Mark of the Hunter: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Lords of Alekka Book 2)

by A. E. Rayne

  Ivan froze, reading something else in his cousin’s eyes. ‘I imagine she’d feel more able to sleep with Eddeth’s company. If you want her to dream, you need to make her feel comfortable.’

  Hakon laughed. ‘Are you offering to help? To take Eddeth’s place? You have some ideas about how to make Alys feel comfortable, do you, Cousin?’

  Ivan was quickly irritated. ‘No.’ Hakon was itching for a fight, and he was struggling not to give him one. ‘Do what you wish. I was just trying to help.’ He dropped his head, fiddling with his swordbelt.

  They were like a pair of bickering children, Lief thought impatiently, wishing they would focus. ‘We need to think about training the men, my lord. It’s the men who will defend us from the Vilanders, not your dreamer. With the weather so bad I’ve hardly seen a soul in the training ring since we returned. We need to change that quickly. If our men aren’t sharp, we stand no chance.’

  ‘Are you sure about that, Lief?’ Hakon laughed, running a finger around the rim of his silver goblet. ‘You do remember Mother, don’t you? Oh, but there are many ways a dreamer can hurt our enemies. I’ll just have to have a little word with Alys. Impress upon her the importance of helping to defeat ours.’

  ‘We need a plan. A way to help Reinar and Sigurd. If we help them get into the fort, they can free us!’

  Their chamber had one bed, big enough to fit three people, but Eddeth still insisted on sleeping on the floor. Alys lay on her side, leaning over the bed, watching her. ‘We’re prisoners, Eddeth. What can we do to help them?’

  Eddeth felt tense, longing for a tea to soothe her tension. Her saddlebags had been confiscated, Alys’ swordbelt too, though Alys still had her cloak, and it lay over her, keeping her warm. A fire burned low in the hearth, but the stone walls were cold, drafty, and both women could feel the icy breeze attacking every exposed area of skin. ‘Well, we have friends, like Falla. And Ivan. I imagine he’s working away at his cousin. He won’t keep us in here for long. He can’t! If he wants a dreamer’s help, he must treat that dreamer with respect.’

  Alys smiled, listening to Eddeth grumble on her behalf. She lay back on the bed, eyes on the dark rafters, thinking about Magnus and Lotta. It had been so long since she’d stroked their hair, wiped their faces, held them in her arms. Lotta had such chubby cheeks. Alys loved the soft feel of them pressed against hers. And Magnus’ hair had grown so long. She blinked, seeing a glimpse of him, tears flooding her eyes. His hair was short, she saw, hacked off roughly, wondering what that meant. He looked so thin. So tired.

  She closed her eyes, listening to the wail of the wind, trying to think of what to do. And then, trying not to think at all. She needed a dream desperately.

  Hakon would come to her in the morning, and she feared how angry he would become if she had nothing to tell him.

  ‘What if Stina got to Ottby in time? That’s what you should dream about,’ Eddeth murmured, rolling over, missing the sound of Rigfuss’ rhythmic purring. ‘What if Stina got to Reinar before he left?’

  Reinar had no plans to stop. They would remain on board until they arrived at Slussfall. It was no scenic adventure. Not a fishing expedition.

  It was war.

  They took turns relieving Holgar and those men who watched from the bow, alert to danger; whether it was from enemy ships, creatures from the deep, or fast-moving storms masked by darkness. It was always better to see what was coming before it arrived. To have some warning.

  Leaning on the tiller, Reinar tried to keep alert, but the darkness and the constant motion of the ship had him feeling sleepy. He saw his wife, lying sound asleep next to Ilene, and he wanted to take Ilene’s place. He was sure Ilene wouldn’t mind. She’d spent the afternoon flirting with his men, when she wasn’t gossiping with Elin.

  Twisting his head to the right, he watched the waves glistening in the moonlight, remembering Alys’ hair streaming behind her as she stood on board Dagger. She’d looked so sad and lost, though he could hardly blame her. Beaten by her husband, captured by him and Sigurd. What did he expect?

  And now Hakon Vettel had her.

  Alys the dreamer.

  Reinar remembered what she’d done to Torvig, and it reassured him slightly.

  Alys the warrior too.

