“Zarabeth,” Lotti said, and lightly laid one small hand on her sister’s shoulder.
Magnus said slowly, “She will be all right, Lotti. I promise you.”
Zarabeth stirred some minutes later. She was lying on her stomach, and surely that was odd. In the next instant she realized that her back was on fire. Pain swamped her, and she hissed out her breath. She felt his hand on her arm, heard his voice next to her face. “Hold still. I can do nothing for your pain, I am sorry. Just hold still and breathe slowly and deeply.”
And she did, for she really had no choice. She didn’t open her eyes, but said, “Lotti. Is she all right? Ingunn was going to hit her, and I couldn’t... couldn’t stop her, I couldn’t make my body move to stop her.”
“I stopped Ingunn. Lotti is fine. She is sleeping now, next to you.”
“Thank you.”
“You won’t be scarred.”
She opened her eyes and stared at him. “I wanted to kill your sister, but I couldn’t reach her. I saw her raise that whip on Lotti and I heard her laugh, and then...” She shuddered with the memory of it, and Magnus, feeling furious and helpless and hating both feelings, said, “Try to sleep now.”
“I’m very hungry. That is what started it all. I was so very hungry, and I simply wanted to eat some porridge.”
“I will fetch you something.” He left her lying there on her stomach, her face washed of color, even her vivid red hair seeming faded and dimmed, hanging damp and tangled beside her face.
He walked to the cooking counter of smooth wooden planks that held wooden plates, knives, spoons, and trays. He was aware of the painful silence in the longhouse. His men were staring at him, as were the women. Only the children seemed unaffected, and he heard them taunting each other, laughing, challenging. He heard Egill yelling for a wager with another boy.
Ingunn was behind him, saying quickly, her voice low and furious, “Do not believe her, Magnus. She lies, I know it. She disobeyed me, refused to work. What was I to do? She thinks that since she is your whore, she need do nothing save watch the rest of us work. Believe not her tales, Magnus! You already know her for a liar, a murderess.”
He turned slowly, a bowl in his hand. “Please put some venison stew in the bowl, Ingunn.”
Ingunn drew back. “For her? For that slut? I would rather stick a knife in her black heart.”
“Do as I tell you.”
“No, damn you, I won’t!”
“Then you will no longer be welcome in my house. I am master here, and I will be obeyed in all things.”
He hated using that kind of threat, but he saw no other way. Ingunn took the bowl from him and turned stiffly away. He watched her, thinking that he had never before witnessed such unfairness in her, such viciousness, then quickly rearranged his memory. Oh, yes, he had seen her drawn into jealousy before, and her fury had been uncontrolled. It had been over an arm bracelet another young girl had refused to give her. She was jealous of Zarabeth, and, fool that he was, he had taken all Zarabeth’s weapons. He had made her a slave. He had placed her at Ingunn’s mercy.
His sister returned with the bowl and handed it to him, saying nothing now.
He said very quietly, his eyes never leaving her face, “If you touch her again, I will take the whip to you and let you taste it on your back. If you ever put your hands on Lotti again, I will take the whip to you with even greater force. Do you understand me?”
“By Thor’s hammer, she lied! I did nothing to her that she did not deserve. Just ask Cyra! She saw everything the slut did, ask her!”
“Do you understand me?”
“Why do you care? Did you not bed her? How many men had her before you? She bragged on how many men she’d had in York and how all she had to do to you was smile. Why do you still care?”
“Do you understand me?”
She realized in that moment that she no longer knew this man who stood in front of her, this man who didn’t care about the truth or about her feelings, this man who was obviously against her now, who hated and scorned her, all because of that slave he’d brought to Malek to take her place. Nay, she no longer recognized this man who had been her defender when she’d been a little girl. He was now a stranger to her. She felt fury and defeat, and it took all her resolve to hold to her control. She said, “Aye, I understand.”
“Good. Never forget, Ingunn, for I shan’t.” He left her then, aware that every man and woman in the hall was watching them and wondering. He had no intention of saying anything at all. He was appalled at his sister’s loss of control, at the ferocity in her.
He fed Zarabeth until she was too weak to chew more. When she finally fell asleep, he picked Lotti up and took her into the children’s chamber. He laid her down, smoothing the soft ginger-colored hair from her forehead.
“Sleep well,” he said, and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I will take care of your sister, I promise you.”
Lotti smiled and closed her eyes. Magnus looked up to see his son sitting up on the far side of the bed. The boy looked infinitely miserable. Magnus walked to him and drew him onto his lap, even though he wasn’t a child any longer. He spoke softly, so as not to awaken the other children. “Do not blame Lotti, Egill. She is only a little girl and she loves her sister. Would you not have tried to protect me had someone threatened me? From what I see, she is also fond of you. Do not hurt her, and do not treat her like your aunt Ingunn does.”
The boy nodded. Magnus had no idea if his words would go to his son’s heart. He hoped so.
