Lord of Falcon Ridge (Viking Era 4)

She pushed herself more deeply into the woolen blankets. Suddenly she heard a sound. Was it Ingurd to see if she wished anything more? She didn’t move when she heard the door quietly open. Was it one of the guards? Surely the queen hadn’t dismissed them. Was the queen ready to force her hand? It was too soon for Turella to act, surely.

There was a sliver of light, then it quickly disappeared as the door closed again. She pulled the knife from its wrapping beneath her pillow. She rather hoped it was Ragnor, here to rape her. Just let the little worm try.

She held the knife easily. Her fingers were steady and dry. She was ready.

“Did you begin your monthly flow?”

The words were softly spoken, mocking, and she knew it was the woman Isla.

“No, and I don’t intend to either, not that it makes any difference to anybody. I’ll just wager that even William of Normandy wouldn’t care either. I thought men wanted purity in their brides. It makes no sense.”

“Men are strange creatures,” Isla agreed and sat beside her on the edge of the box bed. “I wish I could see you, but I won’t light the lamp, it’s too dangerous. The guards outside are dozing, but not fully asleep yet.”

“What do you want?”

“First I want to know if it’s true. Are you pregnant with another man’s child?”

“Is that what Ragnor bleated to you and Baric after I left you?”

“Aye. He is furious. He said you tried this trick before and thus he didn’t want to believe you this time. He said though that Kerek was certain and thus it had to be true. Who is the man this time?”

Chessa sighed. Certainly this was strange to be speaking in her dark chamber to a woman she’d met only today, a woman who called her a bitch, a woman who was obviously teasing Ragnor, for what reason she couldn’t imagine. “His name is Cleve. He is a beautiful man, a brave warrior, the only man I want to have for the rest of my life. He’s sometimes very difficult, but there is a richness deep inside him. He doesn’t yet realize he needs me, but he will. He believed he loved before and the woman betrayed him. I would never betray him and he will come to believe me. He believes himself ugly, hideous even, but he’s blind to himself. I will make him laugh until I die. I don’t know where he is now, but I pray he’s safe.”

“He bedded you?”

“No, but I told everyone it was he.”

“Your reasoning is pathetic. Listen, you little fool, who do you think I am?”

“You’re a painted harlot Baric found in the market. I hope you will seduce Ragnor so he’ll keep away from me, although I can’t imagine why you’d want to. He’s even begun trying to woo me now, doubtless on orders from his mother. Perhaps even orders from his father as well. I never know what Olric will do. When you and Baric came in today, he’d just sung me a romantic song and was demanding praise. He is such a worm.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to be the future queen of the Danelaw? You’re a princess, after all, despite the fact you’re really not, but it doesn’t matter. I paint my face and make mead, but you, Princess, you can do anything you please, have any man, any prince you wish. Why are you so stubborn about this Cleve?”

“I love him. Perhaps someday he will come to believe it. But that can’t be important to you, Isla. What I please is to leave this place. The king is a strange man, his moods dance about, the queen has been a prisoner for twenty-one years but she isn’t a prisoner at all, she rules here, and poor Ragnor is a pawn between the two of them. Now the king thinks I can be forced to marry Ragnor. Actually, he knows that the queen will see to it. All he has to do is belch and drink and fondle his concubines, who are thankfully mute, else they’d be screaming when he touched them. I don’t suppose you would lend me your paint pot so I can look like a harlot and leave here?”

Isla laughed. “Perhaps if you paid me enough silver I would try to help you, but you haven’t even a valuable armlet, do you? No, I didn’t think so. Tell me about Kerek. What is his position here?”

“He worships the queen. He would do anything she asked of him. The king trusts him as well. That’s why I’m here. Kerek got this idea that I, a simple woman, was the one to save the Danelaw from the Saxons. He’s set on this course. It’s utterly ridiculous.”

“I agree. As you said, you’re just a simple woman. Mayhap you’re even more of a simple woman than anyone even realizes.”

“Aye, I said that, but I didn’t think you’d agree with me so eagerly. I’m not all that simple. I’m not less than simple. Perhaps Kerek is right. Perhaps I am some sort of warrior goddess. I could ride in a chariot as that British queen probably did and men should shout how wonderful I was and they would follow me and—”

“Be quiet. I’m going to puke. You’re just a girl, nothing more. I doubt you could save a hair comb. Men follow you? It’s beyond ridiculous.”

She punched Isla in the arm.

Isla grunted. “What do you plan to do? Nay, don’t hit me again. It’s an innocent question.”

Chessa sighed. She was lying here in the dark speaking to this painted harlot, and yet, she had no one else to speak to. She said slowly, “I suppose I will remain pregnant for a while, until I can escape. My problem is I don’t know where to escape to. Hawkfell Island is a long way away from York. Even if I had silver to pay you, where would you take me? The queen thought I should be sent to the Saxon court and cause chaos there.”

Isla laughed. “I should go console the queen. She’s quite right. Wherever you go you bring confusion and trouble. Men grind their teeth at your mischief. They want to strangle you because you dance around them, making up one tale after another, leaving them confused and crazed. You refuse to consider anyone else save yourself. You don’t honor your father’s wishes. You take it into your silly head that you want only one certain man. You say he has a richness deep inside him. You don’t even know what that means. You don’t even know this man, not really. You’re just like Kerzog who won’t let go of a stick. You just dig in your heels and hang on.

“Another thing. This man Cleve is ugly. He’s not blind to himself. And what does that mean? That sounds like that deep richness nonsense. The scar on his face makes him look like a devil. It’s true, it’s you who are the blind one. You refuse to see him clearly because you’re so damned obstinate. He has nothing. He doesn’t want a wife because he should have had one once before, but by all the gods, that was a disaster. He doesn’t need more disasters in his life. He doesn’t need a woman who’s very nature creates havoc.”

“How dare you, Isla.” She came up on her elbows, ready to battle. “Now listen here, I don’t create havoc. I may try to change things, but at least I don’t wear enough paint on my face so my head is bowed to my knees. Wait a minute, how do you know all this? How do you know of Kerzog? How do you know about Cleve? Oh, goodness, who are you really?”

“Why, who do you think, Princess? I’m the man who seduced you and impregnated you.”