Lord of Raven's Peak - Catherine Coulter [102]
“The warrior raised his sword high, kissed its finely worked iron handle, then said, ‘What is due you, Helga? You are the evil one, Ferlain is only weak, her powers enhanced only by yours. As for you men, you wretched husbands, you are pitiful. What should I do with you?”’
Laren quieted and looked down at her feet. There was utter silence. She slowly raised her head and looked at Merrik. “If you were the Viking warrior, what would you do, Merrik?”
“I would kill Helga and banish the other three.”
Laren smiled. “Do you agree, Oleg?”
“Aye, spit the witch on his sword!”
“Aye! Aye!”
Even the women yelled to kill Helga.
Laren waited until they quieted again. “All of you are right, in a sense. The warrior didn’t spit Helga on his sword. He walked up to her, stared down at her, and spoke softly, very softly, strange words that even she had never heard. It sounded to the king like a strange benediction. The warrior’s voice was so very smooth and steady. He raised his hand over her head, just held his hand there. She didn’t move, didn’t say a word. It was as if she were turned to stone. In the next instant, she began to fade away, growing dimmer and dimmer until naught remained but an armlet of solid gold that suddenly fell to the floor, thudding loudly. No one said a word, even her husband, Fromm.
“The king once again told the others to leave and so they did, grateful that they hadn’t been made to disappear like Helga. The Viking warrior walked back to the king and Ninian. He said, ‘I have gained my freedom now. I will return to you, Ninian, but as a man. I will still guard you, but it will be with a mortal’s life and a mortal’s strength. Look for me, Ninian, for I will come back.’
“With those words, the Viking warrior, just like Helga, paled into nothingness, at last simply clear air against the whitewashed wall.”
Laren raised her hands and said finally, “It is over.”
“But did the Viking warrior return as he promised?”
Laren grinned toward Merrik. “Aye, he will return, and he will protect Ninian.”
When Merrik lifted the woolen blanket and eased down onto the box bed beside her, he said, “Are their names really Helga and Ferlain?”
“Aye.”
“I am the Viking warrior.”
“Aye, you are.”
“Why didn’t Taby say anything?”
“I told him not to.”
“Ah. Do you truly believe it is Helga behind your abduction?”
“I don’t know. Her dislike of Taby and me was the most obvious. The husbands aren’t quite as stupid as I made them out to be, or as innocent. Fromm is a huge man, ugly and vicious. Cardle is weak-chinned with stooped shoulders. He whines when he doesn’t get his way. No two men could be more unalike than they.”
“I will see, won’t I?”
“Aye, we will see together, Merrik.”
He held silent, frowning into the darkness. “Nay, you will remain here at Malverne. It is now your home, your responsibility. Besides, I would keep both you and Taby safe. It was my vow to you.”
“Nay, I must come with you. You do not know these people. I do. I could protect you. We will leave Taby here.”
“You will obey me, Laren. You are my wife. You will obey me. I do not need your protection.”
“Stubborn man,” she said under her breath, but knew he’d heard her. Before he could reply, she rolled over to him and grabbed his face between her two hands. She kissed him, missing his mouth, then finding it in the darkness, kissing him hard until he parted his lips, and she slipped her tongue within to find his and feel the warmth and sweetness of him.
“You think to seduce me,” he said, his voice bemused, for she was innocent, yet she had no thought to hide from him, to play the coy maid, or allow him alone to direct their lovemaking.
“Aye, of course I do. Now be quiet. I love how you taste, Merrik.”
He smiled and she felt the softening of his mouth against her lips. “You won’t change my mind, Laren, no matter what you do.”
“This I do for myself,” she said, and came over on top of him, her loose hair spilling around