Whatever he would have said was cut off by Erek’s yell. Chessa shoved her fist into his throat. He dropped her, his hands going around his neck even as he fell to his knees. She had a knife out in a flash. She grabbed Erek by his dirty hair, yanked back, and set the blade of her knife across his throat. She said quietly, “Tell him to set the child down carefully or you’re dead.” She nicked his throat, just a bit, just enough so he could feel the wet of his blood.
“Drop the babe, Olaf. I have no wish to die.”
“Aye, let her go,” Cleve said, stepping forward. “Give me the child.”
“Forgive me, Cleve, but I must keep her, at least for the moment.” Kerek stepped out of the darkness.
The men looked ready to leap on him, but they were powerless. Merrik’s men had been chained like slaves for over a week. And now they were helpless again. All were warriors and yet they could do nothing save stand there and watch. Slowly, stealthfully, they began slowly moving into a circle.
“You,” Rorik said. “Kerek, what is this?”
“By all the gods,” Merrik said. “You brought us food and water. You kept us alive. Why, damn you? What is the meaning of this? You play one of Ragnor’s perverted games?”
Kerek held up his hand. He turned to Chessa. “If you agree to come with me, Princess, Olaf will give Kiri back to her father. It’s a simple trade.”
“Papa.”
“It’s all right, sweeting. Don’t move.”
“I don’t know how to make him let me down, Papa. He’s strong.”
“I know. Promise me you won’t move.” Cleve looked at Chessa. Her face was pale in the eerie predawn light but her hand was firm on that knife. The man Erek hadn’t moved, had barely breathed. He’d heard Kerek speak with near reverent awe of Chessa, of her strength, her will, the future she would give to the Danelaw.
Cleve said to Kerek, “You wanted this to happen, that much is obvious. But you couldn’t have known that Chessa would have brought Kiri. Explain yourself, Kerek.”
“On our voyage back to York, Torric and I managed to plan what we would do. When you released him to fetch King Olric, he told the king of our plan to drug you and it worked. I kept you alive because, despite all that’s happened, I consider you my friends. Ragnor forgets that you saved our lives, Rorik. I have never forgotten. However, I must have the Princess and now it will happen.
“The day you woke up from the drug, the king sent men to Hawkfell Island with a simple offer. All of you would be returned in exchange for the Princess.”
“There was no messenger,” Rorik said.
Kerek merely shrugged. “Both the captain and I gave them the best directions we could. It appears they didn’t find the island.”
“The storm,” Rorik said slowly. “There was a terrible storm that lasted nearly four days. We couldn’t leave until it was over. They were probably killed.”
“Aye, I have thought as much, that or they were blown off course. I knew Rorik would come to rescue you, despite Ragnor, who would have killed all of you if his father hadn’t stopped him. Well, not really the king, but never mind that now. Aye, Lord Rorik, I knew you’d come. I’ve had guards hidden waiting for you. You came. One of my men fetched me immediately. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I saw the Princess and the little girl. It was then I knew the gods blessed my endeavor. Aye, the gods approve what I’m doing for the Danelaw. They sent me the princess and the little girl.”
“You’re mad, Kerek,” Cleve said. “Chessa is just Chessa. She’s a woman, nothing more. Forget this vision you have of her.”
Kerek smiled at him, even as he shook his head. “If you love her, Cleve, I’m sorry. She is destined for other things. Now, Princess, come to me now and Kiri goes to her father.”
Merrik laughed. “Chessa, don’t move. Kerek won’t kill Kiri. By the gods, this is an irony that cramps my belly. You won’t win in this, Kerek.”
“I have won,” Kerek said quietly. He saw Hafter take a step forward. He saw the circle tightening. “No, stop, all of you. Don’t move, any of you. Not unless you want the little girl dead. I will kill her. I don’t want to, but I will. It is the Princess’s choice. Will you come to me, Princess? If you do, Olaf will let her go to her father.”
“If she dies then you are dead in the next moment, Kerek.”
“Aye, I know, Cleve. It doesn’t matter. I just want the princess. I must have her.”
“Very well,” Chessa said. Her knife was still firmly against Erek’s throat. “I agree to the exchange.”
Cleve said, “Chessa, I cannot trade you for Kiri. I cannot.”
“I know,” she said. “It’s my decision.”
Kerek smiled at her, then said to Olaf, “Let the girl go to her father.”
“But she still holds the knife at Erek’s neck.”
