Magnus nodded as he cast his gaze at the warriors who had accompanied them.
“Lena is being accused of murder. Inga claims that just like she has bewitched Ivar, she did the same to Inga’s guardsmen. Inga is shouting from the rooftops that Lena seduced them men into following her like a siren, then Lena killed them to leave Inga defenseless and unprotected. Jarl Thor is supporting his daughter after Ivar failed to consummate the marriage. Soren had no choice but to send riders out. You can see that many of them aren’t even our people. They’re Jarl Thor’s. Soren’s hands are tied, and so he has ordered we bring Lena back to face the accusations and trial.”
“You must know how ridiculous that is,” Eindride whispered.
“We all do, but with no one in the village to defend Lena, there are only people to support the lies. Without Rangvald and Lorna there to admit they killed three of those men in Lena’s defense, there is no one who can exonerate Lena. It’s not enough that Tormud claims the men followed and attacked Lena. Even Soren can’t speak on her behalf since they will expect him to oversee the public trial. Lena must come back to defend herself.”
“You know Ivar will never agree to that. She is already as good as dead. We may as well burn her alive for the justice she will receive. Rangvald won’t return without finding Lorna, and neither will Ivar return without finding Lena. The best I can offer is me returning. I can tell what happened.”
“But you weren’t at Lena’s longhouse. Brenna is in danger too, Ein.”
“What?” Eindride demanded.
“They’re holding her as a conspirator. You all need to return. This isn’t something that will blow over just because Lena stays away. Inga is out for blood.”
Eindride looked back at Ivar and Rangvald, who listened to the conversation between father and son.
“Go back, Ein. Help Brenna,” Ivar nodded.
“You know I would stay with you if I could, Ivar.” Eindride looked at his father before looking back at Ivar and Rangvald. “She’s carrying our first child. We planned to wed within the moon. I can’t let anything happen to her.”
Eindride watched the scowl soften on his father’s face, even if for only a moment. Magnus pulled his son into his embrace and whispered in his ear. “If you have to leave with Brenna to protect my grandchild, I will help you go tonight.”
The sound of a man’s scream rent the air before a deeper one sounded. Warriors flooded the trees as Ivar and his friends joined the force rushing toward the sound of swords.
Ivar's heart lurched as he watched Lena fend off a warrior from Thor's tribe who focused on maiming or killing as opposed to subduing. Lena's blade sliced across the man's ribs, shredding the flesh, but the warriors seemed unfazed. If anything, it galvanized the man into a rage of wild thrusts and parries. Ivar raced forward, impaling the man through the back as Lena's blade severed her opponent's arm.
Ivar spun as a blur shot past him, recognizing Rangvald as he leaped at a man who had a handful of Lorna's hair wrapped around his wrist. Lorna cursed as she was pulled to the ground along with her attacker when Rangvald tackled the man. It was only a heartbeat later that the sound of breaking bone echoed off the trees, and one of Ivar's clansmen lay with a broken neck.
"Cease!" bellowed Magnus. The older warrior came to stand between Ivar and Rangvald. "If the lot of you don't return, the feud this farce of a marriage was meant to end will explode in our faces."
Lena joined them as she wiped blood from her face and shook out her arm, which stung from the flat side of a sword blade striking it. She looked around at the damage from the brief skirmish and accepted that Magnus was right. She may have wanted to run to Kaupang, but her absence would not solve a matter that far exceeded her relationship with Ivar or the tantrums of a spoiled young woman. The mix of warriors were eager to use fighting over Lorna and Lena as an excuse to fight one another.
“I’ll return,” Lena conceded. Before Ivar responded, she turned to him. “We have to trust your father. You said he knows you shouldn’t marry Inga. We have to believe he will see things through for the betterment of our clan, and if he knows that means Inga must leave, then she will.”
“But will that be before she kills you?” Ivar growled.
“Only the gods know that. I can’t hide if it will cause a war between our clans. We must resolve this through good faith rather than swords.” Lena whistled, and Jan stepped from the trees with the horses. She mounted before Ivar argued and nudged her horse next to Magnus. “Do I return as your captive?”
“I’m afraid so. I won’t bind you, but you must turn yourself over to Soren.”
“Thank you, Magnus.” Lena turned towards her friend, a weak smile and tired eyes greeted him. “Eindride, I didn’t know about Brenna. You have my congratulations and my apologies for bringing her into this. I will do whatever I can to ensure no one blames her for any of this.”
Ivar tied the reins to his horse to Lena’s saddle and mounted behind, pulling her back into his embrace. She sank against the warmth and comfort of his broad chest as he wrapped his protective arm around her middle as though he could create a barrier between Lena and the world that seemed out to get her.
“I’ll ride with you most of the way,” Ivar’s words comforted Lena that he would not leave her on her own, while reassuring Magnus that he would not ride into the homestead flaunting that he chose Lena over Inga.
Sixteen
Ivar could not help but believe the entire attempt to whisk Lena away had been a colossal failure. He was happy for his friends–Lorna and Rangvald were now betrothed and Eindride would be a father–but Lena was no safer. She was in more danger than ever before, and he felt even more incapable of protecting her. His arms wrapped around her snugly as she rode before him. She had said nothing since he mounted behind her and they set off. The tension cascading from her was like waves in a tempest, but she was the most dangerous of storms; the kind that was silent until it unleashed its wrath. While Ivar trusted Lena’s judgement, he did not trust that she would not attempt to shoulder all the blame to protect him from his father and Jarl Thor. Her mind was ticking, but he had no idea what she was thinking.
“Don’t fret,” Lena’s whisper cut into his thoughts. “I won’t do anything rash. I will see what the jarls have to say, and I will accept the voice of our people.”
“No.” It was a simple statement, but Ivar hoped it conveyed his unwillingness to accept anything less than Lena being found innocent and then being made his bride.
“What do you mean ‘no’? There is no other option.” Lena continued to whisper. She looked at those riding near them and sensed that warriors from both clans were curious about what she would do and what they discussed.
“I mean I am not turning you over to my father or Thor, and I don’t trust people to believe your side of the story.”
