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“You mangy little bastard,” Hafter said after him. “No wonder the Danelaw will soon fall to the Saxons, what with the likes of you holding the reins of power. Is it true you’re the son of Olric?”
“Aye, and soon that old man will be well dead. Then I will return and kill all of you.”
Kerek said, “Now, my lord, you lose your temper for naught. These good people have saved us. Our warship is destroyed. We are cast upon their kindness. I beg you to moderate your speech, to accept their generous bounty with smiles and gratitude.”
Ragnor cursed and strode away. Chessa heard Old Alna cackle.
“My lord.”
“Gunleik, how many did we save?”
“Seventeen, Rorik. This man Kerek told me that nine men have been lost. Still, it’s not bad, given the fury of this storm.”
“I remember you,” Chessa said, looking up at the grizzled man, not that old, but the years he’d spent as a warrior were etched deep in his face. “You were already at Clontarf when Lord Rorik brought me there to exchange me for Mirana. You helped Lord Rorik.”
“Aye, I did. Who are you?”
“I’m that little girl, Eze. All of you saved my papa.”
Gunleik stared at his friend and lord. “This is passing strange, Rorik.”
“Aye, but you’ll get used to it. Her name is Chessa now. Ah, Kerek, go see Entti. Mayhap Entti will give Ragnor something warm and tasty, something that will make his bowels rampage. Then he can enjoy the storm on many trips to the privy.”
Chessa laughed aloud. “Oh, goodness, that would be splendid, Hafter. Who is Entti? Does she know all about the malle root?”
“Entti is my wife,” Hafter said, and there was such pride in his voice that Chessa wanted to meet the woman who’d inspired such feeling in a man. “Ah, here she is. Sweeting, have you a potion that would improve the manners of one of our guests? Chessa here says the malle root is passing good.”
The woman had magnificent dark brown hair that swayed down her back as she walked, thick lustrous hair with ribbons threaded through it. She was carrying a small babe who was asleep, his head against her shoulder, his thumb in his mouth. “You mean our magnificent lord from York? He is a paltry creature. He yells to all who will listen that she is his wife. Are you?”
“No. Actually, he kidnapped me. Were it not for the storm, were it not for Kerek just chancing to see the island, were it not for you, all of us would be dead now. Or, if we had survived, then I would have to find a way to escape him once we reached York. It’s all complicated, because there’s William and I don’t want to marry him either, but my father negotiated the wedding treaty.”
“William?” Rorik said. “Duke Rollo’s son?”
Chessa nodded.
“William is a very nice man,” Mirana said, frowning at Chessa. “It’s true that he’s still very much in love with his wife, who died, but he would keep faith with you—”
“Ha,” Entti said, handing Hafter the sleeping babe. “That means nothing, Mirana. William’s too morose not to keep faith. A girl shouldn’t have to wed a man in love with another woman even if she is dead.”
“At least he isn’t too old,” Rorik said.
“He hasn’t lost his teeth or grown a fat belly,” Mirana said.
Chessa watched Hafter grab his wife’s hand and drag her away. Entti leaned down, bit his hand, then, to Chessa’s astonishment, she kissed that same hand where she’d bitten it. Mirana was laughing, Rorik was just shaking his head. “You are to marry William,” he said, “yet Ragnor kidnapped you. Gunleik is right. All of this is strange. What do you wish me to do, Chessa?”
She looked toward Ragnor, who was seated between two of his men, the three of them speaking in low voices. “He’s a snake,” she said. “Treacherous. But he’s also a bully and a coward. Do you think perhaps I could kill him?”
“You what?”
“She said, my lord,” Mirana said calmly, “that she would like to kill him.”
“Well, that’s different. I thought she wanted to mill him like flour for bread. Now, wife, I believe everyone is dry and has found a place to sleep. I see Old Alna is licking her chops over that man Kerek who’s speaking to her. He is Ragnor’s protector?”
“I suppose so. I wish he wasn’t, since he is a good man.”
“I thought you liked him. He seems a steady man.”
“Aye, he’s the man who kidnapped me. He did hit me, b
