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It took a few moments before people responded to the panic, but quickly enough, mothers and children, the old, and the wounded retreated to ships and sailed away. Brenda, Douglas, and Erik all moved around, trying to make people rush and inspire a sense of urgency among them. Meanwhile, Emmel stood there tutting. He folded his arms and shook his head in disbelief, unable to understand why they were acting so erratic when there was no sign of Vikings at all.

Once everyone was on their way to the ships, the warriors left armed themselves. Armor was doffed, and weapons were drawn. As more people prepared for battle, Emmel started to become more nervous. Douglas strode up to Erik. There was a bruise on his face where Erik had struck him, but there seemed to be no ill feelings between the men.

“May I hae a weapon?” Douglas asked somberly.

Erik regarded him for a moment. “Do you swear to wield it in defense of the village and my daughter?”

“If I need tae, aye, I will,” he said.

Erik nodded and called over a man who was handing out swords. Douglas inspected them, and while he was doing this, Erik called Brenda over. They returned to his home.

“I’m surprised you didn’t tell me to get on one of the ships,” she said.

Erik laughed. “What would be the point? I know you, girl. You’re not the type to run from battle. You’re too much like your father,” he said.

“I’m glad to see you like this. Your spirit seems to have awakened.”

“I’m not going to let anything harm this village. I’ve fought off other threats before. And when I’m in battle, I know that Ragnar is going to be cheering me on from Valhalla. But before that happens, I want to give you something.”

She already knew what it was before he presented it to her. He walked to the wall of the main room in the house and lifted a sword from its display. The blade was intricate, and it was the finest sword she had ever seen.

“This sword has always been used to defend the village. It was wielded before me, I used it against the Vikings, and now it is yours.”

Brenda’s eyes went wide with awe. Her hands were tentative as she reached out for the sword, almost unable to believe that she was actually going to hold it. The blade was imbued with history, and this gave it power. It radiated some kind of energy that made her tingle, and when she curled her fingers around the hilt, she felt stronger and taller, as though the weapon had a spirit all of its own.

“Thank you, Father. I shall wield it with honor. I shall make the gods proud.”

“I have no doubt you will,” he said, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her on the head. “But before we welcome the Vikings with all our fury, we must talk about Douglas.” Brenda licked her lips nervously, and her gaze darted away. “Can he be trusted?”

“I believe so,” she replied. “I don’t think he’s a villain, Father. He’s been through so much. Two years of torture. They’ve twisted his mind. They’ve made him forget about his links to the Highlands and what life means here. I’m not excusing what he’s done, but I don’t think he should be punished completely. He’s the victim here.”

Erik nodded sagely. “I have heard stories about what the Bjork clan puts their prisoners through, and I’m sure that Ivar’s son is just as savage as his father. Perhaps you are right, although I would advise you to watch him carefully. I don’t want to see you hurt, Brenda. The ways of the heart can make fools of us all.”

“I promise you I won’t let him get away with anything, Father. He has been honest with me when he didn’t need to be, and he killed a man who threatened my life. I have seen the good in him, I’m just afraid that he cannot see it himself.”

“Then perhaps it is your task to help reveal this to him,” Erik said.

Brenda nodded. “I dread to think what’s going to happen when he and Erik reunite again. Despite everything, he is still angry at Erik for not going back for him. I just hope they can resolve the situation.”

“I think we have more pressing matters to tend to. If the Vikings raid us before your cousin has a chance to send a force to help us, then it does not matter what might happen in the future, for we will be doomed.”

“But until then, we will fight to the death,” she said, holding out her arm. Erik took it and clasped it.

“For the gods,” he said. She nodded. Vikings were never afraid of death; Brenda and Erik were no exception.

They strode out. Erik had a thinner, simpler sword, while Brenda carried the more ornate blade. People were scurrying about to take up defensive positions. Archers were on the roofs and in trees, while swordsmen hid in thick bushes, ready to pounce and take the Vikings by surprise. A generation ago, the scene would have been far different. Back then, there was a mystique about Vikings and a sense of inevitability when they arrived. It was as though people had accepted defeat before the battle had even begun, but as time had passed and the lives of Vikings and Highlanders had become entwined, a lot of the mystery had been stripped away. The Vikings were still fierce warriors, of course, but they were not seen as the unbeatable enemy that they once were. They were simply other men, some strong and some weak.

Douglas was standing in the middle of the village, as though he was ready to meet his fate. Brenda and Erik came to stand beside him. Emmel had disappeared somewhere, no doubt making himself busy away from the main heart of battle. The air was heavy with tension. Every muscle in Brenda’s body was lean and taut.

“Before they arrive, I want tae tell ye something,” Douglas said. “I know I hae betrayed yer trust, and I dinnae expect ye tae forgive me. I just want ye tae know that I would never hae done anything or said anything if I didnae feel it. The times we kissed…they’ve been the only times since I’ve returned when I’ve felt like myself.”

Brenda wasn’t entirely sure how to take his words, but her anger had definitely softened toward him, and if the Vikings weren’t threatening with an impending attack, she might well have flung herself at him again to try and break through all the pain and get to the man inside, the one she had seen glimpses of.