Read Online Beyond the Sea Mist by Mary Gillgannon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Gillgannon
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if I ever again tried to escape, he would have an iron thrall collar put around my neck.”
Magnus saw her shudder as she mentioned the thrall collar. He certainly understood her anguish. It would be a terrible thing to have a metal ring soldered around your neck.
“You see why I’m reluctant to trust your promise of aid,” she continued. “Not because I don’t believe your intentions are true, but because I fear that by trying to escape, we’ll end up in circumstances that are even more miserable.”
If she were unwilling to take any risk, his plan was hopeless. He would need the cooperation of her and all the other women if he were to have any possibility of rescuing them. As the frustration built inside him, he said, “Does that mean you’re resigned to your fate? Are you prepared to endure the rest of your life as some man’s bedslave? Who’s to say that your new owner won’t choose to put a thrall collar on you? There are many men, especially powerful important ones, who are cruel—even crueler than Croa. Do you want to take the chance of falling into the clutches of such a man?”
“Stop it!” Her voice rose, harsh with agony. “Of course, I want no such thing! But what can I do? Perhaps when I get an opportunity, I should throw myself overboard. Drowning seems preferable to the life you say awaits me!”
He reached out and grasped her slender arm. “I’m offering you hope. All I ask is that you trust me and do what I tell you. I don’t think your circumstances can get much worse, so you don’t risk as much as you think. Croa’s unlikely to harm you. He’s too greedy, too eager to collect the fat price you’ll fetch. And it’s not true that your sale to a Dublin jarl was nearly arranged. Croa’s found no one here willing to meet his price. He’s taking you to York in the hopes he’ll have better luck there. Somehow we must get you away before the ship sets sail.”
She drew nearer, so he could finally see her face clearly. Her gray-green eyes were pleading. “Very well. I’ll trust you. As you’ve pointed out, I have very little left to lose.” She put her delicate white hand on his chest. “But you...” she said. “You’re risking everything. Why? What do you want with me?”
Ailinn’s heart raced as she waited for the Norseman to answer. He seemed so solid and strong, and she was so desperate.
He smiled suddenly, and it was a glorious sight—his strong white teeth contrasting with the burnished tan of his skin. “I have ever felt compassion for the weak and helpless. You remind me of a beautiful, wild creature trapped in a cage. I can’t bear to see you suffer.” His smile grew rueful. “Perhaps I’m a fool because I’m not content to turn away from what everyone else accepts.”
“I don’t think you’re a fool,” she whispered. “I think you’re noble and kind.”
She took a step back, telling herself she mustn’t allow him to raise her hopes. What he planned sounded near impossible. He was only one man against Croa’s army of brutes. “You should go now,” she said. “Croa’s men mustn’t find you here.”
The Norseman nodded. “I promise I’ll return. And when I do, I’ll have a plan.” He inclined his head to her, a gesture of courtesy. Tears filled Ailinn’s eyes. It seemed a very long time since any man had treated her with deference.
“Before you leave, will you tell me your name?” she asked.
“I’m Magnus Gunnarson.”
* * *
Magnus made his way back to the ladder. Climbing part way up, he looked around. Seeing no one, he quickly hoisted himself up onto the deck. Not a moment too soon. A burly warrior came up the loading plank. He narrowed his eyes at Magnus, then pulled out his sword. “Who are you? What are you doing on this ship?”
Magnus smiled and raised his hands in placating gesture. “The guard down there will tell you I was only having a look around. I’m hoping to hire on with Croa and wanted know what the conditions
Magnus saw her shudder as she mentioned the thrall collar. He certainly understood her anguish. It would be a terrible thing to have a metal ring soldered around your neck.
“You see why I’m reluctant to trust your promise of aid,” she continued. “Not because I don’t believe your intentions are true, but because I fear that by trying to escape, we’ll end up in circumstances that are even more miserable.”
If she were unwilling to take any risk, his plan was hopeless. He would need the cooperation of her and all the other women if he were to have any possibility of rescuing them. As the frustration built inside him, he said, “Does that mean you’re resigned to your fate? Are you prepared to endure the rest of your life as some man’s bedslave? Who’s to say that your new owner won’t choose to put a thrall collar on you? There are many men, especially powerful important ones, who are cruel—even crueler than Croa. Do you want to take the chance of falling into the clutches of such a man?”
“Stop it!” Her voice rose, harsh with agony. “Of course, I want no such thing! But what can I do? Perhaps when I get an opportunity, I should throw myself overboard. Drowning seems preferable to the life you say awaits me!”
He reached out and grasped her slender arm. “I’m offering you hope. All I ask is that you trust me and do what I tell you. I don’t think your circumstances can get much worse, so you don’t risk as much as you think. Croa’s unlikely to harm you. He’s too greedy, too eager to collect the fat price you’ll fetch. And it’s not true that your sale to a Dublin jarl was nearly arranged. Croa’s found no one here willing to meet his price. He’s taking you to York in the hopes he’ll have better luck there. Somehow we must get you away before the ship sets sail.”
She drew nearer, so he could finally see her face clearly. Her gray-green eyes were pleading. “Very well. I’ll trust you. As you’ve pointed out, I have very little left to lose.” She put her delicate white hand on his chest. “But you...” she said. “You’re risking everything. Why? What do you want with me?”
Ailinn’s heart raced as she waited for the Norseman to answer. He seemed so solid and strong, and she was so desperate.
He smiled suddenly, and it was a glorious sight—his strong white teeth contrasting with the burnished tan of his skin. “I have ever felt compassion for the weak and helpless. You remind me of a beautiful, wild creature trapped in a cage. I can’t bear to see you suffer.” His smile grew rueful. “Perhaps I’m a fool because I’m not content to turn away from what everyone else accepts.”
“I don’t think you’re a fool,” she whispered. “I think you’re noble and kind.”
She took a step back, telling herself she mustn’t allow him to raise her hopes. What he planned sounded near impossible. He was only one man against Croa’s army of brutes. “You should go now,” she said. “Croa’s men mustn’t find you here.”
The Norseman nodded. “I promise I’ll return. And when I do, I’ll have a plan.” He inclined his head to her, a gesture of courtesy. Tears filled Ailinn’s eyes. It seemed a very long time since any man had treated her with deference.
“Before you leave, will you tell me your name?” she asked.
“I’m Magnus Gunnarson.”
* * *
Magnus made his way back to the ladder. Climbing part way up, he looked around. Seeing no one, he quickly hoisted himself up onto the deck. Not a moment too soon. A burly warrior came up the loading plank. He narrowed his eyes at Magnus, then pulled out his sword. “Who are you? What are you doing on this ship?”
Magnus smiled and raised his hands in placating gesture. “The guard down there will tell you I was only having a look around. I’m hoping to hire on with Croa and wanted know what the conditions
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