Page 25 of Viking in Love

Now he had their attention!

CHAPTER SIX

And then the other shoe dropped…

Breanne was huddled with her sisters in the Larkspur courtyard the next morning discussing Tyra’s imminent departure for her home. Hawkshire was in the southern portion of Northumbria, closer to the market town of Jorvik.

“I still think I should stay with you,” Tyra insisted. She was dressed today for travel, but also for protection against brigands—who abounded here in the northern wilds, not to mention Archbishop Dunstan’s men, who might already be searching for Oswald.

Once a warrior who led their father’s troops, Tyra wore a soldier’s short-sleeved leather tunic over slim braies covering her exceedingly long legs, but there the military similarity ended. Yea, her forearms and thighs were roped with muscle from her warrior training, but etched silver armlets, a gold-buckled belt, and a sable-lined cloak denoted her rank as a Norse princess warrior.

Although wife to Adam of Hawkshire and mother to a precious daughter, Tyra would never forget her role in life. Every person, man or woman, had gods-given skills, and Tyra’s were those of a fighter.

“’Tis best you go home to create an atmosphere of normalcy,” Breanne advised. “Besides, I know you miss your husband and daughter sorely.”

“I do,” Tyra admitted, “but we have always stuck together in time of trouble.”

“You can help us best by going home and having Adam contact his uncle Eirik at Ravenshire. Eirik will know how to help us get back to Stoneheim. Once back in the Norselands, we will be safe.”

“Even if only Vana goes back at first, I will feel better.” Ingrith swiped at the tears welling in her eyes.

“The rest of us can claim ignorance,” Drifa said.

“I agree. Getting Vana back under Father’s shield is our top priority.” Easier said than done. Breanne bit her thumbnail nervously.

“Will you all come back to visit at Hawkshire once Vana is on her way home?” Tyra asked.

“I do not know, Tyra. Mayhap some time in the future,” Drifa said. “All this excitement…well, a peaceful stay at home might be best. Leastways over the winter.”

“Pray gods that we be home for winter,” Vana interjected in a small voice.

They all linked hands, forming a circle, and entreated the Norse gods and the Christian One-God to grant their wishes.

Ivan and Ivar led the saddled horses out of the stable, and the sisters hugged once again, tears rimming all their eyes. They had been through so much of late, especially Vana, who was slowly healing from her battering, though she would wear the scars inside forever, Breanne suspected.

But enough was enough. Best that Vana, the two guards, and Rashid were on their way. Soon the Larkspur lout, and his loutish cohorts, would be home from their ludicrous bout of widow courting. There were no secrets in a keep this size. It was best the sister ranks were reduced before he ordered them to depart as a whole, as he had already done.

Just then, Rashid rushed out of the keep. “The lung fever is spreading amongst the children. I must stay.”

Breanne’s heart raced. “How bad is it?”

“A kitchen maid caught the fever and passed it on to two of the children. They must be isolated before others succumb, as well. The little ones are most susceptible.”

“Piers? The baby?” Breanne clutched her hands to her chest with worry.

“May Allah weep, he is the worst.”

Rashid was a skilled healer, having worked under Adam’s tutelage for years. There could be no better medical provider in time of illness. Already, he was telling one of the housecarls and Drifa which herbs they would need and where to gather them.

Thus it was that a short time later, Tyra and the two guards had left for Hawkshire while Rashid and the four sisters were left to deal with yet another dire circumstance. The first had been a life blow, this a life threat.

Could it be that this was why they had been sent to Larkspur, of all the places in Britain they could have gone into hiding? Perchance the celestial beings, whether Odin or God, had destined them to choose this remote estate because they were going to be needed.

Breanne laughed as she entered the keep behind Rashid and her sisters. What would Caedmon think of her being his destiny?

Where’s the Pony Express when you need it?…

By afternoon of the next day, Breanne knew she had to do something about the still-missing Caedmon and his comrade friends. Three of the children, two of the sentries, one housemaid, and a stable boy were very ill and might not recover.