked a deep concern for his welfare. Eirik would have done the same for Tykir.
A short time later, dozens of Gravely's men lay dead or dying in the bailey, inside the hall and in the corridors, but there was no sign of the demon lord himself.
When Eirik entered one room after another, searching, he finally found Godric, tied in a remote chamber. After he released him, the weeping boy clung to him in fright, unable to speak. Other than being terrified, the child did not appear to be injured. Mayhap Eadyth had been right when she told Britta that Steven would not harm the young boy.
Holding him on his lap, Eirik asked softly, "Do you know where Gravely has gone?"
Godric's little body began to shiver violently and he clung to Eirik even tighter, but his eyes shifted involuntarily to a drape-covered alcove on the far side of the room. With seeming calmness, Eirik signaled to Tykir with his eyes and handed him the boy. "Best you find Godric some food before we take him home. No doubt, John and the other children will treat him like a conquering hero." He pushed them both toward the door and pulled his sword from its scabbard and a dagger from his belt.
When he flicked the drape aside, Gravely jumped out at him brandishing a battle axe. His blue eyes were wide and crazed. Froth dribbled from the edges of his mouth.
"At last!" Steven screamed, and having the advantage of surprise, swung the axe over his head toward Eirik's face. Eirik swerved, but not before the blade swiped a chunk of flesh out of his shoulder almost to the bone. With a curse, Eirik ignored the pain and parried his opponent's next thrust, managing to wound Steven in the upper abdomen.
Despite the illness which had racked Steven's once fine body, he was still a strong warrior capable of holding his own against Eirik's expert skill, at least in the beginning. Back and forth, they parried and thrust. Steven dropped the axe and picked up a sword with nary a blink. But then the ravages of his illness began to take their toll, and Gravely's endurance faltered. He grew careless and clumsy.
And Eirik lost the taste for the kill. Oh, he would destroy his evil enemy. He had to, if for no other reason than to stop his senseless assaults on any who crossed his path. But the man was clearly insane. His eyes were unnaturally wide and glazed with a berserk lust for blood. His mouth hung slack and trembling, like that of an aged man. Mayhap he had always been mad, but hid it under a calm exterior.
How can I feel pity for this man who has hurt me so?
Because you know he must have suffered greatly to have reached this sorry state, he answered himself.
With a mighty thrust, Eirik shoved him against the wall and held his sword horizontally against Steven's throat. " 'Tis over, Gravely," he snarled. "Finally, your evil will end."
Steven cackled madly. "Yea, but will you be able to live with my death, brother?"
A cold chill ran over Eirik. The room rang with an ominous silence. He should have known that, even facing death, Steven would find a way to leave destruction in his wake.
"Eirik, do not listen to him," Tykir called out from behind him. "Just kill the-bastard."
Gravely laughed again, not even trying to break free any longer. "Have you never thought on the resemblance betwixt us, Eirik? Black hair. Blue eyes. Same height. You share my blood, brother. And you know it."
"It cannot be so," Eirik said, shaking his head in denial.
"Your father planted his seed in my mother the one time she was able to escape her husband, the notorious Earl of Gravely, the man most people thought was my true father. She returned to Gravely when she learned she was breeding."
Eirik shook his head from side to side, denying Steven's claims. He still held the sword blade against his enemy's throat.
Steven continued with his incredible story. "My 'father' never wanted me, and after my mother and then he died, I was left at age ten in the care of the most evil man in all Britain—Jerome, the Gravely castellan. And my brother Elwinus, barely out of swaddling cloths. Oh, Lord," he moaned, and his eyes rolled back in his head at some memory so painful even he could not bear to think on it.
Then Steven seemed to calm himself. He looked Eirik levelly in the eyes, momentarily sane, and whispered brokenly, "Brother..." At the same time, he jerked his head forward, deliberately cutting his own throat. Blood spurted everywhere, but still a horrified Eirik held Steven upright by the arms.
And Eirik could not see for the tears which misted his eyes for his most hated enemy.
Chapter Twenty
Eadyth looked at the parchment in her hands and read it again, trying to understand:
Eadyth,
It is over
Eirik
What did it mean? Wilfrid had returned with the men that evening, bringing Godric home safely, thank the Lord. But Eirik had gone to Jorvik with Tykir, leaving no word for her when he might return to Ravenshire.
It is over. Did it mean the struggle with Steven of Gravely was finally over? Or did it mean he considered their marriage over?
Eadyth quizzed Wilfrid repeatedly and got no answers. Oh, Wilfrid had told Eadyth about Steven's last words, and her heart went out to her husband and to Tykir, who must suffer greatly knowing they shared blood with such a demon. Or mayhap they grieved as well because they had never been able to help Steven as a boy before his mind became twisted from abuse.
Eadyth replayed the events of the past few days in her mind. Should she have gone to Eirik and told him all, even at the risk of Godric's life and his own, as well? Eirik apparently thought so.
