Tides (Time of Myths: Shapeshifter Sagas Book 3) Page 10

  Leif understood completely. Ragna’s next stop would be the busy trade port of Duiblinn to sell off their newly acquired booty. The gold earned, shiny and bright like the flames of a fire, would be added to his father’s treasure hoard. It was a well-known fact that the lord of the sea preferred gilded riches.

  But that wasn’t what concerned Leif. Upon Ragna’s return home, he would select a number of lives to sacrifice to the lord of the sea as he always did at the end of every viking season. This man was not the first thrall to be labeled as Leif’s stray. He thought of Eilish, and his stomach twisted in a way it never had before.

  The still waters might have been a good omen, but Eilish couldn’t shake the sense that something lurked beneath them. She imagined a green-haired man with eyes as large as their boat standing on the sea floor. Long braided plaits might float about his head like snakes guarding a nest. A lord powerful enough to reign over the ocean could do whatever he wanted to a ship as inconsequential as theirs.

  The dark water over the edge of the boat rippled with movement. Eilish straightened up. If she were tossed overboard, she would surely perish. And Leif had leapt into the ocean and disappeared, so he could not help her this time. She caught herself holding her breath as she stared at the gentle waves and worried he had drowned.

  “He will return,” Agnar muttered beside her. “He always does.”

  Eilish frowned. “From where will he return—the bottom of the sea?”

  Agnar shifted in place, casting a wary glance toward the other end of the ship where Rúni, Oddmund and Sten sat. Next, he looked at the bow, where the ornate wind vane was mounted. Curled metallic tentacles formed a sea creature she’d only heard stories of. He questioned, “Do you know the name of this vessel?”

  She shook her head in response, feeling a sense of unease grow in her stomach.

  “It is the Kraken. Have you heard tell of sea monsters from the deep?”

  A chill traced down Eilish’s spine. She reminded herself she should be strong, that she should appear fearless in the face of danger. There appeared to be countless threats unknown to her lurking in the waters below. Each day that passed seemed to reveal a new threat. She had not spoken to the men who fished upon the sea, nor had she ever left her quiet hillside before the raid that had taken her away.

  Eilish tried to find her voice. “I have not heard of such stories.”

  Agnar rubbed his chin. “Maybe that is best.”

  She had to distract herself from the fear that had begun to grow in her belly, so she changed the subject. “How is your arm?”

  He clenched his hand into a fist and lifted his forearm. The corners of his mouth upturned into a grin. “I have no pain—it is doing well.”

  “Good,” she muttered. She’d barely noticed her own leg, so much else had held her attention, and her poultice had done its job.

  The boat cast out ripples. Splashes caught her ear, and she turned to the sound. A head rose above the edge of the ship while muscular arms worked to raise a man’s body on board. She recognized him in the dark, knowing it to be Leif. He’d returned just as his friend had promised. A strange sensation clutched her chest as she breathed a sigh in relief.

  His kin went to him, clapping him on the shoulder, speaking words she couldn’t understand. His response seemed to please them, for they hooted and shouted with smiles affixed upon their bearded faces.

  “Another victory,” Agnar said beside her. He stooped to pick up Leif’s clothing from the decking and went to his friend.

  She watched from under her long shaggy bangs as Leif slicked his hair from his face, clearing the water from his eyes before accepting his tunic and trousers. He stood in the moonlight, casting a glance toward her. Eilish was caught in the moment, unable to look away.

  Around them the other men were set into motion. They put the chests and oars into place while Cormacc and Ronan heaved the large metal anchor back on board. All of the rowers sat ready for their command to begin. Leif went to the stern of the boat where his father normally gripped the side rudder, and took hold of its handle. Through the moonlight they rowed, this time in silence. There was no eerie accompaniment from Leif, no song to keep their tempo, just the dripping slap from oars hitting the water and the creaking from the wooden ship while it cut over the sea. The dark form of the coast remained to their side as they went.

