Read Online Viking's Prize by Tanya Anne Crosby - Free Book Online Page A

buried on sacred ground. For that at
least, you should offer your father a pardon... for he loved you, too.”
    So Elienor took the ring.
    And she was grateful for it, for with it, her
uncle had given her a sense of belonging. It had meant much to her to be
acknowledged by her family. She had despaired of ever fulfilling that dream.
She thought she understood why her uncle had been compelled to reveal it all
after so long, for he indubitably felt at least a twinge of guilt for what his
father had done to Elienor and to her mother.
    Then too, she was a little sad for him; Robert of
Francia knew firsthand the pain and agony of losing a loved one, for he too had
fallen victim to such manipulations. His first marriage had been annulled in
much the same manner as was her own father’s, and his love thereafter confined
to the priory.
    But as grateful as she was, she could not help but
feel a little bitter over all that had been taken from her as a child. The pain
her mother had endured.
    But it was best not to dwell on that, she knew.
She tried to focus instead on the good things in her life: She was learned in
the scriptures, knew her histories, and could tally her numbers well, for
Mother Heloise had been priming her to become abbess in her stead.
    With a sigh, she curled her legs into the mantle
that had appeared upon her so mysteriously the morning of the second day and
wondered again to whom it belonged. It was not Red-Hrolf’s, she was certain.
Nor did any of the others seem overly concerned with her welfare.
    She had a suspicion to whom it belonged, for it
smelled of him; an elusive combination of wind, sea, and man. It was insane,
she knew—to know his scent, when she knew him not at all, but she did.
    The wind howled about her, hissing like a viper
through the sails, and Elienor made certain Clarisse was covered by the mantle
as well. Leaning over her, she tucked the coverlet gently beneath her, and then
peered out over the gunwales. Nothing but angry gray swells met her gaze. They
were so far from anywhere.
    The unfathomable depth of the ocean made her
shiver abruptly. She felt so vulnerable out here, almost as vulnerable as she
had on that fateful day when she had been ripped from her mother’s breast…
    The sea was so dark—as dark as she’d so oft
imagined her mother’s grave to be.
    She shivered again and hugged herself for warmth,
cursing her lips, for they burned incessantly—even in the cold, damp
darkness. She raised her fingers to them as though that brief touch might ease
them.
    She wasn’t so much afraid to die, she told
herself. Rather she was terrified that if she did, they would toss her body
into the sea—to the dreadful creatures that dwelled within it. With a
miserable groan, she glanced down at Clarisse.
    Moonlight glinted off the young maid’s face,
making her skin seem too pale, her eyes black and eerie. The thought occurred
to her suddenly that Clarisse might not survive the sea voyage. Once again she
was failing. As she’d failed Stefan.
    Swallowing the thickness in her throat, she tilted
her head skyward.
    Had God truly forsaken them?
    Her hand covered her mouth. In the darkness, with
no eyes to see her and the rising wind to carry away the sound, she began to
sob quietly.
    Fifteen winters she’d spent within the priory.
Fifteen long, lonely winters. And Phillipe had been her greatest hope.
    Above her, the sails rippled violently, twisting
the mast windward. Shuddering, Elienor crossed herself. What fate was this God
had given her? To see poor Stefan die—and now mayhap to watch Clarisse
suffer and do the same? Well, by God, she’d not allow it!
    As though her fury had become tangible, the wind
suddenly lifted, pitching the ship viciously and jostling those aboard.
    “Clarisse?” she cried out.
    There was no response from the weak form beside
her.
    Frantically, Elienor shook the girl’s shoulder as
the ship listed once more. “Clarisse!” she shouted.
    Still no answer. Clarisse