18
IT WAS COLD and becoming colder still, the sky black with turbulent clouds, roiling and bursting against each other, harbinger of a violent storm to come.
The wind was whipping the waves against the rocks below her, sending plumes of spray thirty feet upward only to crash downward again hard and fast, the sound of mad thunder.
She felt the cold mist on her cheeks and stepped back from the cliff edge.
She shivered and rubbed her arms but didna??t even think of returning to the longhouse and the pandemonium shea??d left behind her.
She grinned suddenly, the picture of Sira shrieking like a witch, as leeks and mutton thick with gravy slithered off her head and face and onto her gown, ah, it was a vision that would probably stay with her until she died. Without a doubt, Mirana had made an enemy.
But Sira was already an enemy.
What would Rorik do?
She felt a shaft of pain slice through her belly. Her marriage of one daya??surely a hopeful beginninga??had collapsed into a pile of cold ashes.
She saw his pain again in her minda??s eye, unguarded in that instant, such pain she couldna??t comprehend. What would he do now? Would he send her away? Kill her?
a??The little princess is still shrieking like a goat, with Rorika??s mother trying to calm her. There is laughter, but it is muffled behind hands. Kerzog holds no respect for her plight. He is trying to lick the gravy from her neck and face.a??
Mirana turned to smile at Entti. a??Kerzog is an excellent dog. You shouldna??t have come out here, Entti, though Ia??m glad youa??re here. You know, I am the stranger here, not any of them. I am the outsider. No one owes me loyalty; no one owes me anything.a??
a??Dona??t be a fool, Mirana. You are the mistress of Hawkfell Island.
Rorik owes you loyalty as do all the people here.
He swore his loyalty to you before all the people.
Were it only Sira, the women would not hesitate to openly show you their loyalty and affection.
It is Rorika??s mother who holds them back.
They respect her and dona??t wish to hurt her.
They dona??t understand her hatred for you; they say she refused to let the pain fall away from her.
She nurtured the pain, both she and Harald.
Still, it doesna??t matter. You are the mistress here, none other, and soon his mother and father and that wretched Sira will be gone.a??
a??My being mistress herea??I believe that is now in question.a??
a??Did Rorik really dump food on you?a??
a??Aye, I taunted him and he retaliated. Not on my head, but just on my lap. a??Tis better than striking someone, and I wanted to hit her, Entti, I wanted to hit her very much. But the leeks slogging down her facea??it was a nice sight.a??
Entti grinned. a??Aye, it was.a??
Mirana looked out to sea for a moment, then looked again at Entti, saying low, a??Is Lord Rorik angry?a??
Entti wrapped her cloak more closely around her.
It was, actually, naught more than a ragged piece of wool, and Mirana frowned at it.
Entti would have a real cloak on the morrow.
She started to say something about that then closed her mouth.
She had no idea if she would even be the mistress of Hawkfell Island on the morrow.
a??I dona??t know what he is. There is something going on here I dona??t understand, Mirana. Oh, I know that Gurd told them all about you being Einara??s sister, but this hatred for youa??it makes no sense to me. They dona??t wish to give you a chance. And Lord Rorika??a??
a??They have reminded him of his pain and the horror of what happened. They have reminded him of his guilt. They have made me a part of it. I wonder now what he will do.a??
Entti sucked in her breath. a??You are being too understanding. Truly, you dona??t believe he will send you away? By the gods, you are his wife!a??
Mirana shrugged. a??He is close to his family.
He listens to them. He may kill me. Or Merrik, his brother, might or even Sira.
She is capable of it, doubt it not. She is a girl of strong passions.
She wanted Rorik and I believe she still hopes to have him.
Thus, I must be made to leave or die. There are doubtless many who would gladly volunteer for such a task, including any one of the men who came with them.a??
Entti said then, her fingers on Miranaa??s sleeve, a??Leta??s take one of the boats and leave tonight. Leta??s leave now. We could make it this time, I know we could.a??
Mirana smiled at that. a??A storm is coming, Entti. Remember our last adventure with a storm?a??
Entti moved away from her, closer to the edge of the cliff.
She stared down at the roiling water. It looked black, even the froth of the waves.
It looked terrifying. She looked beyond, to the south, where the longboats were tied securely to the wooden dock.
Even in the protected inlet, the waves were tossing them about like leaves.
Still, it made no difference, not now, at least not to Entti.
