Viking Gold Read Free Page A

cage until she comes
round.”
    Sulking, Mord lifted Sinead’s
limp body, dropped her inside the cage, bound the door shut and rejoined his
father by the fire. The rest of the men were happily engrossed in their food
and in taunting the poor bear. None, it seemed, were brave enough to tease Mord
over Sinead’s outburst. There was no sign of Skoggcat. Staying low in the
undergrowth, Redknee edged closer.
    “Can’t wait to see Sven
again,” Ragnar said as Mord sat beside him on an upturned log. “Bet he’ll
squeal like a pig when I run him through. Just like his brother did.” Laughing,
he drew his knife and jabbed the bear in the gut. The animal moaned. Ragnar’s
eyes lit up.
    “My spies have confirmed Sven
still has his brother’s book,” said Mord, ignoring his father’s jest with the
bear.
    “What would I do without you,
Mord? You know everyone’s secrets.”
    A smile flashed across the
young man’s face, then vanished. “They also tell me Sven has finished his
longship,” he said.
    “Then this is the perfect
time to strike. Nothing like taking advantage of someone else’s hard work, eh?”
Ragnar said. “And it is high time I studied the book for myself – Sven has
denied me it long enough. Now, have you seen your useless freak of a brother?”
    Mord shook his head. “What
about the boy? The one who was with the girl.”
    “What about him?” Ragnar frowned.
“He’s nothing. We lost him ages ago.” Ragnar studied his son for a moment, then
said, “You worry too much. Relax. We’ll find Sven’s village soon enough.”
Ragnar slapped Mord on the back and turned to talk with his men, who were
rowdily debating whether Thor, the god of thunder, or Odin, the god of war,
would win in a fight.
    Mord moved to the edge of the
camp, away from the men. He took a piece of ivory from his pocket and began
working it with his knife. 
    The pup squirmed inside
Redknee’s tunic, Redknee pushed him down, out of sight, his mind spinning as he
closed the distance to the cage. He forgot the pain in his arm, the pounding in
his head. He’d heard of Ragnar. Uncle Sven had spoken of him. But always in
hushed tones. For it was Ragnar who had killed Redknee’s father. Murdered him.
    The
cage was near where Mord worked on his carving. But the night was dark and he
didn’t see Redknee crawl up behind Sinead, reach through the bars and tap her
on the shoulder.
    No movement. Nothing. He
tried again, this time tugging the ends of her long hair. She opened her eyes
slowly, saw him, and winked.
    Redknee held his fingers to
his lips. “Lie still. Don’t draw attention.” He used his knife to start sawing
the rope holding the cage door closed. From the corner of his eye, he saw one
of Ragnar’s men approach carrying a bucket.
    “Hurry!” Sinead whispered.
    “I’m going as fast as I can.”
Ragnar had used heavy flax and Redknee felt his knife buckle.
    Ragnar’s man reached the far
side of the cage. Redknee hid in the shadows as the man tossed a bucketful of
lake water over Sinead and turned to go. Sinead let out a tiny gasp as the cold
water hit her skin.
    Ragnar’s man stopped. He
turned just as Redknee looked up and their eyes met through the bars of the
cage. Sinead stood in an attempt to hide Redknee. But she was too late. Then,
just as the warrior drew his sword and bellowed for help, the rope came away in
Redknee’s hand. Before Redknee could stand back, Sinead was out of the cage,
fleeing for the trees. But Ragnar’s man was quick to block her escape.
    Redknee grabbed Sinead’s hand
and pulled her the other way. There was a clear route past the campfire and
round the far side of the lake. But as they neared the campfire, Ragnar caught
up with them, anger burning in his eyes.
    “You again!” he said, drawing
his sword and lunging forwards.
    Redknee sprang back, just
dodging the flames. His knife was no match for Ragnar’s sword. Thinking
quickly, he grabbed a branch from the fire and thrust it in