Einar waited to see if Ivar would elaborate about how he was needed, but Einar realized Ivar was just placating him. Tormud would be the one who informed the jarls and frús about Ivar’s absence. He wondered if there would be a way to keep Tormud from going to Soren before he spun the story to his advantage. Einar considered the ax that rested once more beside the door. His pulse thumped in his ears as his heart raced. If he did away with Tormud, that would be one less barrier to being with Lena. He would be the shoulder she turned to in her grief while Inga kept Ivar occupied.
Einar coupled with Inga just that morning, and he intended to join with her several more times that night now that he would not be accompanying Ivar. He would set the other part of his plan in motion; he would get Inga with child, his child, as quickly as the goddess Freyja allowed. Lena would never try to draw Ivar away from his wife and child. Einar would once again be there to console her. He glanced once more at the ax and inched toward the door.
“Einar, you’d better come with me. We need to let Jarl Soren and Jarl Thor know what is happening.” Tormud eyed the young man who was a similar age to his own son. Einar struck him as younger than Jan with a spoiled and temperamental nature, yet there was something that made Einar’s mind work in a way reserved for an experienced warrior. The young man had a gleam in his eye like a berserker who smelled blood. Tormud did not miss Einar’s momentary flinch as though he would rebel against Tormud’s suggestion that they go together. Tormud would keep an eye on him and never walk in front of the man.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Jan had packed and both he and Ivar were mounted, charging toward the gate to the homestead.
“Ivar!”
Ivar twisted to see his father racing after him. Sword drawn. Ivar reined in, but he refused allow anyone to delay him.
“Where do you think you are going? Are you fleeing like a coward?” Soren spat the accusation at his son as he pointed the tip of his sword at Ivar’s chest. Ivar’s nostrils flared as he batted the sword away and leaned toward his father.
“The only coward is you. You are too fearful to admit you’ve made an error in welcoming Inga into this tribe. Now she’s had Lena attacked. Lena’s fled with Eindride, Rangvald, and Lorna. The bitch’s own brother would rather rescue my woman than stand beside his sister.”
“You lie,” Soren spluttered. “You just hoped to run away from your duties so you can rut with your whore.”
Ivar whipped his horse around but looked back at his father. The look of hatred made Soren take a step back.
“I willneverforgive you for that comment. If you weren’t my father, I’d kill you for calling Lena that. Call her that again, and I will.” Ivar spurred his forward. “Check the bodies outside Lena’s home. They’re Thor’s men. Why would they be there?”
Ivar and Jan galloped through the gates and onto the road that would take them south and to Lena and their friends. Soren looked around and found Tormud and Einar standing together. He caught an expression on Einar’s face that he was not sure how to interpret, but it was gone in an instant. He walked to Tormud’s side as he sheathed his sword.
“You were once a great warrior to me. Your wife was my wife’s best friend. You have never asked for anything, not even when your daughter became my son’s companion. Tell me true.”
Tormud looked into Soren’s eyes, and the jarl sensed he would not like the story they would tell him.
“Lena couldn’t watch the blessing, so she went home. Men must have followed her because there was blood on the floor in the main room of my longhouse, but Lena was not there. I couldn’t find her sword or bow and arrows, and the dress she wore was tossed onto the bed. She always hangs up her clothing. The ax by my woodpile is bloody, and there are five dead guardsmen from Jarl Thor’s tribe. They splintered the door from my kitchen by hacking it open, and there are dents in the front door.”
Soren drag his hand over his face before rubbing it across his nape. He turned to look at his longhouse where his new ally seethed at the disgrace Ivar caused by shunning Inga. He glanced back at Tormud, then at Einar, who was staring at the jarl’s longhouse. Once again, he saw something in the young man’s face that made him uneasy. It was almost a look of glee that there was trouble brewing. Soren caught Tormud’s eye before lifting his chin toward Einar then tilted his head away. Tormud stepped with Soren as both men watched their departure go unnoticed by Einar. Or at least they thought until Einar grinned at them, dipped his head, then dashed toward his home.