  Magnus, Leonid, and Ollo were asleep at the back of the small cave Jonas had led them to. Jonas sat in its mouth with Vik, watching the trees blow about before them, listening, waiting, expecting to be attacked at any moment.

  ‘Still can’t believe Reinar took Alys. A Vilander? When did those boys become slavers?’ Jonas shook his head, running a hand through his hair. He felt impatient, frustrated with waiting, but they both knew that their best chance of getting into the fort rested on the Vilanders coming to attack the Vettels.

  ‘Well, desperate times, I suppose,’ Vik sighed, back aching from sitting around so much. He was growing just as frustrated as Jonas, but it wouldn’t help anyone if they did something reckless now. ‘Makes little sense, though. I doubt Stellan would have approved.’

  ‘No, he wouldn’t, and if I get my hands on either of them, I’ll have something to say about it.’

  ‘Well, according to that Eddeth, it goes a lot deeper than anything we know about. Don’t imagine Alys will want you sticking your nose into her business.’

  ‘She might not,’ Jonas agreed, ‘but this time, I won’t be holding my tongue, I promise you that. Not after what her bastard husband did to her.’ He glanced back at Magnus, listening to Ollo’s deafening snores, thinking about Lotta. ‘Why did Ulrick Dyre take those children in the first place? And why did he keep Lotta?’

  ‘Magnus said she looked just like his own daughter. That’s what the other man told him. The one with silver teeth.’

  ‘Mmmm, that may be so, and I’m sorry for him if that’s the case. I know how it feels to lose a daughter. But to take a child? And what about Lotta? Why was she so happy to go along with him?’ Jonas poked the small fire at their feet with a stick. They were cold. So very cold. Snow lay on the ground before them, and though they hadn’t wanted to attract any attention, dawn was on its way, and they were eager to cook the three small perch Vik had caught for breakfast. It was safer than burning a fire during the day when Hakon’s men were likely to be out searching for them.

  ‘Lotta has dreams, so who knows what she’s seen? But the only person we can focus on now is Alys. And our best chance of getting her out of Slussfall is to wait for the Vilanders, and hope your friend Eddeth has the right of it.’

  Unlike Ottby, Slussfall had only the two sets of gates to defend. Only the one set of walls. The fort perched up a steep rise, overlooking an open harbour, inviting enemies into the range of its archers, with no protection for them at all.

  Though Lief did not feel confident. Not with Hakon in charge.

  He didn’t speak as he walked the ramparts with Ivan, squinting, the early morning sun glaring in his eyes. Hakon had left them to talk to the dreamer, and Lief didn’t feel good about that either, worrying for Alys’ safety.

  He glanced around, not sure what he was thinking, but something pulsed in his veins, urging him to act. ‘Karolina told Falla that she saw the mark on Hakon’s chest.’

  Ivan jerked to a halt, making Lief stop and turn back to him.

  ‘The mark?’ Ivan was horrified; the miserable-looking man had delivered those words as casually as if he was announcing what was for supper. He glanced around, seeing men coming out of the tower to his right, but no one within hearing distance. ‘What?’

  Lief came close enough to keep his voice low, though up on the ramparts, the wind was howling like a wild beast. ‘Karolina is worried. Scared.’

  Ivan liked Karolina. She was a good mother and a kind woman; far too gentle for Hakon. ‘Scared of the mark?’

  Lief nodded. ‘Of the way your cousin is behaving too. He seems more and more... extreme.’

  ‘He’s been through a difficult time, you know that. Losing Mother. Losing Ottby. The wound. Th
e Hunter.’

  ‘He murdered Rikkard. We all know the boy did nothing wrong.’

  Ivan’s body tensed, feeling backed into a corner. ‘And? How can I help you, Lief? What do you want from me? I’m not Hakon. What do you expect me to do?’

  Lief felt disappointed.

  In himself.

  He had misread Ivan’s face and his words. He was no more than his cousin’s puppet, as he’d always suspected. They were joined by blood, by dependence on one another, and Lief doubted anything would separate them now. ‘Forgive me.’ His voice hardened as he stepped away. ‘I felt concerned about the changes I was seeing. About how those changes would impact our chance of beating back the Vilanders. If the dreamer is right and they have the Stornas men, it won’t be easy.’

