Page 70 of Merciful Salvation

She weighed her options. Stay here or steal a horse and follow the search party. She didn’t care about the consequences that would follow. Defying men seemed to be something she did quite well. She dashed toward the barn, seizing the reins of the closest animal, then led him away. Behind the shed again, she opened a saddlebag and reached inside. She found a knife and a water skin. The second contained rations of food wrapped in linens, rope, and a flint stone. She secured the bags, then climbed on. An hour later, with the sun barely peeking over the horizon, she found their tracks in the mud headed east.

Steadily riding for what seemed hours, she stopped when she overheard men shouting ahead. Other than the noise of her horse’s hooves pounding the earth, the world had remained silent until now. She dismounted, letting her horse stray. Then she followed the sound until she came to a stand of pine trees.

“We should turn southeast,” one of the guards suggested.

“No,” another disagreed. “We should stay on course.”

“Jarl McNally’s captain already combed the woods. Head toward the river—Erling Solheim may have a longship waiting,” the first man who spoke added.

They bickered back and forth, then called for a vote. Eventually, they rode southeast.

Their decision made it easier to choose her own riding direction. She’d continue on an easterly trek, no reason to follow them anymore. The more ground they covered, the better their chances at recovering her husband. She found her mount grazing nearby. Drinking some water from the skin tied to her saddle, she wiped her mouth dry on the back of her hand and grabbed her knife.

The dim morning light veiled the forest in gloom. Fear drove her onward, when exhaustion should have stopped her. She scrutinized every inch of the forest floor, looking for footprints or remnants of acampfire. Birds occasionally flew overhead or cried out. But there was nothing to see. A cold hand tightened around her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes more than once. And then she wished for her sword and shield, her chainmail and breeches, as if iron and steel and leather could improve her chances of locating her beloved. Or provide some comfort. She even called on her brothers and Marteinn, but no one came.

Urging her horse into a trot, she travelled another mile before she smelled smoke. She hadn’t passed a steading since she’d left Tyr’s home. In fact, this part of the Trondelag reminded her of the forest Erling Solheim occupied near Lagenheim. The thought made her stomach flip. What if... She slid out of the saddle, then tethered her horse to a nearby tree. What if her husband waited just ahead?

If she didn’t know better, she would have run wildly toward the smoke. But she’d been properly trained, taught how to move stealthily through the trees. And she did—successfully sneaking up on the small encampment. At first, she didn’t see anyone about. As her gaze shifted, she noticed two men. Erling Solheim stood in front of her husband, whose hands were tied to a tree branch high above his head. Although he appeared alive, Aaron seemed to be dangling instead of standing. Heart racing, she considered charging Erling.

“After I finish here,” Erling said. “I’ll fetch Lady Kara to my new camp and show her what she missed the first time we kept company.”

Aaron moaned.

“But before I kill you—I’ll send you to the grave knowing why I hate you—why I targeted you. Frieda is my half-sister, the mother of my only child...”

Kara took a deep breath. Aaron had told the truth. Not only was the child not his, its wretched mother had conceived in the vilest of ways. A crime punishable by death.

“When you cast her from your life and bed, she sought comfort in my arms. I make no fuss over what snatch I taste. Sister or not, shebegged for it and I gave it to her. Many times.”

Aaron coughed. “There’s no forgiveness for your sins.”

“Spoken as a Christian or a devotee of Allfather?”

“Why Kara?”

Aaron sounded so hoarse and weak. Kara’s legs nearly gave out, but she clung to the trees on either side of her. She listened harder.

“Pure coincidence,” Erling stated. “But when I found out through my carefully placed spies that the two of you were involved, I credited the gods for my good fortune. Why not kill both of you?”

Aaron strained against the ropes. “Never.”

Erling spat on the ground, the rumble of his laughter enraged her. “All the gold in Norway couldn’t buy your freedom or life. You’ll pay for humiliating my sister with blood.”

Unable to wait another moment, she ran as hard and fast as she could. By the time Erling realized someone approached, she stabbed him in the side of his neck, but the blade didn’t go in deep enough to kill him.

Chapter Twenty-One

Restored

Aaron didn’t believeit—Kara—here—a hallucination brought on by thirst and sleep deprivation. But Erling’s scream jolted him out of his half-daze. The bastard teetered, then nearly fell over before he regained control of his legs. Aaron watched with panic as he lurched at his wife, the knife still lodged in his neck.

“Bitch,” Erling screamed, reaching for her. “You’ve saved me the trouble of finding you.”

Kara spun out of his grasp.

“Kara,” Aaron yelled. “Run.” His jaw clenched—goddamnit. She didn’t hear him. He fisted his hands and threw his head back. Erling would never touch her again. Never. His whole body convulsed. Then, with one last desperate attempt, after hours of working the bindings, his hands ripped free. He instantly dropped to his knees, then scraped a hand over his face to wipe away the sweat and tears. Cursing his own weakness, Aaron rocked back on his heels.Find the strength to get up.He gazed ahead. Erling’s fevered stare sent waves of fear through him.

Although Kara tried to maneuver around him, Erling barreled toward her, uttering threats of violence. “I’ll kill you.”