angrily, furious, for her children were the weapon he intended to use against her. “How can they be gone?” The veins in his thick neck stood out clearly, and they were throbbing.
“You gained entry to Cadda-wic by means of a ruse, Ragnar Strongspear,” she said. “I was already awake when you entered the hall. At first I believed my husband had returned. I opened the door to look down, and saw you. My son was newly fed, and so I awoke my daughter. I dressed both children, and while you were bragging and bellowing and attempting to put the fear of the gods into my people, I brought my children down into the hall, gave them into the keeping of my servant, Nellwyn, and watched while she walked through the gates with them. Your men were so busy trying to bully mine that they never even noticed Nellwyn pass them by. She is now well on her way to Braleah. You will not catch her, I think,” Cailin concluded, laughing lightly.
“Braleah? What is that place?” he growled.
“One of the villages belonging to Cadda-wic,” she told him. “Surely you did not think we were alone but for a few of my Dobunni kin? Cadda-wic has four villages belonging to it. You will be unable to hold them, if you can even find them. Nellwyn will raise the alarm against you, and Wulf Ironfist will come with many men to drive you out. If I were you, I should finish my meal and hurry home.”
“What a woman you are!” he answered her, grinning. “Even if I were to take your advice, I should take you with me, Cailin. You are not simply strong and beautiful, you think like a warrior. I do not believe I should like such a trait in any other woman, but it becomes you, my fox vixen. By Woden, it becomes you well!”
Cailin sipped her watered wine and ate heartily of bread, ham, and hard cheese. She had nothing more to say to Ragnar Strongspear. Finally she stood up and strode from the high board.
“Should I stop her, lord?” Harald asked nervously.
“Are the gates now secured?” Ragnar demanded sarcastically.
“Aye, lord!” Harald said.
“Then let her be, you fool. Where will she go that I cannot find her? She is, I suspect, about her daily duties, and nothing more.”
Cailin was, but she also made the rounds of Cadda-wic reassuring each and every member of the household with her calm manner.
“What shall we do, my lady?” Albert asked her nervously. He was more than well aware how close to disaster he himself had come.
“Do not resist,” she told him, as she had the others, “unless, of course, your very life is threatened. Go about your daily duties as you normally do. Wulf Ironfist will come soon, and he will drive Ragnar Strongspear back to his own lands. Do not fear. Nellwyn will raise the alarm, and Ragnar Strongspear’s only advantage was in surprise. He no longer has that advantage.”
Cailin moved on. In early afternoon she gathered the women about her, telling them, “I will not allow anyone to abuse you. Hide yourselves in the cellar beneath the largest grain barn. Do it as soon as you can, and remember to bring water skins. Do not come out until morning, when I shall come to fetch you. Hurry now!”
“But what of you, lady?” one of the serving women asked.
“I will not be harmed,” Cailin assured them. She had already decided what she must do. If she could not deter Ragnar Strongspear from his lustful intent, then she must kill him.
Her breasts were beginning to ache dreadfully, and looking down, she grimaced with irritation. Her milk was beginning to leak through her nipples and stain her tunic dress. Royse last nursed in the early morning. Nellwyn would have found a nursing mother for him at Braleah, and Cailin knew she would have to do something to rid herself of her milk.
Cailin took bread from the bake house and a small cheese from the dairy. The servants would have put several pitchers of water in the solar, as was the usual practice. Entering the hall, Cailin saw that Ragnar Strongspear was not there. With a chuckle she climbed up to the solar and, pulling the ladder behind her, bolted the door fast. There was no other ladder available that would reach the chamber. She would be safe for a time. Removing her tunic dress, she sighed at the sight of her soaked camisa. She