Lord of the Seas

by Sabrina Jarema

  A tall Northman with light streaks in his dark hair nodded to Rorik and he spoke to her father. “Leif has an eye for the truth and he is satisfied that what she says is so.”

  “I, also, believe my daughter,” Edward said. Rowena relaxed in relief. “And no daughter of mine will wed where she is unwilling.”

  He motioned to his guards and they held Wigberht. “For the crime of treason and for endangering this keep, I sentence you to death. Take him away.”

  Wigberht yelled as the guards dragged him out. As his cries faded, Edward regarded Mildburg. She fell to her knees, weeping. He stood firm. “Because you are a woman and the mother of my children, I’ll not take your life. In fact, I’ll give you a choice.”

  She shook, tears running down her face. “What choice, my lord?”

  “For treason, the punishment is death, but I’ll forgo that. For adultery, the punishment is mutilation. Cutting off the nose and ears. Then I will divorce you. You will choose between that or banishment to a convent and divorce. Which will it be?”

  She hung her head, defeated. “The convent, my lord.”

  “Then you’ll be locked in your chambers until arrangements can be made for your journey.” He gestured and two guards helped her to her feet. She did not look back as they led her away.

  Edward addressed Wulf and Rowena. “I am sorry to have to do that to your mother. But it was long in coming. I knew she was unfaithful, but I could never catch her at it. Now I have.”

  “She chose to be what she is, Father,” Wulf said. “Perhaps now, in the convent, she can find peace.”

  “And so can we.” Rowena said. No longer would she have to endure her mother’s insults and threats. Now, she was free.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “You said the price for your lost ship and men has gone up, Jarl.

  What do you want now to make peace between us?”

  Rorik settled himself across the table in the earl’s meeting room. The man was nothing if not direct. They hadn’t even had a sip of the ale he had poured for them. He could be just as direct.

  “Your daughter. I want Elfwynn.”

  Edward’s fingers tightened around his silver goblet. “You could have just kept her for yourself instead of bringing her back here.”

  “That’s not how I am with women. I didn’t want to take her to begin with, but circumstances forced my hand. Also, at the time, I thought you were a bastard who didn’t care about your own daughter. I figured her life would be better at Vargfjell than here. When she learned you hadn’t betrayed her, I knew she had to come back to see you. Her happiness is the most important thing to me.”

  Edward snorted. “You think living in your caves and burrows under the ice is better than this?” He waved his hand around the comfortable room.

  Rorik chuckled. “Ask Elfwynn or your son about the cave I live in. They’ll tell you all about it. At least, I have glass in my windows.” He took a sip of ale. “I can bring you alliances and protection. I’m the shield you need in this region. No one will dare to attack you if you’re related to me by marriage.”

  “Marriage?”

  “Yes. I’m asking for her in marriage.” If it meant he could be with her, he would do whatever was necessary to gain Edward’s agreement. The earl would accept no less and neither would Elfwynn. He wanted it, as well. The long voyage here had given him time to think and he’d realized he couldn’t give her up. He wouldn’t disgrace her in both her culture and his by taking her as a concubine. Because of her, he was finally ready to leave the past behind.

  Edward raised his head. “Why would I allow my daughter to marry into a people who do nothing but fight and raid? You have attacked our sacred houses, drowned our priests, taken all the gold and silver offerings there. All you do is make war on other innocent places.”

  “Are you any different? Look at all the wars in your own lands. You’re so busy attacking each other, especially in Ireland, that you can’t mount a defense against us. Northumbria, Wessex, East Anglia, Mercia, Strathclyde, the Picts—all of you are so blinded by your political squabbles that you don’t see us sailing to your shores until it’s too late.”

  “We have the right to defend ourselves.”

  “Defend, yes. But what of the Frankish king, Charlemagne? In our forefathers’ day, he raged across the northern regions of the great continent, expanding his kingdom by conquest. He forced the peoples in those villages to become baptized, then he slaughtered them. In one instance, over four thousand were baptized and died in a single day. Our forebears saw that he was heading for our lands. They wanted to show him what he’d be up against if he chose to invade us. So they attacked you and, yes, drowned priests to avenge those who were forcibly baptized and killed.” He leaned forward. “And do you know what? It worked. Our lands have never been invaded.”

  “He wanted to save the souls of those poor pagans.”

  “He wanted the spoils of conquest. As do we, only we don’t dress it up in the vestments of religion. When our ancestors attacked the churches, they found the riches your people had used to try to buy the favor of your god. From then on, we did raid for treasure. But we are no worse and no better than your own armies who invade a village. In fact, your warriors do far more raping and slaughtering than we do. We mainly just want the gold and silver. But it’s the priests who write the accounts, and we do not. So they make us out to be evil, while we are no different than you in so many ways.”

  Edward half stood, leaning across the table. “We are good Christians here, Northman. I’ll not jeopardize her soul by giving her to you. I don’t care what alliances you’d bring me, I’ll not make a deal with the devil.”