She said, a??I cana??t stay, Mirana, you know that.
If I do, I will have to protect myself from the men, for I will play the dull-witted whore no more. I have no wish to kill one of them.a??
a??No one will touch you. I will not allow it.a??
a??As you told me, you are in a rather uncertain position right now yourself. I have been left alone because of you. But now neither of us can be certain that you will remain untouched and alive.a??
a??Youa??re right, of course. Ia??m being stupid, believing that Rorik will realize what is happening, that he will speak to his family, convince them that I am no threat to them, that I am not guilty of my brothera??s crimes.a??
a??He is your half-brother.a??
a??Aye,a?? Mirana said slowly. a??He is my half-brother. But in their eyes, his blood is my blood and thus I am tainted with his wickedness. I am as evil as Einar is.a??
a??This is madness. How can Rorik be so blind?a??
a??Rorik isna??t blind, girl. Speak not of your master in such a way. Lord Rorik is a man who has suffered grievous pain, pain you cannot begin to imagine.a??
Both women whirled about to see Hafter standing there, still and silent in the black night, a thick wool cloak about him, the wind whipping his dark golden hair about his head.
He looked big and strong, his shoulders stiff with anger.
Mirana took a step closer to Entti. She wished she had her knife.
a??Aye, I know,a?? Mirana said, a??but I was not a part of it.a??
Hafter shrugged. a??His family believe differently.
You left them raging, Mirana.a?? Then he laughed suddenly.
a??I always believed Sira to be more beautiful than any goddess.
With leeks dripping off her forehead, she looked quite human.
Aye, a good dose of humility you gave her. She will hate you forever now.a??
a??Mirana could have stuck her knife in the girla??s gullet, Hafter. A leek or two atop her head is nothing.a??
a??Women see things differently. Sira is after your blood, Mirana. She was calling for your death when I left the longhouse.a??
Mirana didna??t want to ask him but she did. a??What of Rorik? Do you know what he will do?a??
He shook his head. a??He remains within, with his family. They are very angry.a?? He turned to Entti and he smiled, holding out his hand to her. a??Now, I am here to fetch you. You will warm me tonight and I will take you until I am sated on your soft flesh.a??
Before Entti could speak, Mirana lightly touched her forearm to hold her silent, and said, a??Nay, Hafter. No man will touch Entti again unless she wishes it. This is her wish and I honor it.a??
a??I will give her pleasure this time, I swear it. I have a mana??s needs and she must fill them. She will enjoy herself as she does. She must do as I wish.a??
Entti straightened as stiff as one of the palisade posts. a??Take yourself back to the longhouse and stick your head in your mead, Hafter. I will have naught to do with you. Did you not believe me yesterday? Do you wish me to unman you again with my knee?a??
a??You said you were sorry. You said you wouldna??t do that again.a??
a??Aye, I said I wouldna??t hurt you again if you kept your distance from me. I dona??t want you. Go away.a??
a??Which of the men do you want?a??
Mirana was fascinated at the sudden very jealous tone of his voice. She saw that Entti was about to laugh, and said quickly, a??Entti doesna??t wish any man right now, Hafter. Surely you understand. She has been sorely unhappy. You are a man of sense and kindness, are you not?a??
a??Aye. Mayhap. Not in this instance. I want her, Mirana. Dona??t interfere, it is not your right.a??
a??If you force her, Hafter, she will kill you or hurt you badly and then she will have to die and all because she was protecting her honor. Do you wish her to die because of your lust?a??
Hafter had no real thoughts, only a burning need to bed Entti.
He didna??t want another woman, only her.
He stared at Mirana, the woman who was the wife of Lord Rorik, a woman who could possibly be dead soon by the hand of one of Rorika??s family.
He said slowly, turning now to face Entti, a??I dona??t want you dead.a??
a??What do you want then, you boorish lout?a??
a??Speak not so meanly to me, Entti. I am a man and you are naught but a slave. It is I who am in the right. You will do as I bid you.a??
Entti shook her head at him, so frustrated with his stubbornness she wanted to hit him. a??You are more obtuse than the goat who must eat cow dung! I will not be your whore, Hafter. Understand me, for I grow tired of repeating it. I will not be your whore or any mana??s whore. No more.a??
He looked perplexed. a??But no other man will have you. Ia??ve seen to that. I have told them that you are mine and they are to keep their distance. I am protecting you.a??