Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

ADA

“You cannot run out there, especially if you’re alone. Come with me, and I will bring you back to the farm.”

“And what? Keep me safe? You gave me your word you would protect me,” I said, feeling tears fall down my face. My whole body was shaking.

“What happened? Did anyone mistreat you?”

“Mistreat me? Yes! For the past three days, I have been passed from man to man. Every part of my body touched.”

“What else? Tell me!”

“Nothing else. But somehow, it feels just as terrible.”

“I am sorry I was not here. Believe me when I say I would never give you to another man,” he said, catching himself. He quickly tried to gather his words. “Let’s leave and go back to the farm. You are safe now.”

He looked at me with such sincerity. I nodded my head and followed him out, too tired—emotionally and physically—to keep fighting.

Before walking up to the main floor, he turned back to me. “Weylin will not go unpunished. I promise you that.”

We walked up the stairs to find Rankin, Weylin, Chief Barra, and his closest men.

“Did I not promise you the greatest beauty you will ever behold?” Weylin said to Chief Barra. Cayden turned toward me as if seeing me for the first time in the light. He could not take his eyes off me.

“She is very beautiful,” Barra agreed.

“Her father had sold her for two hundred silver pieces. I know I’ll be able to sell her for more. That is all I wanted, milord. To do right by you.”

Weylin gracefully bowed his head. This statement seemed to snap Cayden out of whatever thoughts were circling in his mind.

“Father, do not believe anything he says. He is a snake…a weasel…a toad.”

Barra held up his hand to silence the room, motioning for me to come toward him. Cayden gave me an approving look, and I walked toward his father. It was obvious this man was completely Danish.

He looked much like an older version of Gosta, but his face resembled Cayden’s a great deal.

“Do not fear me, my dear, I will not harm you.” He raised his hand and pushed my hair back behind my shoulder. I looked over at Cayden, who seemed hesitant about this gesture too.

“Even though she could be sold for a large sum, it will be my son’s decision whether he keeps her. He has the rightful claim to her.”

“I’ll keep her. Father, what will be done to Weylin? He needs to be punished,” Cayden said, yanking me back toward him.

“That will be for me to decide. Now take your slave and go rest.”

We left the hall and walked back to the horses. Men who had been ordered to leave the hall lingered by the door, their eyes watching us as we walked by.

Cayden helped me up onto his horse and then got up in front of me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tightly.

He nudged his horse to pick up speed on the way home, and I felt warm tears begin to fall down my face. I didn’t know whether they were tears of grief or comfort, but I knew there was no stopping them.

We arrived back at the farm in the late afternoon. The men walked over to the stable upon hearing us. As soon as Cayden stopped the horse, I got down and began to run as fast as I could toward the fields.

I ran until I couldn’t anymore, collapsing onto the ground a great distance away from the house.

CAYDEN

“Should I follow her?” Gosta asked Cayden.

“No. She is angry, and rightfully so. Time is what she needs.”

He brought his horse into the stable. His men were curious as to what had happened. Cayden explained in what detail he could about Ada before going into the house.

He and the men spent the rest of the day eating and resting from their hunting trip. As it was nearing dusk, Ada still had not returned. Cayden bid his men goodnight and said he would go and find her.

It was easy to track where she had gone by following the indentations in the grain. Cayden was surprised by the distance she had gone. The sun was setting quickly when he found her lying in the field, motionless.

“What is it you hope to accomplish here?” Cayden said to Ada.

“Death.”

Cayden got down from his horse and sat next to her. Ada’s face was red from crying, but she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

He looked down at her body. The dress she was wearing was different from the others. He could see the outline of every curve and wished he could explore them further.

“I promise you this will never happen again.”

“But it has happened. You cannot alter the past.”

“So, you are just going to lie here in self-pity?”

“What would you do if you were me?”

“Fight,” Cayden said with all seriousness. “I will make you into a warrior. You will be able to protect yourself from any man, Viking or Irish. I will do for you what we should have done for my sister.”