Highlander’s Viking Seductress: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Page 24

  “And she ran back to warn ye?”

  “Aye, then I sent her back to them.”

  “You are a coward,” Idunn almost spat at Einarr. She had never known such anger. Her rage only appeared to bounce off him as he turned away from her. “I would never have expected the son of a Jarl to behave in such a way. What do you think your father would say if he knew you left me on that beach to die?”

  Einarr snapped his head back round to her, his face suddenly red with his own rage.

  “Do not compare me to my father, Idunn!”

  “Why not? Are you plagued with feeling inferior to him?” She pushed at his chest, forcing him back a step away from her. “Because let me explain something to you. You are the very worst of men, let alone the worst Viking, to have abandoned me so. Do you have any idea what I have had to suffer because of your decision?”

  “I am here for a raid.” He looked away from her and took up his sword, adding it quickly to his belt.

  “You are here because you disappointed your father by failing the last raid? Are you not?” Her words connected with him. He pushed her away from him, a sharp shove to her waist, sending her backward.

  “Leave it, Idunn.”

  “You think I would?” she scoffed, stepping back towards him, “You do not know me at all. I spent days in a dungeon recovering from a sword wound because of your decision. I have spent months leech collecting, fulling, forced to live with the smell of excrement and be degraded daily just because you could not be bothered to try and help me?”

  “It was too great a risk!”

  “No, it was not.” She shook her head, a memory coming back to her from when she had lain on the beach, drifting in and out of consciousness. She remembered seeing someone stand over her. A vague silhouette had bent down to see her, then stood and walked away again. “It was you,” she said after a beat of silence, “I remember. You were there. On the beach. You stood over me, and still, you left me there?”

  “It is already done!” Einarr snapped back at her, “You are alive, are you not? My concern today is that I am to take revenge on the soldiers who took our kin’s lives in that battle. Birger!” He called a name to the flap in the tent. Someone appeared through it. “We attack, order the men to march.”

  “Já.”

  “Nei!” Idunn put herself between Einarr and the exit of the tent. She could not let him attack. “Einarr, I implore you, do not start this raid.”

  “Do not be a fool.” He shook his head and tried to walk around her, but she stopped him - getting in his way.

  “I beg you, raid anywhere else, but not Banff. Leave them be.” She knew there was little point in attempting to persuade him to not raid anywhere at all. If she could only convince him not to harm Banff, then Gavin would be safe.

  Einarr tilted his head to one side, his eyes watching her closely.

  “You like it here.” He waited for her reaction, but she did not deny it. “You want me to spare their lives? After they killed so many of our kin?”

  “We were the attackers!” she cried, pushing against his chest again, trying to push him away and stop him from leaving the tent, “They were merely defending themselves.”

  “They killed our kin. I will not abandon my goal.”

  “But Einarr – please –” She tried to stop him, but as she stepped in his way once more, he took her arm and pushed it behind her back. The use of such force startled her. He had never shown violence in the past, but he was using it to merely get by her. With her weakened, he forced her into the center of the tent, where she stumbled onto the floor.

  “Birger!” The Viking returned through the flap at Einarr’s order. “Watch her. She is not to leave the camp.” He left, leaving her behind in anger as he marched toward the warriors, readying themselves for the attack.

  Idunn clutched her face, raging at herself that she had not been able to stop him.

  Gavin, my love. He is coming to you… beware!

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  After the first wave of warriors had left, marching for Banff, Idunn was looking around the camp with Birger standing close behind her when she saw Signý. The shock of seeing her friend after all this time left her speechless for a moment.

  “Signý?” Her sharp voice made her old friend snap her head towards her.

  “Idunn? It cannot be. I thought you were dead.” Signý hurried forward and wrapped her arms around her. Idunn buried herself in her friend’s shoulder for a minute, enjoying their embrace. There had been a time where she had thought she would never see her friend again. “You are alive. Oh, thanks to the gods. We have you back!”

  “Signý, we must stop this.” Idunn pulled away, taking her friend’s hands in hers to communicate the firmness of her intent.

  “Stop this? Whatever for?” Signý was shaking her head in confusion.

  “Banff is a good place. The people here are kind. They do not deserve this attack.”

  “Idunn,” Signý stepped towards her, clutching her hands tighter. “You have been away from us for too long, that is all. We will take you home, and it will be as if nothing has happened to you. You can forget this place.”

  “Nei, you do not understand.” Idunn tore her hands away from Signý. “I do not want to go back to Oslo. I wish to stay here.” Signý laughed for a moment, still shaking her head.

  “Have you taken leave of your senses? What has happened to you?”

  “A great deal indeed.” Idunn cast a glance at Birger, who was still guarding her

  “Help me, my friend. Help me stop Einarr.”

  “That I cannot do.” Signý folded her arms and raised her chin, suddenly appearing the warrior Idunn had always seen in battle.

