Viking Wrath Read Free Page B

Water. Even though she was busy my daughter still watched out for me. "Why do you think they are here?"
    Cnut looked surprised, "They escort their ladies and they wished to speak with Kara."
    Aiden spoke, "It is a long way to come and … well I felt danger when first I saw them."
    Haaken leaned forward, "Do you still feel it?"
    "I cannot feel it now but that does not mean it is gone. I think it is hidden. I think she is a sorceress who has that kind of power."
    Neither of my Ulfheonar disparaged Aiden for they knew he had been right more than he had been wrong. "Then we will watch them closely but I cannot see what they hope to gain from a visit of so few men. Would they steal the sword?"
    Many warriors had come in the last few years to try to take it from me. I shook my head, "They showed no interest in it when they met me. The Priestess did but she has not mentioned it since."
    Aiden nodded, "I agree. It is the women who are the danger… if there is a danger."
    Haaken laughed, "You need to find a woman yourself Aiden. That is why you fear women. You do not understand them!"
    Aiden shook his head, "When I need advice about women I will ask Jarl Dragon Heart. You are too in love with yourself to know what is in a woman's heart."
    He nodded, "That is true." They all laughed at him. Haaken knew his own vanity well.
    They left ten nights after they had arrived. I had seen little of my family during that time. Looking back I can see that was a mistake but I think I was a little jealous. Kara and Elfrida had seemed quite taken with Angharad and happy to leave me to my own devices. I was happy when they left for I had my family back.
    My daughter could read me as easily as Aiden could read the books of the Romans and she visited me the night after her guests had left. She brought with her fresh cheese and a new barrel of ale. I smelled her boat as she was sailed across the Water for she also brought freshly baked bread.
    She said nothing as she and her women spread the food on the table. She waved her arm and the women disappeared into my halls. I raised a quizzical eyebrow. "I sent them to clean. Your men are not as tidy as my women." I said nothing for they were the words which Erika would have used. I began to eat. The bread was still warm and the cheese was my favourite made from the black faced sheep we kept on the Scar above the Rye Dale.
    My daughter waited until I had washed down the food with the dark ale before she spoke. "You had no need to keep your distance, father. My guests had no secrets."
    "I did not want to intrude."
    "Nor would you have done." She smiled and spread her arms. " I learned much. Angharad showed me how to delve deeper into the spirit world." She held the blue stone which hung from the pendant around her neck. "These stones have magical powers." She pointed to my sword and its blue pommel. "Your sword has double powers; the power from Odin and the magic from the stone. The gods and the mother both protect you."
    I took the sword from the sheath and looked at the stone. Perhaps she was right. When the stone had fallen in the fire on Mann I had come close to death. Since Bjorn had fitted another of the precious stones Ragnar's Spirit had felt whole once more.
    "And what did the woman of On Corn Walum get from you, daughter?"
    For the first time a flicker of doubt showed itself on her face. "Well…she said she had learned much."
    "But what did you teach her?"
    "I told her of my mother. We spoke of Olaf and we spoke of the cave near Wyddfa as well as the one where you found the stone people. She asked about the cave where you found the sword and the blue stones we have. She was most interested in those places. She said they were sacred from the time of the old people."
    I looked carefully at my daughter, "She made a strong impression on you then?"
    "I miss my mother. It is good to talk to her spirit but I was able to ask more questions of Angharad and she seemed to read my mind." She took my hand, "She