He stood and gave Tasgall the signal to notify the men to stand ready to charge. Time was at hand. “Enough waiting.”
Ross and Valan stayed close on his heels as they picked their way down the grassy hillside riddled with stones that threatened to roll with every step. The cloudy night and blanket of mist settling in the low spots cursed them as well as benefited them. An occasional dip in the land and the few mounds of boulders did little to hide them.
Thorburn picked up speed as the ground evened out. Focused on the torches still fairly close together, he moved with the silent stealth taught by his father while training at his side. When they drew close enough to make out the dark shapes of more tents, he halted. Every muscle knotted tighter. Alrek’s numbers appeared to be a great deal more than first reported. A single monstrosity of a structure sprawled across the beachhead. Several smaller shelters extended out from either side like a great bird’s outstretched wings. Had Alrek coerced half of Norway to fight at his side?
He took cover behind one of the smaller tents, eased to the edge, then peered around. Nothing but shadows and swirling mist. The torches had disappeared. Rather than growling out his frustration, he clenched his teeth and snorted. Which shelter had the fools entered? He strained to hear something other than the incessant crashing of the sea. Nothing came to him. There was naught to do but move forward and search.
With a signal to his brothers, he eased around the shelter with his sword and dagger leading the way. Patience exhausted and senses alerted to the slightest movement or sound, he headed to the largest structure first. The place was probably the gathering area for food and drink. Since both torches disappeared, it was likely the men had gone in there.
With the tip of his sword, he eased open the flap and peered inside. A pair of great iron torch stands burned brightly on either side of a garishly opulent chair, overflowing with cushions. What a sight. Adellis’s brother must think himself either a king or a god. Benches and tables lined the sides of the massive tent. The center area remained bare, as though waiting for entertainment. He let the flap fall back in place and shook his head at Ross, who, in turn, shook his head at Valan.
That left the other tent that had shown light within it. He resettled his grip on his weapons. The leather-wrapped hafts scraped rough against his palms, adding fuel to his fiery hunger for victory and revenge. As he started toward the shelter, light flashed from the opening and halted him. Two cloaked figures, one quite a bit taller than the other, stood silhouetted in the doorway as though gathering their bearings. He strained to make out what was behind them. Two bodies appeared to be sprawled on the ground inside. Against all instinct and training, he called out in a loud whisper, “Adellis!”
The tallest of the two turned toward him. “Thor?”
“Adellis,” he repeated, breathing out her name to soothe his soul. He tore forward and crushed her to his chest. “Thank God,” he whispered, reveling in the feel of her. He buried his face in the rough fabric of her cloak.
She flinched and squeaked out a cry of pain that cut through him like a dagger. With a jagged gasp, she pushed against him. “Easy, my bear. Gerdy healed me, but there is still some soreness across my back.”
He immediately eased his hold, cradling her in one arm as he shoved back her hood. “What did that bastard do to…” Her soot-covered face, now streaked with two shining paths cleared away by tears, struck him speechless.
“To better hide us in the darkness,” she explained with such a caring touch of his cheek that his heart soared.
“Ye can celebrate yer reunion once we’re clear of here,” Ross advised, shoving around them to nudge a boot against a man on the floor. He looked up and grinned. “Yer lady did well, brother.”
“Come,” Valan urged. “Ross is right. We can raise a glass once we clear the place. Our men dinna wait well, ye ken?”
Thorburn agreed. Adellis could tell him all that had happened once they withdrew. “Are there more here to be dealt with?”
She turned to her companion, the tiny figure, cowering so deep in a dark, ragged cloak that her face couldn’t be seen. “Gerdy, these two are all. Yes?”
Gerdy didn’t speak, just dipped her hooded head forward.
“We owe them one more thing before we leave.” The need for revenge ran deep in every fiber of his being. Always had. It made him the commander he was today. “We shall signal the men that all is well with a fine fire, ye ken?” He gave his brothers a knowing look they couldn’t help but understand.
Ross yanked a torch from its stand and held it against the wall of the tent until the flames caught hold. Valan grinned and headed outside to do the same to the other shelters.
“The boats as well,” Adellis suggested. “Pitch and arrows are in the tent farthest to the east. The longboats are anchored offshore in front of the waterfall and the cave. If we send fiery brands across the water, we should be able to see them well enough to set them ablaze.”
He caught hold of her hand, pressed a kiss into her palm, then eased her closer. All that he witnessed in her clear blue eyes made his chest tighten. Relief. Joy. And what he hoped was the same urgent need that pounded through him, all because of her. Not just a longing for a touch or a joining, but a dangerous yearning he had never experienced before.
“Ye are mine,” he rasped, then sealed the declaration with the kiss he had hungered for ever since the taste of the last one had faded. All else could be damned. Her warmth spread through him. The hardness of her warrior’s form and the softness of her curves melted into his embrace. With her fingers tangled deep in his hair, she dug in her nails as she claimed him with as much fervor as he claimed her. Never again. Nothing would separate them ever again.
“My lady, the tent burns around you.” The soft, squeaking voice barely wormed its way between them. “My lady—please.”
The wee one was right. Regret filled him as he gently severed their connection and smiled down at her. “Are ye sound enough to stay at my side whilst we make quick work of yer brother’s holdings?”
“Yes, my fine warrior. Consider yourself most definitely burdened with me now.” The smile she gave him erased any weariness he had ever known.
“For that, I am grateful.” He ushered both her and the small cloaked one out of the flames’ reach and headed to the tent containing the tools that would aid them in burning all signs of Alrek away. Ross and Valan joined them, both looking well pleased with themselves. When the hollow roaring of a well-fed fire reached him, Thorburn understood why. The only tent not ablaze was the one in front of them.
Inside, he helped himself to the weaponry that had probably been used to destroy his own camp and wound poor Hendry. He would take great pleasure in setting the long boats afire. ’Twas a shame Hendry had stayed with the men and couldn’t help. Such a loss would be costly to any campaign, but especially to one as covert as Alrek’s.
Adellis pushed in beside him, snatching a longbow out of his grasp. “This one is mine,” she said with a tip of her head toward another. “You can have that one.”
“As ye wish, m’love.”
She paused, her brow furrowing for a split second as though the endearment had struck her like a dart.