  “Why not?”

  “Idunn, unlike you, I have a full grasp of my senses. I am loyal to Einnar.” The harshness of her voice urged Idunn to match her stance. They stood shoulder to shoulder, no one appearing the greater warrior at first glance.

  “Loyal to him? You do not know him properly than to feel so charitable towards him.”

  “She knows him very well.” The comment from Birger drew both of their gazes. At Idunn’s questioning look, Birger elaborated. “Very well indeed.”

  Idunn returned her gaze to Signý with a raised eyebrow.

  “We thought you were dead, Idunn,” Signý tried to explain, though her harsh manner did not diminish.

  “I was more thinking of the husband you left behind in Oslo.” To Idunn’s sharp quip, Signý looked away with another shake of her head. “It does not matter. There is something else I do not understand that matters more now.” Idunn looked up to the cliffs where the warriors had just passed. “Why come back to Banff? They lost once, they could lose again, the risk is too great.”

  “It was not Einarr’s decision to raid again,” Signý softened her words.

  “What do you mean?”

  “It was asked by another.” Signý turned her attention to Birger. “I will guard her; you can go back to your duties.” Signý took hold of Idunn’s elbow and walked her towards Einarr’s tent.

  “Take your hand off me,” Idunn’s whisper seethed with anger.

  “Be quiet if you want to know what is really happening here,” Signý whispered just as quickly, directing their steps into the tent. Once safely inside, she released Idunn.

  Idunn took a couple of steps away, determined to put some distance between the two of them. She could not help the feeling of betrayal and distrust she currently held for her old friend.

  “Signý –”

  “Be quiet and listen.” Signý walked towards her, lowering her voice again. “Einarr only made the decision to raid Banff again because of a letter he received.”

  “A letter from who?”

  Signý walked away to the table where Einarr had placed maps made of parchment. She searched through the papers for a moment, then returned to Idunn’s side and handed over a letter. Idunn opened it quickly, her eyes scanning the words until she found the name at t
he bottom.

  Tadhg.

  She scrunched the parchment between her fingers for a moment.

  “Tadhg… he is the Laird’s son. He is Gavin’s older brother.”

  “This Gavin is the heir, right?” Signý frowned in confusion, pointing down at the letter. Idunn nodded in reply. “Tadhg and Einarr struck a deal. Einarr wants a victory to appease his father. Tadhg offered him Banff. Einarr has permission to pillage the village without a battle if he takes this Gavin out of the way.”

  The words cut Idunn open.

  “He asked for Einarr to kill Gavin?” Idunn shook her head almost in disbelief. She opened the letter again, tarrying on the sections that pertained to what Signý had said. “He is organizing the murder of his own brother?”

  “Já, so it would seem.”

  “Nei, I cannot let this happen.” Idunn placed the letter in her pocket and ran her hands into the loose wisps of her hair, struggling to think of what to do next.

  “Why does this matter to you, Idunn?” Signý moved forward into her space, forcing her to look at her again. “It has nothing to do with us. Escape, come home. Put this life behind you.”

  “I cannot do that.” Idunn shook her head firmly. “Signý, the Gavin of which they speak, I…” She struggled how to explain it. “I love him. He is not the monster Einarr seems to think the Scots are. I cannot leave and allow him to die because of the evil designs of his brother.”

  Signý’s eyes were wide in shock. She opened her mouth to reply but closed it a second later.

  “Signý,” Idunn took hold of her old friend’s hands again. “Listen, I do not care if you and Einarr are especially close. It does not bother me, and I do not judge you for it. Judge me if you wish to for changing allegiance, but for all that has passed between us, you know me for our whole history together. You know that I would not defend the Scots if I did not truly think them worthy of that defense.” Signý offered the smallest of nods. “Help me, Signý. Help me get back to them.”

  Signý breathed deeply, casting her eyes around the tent for a moment.

  “I have an idea.”

  Gavin had followed Idunn’s advice for the soldiers' preparations, placing each line of men where she had suggested but had also taken his own precautions. A line of trebuchets positioned just the other side of the outer curtain wall were being operated by the reserve soldiers.

  “Gavin!” Findlay bellowed from under the portcullis, pointing down the hill and the approaching path.

  Gavin followed his gesture, peering down through the men as best as he could. The Vikings were on the horizon. Moving nearer with each step and raising their battle-axes.

  Gavin gestured to the first trebuchet – the men beside him pulled on the release lever, the counterweight dropped down, propelling the beam upwards and the load firing through the air. The whip of wind made all the soldiers turn to watch its arc against the cloudy sky. It landed meters in front of the Vikings, but they were prepared for it, leaping out of harm's way. The parting of the Viking line revealed how many warriors they had brought.

