Chapter Twenty-Four

“All warfare is based on deception…The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”
The Art of War, Sun Tzu

“I don’t like this,” Joshua Sinclair said once again.

“The plan has merit,” Gideon countered. “The sun made the man take off his jacket.”

Joshua snorted. “I never liked that story. If I was wind, I’d have stripped the man bare.” He rubbed his side where his sword usually rested. “And I’d rather march up to Kronborg Castle totally bare than without my sword. Completely naked.”

Erik ignored the grumbling Highlander while they walked southwest to meet Sophie when she woke at Kronborg. Since her soldiers hadn’t marched on them or sent scouts during the night, Hannah’s absence must not be known.

Despite the bickering between Hannah’s two brothers, his thoughts and gaze kept sliding to Hannah, who walked with her sisters several yards away. She looked straight ahead.

“Being naked would also mean ye’re not wearing yer sword,” Gideon said to Joshua.

“Nay,” Joshua said, flapping the plaid wrapped around his hips. “The loss of yer tunic and wrap make ye naked, yer body exposed for all to see.”

“Doesn’t one wear a sword?” Gideon said. “Like one wears his clothes?”

“One can also carry a sword,” Frode suggested.

Joshua threw out a hand toward him, his eyes wide. “Aye, very good. I would rather go naked and carry my sword.”

Erik had watched Hannah’s expressions as soon as there was light enough to see them. She displayed few. A mild smile at something Kára said. An annoyed grimace as an insect landed on her. Other than that, she kept her face a neutral mask. For a woman who expressed much in the movement of her lips and brows and the largeness of her blue eyes, this lack of expression made her look numb. They hadn’t gotten but an hour of sleep, if that, so she might be half asleep on this march. The Horsemen and Hannah had left their horses at the dock as if they had been confiscated by Erik’s army. Erik’s elite men rode behind them on horses, fully armed.

They walked in silence for a while as the sun rose. “Bloody hell, I’d rather lose my hand than my sword,” Joshua said as if he couldn’t keep quiet.

“How would ye even hold it without your hand?” Gideon asked.

“With my other hand,” Joshua said slowly as if Gideon were a child who needed special instruction.

“If those Swedes attack,” Nial said, “this whole plan could fail. Sophie might be very happy to employ the Sinclair warriors to keep Kronborg safe.”

“The Swedes won’t attack,” Cain said as they strode through the calf-high grass.

“They don’t need a provocation,” Nial said. “If they attack from land and their ships dock, we must return immediately to keep them from pushing into Denmark.”

Erik watched a glance go between Cain and Gideon before Cain once again looked forward. “There are no Swedes,” he said. “The three ships in the strait are Sinclairs and Sutherlands.”

“And a few MacKays,” Cait added from beside Hannah.

“What?” Nial asked, tripping on a small hummock in his path.

“They’re flying Swedish flags,” Cain said. “And I have no knowledge of any Swedish infantry gathering on the opposite coast.”

Frode snorted, shaking his head. “I have Iselin being guarded by Aksel and Kyle. They are ready to throw her on Erik’s ship and set sail if the Swedes attack.”

“With the sun rising, yer men will see no armies gathered on the Swedish shore,” Cain said. “Unless by happenstance.”

Sten’s hands cupped the back of his head, his elbows jutting out. “Fy faen,” he muttered. He sounded angry, but Erik knew he was relieved. A horde of Swedes would complicate this venture, and with little sleep they’d be at a severe disadvantage.

Nial’s mouth remained open, and he suddenly choked as if one of the grass beetles had jumped down his throat. “No Swedes?” he croaked between coughs.

Joshua grinned. “’Twas my idea. Find the enemy’s enemy and either entice them to join ye or pretend they did.”

“But the lad who spoke Norm?” Sten asked. “Osk.”

“He acts as well as Kára,” Joshua said, nodding toward his wife who walked on the other side of Hannah.

Kára called over, “There was no time to contact distant relatives in Sweden, and my brother is excellent at subterfuge.”

“Our ships will wait there,” Gideon said.

“Wait for what?” Nial asked.

