Page 110 of The Bewitched Viking

Could she take the chance of Tykir being harmed?

Should she trust in his greater strength and intelligence to handle the situation?

Would strength and intelligence matter when dealing with blackguards?

In the end, Alinor had no choice.

“What do you want me to do?

“There she is!” Tykir breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, he’d found Alinor.

She was walking toward him, easy as can be, as if he hadn’t been worried sick about her whereabouts when he’d discovered her missing a short time earlier. Too many people still considered her a witch and would relish naught more than a witch burning.

But wait. Who were those two men flanking her? Two red-haired men. Oh, holy Thor! It was the dimwit twins.

He put up a hand to signal his men to hold their weapons till he could discern what devilment Egbert and Hebert were up to now. He could handle the two no-brains himself, if need be. And if they’d done even the slightest thing to harm Alinor, he would wring their scrawny necks like the chickens they were.

“Alinor,” he said with barely controlled patience, “I have been searching for you.” He ignored her brothers as he spoke.

Alinor licked her lips nervously. “You know my brothers, Egbert and Hebert.”

“I know them.” His greeting was rude, but he did not care. Something was amiss, and he had no patience for niceties when directness was called for.

“I need to speak with you, Tykir, alone.” Alinor’s chin was lifted high with determination. Or was she trying not to weep? God, he was going to kill those brothers of hers if they’d done anything to harm her.

He motioned to his men to stand in place and keep guard over the brothers. Then he took Alinor firmly by the upper arm and pulled her toward the trees.

“Well?” he demanded. “What are Cain and Abel up to now?”

She smiled at what she must have considered a jest. Blessed Lord, could she not see how little in the mood for humor he was? But he then noticed that the smile did not reach her sad eyes. “What’s wrong? Have they harmed you?”

She shook her head.

“Threats?”

She shook her head more vehemently. “I’ve decided to return with Egbert and Hebert to Britain,” she blurted out.

In his surprise, he had no time to hide his gasp. “But just a short time ago you agreed to go to the Baltic with me.”

“Nay, Tykir, I did not agree. You said I may as well go with you if I was even considering going elsewhere with Adam. You never asked my opinion. Besides, ’twas a forced invitation.”

“I meant it.”

“I know you did.”

“I do not think I ever intended to let you go to Britain,” he admitted grudgingly.

Her eyes went wide at that news. “’Tis too late,” she told him, regret clear in her voice.

He tilted his head in puzzlement. “Why is it too late?”

Her jaw clenched into rigidness. He recognized stubbornness when it stared him in the face, and, oh, he was suddenly very, very fearful that she was determined to leave him now.

“I just meant that I have decided that it is best for me to return to my homeland. It’s where I belong. Egbert and Hebert have promised that I will not have to wed again. And I have my sheep and Graycote and…” Her voice broke. “Do not make this difficult for me, Tykir.”

“Why? Why must you go?” The shrillness of his voice shocked him. It reminded him of…oh, my God!…it reminded him of the exact same words he had exclaimed numerous times as a boy when others had left him, too. His father, mother, Ruby, Eirik, Dar and Aud. Oh, God, it was happening again. He had somehow opened himself up to the excruciating pain again.

“Oh, Tykir.” The pity in her voice rocked him to his soul.