Chapter 1
A Forced Marriage
The jarring clash of steel and the horrific shrieks of dying men reverberated in her bones and tore out her heart. Frustration and fury surged as Elfi struggled in vain to open the heavy wooden door. But her Viking father—knowing that she would want to be at his side, wielding her lethal blade to defend their castle against yet another attack by the ruthless Count of Soissons—had locked her in the fortress tower.
And bolted the door from outside.
She peered out the small window, where waves of the turbulent Narrow Sea crashed against the towering white chalk cliffs of thePays de Cauxbelow the castle. The familiar red and white striped sails of theirdrakkarwarships were still safely docked in the harbor, and she could discern no enemy ships in the sheltered inlet of Étretat. Which meant that the Frankish attack had come from the south. Through the dense forest of beech trees which she could not see.
Seething with rage, Elfi hurled a pewter goblet against the thick oak door and slammed her body against the stone wall in the opposite corner. She was a skilled shield maiden warrior-- as proficient with her peerless sword as the older brother who had trained her—yet, locked in this dismal cell with her grandmother Oda on the third floor of the tower, there was nothing she could do but wait.
“It does no good to scream,elska. We must pray that Thor guides yourfaðirto victory.”Resignation and defeat edged her grandmother’s frail voice. “Or that the Valkyries will claim him. To join yourbróðirin Valhalla.”
Tears streamed down Elfi’s cheeks at the mention of her beloved older brother who had died defending the castle in a bloody battle against the same Frankish count four months ago.
Now, asle Château Blancwas under siege yet again, Elfi groaned at the injustice of being born a woman.
Shewas the reason for Alberic of Soissons’ renewed attack. And why her father had locked her in this tower.
To prevent her from falling prey to the Frankish count’s undaunted, relentless pursuit.
For Elfi—as the unmarried Heiress of Étretat—was her father’s most prized possession.
I am nothing but property, like this castle. Or the white chalk cliffs of the Pays de Caux. Dear Goddess Freyja, why was I not born a man?
Elfi shuddered at the possible outcome of this battle. If the Frankish armysucceeded in conquering the castle, her father would be forced to concede to the Count’s demand of marriage. As Elfi’s husband, Alberic of Soissons would become the new lord ofle Château Blancas well as the ruling Count of Étretat.
Providing King Lothaire of West Francia a Frankish fortress in Normandy and a viable means of dispelling the Vikings from the white chalk cliffs of the covetedPays de Caux.
To reclaim the fertile plains of Normandy for his West Frankish crown.
Elfi ground her teeth, growling like a caged animal while she paced back and forth. Being a woman, she was deemed more valuable as a bride and brood mare than a valorous Viking warrior.
Seething with suffocating rage, she dropped to the floor.
Covered her face in her hands.
And smothered a maniacal scream.
Hours later, as the setting sun streaked the sky with soft shades of violet, pink, and mauve, Elfi listened for signs ofcontinued battle. But an ominous silence had settled, and the eerie stillness sent dread shivering down her spine.
At a sudden rattle of the lock and metal thud of the bolt, Elfi shot to her feet as the heavy wooden door swung open. Clad in chain mail armor, his hulking body caked with dried blood and streaked with gore and grime, Varg, valiant warrior of Étretat—the Viking village in Normandy which the castle defended—proclaimed the victory she was desperate to hear. “We have prevailed, my lady. The Frankish army has retreated, and although theouter curtain wall surrounding the castle was badly damaged,le Château Blancwas not breached.” Despite the triumph of his exultant missive, despair and defeat dimmed his deep voice.
“The city has been decimated. And… your father Thorfinn has been captured.”
Blood oozing from a vicious gash in his shield arm, Varg groaned as he spat out the horrid truth. “The Count of Soissons demands your hand in marriage. He insists that you, Lady Elfi—accompanied by no more than a dozen of your personal guards— must come to the Christian church in the Frankish city of Reims, where the Archbishop will perform the wedding on the first of October.” Anguish blazed in his valorous gaze. “If you refuse, he shall execute your father. And attackle Château Blancrepeatedly until it falls.”
Violent spasms of horror, furor, and shock shook Elfi’s entire body.
Alberic of Soissons killed my brother Dag and stole his Elven sword. Now he’s captured my father and demands my hand in marriage. He wants this castle. The walled city of Étretat. And the white chalk cliffs of the Pays de Caux. For his cunning Frankish King.
Dag died defending le Château Blanc. He would never want me to concede to the bloody Count of Soissons. But if I refuse, he’ll kill Faðir andattack again. Goddess Freyja, give me strength!
Anger spiked and adrenaline surged as she leapt to her feet, smoothed her crumpled gown, and gave her first orders to Varg as Heiress of Étretat. “Bring the wounded into the Great Hall. Find healers to treat them. Arrange funeral pyres for our fallen—who surely feast now with my brother Dag in the glory of Valhalla.”
Elfi glanced at her grandmother Oda, still seated on the edge of the bed. Worry dimmed heramma’sbright eyes and furrowed her wrinkled brow. Elfi spoke again to Varg. “Send an urgent message toChâteaufortand alert Count Skårde of the Frankish assault. Request reinforcements to defend us in the event they strike again. Dispatch an additional rider to Fécamp and summonJarl Rikard.Inform him thatthe Count of Soissons has once again attackedle Château Blancandthatmy father Thorfinn has been captured. Request that he bring men to fortify and repair the damaged castle. Tell him Elfi of Étretat needs the aid ofRichard Sans Peur. Richard the Fearless. The Viking Duke of Normandy.”
Varg fisted his chest and inclined his head in salute. “As you command, my lady. I shall dispatch riders at once.” He nodded to the guards at his side, who dashed down the hall to obey.
