The truth was, she felt no connection to Clonagh, since she had never visited the lands. It wasn’t difficult to set aside her legacy and look towards a different future. She had always believed she would live with her husband.
Alarr poured more mead for her. ‘Do you remember your family at all?’
Breanne shook her head. ‘Feann was more of a father to me than anyone else.’ She said nothing of her father’s betrayal, for she had been warned never to speak of it, and Feann believed it was dangerous.
‘Do you think he claimed your parents’ lands upon their death?’
Breanne shook her head. Her suspicions rose up at so many questions, but she finished by saying, ‘Feann is not a conqueror. He’s a good man.’
A sudden darkness came over Alarr’s face, as if he did not care for the king. Breanne ventured, ‘You don’t agree with me, do you?’
He masked his emotions immediately. ‘I hardly know him.’
But somehow, she didn’t fully believe him. Alarr stood, and the sudden motion made him catch the edge of the table for balance. He reached for her hand and led her towards the dais. As they walked, she noticed his limp was more pronounced than usual. Perhaps his scowl was from pain instead of something her foster father had done.
When they reached the table where Styr and Caragh were dining, the young woman smiled at her in friendship. Alarr spoke with Styr in their native language, which Breanne could not understand. Instead, she drew closer to Caragh and asked in a low voice, ‘What are they saying?’
Caragh answered, ‘Alarr has asked us for men to accompany you to Killcobar. In return, he is offering his services to us.’
‘What services?’
‘It is time to harvest the grain, and we need many hands to accomplish the work. We are also trying to build the remaining longhouses before the winter sets in. Our people need shelter, and we cannot fit everyone here.’
‘So he intends to bargain our labour in exchange for escorts?’
Caragh nodded. ‘It is reasonable enough. But while Styr may send men to protect you, I do not think they will fight.’
Breanne nodded and lowered her voice so no one else could overhear her. ‘It would be better if Alarr brought me home without asking for a ransom.’ It was possible that Feann would grant him a reward if he asked for nothing. ‘If he makes a demand for silver, I cannot say what my foster father will do.’
Caragh’s face turned grave and she spoke quietly to her husband in the Norse language before she turned back to Breanne. ‘We have come to an agreement. You will stay with us for the next fortnight, and afterwards, Styr will send a dozen men to guard you on your journey to Killcobar. But they will remain outside the gates.’ It was clear that they would not allow their own men to face any threats.
A fortnight was far too long. Breanne shook her head. ‘I cannot remain here for longer than a few days.’
‘It will take more time than that to harvest the grain,’ Caragh argued. ‘My men cannot leave until it has been stored for the winter.’
Breanne understood the woman’s dilemma and tried to find a compromise. Alarr and Styr were engaged in their own conversation, but she still kept her voice low. ‘Will you allow me to send word to my foster father? It might put his mind at rest if I tell him I am staying here by choice.’
‘Feann would send only men to fetch you,’ Caragh predicted. ‘And I don’t believe Alarr would let you leave with them.’
Breanne sobered, knowing that she was right, ‘No. He wouldn’t.’ Although he had unbound her wrist to allow her to eat, she had no doubt that he would bind her again this night. His behaviour was possessive, almost overprotective.
Alarr stood with Styr, and he sent her a warning look to stay with Caragh. The two men walked down from the dais to speak with Rurik, giving them a measure of privacy.
Caragh eyed her with sincerity. ‘You must understand why we will not risk a fight within our gates between Feann and Alarr. We will not allow the king’s men inside our settlement. Else it would bring harm to our own people.’
Frustration blossomed within Breanne when she realised there was no choice but to back down. ‘I can stay for a sennight, but no longer. Afterwards, if you have finished harvesting your grain for the winter, will you send your men to accompany us?’
Caragh nodded. ‘We will. Or you can leave beforehand, if you believe Alarr and Rurik would provide adequate protection.’
She hesitated. Although both men were Lochlannach fighters, there was no denying that there were dangers in travelling with such a small group. Two arrows could bring them down, leaving her unprotected.
‘You are right,’ she admitted. ‘It would be safer to travel with more men.’
Caragh brightened. ‘Good. We will be going out to work in the fields in the morning, and we would welcome your help.’
Breanne was embarrassed to admit the truth. ‘I have never harvested grain before. I know very little about it.’
‘The men will cut the stalks, and we will collect the grain and shake the kernels free.’ Caragh said. ‘The women will show
