Viking's Love (32 page)

Allisande was even more of a threat because
Joran loved her. Rowan remembered how he threatened to kill any man
in the hall who touched his slave, but had never raised a finger
when his father’s men claimed to have slept with his wife years
before.

Ivar underestimated the degree of Joran’s
feelings for the girl. He grinned when he thought of the old man’s
dismay when his son went after the girl and discovered his part in
it. It would not be long before Joran unraveled the truth.

Ulrich grinned as he took the watch from him.
Rowan returned to the enclosure to sleep, despite what all others
aboard thought. He entered the enclosure and swallowed a curse as
he saw her sleeping on the furs, looking so enchanting and
desirable he wanted to force the issue as he had once before
outside the kitchens. He sought his sleep instead. In another life,
she would have been his, was his last thought before he slept.

****

The tribunal lasted over four hours. Joran
was under the assumption Allisande had gone to bed when his father
insisted he drink with him and the other Chieftains. Garran was
still sore the tribunal refused to make Joran wed his sister. He
left in a huff after the proceeding.

Joran was denied a challenge against Wulfstan
because Allisande was a slave. He would be paid a ridiculously low
tribute for her near-death from the beating. Tempers flared and
arguments ensued. It dragged on another hour.

It was well into the wee hours of the morning
when he stumbled up to his room and found her gone. Grogan
discovered Rowan left when the tribunal began. Many claimed to have
seen them talking together before she slipped out of the hall.

Joran’s mind refused to believe the obvious.
What he knew of Allisande contradicted greatly what he was hearing
from others. He was angry and furious with himself for believing
that her false smiles and eager responses to him were genuine when
she had been planning her escape all along.

Elwynn found a bag of food rations she left
in haste under the bed. There was little doubt she left with Rowan
willingly. Her sword was also missing. Ivar was silent as Grogan
and Haldon readied his ship to sail. They had over six hours head
start on them, but Joran was determined to get her back.

“
She left you for another and you go
after her like a love-sick boy,” Ivar said gloatingly. “I told you
none could resist Rowan, and the wench merely found a way to get
home upon her back. Forget the girl, Joran.”

Joran refused to believe Allisande had any
real interest in Rowan. His heart, or the fragile sliver that was
left of it, would not be swayed. They would leave at first light,
and be on the heels of Rowan before he got to English shores.

Ivar watched the long ship leave the next
morning, and his scowl grew fierce when he realized he had erred
again in predicting his son’s feelings for the slave.

****

Rowan squinted in the distance and grinned
when he saw the Viking sails. He knew Joran caught up with them as
he pulled the rudder, and slowed the ship down to await his
arrival. Ivar couldn’t fault him if Joran’s ship was faster than
his, he thought in amusement.

He entered the enclosure and he eyed the
dark-haired beauty that slept there with something akin to regret.
He had known this moment would come. He had enjoyed her company
these last few days, but it was time that she be returned to the
man she loved. He shifted as he watched her sleep, her face flushed
from sleep.

Rowan regretted he didn’t find her first, but
it was Joran she wanted. He hadn’t pressed her to his bed, and for
that she was grateful.

The other ship was nearly a hundred feet from
them when she awoke. She stretched under the furs. She sighed as
her eyes opened slowly. She looked up at him in sleepy
confusion.

“
I would get up and dress if I were
you. Your master will not be pleased to find you thusly,
Sweetface.”

Rowan chuckled as he returned to the deck to
see Joran’s ship approaching at full speed. She became awake
instantly, and appeared panicked when she hurriedly dressed and
joined Rowan on the deck. She saw Joran glowering at her from the
deck of his ship as it drew alongside Rowan’s.

Rowan folded his arms across his bare chest,
and gazed at her innocently as the ships drew closer together. She
gazed at him accusingly, her violet eyes spitting in her rage.

“
You knew he would come! You played me
falsely!” She seethed and glared at him furiously. Rowan grinned
maddeningly, his lips twitching in amusement as she cursed him
vilely, and stamped her tiny foot in outrage.

