As they neared the slave-house, Inger came out with a heavy pan full of water and Tara was suddenly smitten with guilt as she realized that she was about to say goodbye to the two people who had made life bearable for her in this place. She would be leaving to live life as a free person while they remained slaves. The thought was almost too much to bear. She turned to Erik.
“I have two friends here,” she whispered, hanging her head. “Brendan and Inger. I feel bad about leaving them. They have been so good to me.”
Erik looked at her. Tears shimmered on her lashes, illuminating her beautiful eyes as she felt sad for her friends who would be left behind. She looked at him pleadingly.
“Can you help?” she asked softly. “I cannot bear to leave them here while I go free.”
Erik was taken aback. He had come to rescue one slave, not three! But it was true; her rescue had not cost him anywhere near what he expected.
“Please?” she begged again, her stunning green eyes looking pleadingly into his.
He sighed. “Very well. I will speak to Gunilla. But I cannot promise that she will allow two more slaves to leave the household.”
“Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed, impulsively stepping forward to hug him. She stopped herself just in time, her arms dropping to her sides. “I am so grateful,” she said softly. “One day, I will repay you.”
“You owe me nothing,” Erik said. “Freedom is a gift that I am happy to give to you.”
“I will repay you,” she insisted. “If not for me, then for my friends.”
“I have not secured their freedom yet,” he warned. “Do not be hasty to assume that they will be going with us. Get ready to leave while I go to see Gunilla.”
A short time later, Erik returned, a grin on his face as he entered the barn where Tara was waiting for him. “Gunilla did not wish to let Inger go,” he said. “I had to pay more than what an old slave is worth to convince her.”
“What about Brendan?” she asked anxiously.
“I paid what a male slave is worth at the markets and she agreed. I think she needs the money since Taft has been unable to work,” he replied.
“There is one other thing,” she said shyly, dropping her eyes.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I wish to take my cat with me. His name is Kappi.”
Erik looked at the fluffy cat that was winding its way around her legs and rolled his eyes. “Soon we will have the entire barnyard trailing along behind us,” he muttered. “Are there any sheep you also wish to take? Or a chicken or two?”
Tara felt like sticking out her tongue at him but decided that she’d better not. “No,” she replied demurely. “There is only me, and Kappi, and Inger, and Brendan …”
Erik was half-amused, half-exasperated. “I came to set you free but we’ve ended up with half of Taft’s household,” he grumbled.
Tara smiled sweetly at him. “Do not be cross, Erik,” she said. “Inger is a good cook and Brendan works hard. You will not be sorry you bought them.”
“So you do not expect me to set them free as well?”
“I cannot ask you to do that,” she said. “They cost you a lot of money. I simply wished them to be safe from Taft.”
“I can understand that,” he said.
“But if you agree to set them free, I will earn the money that it cost and I will repay you.”
“I am a traveling merchant,” Erik said. “I am seldom home and I have little need for slaves. I will consider your offer and will perhaps set them free.”
“Oh, thank you!” Tara exclaimed, clasping her hands together in a gesture of delight, her cheeks pink and her eyes shining. “I have never met anyone as kind and good as you. Thank you!”
As Erik looked at her lovely face, beaming with delight over the good fortune that her friends would now share, he thought he had never seen anyone so beautiful. Buying two extra slaves had never been in his plan, but if it made her happy, it was worth it.
“This is where I live,” Erik said, drawing the wagon to a stop outside his longhouse. “Einar lives here for now but in two weeks he will marry and then he will be living in Merilant.”
“Merilant?” Tara questioned.
“It is the next village on this road,” Erik answered. “You will be lodging there with Leopolda the widow.”
Tara put her hand on Kappi’s soft, furry back. She was surprised at how readily the cat had adapted to life on the road. He seemed to know that he had to stay with his human friends and had shown no inclination to wander or any desire to return to his old home.
“What about Kappi?” she asked hesitantly. “Will he be welcome there?”
“I know not,” Erik said. “But Leopolda is kind and she likes animals. You will have to ask her when you arrive. If she says no, he can live here with Inger. That is, of course, if Inger chooses to stay here.”
Tara looked at him. “You mean …?” She hardly dared to ask the question.
Erik nodded. “Yes. I have decided to set them free.”
Tara squealed with delight and turned to Brendan. “Did you hear that, Brendan? Did you listen, Inger? Erik is setting you free! Oh, this is such good news!”
She twirled around in delight, her vibrant hair flying around her head in a colorful blur. Erik was mesmerized by this exquisite creature who had set about upending his life from
