ordered rectangular dwellings, it was like returning to Hordafylke. Familiarity pulled at him, along with a tug of regret. Perhaps Ragnar was right, and they should have settled here. At least the people had blended enough with the Irish that they had made a place for themselves.
But as they drew closer, his spirits deflated. The city was vast, far larger than he’d expected. Dozens of ships dotted the shores, some anchored on land, others further out. Immediately he began searching for a glimpse of his own ship, for it would confirm the presence of Elena and his men. But there were so many of them.
Ronan moved up to row beside him, while Terence joined his sister at the bow. ‘Where do you think they are now?’
Styr shook his head. ‘I don’t see my ship. While they might be here, there’s no certainty of it. We’ll have to ask.’ He glanced over at Ronan. ‘Have you been to this city before?’
‘No. But we should split off to find them. Terence and I can go west and east, while you and Caragh take the north. We’ll meet back here by nightfall.’
‘It’s dangerous to take her with us,’ Styr protested. And yet, he knew they could not leave her alone. He’d expected Ronan or Terence to keep Caragh with them, allowing him to search for Elena on his own.
‘We have no choice, and you know it.’ Ronan slowed his pace as they neared the shore. ‘But I trust you to guard her.’
‘Why?’ he demanded. ‘You hardly know me.’
‘You saved her from drowning. Your actions said enough.’
Styr gave no reply, but busied himself with tying down the mainsail. The last thing he wanted was to bring another woman with him on his quest to find Elena. ‘She’s not coming with me.’
Ronan’s expression darkened. ‘Have a care, Lochlannach. The only reason we allowed you to come along was because of our sister.’
Words of protest stumbled inside his mouth. He didn’t want Caragh anywhere near him, particularly not now. But against his better judgement, he found himself raising his shoulders in an indifferent shrug.
Ronan pressed again. ‘Keep her out of harm’s way and guard her well. We’ll find our brother and your people.’
Styr wondered how they would accomplish this when they couldn’t speak his language, but didn’t say so.
They reached one of the docks near Dubh Linn, and Styr paid a copper coin to one of the men for the right to keep the boat there for the next few days.
Caragh called out to him, ‘Where do you want to look first?’
He crossed to the front of the boat and lowered his voice. ‘It would be better if you stayed with your brothers. Tell them you’d rather search with them.’
Caragh reached to tie back her braided hair, and her face was pale. ‘Why? Because you think I’m too weak?’ She moved to his side and confronted him, keeping her voice just above a whisper. ‘Or was there another reason?’
He didn’t trust himself around her. Though he would never act upon the unbidden visions she’d conjured, being around Caragh was weakening his resolve. He’d tasted her mouth and his traitorous mind warned that her kiss had affected him in a way Elena’s never had. She was too innocent to understand, and the further away she remained, the better.
‘Why?’ she prompted again.
In silent answer, he cupped her cheek. He stared into her violet eyes, drawing his thumb over the curve of her lips in memory of the kiss. ‘Because.’
At that, she understood. Her face flushed, and she drew his hand away. ‘You’ve no reason to be uncomfortable in my presence. I would be like a sister to you.’
He masked any response. Never in his life could he imagine a woman like Caragh in a sisterly way. ‘I want nothing from you, Caragh.’
She dropped her voice to a whisper. ‘Let me make amends for what my brother did. Promise me you won’t kill him.’
Her warm breath sent a ripple of uneasiness through him. ‘I can’t make that promise.’ He didn’t care that Brendan was hardly more than a young man. Elena had done nothing wrong, and if she was hurt, he would avenge every harm done to her. Without mercy.
Caragh’s fingers tightened upon his shoulder, her own tension evident. ‘Then I will go with you, if for no other reason than to protect him.’
‘Go with your brothers,’ he bade her again, and climbed out of the boat, stepping on to the docks.
Caragh hung back while Styr spoke to the Norsemen nearby, presumably asking questions about his ship. Meanwhile, she shielded her eyes against the sun and looked for a sign of Styr’s ship. As her gaze drifted past several Norse boats, she realised how futile it was. Most of them looked alike, and she couldn’t tell one from the next.
‘Do you think Brendan is here?’ Terence came up beside her, his expression grim.
‘I don’t know.’ She shuddered, and her brother removed his cloak, handing it to her. ‘We’d have seen a Norse ship along the coast, if he’d stopped somewhere else, wouldn’t we?’
Terence shrugged. ‘I don’t trust that Loch lannach, Caragh. I don’t care what Ronan thinks—you shouldn’t be alone with him. What if he tries to force himself on you?’
‘He won’t harm me,’ she said. ‘That, I can promise you.’
There was no danger at all from Styr, because of his unyielding loyalty to his wife. She was perfectly safe with him.
Yet, she couldn’t say the same for Brendan. She didn’t believe he would harm Elena, but his friends might have. And regardless of what had happened, she had to accompany Styr on his search, if for no reason than to protect her foolish younger brother.
‘I’ve seen the way he watches you,’ Terence continued. ‘He desires you.’
‘It’s nothing, Terence,’ she insisted. ‘I’m like a sister to him.’
Her brother cast a sidelong glance. ‘You’re anything but that. And I don’t trust him.’
‘I do. He’s saved my life, more than once.’
Terence caught her hand, pulling her back before she could leave. From his belt, he withdrew a small pouch. ‘Take these with you.’
She felt the weight of the coins and frowned. ‘Where did you get these? And what about the animals and supplies? All that from our mother’s brooch?’
Terence’s face turned grim. ‘We hired out our swords.’ From the dull tone in his voice, she understood that whatever he’d done, had been for their family. She reached up to embrace him, but though he returned it, she sensed the trouble weighing upon him.
‘You succeeded, then.’
His expression remained shielded. ‘I’m not proud of what I did.’
Caragh had no time to ask further questions, for Ronan and Styr approached. Already her brother was pointing
