by Bobbi Smith
Often, Dynna found herself imagining that Brage would be ransomed back to his father and then return here for her. She loved him. She would never love another. She wondered if they would ever be together again. In her mind’s eye, she was back on the bank of the stream with Brage, and they were . . .
A sudden, frantic pounding at the chamber door jarred her from her reverie, and the two guards raced to answer it.
“What is it?” Balder demanded as he threw the door wide.
“Riders! And they are coming this way!” the other Saxon told him excitedly.
“Could it be Sir Edmund returning already?” Ives asked.
“No, it is too soon. There is no way they could have reached Alfrick’s stronghold and ridden back in just these few days.”
“Then who?”
All three knew a moment of dread.
“How many did you see?” Balder asked.
“Over a hundred . . .”
“The Vikings . . .” Ives stated out loud what they did not want to consider.
“If they are the Vikings, then what can we do? Six of us cannot hold this place!”
“And if they are the Vikings, then what of Sir Edmund? What of Lord Alfrick?”
The men exchanged looks of terrible understanding.
Balder bravely fought off the fear that threatened to cow them all. He straightened his shoulders as he glared at the other two. “We are bound by honor to Sir Edmund and Lord Alfrick. We must hold to our duty. We must keep Lady Dynna from harm until Sir Edmund returns.”
“But what if . . .”
Balder shot him a quelling look. “We must defend this stronghold as best we can. Have you ordered the bridge drawn?”
“Yes. I have done all I can with just the six of us. I have locked Lord Garman and Lady Audrey in the tower room, and if we lock Lady Dynna in here, we will have that much less to worry about.”
“Should one of us stay with her?” Ives asked, remembering how Sir Edmund had insisted they keep constant watch over her.
“I think there is little need.”
All understood his meaning, and they left the room and locked the door from the outside.
Dynna ran to the door and tried to open it, but it was useless. She was trapped in her chamber, unable to help anyone and unable to escape. The total futility of her position infuriated her, yet she knew a glimmer of hope. If Vikings were coming, then perhaps Brage had survived . . . perhaps Brage was returning for her. She clung to that chance as she went to the window and kept watch.
It took Brage little time to breach the pitiful defenses of Lord Garman’s stronghold. Brage had not been sure how many men had been left there to hold it, but the number had not been large. Upon arriving at the tower, he had sent the bulk of the men to the front to keep Edmund’s remaining guards busy, while he, his father, Ulf, and a small group of the others attempted to enter through the secret gate he and Dynna had used. As Brage had suspected, there was only one man standing guard, and it had been a simple matter to battle their way inside. Once they had disarmed him and entered, they engaged the others quickly. Balder, of all the guards, had presented himself the most bravely, but it had all been for naught. He had been outnumbered and overpowered, and in the end, every one of them had been taken captive. The bridge was lowered for the Vikings to enter.
Matilda knew Lord Garman’s stronghold well, for it had been her home. As soon as they had crossed the bridge, she dismounted and ran through the hall to the stairs.
Brage followed. He did not know where Dynna and her parents might be hiding, but he intended to find them.
When Matilda reached Dynna’s chamber, she found the door locked. “Lady Dynna, are you in there?” she cried as she pounded on the door.
“Matilda?” Dynna’s voice was filled with promise. “Thank God it is you! Get me out of here! What has happened? Is Brage here? Is he all right?”
“There is no key, but I will . . .”
“Move, woman.”
At the sound of Brage’s voice so near, Matilda jumped. She hastened to get out of his way.
Brage stepped forward and with one powerful kick, shattered the lock. It took only another forceful shove to push open the door to Dynna’s bedchamber.
Dynna had been terrified for an instant, but when she saw that it was Brage who stood there, a look of joy shone upon her face. He was alive and well and he had come back for her! Her heart ached with her love for him as she gazed at him. He looked so incredibly handsome that she could not wait to kiss him and hold him.
“You are here!” she cried. “You are alive!”
Happiness filled her. She cast all her fears aside as she ran to him. She was going to declare her love for him. She was going to pledge her undying devotion. She was going to explain to him the horror of the choice she had been forced to make and how glad she was that he was uninjured and free!
Brage stood unmoving as she came toward him. Memories of her, warm and willing, assailed him for a moment, but then thoughts of her lying betrayal returned and pain surged within him. He saw her smile and happiness and wondered how she had managed to become such an accomplished liar. She had turned him over to Edmund in exchange for her own ends and now was pretending that she was glad he was alive! It enraged him.
Brage did not move until Dynna was almost to him. As she was about to throw her arms around him, he snared her wrists in a powerful grip and forced her to her knees before him.
“Brage . . .?” Shock and confusion sounded in her voice and showed in her expression.
“True, I am alive, but it is no thanks to you,” he ground out, hatred echoing in his every word.
“I do not understand . . .” Dynna was shocked by his words and tears quickly filled her eyes.
He ignored her as he went on, “I should be used to cunning and betrayal by now. But thanks to you, I have learned another lesson in trusting. I will no longer believe anyone who uses sweet lies in their treachery.”
