down and rested his hands on them. ‘Suppose I told you that I’ve decided to end our journey. Here. In Novgorod.’
‘Give up now? What about the lost gospel?’
‘More than a year has passed since Walter was taken captive. He might be dead by now. He could have negotiated his release. The Seljuks are nomads. The Emir might have moved Walter to Persia.’
‘You could have used the same arguments six months ago.’
‘The Emir insisted that the falcons be delivered by autumn. It’s now October and the longest part of the journey still lies ahead. We probably won’t reach the Emir’s court until next year, travelling through the depths of winter.’
‘Sir-’
‘In the space of a week, I nearly died and we lost Raul and the dog. If we hadn’t run into the hunters, we’d all have perished.’ Vallon looked up. ‘We’re bound to fortune’s wheel and I feel it turning.’
Hero’s mouth worked. ‘A year’s toil and effort — and all for nothing?’
‘I don’t count our lives as nothing.’
Hero braced himself. ‘What about the vow you swore in the chapel.’ He looked at the floor. ‘I heard you swear to complete the journey however long or dangerous.’
Vallon waved tiredly. ‘I’m not interested in saving my soul if it means risking my company’s lives.’
Hero was silent for a few moments. ‘What will you do?’
‘Stay here until spring and then resume my journey to Constantinople.’
‘Where does that leave the rest of us?’
‘With the money from our cargo, each of you would have enough to start afresh.’
‘Start where? Wayland and Richard can’t go back to England. I’m the only one with a place to call home.’
Vallon sat down. ‘So you’re determined to go on.’
‘Yes, and Richard and Wayland share my resolve. But only if you lead us.’
Vallon smiled sadly. ‘You’ve grown to manhood, Hero. Me, I’ve just grown old.’
‘Nonsense. You’re still weak from your wound. A week’s rest will restore you to good health and spirits.’
‘We don’t have a week. If we’re to continue, we must leave as soon as possible.’
‘Whenever you say.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Certain.’
Vallon regarded him a moment longer, then sprang up. ‘All right. Mustn’t keep Garrick waiting.’
When the Englishman entered, Vallon clasped him by both hands. ‘So we’ve reached the parting of the ways. I’ll miss you, Garrick. You’ve been a staunch companion.’
‘I’ll miss you, sir, and all my other friends. If it wasn’t for my promise to Raul, I don’t think I could have borne the pain of parting.’
‘If you hadn’t made the decision, I’d have made it for you.’ Vallon took one of the purses. ‘That’s for Raul’s family.’ He held out the other purse. ‘And that’s for you.’
Garrick stared at it. ‘I can’t accept all that. Even half would be too much.’
‘I’ll be the judge of your worth. Use it to buy that smallholding you were telling me about. It will give me pleasure to think of you working your own soil. So, not another word. Have you arranged a passage?’
‘I’ll travel with the Icelanders. There’s a ship sailing for Sweden in a week.’
‘We’ll have left by then. Keep the money safe and secret.’ Vallon led Garrick to the door. ‘We’ll say farewell properly when the time comes. Ask the lady Caitlin to come in.’
Vallon wasn’t sure what stance to assume. Caitlin also seemed uncharacteristically awkward, entering with eyes downcast. ‘Can I speak to you alone?’
At Vallon’s nod, Hero left them and closed the door. Vallon cleared his throat. ‘I understand you’ve booked a passage west.’
‘I’m not going to Norway.’
Vallon frowned. ‘But your marriage-’
‘Will not take place. I left Iceland a lady of noble station.’ Caitlin brushed at her hair as if she measured her reduction in status by the length of her tresses. ‘I won’t go to Norway as a refugee. Anyway, I was never enthusiastic about the match.’
‘So you’ll return to Iceland.’
‘Not this year. Not with winter so close. Perhaps never. I couldn’t bear the humiliation. I know how people will taunt me behind my back — left home to marry an earl because no one on Iceland was good enough for her. Now she’s back and unless she takes one of her spurned suitors, she’ll die an old maid.’
‘Then what will you do?’
‘I’ve decided to make a pilgrimage to Constantinople. I’ll have a mass sung for Helgi’s soul.’
‘How will you travel?’
Caitlin didn’t answer.
‘You wish to come with us?’
‘With you, yes.’ She looked up. ‘With you.’
Vallon felt a tingle of panic. ‘Does Drogo know?’
‘About me travelling to Constantinople or about my feelings for you?’
Vallon knuckled his brow. ‘You’re confiding more than I can take in. When did these feelings replace your urge to kill me?’
‘I realised that the prophecy had come true the night I nursed you. When I held you in my arms and you spoke my name.’
‘I spoke your name?’ Vallon realised that he’d raised his voice. He glanced at the door.
‘With tenderness. You called me your princess.’ Her face coloured. ‘Other things, too.’
‘I was feverish. God knows what nonsense I spouted. I’m sorry if I said anything embarrassing.’ Vallon’s face went blank. ‘What prophecy?’
‘When I was a girl, a woman with second sight told me that a dark stranger from the outlands would steal my heart and carry me over the sea. The prophecy is one of the reasons why I never married an Icelander. I knew you were the one the moment I set eyes on you.’
‘The day we met, you looked at me like I was something you’d trod in.’
‘I had to keep my feelings hidden from Helgi. He knew about the prophecy and quizzed me about my thoughts concerning you. I had to pretend that I hated you.’
‘You weren’t pretending at the lake when you ordered Helgi to fight me.’
‘What else could I do? You were spying on me while I bathed. He would have challenged you whatever I’d said. If I hadn’t encouraged him, he would have suspected the true state of my emotions.’
There was a lot to pick over, including the nature of Caitlin’s relationship with her brother. Now wasn’t the time. Vallon shook himself. ‘Drogo is infatuated with you. Drogo hates me. If he discovered that you … that your affections …’
‘You must send him away. He still means to spill your blood. A boil that must be lanced is how he put it.’
‘Let me get this clear. You don’t reciprocate his sentiments.’
Caitlin tossed her chin. ‘He wearies me. I can’t care for a man who trails after me like a dog.’
Vallon wandered across the room. ‘What about Tostig and Olaf?’
‘They’ll come with me to Constantinople. With Helgi dead, they plan to take service with the Emperor.’
‘Anyone else?’
‘Only my maids.’
‘Only your maids,’ Vallon repeated. He took a deep breath. ‘You can take one of them — the young one. What’s her name?’
‘Asa.’
‘We’re not carrying passengers. You’ll have to pull your weight.’
‘I’m not afraid of hard work. You wait. You’ll see that I’m as strong as you.’
Vallon’s mouth twisted. ‘A kitten could claim as much.’
