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‘Has Kettil agreed to our leaving? Will Auda be allowed to go with us?’ she asked as he started to walk away.
He put an arm about her waist and drew her closer. ‘I want to sail before any more damage can be done. Before the traitor has a chance to cause more mischief.’
His breath blew against her ear, making her remember the way they had lain together this morning before the interruption. She glanced over her shoulder to see who might watching, but they were alone. Her heart started beating far too fast, but her mind screamed not to trust him. What was good for Hrolf was not necessarily good for her or her family. Once he was at the hall, he would be able to hold it against everyone with very little manpower. Her father had begun the improvements to the harbour’s defences, but she had strengthened them, creating a formidable blockade of sunken ships and other debris to narrow the entrance.
He began to caress her back, then his hand dipped ever lower, skimming her backside. She instantly stiffened. A couple of touches and she’d melt. She moved away from him.
‘You believe Lavrans is about to attack and you plan to abandon Kettil?’ she said, pouring scorn into her voice as she attempted to get her breathing under control. ‘How like a sea king!’
‘I’m leaving enough warriors for his needs, but neither of us wishes to lose your harbour.’ He gazed at her with a puzzled expression. ‘Lavrans needs a base to launch his raid.’
‘I did not leave it unguarded.’
‘And your men are loyal to whom, precisely? Forgive me, but after last night, I’m wary. Your brother could easily be headed there.’
‘He is going to see my stepmother. He would never betray me in that fashion.’ She stamped her feet in frustration. ‘And Auda? Does she remain here? An innocent hostage?’
‘Kettil’s wife has taken a liking to her.’
A cold place developed in the pit of Sayrid’s stomach. Auda was Kettil’s hostage. No one paid the slightest heed to the implications of the brooch she’d discovered. It proved Regin’s innocence. She knew it did.
She wanted to curl up in a ball and hide away from the world. But that option was not available to Ironfirst’s eldest. She had to fight, particularly as this entire mess was the fault of her greed and arrogance.
‘Unacceptable. I want my sister safe and that means at home with me. The brooch—’
‘Your sister will be safe. I pledge my word. Kettil has pledged as well. He is satisfied that your sister knows nothing about the sabotage or your brother’s future plans.’
‘What do you expect? My brother is innocent.’ She gazed directly at him and willed him to answer. ‘What has changed?’
‘You were right, Sayrid. I cleaned the brooch and another rune appeared—Lavrans’s personal rune. Whoever sabotaged my boat wanted me to stay here. I’m in no mood to oblige.’
The knowledge rocked through her. ‘Being right gives me no pleasure.’
A muscle jumped in his cheek. ‘Nor should it.’
‘And the urgency?’ Sayrid tapped her foot on the ground and struggled to hold on to her temper. ‘Why the next tide? Do I have to prise everything out of you? I can understand tactics, Hrolf. Better than most.’
He stopped and seemed to grow into the formidable sea king who commanded a fleet of long ships. Sayrid stood her ground.
‘I am trying to protect you, Sayrid,’ he said finally, his gaze softening. ‘I can do that better if we are at my hall. I want to assess its strengths and weaknesses. If someone isn’t there to prevent it, that harbour becomes the back door to this whole area. Lavrans wants a jaarldom at least.’
‘Or potentially a trap to lure you out of the harbour. When the ships go around the headland, they will be exposed until they reach the bay.’
‘In a sea fight, my men will win. I’ve beaten Lavrans before.’
‘If there is a battle, I expect to fight.’
His hands rose as if he wanted to shake her, but he checked the movement. Instead he gave a placating smile. ‘The women in my family are shielded so they don’t have to lift a sword.’
‘That has changed.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve a tendency to fight first and ask questions after.’
He burst out in a loud laugh, breaking the tension which had sprung up between them. His lips lightly brushed her forehead. ‘I’m anxious to continue our lessons. When we are at the hall, there’ll be no interruptions, Sayrid. Far better for us. Think about that.’
Sayrid frowned as a warm tremor radiated out from his touch. ‘I was being serious.’
He put his arm about her shoulders and pulled her close. ‘We sail on the tide. We will begin our marriage properly on our lands.’