  ‘You forget that I’m the head of our army, Lief,’ Ivan muttered. ‘Hakon put me in charge. My cousin has been unwell, disturbed by what happened in the forest. Who wouldn’t be? But he sees hope in this coming battle. An opportunity to turn our fortunes around. He’s still the man destined to be king. You know it as well as I.’ Ivan was working hard to convince himself that everything he said was true, barely thinking about Lief at all. ‘And Hakon will change the gods’ minds. He’ll show Thenor that the Vettels are still the rightful rulers of this land, you’ll see.’

  He sounded like a child, Lief thought, nodding as though he believed everything Ivan was saying. And realising that there was nothing more to say, he turned away, heading for the guard tower.

  Hakon had sent Eddeth out for a walk with Falla and Karolina, wanting Alys all to himself. And after they left, he locked the door.

  Alys panicked, reading his thoughts. There was nowhere for her to go. No escape. Just one door. One shuttered window.

  One marked lord with lust in his eyes.

  He was a boy, Reinar had scoffed, just a boy, and Alys thought of Magnus, remembering how expertly she could distract him away from the one thing he wanted more than any other. Usually the rest of the meal she’d been saving for Arnon.

  ‘And what did you dream of last night, Alys? Anything useful? Anything about our enemy?’ Hakon smiled. The soft glow of the fire made Alys’ hair glisten like gold, and he was transfixed, barely caring to hear what she said at all.

  Alys thought quickly as he circled her, conscious of the bed beside her and the hooded look in Hakon’s strange eyes. And she remembered her vision of the woman called Mirella. Distracted, eyes wandering to the fire, she hadn’t realised how close Hakon was until he grabbed her arm, yanking her towards him. She froze, smelling wine on his breath. ‘Yes, I did!’ she exclaimed, trying to pull away. ‘The Vilanders! I... saw things about them.’ She tried to think of what those things might be, closing her eyes for effect. Or so she thought. An image of Karolina holding Anders Vettel came to mind, and when she opened her eyes, Hakon could see fear in them.

  ‘What is it? What did you see? It was something. Definitely something.’

  ‘I saw... your wife. Your son.’

  ‘What?’ Hakon hadn’t been expecting that, and he straightened up, eyes full of worry.

  ‘They’re in danger. Your wife was screaming, clutching your son, trying to protect him. To shield him.’

  All thoughts of Alys and the bed gone, Hakon turned away from her, staring at the fire. ‘My son? What happened to him? What was happening?’

  Alys could hear the anger in his voice now, and she panicked, squeezing her eyes shut again, trying to see something else. ‘I hear a lot of screaming. Noise. Loud voices. Like an attack. I...’ She opened her eyes. ‘Your wife was screaming, your son was crying. I don’t know why.’ Alys shook her head. ‘Sometimes, I only see fragments, and it’s hard to know what they mean.’ She remembered Tulia, regretting how much she sometimes only saw fragments.

  Hakon strode back to Alys, grabbing her arm again. ‘You must find out more.’

  Alys nodded. ‘I need some air. I need to breathe.’ For though the chamber was drafty, Alys found the lack of freedom suffocating. She longed to feel the wind in her hair and sand between her toes.

  Hakon peered at her. ‘Air? Of course. I will take you for a walk. I will take you around the fort. Perhaps it will help to see things more clearly? And my wife! I will take you to my wife and son. Touching them might help. Holding something of theirs!’ Hakon was desperate, squeezing Alys so tightly that pain contorted her face, and realising it, he backed away, eyes on the door. ‘Grab your cloak. We’ll go before the snow comes down again, for surely it will.’ Hakon needed some air himself. His chest throbbed, and the thought of cold snow was welcome. He wanted to fall into it, soak his chest in it, take away the oppressive heat of it. And then he was stumbling, falling onto his knees, black patches flashing before his eyes, screeching noises in his ears.

  ‘My lord?’ Alys dropped down by his side, not sure what was happening.

  Hakon couldn’t hear her. Everything was dark, as though he was in the forest again with the giant shadow of The Hunter looming over him, lethal-looking sabre glinting in the moonlight. And then he heard a voice.

  ‘I am coming, Hakon Vettel. I am coming for you!’

  They had whispered about Hakon as they walked through the square, Karolina growing in confidence as Eddeth talked, amazed by how much knowledge the healer possessed of the gods. Knowledge of herbs and magic too.

