Aiya scanned the room quickly, her eyes darting to each corner. Esma was nowhere in sight. Had she fled? Or worse—been captured? A lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to remain calm. She glanced at Gunnar and motioned subtly toward Esma's empty spot with her eyes. He followed her gaze and frowned deeply.
"Alright, take them," the leader of the guards ordered, stepping forward. His men surged to obey, moving to seize Aiya and the others.
Gunnar, however, wasn’t about to surrender without a fight. He swung his fist into the first man’s face, the sickening crack of bone echoing in the barn. The guard stumbled backward into two others, who struggled to steady him as four more rushed forward to subdue the towering Viking.
"We can’t win this fight, Gunnar!" Aiya shouted, struggling as two guards grabbed her arms roughly and dragged her toward the door.
Gunnar roared, shaking off one attacker and striking another with a powerful elbow. But as he moved to follow Aiya, a sword hilt slammed into his gut, dropping him to his knees. He raised a hand to signal his remaining comrade to yield, his ragged breathing the only sound he made as the guards hauled him away.
“Gunnar!” Aiya cried out, thrashing against her captors.
The guards pulled her in the opposite direction, ignoring her protests. Gunnar struggled to his feet, his fury reignited at the sound of her voice. But before he could act, another guard struck him across the head with the butt of a sword, dropping him unconscious. Aiya barely caught the sight of his still form before a coarse burlap sack was pulled over her head, plunging her world into darkness.
---
She didn’t remember blacking out, but when she woke, she was slumped against a damp stone wall. Her hands and feet were bound by iron chains, just loose enough to allow her to stand if she tried. The air was thick with the stench of rot and waste, and her stomach churned as she gagged on the foul smell.
The chamber was small and cold, the only light filtering through a barred window high on the wall. Across from her, a solid wooden door stood closed, a faint glow spilling out from the crack beneath it. She strained her eyes, trying to make sense of her surroundings, but the darkness offered no answers.
Her mind raced with worry. Where is Gunnar? Is he alive? Did Esma escape? The unanswered questions clawed at her, and she pulled at her chains, the metal clanking loudly in the silence.
"Let me go!" she shouted, her voice hoarse. But no answer came. Only the sound of her chains echoed back at her.
She sank to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest. The chill seeped into her bones as hunger gnawed at her stomach. She hadn’t eaten since the night before they fled the beach, and now she had nothing but her fear and anger to sustain her. Exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a restless sleep.
---
A sudden splash of icy water jolted her awake, burning her lungs and leaving her coughing violently.
"Wake up!" a voice barked.
Through blurred vision, Aiya saw the guard captain standing over her, a cruel grin on his face. Behind him, two guards blocked the doorway, one sporting a swollen black eye. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight, despite the dire situation.
"What’s so amusing, girl?" the captain sneered, crouching to meet her gaze.
"My friend turned your man into a rag doll," Aiya replied, nodding toward the bruised guard.
The captain’s smile faltered for a moment, then returned, colder and more menacing. "Your friend looks much worse now. We killed the other one to loosen his tongue, but the mute still won’t speak. Perhaps you’ll be more cooperative."
Aiya’s stomach twisted at his words, but she refused to let him see her fear. She spat at his feet, her defiance earning her a hard kick to the ribs. Pain exploded through her side, and she gasped for air, her vision swimming. She doubled over, bile rising in her throat, and retched onto the floor.
The captain crouched again, his face inches from hers. "Now, will you talk?" he growled.
Aiya wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, then looked him dead in the eyes. Without a word, she spat—this time, hitting him square in the face.
His composure broke. With a roar of rage, he lunged, his hands closing around her throat as he slammed her against the wall. Her vision darkened as she clawed at his arms, her strength ebbing with every second.
Desperate, she looped the chain binding her wrists around his neck and pulled with all her might. The captain released her throat, his hands scrabbling at the chain as he choked. Aiya let out a primal scream and yanked harder, the metal links biting into her hands as blood trickled down her arms.
The door burst open, and the other guards rushed in, dragging their captain away. Aiya collapsed to the floor, coughing and gasping for air as her captors fled the room. The taste of his blood lingered in her mouth, hot and metallic. She lay still for a moment, her chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Despite the pain, she felt a surge of triumph. She had survived.
---
The noise outside her cell grew louder—shouts, clashing metal, and screams. Then, silence. Her heart pounded in her chest as she strained to hear, unsure if salvation or doom waited on the other side of the door.
The wooden door creaked open, and there stood the last person she expected to see.
"Well, love," James drawled, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Told you we’d meet again."
Aiya gaped at him, too stunned to respond. Esma pushed past him, flinging her arms around Aiya.
"You’re safe!" Esma exclaimed, tears in her eyes. "Let’s get you out of here." She produced a ring of lockpicks and began working on Aiya’s chains.
"What happened?" Aiya asked, her voice shaky.
"I couldn’t get back to you in time," Esma explained. "James found me hiding and helped me plan this rescue."
"We need to go," James interjected. "No time for reunions." He glanced down at Aiya’s battered form. "You look awful, by the way."
---
They emerged into the night, the chaos of their escape still fresh. Gunnar lay slumped over a horse, his injuries severe but his chest rising faintly with each breath.
"Frøja!" Aiya exclaimed, suddenly remembering Gunnar’s beloved axe.
"Not now!" James barked as they mounted their horses, but Aiya turned her mare toward the forest’s edge. James groaned and followed, scooping up the wrapped axe from the dirt as he rode past her.
"Happy now?" he quipped, tossing the weapon to her.
Aiya nodded her thanks, clutching the bundle tightly. They rode hard into the night, the sound of pursuing guards fading behind them.
---
By dawn, they reached a high cliff overlooking the North Sea. Aiya dismounted, her eyes scanning the horizon.
"Aiya, look!" Esma called, pointing toward the water.
Far in the distance, a dragon ship approached, its sails bearing the familiar crest of the Lowzow house.
A smile broke across Aiya’s face. "He’s returned."
YOU ARE READING
Conqueror Queen
Исторические романы✯Sequel to A Viking's Rage✯ Her whole life she had been mistreated, now it was her turn for revenge. She wasn't just a slave anymore, she was Aiya Einardóttir now, and she would conqueror the whole world if she had too. Now she seeks revenge on Lord...
