“I think there is someone who knows where he went,” Wolf said with a smile to Raven.
“Who is he? Where do we find him?” Arran asked anxiously.
“He’ll find you,” Raven said.
It wasn’t long before one of Wolf’s trackers arrived with a message from Iver and plans were formed. Raven stood behind the longhouse where the men gathered so none could be seen. She wished she was going with them, but she and others would remain behind to keep watch on the clan. With Wolf’s warriors surrounding Brynjar’s camp and ale plentiful to keep them busy, she didn’t fear any problems with the men.
Wolf came to stand in front of her, looking like the Northman warrior, swathed in furs, leather, and weapons, that had come to claim her the day she had returned home. He had put a fright in her that day, but not today. Today she saw him as the mighty warrior the Beast, ready to devour anything in his path.
“Make sure and stay here, wife,” Wolf ordered.
“I will stay here,” she assured him. “And you will give me your word that you will do your best to return home safe to me.”
He kissed her and whispered, “It’s difficult to kill a Beast.”
She grinned. “I had no trouble taming one.”
“We’ll see about that later tonight,” he challenged and kissed her again. He turned away from her and her words stopped him.
“Come back to me or I will make it my mission in life to kill the one who took you from me.”
He turned and grabbed her arm. “You will do no such thing. You could be with child right now. You will keep that in mind and do nothing that would put you or our bairn in danger.” He didn’t wait for her to respond, he walked away and didn’t look back.
Raven remained where she stood, stunned by the intensity of his words and the way his dark eyes had flared with angry worry. The man truly did love her. She watched with a heavy heart as her husband, brother, and four warriors made their way into the nearby woods.
Iver’s message had been clear. Two of Brynjar’s warriors had left the camp and Brynjar joined them a short time later. One warrior went ahead of Brynjar and one trailed behind him. They were headed toward the village from a different direction. Iver told them where they should go to stop them from reaching the village.
Raven understood why her husband didn’t take a troop of warriors with him. He planned on a surprise and quick attack that would see Brynjar and his two warriors dead before they could lift a weapon. This would finally be done and Brynjar would threaten them no more.
She joined Clive, who waited at the back corner of the longhouse for her.
“It is good that this will be done and over,” he said as he walked with her around to the front.
Raven nodded and squared her shoulders. “I need to keep busy or I will worry endlessly. Where are the men?” She held up her hand. “George is at the keep with Eria and also Detta where he was ordered to remain. What of Brod?”
“He’s drinking with Brynjar’s men to see if he can find out anything.” Clive shook his head. “I don’t know how he does it, but he works his way in with strangers without them even realizing it. Fyn is with Greta, watching over her and Tait.”
“Where’s Lars?”
“He’s with Gorm making sure all goes well,” Clive said.
“And you’re to look after me?”
“Your life has been threatened,” he reminded.
“No more than a ruse to distract from Brynjar’s true intention.”
“Clive, can you help a minute?” Lars called out, waving him over toward one of the storage sheds throughout the village.
“Come with me,” Clive said reluctant to leave her.
“Go, I’m good. The village is well protected and I can well protect myself,” she urged. “Besides I wouldn’t mind some time to wander alone with my thoughts.”
“Stay where you can be seen,” he said like a parent worried for his child.
“I will, now go,” she ordered with a smile and he left with a shake of his head.
Raven felt as if a burden had been lifted off her. She hadn’t realized how much it had made her feel a prisoner to have someone constantly following her. She was glad for the reprieve.
She smiled at the bairns who ran about in play oblivious to the possibility of battle that loomed around them. Their parents weren’t. Weapons sat conveniently at hand by cottages and hung from belts. Shields were everywhere, ready to be grabbed at a moment’s notice and caches of arrows waited alongside bows. The village was well prepared, though Raven doubted they would need to fight. The troop guarding Brynjar’s men would be stopped before one warrior could enter the village.