Rough Warrior Page 4

  “Should we follow?” he asked Ulrick urgently. “Do you think they’re in trouble? If they keep going they’ll be traveling across a different part of the ocean.”

  But before Ulrick had a chance to reply, Magnus grabbed his arm.

  “Ulrick,” he said hastily. “Bjørn wants an answer as well. You need to make a decision.”

  Peering across to the other boat yards away but parallel to them, Ulrick could see the hulking frame of the steersman waving his arms.

  “I worry what might happen to the men Gander has forced to row,” Magnus continued, “but if we follow the conniving rat and he just keeps going, only the gods know how far he’ll take us.”

  “He’s just like the wild dog.”

  The three warriors spun around and found Ailith standing close by. She was wearing his outer tunic and it completely covered her naked body, though he silently mused nothing could hide her voluptuous curves.

  “What are you doing up here?” he scolded. “Go back to—”

  “One moment,” Magnus interjected, stepping toward her. “What do you mean, Ailith?”

  “That warrior, Gander. Maybe that’s what he’s doing. Being the wild dog.”

  “Explain. We don’t understand.”

  “You must not have them where you live,” she remarked. “A wild dog will come into our settlement, and when one of our dogs confronts it, the wild dog runs off. If our dog gives chase we’ll never see it again. The wild dog only runs away to lure our pet to its pack. We have to keep our animals in at night or we lose them.”

  Magnus and Ulrick shared a look.

  “Is that what he’s doing?” Ulrick muttered thoughtfully. “Is he counting on me to follow him and is leading me into some sort of battle?”

  “That’s the connection,” Magnus exclaimed. “That’s why he provoked the confrontation. He’s using his humiliation as the pretext to get away from you, but knowing you’ll give chase. There must be trouble waiting.”

  “But if he believed me when I said I knew what he was planning, why would he go through with it?”

  “Maybe he didn’t believe you, but it doesn’t matter. Ailith is exactly right, and if you don’t follow him, he’ll be the one confounded, not you. He’ll be wondering if you really did know what he was planning tonight.”

  “This is a puzzle,” Ailith mumbled. “It’s all about who believes who and why, but if he is the wild dog, then...”

  “Then I mustn’t follow him,” Ulrick muttered, “but what about the men? They are my men. I can’t make a hasty decision.”

  Hurrying to the side of the boat, he waved at Bjørn, gesturing for him to draw closer. In the quiet, still night they’d be able to speak to one another. As Bjørn began to follow his orders, Ulrick strode across the deck to address his crew. When he’d been made ruler, his father had told him loyalty could not be expected, it had to be earned. Ulrick had never forgotten the wise words. The young warriors on the ships were at the mercy of their steersman, but they were a close-knit group. Ulrick needed them to know he valued the lives of their friends on Gander’s boat.

  “Gander doesn’t want to die in the seas away from us and our supplies, so why would he venture there? I believe this is a trick, and I’m concerned for our fellow warriors at the oars. I must speak to Bjørn for a moment, then I’ll make my decision.”

  Turning around and heading back to Magnus, he spotted him speaking with Ailith, but as he approached she quickly looked away and giggled.

  “What?” Ulrick demanded.

  “You’re not wearing any clothes,” Magnus replied. “You ran straight up on deck when I woke you. It doesn’t matter, but perhaps you should—”

  “Ailith, bring me my trousers,” Ulrick ordered, “and make it quick.”

  “She asked if there was anything to eat,” Magnus said quietly as she disappeared down the stairs. “She must be hungry.”

  “Why am I worrying about clothes and food at a time like this?” Ulrick boomed. “Females. Nothing but trouble. Every last one of them!”

  “Settle yourself, Ulrick,” Magnus retorted. “I’ll fetch something to eat and place it on the table in your cabin while you speak with Bjørn. This is not a disaster, and you’ll find the answer, you always do.”

  “Here, Master,” Ailith said, reappearing and handing Ulrick his long pants.

