Ula stared at her brother while Rhydderch and Father Bricius tried to argue with him but he did not even seem to be listening.
“Your plan had its merits, sister,” Marcant said. “But this is far easier. And arguably legal. She is, after all, the eldest of Cadell’s daughters, and with a strong husband to take control I am sure Rhun will be happy to grant us these lands to rule together.”
“I will never marry the man who murdered my father,” Aoife retorted.
“Ah,” replied Marcant. “That particular honour fell to Father Bricius, so you have no worries there. And soon, Lady Aoife, I willtake revenge on your behalf on the man who not only stole your virtue but will bear the blame for the murder of your father and most of his household.”
“How can you do this?”
“The only weapons we will find here will be Norse swords and axes. They came by ship in the night and hacked to pieces all they found within the fort. My sister and her priest were visiting me at the time and, of course, I had to come and seek justice. You witnessed the carnage and it confused you, left you accusing your own stepmother of treachery and it was just as well that I arrived to save you all. You will marry me, and all these lands as well as my own south of the river will be ours. We will become the most powerful family in Strath Clut.”
“That was not part of the deal,” Ula shrieked. “I was to rule here, with Bricius. We would marry my daughters to your allies and their sons would inherit one day, far in the future. You cannot marry her, she is part Pict and has been defiled by this, this… Look at her. She is no longer even modest and—”
“Lady Ula… sister,” Marcant began. “You seem to forget I am in control here. Not you. The Lady Aoife provides me with a link to the Pictish kingdom, not to mention as Cadell’s oldest child, she has the right to petition the king for these lands on behalf of any sons she bears.”
“No!” Ula shouted.
“You can’t be serious,” said Father Bricius.
“Very serious.” Marcant laughed. “I’m sorry, sister. Did you really think I did all of this for you? No, I will destroy the Norsemen and go to the king at Doomster Hill with the sad news all of Cadell’s family and household are dead, apart from you and your daughters, murdered by the Norsemen. I will marry his daughter and destroy his murderers and will, therefore, have won the right to rule these lands, as well as my own. And now I have located Lady Aoife, it’s time to move things along.”
“I carry the Norseman’s child already,” Aoife said.
“Then it will be stillborn,” promised Lord Marcant. “A minor inconvenience. Just like the two of you.” The comment was aimed at Father Bricius and Rhydderch.
“But Marcant,” Ula began as the priest stared at Marcant and then at Ula. Marcant smiled at them, then nodded to one of his soldiers. As the soldier drew his sword, Rhydderch turned his horse and, with a swift kick of his legs, was through the gates. Bricius opened his mouth as if to speak to Ula, then he too rode out through the gates. Ula covered her face with her hands as the sound of fighting outside the palisade could be heard. Then Marcant shouted an order, and the noise was drowned out by the fighting in the courtyard.
All was chaos.
Tormod thrust Aoife behind him and fought off a soldier who had headed straight for him. Then Arne came from the hall behind them and Tormod pushed her into his arms. “Get her out of here! Take her to the longship and out onto the loch.”
Aoife waited only for a moment, then allowed herself to be hurried by Arne towards the rear of the great hall. She knew where he was taking her, and was surprised only at the fact the Norsemen had found the secret passage so quickly. She should have realised—her vision had shown Arne and his men at the loch-side end of the passage. Down through the wine cellar they headed and then along the dank, narrow passage through the rocks.
“Elisedd mentioned it,” Arne offered by way of explanation. “And when we saw the Britons approach, we looked for it in earnest. It is a sensible precaution. And we would have never found the exit from the outside. We must hurry so I can return to the fight.”
“But what if there are soldiers coming through the passage?” asked Aoife.
“There is someone guarding the other end, don’t worry,” Arne assured her.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Tormod’s men fought well.They pushed the Britons out of the courtyard and as they passed through the gates of the palisade, it was easier to separate them out and pick them off. The archers’ vantage point in the fort was another key to their success and soon the Britons were on the run.
Occasionally he caught a glimpse of Arne fighting and knew that meant Aoife had taken refuge in the longship now a distance from shore. He hoped the Britons had not noticed it and she was safely on board.
Finally, he reached Ulf outside the gates. He had Lord Marcant at the end of his sword, Ula beside him.
“Chain them!” ordered Tormod.
Ulf and some of his men set to work and when they were finished, he asked, “What will you do with them?”
Tormod shrugged. “Take them to their king for judgment. As an act of faith in the alliance he has with the Norse.” He signalled for the longship to come in to shore.
“You will regret this,” Marcant shouted.
“Not as much as you will, I suspect,” retorted Tormod. “And at least I will live.”
“Aoife is not worth this,” said Ula. “Not worth any of this.”
