“Did you feel threatened?” Freydis asked.
“Nay. My brother told the King that I have the special power of sight and that I could answer any question he had. He laughed at first until I looked in his eyes. A great number of images flooded my brain and I closed my eyes to block them out. It was too much.”
“What did you see?” Magnus asked and sat beside her, placing his hand over hers. He didn’t want her to be afraid or uncomfortable, but this was too important.
“I saw a great battle. I don’t know where he was or who fought whom. I could smell blood and I could hear swords clanging.”
“But that was not what he asked you about,” Freydis said.
“Nay. He wanted to know about our King’s daughter and if they would be a good match.”
Magnus knew it! The man had been holding back on him and Gunnar with the level to which he understood the Scottish king’s plans. Constantine had already planned to partner with Olaf, long before the man beside him had approached. He didn’t like this way of warfare. He preferred knowing the enemy and facing them full on. This sideways approach was not honourable. He would be damned sure to inform Gunnar before any additional alliance discussions occurred between any of them. The problem was that Gunnar would be fine to talk and talk and talk. Magnus knew betrayal when he saw it and he didn’t trust Olaf now as far as he could throw him.
“And what did you tell him?” Giric asked.
“I told him I could not see him or a woman.”
“Did he ask you if you saw anything?”
“Nay. He seemed distracted by someone leaving the hall and sent us away. My brother was angry with me and so we went straight to the ship. He grumbled the whole way about false gifts and there being no way for him to get ahead.”
Magnus understood what it was to be second born. He’d stood in Gunnar’s shadow his whole life and disagreed with him on many occasions including the most recent business with Short-Beard. But the thought of outright defiance to the extent of harming the clan or any of his siblings was not something he could even fathom. He would stand between either of them and harm without a second thought. The interesting aspect of Elspeth’s experience with her brother is that it allowed them some inadvertent insight into King Olaf’s priorities. He was clearly more concerned with King Constantine’s daughter than he was with Athelstan. That could mean a few things. Perhaps he really didn’t see the English king as a threat because he was in league with him. Or perhaps he was overly confident in his own defences. Either way, Magnus now questioned trusting him.
“Is this the witch?” a voice boomed from the doorway.
Magnus tensed and turned toward the door. A man of lesser stature than himself strode toward the hall table in Elspeth’s direction. Giric met him halfway and in a couple strides, Magnus was there as well.
“Donnan,” Giric said. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I have heard all about the witch and want her gone from this castle immediately. She will bring hellfire and damnation upon us all. Whoever heard of a Christian witch speaking to Viking gods? It’s the worst kind of blasphemy and I won’t have it here. And it’s high time the Viking witch was burned for her offences to God as well.”
Magnus grabbed the man by his tunic and lifted him off the floor. “You will not speak about either woman in that way, or I will remove your tongue from your filthy mouth.”
“Put my brother down,” Giric said in a surprisingly calm voice.
Magnus didn’t move. It didn’t take a seer to understand the dishonour that lay in this man’s soul. He would not allow him one inch closer to either Freydis or Elspeth.
“Magnus,” Giric said. “I said put him down. You are not Laird here and I am ordering you to put him down.”
Magnus looked at Giric with Donnan still aloft. “And what do you intend to do with him if I release him?”
Magnus wasn’t interested in any more talking. And he was tired of the implications of an invisible threat to these two women. Now he had a face to put with the threat and he planned to ensure the man was dealt with appropriately.
“I will ensure both women in my hall are properly protected. Now put down my brother.” This time his voice raised.
The man he held while wide-eyed, smirked at him. He needed a lesson he’d not soon forget before he threatened someone Magnus cared about again.
Magnus released Donnan who dropped to the floor.
“This is why I told you we should have never let filthy Vikings into our hall.”
Magnus took another step forward but before he could grab the man again, Giric grabbed him from underneath the shoulder and lifted until Donnan had no choice but to stand.
“You will not insult my guests or my wife. Do you hear me?” he asked as he shook him.
“Aye, I hear you. You’re as stubborn as you’ve ever been. You won’t be satisfied until you have us all slaughtered in our sleep.”
“You will leave this hall and not return until you have some civility about you,” Giric said.
