parting with Evie and Ulna, Xára made her way to the master’s chamber. She was relieved to find Ghazi there awaiting her.
“My lady, I must make my way to the bailey to stand ready to escort Earl Godfraid. The guards will not leave your side. Not for a single moment. I have come to find out if you have any further instructions for me.”
She could have kissed the man, but instead touched his arm and indicated that he should enter the room with her. Xára went straight to the sand tray and scribbled. When she drew back, he read her words. “Evie is to remain in her chamber with Ulna. Extra guards for their room. She is not allowed below stairs.”
Ghazi examined her face. “You fear the earl would harm the child?”
Chapter Six
“’Twas a ruse,” Dráddør shouted to be heard over the horses’ pounding hooves. By his estimate, they were but one hill range away from Lathairn. Thank Odin, they had learned of Godfraid’s true direction when they detoured to Myrtle Harbor.
“Aye. And we fell for it,” Konáll yelled.
They crested the hummock and Dráddør’s gut twisted. “Loki’s cock be nailed to a cross!”
When they had seen the three ships anchored in Myrtle Harbor, they knew Godfraid had traveled with either considerable cargo or an army or both. The earl of Leòdhas had brought a sizeable force, and from the looks of the tents being erected around the castle’s walls, expected to stay for some time.
Dráddør pulled on the reins and slowed his horse to a trot.
Konáll and Tighe did the same.
“How many?” Dráddør asked.
“By my count two score,” Tighe replied. “They have not been here for long. See you, not a canvas has been raised.”
“Aye. This bodes no good.” Konáll dragged a hand though his hair.
Their mounts pranced impatiently while the warriors studied the figures darting in all directions. Dráddør scratched his jaw. “No whores or camp followers that I can see.”
“Aye. They have not been on the move for long. Mayhap Lathairn is his first stop.” Tighe patted his restless stallion.
“His only stop. Where else can he head from here but to Kenneth’s court?” Dráddør gathered his reins.
“None, but there or back to his kingdom. Unless, brother, Godfraid intends to make Lathairn part of his holdings.” Konáll scanned the dozens of armed men.
“Dráddør would have to be dead.” Tighe shrugged. “Otherwise Godfraid goes against the King’s command and he loses all.”
“Aye, if he kills Dráddør. But what of a fall from a horse? Or bad meat? I like not this sudden arrival of a neighboring lord and three langskips.” Konáll flicked his reins back and forth and studied the frenzied disorder 2tween the river and the castle.
“Or poison. You needs tell your brother the all of it,” Tighe declared.
“Aye. I do.” Quickly Dráddør told his brother everything that had happened since they arrived at Lathairn.
“’Twas wrong of you to keep this from me.” Konáll’s grim tone bespoke a growing anger.
“I did not want to put your wife and babe in danger of a long besiegement,” Dráddør responded, “And knew well you would refuse to leave until any danger to me was long past.”
“Egron approaches.” Tighe jutted a chin at a warrior galloping across the field.
Dráddør kneed his stallion into a canter.
The three of them met Egron halfway across the meadow. The warriors formed a tight circle around Egron.
“What news?” Dráddør demanded.
“Earl Godfraid and his wife arrived right after the None prayers.”
Egron’s rasped words knitted Dráddør’s gut into a tight coil. “Wife?”
“Aye. Ghazi said he feared Lady Xára would swoon, she went so white when she learned of his wife’s name.”
“Xára does not seem the kind of female easily cowered,” Tighe stated.
“Nay.” Dráddør recalled the way Xára had paled when she wrote the name of Arnfinn’s mistress. Magnhildur, Lady Jennie’s cousin. Nay. What
“My lady, I must make my way to the bailey to stand ready to escort Earl Godfraid. The guards will not leave your side. Not for a single moment. I have come to find out if you have any further instructions for me.”
She could have kissed the man, but instead touched his arm and indicated that he should enter the room with her. Xára went straight to the sand tray and scribbled. When she drew back, he read her words. “Evie is to remain in her chamber with Ulna. Extra guards for their room. She is not allowed below stairs.”
Ghazi examined her face. “You fear the earl would harm the child?”
Chapter Six
“’Twas a ruse,” Dráddør shouted to be heard over the horses’ pounding hooves. By his estimate, they were but one hill range away from Lathairn. Thank Odin, they had learned of Godfraid’s true direction when they detoured to Myrtle Harbor.
“Aye. And we fell for it,” Konáll yelled.
They crested the hummock and Dráddør’s gut twisted. “Loki’s cock be nailed to a cross!”
When they had seen the three ships anchored in Myrtle Harbor, they knew Godfraid had traveled with either considerable cargo or an army or both. The earl of Leòdhas had brought a sizeable force, and from the looks of the tents being erected around the castle’s walls, expected to stay for some time.
Dráddør pulled on the reins and slowed his horse to a trot.
Konáll and Tighe did the same.
“How many?” Dráddør asked.
“By my count two score,” Tighe replied. “They have not been here for long. See you, not a canvas has been raised.”
“Aye. This bodes no good.” Konáll dragged a hand though his hair.
Their mounts pranced impatiently while the warriors studied the figures darting in all directions. Dráddør scratched his jaw. “No whores or camp followers that I can see.”
“Aye. They have not been on the move for long. Mayhap Lathairn is his first stop.” Tighe patted his restless stallion.
“His only stop. Where else can he head from here but to Kenneth’s court?” Dráddør gathered his reins.
“None, but there or back to his kingdom. Unless, brother, Godfraid intends to make Lathairn part of his holdings.” Konáll scanned the dozens of armed men.
“Dráddør would have to be dead.” Tighe shrugged. “Otherwise Godfraid goes against the King’s command and he loses all.”
“Aye, if he kills Dráddør. But what of a fall from a horse? Or bad meat? I like not this sudden arrival of a neighboring lord and three langskips.” Konáll flicked his reins back and forth and studied the frenzied disorder 2tween the river and the castle.
“Or poison. You needs tell your brother the all of it,” Tighe declared.
“Aye. I do.” Quickly Dráddør told his brother everything that had happened since they arrived at Lathairn.
“’Twas wrong of you to keep this from me.” Konáll’s grim tone bespoke a growing anger.
“I did not want to put your wife and babe in danger of a long besiegement,” Dráddør responded, “And knew well you would refuse to leave until any danger to me was long past.”
“Egron approaches.” Tighe jutted a chin at a warrior galloping across the field.
Dráddør kneed his stallion into a canter.
The three of them met Egron halfway across the meadow. The warriors formed a tight circle around Egron.
“What news?” Dráddør demanded.
“Earl Godfraid and his wife arrived right after the None prayers.”
Egron’s rasped words knitted Dráddør’s gut into a tight coil. “Wife?”
“Aye. Ghazi said he feared Lady Xára would swoon, she went so white when she learned of his wife’s name.”
“Xára does not seem the kind of female easily cowered,” Tighe stated.
“Nay.” Dráddør recalled the way Xára had paled when she wrote the name of Arnfinn’s mistress. Magnhildur, Lady Jennie’s cousin. Nay. What
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