Chapter Eighteen #2
“Then I will speak to them.” As she spoke, Arne dismounted behind her then lifted her down, careful to step away from her immediately.
“If that is what you want.” Bjorn looked from her to Arne, frowning, and Gemma tried hard not to react, although her cheeks grew warm.
“My son has lands to reclaim. And I do not wish to be a burden to you any longer.”
Arne handed her the cubs’ basket before lifting Caelin from his place in front of Ulf. When Arne set him on the ground, Caelin immediately raised his hand, and the horse leaned down to nuzzle his fingers. “Thank you for bringing me home.”
“Come, Caelin.” Gemma swallowed, her heart breaking, knowing she was about to tear him away from yet another place he had come to think of as home.
She watched as he confidently but not cockily patted the horse’s head.
Spoke to the animal in a low voice. The horse moved its nose against him and snickered.
“You have a way with him, Caelin,” said Ulf, and she heard the respect in his voice. The Norseman turned to look at her as Caelin came to stand beside her and she handed him the basket. “Will he be able to keep the cubs?”
She swallowed and clutched at her cloak. “I hope so.”
Ulf stared at her, and she waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t.
“Are you ready to speak to the soldiers?” Bjorn asked her.
“Yes.”
“You are sure?” Ylva added.
Gemma nodded, unable to form words without risking falling apart.
“But Mama—” Caelin began.
She knelt beside him. “This is for the best, Caelin. I will ask for your lands to be restored and we will return to Ir Ysgyn, and be safe and warm and have plenty of food and servants to do your bidding. Kirkjaster is not your home.”
Caelin tilted his head to the side. “But—”
“You have your father’s lands to claim. They should be yours. Don’t you want to make him proud?”
She looked into her son’s sweet face, seeing the conflicting emotions playing across it before he nodded.
“Remember,” she said, hugging him, “tell no one about how you found the cubs, nor that Arne was with us before Ulf found us on the moors. It is very important. Do you understand?”
“What should I say?”
A consistent story from both of them was important. “Just say we were heading for the isthmus and had to shelter in the shieling and Ulf and the other Norsemen found us today. It is the truth.”
Caelin nodded and took her hand and together they walked towards the hall. She knew the others were following them, but she didn’t turn around. She needed to do this as Princess Maithgemm, not as Gemma.
When they reached the door, she hesitated for a moment, turned to look back over the settlement and across the firth to where Caelin’s lands lay.
How would it feel to be on the other side, knowing Arne was here, but they could not be together?
She shook her head and sighed. She needed to put their time together behind her and do the right thing for her son.
As she pushed open the door, Ragna turned and frowned at the sight of her in her Brythonic clothes.
Tormod sat on the dais, looking down on the group of six soldiers who sat at two tables in front of him.
“Princess Maithgemm,” Tormod said, standing when he saw her.
The soldiers also stood and bowed low, but despite their deferential manner, she kept a close eye on them as she swept through the hall with a confidence she didn’t feel, to stand in front of Tormod.
“I see my brothers were successful in their quest to find you.”
“I am very grateful to them for finding us. The weather was worse than I expected when I set out and I am pleased to be back in more civilised accommodations.”
One soldier coughed at that. Gemma glared over at him. He put his head down. Tormod merely raised his eyebrows, otherwise ignoring the insult.
“Your brother, the king, was worried about you and has sent these soldiers to escort you back to the royal residence in Perthawc. Although it concerns me that your brother has only now sent anyone in search of you. Do you know why he has waited so long?”
Gemma smiled. She would miss Tormod. “Perhaps he has been searching the route to Car Luel, which is the road along which I was travelling when I was kidnapped by fellow Britons.”
“Is this true?” Tormod asked the soldiers. The men shifted uneasily, but the captain stared back at him.
“We were told she had not reached Car Luel. But we were sent to search the northern banks of the River Clut. Others—”
“It has taken you six months?”
“Others were sent out. Before.” The captain stared back at her insolently.
“Really?” Tormod leaned back and studied the soldiers. “No one from the royal household came to ask if the princess was in Kirkjaster all through the winter. Why now?”
The captain swallowed. “The king was certain that if she was here you would have informed us. To honour our alliance.”
“Princess Maithgemm arrived here with her son of her own free will, to visit with my wife. Hardly worthy of notifying the king.” Tormod lifted his hands and waited for an answer, but none came. The captain stared sullenly at Tormod but a few of the others shifted uneasily.
“We received word that she had been seen. Here,” the captain stated. “Then you claimed she was not here—”
“At which time she was not.” Tormod leaned forward in his seat. “Princess Maithgemm?”
“Yes, Jarl Tormod?”
“You chose to leave the safety of Kirkjaster a few days ago. Why? Was it because you thought someone might have seen you?”
Gemma kept her eyes on Tormod. “Yes. At that time, I didn’t want to go back, or rather to be returned, to my brother’s household in Perthawc.”
“You are welcome to remain here if that is what you wish.”
“Thank you, Jarl Tormod, but I believe it would be for the best if I returned to the royal household. For now. My other plans came to naught, and I have realised for my son’s sake, I have matters to discuss with my brother.”
“I see. Well, Princess Maithgemm, if this is your wish, I am happy to send you. However, in the circumstances, I would prefer some of my own men to accompany you,” said Tormod.
“It would put my mind at ease, given the excessive delay your brother has shown in searching for you, that your presence will indeed be welcome in Perthawc.”
“But—” The captain began, but Tormod didn’t even acknowledge the man had spoken.
“And as these soldiers have no spare horses, I will send you in a longship upriver. It will be far more comfortable for you both.”
“Thank you, Jarl Tormod,” Gemma said, grateful Tormod was not sending her off alone with the soldiers.
“I believe,” said Arne behind her, aiming his words at the captain, “that there is a reward on offer for the safe return of the princess. I am sure you agree we are the ones entitled to that reward.”
Gemma’s shoulders sagged. Was that all he was thinking of now? As they’d ridden into Kirkjaster she’d begun to hope they would part as friends. If she had thought there was any hope for the two of them, that hope was gone now.
“But—” The captain spluttered a little.
“It is we who have found the princess, Captain. All you will be doing is accompanying her, alongside my warriors, to your king,” Tormod added.
“Very well,” the captain said reluctantly.
“Very well,” Tormod said, then aimed his next words at Gemma. “My brothers, Ulf and Arne, will accompany you to Perthawc and return with the reward. After they have received assurances from King Rhun himself of both your safety and that of Lord Caelin.”
“Thank you, Jarl Tormod. Please accept my gratitude for the hospitality you have shown me over the winter.”
The soldiers talked quietly in their group, then the captain stepped forward. “Jarl Tormod?”
Tormod barely glanced at the man before he lifted his drink and banged it back down on the table. “The decision is made.”
“Yes, my lord… Jarl… Jarl Tormod. I understand. I just wished to request that I and one other of my men travel on the longship. As an escort for the princess. And to ensure your presence is not… misunderstood.”
Tormod pushed himself to his feet. “Misunderstood? But we are your allies, are we not?”
“Yes. Of course… but…”
Then Tormod smiled. “Very well. Your men will leave now, and you may travel with Princess Maithgemm on the longship. It will readied immediately and depart as soon as the princess has gathered all her belongings and spoken to my wife. Lady Aoife was concerned about her friend and wishes to assure herself of her safety.”
The captain nodded curtly and the soldiers went outside, accompanied by some of Tormod’s warriors and Gemma headed towards her own room to pack.