“But—”
“Shh. If not for your sake, then to keep Katryne and Johan from worrying and to keep them out of his sights.” Liam squeezed her hand, his body turned to keep the others from seeing. “I shouldn’t be gone long.”
Liam didn’t wait for Elene to respond, slipping out of the door and along the village center until he reached the postern gate. He nodded to the guard, raising his weapon as he passed through the portal. He wasted no time drawing an arrow from the quiver he’d slung over his shoulder. He nocked an arrow, holding his bow parallel to the ground and inching forward on silent feet. He traversed the land, taking him past the loch and toward a meadow. In the distance, he spied a herd of red deer. Continuing to creep on soundless feet, a skill honed from years of practice, Liam drew closer. When he was certain he could hit a large stag, he raised his bow. He brought the arrow to eye level, drew a deep breath, waited a heartbeat, then released the arrow as he exhaled. The arrow zoomed through the air and buried its tip into the animal’s broad chest. The stag staggered backward several steps as the other animals fled. It was only a moment later that the male deer crashed to the ground.
Liam hurried to retrieve his kill. It wasn’t long before Liam hefted the stag over his shoulders, easily the weight of a heavy adult man. He stumbled a step, remembering the first time he was strong enough to hoist his father onto his back and carry him across the training field. At four-and-ten, he’d grown as tall as Tristan and made his first attempt to carry the massive warrior, but it wasn’t until he was six-and-ten that he had the breadth of shoulders and strength in his legs to manage the feat.
Now he gained his footing, blaming the mud for his misstep. He knew he had to find smaller prey if Gunter was to believe Elene was the one who hunted, but his catch pleased him as an offering of thanksgiving to Androw and Janet for their hospitality. He hurried back to the village wall, leaving the animal behind Androw’s house, and gesturing to the chieftain through the window to come outside.
Liam hurried back to the meadow, looking for rabbits or fowl. It wasn’t long before he had a brace of rabbits and three stoats. He’d quickly made a slinger, realizing he didn’t know if Elene hunted with a bow and arrow. He assumed she did, but she wouldn’t be able to explain arrow wounds in her catches if Gunter saw her weapon still in the croft. He used the stone thrower to nab the smaller prey. Once finished hunting, he used the rope that launched the stones to tie the animals together.
He was nearly through the rear gate when Gunter materialized from a shadow and stepped onto Liam’s path. The sneering Norseman stood with his arms crossed, more tattoos visible as his fur cloak fell away and hung down his back. He sized Liam up, casting a dismissive look as though he studied a disappointing child rather than a potential rival.
“Out playing with rocks?”
Liam shrugged with nonchalance, internally annoyed that Gunter discovered him hunting. He didn’t appreciate Gunter foiling his plan, nor did he appreciate the older man taunting him. He made to step around the man, but Gunter blocked his way.
“The stag wasn’t enough?” Gunter cast a speculative gaze over Liam before looking past his shoulder. “She isn’t hunting, is she? You’re trying to make it look as though she did, but here I’ve found you and not her.”
“She had no luck. The animals were hiding earlier. They came out to eat since the thunder ceased, and it’s not raining.” Liam adopted a bored expression, as though his reasons were too obvious to need stating.
“She shall lead you around by the cock, but it matters not. She’ll be boarding my ship.” Gunter’s cocked eyebrow did little to make the poor innuendo better. Once again, Liam refused to take the bait. He stood silently. He would wait out Gunter, and he would see if Gunter shared anything of use. Liam sensed he wasn’t the type who was patient enough to leverage the silence to his advantage. As Liam suspected, Gunter shifted and spoke, needing to fill the void. “She is naught but a tease. But a Norseman will cure her of that.”
“Mayhap one will, but the way you talk, it won’t be you. She rejected you, and now you wish to get even. I never imagined a man with such duties as you have would care about a woman on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere.”
“You know Orkney is hardly in the middle of nowhere. And she is hardly just any woman.”
“She’s the woman you want but doesn’t want you. Mayhap if you were nicer…”
“You mean, a weak little man who trails after her like a pup wishing for scraps.” Gunter’s smug appearance made Liam want to laugh. The man tried too hard to hide his feelings and appeared a fool for it.