  ‘But what will they do to us?’ Karolina fretted.

  ‘Us?’ Falla stared at Eddeth. ‘The gods only care about the one who’s marked, isn’t that right, Eddeth?’

  Eddeth shrugged. ‘No idea! But if you want to avoid an angry Thenor, I wouldn’t spend my time near the one he so desperately wants to destroy. Think of it like a frozen lake. The person standing near the crack is likely to fall in and drown, but those standing nearby have just as much chance of being sucked down to their deaths as well!’

  That left Karolina speechless, shivering with worry.

  Falla was determined to act. ‘What can we do? Kill him?’

  Karolina gasped. ‘Falla!’

  Eddeth laughed out loud. ‘I don’t think we need to get involved in that. The gods will take care of him, or perhaps the Vilanders?’ And smiling now, Eddeth hoped more than anything that Reinar and Sigurd would arrive soon and put their swords to the vile Lord of Slussfall. ‘But I’m sure you can work on his cousin, Falla. We need him on our side.’

  Falla’s eyes lit up. She thought of that fool Ivan with a smile, knowing how desperately he wanted to please her. ‘I can get Ivan to kill him!’

  ‘Falla!’ Karolina felt ill.

  Eddeth’s attention wandered, watching three children tussling on the ground, fists flying. ‘Not kill him. I doubt Ivan could be convinced to hurt his cousin, but perhaps he can help keep us safe? Protect us? A man as cursed as Hakon? He’s a danger to us all. While he remains the lord here, no one is safe. No one at all!’

  Hakon walked out of the hall, unsteady on his feet, Alys by his side. ‘I can’t see my wife anywhere, can you?’

  Alys scanned the square, shaking her head. The market appeared busy, but she saw no sign of an elegant lady. ‘No. Perhaps you should go back to the hall and sit down? I could go and find her for you?’

  ‘You think I’m going to let you out of my sight?’ Hakon snatched Alys’ hand, pulling her close. He was still light-headed, ears buzzing, anger surging. ‘You think I’ll just let you leave?’ Sweat dripped down from his hair, soaking through his tunic too. He felt like falling into a pool of cold water. And closing his eyes, he squeezed Alys’ hand until she yelped. ‘You will not leave my side, Alys. We will find my wife together, and then you’ll see more. More of what is coming. I need you to see everything, do you understand me?’

  He was shouting, and Alys felt afraid. He wouldn’t kill her, he needed to keep her, but every shouting man with angry eyes was Arnon, and she flinched, watching his left hand twitch by his side.

  ‘What’s going on? Hakon?’ Ivan emerged from the tavern, a deep frown carved between his
eyebrows. ‘Let her go!’ And lunging forward, he yanked Hakon’s right hand away.

  Hakon swung around, left hand raised, incensed.

  Ivan didn’t care. He saw the terror in Alys’ eyes, and he felt just as wild. ‘You can’t treat people this way, Hakon! Not boys. Not women. Not dreamers!’ He was yelling, and sensing everyone freeze around him, he tried to stem his exploding rage. Pulling Alys closer, out of Hakon’s grip, Ivan stepped back, staring at his wide-eyed cousin, seeing the sheen of sweat on his forehead. ‘You’re not yourself, Hakon. Perhaps you’re ill again? Whatever the case, you need to leave Alys alone. Pull yourself together. If you want her to help you, you can’t treat her like a dog.’ And turning away from his cousin, he slipped an arm around Alys’ back, heading for the gates, heart thumping.

  Hakon watched them go, the voice in his head crashing around him like thunder.

  37

  Sigurd and Ludo leaned over the shield rack, eyes on Fury. The weather had been helpful, the wind like a strong hand, pushing them up the coast towards Slussfall.

  Ludo felt anxious, worrying about what they would face when they arrived.

  The fort rose up from the harbour like a tower, he remembered. And those walls would be deep with archers assaulting them from the very first sight of their masts.

  Sigurd nudged him. ‘What do you think Alys is doing?’

  ‘Telling him everything she can, I’d say. Wouldn’t you? If you had children to protect, you’d tell him everything to stay alive.’

  Sigurd nodded. ‘So he’ll know every secret, every plan?’

  ‘If Alys dreams it, I expect so.’

  ‘And will she try and hurt us?’