The tension on the deck slowly ebbed as James retreated, his easy demeanor masking the lingering unease among the crew. Aiya turned back to Ragda, who was still watching James with narrowed eyes, his jaw tight.
"Let it go, Ragda," Aiya said softly, stepping closer to him. "He’s agreed to help. That’s all that matters now."
Ragda’s gaze snapped back to hers, the hardness in his expression softening only slightly. “I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t have to,” Aiya replied. “You just have to trust me.”
Ragda hesitated, then nodded. “Always.”
---
Later That Evening
The two fleets now sailed together, heading west toward Northumbria. Aiya stood at the bow of Ragda’s ship, staring out at the horizon. The cool wind brushed against her skin, carrying the salty scent of the sea. She felt a presence behind her before she heard his voice.
“You’re restless,” Ragda said, stepping beside her.
“I’m worried,” Aiya admitted. “This is a gamble. Relying on James, trying to rally men in Northumbria—it could all fall apart.”
“It won’t,” Ragda said firmly. “Because you won’t let it. You’re stronger than you know, Aiya.”
She turned to him, her eyes searching his. “I don’t feel strong, Ragda. I feel like I’m barely holding everything together.”
He reached out, brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. “Strength isn’t about not feeling fear or doubt. It’s about moving forward despite them. And you, Aiya Einardaughter, are one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”
Aiya felt her heart swell at his words, but before she could respond, the lookout called down from the mast.
“Land ahead!”
Both Aiya and Ragda turned their gazes toward the horizon. In the distance, the faint outline of the English coast came into view, shrouded in mist. Aiya’s breath caught in her throat. She was returning to the land that had once been her prison, the place where she had lost everything.
“This is just the beginning,” Ragda said, his voice low but steady. “We’ll face it together.”
Aiya nodded, her resolve hardening. “Together.”
---
Arrival in Northumbria
By the time they reached the shores of Northumbria, the sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the rocky coastline. The ships anchored just offshore, and the crew began to unload supplies. Aiya stood on the beach, her boots sinking into the damp sand as she surveyed the land she once knew.
“It looks the same,” she murmured to Esma, who stood beside her.
“And yet everything has changed,” Esma replied. “You’re not the same girl who left this place, Aiya.”
“No,” Aiya agreed. “I’m not.”
Ragda approached them, his warriors following close behind. “We’ll set up camp here for the night,” he said. “Tomorrow, we’ll send scouts to assess the situation in York.”
Aiya nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of her mother’s sword. “We’ll need allies if we’re going to take the city.”
“And you’ll have them,” Ragda promised. “One way or another.”
As the campfires were lit and the men began to settle in for the night, Aiya stood at the edge of the encampment, staring out at the dark silhouette of York in the distance. The weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on her, but she stood tall, her resolve unshaken.
“Tomorrow,” she whispered to herself. “It begins.”
And with the stars as her witnesses, Aiya prepared for the fight of her life.
YOU ARE READING
A Viking's Rage
Historical Fiction[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...