“If we fail to appear back at the docks within the day, they will land and attack,” Gideon said darkly. Regardless of his comment about Erik’s plan having merit, the Horseman didn’t sound confident.

“You are still outnumbered,” Nial said, but Erik overrode his words.

“You’ll be back before night falls.” Erik looked at Joshua. “You just have to be convincing.”

Joshua chuckled darkly. “I played the part of a faltering warrior with black bulbous plague hanging by my ballocks, so I can play this part with ease.”

“Would you rather give up your cod or ballocks than your sword?” Sten asked.

Gideon rolled his eyes. “Ye encourage him?” he asked Sten.

Sten shrugged. “’Twould be a boring march without him.”

“Not boring,” Gideon said, “peaceful.”

“Nay,” Joshua said, shaking his head vigorously and shivering dramatically. “My jack and ballocks are sacred.” He cupped the spot on his wrap covering his giblets. He looked over to his wife. “Kára would mourn the loss forever.”

Kára laughed and moved over to Joshua, throwing her arm around his waist. “Perhaps you should not talk for a while.”

“But I was—”

“Oh look.” Kára pointed outward, interrupting him. “A castle with a horde of Danes inside. Let’s talk about that.”

Joshua moved his head back and forth. “I suppose that’s not boring.” He glanced at Gideon. “Although we’ve discussed it all night.”

Gideon sighed. “We must be prepared to look somewhat resigned to our new fate. Placate Sophie into taking off her jacket, metaphorically.”

“Naked, I tell ye. I’d rather strip naked,” Joshua muttered.

Kára patted his chest. “Think of how cold that would be. Now hush.”

Activity at the gatehouse showed that Sophie’s men could see them marching their way across the field. Soldiers with muskets lined the wall.

“Hold the flag up,” Erik said.

With a look of pure disgust, Cain lifted the white rectangle above his head as he marched forward like Erik had done at the start of the night. Ella came over to stand beside him with a grim look of support as if she, too, woke from nightmares of surrendering her clan.

Joshua spit on the ground, making Erik wonder if they’d suddenly start vomiting over the act of giving in to an enemy. Kára looped her arm through Joshua’s as they walked. “’Tis not comfortable surrendering one’s people, is it?”

He frowned while still looking forward. “I didn’t ask ye to surrender your people, just leave Orkney.” After a moment he looked down at her. “But aye, ’tis bloody uncomfortable.”

Her handsome face softened with a light so bright, Erik knew it was love. And suddenly Erik envied Joshua Sinclair.

Erik made his way over to Hannah. Kára had slid closer to Joshua so it was easy to find room. Hannah didn’t look at him.

“Riders are coming out,” Nial announced. ’Twas the signal and reminder for them all to play their parts. “Erik.”

His time was limited, and if things went poorly, he might not get another chance to show his true self.

Erik grasped Hannah’s hand where it swung by her side. “Hannah Sinclair,” he said, his voice calm despite the surge of emotions flooding him. She turned her face toward him, and he caught the shine of unshed tears in her eyes. “Hannah Sinclair,” he repeated. “Marry me.”

“What?” Gideon said down the line. “Don’t answer him, Hannah.”

“Erik,” Nial called. “You need to be over here in front.”

Erik squeezed her hand as she stared at him, blinking. “Do not despair,” he whispered and released her to stride back to march next to Cain, who still held up the white flag. His wife, Ella, had taken one side, helping him with the obvious burden.

“Father is yelling up at us from Hell,” Bàs murmured, the first words Erik had heard from him since the start of this march.

Joshua snorted. “Aye.”

Erik strode quicker to advance before the Sinclairs. “Dowager-Queen Sophie,” he called but knew she would not be out among her warriors before Kronborg. “Chancellor Kaas.”

The easily recognized man pushed forward on his mount. “What do you bring to the doorstep of your sovereign?”

He could have pointed out that King Christian was his sovereign, but his anger at Sophie’s demands of power wouldn’t fit into this farce. Erik opened his arm out to the side where Cain and Ella held the white flag. “Your Wolf Warriors bring Clan Sinclair in surrender to her majesty.”

Behind him, he heard Joshua gag and Gideon tell him to hush.

