Aldred’s voice was stern even at a whisper, and he insisted forcefully, “You must slip into her room without making another sound, or you will awaken the entire household! Shove the gag into her mouth so she cannot cry out as you tie her hands and feet, then carry her from my house as swiftly as you can. I will not question what you choose to do with her, but the night is coming to an end, and you must be on your way before this abduction is discovered.”
“I am no fool!” Jens responded with a hostile sneer. “My brothers are already on board our ship, and we will take Celiese without mishap. Now let us cease talking and I will finish the deed.”
Mylan watched as Jens entered Celiese’s room with stealth a cat would envy, but he was inside only briefly before realizing her small chamber was empty. Gesturing angrily as he returned to the corridor, he accused Aldred of some further piece of treachery, but the older man took him firmly by the arm and led him down the hall toward the stairs so they might discuss this unexpected predicament without fear of arousing those who still slept.
Mylan stepped back into his room, closed the door silently, and threw the bolt. His heart pounded so loudly in his ears he could scarcely hear his own thoughts. Never had he ever thought his father capable of stooping to such an evil plot as the one he had just discovered. Seeking to create harmony between two warring families was a noble quest, but not when it was accomplished at the cost of an innocent’s life, and he would not forgive the man for betraying Celiese to further his own goals. Furious, he tried to catch his breath, but the thought that she had escaped being kidnapped and murdered by so narrow a margin appalled him and he could not force himself to affect a calm he did not feel.
Forcing himself to think clearly to devise the most devious plan for eluding her pursuers, he could not help but contemplate what Celiese’s fate would have been had she not come to him that night. He remembered his grandfather’s funeral vividly. A handsome man, his posture had still been proud despite his years. After his death, his body had been burned with that of his favorite female slave. She was a young woman whom Mylan recalled fondly, for she had often looked after him when his mother was busy with his twin brothers. On the day of the funeral the attractive slave had been brought to the spot on the beach where his grandfather’s ship had been towed and surrounded with firewood. His body was already on board, inside a tent so none might see what transpired before the pyre was lit.
A curious child, he had watched the pretty young woman drink deeply, dulling her senses with the intoxicating beverage she had been given. She had sung a song, a soft, sweet ballad that had touched him even then with its sadness. After telling her friends goodbye, she had been led into the tent, but his mother had taken him away then, not wanting him to witness what was to come. But he had pestered an uncle to tell him the truth, and the man had explained that his grandfather’s sons had all lain with the woman. Next the old woman known as the Angel of Death, the same one who had prepared his grandfather’s body for the funeral, had entered the tent. She had placed a rope around the slave’s neck and given the ends to two men to pull, strangling her so she could not cry out as the Angel plunged a dagger into her heart. To a child the ritual murder had seemed strange and awful, but now as a grown man he was thoroughly sickened by the memory of what had taken place that day.
A beautiful young woman had been sacrificed along with horses and cows to serve a dead man, and he was certain now that she must have been Christian, as was Celiese. Her place in paradise would therefore have been far different than that occupied by his grandfather’s spirit, so what had been the purpose of such a senseless death? None; and he was ashamed to think that on more than one occasion he had threatened Celiese with such a ceremonial slaughter. He shuddered as though chilled. Her death would have served no useful purpose whatsoever, and he swallowed hard to force back the nausea filling his throat as he realized what a gruesome fate awaited her should she fall into the hands of the Torgvalds.
They were brutal butchers, all of them. They would send Celiese to her death at Oluf’s funeral after raping her so often she would welcome the Angel’s blade, and he was so outraged at his father’s duplicity that it was all he could do not to take up his sword and challenge him as he would any other man bent on harming Celiese. Had she been afraid, perhaps terrified that she would be given to the Torgvalds at dawn and had come to seek his protection? She was clever, perhaps she had seen what he had not and knew her hours in his home were numbered. He had been warned now too, though, and if it had been protection she had sought she would have it.
Dressing hastily, Mylan stopped to gather extra clothing, which he quickly shoved into a suede bag before he went to the bed to awaken Celiese. He shook her shoulder as he spoke. “You must come with me now, Celiese, there is no time to lose!”
Since she had had no more than the briefest of rests, she yawned sleepily, not understanding Mylan’s words until he repeated them. “Where are we going with such haste at this hour?” she asked in a puzzled tone.
“To France; we will sail with the rising sun. Now get up, for there is no point in my leaving without you.” Still frightened for her safety, Mylan coaxed her out of the bed and tossed her the shift he had found upon the floor. “Get dressed, we must go!”
