“He does,” agreed Arne.
“I do not wish to send them into danger, but she is the king’s sister and as she wishes to leave, then this is the best course of action.” Tormod stared directly at Arne. “Is there any reason, any reason at all, that the Britons might turn against her after she returns?”
Arne tugged at the neck of his kirtle and grimaced.
Tormod sighed. “Arne, if there are any repercussions for her…”
“There were hunters. I don’t think they saw her, although… There was one time, we were outside, and after, there were footprints in a place where someone may have been… watching us. I do not know how long for.”
“And what was it that had you so distracted you do not know whether someone was watching you or how long for?”
“We were… It was… a mistake.”
Tormod opened his mouth, but whatever angry words he was going to say, he stopped, his gaze shifting to a spot behind Arne.
Slowly, he turned, both knowing and dreading who he would see. Gemma. She was staring at Tormod, refusing to evenacknowledge Arne’s presence, but he knew she had heard him. He already regretted the comment. It was true, but not in the way she thought. Nothing about their time together had been a mistake, it was just not something that could ever last. No matter whether either of them wanted it to or not.
This Gemma looked so different from the woman he had come to know over the last few days. The woman he had suspected then gradually grown to trust and now… now he could tell by her face he had betrayed her for the last time.
“Gemma—” Tormod began.
“Princess Maithgemm,” she corrected, still not looking at Arne.
Tormod stared at her for a long moment, then inclined his head. “Princess Maithgemm. You have said goodbye to my wife? Then I will escort you to the longship.”
“Thank you for allowing me to stay, Jarl Tormod. And my thanks for everything. If I am successful in my bid to return my son to the lands that are his birthright, I will be pleased to make an offer of an extended alliance between Ir Ysgyn and yourself.”
Tormod rubbed at his chin. “And if King Rhun does not agree?”
“I can only promise to try,” she replied. “But I believe it is advantageous for both of us to know we have an ally on the opposite shore of the river.”
“I agree, Princess Maithgemm,” Tormod said. “I am simply not convinced your brother will see it this way. Lord Fergus has shown little interest in dealing with Kirkjaster, although he has not attacked it either.”
“No, Fergus is more concerned with his own comfort than with battles. If he remains as steward, however, I will insist he honours whatever agreement we reach with my brother.”
Tormod stood and leaned towards her. “Only a few days ago you were running from your brother. What has changed?”
“I have been made to realise my limitations. I cannot change who I am. Who Caelin is. And it is our only real choice.”
Arne hung his head, wishing he was able to explain it to her. But it was too late. Her mind was made up, and perhaps this was for the best.
“You claimed before that you thought your brother might kill you or at least your son,” Tormod continued to press.
“Unlike your wife, I do not see the future. I have merely weighed all the options available to me and this is the best choice for my son. For now, whatever my future holds, it is not in Kirkjaster. You have been so kind to me here.” She focused on Tormod as she spoke. “And I will be forever grateful to Björn and Ylva for helping to rescue me.”
Tormod nodded, then turned to Arne as if waiting for him to speak. But Gemma’s decision was made, so he said nothing.
“Very well. Arne and Ulf will accompany you to Perthawc and collect the reward. You will also ensure her safety before you return, Arne. Björn did not risk his life before for her to die now.”
“We will speak to King Rhun, and we won’t leave until we have assurances about their safety and their future.”
“Thank you,” Gemma replied.
Arne couldn’t even bring himself to look at her. The only way he could let her leave was to act from now on as if she meant nothing to him. He only hoped he could.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gemma held her son’shand as they waited on the shore to board the longship. Arne stood nearby, dressed in heavy armour and carrying many weapons. Gemma did her best to ignore him. A mistake. That was what he’d said. It hadn’t felt like a mistake at the time, but now… now she thought he was right. When they had first arrived it had been at Lord Cenydd’s suggestion to keep her safe from both Marcant and her brother, but as the months passed and no one had come looking for them she had realised her brother was happy for her to be out of his way.
