“What’s happening?” Ulf called.
“We have visitors.” Bjorn put a finger to his lips and jerked his head towards the great hall. Ulf nodded and Gemma felt Arne tense.
“So, Arne had to rescue you this time, Gemma,” Björn said quietly as he reached them. “Will Ulf save you next time?”
“I’m hoping there won’t be a next time,” she replied.
“Princess Maithgemm will be leaving us,” Arne said.
Björn and Ylva frowned at Arne, then looked at Gemma.
Gemma took a deep breath and nodded. “Arne is correct. I am grateful for your help, but it is time for us to return home, if Jarl Tormod agrees.”
Björn nodded slowly, some of the tension in his body relaxing. “In that case you may be pleased to see our visitors.”
She wrinkled her brow. “Who are they?”
“Soldiers,” Ylva said. “Sent by the king to look for you and Caelin. They are with Tormod in the great hall.”
“Then I will speak to them.” As she spoke, Arne dismounted behind her then lifted her down, careful to step away from her immediately.
“If that is what you want.” Björn looked from her to Arne, frowning, and Gemma tried hard not to react, although her cheeks grew warm.
“My son has lands to reclaim. And I do not wish to be a burden to you any longer.”
Arne handed her the cubs’ basket before lifting Caelin from his place in front of Ulf. When Arne set him on the ground, Caelin immediately raised his hand, and the horse leaned down to nuzzle his fingers. “Thank you for bringing me home.”
“Come, Caelin.” Gemma swallowed, her heart breaking, knowing she was about to tear him away from yet another place he hadcome to think of as home. She watched as he confidently but not cockily patted the horse’s head. Spoke to the animal in a low voice. The horse moved its nose against him and snickered.
“You have a way with him, Caelin,” said Ulf, and she heard the respect in his voice. The Norseman turned to look at her as Caelin came to stand beside her and she handed him the basket. “Will he be able to keep the cubs?”
She swallowed and clutched at her cloak. “I hope so.”
Ulf stared at her, and she waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t.
“Are you ready to speak to the soldiers?” Bjorn asked her.
“Yes.”
“You are sure?” Ylva added.
Gemma nodded, unable to form words without risking falling apart.
“But Mama—” Caelin began.
She knelt beside him. “This is for the best, Caelin. I will ask for your lands to be restored and we will return to Ir Ysgyn, and be safe and warm and have plenty of food and servants to do your bidding. Kirkjaster is not your home.”
Caelin tilted his head to the side. “But—”
“You have your father’s lands to claim. They should be yours. Don’t you want to make him proud?”
She looked into her son’s sweet face, seeing the conflicting emotions playing across it before he nodded.
“Remember,” she said, hugging him, “tell no one about how you found the cubs, nor that Arne was with us before Ulf found us on the moors. It is very important. Do you understand?”
“What should I say?”
A consistent story from both of them was important. “Just say we were heading for the isthmus and had to shelter in the shieling and Ulf and the other Norsemen found us today. It is the truth.”