  Eilish sat upon a cask in the cargo hold, watching them move south through the night. The moon arched in the sky like the sun, displaying the passage of time until Rúni gave a shout and pointed ahead. A dark shape grew larger on the gentle waves.

  Another sleek boat that could have been the sister to the Kraken came into view. Two men’s silhouettes were visible, and one waved at them as they approached. Once they were close enough, the rowers stowed the oars and Sten and Oddmund tossed ropes to the other ship so they could get lashed together.

  Eilish stood beside Cormacc watching the freemen’s excitement grow. She was disappointed to see the Allmaster through the dim, holding up furs and fabric that shone in the moonlight like precious metals. He handed them across to his brother Rúni and shouted to the men on the Kraken.

  Leif called so the slaves could understand, “Your master commands you to bring the cargo on board.”

  Although the other boat sat lower in the water, they created a chain of men who transferred all of the valuables onto the Kraken. Eilish did her best to hold up against the heavy casks of wine, crates of salt and large tusks that came from animals she’d never seen the likes of before. Precious gold and silver jewelry clanked in woolen sacks, and stones that shone like a field of mature wheat glowed in the moonlight. Rúni let out a long, low whistle as he held up a sword everyone stopped to admire. There was just enough light to see “Ulfberht” stamped upon its length. She’d never witnessed such treasure and riches. Eilish couldn’t help but wonder how the Allmaster had swum so far to capture a vessel so empty of men. She eyed his robust figure as he gloated over his fortune, noting the devilish glint in his eye. Maybe it had not been so empty of men, after all.

  Though she was tired, she kept her back straight and did as she was told until all of the cargo was upon their ship. Ragna barked his orders. She could tell Leif was annoyed as he spoke to his father in undertones. The Allmaster snapped back and returned to his place upon the Kraken, now weighed down in the water. Leif looked at his friend before calling to the crew, “We are to split at daybreak. Ragna requires Oddmund, Sten and Agnar to help him unload the cargo at Duiblinn. I will take Rúni and the thralls Aiden, Cormacc, Fergus and our newest, Birger, to return home. The rest will depart with Ragna. Get your belongings and find some rest before first light.”

  She hadn’t expected this turn of events, but was relieved to remain with Leif. Not wanting to get caught up in a change of decision, she hurried to grab her hudfat and climbed aboard the empty trading ship. Before she could step over, Agnar grabbed her arm and said, “I hope to see you on our return. Stay safe.”

  Eilish was surprised by his kind words, and returned the sentiment with a rough voice. “You too. I will miss your stories and painted skin.”

  He chuckled and slapped her on the back. She caught herself from falling over and climbed onto the other ship. She watched Rúni give his sons a rough embrace before clambering into the stern with his wooden chest. Leif, with the help of the unfamiliar man called Birger, lifted a keg into their cargo hold, along with a bundle of supplies.

  Cormacc stood beside her on the bow, holding his sleep sack. He laid it out on the deck and settled into it. When she did the same, he muttered so only she could hear, “It will be a relief to go away from Ragna. His son seems a might friendlier.”

  She couldn’t agree more. Although the Allmaster’s brother would still be near, and she didn’t relish the thought of that. As if Leif were having the very same thoughts, he joined them on the bow decking with his hudfat while he kept his eyes to his uncle at the other end of the ship.

  Eilish wasn’t
sure if she’d be able to find sleep while they rocked on the gentle waves. Notions of malevolent monsters and gods made it hard to relax. As helpful as Leif seemed to be, she doubted he could protect her from both.

  But somehow she must have found rest, for her lids lifted open when the sky began to brighten. The rocking ocean stirred with power, its swelling tides licking at the hull. She blinked the sleep from her eyes to discover Leif staring at her. Instead of looking away, his gaze intensified into a frown. She didn’t know what it meant.

  “The winds are blowing north,” he muttered and sat up. He called to the crew, “We want the winds at our back. Time to wake!”