  “Thank you. Wait for me downstairs.”

  She paused.

  “Now what?”

  “It’s such a lovely night, and it’s so refreshing out here. May I please stay a while?”

  “Ulrick!”

  It was Bjørn’s voice.

  Jerking his head around, Ulrick found Bjørn had successfully maneuvered his boat safely alongside.

  “Yes, yes, all right, Ailith,” he snapped impatiently, “but don’t wander off. Stay right here.”

  She unnerved him, but he didn’t know why. Pushing her to the back of his mind, he strode across the deck.

  “Ulrick, what do we do?” Bjørn shouted urgently as Ulrick reached the side of the boat.

  “I don’t believe Gander is heading out to sea,” he called back.

  “I don’t believe it either,” Bjørn replied. “There’s a cove not far down the coast, but only open ocean in the direction he’s taking.”

  “Master, I have a thought,” Ailith piped up, walking up and standing beside him. “If you don’t follow him, he might wait until you’re out of sight, then turn around and sail into that cove. When he doesn’t return home, you’ll be forced to set out again and look for him. I think, if you chase him now, the cove is where he’ll lead you. Either way, he’ll bring you into his trap.”

  Ulrick stared down at her, shocked by her brazenness, but even more astonished at her suggestion.

  “Ah, yes, very clever!” Bjørn exclaimed. “He must have planned all this before we left.”

  “I can’t deny it makes sense,” Ulrick replied as a slight breeze whistled around him.

  “Look, he’s almost out of sight,” Bjørn exclaimed, peering off into the distance.

  “We will return to the beach for the night, and journey across to the cove in the morning,” Ulrick decreed. “He and his conspirators will be the ones surprised.”

  An unexpected gust flapped the sails. Darting his eyes to the sky, Ulrick watched clouds cross the moon.

  “It appears Gander has done us a favor,” he declared. “We will avoid this nasty change in the weather.”

  “I agree,” Bjørn replied, following Ulrick’s gaze. “We will meet back at the beach.”

  Bjørn maneuvered his boat safely away, and Ulrick hurried to his men. Ordering them to head back, he helped set the sail to catch the fresh wind, but as his vessel picked up speed, he spied Ailith leaning over the side.

  “This is thrilling,” she exclaimed, her hair flying in the strong breeze as he approached. “I’ve never been on a boat like this, and it goes so fast.”

  “Step away from there,” he ordered, grasping her arm. “This wind will grow stronger and the seas will turn rough.”

  “I don’t care, I love it.”

  “When will you learn?” he demanded, yanking her into his body, but as her blue sparkling eyes gazed up at him, he felt an odd pang in his heart.

  “Why are you so mean?” she asked, lowering her voice. “Don’t you care about me being happy, or do your slaves have to be miserable all the time?”

  With the unfamiliar sensation already rippling through him, he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

  “Ailith, you don’t know about the seas,” Magnus scolded, suddenly appearing at the top of the stairs and quickly joining them. “The water is unpredictable. Large waves can appear from nowhere and break over the deck. A boat is not the place to be defiant.”

  As if the gods of the seas had heard him, a strong gust swirled around them. The boat pitched forward, then rocked from side to side. Screaming in fright, Ailith threw her arms around Ulrick’s waist and buried her head against his che
st.

  “Now you understand why I grabbed your arm,” he said sternly, his feet steady as the ship rolled. “If you were still leaning over the side you could’ve tipped overboard.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, and now I’m scared,” she whimpered. “Please, will you take me back down to the room?”

  “Fortunately it’s not far to the beach,” he said, holding her tightly and moving her to the steps. “Stay down here until we reach shore. I mean it, Ailith,” he continued, slamming the door shut behind them. “Stay put. You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

  But as he watched her drop on the pelts, there was more on his mind than correcting her.

  He believed he would have come up with the same conclusions she had, but the speed with which she’d analyzed the situation and offered her theory was staggering. Magnus had recognized Gander’s duplicity, but even he hadn’t seen as far ahead as Ailith.