Would she have done things differently if she had a chance to do them over? Probably not, Eadyth admitted to herself. She was headstrong in her ways, just as Eirik had said.
Perhaps she could change. Maybe if she were able to remove all the objectionable characteristics Eirik had pointed out, Eirik would be pleased and grow to love her again. For the next few days, as Eirik stayed in Jorvik and sent no word to her, Eadyth deferred to Wilfrid in many matters regarding the estate, even when he looked at her oddly. Even when he performed his duties in a manner she considered less than satisfactory or in a way she could do better.
She did not raise her voice shrewishly, not once, even when Bertha belched loudly in the hall.
She spent more time with the children, tutoring them and telling them tales. Did that not make her more womanly, less mannish? Would that impress her husband?
If only Eirik would return, somehow she would make it up to him for all the ways in which she had wronged him. She ached for the return of her husband, for the love she had apparently lost.
And she ached for other reasons, as well. For throughout all those days that Eirik stayed away, Eadyth retched every morning, ate ravenously the remainder of the day, and wept spontaneously at the least provocation.
She was carrying Eirik's c
hild. She was gloriously happy. And she was extremely unhappy that she could not share the good news with her husband. Would he even consider it good news now?
"Send a message to the lackwit in Jorvik and tell him of the babe," Girta advised. "He will come when he learns of your condition."
"Nay. I want him to come because he loves me, not because of my child."
"And if he does not return?"
"Oh, Girta," Eadyth cried, throwing herself into her old nurse's arms. "I could not bear it if he never came back to me."
Then an insidious thought began to creep into Eadyth's mind as a sennight went by and she still had no word from her errant husband.
Could he be with Asa?
Nay, he would not go to her. He told me he had given her up, that he preferred me, the other side of her mind countered.
But that was afore I lied to him.
Well, if the bastard prefers another woman, let him go.
Eadyth thought about that last possibility for only one moment. Nay! Bloody Hell, nay! I will not allow another woman to have my husband.
And Eadyth reverted back to her old ways. With brisk efficiency, she ordered Wilfrid to bring her horse, along with two guards to accompany her. She was going to Jorvik.
And then, being the ever-practical business woman that she was, she decided there was no sense wasting a trip to the market town without bringing some of her honey and candles to her agent. And mayhap she could sell some wool, as well. Therefore, she told Wilfrid to get the cart and a driver.
"And there might be a buyer for those extra cherries. and the embroidered cloths Girta has been working on," she told Wilfrid. Soon the seneschal was rolling his eyes heavenward, but he muttered, " 'Tis good to see you back to your old self, MY lady."
When she got to Jorvik toward evening, Eadyth headed directly for her agent's home, where she usually stayed on her trips to the city. She discussed her business affairs with Bertrand that night, and the next day she headed to the orphanage outside the city where Eirik's "Uncle" Selik and his second wife Rain, Eirik and Tykir's half sister, lived.
The happy pair greeted Eadyth warmly after she introduced herself amidst the din of dozens of children screaming and crying and laughing. Eadyth could only gape at the striking couple. Rain was almost as tall as her Viking husband. Both were blond-haired and beautiful. They continually touched each other as they passed in their everyday duties, the love between them apparent to all.
Amazingly, Rain was a healer, an unusual occupation for a woman, and she ran her own small hospitium on the orphanage grounds. Selik owned trading vessels which traveled around the world to market towns. Eadyth soon realized she might strike an advantageous arrangement with him for carrying some of her bee products.
"I am sorry we could not come to your wedding," Rain said. "I was not feeling well at the time, and Selik was concerned about my traveling this late in my pregnancy." She patted her stomach, and Eadyth could not stop looking at Rain's huge belly. Eadyth's eyes welled with tears when Selik came up behind his wife and placed his hands lovingly over their unborn child, kissing Rain's neck. Eadyth had never seen a married couple demonstrate their love so publicly before, and she found herself filled with envy.
Seeing Eadyth's dismay, Rain asked Eadyth to sit with them. "What is wrong, Eadyth? How can we help you?"
"Have you seen Eirik?" Eadyth blurted out.
"About five days ago," Selik said with a nod. "He came looking for helpers to refurbish his ship."
"His ship?" Eadyth stiffened with annoyance. So, not only did her husband have a treasure room at home, but he owned a ship in Jorvik. And all the time she was jabbering away about her business ventures, he had his own trading ship. By the saints! If she did not want the lackwit so much, she might consider tossing him out on his ear.
Then another unsettling thought occurred to her. "Does he intend to sail himself?"
Selik looked uncertain. "He did not say." Then he looked Eadyth over appraisingly. "Tell us why you are looking for your husband."
Eadyth felt her face redden, but it was no time for pride now. She started at the beginning with her foolish charade and ended with Steven of Gravely's disclosure.
Selik and Rain looked at each other oddly, then embraced tightly. Rain explained, with tear-filled eyes, "Selik and I—like so many others—have reasons to exult in Steven's death."
