Page 30

Einar stopped in the middle of the room and said, “People. Wake up. We are being raided.” His voice was calm but loud, and it carried to every corner. People stirred, sitting up. “Women and children, stay inside. Men, take your weapons and follow me without a sound.”

The rustle of clothes and soft clanking of metal ran through the room as men dressed and took their weapons. Holly half expected the women to scream and the men to curse and spit. But these Vikings didn’t panic. They just did what needed to be done, what their chieftain said. Most people from her time would flip out. But these people were as strong and calm as stones. Holly respected them even more.

Was Svanhild calm, too? Holly found her alcove and sat by her side. The girl sat upright, watching everyone with wide eyes. Strong, brave little girl. Holly covered Svanhild’s hand with hers to reassure her.

When the men were out of the door, Svanhild hung her legs from the bed and found her apron dress.

“What are you doing?” Holly said. “We should stay inside.”

“My cat, Loki,” Svanhild said. “He must have run away. I need to find him.”

“Svanhild, they are not looking for a cat to steal.”

“But he might get hurt in the fight.”

Dressed now, she headed to the doors without taking a second look at Holly.

“Svanhild!” Holly called, but the girl was already outside. Holly cursed under her breath and followed her.

The day was already much brighter, and Holly could see the sheep being herded to the other side of the hill. She saw Svanhild looking around. Down the path, Einar crouched close to the house, surrounded by his men—forty or fifty of them, talking quietly. He was still shirtless, and Holly’s heart squeezed at the fearless vulnerability of his mighty body. Staying low, they moved towards the pasture. She couldn’t see any of the enemies nearby—were they hiding, already in the village? Or had they decided to just take the sheep? She doubted that.

Holly crouched next to Svanhild. “Look, they’re about to fight. I’m sure Loki’s somewhere in the house. Come back inside.”

But Svanhild peered between the houses. “There he is! Loki!” She ran towards a small silhouette that immediately darted away.

“Oh damn!” Holly cursed and launched herself after the girl.

She could see the stupid cat running past a house and darting behind a corner.

“Svanhild, stop!” Holly yelled, her heart pounding from fear and worry. If any of the raiders were nearby… “The cat will be fine! Come back.”

But Svanhild kept calling and running after Loki. Up the hill, behind the houses, screams, groans, and the clanging of metal against metal cut through the air. Holly glanced up. The battle had begun. She spotted Einar’s bare back as he slashed his enemies. And she saw Svanhild running closer and closer to the battle.

“Svanhild, stop!” Holly called again.

“There!” Svanhild exclaimed, sinking to the ground. “Got you!”

Holly stopped by her side, panting. Oh thank God! In her arms, the girl held the little devil disguised as a kitten and pressed it to her chest.

“Okay, let’s go back now,” Holly said, looking for Einar to make sure he was safe.

The men were so close she could distinguish faces. Thirty feet away from her, she saw someone who turned her blood to ice.

The shaved head with the long braid, the tattoos, and the beard as bushy as the canopy of a tree.

Thorir Treebeard fought and killed one of Einar’s men.

The first sunrays touched Holly’s face just as Thorir glanced up, looking right at her.

His face stretched in surprise. Then his eyes narrowed like a predator’s, his upper lip curled, and he lowered his head, looking at her from under his brows.

He started walking towards her, then sprinted like a wolf after its prey.

“Run, Svanhild! Run!” Holly cried, fear clasping her muscles like a cold vise. If he caught Svanhild… If he knew she was Einar’s daughter… Terror weighed her whole body down, her airways closing, her vision darkening. She grabbed Svanhild by the neck of her shift and pulled her along. “Quick!”

But a horn blew, long and somber, then another, half as long. Holly looked back. Thorir stood and stared at her.

“Wiiiiiiiiitch!” he roared, and everyone looked at him.