  The men on both boats stirred. It was not long before all were up, preparing for their respective journeys. From the Kraken, the Allmaster shouted to his brother what she presumed were departing words. Rúni called back in return. Eilish noticed that the Allmaster paid no heed to his own son as he ordered the anchors to be raised.

  Over the passage of those many days, she’d begun to recognize particular words repeated during certain actions. She couldn’t fully understand the conversations that passed between the barbarians, but she tried her best to discern them.

  Leif untied the ropes that held the two ships together, tossing them onto the decks of the Kraken. The vessels began to drift apart in the morning breeze. Agnar held up his hand in farewell, and his friend returned the gesture. Leif went to the mast of the ship and began directing each of them to ready the sail. The newest member of the crew, Birger, prepared the yard so they could raise it.

  Leif put a rope in Eilish’s hands and said, “Pull as hard as you can. You must draw from the strength of your kin if we are to leave this place.”

  She nodded and twisted her knuckle around it, gripping it tight like the others had, and felt it bite into her flesh. All of them held onto their ropes, and at Leif’s command, they pulled with all of their might. The weight of the woolen sail and wooden yard were heavier than Eilish had anticipated. She groaned under its burden, letting her body’s weight help to lift it higher on the mast. Birger pulled the opening sail sideways into place as her backside touched the hull.

  Eilish didn’t want to let go, but she also didn’t know how to get a higher grip on the rope. She began to feel lightheaded from the exertion but didn’t want to give up. She took a deep breath before reaching and pulling once more.

  Just when she felt the muscles in her arms had had enough, the sail reached its highest point. Leif rushed to her side to take the rope from her. Panting, she watched him tie it off. The large striped square of fabric billowed in the ocean wind, pulling them away from the Kraken’s side.

  A mixture of relief and worry battled in her heart. She would not miss the Allmaster or the fear that he would cast her overboard like she’d already seen him do to others. It would be good to have distance from a man like that, but going forth into a future filled with uncertainty was reason enough to keep her on guard. Her father often said that a light heart made for a long life, making her wonder if her end was drawing near. She hoped she wouldn’t find out just yet. So she settled for watching the changing coastline from the bow of the ship.

  The winds were strong through the morning measure, which seemed to please Leif. He spent some time trying to teach her and the other thralls the parts of the ship, but for the remainder of day he kept by his uncle’s side at the stern. Rúni gripped the rudder as Leif pointed to the north. She did not know where home was for them, but hoped it was not far. The sooner she could be free of the ocean, the better.

  Chapter 9

  “The more I look at his face and figure, the more I see a woman’s,” Rúni mused to his nephew with narrowed eyes. He was focused on the bow of the ship where Eilish sat, staring at the coast. “Would take just a moment to be sure—”

  This was just what Leif had been trying to avoid. He had attempted to convince his father to let Agnar return with him in exchange for Rúni, but as usual, his requests fell on deaf ears. The longer his lustful uncle remained around Eilish in close quarters, the harder it would be to keep his mind on other things. Unless he wanted to abandon his aim to keep her safe, he would have to think up some other way to protect her from Rúni’s watchful eye.

  “Your mind plays tricks on you the longer you are away from Máiri,” Leif persuaded him. “We are but a few days’ travel from home.”

  Rúni shook his head and growled. “If you were not such a disappointment to your father, he would not have bade me to watch you like a nursemaid. I might have gone to Duiblinn to taste the flavors of Éire, for I love giving the pleasure of my company to the women there. That is why I took one home with me.”

  Leif knew just how much his uncle enjoyed “tasting” the women of other lands. He was certain of Rúni’s seed being spread without care or the means of support expected when a man had children, even if they were born to the unfree. Any honorable man should provide for his young, be they wanted or not. For a reason he could not name the thought of Rúni with Eilish twisted his stomach in knots.

  The morning winds began to change course and weaken. It was past the sun’s midday mark, and they had already traveled farther north than the spot where they had previously beached their ship. Sailing with the wind at your back was necessary if you didn’t want to row, and rowing was a tiresome, exhausting chore. He preferred going on land for the night and waiting for a promising gale to blow them homeward.

