Page 55 of Shared By the Vikings

She tore away. “What was that?”

He released her and looked over his shoulder. “It’s distant... but...”

“But what?”

“I believe it’s bells.”

“Who is ringing bells?”

He scratched his head. “I’ve heard tales of this. Come on.”

They headed up the beach at a quick pace.

After a few minutes a fat black cormorant walked from the dunes. Unlike the gulls that had moved up the beach as they approached, he seemed unaware of human presence.

Ingrid reached for her bow with one hand and tugged Erik’s arm with the other. “Stop. Wait a moment.”

He did as she’d asked then stepped back, letting her move in front of him.

Stealthily she took her bow, then an arrow and primed her weapon. She got the bird in her eye line, followed it with the tip of her arrow, then fired.

The pencil-thin slip of wood shot through the air. It hit its target in the breast.

The cormorant staggered then fell over.

“For the love of Odin, you hit it.” Erik clasped her shoulder as he rushed past.

A self-satisfied smile grew on her face.

Quickly Erik put the bird out its misery and retrieved the arrow. “It is good and fat but not old. We will eat well tonight.”

The pleasure on his face thrilled her much more than she’d expected it to.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

“Come on.” He picked up the bird. “We need to see what this is. We may be able to use whoever or whatever is there.”

“It’s still a long way off.” Ingrid squinted inland. “Perhaps if I...”

“What are you thinking?”

“That tree.” She used her bow to gesture to an oak tree just past the dunes. It signified strong soil and its old branches were heavy with leaves. “If I can climb it and look yonder it will save us going over that hill in this heat.”

“And we’re short on time, given the tide and getting back around the headland.” He nodded. “Let’s go.”

As soon as the sand hardened they broke into a run, Ingrid’s feet seeming to fall with each clang of the distant bells.

“How long do they go like this?” she asked.

“I don’t know. But while they shout their whereabouts it’s easy to find them.”

When they arrived at the tree, Ingrid set down her bow and arrows and Erik lay the dead bird next to them on the soft grass.

She placed her hands on her hips and looked up at the wide branches. It was a more daunting climb than she’d thought when looking at it from the beach. Even the first branch was high.

“Here, let me help.” Erik gripped her around the waist.

The next thing she knew she was in the air, the first thick gnarly branch within reach.

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