“
Yes, though I admit to a certain
fondness for you, Sweetface, we both know who you belong to, do we
not?” Rowan gave Joran a salute as the ships drew alongside each
other, wood grating as ropes were tossed over to secure them.
“Don’t look so disappointed. You know this is what you
want.”

Joran jumped onto the deck of Rowan’s ship.
He glared at Allisande before he spoke to Rowan. She felt every bit
of his livid anger as he took in her disheveled appearance with a
contemptuous gaze that made her flinch.

“
I do not think I have to ask if you
bedded my slave, Rowan. She was doubtless grateful to you for
coming to her aid,” Joran barked as he grabbed her by the arm. He
jerked her to his side as he viewed the other man in anger. Joran
felt a red haze fall before his gaze, and scowled furiously. He
glared at the handsome Viking, and wanted to kill him. He focused
his eyes upon Allisande instead, who colored wildly as she saw the
avenue of her escape cut off with Rowan’s betrayal. “What is the
meaning of this, Rowan? Why do you involve yourself in my affairs
once more? Is it a challenge you’re after? She is hardly worth all
of this, even if pleasing in bed!” Joran glared at the man he
longed to thrash to a pulp with deceptive control. Rowan smiled
infuriatingly, and didn’t appear the least worried if he decided to
pull the sword from his side.

“
I would ask your slave of that if I
were you, Joran. I am just doing what I was asked to do, no more,”
Rowan said without taking his eyes from the way Joran held his
sword hilt, considering his words. “It wasn’t my idea, if that’s
what you’re asking. She came to me on her own, I would have you
know. If you want a challenge, ask it. Whatever else is between you
both does not involve me.” Allisande glared at him as Joran sent
her a look that promised she would pay for her actions, and
shuttled her across the side of the ship into Grogan’s waiting
arms.

Joran tossed Rowan another glare that
promised the two of them would deal with the matter further, at
another time, and returned to his ship. He shoved her into the
enclosure and Allisande clutched the bundle to her chest in fear.
Joran grabbed it and tossed it aside.

Allisande was about to speak when his hard
slap sent her flying across the fur mat. She landed hard, her cheek
stinging in pain. She eyed him in fear as he stood seething over
her. She could see the rage in him. Joran looked like he would beat
her for running away. Her concerns for the child growing within her
kept her silent.

“
What did you promise him to return you
to your home, Allisande? And do not lie to me!” Joran snarled as
the two ships disembarked from each other and his men made ready to
sail back the way they came. “So help me you will answer me,
Allisande, or you will pay for your actions! Did you give yourself
to him?”

“
I gave him everything! Do you want to
know every detail of it? I shall tell you if you wish!” Allisande
lied, angry he would assume so much and condemn her without proof.
He raised his hand as if to strike her again, but she met his
rage-filled eyes without fear. “I told you I would find a way to
escape you! Don’t look so surprised by it! You have only begun to
feel my vengeance!” He did look surprised, and dropped his hand,
gazing at her with such contempt, she longed to take back what she
said, but it was too late.

“
You faithless bitch! You will regret
using Rowan to aid you in this!” Joran said coldly, gazing at her
with such fury, she flinched. His eyes raked over her with disgust.
“I hope you enjoyed the last few days in his bed. It is obvious I
have been far too good to you, Allisande of Lockwraithe.” His
contemptuous look made her heart ache as she realized he despised
her. Her violet eyes filled with tears. She refused to speak in her
own defense, her pride rearing up as he reached for the ropes upon
the floor. She backed away and made to leave the furs. He caught
her easily and laughed at her look of pleading. “You will be tied,
shackled, and caged from here on out, so do not try my patience.”
He fumed as he bound her wrists, mindful of her injured arm. “When
we return, you will remain in your cell unless I have need of you.
When I tire of your charms, you can go to pleasuring my men all you
like, I care not!” He returned to the deck without another word,
and she shivered as she watched his retreating back, knowing it did
no good to tell him it was his own father who arranged for her
transport.

