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“Dae ye find something amusing about my plight, lass?” Douglas asked in a harsh tone. Brenda realized how the smile must have come across, but she couldn’t wipe it from her face. She shook her head.

“I’m sure there’s nothing funny about it at all, but it turns out that you have indeed landed on a shore with friends. My father is Erik the first...at least, that’s what we call him. My cousin is Erik, the same Erik that you served with!”

She expected him to react a little differently than he did. She assumed he would have been relieved or happy, but a strange expression crossed his face, one that she found difficult to decipher. She put it down to the fact that he had just been through a great ordeal and must have been in a lot of pain.

“Wait here. I’ll get you something to eat and drink,” she said, and left the hut quickly to get some bread, water, and meat. When she returned, he was grateful for the food, and it was gone within an instant. She looked at the empty plate and remarked that perhaps she should go and get him some more. Douglas wiped his lips and shook his head.

“That will nae be necessary for the moment, but thank ye for yer hospitality. I’m sure I’ll be eating more soon. I would like tae know more about this place.”

“There’s not much to tell in truth.” Brenda shrugged. “It’s a small island; we are a humble people. I’m sure you’d like to know about what’s happened in the last two years as well? It’s a long time to be gone.”

“Aye,” Douglas said darkly. “What happened tae my brethren? Did Erik ever make it back?”

“Oh, aye,” Brenda’s eyes lit up, and she smiled widely. “For a long while, we thought he was never going to return, but he managed to escape from that evil Ivar Bjork—although Ivar followed him here—and there was a great battle. My Uncle Ragnar died,” she said, her smile falling from her face.

“He was a great man,” Douglas said.

Brenda offered an appreciative smile. “He was indeed. Erik took his revenge, though. He drove Ivar off, and he even got married.”

“Married?”

Brenda nodded. “To a woman he met when he was captured. They escaped together and came back here. I should get word to him! I’m sure he would be excited to see you again. I’m sure he won’t be able to believe that you’re alive.”

Douglas stared into space, and when he spoke, his words were heavy with emotion.

“I’m sure he will nae,” he said. “Married… I cannae believe it.”

“What’s wrong? I thought that you would be happier to hear of him?”

“I am, I am, but I am also in a lot of pain, and it is difficult for me tae concentrate. Besides, there is a small dispute between us that was nae resolved before we got captured. I’m sure everything will be dealt with in due course, though. I’m just glad tae be back here.”

“Yes, it must have been a difficult time for you to be held prisoner for so long. How did you escape?”

“It was,” Douglas admitted. “I had tae wait for the right time, and the right time took a while tae come along. They put me tae work like a slave, but I kept my head down and worked hard until they started tae believe that I had lost all my will tae escape. Then, one night, I managed tae escape my chains, and I stole a boat. I sailed back towards the Highlands, but the boat did nae make it. I was lost tae the sea, and I was sae afraid that it would carry me back tae that accursed place, but it brought me here instead.”

“The gods smiled upon ye.”

“Aye,” Douglas said, stroking his beard.

“Well, I hope that you feel better for being here. I can assure you that we will show you all the hospitality due an honored guest. Any friend of Erik’s is a friend of ours. My cousin is going to be so excited to hear that one of his guards has returned!”

Douglas offered a thin smile, and that was all he offered. There was a brooding look in his dark eyes.

“If ye wouldnae mind, lass, but I’d like some time tae myself. I’m still tired and in a lot of pain. I dinnae think I can carry on talking, but I want tae thank ye. I’m glad tae be back with friends again. It means a lot after sae many years away from home. I can barely believe that I’m back.”

“Well, you can believe it. I’ll make sure a feast is prepared for you so that when you’re ready, you can regain your strength and tell me more about what you have endured over the past two years.”

Douglas nodded. Brenda slipped out of the hut to leave him alone, excited about the prospect of being able to tell Erik that one of his old guards had returned. Surely that would increase her prestige and perhaps allow her more influence and responsibility. This was a twist of luck that would benefit both her and Douglas, and she was determined to make the most of it. There was something about Douglas as well, some dark intensity that was being held within him. She wasn’t quite sure how far it was buried, but she wanted to find it and help nurse him back to health.