  Gavin’s fist tightened around the handle of Idunn’s sword in realization: the Vikings had brought more men than in their last attack. He knew they would not be able to hold the Norse outside of the castle walls.

  Idunn had changed her clothes. The slave tunic was tossed into the corner of the Viking tent and replaced with the old warrior armour she used to wear. Taking a helmet from the weapon’s store, she placed a new sword at her belt. It did not have the same ornate detail as her old sword, but it would do.

  Once ready, she turned to find Signý stood at the entrance of the tent, keeping watch.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Já.” Idunn moved to her side.

  “You must wait until I have taken Birger further down the beach.”

  “I will.” Idunn’s eyes flicked to Gavin’s horse that was still tied up at the back of the camp. The steed was nibbling at the tufts of grass at his feet. It would be tight if Birger looked back. Idunn’s escape could be thwarted.

  “The second wave of warriors are due to leave within a few minutes,” Signý warned as she stepped out of the tent, “You must be quick.” Idunn nodded as Signý turned away.

  She watched her old friend move down the camp and approach Birger. It took a few minutes of persuasion, but Signý pointed out towards the sea, as though urging him to look at something. Eventually, he followed her path a little way down the beach.

  Idunn took her chance. She stepped out of the tent and kept her head down, hoping the brim of the helmet would hide her face from the other warriors preparing to leave. As she reached the horse’s side, she lifted her gaze slightly, looking further down the beach to where Signý stood. Birger was looking around the beach now, clearly searching for her and no longer fooled by Signý’s distraction.

  Idunn did not waste time. She freed the horse from its tie and quickly pulled herself into the saddle, the move caught Birger’s eye, and his gaze darted to her.

  “Idunn!” His bellow across the beach caused many warriors to look her way.

  She urged the horse into a gallop, back up the hill.

  “Idunn!” Birger’s yells continued to pursue her, but she urged the horse faster, looking back constantly to see if she was being followed, but as she reached the crest of the hill, she looked down to see Birger gathering the warriors to depart. It would not be long before they too descended on Banff castle.

  Idunn turned the horse towards Banff and implored the horse to gallop faster than ever before. She had to get to Banff, had to stop Einarr from following through with Tadhg’s orders.

  At the very least, if she could get there in time, she could warn Gavin of the danger facing him, that his brother was trying to orchestrate his death.

  As Idunn reached the castle, the horse beneath her whinnied loudly, upset by the sight before them.

  The Vikings had breached the castle walls, and the battle was now in hand. Some of the trebuchets were broken in half, the portcullis had been battered, broken through, and the path covered with injured bodies.

  Idunn urged the horse through the mass of fighting warriors and soldiers, under what remained of the portcullis into the yard. Her eyes darted across the estate. She could have been back on the beach, watching the Viking warriors and Scottish soldiers battling it out, with weapons fallen to the ground and helmets broken. There was one key difference this time, there were civilians caught in the fray.

  At the side of the yard, she could see the servants running out of the laundry storeroom. Behind them was a warrior she had once known, threatening them with his ax raised. Among the maids were Annas and Besseta. Pulling the sword from her belt, Idunn urged the horse to gallop towards them.

  A warrior took hold of Annas’ wrist and pulled her against a nearby wall. Annas’ face was contorted in fear, her eyes closed, and her body still.

  As the horse reached his side, Idunn re-adjusted her hold on the sword, allowing her to swing out at the warrior, slicing the arm he was using to hold Annas against the wall. He stumbled back, crying out in agony at the pain. Idunn stilled the horse and leaped down from the saddle.

  Annas’ gaze switched between the warrior and Idunn as the warrior attempted to regain his footing. Idunn placed herself between the two of them.

  “Leave her.” Idunn pointed her sword towards him, refusing to let him step any nearer.

  “You are a turncoat!” the Viking spat at her, his lip snarling.

  Idunn slowly wiped the spittle from her face, staring him down. The Viking leaped towards her, but she was too quick and delivered a blow to his leg, swiping upwards – he grasped the wound and fell to the floor, clutching the cut with a shriek. He was too injured to stand again.

  Idunn turned to Annas and took her arm, pulling her away from the wall and towards the other maids cowering in the corner of the yard.

  “Idunn?” Annas realized, stumbling alongside her.

  “Já, we need to g
et you out of here. All of you,” Idunn added, as they reached the others, noting Besseta in the group with quivering hands.

  “We cannae get through the battle – we will die tryin’.” Besseta pointed to the bloodshed behind them. Idunn turned her eyes to the tower in the curtain wall where they stood. The tower held the window with the broken bars, where she had first attempted to escape and where she and Gavin had left to see the loch.

  “The tower, inside there.” Idunn pointed towards the doorway, urging all the maids forward. “There’s a window at the bottom, barred, but the bars are broken. You can bend some of them back. It is a fair jump down, but you can escape down to Banff village.”