though she knew Néill and Magnhildur would view the act as one of her cowardice. Aye. She nodded and then pointed to the archway leading to the kitchens.
Ghazi frowned. “You wish Haakon to accompany you to the kitchens?”
She shook her head.
“My sister will inform the cook to prepare a welcome feast while Haakon prepares to greet Earl Godfraid,” Evie declared. She jammed her hands onto her hips and tilted her head to meet Xára’s stare. “I must stay with you to be your voice.”
Dare she trust Evie not to say some wickedness?
“I vow on the Lord, I will only do what you want.” Evie pressed a hand to her heart. “If you say nay, I will steal away and follow you anyway.”
Xára rolled her eyes. Evie would be the death of her.
Giving her sister a behave-yourself stare, she nodded.
“We will go to the kitchens and then retire to our chambers until ’tis time for the meal. Is that not so, Xára?” Evie addressed her words to Ghazi, though the question was for Xára.
Once again, Xára nodded.
“These two men will accompany you to the kitchens.” Ghazi indicated the two Vikings who flanked him. “I myself will fetch you for the meal should Lord Dráddør not return before then. I will take my leave of you now, my lady.”
In truth, Xára was relieved to see Ghazi leave. She had too much to do to worry about sneaking around the Viking.
Time seemed to race ahead of the tasks needing to be completed.
Xára, assisted by Ulna and Evie, organized the rooms for the coming guests. When it came the time to choose the ale and mead for the evening repast, Xára had an epiphany. She grinned at the barrel of ale. Lara, the healer, had used a powerful emetic to try and cleanse the poison from Jennie’s body. The ground herb had little taste and could easily be added to the pitcher she would designate for Godfraid, Magnhildur, and Néill. ’Twas hard not to jump up and down at the notion of using Magnhildur’s nasty tricks on the wicked woman herself.
But to put her idea into effect she had to escape the two guards Ghazi had assigned to them and persuade Evie’s mischief cohort, the smithy’s son, Ívarr, to serve the guests exclusively. The two Vikings proved markedly vigilant and Xára realized the tunnels would be the only way to dodge their scrutiny.
First she had to ensure Evie remained hidden away from Néill.
Dare she trust Evie to stay with Ulna through the whole night? Nay. Evie would go to the tunnels to spy on the visitors the moment Ulna began to snore. Xára decided to bar the entrances to the tunnels from all the chambers in the west wing.
“Think you Néill rides with Godfraid?”
Evie’s whispered query startled Xára out of her contemplative trance. She glanced at Evie and her stomach sank. The sprite’s fear emanated in waves and Xára knew she had to be convincing in her pretense of bravery.
Aye , she mouthed.
“Think you he has heard of the wedding? I hope not. For I would love to see the look of surprise on his face when he finds out.” Evie stamped a foot. “Think you, you carry a bairn, Xára?”
The question so shocked Xára, she gasped. She stared at the braided gyrdel hanging low on her belly. Could she? Oh how she longed to talk with Jennie. But could she share the wickedness she and Dráddør had done with Jennie? Was what he’d done with his mouth and tongue 2tween her thighs normal?
“Sister.” Evie yanked at her sleeve. “Do you?”
Xára hushed Evie by placing two fingers on the girl’s mouth.
The thunder of hooves pounding dirt drowned the low murmur of conversation in the kitchens.
“They are here.” All charade of bravado had vanished from Evie’s tone. Her rosy cheeks paled and she kept glancing to the great hall.
Xára squeezed Evie’s shoulder and pointed to the servants’ stairs. She picked up her skirts and hurried across the room.
Evie and Xára dashed up the steps followed closely by the two Vikings while Ulna lumbered behind them. After
Ghazi frowned. “You wish Haakon to accompany you to the kitchens?”
She shook her head.
“My sister will inform the cook to prepare a welcome feast while Haakon prepares to greet Earl Godfraid,” Evie declared. She jammed her hands onto her hips and tilted her head to meet Xára’s stare. “I must stay with you to be your voice.”
Dare she trust Evie not to say some wickedness?
“I vow on the Lord, I will only do what you want.” Evie pressed a hand to her heart. “If you say nay, I will steal away and follow you anyway.”
Xára rolled her eyes. Evie would be the death of her.
Giving her sister a behave-yourself stare, she nodded.
“We will go to the kitchens and then retire to our chambers until ’tis time for the meal. Is that not so, Xára?” Evie addressed her words to Ghazi, though the question was for Xára.
Once again, Xára nodded.
“These two men will accompany you to the kitchens.” Ghazi indicated the two Vikings who flanked him. “I myself will fetch you for the meal should Lord Dráddør not return before then. I will take my leave of you now, my lady.”
In truth, Xára was relieved to see Ghazi leave. She had too much to do to worry about sneaking around the Viking.
Time seemed to race ahead of the tasks needing to be completed.
Xára, assisted by Ulna and Evie, organized the rooms for the coming guests. When it came the time to choose the ale and mead for the evening repast, Xára had an epiphany. She grinned at the barrel of ale. Lara, the healer, had used a powerful emetic to try and cleanse the poison from Jennie’s body. The ground herb had little taste and could easily be added to the pitcher she would designate for Godfraid, Magnhildur, and Néill. ’Twas hard not to jump up and down at the notion of using Magnhildur’s nasty tricks on the wicked woman herself.
But to put her idea into effect she had to escape the two guards Ghazi had assigned to them and persuade Evie’s mischief cohort, the smithy’s son, Ívarr, to serve the guests exclusively. The two Vikings proved markedly vigilant and Xára realized the tunnels would be the only way to dodge their scrutiny.
First she had to ensure Evie remained hidden away from Néill.
Dare she trust Evie to stay with Ulna through the whole night? Nay. Evie would go to the tunnels to spy on the visitors the moment Ulna began to snore. Xára decided to bar the entrances to the tunnels from all the chambers in the west wing.
“Think you Néill rides with Godfraid?”
Evie’s whispered query startled Xára out of her contemplative trance. She glanced at Evie and her stomach sank. The sprite’s fear emanated in waves and Xára knew she had to be convincing in her pretense of bravery.
Aye , she mouthed.
“Think you he has heard of the wedding? I hope not. For I would love to see the look of surprise on his face when he finds out.” Evie stamped a foot. “Think you, you carry a bairn, Xára?”
The question so shocked Xára, she gasped. She stared at the braided gyrdel hanging low on her belly. Could she? Oh how she longed to talk with Jennie. But could she share the wickedness she and Dráddør had done with Jennie? Was what he’d done with his mouth and tongue 2tween her thighs normal?
“Sister.” Evie yanked at her sleeve. “Do you?”
Xára hushed Evie by placing two fingers on the girl’s mouth.
The thunder of hooves pounding dirt drowned the low murmur of conversation in the kitchens.
“They are here.” All charade of bravado had vanished from Evie’s tone. Her rosy cheeks paled and she kept glancing to the great hall.
Xára squeezed Evie’s shoulder and pointed to the servants’ stairs. She picked up her skirts and hurried across the room.
Evie and Xára dashed up the steps followed closely by the two Vikings while Ulna lumbered behind them. After
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