‘How do you think your master will treat you when we leave with Garrick?’
The bailiff had spurred closer. ‘Stand firm. Do your duty and I’ll forgive any trespasses you’ve done me this day.’
Wayland nudged his chin. ‘Who do you believe? Him or me?’
‘He’s right,’ Brant told Aiken. ‘Unless we stop them, we’re finished here.’
Aiken looked away, jaw jutting.
‘Our ship’s waiting,’ Wayland said.
Brant reached for Aiken’s arm. Excitement lit his face. ‘Let’s join them and make our fortunes.’
Aiken glowered at the ground and swung his head from side to side.
Brant laughed. ‘Then I’ll go alone.’ He scanned the scenery around as though committing it to memory, took two quick breaths and stepped to Wayland’s side. Turning, he looked back across an invisible line. ‘I’ll come back rich,’ he said. ‘You’ll see.’
Aiken raised his head. ‘Half the Norman army is hunting those pirates. You’ll be dead before next Sunday.’
Daegmund was shaking his fist and looking set to have a fit.
‘We’re done here,’ Wayland told Raul.
They began to back away. The parishioners watched with solemn expressions. They’d reached the graveyard wall when the bailiff spurred his mule around Aiken and rained sickening blows on his head.
XVIII
Heeling against a light easterly,
‘Your move,’ said Richard.
Hero turned his attention back to the
Vallon had decided to stay at sea until they were out of Norman territory. Drogo would have posted news of their crimes to every coastal garrison. All likely landing sites would be under watch and fishing crews would have been alerted to report any sighting or rumour of their passage.
Richard looked up blankly.
‘We can’t sail closer to the wind than about forty degrees,’ Hero explained. He made an angle with his hands. ‘We’re not far off that now. If this wind shifts any further to the east, we’ll be driven on to the coast.’
‘It’s only another three days to Scotland,’ Richard said. He moved one of his knights and sat back. ‘Your move.’
Hero had scratched an eight-by-eight grid on a plank and collected pebbles of different shapes and colours for the pieces. This was only Richard’s third game, but he was a quick learner. He’d lost the first two, but somehow had managed to gain a two-pawn advantage in this one. Hero decided that he’d better concentrate. He examined the position, then advanced a
While Richard plotted his next move, Hero studied the new crew members. ‘Will the new men fit in, do you think?’
Richard glanced behind him. Garrick was leaning back against the gunwale, his lame leg propped up behind him, talking with Syth. She was describing something with her hands in a way that made him laugh and sketch his own version in the air.
‘Old Garrick’s a decent chap,’ said Richard.
Hero smiled. ‘What an appetite he has. At the rate he eats, we’ll run out of food before we reach Scotland.’
Richard’s hand hovered over the board. ‘I’m not so keen on Brant. He’s a lout.’
Hero didn’t take to Brant either. Right now he was sniggering with Snorri on the stern deck.
‘So long as he pulls his weight.’
‘He leers at Syth.’
‘Really?’
‘I saw him ogling her at supper last night.’
‘I hope Vallon didn’t notice.’
‘Of course he did. Vallon notices everything.’
Richard moved one of his elephants diagonally two squares, capturing another pawn. Hero forgot Brant in his effort to save the game. After much indecision, he moved a knight. Without hesitation, Richard slid a
‘Check.’
Hero muttered to himself. He reached for his king, withdrew his hand, reached out again.
‘It won’t do you any good,’ Richard said.
‘He’s right,’ said Vallon, squatting down beside them. ‘If he moves his knight thus, and then his elephant so, he has you in checkmate.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Quite sure.’
Hero knocked over his king and rocked back in disgust. ‘It’s these crude pieces. I can’t tell one from another. I only improvised them to teach Richard the rules. I won’t play again until Raul has carved us a proper set.’
Vallon gave him a reproving look, then took both of them by their shoulders. ‘I have a favour to ask. Now that our venture is under way, it’s time we put our affairs on a businesslike footing. We need a treasurer to manage our finances.’
‘I don’t mind keeping the accounts,’ Hero said.
Vallon squeezed his shoulder. ‘I was wondering if Richard might take on the task. You said that he’s quick with numbers.’
Hero responded to the prompt. ‘Oh, he is. He even understands the concept of zero.’
A pained smile crossed Vallon’s face. On their journey through France, Hero had tried long and hard to convince him of the magical properties of zero. Vallon failed to see the value of a number that wasn’t a number, a signifier meaning nothing.
‘All I want is a tally of our transactions. How much we spend, earn and owe, tabulated on a daily basis. Richard, do you think that’s within your grasp?’
Richard flushed with pleasure. ‘I’ll do my best.’ Until now, Vallon hadn’t acknowledged that he possessed any talents.
‘Excellent,’ said Vallon. He stood. ‘One more thing. We’re outnumbered by English speakers. We won’t hear another French voice for months. If we’re going to trade with the Norsemen, we’d better learn their tongue. Wayland has agreed to teach us.’
‘Wayland?’
‘No one else can. It will keep his mind off the girl.’
Hero exchanged looks with Richard. Since the scene on the morning the raiding party went ashore, there had been an unofficial moratorium on the subject of Syth.
‘Are you reconciled to her presence?’ Hero asked.
‘I can’t fault her willingness. She cooks well, keeps things trim and adds a bit of cheer.’ Vallon shrugged. ‘We’ll see.’
Hero’s attention must have drifted towards Brant.
Vallon intercepted his look. ‘I intend paying him off as soon as we get to Scotland. He won’t interfere with Syth while she has the dog to protect her. Even I tread warily around that brute.’
*
Two days later Brant was dead, fulfilling Aiken’s prophecy with time to spare.
