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Al Lixbuna, Islamic Iberia
Caliphate of Córdoba
989 AD

 

Magnus watched Rafiq as the concerned, distraught brother walked away. Guilt racked him at the pain he had caused, though the thought of Fatima, waiting for him, helped ease it. He turned as shouts erupted behind him, another of his ships setting sail. Each of the six vessels under his command had orders to sail the moment they were ready. If the truth were to be discovered, then their lives would be forfeit, and he wasn’t willing to see his men punished for something he had done.

This entire situation was foolish, and he knew it. When he returned home, his father would likely revoke his title for having risked everything over a woman. But this woman was unlike any he had ever met, and this woman was to be his wife. He was convinced that once his father witnessed the love they shared for each other, the man would come around.

Yet that all depended on them making it out of port with the deception undiscovered.

He didn’t intend to ever return here again. There were plenty of places along the coast where they could trade, and this was a long voyage he would no longer be willing to make once he had a family back home.

Though if he knew his father, he’d probably be forced to continue his responsibilities. After all, one day he was to be King.

He chewed his cheek for a moment as he watched a group of Muslim women pass with their escort, their traditional dress so plain and unrevealing, he found it impossibly enticing. Viking women were never ashamed to show skin. They were strong, willing and able to fight when necessary, and capable of incredible tenderness when not.

He had been in love once, madly, but Odin had taken her from him before they could be married, and he had sworn off matters of the heart from that moment on.

Until he had met Fatima.

There was something about her that he had found alluring, and when he had managed to speak to her for just a few moments, his heart had nearly pounded out of his chest with excitement. Notes had indeed been secretly exchanged, though unlike the story he had fed her brother, they had been mutual and welcome.

Then the clandestine meetings had been arranged, then the forbidden encounter that he would never forget for as long as his lips drew breath. It had been exciting, wonderful, and the love in her eyes as he took what she offered had swelled his heart with joy, and he swore he would do whatever it took to be with her, to protect her, to provide for her, and to be the only man who would ever possess her heart.

That was when the plan to fake her death had begun, though it had been a mere fantasy. He had intended to ask her father for his permission to marry her, and in exchange, grant him the exclusive contract to act on behalf of all Viking trade missions to the port.

It would have made the man very wealthy, enough that Magnus had hoped it might overcome the fact he wasn’t Muslim. But with the announcement of the arranged marriage, everything had changed, and what was once fantasy had been thrust into reality.

And it had worked.

Brilliantly.

They had staged their fight, she had jumped from the cliff and been taken successfully aboard one of his ships. At least he assumed so. If something had gone wrong, the ship was to return to port with word, but the fact they had continued north, told him everything was fine.

And the sooner they left this place, the sooner he’d be reunited with the love of his life.

And the less chance their deception might be discovered. For there would be questions. Her family was about to lose everything, and he was gutted with the knowledge.

Perhaps you can make them whole once things have settled.

It was a possibility. When they were safe, he could return, and in the guise of buying more favorable terms, pay Fatima’s father back whatever dowry had been lost, and still offer him the exclusive contract. If things worked out perfectly, and they were to get away with their lie, and if he was able to elevate her family to the station they had been hoping for, he wondered if they might not be thrilled to discover that their daughter was alive, safe, and happy in the north.

Could a reunion be possible? Could all be forgiven?

He frowned.

Unlikely.

It was a foolish fantasy. For now, he had to reunite with Fatima and get her safely to her new home. Then the future would unfold as it should, and Odin willing, the actions taken today wouldn’t prove foolish.

And deadly.