The sound of heavy boots pounding above deck echoed through the hold as Aiya scrambled to her feet. James’s face was unusually grave, and his tone lacked its usual mocking edge.
“Your Jarl seems eager to see you,” he said, stepping back to let her pass.
Aiya took a steadying breath, her heart racing. She reached down to shake Esma awake.
“Stay here,” Aiya said, her voice firm but soft. “No matter what happens.”
Esma opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it, nodding instead.
Aiya climbed the ladder to the deck, James following close behind her. When she emerged, the sight that greeted her was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Ragda’s flagship loomed just beside James’s vessel, its dragon prow seemingly glaring down at her. The sails bore the unmistakable mark of the Lowzow house crest, and the warriors lining the deck were a fearsome sight.
At the ship's helm stood Ragda, his piercing gaze locked on her. His expression was unreadable, a blend of calm authority and something deeper—hurt, perhaps, or anger.
A plank had been extended between the two ships, and a large warrior motioned for Aiya to cross. She glanced at James, who simply gave a small shrug as if to say, This is your mess to clean up.
With a deep breath, Aiya stepped onto the plank, her footing steady despite the subtle rocking of the ships. She kept her chin high, refusing to show fear as she walked toward Ragda. When she reached the other side, two of his men stepped aside to let her through.
Ragda didn’t speak immediately. He stepped down from the helm, his steps slow and deliberate, until he stood directly in front of her.
“You ran,” he said, his voice low and controlled.
“I did,” Aiya replied, meeting his gaze.
“Do you have any idea the chaos you left behind?” he asked, his tone sharpening. “The fear, the uncertainty? And then to find you here, aboard a pirate ship—what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking of Noah,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing in Ragda’s eyes. “And of the promises I made. I had to leave, Ragda. There was no other way.”
“You didn’t trust me,” Ragda said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. “After everything, you didn’t think you could come to me.”
Aiya faltered for a moment, unsure how to respond. “I... I thought I was protecting you,” she said finally. “From my choices. From my past.”
Ragda let out a bitter laugh. “Protecting me? Aiya, I don’t need your protection. What I needed was for you to trust me.”
The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the creaking of the ships and the murmur of the sea. Finally, Ragda stepped closer, his voice softer.
“You should have trusted me. But you didn’t—and now we’re here.”
Aiya swallowed hard, her heart twisting at the weight of his words. “I’m sorry, Ragda,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I made a mistake. But I’m here now, and I need your help.”
Ragda studied her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers. Then he turned to his men.
“Prepare to board James’s ship,” he ordered. “I want to speak with their captain.”
Aiya’s stomach sank. “Ragda, wait—James isn’t the enemy.”
Ragda turned back to her, one brow arched. “Then he won’t mind a conversation. Stay here.”
Before she could protest, he crossed the plank onto James’s ship, his men following close behind.
---
The deck of the ship had gone quiet as Ragda and his warriors boarded. James, to his credit, stood his ground, his arms crossed and his usual smirk firmly in place.
“Jarl Ragda, I presume,” James said, inclining his head in mock respect. “Welcome aboard.”
“James,” Ragda said, his tone flat. “I assume you know who I am. And I assume you know why I’m here.”
“I do,” James replied. “The lady claims you’re here for her. Quite a dramatic tale, she spun.”
Ragda’s eyes narrowed. “And you believed her?”
James shrugged. “Enough to keep her alive.”
Ragda took a step closer, his towering presence unmistakable. “Let me make this clear. Aiya is under my protection. If any harm comes to her—or her companion—you’ll answer to me.”
James’s smirk faltered for just a moment, but he recovered quickly. “Understood, Jarl. But tell me, what do you intend to do with her now?”
Ragda didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned to glance back at Aiya, who stood watching from the deck of his ship. Her expression was one of quiet defiance, tinged with vulnerability.
“What I do with her is none of your concern,” Ragda said finally. “But know this—she’s more important than you realize. And if you stand in her way, you’ll regret it.”
James raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough. But let me make something clear—I’m not her enemy. In fact, I might be of use to her, if she’ll have me.”
Ragda’s eyes narrowed. “And what do you gain from this?”
“A bit of fun,” James said with a grin. “And perhaps a share of the spoils.”
Ragda turned away, clearly unimpressed. “We’ll see.”
He gestured for his men to follow him back to the plank, pausing only to give James one final look. “Keep your distance. And pray you don’t give me a reason to change my mind.”
With that, he returned to his ship, leaving James and his crew in tense silence.
---
Back aboard his ship, Ragda approached Aiya, his expression unreadable.
“I’ll help you,” he said simply. “But this time, Aiya, you stay by my side. No more running.”
Aiya nodded, her chest tightening with a mix of relief and guilt. “I promise.”
For now, the path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—she wouldn’t face it alone.
YOU ARE READING
A Viking's Rage
أدب تاريخي[2018 Watty's Shortlist] In a brutal world ruled by cruelty and power, Aiya is nothing more than a slave-her life defined by servitude and pain. But when her ruthless Lord betrays her and Northumbria falls under siege by Norse invaders, Aiya's life...