…

Hannah stood still, her numb feet planted in the grass, while her heart beat like a raven taking flight, so hard it was likely to burst forth and fly from her chest.

Marry me. Marry me.

Erik Halverson had asked her to wed. Why would he do that? Her mind raced, searching for a strategy that would make sense.

When stars sparked in her vision, she drew even breaths and counted to release them. Cait appeared next to her, her arm through hers. On her other side, Shana did the same. “She’s too pale,” Shana whispered.

“Just breathe, Hannah,” Cait whispered on her other side.

Daingead. I’m too pale. How could she marry Erik? He was a Wolf Warrior in Norway. She was a protected sister in Scotland. A protected, old maid of a sister in a castle full of brothers in love and sisters bearing children. And after this she’d never be allowed to be alone again, not when she was Clan Sinclair’s weakness. The story of this adventure would be passed from clan to clan throughout Scotland, to every Sinclair ally and enemy.

“Yes,” Hannah called out, the word bursting from between her lips. “My answer is yes.”

She didn’t look over at Erik, but he would have heard.

“Bloody hell,” Gideon swore.

“Lady Hannah,” Peter Kaas said, confusion obvious in his voice. “Good morn. How are you not in your chamber?”

“We must discuss this surrender,” Erik said.

Kaas looked back and forth between Hannah and Erik and then cleared his voice. “Leader of the Wolf Warriors, in the name of Dowager-Queen Sophie, we accept this surrender.”

Joshua made another gagging noise under his breath. “If this is a trick, I’m tearing Halverson’s arms and jack off his body. I don’t even need my sword.”

If Gideon wasn’t playing his part of subjugation, Hannah was certain he’d have punched Joshua by now. Hannah doubted her brothers were bickering out of some duty to her, but their familiar animosity gave her comfort.

“Bring the four leaders, their wives, and Hannah Sinclair inside. Our soldiers and yours can keep those Sinclairs outside the walls until we bring them in. How many are there?”

“One hundred seventy-three,” Erik said. “Their weapons have been confiscated.” He gestured toward Cain who came forward. Joshua, Gideon, and Bàs came in line with him. Kaas’s soldiers came forward, one for each wife and Hannah. The man who took Hannah’s arm was burly and smelled unwashed. His gaze slid over her with appreciation. Even though it was quick, and he looked forward again, Hannah’s stomach turned, making her want to gag like Joshua.

They walked over the drawbridge to the arched main gate. Hannah’s boots clipped, the smell of the sea washing the stink of the guard from her nose when the wind blew. The stone arch had the pointed portcullis tucked up underneath as if threatening to fall upon them. She trembled slightly, remembering the horrors of her first abduction when she was still a foolish lass back in Scotland. Since then, she’d changed, coming out of her corner more and more. And now Sophie wanted to shove her back into that corner as a married hostage. Anger strengthened Hannah, banishing the tremors and straightening her spine.

They walked across the pebbled, open-air square and entered the queen’s receiving chamber. Despite the early hour, Sophie sat on her throne, a frown on her bow-like lips. “How frightening for your maid, Lady Hannah, to enter your chambers this morn to find you having flown from your window.”

Hannah swallowed her terse response and bent her head to stare at the woven rug beneath her feet.

“Surrender?” Sophie asked. “The Four Sinclair Horsemen of Scotia have surrendered? How is this?”

Erik stepped forward and bowed to her. “We have outnumbered them, and they surrendered.” He made it sound quite easy. Anyone who truly knew the Sinclair Horsemen wouldn’t believe it.

“They may return to Scotia,” Sophie said. “Only Lady Hannah will stay to marry Lord Kaas.”

Never welled up inside Hannah, but she pinched her lips tightly together.

“They will not,” Erik said.

“What?” Sophie asked.

Cain’s voice boomed out. “Clan Sinclair of Girnigoe joins the Danish country as citizens.”

“As does Clan MacKay of Varrich,” Gideon said, stepping forward next to Cain. They both bowed low and then straightened.

