Sold To The Viking Warrior

Sigurd made another series of mumbling noise and started spinning around.

Gorm averted his eyes. ‘Keep your servant under control, my lady, or you both will be in trouble.’

He then began berating the farmer behind them, demanding that the load of fish be completely unloaded. Liddy hurried through the gate and started up the crowded road.

A hand on her elbow detained her. ‘Cursed by a witch? Lost wits? I thought we had agreed something else.’

Liddy gave Sigurd her sweetest smile. ‘You let me choose.’ Her low voice matched his. ‘You should trust me. He never asked to speak with you. He believed you bewitched. He couldn’t wait to have you gone.’

Sigurd rolled his eyes heavenwards, obviously not appreciating the role she had assigned him. ‘Preserve me from independent women with come-hither smiles.’

‘My quick thinking allowed us to pass,’ she retorted. ‘We are in.’

He raised a brow. ‘Now it is my job to ensure we get out of this place alive.’

‘With my father and brother.’

‘I know the bargain we struck, Eilidith. But I promise you—your life is important as well.’

Liddy studied the road rather than looking at the variety of warriors who stood just inside the gateway, far more than she had considered. What hope did Sigurd and his men have against them?

‘I will hold you to that promise.’

Chapter Three (#ulink_89a2f69d-5398-5626-82c3-9ce8decc1396)

People crowded everywhere inside the fort. Several market stalls had sprung up, offering fish, fresh vegetables and trinkets. The Northmen were easy to spot with their long hair and fine cloaks. For the most part, the Gaels kept their eyes to the ground and moved with furtive steps.

‘Where do we go now?’ Liddy asked, drawing her hood more closely about her face so as to avoid people staring at her mark. ‘Where is the best place to wait? When will your men arrive? I assume they are waiting for their chance, slipping in one by one.’

‘To the great hall where the overlord hears the petitions. We are here to offer your petition and to see if Thorbin will keep the law.’ Sigurd pointed to the large gabled building which dominated the area. ‘My men will remain in the woods unless I fail to return by sunset.’

‘Shouldn’t I try to find my family?’ she asked more in hope than expectation. ‘Let them know I am here and working on their behalf. Fa and Malcolm need to be warned and be ready to escape, if my petition fails.’

Sigurd laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. ‘Escape would be foolish. Where would they go? All your lands would be forfeit. They will be released when the jaarl of the isle chooses.’

‘You mean Thorbin. He is the jaarl here and you don’t believe my petition will work. You don’t want me to give my family false hope.’

‘Stop trying to peer into the future.’ He placed a finger against her lips. ‘Until the time is right, the fewer who know I’m here, the better.’

A Northman warrior bumped into her shoulder, nearly sending her flying. Liddy gave a little yelp. Sigurd instantly put up his hood and sunk deeper into the shadows.

‘Watch where you are going,’ the warrior growled and strode on without even truly looking at her.

Liddy waited until he had disappeared into the crowd before breathing again. ‘That was close. What are my orders now?’

‘Speak in a loud but firm voice once Thorbin acknowledges you. If he refuses, step aside and let me take over. Can you do that for me?’ Sigurd put his hand under her elbow. ‘You have done very well so far.’

‘Anything else?’

‘If I tell you to scream, I want you to scream with all your might. I want you to scream so that they can hear you all the way to Loch Indaal.’

‘It will bring Coll. I don’t think Hring could hold him if I were really in trouble.’ Somehow the thought didn’t bring her much comfort. The warriors who stood at the back of the hall would not hesitate to cut a dog down. She’d spied one with a quiver full of arrows kick a mangy-looking dog as they came into the fort.

‘Precisely. In the confusion you escape and return to your home. It will give you time to warn those remaining in your family. You then make for the Isle of Man and Lord Ketil.’

A pain developed behind her eyes. If he failed, she faced a sea voyage. She’d never call Coll to the fate that awaited him here! Liddy silently resolved to remain silent. ‘Do you think it is hopeless? I deserve to know the worst.’

‘It is always best to have an alternative plan in mind.’

‘I have an alternative—you and your sword arm, not failing.’

His lips curved upwards. ‘It is good that you have such faith in my sword arm.’

‘I have to have faith in something.’ She tried to quell the butterflies which had taken up residence in her stomach. ‘And if Thorbin does what is right?’

‘I will be the first to congratulate you.’ He put a hand on her shoulder. The warmth of his touch spread throughout her body, making the butterflies die down. ‘Keep your hopes low. Thorbin will run to his nature. I have succeeded against worse odds.’

A heavy staff was banged on the ground three times and the entire hall emptied of noise. ‘Come forward! Come forward, all you who have business with Thorbin, jaarl of the Western Isles. Come forward and he will see justice done.’

The curtains at one end of the hall parted and a warrior wearing a heavy gold torc and gold embroidered clothes stepped out. He had a long pointed nose and a disdainful expression as if the proceedings bored him. But there was something about him that made Liddy wonder where she might have seen him before—the way he tilted his head and the shape of his hands. Her stomach knotted. Sigurd’s half-brother. She risked a glance at Sigurd, but his hood obscured his features.

Sigurd jerked his head towards where Thorbin stood. A cacophony of voices rose as everyone vied to put their petition before the jaarl first.

‘There are too many in front of us,’ Liddy whispered with a sinking heart. ‘We won’t be heard. All this for nothing.’

‘Leave this to me.’

Using his staff, Sigurd shoved his way forward and Liddy followed in his wake until they were standing under Thorbin’s long nose. ‘Go, as loud as you can,’ he whispered and stepped behind her.

‘I will have order,’ Thorbin thundered.

‘I have business here,’ Liddy proclaimed loudly into the sudden stillness. ‘Ketil Flatnose promised my father protection from the slavers, but your men have taken him and my brother into captivity and they are to be sold in the North lands. I ask you to honour the promise Ketil Flatnose made to my father. I ask you to free them.’

Lord Thorbin regarded her as if she was an interesting insect that he wished to examine before squashing.

Fighting against the growing urge to hide her face, Liddy squared her shoulders and glared back at the tyrant.

‘Is this true? Who told you this story?’ Thorbin barked out. ‘There are many who claim Ketil Flatnose gave them this or that right, but have little to show for it.’

‘My father’s servant returned to our hall with his bloodied cloak and the message. My mother has taken to her bed.’ She dug into her pouch and brought out the gold ring. ‘I bring the token Ketil gave my father when they swore eternal friendship and peace.’

Thorbin had leant forward and peered at the ring. He gave a non-committal grunt. ‘Who is your father? You appear from this isle rather than from the North lands.’

Liddy wanted to wipe the bored smirk from his lips. ‘My father is Gilbreath mac Fergusa, a man who freely gave his allegiance to Ketil Flatnose after his lands had been ravaged by Irish pirates. A man who convinced others to do the same. A man deserving of your continued protection.’

The North lord stroked his chin and his eyes narrowed. ‘Gilbreath mac Fergusa is a traitor with a traitor for a son. The son would have killed me if he had had the chance. He broke friendship, not I.’ He waved his hand. ‘Application dismissed.’

Liddy put her hands on her hips. ‘You lie! My father is an honest man! All he wants is peace and justice for his family.’