Page 56 of Shared By the Vikings

“Grab it.”

She did as he’d instructed, the bark sharp on her hands but the branch solid.

He gave her another boosting push and she hoisted her belly up and then flung her leg over.

She held on tight and squeezed it with her thighs. She looked down at Erik.

“Go up,” he said.

She nodded and scraped her courage together. Then, carefully, she went onto her knees and stood. Quickly, she secured herself with one hand against the trunk. The next branch was at chest level.

She hauled herself up, then up again.

“Can you see?” he called.

“No, not yet.” The leaves were thick. She needed to move along the branch.

Holding the one above, she turned sideways, glad of the soft-soled boots, and edged her way through the leafy fronds. A bug landed on her cheek but she didn’t dare let go and bat it away.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

She twisted in the direction of the sound and was relieved to see a gap in the foliage.

“I can see, Erik.”

“What, what is it?” His voice sounded a long way down.

She kept looking straight ahead. “It’s a tower, a tall tower about arôstfrom here.”

“What else?”

“Red brick and the gaps in the bricks are shaped like crosses. There’s an iron cross on the top too.”

“Can you see people? Warriors?”

“No, but I can make out more roofs, lower down. Not like our roofs.”

“I know what it is.” He sounded excited. “This is good news.”

“What? What is it?”

“A monastery, others have found them, they hold great Christian treasure.”

“Really?” She stared at it, visions of piles of gold and jewels swimming before her eyes.

“Come down,” he called.

“Ja.” She swallowed and glanced down.

How did I get so high?

“Come on, you can do it.”

“I know.”

There was no other option. She had to work her way down. Gingerly, she edged back to the trunk. Then she sat, flipped onto her belly, and lowered to the next branch, feeling for it with her toes.

Staying focused, she repeated the action a few times and was relieved when she found herself seated on the bottom thick branch.

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