Lord of Raven's Peak - Catherine Coulter [100]
Oleg was there, some feet away from him, waiting. “When you are ready, Merrik, we will speak with each of our people. We should not wait too much longer, for memories blur and people forget.”
“Aye,” Merrik said, kissed her once more and left her.
“They are questioning everyone to see where they were when Erik was killed,” Sarla said.
Laren didn’t say anything. She was suddenly thinking that the man who had struck Erik with the rock wouldn’t simply blurt out his guilt when confronted. No, he would have thought about this, reasoned it out and devised a story that would be reasonable. Or a woman, she thought. A woman could have struck Erik down.
She looked after her new husband, striding tall and determined beside Oleg. She tasted the warmth and sweetness of him on her mouth, the delight of him throughout her body. She cooled suddenly, her mind sharp and clear. She felt deep fear of the unknown man or woman who had passed her on the trail, looking down at her, knowing she would be blamed. And then, quite suddenly, she realized she hadn’t been completely unconscious when that man had passed her. She saw him lean over her, staring down at her, then rising, smiling. No sound from him, just that smile of his. If only she could see him. Ah, but she knew now it was a man, for that silent smile sounded yet in her mind.
She had to find Merrik.
Whose laughter?
“ . . . Prince Ninian was gone with no trace. The king was beside himself with grief. He took to his bed, refusing to eat or to drink. On the third day, he lay weak and uncaring about himself, about his kingdom, guilt overcoming all. He had lost Ninian and thus he had failed and didn’t deserve to live. He hadn’t kept the child safe and he knew Ninian was the future and now that future was blighted and it was all his fault.
“Suddenly, he saw a faint shadow form behind the candlelight. He stared at it, his mouth opening in awe and fear as the shadow grew and grew, becoming more and more solid, until finally, it was a man. It was a Viking warrior, huge sword in his hand, garbed in a rough bearskin, a pounded gold helmet on his head, his eyes a beautiful startling blue. The warrior stared at him, then said, contempt lacing his words, ‘You will cease your grieving. You are the king. You will act the king. If you do not, your daughters will force themselves into power upon your death, placing their sodden, weak-willed husbands on the throne. Indeed I know that it is Helga’s husband, Fromm, who will take your place. Helga’s magic is greater than Ferlain’s. Ferlain and her husband, Cardle, will both die from poisoning.
“ ‘Rise now and resume your duties. Eat and drink and regain your strength. Bathe and robe yourself. Become once again the man you are supposed to be.’
“ ‘But Ninian, my beautiful boy, what of him?’
“ ‘I will fetch him now. When I return with him, I will see to it that your daughters and their husbands receive the punishment due them.’
“ ‘Ninian is not dead?’
“The warrior shook his head, the gold helmet catching the light of the candle flame, brilliant and dazzling as the midday sun.
“ ‘But who are you? How do you know these things?’
“The Viking warrior said, ‘Rise and be ready to receive Ninian. You will deal with your daughters and their husbands. Beware of Helga. She called forth the demons to kill Ninian. She will try to kill you as well.’
“The king leapt out of the bed. He felt young and incredibly strong, his days of privation forgotten. He wanted to touch the Viking warrior, but even as he walked toward him, the warrior seemed to retreat from him, though the king knew he hadn’t moved. The air was still and warm and the warrior just seemed to grow dimmer until he was a veil spun of the finest silk, then he was naught but a brief shadow, then nothing at all.
“The king stood there, fear curdling in his belly. Then, because he was the king, indomitable and decisive, he yelled for his servants. After he had supped and drunk his fill, he returned to his vast chamber to await the return of Ninian and the Viking warrior.
“He had not