Page 83 of Summer Warrior

On Sweyn’s face was a look of horror as he attempted to shrink back from Somerled. But there was nowhere to go.

Somerled tossed his short blade aside and, gripping his sword hilt with both hands, whirled in a circle. With great force and a single stroke, he severed the pirate’s head. It flew out and rolled, blood spurting over the deck.

Straining to see from where she stood on the galley, Ragnhild glimpsed Sweyn’s gold Thor’s hammer, gleaming in the sun where it lay on the bloodied deck of the dragonship.

Her gaze flew to Somerled. He was unharmed, thanks be to God.

At Somerled’s command, the Norse pirates, who were under the blades of Somerled’s men, had their throats quickly slit. The few who escaped this death jumped into the water and fled to shore with Somerled’s men in hot pursuit.

When the decks were cleared of dead pirates, the wounded of Somerled’s and her father’s men were taken to Domnall’s longship where a healer could tend their wounds. Only then did Maurice allow Ragnhild her freedom.

Ahead of her, Liadan ran to Domnall, who had come to inquire of her wellbeing. His arm was bleeding but nothing more serious was apparent. Liadan embraced him. “You live!”

“Aye, lass. And does that make you happy?”

Liadan swiped at his shoulder. “Of course, you oaf!”

Ragnhild and Maurice hurried to where Somerled stood on the pirate ship, talking to his brother, Angus, and her father, who thankfully appeared whole. She smiled at her father as she passed him and ran into Somerled’s welcoming arms.

“I am covered in pirate blood,” he protested.

She held him fast. “I care not, for I am thanking the Almighty you live.”

“Very well,” he said, pressing her tight to his chest. He smelled of blood and sweat but, those smells would pass. Now that he was hers, she would not be letting him go.

“Your killing of Sweyn was quite a show,” said Maurice. “’Twill be the subject of the bards’ songs for many a year.”

“Aye, and you know I did it only for that reason.” Ragnhild felt the laughter rumble in his chest.

“I wonder how many other pirates build ships on Skye’s hidden shores,” asked Angus, casting a glance at the shore. In the distance, the Black Cuillin Hills loomed over all.

“Well,” said her father, “I know one who will no longer be on Skye. I killed the MacLier this day. Perhaps on another day, we will see if there are more but I am content with today’s harvest. Some of our men are wounded but we’ve no dead as far as I can tell. It helped that most of the pirates did not wear mail.”

“And we outnumbered them,” said Somerled. “Too, I discovered long ago that Sweyn would, in the end, act the coward and plead for mercy.”

“I am in debt to you for your ships and your men,” said her father, “and for protecting my daughter.”

“’Twas the least I could do,” he said, looking into her eyes. “After all, Ragnhild will soon be my bride.”

Her father cast her a disappointed glance, shaking his head. “And to think you could have married an earl.”

Ragnhild smiled. “Why would I wed an earl when I can marry a king?”