“Not yet. We do not need to be. Garik, what if we could offer the men a base here? Not just a share of wealth, but land.”
“It is mad,” he breathed. “And wonderful.”
“Fortune has been on our side so far. What if we tried to deal with the people here? Come to them not in violence but in a desire to bargain.”
Garik considered it for a moment. “They would never trust us.”
“They have accepted Norse chiefs elsewhere.”
“After being conquered, ja. We have not the might for that. And yet…” Garik focused on the stars overhead. “Land. If we could achieve that, we would take a step up on our faðirs, eh?”
“We would.”
“That”—Garik gestured to the sleeping crew behind him—“might mean more to this particular lot than any wealth we have taken so far.”
“Ja.”
“But how?”
“I have been thinking on that.” Thinking much. “We cannot hope to conquer by fire, nei—not yet. But by bargaining—ja, mayhap. There is a man here among these lands who owes us for his release. Possibly for his life.”
An image of Quarrie MacMurtray burst upon Hulda’s mind. A prize more tantalizing than any gold, silver, or lands.
“The Scot you let go.”
“Ja. Him.”
“You think he would deal with you?”
“I do. Think on it, Garik.”
“I am.”
“We might return to that isle where we sheltered before. Make it our temporary base.”
“And then?”
“I will request to meet and talk with him. He has some authority there. We will bargain.”
“Ja, but he and his kind will not want us there on his threshold, hovering like buzzards over a killing field. What is to keep him from murdering you out of hand? You and whoever goes ashore with you. The ruse we used last time will not fly. He will never believe we have a fleet of boats.”
“He will not murder me out of hand.”
“Why not?” Garik said forthrightly. “In his place, I would.”
“He will not murder me,” she repeated with absolute certainty. Other words circled her mind.I will find ye. I will always find ye.
Nei, but this time it is I who will find you. Wait for me. Wait right where you are.
“It is a risky venture,” Garik whispered into the dark. “But so was buyingFreyain the first place. I will have to speak with Helje.”
“Do you think he will agree?”
“I do not know. He is stronger-headed than me. It is possible.”
“You must convince him. I have a feeling about this.”
“Hulda…” Garik hesitated, and she looked at him. “Is there something between you and this man? This Quarrie MacMurtray?”