Celiese had never seen Mylan in so anxious a mood and reached out to catch his hand. “What is wrong, tell me first so I will know what danger to expect.” She sat down on the bed, ready to listen.
“There is no time to discuss it now. We must gather your clothing and enlist my brothers’ help. Put on that shift or I shall drag you down the hall naked!”
Her green eyes widening at the harshness of his tone, she nonetheless rose from his bed and slipped the short linen garment over her head. She shook out her curls to keep them away from her eyes, and then walked to his side. “I did not realize you wished to sail with the morning tide or I would have packed what few belongings I have last night.”
His emotions still in turmoil, Mylan could do no more than frown as he reached for her hand. “Do not ever remove that silver charm, Celiese, for surely Thor saved your life tonight, and his emblem should be regarded as your greatest treasure.”
Surprised by his serious comment, she replied truthfully, “I prize it because it was a gift from you. Thor has no reason to protect me, but what danger existed tonight when I lay in your arms?”
Mylan took the gleaming sword that was never far from his side, and after opening his door he looked up and down the hall to be certain Jens and his brothers were not lurking nearby. When he saw the way was clear he replied distractedly, “That I will not reveal, but whether it was your passion for me or Thor’s intervention that saved you we needn’t debate. Now, how much do you have to bring?” Leading her the short distance to her room he ushered her inside and lit the oil lamp by her bed. He waited impatiently, looking about the room for what she might think necessary.
“I have little once I am dressed.” Celiese picked up the gown she had removed several hours earlier and explained, “Olgrethe has always lent me her clothing, will there be time for me to borrow something more and bid her farewell?”
“No more than a moment.” Mylan paced nervously, too preoccupied to notice how lovely Celiese looked as she dressed. Her cheeks were filled with a delicate blush and her eyes sparkled with excitement as she gave him her full attention when he spoke. “The ship Hagen and Andrick command is a knarr, a merchant vessel, as is mine. Since theirs is ready to sail and mine is not, I will simply make them a
trade. I should have returned long before they wish to set sail in the spring, so that they will again have their own vessel when next they wish to trade goods.”
“Yes, I understand. I have my cloak, but I would like to have an extra dress and another pair of slippers. I will speak with Olgrethe about that while you talk with Andrick.” Ready to leave, Celiese preceded him to the door, but he put out his hand to stop her and looked out again to see if the corridor was unoccupied.
“Mylan, this is your own house, but you act as though we were trespassing,” she said, puzzled.
“Just stay behind me, Celiese, my caution is not foolish no matter what you might think. Now the way is clear, and we must go.” He took her hand again as they walked to the quarters Andrick shared with his bride, At the door he knocked softly, and his brother soon came to see who might wish to see him at that early hour.
“I have little time, Andrick, you must lend me your ship and permit Olgrethe to give Celiese a few articles of clothing. We are leaving for her homeland now and have no time to search for apparel to supplement her wardrobe,” Mylan told his brother urgently.
Andrick wore no more than a towel knotted low upon his hips. Having been awakened from his dreams, he was clearly astonished by both of Mylan’s requests.” You may have the ship, of course, and anything Olgrethe can spare, but is this not a peculiar time to depart?” He yawned loudly then, and rubbed his hand over his eyes to keep them open.
“I will explain when I return. Please keep Celiese here with you while I talk to Hagen.” Giving her a stern glance, he insisted, “Do not leave these rooms, Celiese, for it is far too dangerous for you to be walking about the house without me.”
He was so serious in his demand that for once Celiese did not question his motives, but nodded agreeably. “I will wait here, you needn’t worry I will wander off and become lost.”
“See that you don’t!” With that spirited parting remark Mylan left them alone and walking with a long stride disappeared down the hall in the direction of Hagen’s room.
Embarrassed to have disturbed Andrick, Celiese apologized as best she could. “Mylan seems determined to depart swiftly; I am sorry that I cannot provide a lucid explanation as to why, but he did not give one to me.” She held her few belongings wrapped in a silk scarf and feared she presented so pathetic a picture Andrick would simply pity her rather than being curious about her unexpected appearance in his rooms.
Andrick had spent little time with Celiese, but he knew his wife valued her friendship greatly and offered to awaken her. “Olgrethe did not spend the best of nights, but she will want to get up to help you find whatever you need. Please wait here while I call her, for I don’t want to face Mylan in the mood he is in if he should return in a moment and find you gone.”