Page 16

“I hope it was. I don’t want your heart to be filled with nostalgia at being here. Don’t forget that this place is the place that betrayed you, and that man was the one who left you to rot with us.”

“I cannae forget,” Douglas snapped, fire sparking in his eyes. “In fact, it was all I could dae tae nae stab him there and then. I’m sticking tae the plan.”

“Good,” Colby said, his lips forming a thin line. “I have thought of a way we can proceed. The girl is proving more useful than I first imagined she would be. I want you to abduct her. When Erik gets word of this, he will not hesitate to come and rescue her. It’s clear that family is important to him. When he’s distracted, we will strike, and they will have no chance to defend against us.”

Douglas tilted his head, taken aback by the suggestion that he should harm Brenda.

“What happened tae the original plan? We dinnae need tae bring Brenda intae it,” he said.

“She brought herself into it when she wanted to come on this fool mission,” Colby spat. He stepped toward Douglas, closing the distance between them, and he lowered his voice to a threatening tone. “Don’t start having second thoughts here. Remember that your freedom depends on your obedience, or would you rather return to your cage? We’ve waited a long time for this, Douglas. Do not make it a waste. Besides, Gorm is determined to get his share of blood either way. If he doesn’t attack Erik’s village, then he’ll just have to find somewhere else to attack…like the Bannerman clan, for example.”

Douglas’s brow furrowed, and his hands turned into tight balls by his side.

“That was never part of the deal!” he thundered in a loud hiss, trying to keep a lid on his anger as he didn’t want anyone to overhear what they were saying.

“No, so pray that you don’t do anything to make us change the deal,” Colby said. He walked away, leaving Douglas seething.

Douglas turned and slammed his fist into the side of the building. Pain reverberated up his arm, and he wished that life was simpler. If only Erik had rescued him along with the others, things would have been entirely different, but Erik had left him to rot, and now Douglas was going to be the instrument of his death. A dark shadow fell across his face as he thought about how he was going to abduct Brenda. At least it would only be for show. He wouldn’t actually have to hurt her, at least not physically.

He walked to the side of the building and leaned against it as he gazed at the village. The people here were unaware that soon they would be subjected to a Viking attack. Douglas looked down at his hands. There was no blood on them yet. He wondered if his two years of imprisonment had turned him into a monster. Now that he was back, he was having second thoughts about bringing a wave of Viking fury down on this place, especially when he saw the innocent children running around.

He had to remind himself that it wasn’t him doing this; it was all a result of Erik’s betrayal. This was the price they all had to pay for the negligence of their leader. What’s more is that he wasn’t going to go back there and become a prisoner again. He couldn’t go back to that cage, and if Highlander blood had to be spilled, then so be it.

Brenda’s heart was filled with excitement at the prospect of going on an adventure with Douglas. She was at the stable preparing the horses, although it was taking longer than expected to gather supplies, and the evening dusk set in sooner than they had expected, so they ended up staying in the village for the night. This gave Brenda the opportunity to see Sigrid and the baby, who looked bigger than two years old.

Brenda loved playing with the child. She sat on the floor, watching the baby waddle around, while Sigrid sat in a chair, looking regal and confident. Brenda wasn’t sure how Sigrid always managed to look so at ease with everything.

“How do you make people respect you?” Brenda asked.

Sigrid shrugged and shook her head. “I’m not entirely sure. It seems to come easily for some people, while others need to fight for every inch in life. I’ve always believed that you have to show some strength, and it is never easy if you are like us.”

“A woman?” Brenda asked.

Sigrid nodded in understanding. “The sad truth is that men have it easier in the world. If they are angry, it is seen as a thing of pride. If they are sullen, then their moods need to be tolerated. Women are told who to be and what to do. We do not have as much freedom of choice as they have. When I was younger, I was the best fighter in my clan, but was I given a chance to prove my skills?” She shook her head vehemently. “There was always some barrier. When I look back on it now, I have to wonder if it was just that they did not want to get humiliated by a girl, which I have always found strange as the Valkyries have been revered. Do not let it dissuade you, Brenda. Be true to yourself, and the ones who matter will respect you. Anyone else can be ignored,” she said.

Brenda sighed, wishing that it was so easy. “I’m not sure it’s that simple. I want to take more responsibility in my clan. I want to help lead and make the decision that will affect our lives, but Emmel does not let me speak at all. They see me as some young girl who doesn’t know anything about the world.”

“Then you need to change their minds,” Sigrid said. “Eventually, there will come a time when they will not ignore you.”

“I wish I was more like you. You always seem to know what to do and what to say.”

Sigrid wore a wistful smile. “It was not always the case. Before I met Erik, I was filled with anger, and the only thing I knew was that I wanted revenge on the man who claimed he was my father. But I realized that it was an empty life. There are much better things,” she said, gathering her son up in her arms. He squealed with delight as she smiled and kissed him. Then she settled him on her lap.

“So, this old friend of Erik’s that you have brought with you…are you here simply because you are protecting him, or is there some other motivation?” Sigrid asked.

Brenda blushed as she answered. “There may be another motivation,” she confessed, “but I am not sure how to proceed. There have been moments when I thought he might care for me, but there are other times when he is cold and distant. What should I do?”

“If you are unsure, you should ask him. It will save you much time. If he does want you as a mate, then he will make his intentions plain. Men can be complicated, but in this way, they are simple creatures. Trust your instincts, for they will not fail you. I do pity the man, though,” Sigrid sighed. “Two years as a prisoner of my old clan…I do not envy him.”

“But surely it would be better after Ivar died?” Brenda asked.

Sigrid pursed her lips as she nodded. “My father was indeed a terrible man, but Gorm is no better. My brother”—she spat the word—“sees himself as Ivar’s successor, in every way, including all the cruel ones. Yet Gorm is not as intelligent as Ivar was. He’s meaner and more terrible. It was bad enough living under Ivar’s rule. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to live under Gorm. If I had my way, we would have sent ships over there and given him the war he wants.”

“Why didn’t we?”

“There are only so many resources we have, and a war with the Bjork clan would be costly. They are not without their allies, and venturing into Norway to attack them would be risky. Over the past couple of years, Erik assumed there would be an attack, a retaliation after Ivar had been killed, but perhaps Gorm has more sense than I assume. It is better for us that they stay in Norway. As much as I long for battle, I do not want to see it come to these shores. I have more to live for now.” As she said this, she pressed her head to her son’s and closed her eyes. Brenda nodded, and her gaze drifted toward the horizon, out to the general direction of Norway, wondering if the Vikings out there were plotting a raid. She shuddered with fear at the thought and was glad that she didn’t live in the old times, the times before Ragnar and Erik had settled upon the Highland shores when Viking raids were a frequent occurrence, where the land was ravaged, and the Highlands were left drenched in blood.

After speaking with Sigrid, Brenda returned to the village and feasted. Everyone was in a good mood as Douglas’s return was celebrated, and there was much celebration in the air. She caught herself glancing at Douglas as he reunited with friends. No doubt he had to tell the same story over and over again. She looked for Colby, although she couldn’t see him, which was nothing to complain about.