"Hmmm. Now I understand why Eirik seemed so upset," Selik said. "He always was such a sensitive, somber boy. He takes things very seriously. And, no doubt, he hoped to spare our feelings."
"Eirik? Somber?" Eadyth laughed. "Nay, you must refer to Tykir. Except for when he is angry, Eirik is ever teasing, or grinning, or winking."
Rain and Selik both stared at her, gape-mouthed with amazement. Then Rain turned to Selik. "Have you ever heard Eirik tease anyone?"
"Never," Selik said unequivocally. "And I have known the boy since he was in swaddling cloths."
"And winking!" Rain laughed aloud. Then she took both of Eadyth's hands in hers and squeezed warmly. "He must love you, dear, if you bring out that side of his character."
Eadyth's heart was warmed with hope, but it still brought her no closer to Eirik and a reconciliation. Selik and Rain invited Eadyth to stay with them, but she declined, wanting to be inside the city, closer to Eirik.
It was only midday when she returned to Jorvik, so she decided to look for Eirik at the harbor. She had gone but a short distance when she saw Tykir talking to a group of sailors who were loading a ship. With regret, she realized that he was preparing for a trading voyage. Would Eirik be going with him? she wondered miserably.
When Tykir saw her, his eyes brightened and he ended his conversation, sending the sailors off on some errand. "Eadyth! How wonderful to see you!" Opening his arms, he pulled Eadyth into his embrace. Then Tykir held her at his side with an arm looped over her shoulder and took her onto his ship.
"Where is he?" she asked immediately. "Have you seen Eirik?"
"Yea, of course I have seen him. He works on his ship near here. But Eirik went to Wessex yestereve to see King Edred and has not returned yet."
"Will he be back today?"
He shrugged. "Eirik is not himself, Eadyth. He tells me naught."
"I worry about him. My lies and the things Steven told him..." She broke off, unable to continue.
Tykir brushed some wisps of hair off her forehead with brotherly care. "He was shocked by Gravely's disclosure. I will not deny that. We both were. But he has come to accept that he could have done naught to change the course of Steven's life. We did not know of Steven's existence when we were boys, and Eirik would have been only five when Steven was orphaned."
She nodded. "And my lies? Will he forgive those?"
"Eadyth, really, just give Eirik time. He is a somber fellow, but—"
"Somber! Somber! Why dost everyone refer to Eirik as somber? The man is a rascal and you know it."
"A rascal? Eirik?" He studied her for one long moment, then declared, "He must love you if he shows a rascally side to you and no other."
It was much the same thing Selik and Rain had told her. But then Eadyth alarmed Tykir and surprised even herself by bursting into tears. Well, she told herself on a snuffling hiccough, she had already retched up her stomach's contents this morning. Now she was crying her eyes out. And soon, while she sat on a wine cask on Tykir's deck, spilling her heart's contents regarding her missing husband, she ate three apples, four honey cakes and twelve dried figs.
He gawked at her, astounded at her appetite. "Does the loathsome lout know?"
"Know what?"
"That you carry his 'loathsome lout of a son'?"
She looked up quickly in surprise at Tykir's insightful remark. "Nay, and do not tell him. I will not have him return to me out of obligation."
An hour later, Tykir walked her back to her agent's home. On the way, Tykir stopped suddenly at an eastern merchant's stall, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"I think I
know the very thing to lure your husband home."
"What?" she asked suspiciously.
When Omar, the trader, showed her the product that Tykir requested, Eadyth's mouth formed a small "o" of wonder. "Do you think... nay, I could not... never... well, if you really think so."
* * *
Eirik did not return to Jorvik that night, nor the next morning, and Eadyth began to panic. Tykir had told her that he would make sure Eirik came to her the minute he arrived, even if he had to truss him up and carry him. Eadyth was growing quite fond of her endearing brother-by-marriage.
Was it possible that Eirik had returned to Jorvik and refused to see her? After all, Tykir could not really force Eirik to do something he did not want to do. Or perchance he had come back to the city and had never gone to his ship. What if...
Eadyth reeled with pain at the possibility that Eirik might be with Asa, his former mistress. She could not sit and wait any longer. Eadyth dressed carefully in a pale lavender gunna over a cream-colored chemise. She left off the wimple, but wore the sheer violet head-rail she had worn for her wedding. A thin gold circlet held her head-rail in place, matching the gold-linked belt cinching her waist. She thought she looked quite well, considering her inner turmoil... until she got to Coppergaie and found Asa's jewelry stall, that is.
The petite, raven-haired beauty was a jewel. Eadyth felt like a lump of granite next to her. Wallowing in misery, Eadyth knew she could not compete with such a beautiful creature.
When Eadyth introduced herself, Asa's eyes widened and she invited Eadyth to step into her home in the rear of the market stall. Eadyth looked around quickly at the small but immaculate home, decorated with several finely carved chairs and tables—probably from Eirik's treasure room, she thought meanly. She tried to picture Eirik here with Asa, sitting before that fireplace, eating her food, going up to that cozy second-floor bedloft. Oh, Lord.