“I have been here for the past few nights. Safe and sound.”
“Have you found Gemma and her son? We have seen no sign of them and… men came looking for them.”
“Britons?”
Ulf nodded. “Soldiers.”
“Who sent them?”
“They said King Rhun, but Tormod didn’t believe them. We think they might have been Marcant’s men.”
“And what did Tormod tell them?”
“That she had visited Aoife, then left Kirkjaster. She must have been seen by those fishermen.”
“Or by others.”
“Perhaps.”
“There was not much time between the fishermen’s arrival and the arrival of these men.”
“No.” Ulf sighed. “And it was impossible to know whether they came from the north or the east.”
“Did you recognise any of them?”
“No, why?”
“I met Njal. He was here, looking for them. With a Gael, and another Norseman who was there when I was tortured.”
Arne watched Ulf’s face as that sank in. He lifted a hand, opening his mouth as if to speak, then closed it, his hand curling into a fist as his lips pressed into a grim line. “That is impossible! We killed them all.”
“No. He was there. His name is Orm and he… he knew things.”
“What?” Ulf asked.
Arne shook his head.
Ulf continued, “Do you wish to return to Kirkjaster, or will you come with us to search for them? Although in this weather, I am concerned about their safety. But if she chose to leave us, then who are we to force her to return?”
“There is no need to search. She is here, as is Caelin.”
In other circumstances, Arne would have been amused by the expression of total disbelief on his younger brother’s face.
“Where are they?” Ulf tried to look around him into the shieling, so Arne stepped back.
“Come in, although there is not room for all of you. Are you sure you were not followed?” Arne asked as Ulf followed him inside.
“Brynjarr and Egill are on guard. They would alert us if they had seen anyone else.”
“Gemma. It is safe,” Arne said softly, and both she and Caelin crawled out from underneath the bed. Gemma dusted off her clothing and hair, while Caelin just smiled at Ulf and ran towards him.
“Ulf! I have cubs!”
“Shh, Caelin,” Gemma warned him, stepping to stand beside Arne.
Caelin hurried over to the basket, but Ulf did not follow him. He wasn’t even looking at him. Instead, his gaze went between Arne and Gemma and back again.
“Look at the cubs, Ulf. This is Lycka and this is Loki. I have been looking after them. I sleep next to them by the fire to keep them warm, and feed them if they wake during the night.”