  Looking up at the slackening sails, Leif pointed toward the coast. “We best find a place to go ashore until the winds strengthen.”

  “Já,” Rúni answered, furrowing his bushy eyebrows. “I might find some amusement there—a farm to sack or some monks to scare.”

  “You do not have the numbers for that, Uncle,” Leif said with a sigh. Rúni may have said he was there to watch over him, but it was Leif who felt he must keep his uncle in line. “Do you not remember the time you stirred that farmstead with only Oddmund by your side?”

  Rúni sneered back at him and brushed his finger along his jaw. “But then I would not have earned this impressive scar. Battle wounds that do not kill you are something to take pride in, which is why you have none.”

  Only Leif seemed to be aware of the imbalance of power between the two of them. His uncle was his elder as well as being his father’s favorite, but that was as far as it went. In truth, it was Leif’s shape-changing ability that healed his body, which was why he’d had no scars since the age of fifteen, when his powers had taken root. It was those powers that could allow him to win a fight with his uncle, but their relationship had never degraded to that point. He let Rúni pretend he was superior to him so as not to upset Ragna.

  He stepped over the thwart and moved across the ship to the bow, leaving his uncle behind to navigate toward shore. What little wind there was would allow them to slowly sail east for the time being.

  Leif stood beside Eilish as she stared at the strip of land in the distance. He lifted his drinking bladder to take a swig of water, noticing Birger standing at the stern of the ship, relieving himself into the ocean, which gave him an idea.

  “We are heading inland until the winds pick up,” he informed Eilish.

  “Ah, good,” she answered. “I tire from all this rocking. I think Cormacc does as well.”

  He turned to look at the thrall, whose chin was resting on the gunwale. Cormacc’s eyes were pinched shut, and spittle hung from his lip. It appeared he might have fallen asleep following his last bout of seasickness.

  Leif couldn’t help but smirk. “If you are born of the North, you are raised on a boat. You get used to the rocking. Many prefer it to standing on solid land.”

  “Like your father?”

  He pinched his lips together and nodded. Leif leaned against the stempost, noting Fergus taking a nap in the cargo hold before deciding to say something to Eilish. He muttered under his breath, “My uncle is determined to make you out as a woman. I admit, I cannot imagine you as a man now that I know the secret you
hide. I worry it is only a matter of time before he tears your clothes from your body.”

  Eilish’s eyes widened from under her shaggy mane. She glanced toward the other end of the boat where Rúni was humming a tune to himself and everyone else who was unfortunate enough to hear. Before she could respond, Leif handed her his drinking bladder. “Prove yourself a man and have a piss overboard. Just make sure he looks your way or it will be a waste of water.”

  She frowned at him while her fingers grasped at the water skin. He could tell she was working things out in her mind as she considered what he’d suggested. Eilish looked at the teardrop-shaped pouch and its narrow opening. Then she smiled at him.

  Confident she understood what she needed to do, he turned away from the bow, blocking her from his uncle’s view as she slipped the bladder under her clothing and into position. Leif looked to the side to make sure she was ready before moving away. Eilish stepped to the edge of the boat with her back to Rúni and lifted the bottom edge of her tunic, grasping and lowering the mouthpiece of the water skin.

  Leif glanced back to see where his uncle’s attention was focused. Rúni was looking beyond them to the shoreline, which was getting closer ever so slowly. Leif decided to take action and coughed. It was all that was needed to draw his uncle’s focus to the bow of the boat. Without needing to be told, Eilish must have slipped the cork from the bladder, because he heard sporadic sounds of water hitting the hull.

  Cormacc surprised him by lifting his head from the gunwale and calling weakly to her, “Just relax and it will come.”

  Leif did not want to stare at her, but he presumed she must have adjusted her hold, for a steadier stream hit the waves before it petered out. She stepped back, appearing to put herself right like any other man would and cast him a sideways smirk. To top it off, she stretched and scratched her groin.