“I said, until what?”
“Word has spread about Lady Elspeth and Freydis,” Saga said. “It appears one of the servants overheard some of our conversation yesterday and told the others. We’ve had four people leave us saying they won’t return whilst there’s a pagan witch in the castle, and those who have remained give us all a wide berth.”
“Is Freydis in any danger?” Elspeth asked. “If the servants are afraid of her, they might try to harm her. She needs to be protected.”
“No one is afraid of Freydis. She’s been here as long as I have and they know her. It is you they fear.”
“Me? I am neither pagan nor a witch.” Elspeth dropped the food she was holding and sat back to wipe her hands.
“I want my question answered,” Magnus said again to Osgar. “You said until, and I want to know until what.”
“Until the danger has passed. This castle is better defended than mine and MacDomnail has a stronger compliment of men to watch who enters and leaves the castle and grounds.”
“How long must I remain here? I mean no disrespect to you both,” she said to Giric and Saga, “but I do not wish to be a burden to anyone.”
“You are no burden,” Giric said. “Your brother is practically my brother and as such I consider you family. I would offer protection to you the same as I would my own siblings. No one will harm you here. And if I am assessing correctly, you appear to have not one, but two Viking warriors looking out for your wellbeing. There are not many who could boast such an honour.”
Magnus and Giric had gotten off to a bit of a rough start all those weeks ago when he’d sailed to Islay to bargain peace with Gunnar. He’d come to know the man as honourable and eventually respected his sister’s decision to marry him.
“Thank you for your compliments, MacDomnail. I have promised my protection to Lady Elspeth and I intend to remain with her until I am convinced there is no threat.”
“I thank you all for your kindness,” she said. “I do not believe anyone would want to harm me, but I will not oppose the protection either. But I do feel that Freydis should be protected as well.”
“I agree with her,” Magnus said and looked at Osgar. “You agree there are those who would exploit a person believed to have any kind of power they could gain for themselves. I warned of talking about such things openly and considering her own brother tried to exploit her, I do not think for one moment he would not try the same with Freydis.”
“He wouldn’t dare,” Saga said and stood up from the table. “If anyone touches one hair on her head, I will rip them limb from limb.”
“Easy, love,” Giric said beside her. “I will send someone to bring her here now.”
“I will go myself,” she said.
“You will not,” Giric said. “Osgar, where is Kenneth?”
“I instructed him to return home and run inventory on our lands. It’s a large task that he normally does well and without argument.”
“Then you best travel there yourself to fetch your sister’s belongings to ensure he is there. But do not tell him why your sister will be staying with us.”
Saga’s hands were on her hips as she glared at her husband. Magnus chuckled to himself. The man must be made of an incredible amount of patience to have taken on his sister.
“I’ll go,” Magnus said. “Though I will require a guide as I am unaware of her location.”
“I will accompany you,” Giric said. “We will take some of my men and a cart for her belongings. I believe my wife has long since wanted her friend to move within the castle walls anyway. Now we have a reason to quell any protest.”
“Make sure she leaves nothing behind so she has no excuse to return,” Saga said. “That woman is as stubborn as—”
“You?” Magnus asked and ducked just as Saga swung her arm to hit him. He had missed her dearly, but he knew when to stay away from her right fist.
“Come let us make our way to the village,” Giric said.
Magnus glanced at Elspeth. He felt awkward for a moment, almost as though he wanted to embrace or kiss her, but instead he nodded and followed Giric out of the keep and across the bailey. Giric motioned for four guards to accompany them and located a cart for Freydis’ belongings. They mounted two horses and passed through the gates saying nothing.
Magnus had come to admire Giric’s approach to issues. He was tempered and thorough, but was quick to act when needed. Magnus had checked himself a few times since meeting the man. In contrast, he’d always been quick tempered and that had worked up to a point when his foes had been clearly outlined before him. Now he fought an invisible enemy from a direction he could not fathom. And he would fight for her. No matter if he had to travel to Jotunheim and battle the frost giants. She was his primary focus right now.
* * *
After the men left and the servants cleared the table, Elspeth paced the hall. She hated fearing her brother, but she needed to keep her wits about her. Something extraordinary was happening to her that made her question nearly everything she’d ever known and she absolutely understood the danger in which that placed her.
The thought of servants fearing her was upsetting. She’d never hurt someone who threatened her, couldn’t even bring herself to harm a beetle, much less someone who worked for her. She’d had good relationships with everyone who served her and her family and had never raised her voice or said a cross word to anyone.