“I’m not in love with a woman who won’t love me back.” Liam wished he’d stopped while he was ahead. The moment the words passed his lips, he regretted them. The fury in Gunter’s gaze told him he’d struck the most sensitive nerve. Gunter’s bullish attitude was a guise for how he really felt, and Liam had the lack of forethought to point it out. The Norseman’s curled fists and posture warned that he prepared to attack. “I will leave before that can happen.”
Gunter grinned, thinking Liam admitted his own weakness. He took a menacing step forward, his hands resting on his belt near his knives. Liam watched each move, prepared to reach for his own knife, knowing he could throw one at Gunter far faster than he could load and shoot an arrow. “You’d do well to sail away before you make a greater fool of yourself. Before I remind you who’s been on this island longer.”
Liam nodded, scrambling to use the moment to his advantage and diffuse the looming fist fight. “Your brother was gracious to offer Orkney and Shetland as a compromise. My grandfather isn’t interested in changing anyone’s way of life here or in Norway. Just the opposite. He wants to ensure little changes for the Orcadians or Shetlanders.”
Gunter grew contemplative, the shift to politics changing his mood. Liam watched the arrogance war with the realization that Gunter needed diplomacy, not veiled threats. “The people care not who calls Orkney theirs so long as they have what they need. They know where to turn.”
“And a people who are well provided for are a content people. My grandfather understands that. He is not the man who found fault with the Norse. You’ve met him several times. You know he holds you and your people in high regard.”
“Yet he didn’t bother to show his face. He didn’t even send his son. He sent a boy.”
Liam chafed at the insult, which nettled his insecurity. But he refused to allow Gunter to know he’d hit a nerve with Liam. He refused to relent and give the Norseman the upper hand. “My grandfather and uncle understand your brother wants the best for Orkney and Shetland. Since no one will stand in the way of my grandfather governing these islands on behalf of King David, I offered to come in his stead. I’ve been here so many times, it feels like a third home. Only Varrich and Dunbeath are more familiar to me.”
Gunter narrowed his eyes, realizing that a war of words wouldn’t defeat Liam. He ran his gaze over Liam, from his boots to his eyes. Liam knew Gunter was estimating how many knives Liam carried, particularly how many Gunter couldn’t see. When the older man shifted his weight back to his heels, Liam felt confident their conversation wouldn’t come to blows.
“Tell her she’s expected home. Those rabbits and stoats won’t cook themselves.”
Liam watched Gunter turn away. He wondered what his grandfather and father would have said about the exchange. He’d misstepped more than once, but he’d used his mind rather than his might to maneuver Gunter. He hoped they would be proud. He didn’t for a moment think Elene was any safer than she’d been before Gunter stepped foot on land. But at least he didn’t fear trade evaporating between Orkney and Scotland’s clans, either Highlander or Lowlander. He counted that as a win.
CHAPTER6
Dawn greeted Liam with clear rose and lavender hues. While he appreciated a reprieve from the inclement weather, his mind rebelled at leaving Elene. Once he returned to the village, he accompanied Elene and her siblings back to their croft. He listened as she opened the door, Gunter merely grunting, then laughing, as she carried inside Liam’s catches. But he heard nothing more once the door closed. There were no raised voices, banging furniture, screams, or fleeing women and children. He lingered outside the door for an hour before he abandoned his post to settle against the croft’s back wall. He wouldn’t announce his intention to guard Elene and her siblings by making his presence obvious. There were too many villagers and Norse moving around to remain inconspicuous. All the same, he refused to leave them.
He’d dozed throughout the night. He’d drawn a knife when someone approached, but he’d sheathed it when he recognized Elene carrying a blanket for him. They said nothing when she draped it over him and sneaked back into her croft. As the sun rose, it forced him to abandon his post to prepare to ride out with his men. They’d loaded a wagon the night before, bringing more bushels of seed from the ship while Liam hunted. He felt ashamed that the men worked while he conducted a personal mission that he’d told none of them about. When he saw Dermot, his friend smiled and shook his head.
“We all heard him. We kenned ye wouldnae leave her on her own. If nae for her, then for the lass and lad. Besides, we’ve been eating their food three meals a day. It’s just as well that ye hunted.”
