Beyond the Sea Mist (26 page)

She moved stealthily to Magnus’s sea chest and opened it. Digging beneath his cloak and other spare garments, she found a beverage skin and leather containers used for storing food. All of them were empty. At the bottom of the chest were some heavy cowhide boots, a dagger wrapped in a hank of raw wool and a cloth bag containing several pieces of jewelry, all of it simply made and fashioned of bronze and silver.

Ailinn returned the items to the chest and sat back on her heels. Where was the treasure? What had he done—taken all of it into the settlement to trade?

“Looking for something?”

She started as someone spoke from behind her. It was the old seaman, Vibold. She’d assumed he’d had left the ship with the rest of the crew. He fixed her with a shrewd look. “I doubt Magnus would begrudge you anything he owns. Still, I find it strange you waited until this moment to search his sea chest.”

Ailinn knew her face must be flaming with guilt. No matter what excuse she gave, it was likely Vibold would tell Magnus what he’d seen her doing, and Magnus would know exactly what she had been searching for. “I was looking for something to eat,” she said. “But all his food stores appear to be gone.”

“We broke our fast today the same as always,” Vibold pointed out. “If you wished for more, you could have asked Magnus then.”

“I was hoping he had some berries left. I tire of the eating the same food every meal.” Ailinn stood as tall as she could, hoping to intimidate the man and remind him of her status.

A whisper of a smile touched Vibold‘s leathery face. “You’re a poor liar. If I were you I would avoid situations that require it.” He gave her a hard look, then left her.

As Vibold started down the plank walkway to the dock, Ailinn felt herself go cold with dread. Once Magnus learned what she’d been doing, he would be certain to sell her.

After closing the lid of the chest, she went to the side of the ship and looked down at the dock. The men were milling around, talking and laughing and making plans. In the center of the gathering stood Magnus, holding the cloth sack in one hand. As she watched, Magnus reached in the sack and drew out some pieces of silver and handed them to the men. Ailinn felt more discouraged than ever. Gauging from the amount of silver in the sack, Magnus must have taken all the metalwork into the settlement and traded it.

All at once, as if he sensed her watching him, Magnus looked up. Their gazes met and Ailinn found herself breathlessly examining his features, searching for a hint of what he was feeling. She could swear she saw yearning in his eyes. But then she remembered what she’d just done, and her heart sank. In a moment, Vibold would go to him and tell him she’d been searching his sea chest, and all Magnus’s tender feelings for her would turn to loathing.

Magnus stood on the dock by the ship and tried to control his restlessness. As eager as he was to make arrangements for the house and his time alone with Ailinn, he couldn’t put his plan into motion yet. After paying the men their share of silver, he’d given most of them—including Orm—leave to go into the settlement. With only a handful of crew left to guard the vessels, he knew he must be one of them.

The men who stayed behind were mostly older fellows who’d visited many longphorts and were willing to wait for their chance at hot food and the other pleasures of going ashore, especially when Magnus had offered them each an extra bit of silver for their patience. Vibold was one of those who’d agreed to stay with the ships. He approached Magnus now. “I need to speak to you.”

Something in the tone of his voice made Magnus tense. “Aye. What is it?”

Vibold met Magnus’s gaze. “The woman...that fine little beauty you fancy... I caught her digging around in your sea chest as if she were looking for something. Now, I’m no fool. I know Croa had some sort of treasure stashed on the ship, besides the regular cargo. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had the means to pay the men. If there’s anything left of the hoard, you might think about where you’ve hidden it, for the wench is after it.”

Magnus waited for the familiar anger to come over him, but he didn’t feel it this time. He already knew what Ailinn was capable of and it didn’t matter. He couldn’t give her up.

Meeting Vibold’s gaze, he said, “She doesn’t understand that I mean to take care of her and keep her safe. She still feels like a helpless prisoner and behaves as if she must see to her own survival.”

Vibold nodded. “Aye, that’s my thought as well. Still, you’d best guard your wealth until you’ve convinced her of these things.”

