Read Online Beyond the Sea Mist by Mary Gillgannon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mary Gillgannon
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He’s off in the longphort right now, finishing up his business.”
Magnus released the man and resheathed the knife. “Then I’ll wait until he returns. Can you tell me how soon Croa plans to leave?”
“Tomorrow we set out.”
Tomorrow. That didn’t give him much time. Magnus glanced up at the dragonship. “Would you have any objection to my boarding the ship and seeking out Bors? I’d like to thank him for suggesting I hire on with Croa.”
The man shrugged. “Look around if you wish. Most of the cargo I’ve seen loaded is bulky stuff—hides, casks of wine, bags of grain. Nothing a man can walk off with.”
Magnus nodded, surprised by the man’s cordial tone. Most warriors would be a little more wary, and perhaps even hostile to a man who’d just held a knife at their throat.
“Perhaps I’ll see you later, if Croa hires me,” Magnus said.
“Aye,” the man responded.
Magnus climbed up the boarding plank to the ship. This was a much bigger vessel than any he’d been on before. Croa was certainly a wealthy man...and with wealth came power.
In the midsection of the ship, near the mast, was an opening that led to the storage area below deck. Magnus guessed that was where the women would be held. His heartbeat quickened as he considered the risk he was taking. The deck was deserted right now, but crewmen could come aboard at any moment. Then he thought of the Irishwoman’s lovely features contorted in anguish when Croa’s brutal hireling grabbed her hair, and anger overrode his apprehension.
He glanced around again to make certain he was alone, then found the ladder leading into the hold and made his way down it. Peering into the gloomy recesses of the cargo area, he saw rows of barrels. When he glimpsed movement behind them, he called out softly, “Lady Ailinn? Are you there?”
There was the sound of whispering. Then she answered, “Aye, I’m here.”
If only he had a lamp, Magnus thought with chagrin. He wanted to see her. Carefully, he made his way by the barrels, turning sideways to squeeze past them. He could hear breathing, and smell the less than pleasant scent of people crowded close together. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he could make out the pale oval of the princess’s face. Although he couldn’t see her features clearly, she seemed to be scowling at him. Magnus felt a stab of annoyance. Why couldn’t she act pleased to see him? He’d come to aid her.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
Magnus’s irritation increased. “I’m here to help you. Although perhaps you don’t want the help of a
hireling
.”
She sighed. “I beg your pardon, sir. My nerves are stretched to the limit. I truly don’t know if I can endure much more. You say you want to help me, but how? What’s your plan?”
Magnus’s tension increased as he considered how to answer her. Before boarding the ship, he’d entertained the vague notion of waiting until nightfall and then somehow smuggling the women off the ship. Now he realized such a scheme had little chance of success. The night before the vessel sailed, most of the crew would be aboard. It would be nearly impossible to get the women off without someone noticing.
He turned the matter over in his mind but could think of no sound strategy. Finally, he said, “I don’t yet know how I’ll do it, but I intend to get you off this ship before it leaves dock.”
“
How
?” she repeated. “I must know you’ve thought this out carefully and that your plan has some hope of success. Because of our last escape attempt, our situation is worse than ever. Croa told me he’d arranged to sell me to the local jarl, but due to my rash actions in trying to flee, the jarl changed his mind. Now we’re to be taken to the settlement of York and sold in the slave market there. Then I will be even farther from my homeland. For the entire journey, we’ll be confined to this dank, miserable hole with our wrists bound to each other. He also warned me that
Magnus released the man and resheathed the knife. “Then I’ll wait until he returns. Can you tell me how soon Croa plans to leave?”
“Tomorrow we set out.”
Tomorrow. That didn’t give him much time. Magnus glanced up at the dragonship. “Would you have any objection to my boarding the ship and seeking out Bors? I’d like to thank him for suggesting I hire on with Croa.”
The man shrugged. “Look around if you wish. Most of the cargo I’ve seen loaded is bulky stuff—hides, casks of wine, bags of grain. Nothing a man can walk off with.”
Magnus nodded, surprised by the man’s cordial tone. Most warriors would be a little more wary, and perhaps even hostile to a man who’d just held a knife at their throat.
“Perhaps I’ll see you later, if Croa hires me,” Magnus said.
“Aye,” the man responded.
Magnus climbed up the boarding plank to the ship. This was a much bigger vessel than any he’d been on before. Croa was certainly a wealthy man...and with wealth came power.
In the midsection of the ship, near the mast, was an opening that led to the storage area below deck. Magnus guessed that was where the women would be held. His heartbeat quickened as he considered the risk he was taking. The deck was deserted right now, but crewmen could come aboard at any moment. Then he thought of the Irishwoman’s lovely features contorted in anguish when Croa’s brutal hireling grabbed her hair, and anger overrode his apprehension.
He glanced around again to make certain he was alone, then found the ladder leading into the hold and made his way down it. Peering into the gloomy recesses of the cargo area, he saw rows of barrels. When he glimpsed movement behind them, he called out softly, “Lady Ailinn? Are you there?”
There was the sound of whispering. Then she answered, “Aye, I’m here.”
If only he had a lamp, Magnus thought with chagrin. He wanted to see her. Carefully, he made his way by the barrels, turning sideways to squeeze past them. He could hear breathing, and smell the less than pleasant scent of people crowded close together. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he could make out the pale oval of the princess’s face. Although he couldn’t see her features clearly, she seemed to be scowling at him. Magnus felt a stab of annoyance. Why couldn’t she act pleased to see him? He’d come to aid her.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
Magnus’s irritation increased. “I’m here to help you. Although perhaps you don’t want the help of a
hireling
.”
She sighed. “I beg your pardon, sir. My nerves are stretched to the limit. I truly don’t know if I can endure much more. You say you want to help me, but how? What’s your plan?”
Magnus’s tension increased as he considered how to answer her. Before boarding the ship, he’d entertained the vague notion of waiting until nightfall and then somehow smuggling the women off the ship. Now he realized such a scheme had little chance of success. The night before the vessel sailed, most of the crew would be aboard. It would be nearly impossible to get the women off without someone noticing.
He turned the matter over in his mind but could think of no sound strategy. Finally, he said, “I don’t yet know how I’ll do it, but I intend to get you off this ship before it leaves dock.”
“
How
?” she repeated. “I must know you’ve thought this out carefully and that your plan has some hope of success. Because of our last escape attempt, our situation is worse than ever. Croa told me he’d arranged to sell me to the local jarl, but due to my rash actions in trying to flee, the jarl changed his mind. Now we’re to be taken to the settlement of York and sold in the slave market there. Then I will be even farther from my homeland. For the entire journey, we’ll be confined to this dank, miserable hole with our wrists bound to each other. He also warned me that
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