arm wrapped tight around Fulla in the sling. “We'll need a goat to feed the baby.” She nudged her horse with her heels and led the way down the road.
What would they find in Suibhne? Idunna shivered inside her cloak.
* * * *
They stopped in a clearing at daybreak. Eoghann built a fire, then tended the horses. Idunna sat close to the flames, warming her stiff hands.
Birgir and Ealasaid walked together, stretching their legs and talking softly. Worried for Hella, no doubt, and the state of things in Solstad.
When Eoghann approached the fire again, he thumped down on the ground, rested his elbow on his bent knee, and settled his chin on his palm. A scabbed knot peeked from beneath his hair. Dark half-moons shadowed his eyes and weariness etched lines on his face.
“That wound needs tending,” she said.
“It needs a good night's rest, though I have no idea where to find one.” He didn't look away from the dancing flames. “It's nothing to waste time on.”
She shifted, folding her legs up beneath her skirt and hugging them. “Taking care of yourself isn't a waste of time. We'd be in trouble if you suddenly died.”
“Don't you know, Kentigerns don't die easily.” A faint smile touched his lips. “Hardy stock, all of us.”
He'd had more sisters than Ealasaid once. Another brother besides Diarmaid. What had become of them? Were they going to visit the very ground where his family had bled and died? The idea of it could no more please him than it did her.
“There's bread in the sack tied to my saddle. Stale, I'm sure, but it should comfort a growling stomach for a while.” He rose to fetch it.
“I could try to snare a rabbit. Fulla's whimpering and bread won't fill her. If we made broth from the bones, it would keep her fed until we reach the Scot village.”
“I have twine to set the snare. Take Birgir. It will keep him from worrying. I see the trouble on his face.” Eoghann passed her the bread and the rope. “Unless you prefer me to do it.”
“I can kill and cook a hare.” Her pride stung. Assuming she caught one, of course. Hunger demanded her to be strong enough to do all three things.
“Don't wander far. There might be strangers about.”
The forest was quiet. Not even birds made more than a few cautious chirps this morning. “We'll be fine, Eoghann.”
“Come straight back once you've set the snares.”
“You have my word.”
He nodded, then sank to the ground near the fire again.
Ealasaid and Birgir came toward the fire. Idunna met them half way. “Let's set a couple of snares, Birgir. We can feast this afternoon.”
“Can I go with Aunt Indunna, Ma?” He turned big blue eyes on his mother.
“If you promise to listen to her. I wouldn't mind a nice fat piece of rabbit.” Ealasaid rubbed her stomach. “Supper seems long ago.”
“I forgot to get a knife from your uncle. Run and fetch one.” Idunna patted the boy's shoulder.
He left with more energy than she had to spare. The young were often that way, eager even in the face of a dire situation.
“Eoghann is exhausted.”
“Pity him with the wretched duty of escorting two headstrong women, a boy and a babe across Northumbria.” Ealasaid's brow creased as she glanced toward her brother. “Is something troubling you?”
“Do you believe him?”
Ealasaid's mouth opened, then closed again with a snap. She cradled Fulla's body closer. “You think he's led us away. For what purpose?”
“I don't think it now, but when he first arrived in Solstad, I wondered briefly if he wasn't trying to escape.” Ashamed, she twisted the rope in her hands and avoided Ealasaid's gaze. “He's angry with me about it. Told me I could stay behind if I didn't believe him.”
“If he says Hella gave him the order to take us away from Solstad, I believe him. I would rather remain with the Scots than ride to Suibhne, but he's right, we may be safer where no one knows our location. Eoghann is honorable. He wouldn't go against Hella's
What would they find in Suibhne? Idunna shivered inside her cloak.
* * * *
They stopped in a clearing at daybreak. Eoghann built a fire, then tended the horses. Idunna sat close to the flames, warming her stiff hands.
Birgir and Ealasaid walked together, stretching their legs and talking softly. Worried for Hella, no doubt, and the state of things in Solstad.
When Eoghann approached the fire again, he thumped down on the ground, rested his elbow on his bent knee, and settled his chin on his palm. A scabbed knot peeked from beneath his hair. Dark half-moons shadowed his eyes and weariness etched lines on his face.
“That wound needs tending,” she said.
“It needs a good night's rest, though I have no idea where to find one.” He didn't look away from the dancing flames. “It's nothing to waste time on.”
She shifted, folding her legs up beneath her skirt and hugging them. “Taking care of yourself isn't a waste of time. We'd be in trouble if you suddenly died.”
“Don't you know, Kentigerns don't die easily.” A faint smile touched his lips. “Hardy stock, all of us.”
He'd had more sisters than Ealasaid once. Another brother besides Diarmaid. What had become of them? Were they going to visit the very ground where his family had bled and died? The idea of it could no more please him than it did her.
“There's bread in the sack tied to my saddle. Stale, I'm sure, but it should comfort a growling stomach for a while.” He rose to fetch it.
“I could try to snare a rabbit. Fulla's whimpering and bread won't fill her. If we made broth from the bones, it would keep her fed until we reach the Scot village.”
“I have twine to set the snare. Take Birgir. It will keep him from worrying. I see the trouble on his face.” Eoghann passed her the bread and the rope. “Unless you prefer me to do it.”
“I can kill and cook a hare.” Her pride stung. Assuming she caught one, of course. Hunger demanded her to be strong enough to do all three things.
“Don't wander far. There might be strangers about.”
The forest was quiet. Not even birds made more than a few cautious chirps this morning. “We'll be fine, Eoghann.”
“Come straight back once you've set the snares.”
“You have my word.”
He nodded, then sank to the ground near the fire again.
Ealasaid and Birgir came toward the fire. Idunna met them half way. “Let's set a couple of snares, Birgir. We can feast this afternoon.”
“Can I go with Aunt Indunna, Ma?” He turned big blue eyes on his mother.
“If you promise to listen to her. I wouldn't mind a nice fat piece of rabbit.” Ealasaid rubbed her stomach. “Supper seems long ago.”
“I forgot to get a knife from your uncle. Run and fetch one.” Idunna patted the boy's shoulder.
He left with more energy than she had to spare. The young were often that way, eager even in the face of a dire situation.
“Eoghann is exhausted.”
“Pity him with the wretched duty of escorting two headstrong women, a boy and a babe across Northumbria.” Ealasaid's brow creased as she glanced toward her brother. “Is something troubling you?”
“Do you believe him?”
Ealasaid's mouth opened, then closed again with a snap. She cradled Fulla's body closer. “You think he's led us away. For what purpose?”
“I don't think it now, but when he first arrived in Solstad, I wondered briefly if he wasn't trying to escape.” Ashamed, she twisted the rope in her hands and avoided Ealasaid's gaze. “He's angry with me about it. Told me I could stay behind if I didn't believe him.”
“If he says Hella gave him the order to take us away from Solstad, I believe him. I would rather remain with the Scots than ride to Suibhne, but he's right, we may be safer where no one knows our location. Eoghann is honorable. He wouldn't go against Hella's
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