Brage glared at her, despising her and despising what she made him feel. For though he hated her, he found he still desired her, and the emotion only added to his fury. Dynna went deathly pale as he spoke, and he knew he had been right.
“You sold me to Edmund for the cost of your own freedom, Dynna.”
“No! I did not!”
“You came to my bed to rid yourself of Edmund, and you went to his bed to rid yourself of me!” he snarled, tightening his grip on her.
His hold was brutally painful and she cried out softly in protest, but he did not ease his hold.
“Brage . . . you must listen to me . . .”
“No, I will hear no more lies from your lips!”
“But there was a reason . . .” She had to tell him the truth—that Edmund would have killed her mother if she had not told him of his hiding place.
But Brage gave her no opportunity as he countered coldly, “The betrayer always believes he is justified in his treacherous ways.”
Dynna was crying. His coldness stabbed at her heart. Why would he not listen? If only he would let her explain, he would understand . . .
Crystalline tears traced paths down her pale cheeks, but they did not touch Brage’s heart. He had hardened himself against her.
“Save your tears for someone who will believe them, Dynna. You bought your freedom with your body, and you think to buy it again with your weeping. It will not work. You have wasted it all. No longer will I treat you as one to be treasured. I now make you my slave. Get up and let us be gone from here. I have had enough of the Saxon lands, and of its people.”
He stared down at her as she quietly sobbed, then turned away from the sight of her. He found Matilda standing in the doorway watching them, and he spoke to her sharply.
“Bring her. She can ride with you.”
Matilda nodded and hurried to her lady’s side as Brage stalked off to rejoin the others.
“Lady Dynna . . .” she said softly as she went to her and wrapped her arms around her. “Do not cry s
o. It will be all right.”
Dynna looked up at her friend, her face tear-ravaged. “Oh, Matilda . . . What am I to do? He believes I am as deceitful as the one who betrayed him to Lord Alfrick.”
“We know it is not true, my lady.”
“Edmund was going to kill my mother. He was holding a knife to her throat! He would slay her unless I told them where Brage was hiding . . .”
Matilda saw the horror of Dynna’s position and understood the dilemma she had faced.
“But Brage thinks . . .”
“Brage knows only what Sir Edmund told him, my lady.”
“Sir Edmund lied. But will Brage ever listen to me? Brage knows Sir Edmund. Does he not understand his deceptions? If Brage will not listen to my side, my life with him will be as barren as a life with Sir Edmund would have been. There will be no love between us, no trust. There would only be hate . . .”
“There is nothing you can do right now to change his mind. He is blinded by anger. Perhaps with time . . .”
“But what if he never listens?”
“You cannot think of that now, my lady. He is waiting for us. We must go. Just remember that you did what you had to, to save your mother’s life.”
Dynna slowly got to her feet. She knew Matilda was right, yet it did not ease the pain of losing Brage’s trust. “I will give it time,” she said sadly. “That is all I can do.”
As they started off to join Brage, the future stretched bleakly before her.
Before leaving her family home, Dynna managed a short visit with her parents.
“You go with him willingly, Daughter?” Lord Garman asked, staring at Dynna.
Dynna wanted to burst into tears, she held herself together and looked her father in the eye as she answered, “Yes.”
Audrey hugged her tearfully. “You will take care, my daughter? I will miss you terribly.”
“I will be safe from harm, Mother. Do not fear.”
As they were embracing, the call went out that it was time to leave. Matilda came for her.
“We must leave, my lady. Brage awaits us.”
“Take care of my daughter, Matilda,” Audrey told her.
“I have these many years, and I will continue,” she promised.
Dynna hugged her father one last time and then hurried off with Matilda.
“You lied to them?” Matilda questioned.
“I had no choice. If my father knew of Brage’s anger toward me and of his plans to make me his slave, he would have fought and died to save me. It is better this way.”
Matilda’s silence told Dynna that she agreed with her decision. Soon, Dynna was mounted behind Matilda and was riding away with her, leaving her family and former life behind forever.
* * *
The long hours of travel were tiring and monotonous. During the day, Brage completely ignored Dynna, but at night, he insisted that she sleep beside him. He made no attempt to touch her, yet even so, Dynna did not sleep well. Brage, however, had no such difficulty. And so the days and miles passed. Dynna only felt at ease when she was with Matilda or when she managed an occasional word with Sir Thomas, who was among the Saxon prisoners marching with them as they returned to Alfrick’s lands.
When at last they reached Lord Alfrick’s tower, all were glad that the trek was over and that the outcome was a triumphant one. They reached the stronghold at midmorning and made plans to set sail for home before dark that night. They were eager to be home.
Matilda stared at the tower as they rode ever nearer, and wondered what was going to happen next. “Lady Dynna, I do not know if I will be allowed to go with you or not, but I will speak with Ulf. I do not think Brage is the one to ask at this moment.”
