‘My angel gave me a cloth to stem the bleeding when the ship was pulling away. It’s why I call my scar my angel’s kiss.’
‘Spare us any more about your blessed angel,’ Feradach said. ‘It’s all you’ve gone on about since you got back and I’m sick of hearing about it. Keep to the business at hand.’
Sandulf’s fingers itched to grab the knife in his boot, but he resisted. Striking now would achieve little.
‘I’d feel happier if we hadn’t used that body from your little ambush,’ Lady Mhairi said. ‘You were far too heavy with your sword that night. Thankfully, no one has questioned about that missing woman.’
‘That drunken sot gave his oath with a sword held to his son’s throat. I should have run him through. He insisted that Lady Ceanna was certainly dead out in the forest and you needed a funeral. You said your husband would collapse on the coffin and never rise. He seems stronger than ever since he learned of her death. Since he put his head on that coffin and the crowd roared their approval.’
‘The depth of the feeling towards her has surprised me. I had no idea that she was that beloved,’ Lady Mhairi said. ‘If anyone thinks I had anything to do with it, it could be the end of all our hopes, Feradach.’
‘You’re far too nervous, my dear. Even if this idiot has double-crossed us, Ceanna is long gone from here.’ Feradach gave a harsh laugh. ‘I doubt she’d survive for long. The woman wouldn’t say boo to a goose, terrified of her own shadow.’
‘I hope you are right.’
‘See.’ Rough hands jerked Sandulf’s head back and a fetid scent assaulted his senses. ‘This man will be the right sacrifice. I should slit his throat right now and be done with it. Who mourns for one from the North? Certainly not I.’
‘Look! Isn’t that your arm ring he wears, Brother? The one you lost on that expedition.’
‘That he does. Well, well, it would appear all our problems are about to be solved, Feradach. My angel will be on her knees, thanking me for it, and I look forward to her thanks no end.’
When they returned to the stable, Ceanna set about cleaning the worst of Danr’s wounds, despite his protests that he was fine. The wounds appeared to be mainly bruising from the beating and superficial cuts and scratches rather than anything more serious. Keeping busy with little practical jobs rather than thinking about Sandulf’s rejection of her love made it possible for her to hold her hands steady.
Sandulf had never made any secret of the reasoning behind their marriage. And she had been under no illusions that she had cornered him in the interview with her aunt, forcing his hand. The one time they had discussed it, at Mother Mildreth’s cottage, he had firmly but kindly promised her friendship and nothing else.
‘Remain here with Bertana as your nurse,’ Ceanna said to Danr when she’d finished tending him. ‘Sandulf and I have the plan worked out to the last detail. I go back, show myself when a crowd of enough size has gathered and Sandulf will do the rest. Bertana has done well, spreading rumours about my death being false.’
Danr blocked the door. ‘With the greatest respect, you have that wrong. No son of Sigurd is a coward. I will join this fight. I will be at your side.’
‘You’ve been beaten. You’ve hung from a post for nearly a day.’
‘All the more reason for me to fight.’ He put his hands together. ‘Give me a weapon, any weapon. Allow me to help. I’m grateful for what you both have done so far, but he tempts the Norns who control his destiny too much. These men are determined to kill him and he lacks his sword.’
‘It goes with me. For later. We’ve worked it out.’
Danr blanched. ‘My very foolish baby brother. Will he never learn?’
‘He has a dagger in his boot. He said you’d approve of his boots.’
A wry smile crossed Danr’s face. ‘I knew I liked the cut of his boots.’
‘He thinks well of all his brothers. He wants them to think well of him.’
‘Rurik told me what he’d done to the other killers. The boy has to stop doing things all on his own.’ Danr shook his head. ‘It is how he gets himself into serious trouble. You should have seen him the summer before our father died. He rushed the enemy and was out on his own, down on one knee. We thought he was off to Valhalla for certain that day. Brandt fought his way to him to rescue him and received no thanks for it.’
‘My husband is not the impetuous boy bent on glory you remember.’ Ceanna quivered with righteous indignation. ‘He is a man, he is my husband and you will treat him with respect.’
Danr gave a low bow. ‘Aye, my lady. I beg your pardon.’
‘Granted.’ She graciously lowered her head. ‘It has preyed on his mind for a long time that he can’t measure up to his brothers. He told me about the skipping stone contests and how he always came last.’
‘Until the day he came first.’ Danr shook his head, laughing. ‘We must have another contest.’
‘I think he would welcome that.’
‘He was alone in the longhouse that day, looking after our sister-in-law,’ Danr said. ‘If he’d had help, who knows what might have happened. One young warrior against the four assassins who managed to murder our father and Vigmarr—two of the best warriors in the North—before people even understood what was happening? He is lucky to have emerged with his life.’
‘I’d understood that his brothers were all away, except for his middle brother Alarr who was severely injured in the fight outside the hall.’
‘There was one brother who wasn’t there who should have been.’ Danr’s cheeks flushed and he rapidly examined his boots. ‘I have to live with
