AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rurik’s bottom lip stuck out. ‘My father is dead. Stop funning, Mor. I am not a baby. Far-far told me never to forget that. My father died in a shipwreck and he is never coming back. I need to be a braver warrior than my father.’
Ash stood frozen. Kara wished that Hring was there so she could wring his neck. Here she thought he had been filling her son’s ears with tales of adventure to pass the time, but he had been setting Rurik an impossible task. And he still held the power to hurt Ash after his death.
‘No, sweetheart. Your grandfather was very wrong. We all were. We all thought he was dead, but we were wrong. Your father is alive and a great warrior. See all the men who follow him.’
Over Rurik’s head, she looked at Ash. He mouthed ‘thank you.’
‘Did my father leave because he was ashamed of me?’ Rurik asked the ground.
‘I am very glad to meet you,’ Ash said.
‘Don’t you want to greet him? Properly?’ Kara asked gently when Rurik refused to lift his head. ‘What is wrong, Rurik? Your father just saved your life.’
‘Did he leave because of me?’ he whispered.
‘Who on earth would have told you that?’ Kara asked completely perplexed.
‘Virvir.’
‘Who is Virvir? Where is this know-nothing? You have mentioned him several times and I want to see the measure of him!’ Ash exploded. ‘You should listen to your mother. She knows better than most that I had no idea about you until I returned to this country.’
Rurik cringed slightly at the strength of his voice.
Ash shifted uncomfortably and wished he’d controlled his temper.
The last thing he wanted was for his son to be frightened of him. He could clearly remember how dreadful it had been to meet his own father. He’d been so excited that he’d wet his trousers and his father had been utterly disgusted. Despite his aunt’s soothing words, the memory of his father’s fearsome look had haunted him for years, drove him to try things far too soon.
The ache in his left leg reached a fever pitch and he bent down, rubbing it, all the while keeping his gaze on Rurik. The leg had never properly healed since the shipwreck, but the pain in his leg did not compare to the pain in his heart. His son. His son had done something very dangerous and, had he not arrived when he did, the outcome could have been unthinkable. And his son thought that he’d left because of him! The thought beggared belief.
‘You spoke about him up on the roof, Rurik, and now I learn he has been speaking lies,’ Ash said in as gentle a manner as he could manage.
‘Virvir is my best friend for ever,’ Rurik said, puffing out his chest. ‘He knows everything. Everything. Where to find the best birds’ eggs, how to ride a horse bareback and how to lift a sword. He runs faster than the wind and he can ice-skate on the thinnest ice. He isn’t a baby like me.’
With a great effort, Ash pushed his temper away. Virvir would be dealt with later. Right now, he wanted to make a proper start with his son. He wanted to clasp the boy to his chest and drink in the fresh clean scent of his skin. It had been a magical but utterly frightening experience rescuing his son. Being able to hold his hand for the first time with the certain knowledge that if he failed to get it right, they would both perish.
‘He doesn’t know everything because I am your father. I know why I left.’ Ash regarded his son’s blue eyes, which reminded him so much of Ash’s late mother. ‘I would never have gone if I had known that I had a son, particularly a son who can climb like you do. You are the sort of boy any warrior can be proud of.’
Rurik dipped his head and drew a line in the dirt with his foot. ‘What I did was dangerous. But Virvir called me a baby and a liar. I had to show him.’
‘You’re neither. You must know that!’ Kara said sharply. ‘Why did you have to prove it to him?’
Ash gave her a warning look. Didn’t she understand about little boys? He had done a number of equally dangerous things on a dare. And it was no good talking about how horrible this boy was, Rurik had to be shown the truth. Rurik needed other heroes.
‘Because I did.’ Rurik’s bottom lip trembled. ‘Because I never get to do anything! I’ll never become a warrior if I never test my skill. Far-far made me promise to always test my skills.’
Ash glanced over to where Kara stood, looking completely shocked and drained. It was sheer strength of will that was keeping her upright. He wanted to pick her up and carry her to the bed they used to share and then watch over her until she recovered. He checked his movement. It would be wrong for so many reasons.
