It was no lie. I could think of no worse fate.
‘Well, I’ll leave that to you sweet sister, I have my own plans.’
‘What is it you keep looking at?’ she asked angrily.
‘The Danes.’ I pointed in their direction. ‘Do ye ken why father has invited them here?’
‘Why would I ken that?’
As we rounded the corner, we almost fell upon one of my father’s kinsmen.
‘Hurry now, the Laird is waiting to speak with you both.’
It is a funny thing, how quickly fate has a habit of catching up with us.
Chapter 2
He Who is Most Stubborn Will Win
We entered the great hall, a cavernous wooden chamber with a thatched roof, with only small shutters that provided little illumination, even that early in the day. Far off in the shadows, I could make out the outline of my father’s priest, like a barrel with a tuft of white hair. Our father, seated alone to the rear, was quiet with his face illuminated by the firepit.
Donada stood to his left, pale as alabaster. Solemn in blue silk with her wheat-coloured hair plaited neatly. She looked so young. So frightened. So lost.
He glared back at Bethóc and I.
‘Yer pardoned for your late arrival,’ he said.
‘Father, we were just-.’
‘Enough Bethóc.’
‘We were watching the Danes.’ I interrupted. ‘They’ve made land, coming to our shores uninvited.’
He smiled, a smile that did not meet his eyes. ‘I’m well aware of what the Danes have done on my invitation.’ He waved a hand dismissively. ‘You’ve been warned about speaking to me like that, Olith. Hold your tongue or I will have to do it for you,’ he snarled.
He did not look worried even though he knew what they were capable of.Pagan savages. I would watch her pray day after day for our salvation from the Danes. That they had been sent by God to punish us for our sins. I could only imagine it was our father’s sins that she spoke of, as she often turned a blind eye to her daughters being used by his kinsmen, turning to skinand bone in front of her. I often thought that her prayers were misplaced, but what did I know?
I bowed my head.
‘I wish to speak with you.’
Donada stood still as a statue. Bethóc gave me a sideways glance.
‘Olith, I have found an advantageous marriage. A one that will be of great benefit to our Kingdom.’
‘Marriage? But father I–.’
Elpin had been right, the men had heard of my father’s plans. My body traded for peace at my father’s borders, how truly pious of him.
‘Jarl Sigurd of Orkney will be in attendance this evening.’
I was a foolish girl, even then, believing that I was intended for the Jarl. My head swam with thoughts of those savages, for once I hoped that the priest was still praying for my salvation. Maybe God would finally listen and save me from them.
‘So that is what brings the Northmen?’ I crossed myself. ‘I am to marry one of the Devil’s bastards?’
It is a wondrous thing to feel your heart kick against your chest. It reminds us that we are alive. It kicked, and it raged against its cage of sinew. In my heart, I knew that I could not leave my sister. I would not.
It was then that I heard him laughing.