“I will.” Magnus waited until Vibold had turned away, then unobtrusively touched the side of his tunic where Gyda had sewn a hidden pouch to hold valuables. Once again, he blessed his sister-by-marriage for her shrewdness. The pouch was the perfect spot to hide Croa’s treasure.

In addition to the three amulets in the pouch, he had a dagger stuck in his belt, as well two armbands around his left arm under his tunic. While it wasn’t particularly comfortable to carry around so much metalwork, it seemed like the only certain way to protect what remained of the cache. Ailinn wouldn’t learn where the treasure was until he removed his clothing, and at that point, he intended to make certain she was occupied doing other things and would have no time or inclination to rob him.

Heat spread over his body as he imagined it: a private dwelling lit by beeswax candles, their soft, glowing light revealing Ailinn’s slim, exquisite body. He would lay her back on the bed cushioned with sheepskins and covered with fine linen sheets, and then he would...

“Magnus?”

The sound of Orm’s voice jerked him from his musings. With effort, Magnus shook off the haze of lust and turned to face the younger man. “Why are you back so soon, Orm? I thought you’d spend the night in the settlement.”

A grin split Orm’s thin face. “Despite the silver in my pouch, I decided I’m unlikely to find any arrangement in York as promising as the one I have here.” He lifted his arms to indicate the things he carried. “I’ve brought food and wine...and a little bronze trinket I picked up on Coppergate. I thought that would please Brina.”

“You seem quite serious about making her happy.”

“I’m doing everything in hopes she’ll make
me
happy.” Orm winked. “What about you? What are your plans for your Irish wench?”

Magnus smiled back. “My plans are the same as yours. Although perhaps more extravagant.” He explained his goal of finding a house where he and Ailinn could be alone.

“So,” Orm said. “Despite everything, you’re still smitten with her.”

“Aye. I understand why she does what she does, and I believe if I make her feel safe and cared for, she’ll give up her scheming and deception.”

Orm cocked his head. “But is that what she wants, to feel safe? While that’s what most women seek, you’ve reminded me several times that she isn’t like most women.”

Magnus knew a twinge of doubt. What if Ailinn wanted more than a man who loved her and sought to make her happy? What if all he could offer wasn’t enough to satisfy her? An unnerving thought, but he wouldn’t let it deter him from his plan.

He forced himself to smile, pretending he shared Orm’s light-hearted outlook. “If I spend a night in bed with her, and she still wishes to have nothing to do with me, then at least I will have had the satisfaction of that one night.”

Orm grinned back. “Aye. You’ll have that. Perhaps you should go into the settlement and set your plan in motion. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things.”

“That’s a lot of responsibility, especially if you’re distracted.” Magnus fixed him with a grim look. “What if there’s trouble?”

Orm motioned to the tent. “Asgar came with me. He’s talking to Ullach now. Between the two of us, we should be able to handle anything. Vibold will also be watching out. He’ll alert us if there’s a need.”

Magnus was tempted. If he made arrangements for the house now, he could come back for Ailinn and have the whole night with her. He nodded. “York doesn’t seem as rough and dangerous as Dublin. King Guthfrith obviously has the area well under control.”

“Perhaps he’s farther away from his potential enemies. I’ve heard that the Saxons who once held this region have given up attempting to rebel, and the Danes haven’t yet cast their greedy gaze on this part of Albion.”

“Very well,” Magnus said. “I’m off to visit York. For pleasure this time, rather than for business. I’m leaving you in charge,” he added sternly. “And depending on you to watch over the ships and the women.”

“You can count on me,” Orm responded.

Magnus started to walk into settlement. As he left the dock, an idea took shape in his mind. What if he left Ailinn here in York when they sailed? He could purchase a house and some servants, and pay a visit to King Guthrith. If she had the king’s protection, she should be safe.

While he felt certain she would always yearn for her homeland, she must know how impossible the idea was. Ireland was a violent, unsettled place, and he had no way to protect her there. He must convince her that she would be happy here in York.

