“I do not think there is anyone left alive,” Ulf said. “Although, as the fort has not been burned, I would assume the victor plans to come back. There are not so many bodies. Perhaps some were taken as prisoners.”
“Perhaps some were complicit,” Tormod said. “Lord Cadell?”
Ulf shook his head. “Dead.”
Tormod reached for Aoife’s hand. It was stone cold. “And what of the rest of his family?”
“There is no sign of his wife or any of his daughters. In fact, we found few women. But it looks like the bodies of many of the fort’s inhabitants lie in the great hall, as the Lady Aoife saw. They have been there for at least…” Ulf made a face. “I would say about four days. No more.”
“So, before the boats attacked us.”
“Yes, perhaps they thought…”
Tormod waited for Ulf to speak, but his friend was deep in thought. He eventually continued, “It is possible the other Britons thought Cadell was in league with you.”
“It was supposed to be an alliance,” Tormod acknowledged. “Perhaps the other Britons resented it.”
“You thought Cadell had tricked you.”
“And you think maybe he did not?”
“Given that he now lies dead, I’d say it is a possibility.”
“I must see for myself.” Aoife was pale but looked determined. “I must see for myself,” she repeated to Ulf, then turned to Tormod. “Please.”
“You will only find it distressing,” Ulf said.
She looked at the gates, then back at him. “It is better to know than to imagine. Or to dream.”
“Very well,” said Tormod.
“I will go back,” Ulf said. “Continue to search for anything that might prove who is responsible.”
Tormod saw conflicting emotions play across her face and when she took a step towards the gates regardless, he let her. His whole being relaxed when she stopped and turned back to him.
“If they only found my father’s body, then Ula is responsible for this.”
Tormod stared at her. “You think so?” he finally said. “You do not think she and your sisters have been taken captive?”
Aoife closed her eyes, then shook her head. “No, in my vision, she stood and left the room with her daughters. That seemed to be the signal to attack my father. I think Ula would do whatever she thought was necessary to survive.”
Ulf laughed bitterly. “I knew a woman like that once.”
“Ulf, lay out Lord Cadell’s body for my wife to say her farewells,” Tormod said. “You may see him then, but not before.”
Aoife opened her eyes, tilting her head up towards the sky, her lips moving in prayer.
“I’m sure he sits in Valhalla,” Tormod said, placing his hand on her shoulder.
“Thank you,” she whispered, then laughed through her tears. “Although I’m not sure that’s where he will be or would want to be.” She squeezed Tormod’s fingers in acknowledgment of his kindness. “I would like to go to my old room, if that is all right?”
“I will take you myself,” Tormod said.
“Will you bury the dead?” Aoife asked him.
Tormod rubbed a hand across his forehead. “We will try,” he promised. “We will have to do something. It seems likely whoever invaded this place did not intend to occupy it immediately. Otherwise they would not have left so many bodies—”
“So many? But there are no birds, no signs…”