  The earl wanted a devil? He could oblige him so very easily. His muscles tensed. The rage simmered, like water that was just starting to boil. He held it down as Lifa had taught him, gritting his teeth to keep himself under control. For Elfwynn’s sake. The thought of her calmed him. A bit.

  “You have no idea what the devil is. And we have a supreme god, much the same as yours.”

  “What? Your Odin?”

  “No. Older than that. In our beginning, there was nothing, just endless space. But there was a creator. He made our gods and everything there is. He has no beginning, and rules everything. Does that sound familiar? We don’t deny your god exists. In fact, in some places, we’ve welcomed him along with our own. In the future, that may not bode well for our culture. Where something is too easily accepted, it tends to take over.”

  He drained his cup and rose. “You don’t want to get on my bad side, Earl Edward. I’m returning to my ships, but this isn’t done between us. Why don’t you ask Elfwynn what she wants? That’s what we do in my land. Are we, huddled in our caves and burrows, more civilized toward our daughters than you are?”

  He strode out before he started a real war with Edward.

  His men followed him and they mounted the horses they’d borrowed. No one stopped them. He studied the defenses as he rode from the bailey. If the earl wanted to see just how vulnerable he was to the fury of the Northmen, he’d be pleased to show him. Nothing would stop him from getting Elfwynn back.

  Even if he had to abduct her all over again.

  * * *

  Her mother was as delicate and translucent as a glass statue, but she clung to Elfwynn with a strength that belied her appearance.

  “All I thought of was what you were going through,” Elfwynn said as Rohesia wept with soft sobs.

  “And I thought the same of you.” She pulled back. “Living in that frozen land with those unwashed barbarians. How you must have suffered.”

  She smiled. “It’s not as cold as you think. There’s a current that runs along their coast from the south. It keeps them warm. The land is quite beautiful and majestic. And they’re cleaner than many of our people are. We see them here after days at sea, so they’re in need of baths. But in their own homes, they bathe often and they have something called a sauna. You steam yourself clean. Rorik’s longhou
se is bigger than the keep. Its walls are hung with weavings and they eat from silver and gold plates there. And the food is good and plentiful. I don’t think they all live as Rorik does, but life with him wasn’t so bad.”

  “With him?” The side of her mouth curved up. “Not with them?”

  Her face heated and Rohesia laughed. “I thought that might be how it is.”

  “That is a sound I’ve not heard in a long time, Rohesia.” Edward came into the house. “Your laughter.”

  Rohesia lowered her gaze. “It’s so wonderful to have Elfwynn back. I feel strong again.”

  “You look better already.” He sat down with them. “Rohesia, it’s good that Elfwynn is here with us. I want to speak with you. You have heard what happened with Mildburg and Wigberht today?”

  “Elfwynn told me.”

  “I have suspected my wife was being unfaithful to me. While it’s true that I was with you for a time, I had to stop long ago so she would have no cause for divorcing me. If she had, by our laws, she could have taken a third of everything. That wouldn’t bother me so much except she could have taken Wulf and Rowena away from me. Who knows how they would have suffered with her? I couldn’t do it.”

  “I understand, Edward. I always have, though it’s been difficult.”

  Elfwynn swallowed. She’d assumed all this time her mother had only been a convenience for him. But that hadn’t been the case.

  He took her hand. “I must wait for the divorce to be final. But after that, Rohesia, I want to be with you. I want you as my wife.”

  She put her hand over her mouth. “I’m not of your rank, Edward. I’m only a village woman and you’re an earl. Nobility.”

  “Who will deny me my heart? Especially at our age. The king will not. He needs me in the wars and won’t want to displease me. I don’t think our people will object. So many of those who shunned you through the years were doing so because of Mildburg’s hatred. They didn’t want to risk her wrath. Now, they won’t want to risk mine.

  “Word is also spreading of how our daughter saved us from attack by going with the Northmen. Now, the people who turned their backs on her are cheering her sacrifice.”

  Elfwynn closed her eyes for a moment. She wanted to weep.

  “I will be happy to be your wife, Edward.”

  He embraced her. Tears ran down her thin cheeks, but already she had a glow about her, a blossoming of the joy filling her.

  Edward sat back and regarded Elfwynn. “Rorik has gone back to his ships.”

  Her heart stuttered. Was he leaving? Would he not say goodbye to her?

  “He wanted you, Elfwynn. As his wife.”

  She gasped. Wife? Only she knew what that meant. “What did you answer, Father?”

  “I told him no.”

  “And now he’s leaving?” All the life seemed to drain from her.

  “No. He became very angry, though he hid it well. He said this wasn’t over yet.”

  Oh God. The rage. If it came on him, there was no telling what he’d do. “I have to go to him, Father.”

  He studied her. “Why? He’s just a Northman who took you from me.”

  “He’s more than that, Father. He’s honorable, proud, a good man. I’ve seen what he’s done for his people. He could have hurt me, raped me, anything he wanted. But he didn’t. Instead, he treated me well and I became a part of Vargfjell. Ask Wulf what it was like there. It’s beautiful. The people there are happy and well off. Rorik is the wealthiest man in his land. He has many longships, and such power that not even kings can face him. And yet, he uses that wealth for the good of his people. He could be a strong ally for you.” She had to speak in a way he’d understand.