  “Please, Master, don’t punish me again?” she begged, hugging her knees to her chest as the ship continued to ride the choppy waters. “I’ve learned my lesson, really I have.”

  “That remains to be seen,” he said brusquely. “I have to go back on deck, but Magnus has left you some food. Has the boat’s movement upset your stomach?”

  “No, I’m just scared.”

  “Tora has sailed through many dangerous storms. This is nothing for her.”

  “Really? I’m very glad to hear that.”

  “We’re being blown by a fast wind. We’ll be at the shore quickly. I’ll come and get you when it’s safe.”

  “Thank you, Master.”

  Staring down at the pretty young woman with her golden hair and bright blue eyes, he wondered how she could be so smart. She came from a tiny settlement of backward people.

  “Did you need to tell me something else?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  “No. I was just considering everything that’s happened,” he replied, then opened the door and returned to the deck.

  The wind had given birth to whitecaps, but the waves weren’t big, and he suspected Gander would be dealing with much worse. Glancing across at Bjørn’s boat cutting through the water, Ulrick was grateful Frey, his beloved horse, was on board. There was no telling what Gander might have done to him.

  “You are far more diabolical than I thought,” Ulrick muttered as he turned his eye to the cliffs ahead. “Just what evil have you plotted, and who is it that waits with you at the cove? You wouldn’t dare do this without support. Is it one of my advisors?”

  “How is she?” Magnus asked, walking across the deck.

  “Ailith? You care about a servant girl?”

  “I care about that servant girl, and so should you,” Magnus replied solemnly, “though I sense you already do.”

  Ulrick let out a sigh.

  “She’s contrite, but she’ll always be a handful.”

  “A hot backside won’t be enough to control her,” Magnus remarked. “You’ll have to come up with other forms of discipline, but on to other matters. Look at the past. Many rulers have been assassinated. The threat comes with the position and I’m surprised this didn’t happen sooner. We’ll beat Gander at his game, but we must uncover his allies or someone else will take his place.”

  “Gander will tell me everything before he dies,” Ulrick said grimly. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  Chapter Five

  Ailith hungrily devoured the food Magnus had left. The bread was flavored with herbs, the dried fruit was delicious, and the meat made her roll her eyes. She didn’t know what animal it was, but it was the tastiest she’d ever eaten.

  Though the vessel’s movement didn’t bother her, she didn’t want to be on deck. She didn’t scare easily, but when it pitched forward then rolled from side to side, she’d instantly known the danger she was in.

  Finishing her feast, she let out a satisfied sigh and leaned against the wall. The boat wasn’t lurching as much, and she assumed they must have reached the sheltered part of the bay. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of her best means of escape.

  The warriors wouldn’t know the quick path to the cove over the cliff, and without her help they would probably follow meandering animal trails. Some led nowhere. She smiled as the thought crossed her mind, then returned to the serious business of coming up with a foolproof plan.

  There were a number of thickets offering cover, or she could run through the forest to the river and follow it to a settlement where her parents once had friends. But that was inland. It would take her several days, and she wasn’t sure she’d be welcome even if she managed to make the trek. Finally growing tired, she decided the only thing she could do was wait for an opportunity, then seize it, just as she had in the wagon.

  “Something will happen, it’s bound to,” she muttered, “but where will I go? There’s no point returning to the village. That’s the first place Ulrick and his warriors will come looking, and everyone will hate me for bringing them back. They probably don’t want me there anyway.”

  She sighed again, but this time with sadness. After her parents had died, though the villagers had been kind and continued to make sure she didn’t go hungry, she’d been left to her own devices.

  They’d been afraid of her.

  She knew things.

  She didn’t know why, she just did.

  Even as a little girl, nothing could be hidden from her.

  She’d call people out when they lied. Not to be nasty, she’d just say it.

  “You’re not telling the truth.”

  It would always turn out she was right.

  Yet she could fool them... easily.

