Viking Fire Read Free Page B

edge of the courtyard where a stone bench sat underneath an oak’s spreading limbs. The dark green leaves fluttered in the cool wind. Elva seated herself on the bench and set to work on embroidering the sample material with different designs to find one that Kaireen liked.
    His smile warmed her, but she refused to smile back. Perhaps if he was not the believed spy, he was sent by the traitor to investigate their lands. Why else would he demand to see her lands so soon? An attack from there could be devastating as it would not be expected.
    He held two pieces of toast. “Break your fast with me?”
    “I would rather break fast with a kelpie, and take a drowning ride on its back to the depths of the River Shannon.”
    “I can dunk you as easily, but you might need something to have the strength to fight me off.”
    She huffed, but snatched one of the pieces he offered. While she nibbled, she refused to look up at him. They stood in silence eating. The wind shifted through the trees. Leaves rustled, hinting of autumn.
    “Your father’s guards will escort us through your land.” His eyes focused on her face and she wondered why he stared at her so. “He says your dowry’s not far from here.”
    Her land spread to the cliffs and met the pounding waves. Maybe luck would grace her and Bram would fall off the cliff and swim back to his land. “Since my lord father wishes, I will escort you.” Kaireen said.
    He cocked his head to the side, examining her as if judging her motives.
    But she simply smiled at him. The O’Neill clan lived south of her land. They did not take kindly to invaders. She would convince them not to kill him, but only to send him back to where he came from. Of course she would need to find an excuse to be away from her father’s guards long enough to get Bram close enough to the border. Perhaps a stroll in the woods? It would be easy to pretend she saw something in the distance, a child? She would come up with something, a distraction to get away long enough for her plan to work.
    Kaireen ordered Elva to fetch their cloaks. As they waited they finished their toast. Kaireen stole glimpses of him. Aye, she thought, he was handsome to the eyes. Blond hair with strands of gold and copper filtered through the locks sweeping to his collar. Deep blue eyes contrasted with his skin darkened from the sea and sun.
    He caught her stare and she jerked her head away, willing Elva to hurry.
    After counting a hundred oak leaves, she saw Elva carrying their cloaks; heavy wool for Bram, and a black pile-weave for Kaireen.
    They donned their cloaks. Another servant brought two saddled horses.
    • • •
    Across the rolling hills, Kaireen led him on horseback. Five of her father’s guards rode with them.
    Side by side, she and Bram rode through the land. Bram spoke of his hopes in Ireland; hopes of raising a family, and plenty of land for farming. He would join his forces with her father’s as protection against raiders, both Viking and Irish. Squabbles among clansmen were often bloodier than Viking raids. She didn’t care that he would help defend against her enemies, not too long ago all would have considered him the adversary.
    Unable to stop herself, she laughed as he described his first time riding a horse as a child. His facial antics brought tears to her eyes.
    After two hours of riding they reached the border of her land and her father’s. Her manor stood on the other side of the rolling hill.
    At the top of the hill, a cluster of elm trees rose in tight circle. Bram reined in his horse, glancing between the trees and where the manor stood.
    “This mound is taller.” He scratched his chin. “Better defense, why not build the keep here?”
    “Daoine Sidhe.” She dusted off her green gown. Looking at his puzzled expression, she knew he did not understand. “Fairies. Everyone knows.” She sighed. “A circle of trees or stones means Daoine Sidhe land.”
    “What has that to do with anything?”
    “Bad