Surrender To The Viking (8 page)

Chapter Nine

L
ara woke from an uneasy doze in the first grey light of dawn. Not even a bird call broke the heavy stillness. She sat up slowly and looked around, her gaze sweeping the quiet camp, moving down the strand to the water. Through the early mist the prows of the sea dragons loomed like mythical beasts arisen from the deep. A night on the hard ground had left every part of her stiff and aching and she felt chilled to the bone. The fire had burned down to embers now and the comforting warmth was gone. She glanced resentfully at the sleeping figure nearby. The handsome face was as striking in repose as it was in wakefulness. He looked peaceful lying there, entirely untroubled by cold or discomfort. Briefly her imagination took flight and she wondered how it might have been to share his sleeping bag last night. The result of that was a physical tremor quite unrelated to the morning chill.

Wrapping the blanket around her shoulders she banished the thought and moved quietly away. The need to answer the call of nature was pressing now so she headed for a clump of bushes on the edge of the cove. After that she hesitated, unwilling to return and sit around in the cold until the men awoke. A little exercise would be welcome and might help her warm up. She wouldn’t go far, just to the top of the rise and back.

The hill wasn’t particularly steep but the uneven and rocky slope required concentration. Her stiff legs stumbled once or twice and she winced as the ground jarred her feet, but she persevered. A short time later she reached the top and looked around to get her bearings. The low hill on which she was standing formed a peninsula between the cove and the open sea. Off to her right wooded slopes ended abruptly in grey rock. The fog was low and patchy, rolling slowly across the surface of the still water. The stillness was all-enveloping. Just then she might have been the only person on the face of the earth.

She was about to turn away and return to the camp when her ears caught a sound. Listening intently, she identified the soft, rhythmic rise and dip of oars. She tried to pinpoint the direction, her gaze scanning the fog. And then her heart missed a beat as she saw the carved prow of a sea dragon glide out of the mist. Her immediate thought was that the third ship had arrived to join Finn and Alrik but a closer inspection revealed a vessel she had never seen before. Nevertheless, the carved figurehead and long sleek hull identified a warship, like the rows of shields along her sides. She carried a large crew. Lara estimated fifty men at least. Her attention moved on from the rowers and the steersman to the figure in the bow, motionless, intent. Was he watching out for rocks and hazards or looking for something else entirely?

As she studied him he turned his head as though scanning the shore. Instinctively, Lara ducked out of sight behind a boulder. Had he seen her? Still no sound broke the silence, no call or alarm that would suggest her presence had been detected. Heart pounding she risked a glance round the edge of the rock. Her eyes widened as a second warship glided out of the mist. She was as big as the first and equally quiet. Lara felt gooseflesh prickle along her arms. Suddenly everything about their silence seemed predatory. The ships reminded her of nothing so much as hunting raptors. She also had a shrewd idea of their intended prey. Casting a final glance in their direction she retraced her steps and hurried back down the slope.

* * *

Finn woke at dawn. A glance towards Lara’s sleeping place revealed only empty space. In moments he was on his feet, looking around. Although one or two others were stirring now the camp was still quiet and he could see no sign of her. Common sense suggested that she couldn’t be far but alongside that lurked the memory of her unwillingness to be here at all. He frowned. Surely she wouldn’t have done anything foolish? There was nowhere to run to. Besides, there were bears and wolves in the woods to say nothing of human predators.

His gaze swept the cove again. As it did so he glimpsed a figure on the slope opposite. She was almost running, slithering and sliding down without any regard for safety. Not that such a consideration as safety would weigh with her. He watched anxiously, breathing a sigh of relief when she reached the bottom in one piece. Then she was racing across the strand towards him with what looked like a large cloak billowing behind her. Several amused glances followed her progress. As she drew near he realised that what he’d taken to be a cloak was the blanket he’d lent her, still clutched in one hand. The other seized his arm.

‘My lord, you must rouse your men.’

‘Lara, what is it?’

‘Two warships,’ she gasped. ‘I saw them from the hill.’

His smile faded. ‘Two? Are you certain?’

Had it been only one he’d have felt a lot better. One would likely have meant the arrival of his reinforcements. Two had very different ramifications.