Sophie said nothing for a moment and then looked at Peter. She said something in Danish. When Peter gave her a small shake of his head, Sophie turned back to Cain. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Your Majesty,” Gideon said. He was used to speaking with King James and his voice held the right amount of deference without sounding weak. “We will not leave our sister, Lady Hannah, so we have decided to bring our mighty clans here to Denmark.”

“Bring your clans?” Sophie said. “’Tis not possible.”

“We have three thousand people preparing to move countries,” Cain said. “Word has been sent on two of the three vessels that sat in Kattegat Strait.”

“The Swedish ships?”

“They were Sinclair ships in disguise, Your Majesty,” Erik said. “The third has been sent to King James of Scotland.”

“King James?” The name fell from her slack lips. She rubbed them back and forth for a moment. “You sent word to King James? What word?”

Gideon spoke clearly, keeping her gaze. “That his Four Horsemen are no longer his. They have been taken by the dowager-queen of Denmark-Norway. He must be made aware, since our…abduction opens up his country to French and English invasion.”

“And Swedish,” Cait added.

Sophie’s hand went to her chest, and she stood. “My daughter sits with King James.”

“Aye, Your Majesty,” Gideon said. “She will need to take care without us there to protect Scotland’s shores. Word of our surrender and move to Denmark will reach other countries within a fortnight.”

“I do not desire you here.” Sophie’s words snapped from her pursed lips.

“Ye have taken our sister,” Cain said. “If we take her back from Denmark, ye will send Erik Halverson and his Wolf Warriors after us again. ’Twill be easier to remain here so ye can ensure we won’t do anything in Scotland.”

Sophie stared at him for a long moment. “Lady Hannah is already betrothed to a Danish citizen.”

’Twas a lie, since Hannah hadn’t verbally agreed nor had she signed a betrothal contract.

“She agreed to wed before witnesses this morning. I believe even your chancellor heard her,” Gideon said.

Sophie’s face snapped to Peter. Peter frowned. “I…I do not recall—”

“Who will she wed?” Sophie asked, her voice rising with a shrill cadence.

Hannah’s heart pounded as Erik turned to her. His face was hard, but his eyes shone with conviction. He held out his hand, and without thought, Hannah walked across the floor toward him. She set her hand, fingers open this time, in his warm palm. They looked at each other, and for one moment it felt like they were alone. “Yes,” she said again. “I will marry you.”

“No!” Sophie yelled.

Erik turned his face to his dowager-queen. “Your Majesty, Lady Hannah will remain here in Denmark-Norway with me, just like you’d intended.”

Hannah’s stomach tightened. They hadn’t had time to talk about where she’d live, where they’d live.

“This is not what I intended!” Sophie yelled, moving a hand in the air toward Hannah’s brothers and their wives. “All the Sinclairs leaving Scotia, leaving Queen Anne without protection.”

She plopped down on her throne as if it must hold her up. Her eyes were wide. “No,” she said. “Lady Hannah must marry someone at my court, and her brothers must return to Scotia to protect Anne.”

“The ships have already sailed, Your Majesty,” Gideon said. “King James and your daughter, Queen Anne, must prepare for invasion. ’Tis not right to leave them without notice.”

“’Tis not right to leave them at all,” Sophie said, her gaze narrowing at Erik. “How could you let this surrender happen?”

“I have no answer,” he said with practiced confusion in his tone. “Your enemy has surrendered to your Wolf Warriors.”

She waved her hands in the air. “This is not what I wanted.”

Gideon cleared his throat. “We will need to build a town on the moor between Kronborg and the docks. Three thousand souls need food and lodging and ways to keep themselves from having to beg at the gates of Kronborg. The effort will impact your treasury.”

Sophie made a small, strangled noise. “They are not welcome here.”

“They will follow where their chiefs go, Your Majesty,” Gideon said. “They are quite loyal.”

She pointed a damning finger at him. “Loyal to the Four Horsemen and not their God-anointed King and Queen.”

“With our surrender,” Cain said, “our people are loyal to ye and yer son, King Christian. We’ve let King James know we will be swearing fidelity to King Christian due to your actions to lure us from Scotland.”

The words were all out. Sophie would be held responsible for opening the shores of Scotland to foreign invaders. King James and her daughter, Anne, would know she’d worked to doom their kingdom and rule—exactly opposite what Sophie had intended.

