Instead of fleeing, the child went to sit in a corner, running his fingers over the crevices in the wood. He retreated inwardly, not looking at her or his father. Likely he didn’t understand what was happening.
God help them both.
“Ragnar!” Elena cried out. She started toward the door, but the man gripped her wrist and jerked her back. Clamping hisdirty hand over her mouth, he said, “Your man won’t be coming for you. My friends have seen to that.”
Elena tried to scream, but his palm muffled any sounds she made. She fought against him, kicking and twisting her body. He struck her across the ear and she saw stars, the room blurring all around her.
She struggled to remain conscious when she dropped to her knees. There was a spear on the far side of the room, if she could only reach it. The man kept his hand over her mouth and she couldn’t shout to Matheus or anyone else. Though she tried to bite down on his fingers, his strength made it impossible. He reached for her skirts and her rage erupted.
No. She would not allow this man to rape her or make her a victim in her own home.
Tangling her feet in his, she used her body weight to knock him backward. The momentary assault freed her voice, and she cried out for Ragnar, screaming as loudly as she could.
The man scrambled to his feet, but Elena brought a stool down on his head. She lunged for the spear. When she seized it, the man reached for Matheus instead.
A white-hot anger controlled her now, and she didn’t care whether this man lived or died. Elena gripped the spear, wondering how she could wield it without striking the boy.
“Do you even know how to use that?” he taunted.
“I’ll pierce your heart with it,” she responded, tightening her hold on the weapon.
“Why would you want my son?” the man demanded. “He’s lacking in brains, and his mother should have killed him at birth.”
“If he means so little to you, then you should be glad that I’ve offered to take care of him.”
“Not until I have my price.” He gripped the boy’s throat and Elena saw the terror in Matheus’s eyes. Though the boy couldn’tspeak, he understood the danger. His face was white, and his expression pleaded with her for help.
“I’ve been watching you over the past few days,” the man said smoothly. “Waiting for the right moment to slip inside. When he wouldn’t be there.”
His gaze moved to the wall where Matheus had been smearing mud. The boy’s violent screams suddenly made sense. He must have caught a glimpse of his father tonight, when he was trying to block out the crevices in the wood.
Where was Ragnar? She couldn’t understand why he hadn’t broken the door down after she’d screamed. And what did the man mean,Your man won’t be coming for you? Was he dead? Had others attacked him?
Elena glanced at the door, but it was still barred. Though she didn’t want to take her eyes off the man, she had to get help. In one swift motion, she darted toward the door and raised the bar, throwing it open.
To her relief, Ragnar was already moving in, his sword drawn. Thank the gods.
Blood was streaming down his face, and though she didn’t know what had happened to him, he was alive. Elena moved to the side but was taken by surprise when her attacker let go of Matheus and seized her instead. She was helpless to move when the point of the spear jammed against her throat.
“You’re going to leave her to me, or I’ll kill her before you can take another step,” the man warned Ragnar.
Elena couldn’t breathe, but in Ragnar’s eyes she saw a man bent upon murder. He didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on bringing down their enemy. Matheus was behind them and she couldn’t tell if he was out of harm’s way or not.
Ragnar remained motionless, but he never surrendered his drawn sword. Instead, he held it poised to strike. His other hand moved to a pouch at his waist.
“Was it silver you wanted?”
Elena couldn’t see her attacker’s face, but his grip tightened. “Throw it to the ground and leave.”
“I’ll only leave when she comes with me. And the boy.” Ragnar’s voice was deadly calm, his eyes hard.
“That won’t happen.”
Elena sensed the madness in his words, that this man would not give up his claim upon the boy. He might insist upon payment, but it wouldn’t end with coins. He would continue to make demands, endangering the boy. There was no reasoning with him.
She closed her eyes, knowing Ragnar would strike him down. Her life was at stake, but if Ragnar didn’t act, this man would kill her after he’d finished with her.
Do it,she begged silently.
