Page 9 of Highlander’s Viking Sin

When he arrived, he was shocked to see how busy it was. His uncle and father had done much to ease hostilities between Highlanders and Vikings. Mere decades ago, seeing a Viking settlement in the heart of the Highlands would not have been possible. There was much trade going on, but Emmel wondered how many of the Highlanders here knew that the Vikings in their midst had captured innocent people. Isla and Andrew may not have been the first. He scanned the area to get the lay of the land and tried to see any sign of Isla. He didn’t want to ask anyone about Isla and Andrew specifically in case it should alert the Vikings to his presence, and then he saw her.

She was like a radiant light bursting through the first crack of dawn. Relief overwhelmed him, and he was just glad that she was alive. He could tell that it took a few moments for her to recognize him as well, but when she did, she smiled, although he saw no trace of Andrew beside her. From a cursory glance, she didn’t appear to be harmed, but a glance was all he managed to get as a Viking came up to him.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” he asked. The man was huge, with a beard the color of a flame. Emmel turned his gaze away, acting scared. He spoke in Norwegian at first before he shifted to his normal tone, wanting to try and make the Viking understand that he was one of them.

“I was attacked by bandits. I…I lost everything. I hae been stumbling through the woods for days with an empty belly. Is there any work ye hae for me? I will dae anything for a wee bit of bread and perhaps some cheese.” Emmel bowed his head and stammered as he spoke. The Viking lifted his head and wore a sneering look. Emmel hoped that the Viking would think him pathetic. He would be in danger if the Viking saw him as a challenge.

“I suppose we could always use more runts around here. I’ll take you to Rune Dolph. He can decide what to do with you,” the Viking said.

The Viking dragged Emmel away and took him past Isla. She wore a look of shock on her face and looked as though she was about to speak. Emmel gave her a sharp shake of his head, though, and shot her a warning look. She nodded and seemed to get the message. She followed him and the other Viking back to the large house, though. The Viking knocked on the door.

“It’s me, Varrik. I’ve got someone here who might come in handy,” the Viking said, hammering his fist against the door. Rune Dolph walked outside, looking regal in his fine clothes and scarlet cape. His hair was blonde, and it flowed down his back in a cascaded of light. His beard was thick, and he certainly looked like a leader. His gaze fell upon Emmel, who continued to cower and act as though he was a victim.

“Says he was attacked by bandits, and he’s desperate for food. Figure we can always use desperate men,” Varrik continued.

“P-Please, I could really use any help ye can give me. I’ll be no trouble, no trouble at all,” Emmel said.

Rune Dolph gazed at him for what seemed like an interminable time. “It’s a strange accent you have, stranger,” he said. “Where do you hail from?”

“I was born in the Highlands, but my da was Viking. He taught me tae speak the same way ye dae, but then I got intae trading and, well, sometimes sounding like a Viking is nae good for business,” Emmel said.

Rune Dolph pursed his lips. He wasn’t done with his questions. “And what did these bandits take from you?”

“Everything!” Emmel exclaimed. “All I haed in the world, which was nae much I admit, but still… I hae nae eaten for days. I can feel my stomach crawling inside me. Ye must need some cleaning, or perhaps I could shovel out the animals.”

Rune Dolph was about to say something again when Isla came rushing up.

“Take pity on the poor man. He’s been through a lot, and the least we can dae is show him some mercy. It’s nae gaeing tae cost us much tae give him a bit of bread and cheese,” Isla said.

Emmel wasn’t sure what was going on. The way she spoke to him, it was as though she knew him intimately, yet she was supposed to be his captive. He furrowed his brow and tried not to stare too hard lest it rouse suspicion. He couldn’t help but think there was more to this than he realized. There was something he was missing, but what?

Rune Dolph listened to Isla’s counsel and told Varrik to put Emmel to work in the stables. Emmel was taken away, leaving Isla behind, while questions filled his heart.