“And I will remain in Denmark with Lady Hannah,” Erik said. “The Wolf Warriors will no longer protect your Norwegian border with Sweden.” Erik pulled Hannah to him. “I would make our betrothal official before our sovereign. Hannah Sinclair, will you wed me?”

“No,” Sophie yelled.

“Yes,” Hannah said, her voice loud. “I will wed you, Erik Halverson.” And he leaned in, his lips touching hers.

…

“She can ask King Christian to break your betrothal,” Gideon said to Erik as they walked out from Kronborg under the raised portcullis.

Erik held Hannah’s arm wrapped in his. Her “yes” had boomed out through the queen’s receiving chamber for all to hear, but she remained stiff, her smile absent.

“We are already married in the eyes of God,” Erik said, speaking of their intimacy. “Hannah might even be pregnant.” He glanced at her, but she didn’t respond. “And the rest of our ploy has already swayed Dowager-Queen Sophie.”

Gideon chuckled. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been yelled at to get out of a country before. Her Majesty even offered us transport home if we no longer had the ships to see it done.”

“Cain should probably follow up with a second letter to King James,” Erik said, still watching Hannah from the corner of his eye.

“He never sent the first one. The ships have sailed out around the peninsula and will return.”

The thudding of hooves made Erik turn to see Joshua and Kára galloping back toward the docks. The infamous Horseman of War smiled as they passed their group walking.

Gideon swore. “He must have commandeered one of your warrior’s horses.”

“Walking back ’tis my man’s penalty for letting him take it,” Erik said.

“We will prepare to leave on the next tide,” Gideon said and strode off, finally leaving him and Hannah as alone as they could be surrounded by over two hundred warriors.

They walked for several strides together in silence. What was she concerned over? Missing her clan, no doubt. “Hannah—”

“I will not hold you to it.” The words burst from Hannah’s lips as if they’d been waiting there all along. “The betrothal. ’Twas a clever way to help sway Sophie.” She glanced at him and then back to the field ahead. “But I will not stay here. My home is in northern Scotland. You need to know that.” She shook her head. “I will go back with them on the tide.”

“We would not live in Denmark or anywhere near the court,” Erik said, his words measured even though they wanted to rush out of him. “Norway is beautiful. I would show you my home.”

She looked at him. “Your home of ghosts? Live where your whole family perished, where every corner and hearth remind you of what once was that is no more? Reminding you how fragile life is even for a Wolf Warrior? That is where you would take me?”

Hannah pulled her arm from his. “I cannot do that, Erik. I cannot live in the shadows again. So, your words before about marriage…” She turned her face to him. Tears welled in her blue eyes, one breaking over the dam to trail down her cheek. “Your words were wonderful, and your actions…” She held her hand out toward the meetinghouse in the distance where he’d surrendered during the night. “Surrendering was the perfect trick to get my brothers to listen to your plan.” She swallowed, her watery gaze making her eyes seem even larger and bluer. “But they aren’t enough.”

“I surrendered, Hannah, to keep you from sailing away.” Didn’t she understand? “I’ve never surrendered to anyone, ever.”

Her fingers gripped his forearm. “Real surrender to a person is being truly vulnerable. No two thousand men behind you.” She shook her head and squeezed his arm before slowly loosening her hold until her hand fell away, and she looked forward again. “’Tis too much, I know, for you to really surrender. ’Tis not in your nature, Erik.” They were closing in on the meetinghouse by the docks. Sinclairs jogged past them as they ran to continue readying the ships to leave.

Hannah stopped, turning her face to him. Her tears had stopped, but sorrow was etched in every line of her face. “I…I love you, Erik Halverson. See it in my eyes and know it in your heart. This is no trick, only truth.” She stepped in to him.

Erik’s chest turned to marble but thin like eggshell, hard and fragile at the same time. Hannah loved him. Hannah was leaving him. When she slid her hands behind his neck, he let her pull his face down to hers.

Her lips touched his. He tasted the salt of her tears as she kissed him. It was over too quickly, and she turned, hurrying away. And…he let her go.