“Nor do I,” she agreed, looking over to where the warrior rode proudly before them with his father and brother. She had thought him magnificent before, but now in victory, he was the conqueror—powerful, invincible. He had survived all, and to his reasoning, no thanks to her. “I pray Ulf allows you to come.”
“As do I. It would be no life for me here without you.”
They fell silent in understanding, knowing that the next few hours would determine the rest of their days. When they had reined in at Alfrick’s tower and dismounted, Brage came to Dynna.
“You may go to your room and gather a few of your things to take with you,” he directed. “We will sail soon. I expect you to be here waiting for me when I am ready to go.”
As Dynna went to gather her personal belongings, Matilda sought out Ulf. “I must speak to you,” she said, as she found him with his father.
When he had finished talking with Anslak, Ulf turned to her.
“I do not know your plans,” she began when she had his complete attention, “but I beseech you to take me with you. I must stay with Lady Dynna. I have cared for her since she was but a small child, and I cannot bear to be separated from her.”
Ulf saw the very real depth of emotion in Matilda’s imploring gaze and smiled inwardly. He had had no intention of leaving her behind, but now knew he could use the situation to his benefit. “And why should I care about Lady Dynna’s comforts?”
“I ask this for myself, Ulf. There is nothing left here for me without my lady.”
He smiled down at her in a gentle way, remembering the wildness of the filly and knowing that kindness earned much trust. “You will sail with us.”
She smiled brightly up at him, the first true smile of happiness she had ever given him. She touched his arm as she thanked him.
He was startled by the effect her smile and simple touch had on him. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, to make love to her all day and night, but was too smart to act on his desires just yet. He would give it time. He did not want a quick tumble with Matilda. He wanted more . . . He wanted her by his side.
“It was a fierce fight, Father, but we won,” Kristoffer told Anslak as he faced him upon his return.
“You say Lord Alfrick and all those who were imprisoned were slain?” his father repeated, stunned.
“Somehow they had escaped and we trapped them as they were about to leave the tower.”
“You did well,” he responded. “You have proven yourself again, my son.”
“Thank you, Father. If you wish, I will stay and keep the stronghold for you,” Kristoffer offered. “Give me a strong force of men and I will hold this land for you forever.”
Anslak knew Kris was going to be disappointed, for he had already decided on another way of handling it.
“Nay, Son, I would not leave you here. I want you to sail with me. As Brage has suggested, we will leave the stronghold in the charge of the man named Sir Thomas.”
“Brage would give what you won to one of the conquered?” Kris stared at his father as if his sire were daft.
“He would give that which we conquered to a friend, Kris,” Brage chided gently, not wanting to insult the boy, but wanting him to know the reasons behind the decision.
“After all the men who have died at their hands, you believe a Saxon is friend to us?” Kris challenged.
“Sir Thomas commands respect from all who know him. He saved my life when all others would have seen me dead,” Brage said as he came to join them. “Far better we leave one of their own here to lead them. Sir Thomas will be an ally in a land where we have no other. We will be trading with him now, instead of raiding.”
Kris could see that his father and Brage had already made the decision without asking him and that he had little recourse. He would have to accept it, but he did not have to like it. “Then I shall gather the men and prepare to set sail.”
“I will take my ship. It will be good to be back with my men again,” Brage told him.
“Kris, you can sail with me,” Anslak said. “I will join you as soon as all is settled here.”
Brage and Anslak sought out Sir Thomas where he waited for news of his fate along with the other Saxon captives.
“Sir Thomas,” Brage said as he approached him. “We would
speak with you.”
Sir Thomas was cautious, but he got up and came to stand before them. He was ready for whatever they were about to pronounce. He did not expect mercy. He had fought the Vikings. He had spilled their blood. Vikings were renowned for being thorough in their revenge. He had tried to guess with the other men what would be done to them, and the best they all were hoping for was to be sold into slavery.
“We have reached a decision, my son and I,” Anslak told him as he studied him closely. “Brage seems to think that you would be a far better ally than enemy.”
“I do not understand,” Sir Thomas said as he looked between them, puzzled.
“He thinks that you would rule well here at Lord Alfrick’s tower. What do you say?”
“Rule here?” He was truly puzzled.
“Sir Thomas . . . By my son’s own testimony, you risked all to keep him alive. I now give you the gift of this stronghold and these lands, along with the lives of the other captives.”
“You bid me to take Lord Alfrick’s place?” He stared at Anslak and then at Brage in disbelief.
“That we do. We would seek trade with you now, not war. What do you say to our offer?”
“I will do it! And with great thanks!” He thought of the misery everyone had suffered under Sir Edmund’s presence and knew he could make life better here.
“Good. Then the lands are yours. Rule well and fairly, friend,” Brage told him.
“We sail for home now. See that these lands prosper,” Anslak said.
“I will, and again I thank you.”
“Thank you—for saving my son.” His words were heartfelt.
Anslak moved off, leaving Brage and Sir Thomas alone.
“And what of Lady Dynna? Does she stay?” Sir Thomas asked, worried.
The warmth Brage had been feeling chilled at the mention of her. “Dynna goes with me.”
“You will be good to her?”