  A nasty man had once arrived in the settlement and terrified everyone. Her father and his friends had tried to kill him, but he was big and mean and beat them all. He’d taken over the village. Everyone was petrified. Late one night, she’d woken him from sleep and convinced him she knew where buried treasure was hidden. Promising to show him if he would take her away with him, she led him through the forest and straight into an animal pit. He’d raised his fist and cursed her.

  “You’re a bad man. You’re going to die now,” she’d declared. “That’s what happens to bad men.”

  Though the villagers had praised her and been relieved and thankful, she’d read their minds.

  What other magic might Ailith hold?

  She was different.

  Special.

  Gifted.

  Scary...

  In spite of their gratitude, they’d kept their distance even more.

  “Why don’t they like me, Papa?” she’d asked, tears running down her face. “I saved them. What did I do wrong?”

  “You did nothing wrong, my sweet, smart girl,” he’d replied, holding her tightly. “People are afraid of things they don’t understand, and they don’t know why you’re so clever.”

  The profound moment had been a turning point in her young life. She’d stopped trying to befriend the other children, and spent her time gazing at the stars, studying the vegetation and wildlife in the forest, and exploring the world outside the village. That’s how she’d found the rocky beach. But no one wanted to go there with her. Not even her parents.

  “Bad men come to shore in boats,” her father had warned. “You need to steer clear.”

  Though she’d nodded, her curiosity sent her there time and again. Lying on her stomach at the top of the cliffs, she’d see them in their great ships with fearsome wooden carvings leading the way, but they never stayed long.

  Opening her eyes, a frown crossed her brow. Now she was inside one of those ships, and the warriors were chasing Gander, a man she’d known was evil the moment he’d approached. To her his plan had been obvious, and she’d told Ulrick—not to help him, but to test his reactions to her foresight.

  Would the mighty warrior be afraid of her too?

  Would Magnus flinch at her cleverness?

  To her delight, Ulrick had been pleased, and admiration had shone from the older man’s eyes.
She’d found acceptance, but Ulrick had torn her from her home—such as it was—and done unspeakable things to her, though those things had brought her unexpected pleasure.

  For the first time in her life Ailith was confused.

  “We’re approaching the beach. You can come on deck.”

  Ulrick’s voice snatched her attention.

  Looking up at him, she discovered her fury at what he’d done was lessening, and when he offered his hand to help her up, she chose to take it. As his rough, callused skin wrapped around hers, it was strangely comforting.

  “I see you ate everything,” he remarked, glancing down at the empty basket.

  “Thank you. It’s much tastier than what I’m used to eating.”

  “If you enjoyed that, you’ll really love what the women prepare at our settlement. You’ll learn how to make it yourself.”

  “I don’t like to cook.”

  He frowned.

  “That bothers you,” she mumbled. “I don’t understand. I’m only speaking the truth. Should I lie?”

  “No, no, don’t ever lie to me,” he replied sternly. “I must go on deck. Are you coming, or do you want to stay down here?”

  “I’m coming.”

  But as she started to walk past him to the door, he abruptly grabbed her and pulled her into his hard, muscled body. Though she didn’t want to like being wrapped up in his powerful arms, she did—a lot. Too much.

  “If I had the time I’d throw you on those pelts and fuck you again,” he growled, dropping his lips to her ear as she melted against him. “I’d suck on those big breasts of yours until you were breathless, then turn you over, smack your ass, and ram my manhood inside you until you screamed with pleasure.”

  As his member pressed fervently against her, she found herself pushing her hand inside his trousers and wrapping her fingers around his engorged cock. Hearing his surprised gasp, she tightened her grip and vigorously moved her hand up and down. He gasped again, but didn’t push her away or tell her to stop, but abruptly fisted her hair and jerked back her head.

  Their eyes met.

  “You...” he breathed, then suddenly diving his lips on hers in a crushing, consuming kiss, he hoisted her up, held her tightly around the waist, and lowered them both on top of the pelts. “Get on all fours.”