“He needs watching. He knows mores that he’s telling.” Tormud muttered.
“What makes you think that?”
“The same things that make you think it too. He was angry that Ivar chose Jan to travel with him. His gaze shifted between me and my ax one too many times to make me comfortable. It’s as though he expects something more will happen, as though he’s planning for something else. When Ivar refused him, I believe it shifted his plan enough to consider murdering me.”
“Murder? Don’t you think that’s farfetched?”
“How many battles did I go into on your behalf? On your father’s? I came home from them all. I even survived the last one that nearly took my leg. It wasn’t by chance. I’m familiar with what a man looks like when he intends to kill you. Soren, I’m neither feeble-bodied nor feeble-minded, so don’t speak to me as such.” It was Tormud’s longtime friendship and service to Soren that allowed him to speak so brazenly. “In the meantime, you haven’t asked whether I think they injured Lena or if I think she’ll be safe. You might remember you will be short two of your best warriors if your son’s bride kills her. If that happens, neither Lena nor Ivar will return. Ivar will never forgive you, and I’m not sure that the rest of the tribe would either.”
“She is but one shieldmaiden.” Soren frowned with disbelief.
“She is the shieldmaiden that all the other women follow. Lena is the shieldmaiden that every man trusts to fight alongside him. She is the woman the thralls gladly work for. She has been the voice of reason and strategy to Ivar before every battle since they first clashed swords as children. Lena is the woman this tribe wishes would one day help Ivar lead. No one here thinks your alliance is worth the peace lost within our own homes now that Inga is to remain.” Tormud shook his head as he looked at his friend from childhood. He and Eindride and Einar’s father had grown up with Soren and trained together before sailing together to foreign lands. He knew Soren better than most.
“You are blind to not see Rangvald will one day lead Thor’s tribe. Harold will get himself killed with his pride and recklessness. Rangvald and Ivar are much alike, and it’s their respect for one another that will make them the greatest allies the Trondelag has ever seen. Their women will see to it. And I do not mean Inga. Bah, she will be nothing butÓgæfa, misfortune. She will be our downfall. It will Lena and Lorna. Soren, you’re one of my oldest friends, but if any harm comes to my daughter, I will hold you responsible, just as Ivar will. You had better hope that Lena’shemingjais watching over her and continues to grant her good luck, or the blame will be on your shoulders.”
Tormud limped toward his home, and he left Soren standing alone. He looked around his home, the village he had spent his life serving. Everyone was correct. Lena had always been the right choice, but now he was not sure that fate would smile upon them twice. His insistence on having his way may well have changed fate, and now they would have to weather the consequences of Soren believing he controlled the future. Soren caught movement as he walked toward his longhouse. A young man was running toward the back of his house. If he was not mistaken, it was Einar. The only chambers on that side of the building were for guests. Soren had a sinking feeling that he had already figured out where Einar was going.
Thirteen
“Ivar!” Banging at Lena’s chamber door woke them both. “Ivar! Get up. Inga and her family are only a mile away. The guards have already spotted them. Wake up!”
Eindride pounded his fist against the door until Ivar ripped it open, standing naked before his friend. “I heard you. And I am awake, but not the way I want to be. I will be there.” Ivar went to shut the door, but Eindride’s foot shot forward, and Eindride pushed the door back open.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust you not to fall back into bed then lose track of time.” Eindride nodded in Lena’s direction but refused to look at her as she sat with the sheet tucked under her arms. “Lena’s too much of a distraction. You have to come now. Your father won’t punish you for this. He’ll punish Lena and her family. Hurry, please.”
Eindride retreated and let the door close. Ivar looked at Lena, her blonde hair wild from their night of passion. He sat on the edge of the bed beside her and held her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He kissed her before nibbling on her lower lip.
