The men around the table laughed and Logan kept his expression impassive.He could ill afford to anger them, but he did not see how drinking at such an early hour was a wise choice when they should be readying themselves for battle.
“Have you been to visit the lady this morn?”Olvir asked.
“Nay, why.”
“Well you spend a lot of time with her.We were just saying she seems to favour you.Perhaps Ivar should heed some of your advice on how to charm her.”
Logan pressed past the cook, who grumbled something about ‘damned Vikings,’ and snatched a chunk of bread from the side table.He tore off a bite with his teeth and spoke through the mouthful, “I know little about charm, and I didnae think ye Norsemen relied on it either.”
Olvir laughed and another man, Gunnar, lounged against his chair, his grin expanding.Logan only remembered his name because the man was more scarred and grizzled than himself.An ugly slash marred one side of his face and his closely shorn hair revealed an angry welt across the top of his scalp.
“Aye, it is true.Why charm when you can take.No doubt Ivar will make good use of the lady soon enough.And if he does not, I will be sure to do his duty for him.”
The remains of the bread in his mouth grew tasteless and dust like.He swallowed the remnants with difficulty.
“Gillean will have yer head,” he warned.
And if Gillean didn’t, he would.Regardless of how he felt about the lass, the thought of these filthy Vikings pawing over her, ravishing her, tore at every fibre of his being.
Olvir shook his head and laughter rippled through the men.“Gillean cares little for the woman.If it were not for Ivar’s interest he might have killed her long ago.”
Logan shook his head.“Nay, he talked of ransom.”
“Why ransom when he is to kill her family and take their riches anyway?”
He dropped the remaining bread on the table and pushed away.Gillean was ruthless, aye, and heartless for the most part, but would he have killed Lorna for no other reason than he had no use for her?Unease made his neck twinge, and he rubbed the scar.
He studied the group of men, sickness churning in his stomach, and without bidding them farewell, he took the steps two at a time until he reached fresh air.He paused and bent double to draw in air through his tight throat.
The Norsemen had made it clear.Lorna would be raped or killed.He might be without honour in her eyes and he had behaved little better than a savage these past seasons, but could he really stand by and let that happen?
Chapter Fifteen
Lorna avoided everyone for much of the day.Ivar appeared not to remember his attempt on her—mayhap he had been too deep in his cups—but he had taken a moment, late that evening, to brush past her and grab her rear.It left her in no doubt that if he did not try to force himself on her again this night, he would soon enough.Mayhap he would wait until she was his, and mayhap he would not.
At present, thoughts of her own welfare were far from her mind.Her heart ached for her son.She strode out onto the walls.No one stopped her.The gates were heavily guarded and in spite of the strange admiration she garnered, none of the men seemed inclined to help her.She peered down the length of the wall and then lifted her gaze to stare out into the night.Torches flickered on either side of her, casting wild shadows onto the stone, but they did not light much of the darkness.The horizon was an endless black and the cloudy sky did not allow the stars to break through, nor the moon to reveal herself.
Lorna smiled grimly.How appropriate the night echoed her thoughts.So grim and dark were they, she feared she might never find the light again.Only her son could do that.She tried to remember the scent of him or the soft touch of his skin against hers, but the memories were hazy.How must it be to have nothing though?To think back and have nothing?In spite of it all, she understood Logan’s distrust and anger.
She leaned over and eyed the length of the wall again.She’d break a leg probably.Or even die.She’d be confined to an eternity in hell for such an act but a life away from her son would be no better.Oh where was her strength when she needed it?Even after her back had been torn to shreds by her angry husband, her thoughts had never been so grim.
Shaking her head at herself, she went to turn away but a hand clamped around her mouth.She screamed against it.Her heart beat fiercely in her chest as she kicked back but her foot met only air.
“Hush.”
She relaxed marginally at the sound of Logan’s harsh voice.His chest pressed into her back, hard and unyielding.He eased his fingers away and she drew in a deep breath.
“What are ye doing?”she demanded.
The hand covered her mouth once more, and she squealed against it.She flailed her arm around to grip onto something to force him away, but she only succeeded in weakening her position.He grabbed her arm and drew it up behind her back.The grip did not hurt but it was enough to let her know she was at his mercy.One wrong move and her arm would snap.She stiffened.Ivar had done the same.
“For once in yer life, dinnae fight me, Lorna.”
Her mind reeled.Clouds of fear and confusion muddled her thoughts.The soapy scent of him washed over her, hard muscles warmed her body.Yet she did not know what he intended for her.Friend or foe?Once she had known exactly what Logan was thinking, but now she was lost.She wriggled in vain, succeeding in wrenching her arm.
“I dinnae wish to harm ye, Lorna.”
Why then was he holding her captive?She stilled and allowed herself to be dragged along the wall and down the inner steps.Logan paused in the shadows of the wall.Unable to see what he was doing, she took the time to concentrate on drawing breaths past the barrier of his hand.His own breaths whispered harshly across her hair.Heat rolled through her, as harsh and as unexpected as a sudden gale out at sea.