The thought made him move faster in the direction of Njall’s shop.

* * *

“Orm wants me to go with him to the other ship.” Brina spoke in a shy, tentative voice, then raised her gaze to meet Ailinn’s. “Does my lady give me leave to do so?” Her blue eyes were pleading.

“You know, of course, what he intends.” Ailinn felt she must warn Brina, though she knew her maid wouldn’t listen. And why should she? The fact that Orm was asking Brina to lie with him rather than forcing her seemed to indicate the young man had feelings for her beyond simple lust. The thought of it made Ailinn’s insides twist with regret over her own situation.

“Aye, I know,” Brina answered. “And the thing is, Lady...I want to.”

Ailinn repressed a sigh. If Magnus asked her to lie with him, she would be more than willing. How could she condemn her maid for doing the same? “Do what you will,” she told Brina. “You might as well get what pleasure you can.”
Who knows what will happen on the morrow?

Brina favored her with a glowing, dimpled smile before hurrying to where Orm waited. He carried a beverage skin and other provisions and looked very smug. Ailinn turned away, bitterness growing inside her. She wished she could be like Brina and enjoy life without a thought for duty. Nay, that wasn’t fair. In fact, Brina took her responsibility to Ailinn very seriously. That was why she’d asked Ailinn’s leave to go off with Orm. And if Ailinn were able to find a way to return to Ireland and asked Brina to come with her, she had no doubt Brina would do so.

The truth was that life was hard and brutal and most people could do no more than snatch what joy they could, whenever they could. Ailinn told herself she would do well to remember that. If Magnus gave her another chance, she would take it, even if it made their parting more wrenching and miserable in the end.

When she rejoined the other two women, Gormlaith immediately asked, “Did you find what you were looking for, Lady?”

“Nay.” Ailinn glanced around the ship. This would be the perfect opportunity to hunt for the metalwork. But if Orm were willing to leave her alone on the ship, the treasure couldn’t be hidden here. Magnus must have sold it already.

Ailinn let out a sigh and sat down on one of the sea chests. She couldn’t help but imagine Brina and Orm on the other ship, kissing, laughing, sharing the beverage skin. The awareness of their happiness made her ache with regret. Closing her eyes, she slid down onto the deck and leaned back against the chest. To fight her dark, disheartened thoughts, she conjured images of her home before the attack. Red valerian and pink foxglove climbing the fortress’s stone walls in spring. The smell of new hay in the meadows down by the river. The cook’s cat, Sithe, dozing in the sun by the herb garden...

* * *

“Lady. Lady, wake up!” Gormlaith’s urgent whisper pierced Ailinn’s hazy doze. “The Norseman is asking for you.”

Ailinn sat up and tried to focus her thoughts. It was still light, but that meant little this time of year when the sun set for only a few hours. She got to her feet and smoothed her gown. The words “the Norseman” aroused so many emotions. Her heart began to pound—with anticipation, with longing, with apprehension. What did he want with her now? Had he found out she was searching for the treasure? She must try to explain. Make him see she had a duty to avenge her family and she must do whatever was necessary to fulfill that duty.

He stood a few paces away, his tall form silhouetted in the blue twilight. “Ailinn,” he said. “Collect your possessions and come with me.”

Her anxiety deepened. “Where are we going? Why do I need my things?”

“Don’t argue,” he said.

Ailinn’s chest tightened with dread. He must be taking her to her new master.

Her hands trembled as she went to the tent and collected the leather bag containing her spare clothing, her sewing kit and the few pieces of jewelry Croa had allowed her to keep. “I’m ready,” she said. The words came out in a choked whisper.

Magnus didn’t respond, but motioned with his head to indicate she should precede him down the boarding plank. The plank was uneven and she started to slip. He grabbed her arm in a vise-like grip and steadied her. Supporting her with his hand, he helped her the rest of the way down the plank. As soon as they reached the solid surface of the dock, he released her.