Her reticence hit Thorolf like a blow, and he flushed, knowing he had caused the smile to vanish from her lips. He had spent the day in an agony worrying about her and had been so relieved to see that she had actually come, and that there was nothing wrong with her, that he was slow in bringing his anxiety under control. He was still looking for bruises where there were none, when he should have been expressing his joy in seeing her, as the others had.
A hand came up, fingers gently lifting her chin. “Forgive me, Kristen. The Saxon whipped you once. I was sure—”
“He would again?” she interrupted with a half smile. “I thought so, too, but he did not.”
“Might he still?” he had to ask.
She thought for a moment about last eve. Royce had taken her swimming, a joy to her. He had let her come here to see her friends, another joy. And he had made love to her under the stars…
It was with complete confidence that she shook her head to Thorolf’s question. “Nay, it is already forgotten by him.”
The Viking laughed then, throwing back his head and jerking her forward for one more bone-crushing hug. “Thor’s teeth, that is good to hear!”
“What is, and what has been forgotten?” Ohthere wanted to know.
He and half the others were standing around Kristen. She thought briefly of giving some lie, for they could not know what she and Thorolf spoke of. But she couldn’t lie to them. The explanation she gave of her attempted escape and why she was not punished for it was not easy, though, for it required skimming over so many parts and jumping ahead before questions were asked. But then she went on to tell them what she knew of Wyndhurst and Wessex, which was not much, but more than they knew till now. She told them where the horses could be found, where the Danish army was likely to be, which was, unfortunately, a far ways north. She also told them of the giant Celts she had heard of who were hostile to the Saxons and how they might help if the Vikings decided to escape to the west instead of north. It at least gave them an option in their planning.
Escape was never far from their minds. She heard grumble after grumble about how cautious the Saxons were. When she remarked how strong and able they all looked now, grinning as she ran her fingers over the increased biceps on several arms, Bjarni laughed and demonstrated his new strength by lifting her up over his head. She glared at him when he set her down, but he did not look at all contrite.
“You are at least ready for escape,” she remarked.
“Aye, so much stone lifting has done us no harm,” Odell replied. “When I return home, plowing my fields will be child’s play.”
“These walls cannot contain us, Kristen,” Ohthere said seriously. “But it would do no good to break them down, without an axe to sever these chains first.”
“I have not seen one in all these weeks,” she said thoughtfully. “Every other kind of weapon is at hand in the hall, but not a single axe. It would not surprise me if they are locked away somewhere, Ohthere, for the Saxon is overly cautious in that way.”
“Then we need the key for the door and these chains.”
“Do you know who keeps it?” she asked.
“The wall builder, the one called Lyman.”
She remembered him, but had not seen him since her separation from the men. “He does not come in the hall. He must live outside the manor.”
She could see how that news was met. Their disappointment became her own. God’s teeth, none of this was fair!
Ohthere chucked her under the chin. “Come now, Cousin, do not fret yourself about it. We will find a way somehow. They grow used to us. Someone will make a mistake sooner or later, and we will have our chance.”
“They grow used to me, too, but they still do not trust me.” She frowned. “Today is only the first time I have been let out of the hall.”
“There is the wench Edrea that Bjarni is wooing. Do you think she could be persuaded to help if he succeeds in winning her affections?”
Kristen’s eyes widened and then she laughed. “God’s teeth, you think of everything. But now you mention it, she did seem disappointed that she would not bring your food this time.” She looked pointedly at Bjarni. “How do you woo a wench when you cannot speak her tongue?”
He grinned roguishly. “Thorolf is teaching me the words I need to know.”
“Ah,thosewords.” She grinned too.
“Does the wench have freedom to come and go?” Ohthere asked now.
“Aye, as far as I know. But of Edrea I know very little, so I cannot say if she would help—even for Bjarni’s sake. The servants all fear me still and barely speak to me, except for the old woman Eda, but she is very loyal to her lord. I will try to speak to Edrea, though, and see if she does have some feeling for Bjarni. I can at least tell her what a fine, loyal, and faithful man he is.”
Kristen said this with another grin, for everyone knew what a womanizer the young Viking was, including herself. Yet he was in fact the most handsome among them. If any of them could win a young girl’s heart and make her betray her own people, Bjarni was the one.
They continued to ply her with questions, wanting to know who the young lords were who had come to look them over the other day. They were surprised to learn that one was the King of these Saxons and that he was staying at Wyndhurst for a time. She had to describe him down to a hair, for he would make the perfect hostage if he ever got near enough to them again so they could grab him. With Alfred of Wessex in their hands and threatened, they could demand their freedom, and hers as well. It would be the easy way.
But although Kristen obliged them in telling all she could, she doubted her Saxon would ever let his King that close to the prisoners for just that reason. He was careless with his own person, but he would not be with Alfred.