‘Quite certain.’ She hesitated. ‘They’re not our allies, are they?’

‘I seriously doubt it.’

Without further ado he roused the men nearest and told them to wake the rest. Within a minute the quiet cove was astir. Like all fighting men they were alert at once, hurriedly gathering round to find out what was toward. As Finn summarised they exchanged glances.

‘Which way were the ships headed, Lara?’ asked Alrik.

‘This way,’ she replied, ‘but moving slowly and keeping good watch, as though they were looking for something.’

Her brother frowned. ‘Steingrim?’

‘It has to be,’ replied Finn. He looked at Lara. ‘How many men?’

‘I estimated about a hundred in all, my lord.’

The intelligence was greeted with grim silence. Finn’s jaw tightened. Without the reinforcements on the third ship they were going to be outnumbered. The only hope now was to be proactive and take the fight to the enemy. Steingrim expected him to run. The element of surprise might help improve the odds a little. Only a little, but it was better than nothing. He glanced round the assembled group.

‘Arm and make ready. Alrik, I need a couple of men to take care of Lara. The rest of you get to the ships.’

* * *

They didn’t need to be told twice. Finn too threw on his war gear, shrugging into the mail byrnie and then buckling on his sword. He glanced up at Lara.

‘You’ll remain here in the cove.’

Disappointment welled. ‘Let me come. I can fight.’

‘You’ll do no such thing.’

‘But...’

‘No buts, Lara. Conceal yourself and stay hidden. Do you understand?’

Recognising the finality in his tone she swallowed her disappointment. ‘Yes, my lord.’

‘I’ll leave a small guard here as well.’

‘I’ll be all right. You need those men.’ Without the third ship he and his crew were going to be badly outnumbered.

‘We’ll manage.’

Suddenly everything she’d ever heard about Steingrim returned with horrible clarity. ‘Be careful, Finn.’

‘Always.’ He squeezed her shoulder gently. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

With that he donned his helmet, slung his shield over his shoulder and grabbed the rest of his gear. Then he was gone, running down the strand to the waiting ship. She saw him climb aboard. The decks were anthills of ordered activity and within two minutes the crews were bent to their oars and the vessesl were moving away from the shore. With thumping heart Lara watched them go. Never in her life had she felt as helpless as she did now. She had never felt this afraid either although the fear was not for herself. What if the fight went badly for the allies? What if Finn and Alrik were slain and their men with them? The possibility chilled her to the marrow. She had to think positively. They weren’t going to lose. They were going to come back.

‘Best find a place to hide, my lady.’

She glanced round, recognising the speaker and his companion. Geirr and Eystein were kin by marriage. She had known them almost all her life. They had grown up in Ottar’s hall and, being of an age with her brother, had formed a close bond there, eventually becoming Alrik’s shield brothers when the three of them reached manhood. She knew that close affinity was the reason he had chosen them for this duty.

‘I thank you both for staying behind,’ she said. ‘I know you’d rather have gone with the ships.’

‘It is an honour to be chosen to protect you, my lady,’ said Geirr.

‘I doubt that but I appreciate it all the same.’ She looked around, mentally assessing the possibilities of the terrain.

Geirr followed her gaze. ‘The rocks over yonder would afford good cover.’

‘They would,’ she agreed, ‘but if we climbed the hill we might be able to see the battle.’

‘My lord’s instructions were clear.’

‘And we shall obey them. There’s cover up there. I found it earlier.’

They hesitated and exchanged glances. Lara pressed home the advantage.

‘It will be quite safe but we’ll also be able to see what’s happening. If we remain down here we can only guess.’

Eystein grinned. ‘What are we waiting for?’

They reached the top of the hill a short time later. As they gained the summit all three checked in dismay, staring at the drifting bank of fog beyond the point. Already visibility was reduced to a few hundred yards.

‘Damn it,’ muttered Geirr. ‘It’ll catch them out for sure.’

Lara frowned, her gaze following the progress of the two ships. All sailors feared fog and with good reason. It concealed hazards of all kinds. Just then it wasn’t the underwater variety that worried her.

‘Can you see Steingrim’s ships?’

