The Devil and The Snake

13. Be Careful

The prisoner was Earl Waller himself. Ivar had thrown into a cell, the same they had use for the killer weeks ago. According to the soldiers getting to him was easy enough and no blood had to be shed. In a sordid kind of way, that fact was disappointing for you.

And worrisome.

If it was easy to get to him, if no one was trying to protect someone like that, it meant that the real danger had all the strength to himself. You hesitated to write to your mother and father, but you were so worried that if, for some strange reason, they were implicated in this ordeal, you would never be able to get over it.

You mentioned to Ivar that Hvitserk had started to train you to the sword and, if at first he was ready to hit his brother again when he saw the scar, he quickly found comfort in the idea that you would be able to defend yourself with more ease from now on.

The morning after they arrived, you were laying your head on your husband's chest, stroking his skin with the tip of your finger.

"How is she doing?" he asked in a soft voice.

You hadn't yet discussed what she had told you.

"Not great. She... She..." you sighed. "Her mind is dead. She's terrified and angry."

"What'd she tell you?"

"Horrible things my love... I can't tell you all..."

"I want to know."

You looked in his eyes.

"I love her too much. I can't risk telling you those things."

He rolled his eyes.

"I won't do anything, she's all yours, I just want to know."

"Promise me."

"Is it that terrible?" he smiled but it faded quickly when he saw your serious expression. "I promise. Now, go tell."

You waited a second, taking a deep breath.

"She cursed the gods."

He frowned. "She already did that, I was there."

You shook your head and bit your lips before continuing. "She cursed you. She cursed me."

Ivar got serious; you felt his muscles tense under your hand.

"She..." your nails dug in your palm, feeling the scar underneath. "She told me I should kill you."

You waited for a reaction, but there was none.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know. What would you do if you were me?"

"She'd already be dead."

You started crying.

"I won't kill her. I... I..."

Ivar held your chin up. "I'm not asking you to do it, I'm not asking you to do anything." He kissed your nose. "I'm not scared of her; I'm worried for you, but I won't do anything unless you want me to."

Relieved, you left the conversation at that. You didn't want to admit that she'd called you a monster or it wouldn't be as simple for your husband.

Later in the day you went to visit Ser Thomas and was comforted by the fact that Caroline wasn't there. She was probably out looking for something to eat or drink since she didn't leave the room now that ser Thomas was back. That meant that you'd only have a few moments alone with him.

You sat on the chair, looking at his face. You'd only exchange a few words for the brief time you'd known him, all pleasant from what you could recall but nothing remarkable. Something in his face reminded you of the guard you had talked to, the day Ivar had arrived in Wessex, you wondered if maybe they knew each other.

He raised a faith hand and you took it with both of yours.

"What is it?"

He parted his lips, he looked like he was trying to talk. You got your ear closer to his mouth, trying to understand whatever he was saying.

With a last breath he whispered: "Be careful of Caroline"

"What do you mean?" you asked worryingly.

There was no answer. Ser Thomas was dead, finally. You were still holding his hand when Caroline entered the tent, dropping the water bucket she was carrying when she saw the scene.

"I'm sorry..." you manage to whisper. She got on her knees and started bawling. You joined her, holding her in your arms and caressing her hair while she cried.

Be careful of Caroline.

Be careful of Caroline.

Be careful of Caroline.

--

Before they took ser Thomas's body to bury, you asked to see him one last time.

He was dead but his body could still talk if you knew how to listen. You asked Bjorn to join you but not to tell anyone and he did. When he entered the tent, he looked surprise to see the Englishman's body laying on the table naked.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Maybe. What is it?"

You rolled your eyes; it would have to do. You couldn't ask Ivar because he would get enrage. You couldn't ask Hvitserk because he would probably tell Ubbe, same thing the other way around. Bjorn would have to do. He didn't tell Ivar about the poison so you had reasons to believe he would keep this a secret too.

"Do you know who helped clean him? Was it Ren? When he first arrived."

"I don't know."

"Help me turn him over"

"Why?"

"I'll know when we turn him over."

You could have done this part alone. Ser Thomas was so emaciated that his body barely weight more than yours. But if what you suspected was true, you needed someone to... to... you didn't even know what you needed Bjorn for, but you couldn't be alone for that part.

Once his back exposed you looked at it, trying to keep your calm. But it was getting too much because it was true. So, you turned around and fell on your knees, looking at the ground, not even able to cry.

Bjorn walked next to you.

"What's wrong? You didn't see it before?"

You grabbed Bjorn's hand and closed your eyes. You couldn't talk, the words were stuck in your throat. You couldn't yet explain to him that the reason you were shock, the reason you were unable to move or talk right now wasn't because you'd saw wounds you'd already seen.

It wasn't the violence of it, you'd seen him crucify before.

"Caroline" you managed to get out in a breath. Bjorn kneeled in front of you.

"You want me to get her?"

Your eyes opened widely, and you pulled his hand in a quick motion, shaking your head.

"She's the one who stabbed him in the back."

Bjorn frowned but didn't say more. Only looking in your eyes, trying to find an answer that wasn't there.

Be careful of Caroline.