He wasn’t likely to believe anything she
said. Rowan refused to speak up in her defense. She spent hours
thinking about her actions, and realized she hadn’t wanted to leave
at all. She’d been used by Ivar. He succeeded in ending any
feelings Joran harbored for her. He believed she gave herself to
Rowan in exchange for her passage home. She refused to tell him
Rowan never touched her. Rowan was many things, but he didn’t take
advantage of the situation.

Joran obviously cared nothing for her. He
merely regained his property. It had nothing to do with any tender
feelings for her. Any feelings he had for her disappeared. She was
resentful she played into the warlord’s hands. She was regretful of
her actions now. She wondered what Ivar would think when they
returned. Would he worry she would tell Joran all had been arranged
by him?

Allisande simmered in anger to be bound for
the remainder of their journey. Let Ivar worry she would tell his
son the lengths he went to remove her from Joran’s life. It would
not change what Joran had in store for her when they returned to
his home.

She sighed softly and had to admit a part of
her had been thrilled to see him come after her, but it was dimming
as the hours passed and he still did not arrive back to speak with
her.

Joran was so enraged, he did not trust
himself to be anywhere near Allisande for the remainder of the
trip, and made his bed upon the deck. The men knew their Chieftain
was enraged. They took the brunt of his anger as they crossed back
into Norway.

Grogan took her food. He shook his head as he
entered the enclosure, and approached Allisande with a bland look
as he handed her a bowl of food. She accepted it without a word,
and he turned to leave.

“
Will I be whipped when I return?”
Allisande asked his retreating back.

“
If he deems a whipping for you, than
he can do it himself!”Grogan snapped and threw up his hands in
annoyance at her continued defiance. “You have brought this upon
yourself! Of all the men you could have approached to help you
escape, it had to be Rowan! You have sealed your own fate
now!”

“
What are you talking
about?”

“
Rowan dallied with his wife years ago,
as everyone knows!”Grogan said coolly and eyed her in pity as he
saw her flinch in response to his words. “Now do you see? You chose
the wrong man to see you home. He will not let this insult pass. If
it were not for his pride, he would have killed Rowan over you.
Does that please you, Allisande? Is your vengeance complete yet, or
do you have more left within your arsenal of hate?”

Allisande saw only too clearly. She grew pale
as she realized how clever Ivar had been choosing Rowan to aid in
her escape. Joran would never again look at her with anything but
disgust.

Allisande said nothing as Grogan left. She
realized she should never have had any dealings with Ivar. She
should have maintained with her own plan, and stowed away aboard
Joran’s ship when he left for the raid.

She stared at the enclosure flap, and willed
him to come to her and allow her to explain. He did not. He slept
out upon the deck with his men, and ignored her as if she did not
exist to him any longer.

Her heart wept, but she refused to let him
see it. She would not feel badly she found the means to leave him.
She told him on more than one occasion she would escape. He
believed the worst because of what occurred between Rowan and his
former wife.

When she saw landmarks the next day along the
fjord, Allisande realized they were nearing his home. Dread filled
her as the long ship travelled the distance back. There were no
people upon the dock to greet their return. The other long ships
were gone now.

Ivar wasted little time leaving after his son
sailed after her. She bit her lip when the ship nudged the dock,
reminding her of what was in store for her now. Joran arrived and
eyed her without emotion. He reached out and drew her up by the
ropes. She clamped her mouth shut. She refused to speak as he drew
her up and walked her out onto the deck. She could hardly keep up
with his long-legged stride as he helped her onto the dock and
dragged her up the hill to his home.

Allisande couldn’t meet the condemning stares
of those she passed as they entered the hall. She stared straight
ahead. She had every right to escape. She glared at them all as she
entered the hall behind Joran. She saw the anger in all their eyes
as she was led to the door to the cellar that would be her home
until spring.