Eystein shook his head. ‘No, my lady, and in a little while we won’t see anything.’

Lara knew he was right. Their vantage point was about to become an island of rock in the encroaching mist.

‘Now what?’ she asked.

‘They’ll head out into deeper water,’ he replied. ‘They daren’t do anything else.’

Sure enough a few moments later the ships changed course, away from the coast. Then, slowly, the fog closed around them and they were gone.

* * *

The ship had cleared the cove and was rounding the point when, without warning, visibility diminished to a stretch of grey water and a rolling bank of fog. Finn frowned, his gaze automatically moving ahead to Alrik’s vessel some fifty yards in front. Within moments its outlines grew indistinct and then faded completely as the mist swallowed it. Of the enemy there was no sign at all.

‘Thor’s thundering war hammer this is all we need,’ muttered Unnr.

‘Head us out into deeper water,’ said Finn. ‘The shoals along this stretch of coast are treacherous.’

Unnr nodded and moved the steering oar over. The ship began to change course. They had travelled about a hundred yards before the mist rolled over them. Finn controlled an urge to swear. Instead he gave the command to stop rowing. The men leaned on their oars, listening intently. Barely a ripple disturbed the surface of the water and the stillness was all-enveloping.

Finn guessed that Alrik would have headed his ship away from shore in similar fashion. He knew this coastline and knew of the deadly rocks lying just beneath the surface waiting to rip a hole in the side of an unwary vessel. He wouldn’t risk staying in too close when he couldn’t see the hazards. And rocks weren’t the only peril. It was small comfort to know that their enemies were blind too. At present they could literally run into each other before either group was aware.

‘Keep your eyes peeled,’ he said quietly.

A collision was to be avoided at all costs. Apart from the inevitable damage to the ship such an encounter would mean hand-to-hand fighting. Without the support of their allies Finn’s crew would be dangerously outnumbered. With the best will in the world Alrik would be hard put to help. The one consolation was that Lara was safe. Steingrim didn’t know of her presence on this trip and Finn was determined it should stay that way. If the worst happened her two guardians would get her home. In that case the marriage would likely rank as one of the shortest in history. He couldn’t imagine that she would feel much regret about that. Then he reflected that she had volunteered to fight alongside him, a ridiculous offer, albeit a brave one.

‘Fog seems to be thinning, my lord,’ said Unnr.

In a little while it became evident he was right. Gradually it dissipated around them leaving the ship in an area of open water. A few moments later their companions reappeared to starboard. Then, slowly, part of the coast came into view again. The enemy was nowhere in sight.

‘Let’s find out what Alrik knows,’ said Finn.

As they drew level with the other ship his brother-in-law appeared at the side. ‘We heard their oars. They must have come close but we didn’t get a sighting. You?’

‘Nothing,’ replied Finn. ‘They must have gone right past without realising we were here.’

‘My thought exactly.’ Alrik grinned. ‘Now we’re after them.’

‘I can live with that.’

‘What do you want to do now?’

‘We’ll let them get clear and then follow,’ replied Finn. ‘Wait here while I go back for my wife.’

‘By all means.’

* * *

Lara and her companions were waiting at the water’s edge when the ship returned. As it drew near Eystein called out, ‘What happened?’

‘Nothing,’ replied Sturla. ‘Bastards rowed right past us.’

Lara’s companions shook their heads in disbelief. She took a deep breath, conscious only of flooding relief.

‘We saw the fog roll in,’ said Geirr, ‘but after that not a ruddy thing. We couldn’t hear anything either.’

Sturla shook his head. ‘There was nothing to hear save for the sweet sound of their oars as they rowed away.’

‘Are you two going to stand there chatting all day or are you coming aboard?’ demanded Unnr.

Eystein grinned. ‘We’re coming. We’re coming.’

‘Good,’ said Finn. ‘Quite apart from the pleasure of your company I’d like to have my wife back. Perhaps one of you would like to assist.’

‘Gladly, my lord,’ said Eystein. He turned to Lara. ‘With your permission, lady.’

Clearly he took it as given because before she had time to say a word she was lifted off her feet and borne to the side of the ship. Finn reached down to relieve Eystein of his burden and lifted her aboard.