“Ylva will deal with it the way she deals with everything.” Ulf laughed. “By charging into it headfirst and taking it all in her stride. Now that is one thing I am happy to let Björn deal with all on his own. Now, let’s speak to the watchman by the shore.”
The man hailed them as they approached.
“Did you see the fishermen’s coracle leaving?” Ulf asked.
“I did,” he said, nodding. “Just before first light.”
“Why did you let them go?” Arne folded his arms and glared at the watchman.
The man frowned. “I didn’t know I was supposed to keep them here. Tormod gave me no orders to prevent them from leaving.”
Arne and Ulf exchanged a look.
“And there were four of them?”
“Yes, the four men rescued yesterday. Good for them to be willing to recross the firth so soon after. The waters are calmer this morning.”
Arne squinted across the water.
“There was definitely no woman nor a child with them?” Ulf asked.
“No, no one else. Just the four fishermen,” the man said. “Had there been anyone else, I would have stopped them.”
“Well,” Ulf said. “At least this saves us from having to row across the firth.”
“Yes,” Arne agreed, “although it doesn’t answer the question of what happened to Gemma.”
“The lady is missing?” the watchman asked.
“You haven’t seen her or her son, have you?” Arne asked.
“No, not since I saw you walking with her back up to the hall yesterday.”
It appeared the man was observant, so if he said Gemma and Caelin had not been with the men, then he was most likely correct. He sighed and thanked the watchman and they headed back towards the houses.
“If they didn’t leave with the fishermen, then where do you think they have gone? And when? I thought you were intent on guarding her door all night.”
Arne glared at Ulf. “I did, but I was woken by Aoife, and Tormod asked me to fetch our mother.” He frowned, remembering. “The fishermen were already gone by then and Gemma was still in her room.”
“So, they are likely alone and travelling on land. We should check none of the horses are missing,” Ulf said. “Although I don’t think she would have risked drawing attention to herself by taking a horse.”
“She has shown no interest in the stables since she arrived.”
“How closely have you been watching her, brother?”
“Very closely. And I think this proves I was right to do so.”
Ulf sighed and shook his head. “If she is on foot, she can’t have gone far. We should be able to catch up to a woman and child.”
“She has a head start,” Arne said. “She must have packed during the night and been ready to go at the first opportunity. I warned Tormod to guard the settlement against the possibility of the Britons attacking. In case Gemma was warned and that is why she has left.”
“Arne,” Ulf said, stopping and staring at him. He rubbed at the back of his neck and made a face. “I don’t think if we are attacked, it will be at Gemma’s bidding.”
“There is a chance—”
“No. Whatever happened in the past with Ingrid… it has no bearing on the situation now.” Ulf put a hand on his shoulder. “Letthe past go. Gemma is not Ingrid. When you think she is… you may miss something else. The truth of her actions.”
“Are you so sure that it is me who is blinded, Ulf?”