  Edward held his hand up. “I’ve already spoken with Wulf about what he saw there. He was very complimentary, but it doesn’t matter.”

  “Edward.” Rohesia leaned toward him. “Shall we deny her the happiness we have finally found? Haven’t we learned what it is to love and yet not be with each other? Shall we watch her soul die a little more each day as ours have?”

  “I don’t care about all his ships and power and wealth. It doesn’t matter about the alliances he can bring me. I don’t care about any of it when it comes to my daughter.”

  “But, Father—”

  He held his hand up. “There are only two things I care about. First, Elfwynn, do you love him?”

  His love for her shone from him. She smiled. “Yes, Father. I do.”

  “Then the other thing is that you must be married here, with a Christian ceremony. God will not acknowledge your marriage otherwise.”

  Warm joy burst through her. She threw her arms around him, laughing and crying at the same time. “Thank you, Father. I love you so much.”

  He caressed her cheek. “After he left, I was very angry. But then, I thought about the things he and I spoke about. He is a man of great depth and intelligence, and he impressed me, in spite of my initial misgivings. Go to him. Wulf is waiting for you in the yard with horses and men. He’ll take you to him.”

  She ran outside, hardly able to see through her tears.

  Wulf grabbed her up and swung her around. “Let’s go find him before he brings the keep down. Though, from what I heard about their wedding celebrations, they might do that anyhow.”

  “I know they will.” She mounted the horse he held for her and they rode out, his men following.

  When they were on the part of the road where Rorik had abducted her, he and the warriors who had come to the keep rode from the woods. All his men from the eight warships followed on foot, and both forces faced each other. The Northmen were fully armed. They weren’t just out for a jaunt. Wulf’s men also bristled with weapons. She hadn’t foreseen this. They might go to war over her.

  Would Rorik and Wulf fight each other? Not if she had anything to do with it, even if she had to come between them to stop them. It was, after all, her life.

  “Rorik.” She started toward him, but Wulf grabbed her horse’s reins. He spoke low. “Before they left the keep, Leif told me Rorik was enraged by Father’s answer and to take care. He won’t hurt you, will he?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “Never.”

  Wulf let go of the reins and she rode forward. Behind her, Wulf’s men loosened their weapons and settled their shields on their arms, preparing for the possibility of battle. The Northmen did the same. Rorik met her in the center so that their legs almost touched. She didn’t see any signs of his anger. Had he brought himself under control? Perhaps for her sake?

  She kept her voice light. “Going raiding?”

  “I haven’t done so all summer. I didn’t want to get soft.”

  “I don’t believe you’re soft anywhere, Rorik.” She gave him an innocent look.

  His mouth twitched as it did when he was teasing her. “I thought I might find something interesting in the area.”

  “I see. Going to my keep?”

  “It’s the only one here. It would be a good place to start.”

  “Are you looking for anything in particular?”

  He shrugged. “I might be looking for gold.”

  “You already turned that down.”

  “So I did.” He paused to think. “Ships?”

  “We don’t have any.”

  “That’s right. That’s right. I forgot.” He drummed his fingers on the saddle. “Then I suppose there’s only one more thing of interest here. Women?”

  “You don’t abduct women, remember?”

  “It seems I tried it once. I’m still not certain how it will turn out.”

  “I have a feeling it might be better this time.”

  “You mean you’ll be obedient, and sweet, and not give me any trouble at all?”

  “Only in your dreams.”

  “Good.” He leaned over, swept her onto his lap, and reined the horse around. They sped into the forest.

  She hung on to him, breathing in his clean scent, reveling in the feeling of his arms around her. He slowed when they got to th
e riverbank near where his ship had been burned. He steadied her as he let her slide off, then jumped down after her.

  “You don’t think your brother will chase us, do you?” He scanned the woods behind them.

  She cupped his cheek and turned his face to her. “I think he, his men, and yours are heading to your ships to drink all your beer. He knows I’m safe with you.”

  “I’m not so certain of that. After all, I have abducted you again.” He gave her a threatening look.

  “It was no abduction.” She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I’m quite willing.”

  Wincing, he rolled his eyes. “Can we at least pretend it is? I have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

  “Believe me, I know all about your reputation.”

  “Because of it, I felt I had to take you from everything you loved. But, in a way, it brought you to me. I told your father I want to marry you. He refused.”

  “Are you certain about marriage? I know what it means to you, Rorik. A letting go of the past.”

  “What means more to me is that you return my love.”

  At his words, her heart jumped. But there was still so much between them. “So you thought to persuade him with threats?”

  “This is the first time I’ve tried diplomacy. It leaves something to be desired.”

  “What men could not accomplish with swords and axes and spears, mere women did with words.”

  “There are no ‘mere’ women. And what do you mean?”

  “My parents will be married as soon as they can. My mother told him that they’ve found their happiness, and now I should find mine. Between the two of us, we convinced him.”

  “He said yes?”