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‘Truly remarkable.’ Hrolf held the bead in his hand. ‘Inga loved this bead. I brought it back to her from Constantinople.’
‘Clever girl. She is laying a trail for us to follow.’ Sayrid rocked back on her heels. ‘Hopefully we will find her before she runs out of beads.’
‘I hope we are in time.’ Hrolf started off at a slow run, looking left and right. He spotted the third bead and held it up. ‘We are going in the right direction.’
‘Give it to me,’ Sayrid said. ‘When we find Inga, we can give the beads back to her.’
‘Plus several extra!’
She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. He squeezed back. ‘My thinking exactly.’
After the third bead, the fourth and fifth were easy to spot, but the sixth proved elusive until Sayrid spotted it by a pond.
‘Of course,’ she murmured. ‘I know where they have gone.’
‘I thought there were only three hiding places.’
‘Blodvin is making for the cliff at the top of the headland. She will be able to observe what is happening and make her plans accordingly.’
‘If she harms a hair on my Inga’s head, she is a dead woman.’
Sayrid stopped abruptly. ‘I want Blodvin properly punished, but I also want to find out who else was involved. It is finally our chance to uncover the true traitor, the one who has been telling Lavrans all the shipping secrets.’
‘You mean her father.’
‘How else could Blodvin have met Lavrans?’ Silently she waited for Hrolf to agree. ‘The double-crossing swine. I should have known that a man who will cheat on wool will cheat on other things.’
He nodded reluctantly. ‘I will do all in my power to bring her to justice, even if my first inclination is to put a sword to her throat. If my daughter is dead, I will not spare the witch.’
‘Inga was alive when she dropped these beads. It isn’t much, but I hang on to it.’
‘I hadn’t thought of it in that way.’ He put a hand on her shoulder. ‘I’m glad you are here.’
Sayrid put on what she hoped was a confident smile, but inside she knew she would blame herself for the rest of her life if anything happened to Inga.
They rounded a corner and Sayrid saw them, standing at the cliff’s edge. The wind whipped Blodvin’s hair, making her look quite wild. Inga was pale but resolute.
‘There they are. And Inga is alive. See.’
Hrolf threw his arms about her. His face showed utter relief. ‘I am in your debt for finding them. I would never have considered a bead trail.’
‘Our daughter’s doing.’
He started running towards the pair.
‘They are too close to the edge,’ Sayrid called.
Hrolf immediately checked his movement. Sayrid was right. In his haste to protect his daughter, he had nearly ruined everything. They would need to be coaxed away from danger.
‘What do you suggest?
‘Get their attention and keep it focused on you. I will go around the other way. We don’t want Blodvin getting scared and accidentally jumping off the cliff.’
Hrolf nodded, seeing the sense in Sayrid’s words. He wanted to tell Sayrid not to take the risk, but he knew there was no stopping her, just as there had been no stopping her when they had fought off Lavrans and his men earlier. His wife was fiercely loyal and protective. And she had taught him that women were much more than ornaments to be protected and admired.
‘Keep safe,’ he said as a lump came in his throat. His heart was far too full to begin. ‘You’re precious to everyone.’
She made a little disparaging gesture. ‘I plan on doing that. The same goes for you. When I get close, you distract Blodvin. Once I have Inga, we will worry about that witch.’
Without giving him time to reply, she turned her back and strode off.
He watched as she moved, marvelling once again at the economy of her movements.
‘Inga!’ Hrolf shouted when he figured that Sayrid had nearly reached the place where there was no cover. ‘Come here. Come to your father. All the bad men are gone. We want you to come home now.’
Blodvin turned towards him. Her blonde hair whipped in front of her face in snake-like tendrils. Suddenly her face transformed and became simpering.
‘Hrolf! Thank Sif and all the goddesses, you are safe. Someone has attacked the hall. Inga and I—’
‘Don’t believe her, Far! She is a troll wife!’
‘Ha! Ha! Your daughter and I are playing a little game.’ Her smile became wider, but he noticed she gripped Inga’s wrist. ‘You understand? A game to pass the time while we waited? A most enchanting child. Full of stories about ghosts, witches and trolls.’
