Page 41 of Return of the Viking Warrior

Silently she prayed to any god who might be listening that her child would be spared. And that nothing would happen to Ash either. She had only recently had him return to her life. It wouldn’t be fair to lose him so quickly, but when was life ever fair or just?

She wanted to curl up in a ball and hide her face, but that was impossible. She had to watch. Both of them. Ash inching along, moving ever closer, and Rurik desperately clinging on.

How had this happened? How had he been allowed to run free with Virvir when she had given strict instructions that the pair were to be separated? And that Rurik was to be watched at all times.

She’d trusted Gudrun to look after him properly and this had happened. She should have guessed that this could happen, but taking him to Sand would have caused more trouble.

Time enough for answers later. And she’d get them. Virvir would have to be punished. And Rurik would have to learn the consequences of following the older boy’s lead.

Ash reached Rurik. His fingers closed around one of Rurik’s wrists at the same instant the boy let go. For a heartbreaking moment her son dangled, then Ash pulled him up the roof to safety of a sort.

Kara remembered to breathe again. Her son was safe. She brushed away a single tear. Her limbs trembled and she wanted to sink to the ground. Ash had reached Rurik in time.

Now to get them both down. She could hear the low murmur of his voice, but not what he actually said.

Then she saw Ash pointing to her and Rurik giving her an enthusiastic wave.

Kara ground her teeth. Ash should be getting Rurik down, rather than encouraging wilful behaviour.

‘Come down now! The pair of you!’

Ash cupped his hand to his ear. ‘What was that? I can’t hear you properly. The view is lovely up here. Thank you for asking.’

She heard Rurik’s laugh ring out and ground her teeth. Typical Ash, playing to the crowd. Everything had to be made into a joke.

Surely Ash understood the job was only half-done. Rurik needed to be coaxed down. Not until his little feet were on the ground and she’d been able to wrap her arms about him would she believe that he was truly safe.

‘On the ground now!’

‘Impossible,’ Ash retorted.

‘But...but...you climbed up there,’ Kara said in dismay. ‘Surely you can carry Rurik back the way you came.’

‘We climb down once you arrange for a ladder to be placed somewhere where we can actually get to it.’ Ash indicated where he wanted the ladder put. ‘It would be foolhardy in the extreme to take Rurik back along the ridge of the roof. He is far too tired. My leg aches too much to be trusted.’

‘I’m not tired, Mor. I can do anything.’ Kara heard the tell-tale whine in Rurik’s voice.

‘A ladder is on its way,’ Kara said, ignoring Rurik’s continued protest.

Kara motioned to two of the farmhands, who ran to get a ladder from one of the outhouses. The ladder was rapidly placed against the gable end, precisely where Ash had indicated.

It was a good four feet short, but there were some clear handholds. It should be a simple enough matter to get down to the ladder and then descend.

‘Be careful, the pair of you,’ Kara whispered.

As she watched, Ash had Rurik loop his arms about Ash’s neck and hook his legs about his body. Then he slowly began his painstaking way down to the ladder. Every breath seemed to take an age. He reached the ladder and Kara expected Rurik to scrabble down, but his arms remained firmly locked about Ash’s neck.

The tension ran out of Kara’s shoulders. Ash was being sensible. He was not enticing Rurik to do more and more dangerous things.

Suddenly they were down. Rurik let go. Ash sank to the ground, rubbing his bad leg, his face contorted in pain.

Rurik with his blond hair flying came running across the yard to her, seemingly oblivious to the danger he had just been in. ‘Mor! You’re home! I thought you would be coming and I wanted to see. Only I couldn’t see very well and Virvir dared me. Only he took away the ladder once he got down as the men needed it. He said that only babies couldn’t climb down. I am not a baby!’

Kara struggled to keep her temper. Shaking or beating Virvir wasn’t going to do anyone any good. But he would be gone from here before the day was out. She gave Gudrun a significant look. The elderly woman had the grace to pale.

Gudrun pulled Virvir by the ear. The overly plump boy gave a shriek. ‘I will deal with it, ma’am. It won’t happen again. But you know how your son is. Always into mischief. Just like his father.’

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