26 |

North Sea
989 AD

 

“Sir, it must be them. Six Viking sails, all knarr class cargo vessels.”

Rafiq peered into the distance, the sails unmistakable, the count accurate. It had to be them. They had encountered numerous Viking vessels on their voyage north, and none had proven to be those they were searching for.

And all had fallen, fighting valiantly despite being outnumbered.

He hated killing the innocent, though these were heathen pagans, worshipping false gods, and their brethren had been party to dishonoring his family and threatening its entire future.

Those responsible had to pay.

Or he would die.

Though Sheik Al-Musawi had promised only he would pay with his life should Fatima not be returned, he was the only male heir. If his parents were unable to produce another upon his death, then all they had would be given to their extended family, and what had been built would be torn apart piecemeal.

All they had sacrificed so much for would be lost.

He was supposed to inherit, then his yet to be born eldest son after him. And all of that was now at risk thanks to his foolish sister’s selfish actions. And he was faced with a conundrum. If he managed to retrieve Fatima, she likely wouldn’t go willingly. Then when she was returned to Al-Musawi, she likely wouldn’t back his story that she had been kidnapped. The foolish girl would probably declare her love for this pagan Viking, tell everyone she had gone willingly, faking her own suicide, then his family’s ruination would be total.

She couldn’t be allowed to tell her story.

And that meant there could be only one outcome here.

And it broke his heart.

Unless you die instead.

His eyebrows rose slightly at the thought. If he were to die in the battle soon to pass, then Fatima could remain a “prisoner,” and his crew manning what remained of the fleet would return home with news of his valiant efforts, and that Fatima remained an irretrievable prisoner. It could preserve the family honor, and leave her alive.

He sighed.

He loved his sister, and under normal circumstances would have died without hesitation to save her life, but these were not normal circumstances. These were circumstances of her own creation, circumstances she willingly participated in.

And her entire family, his entire family, was now at risk because of it.

No, he wouldn’t sacrifice himself to save her. Family loyalty only went so far, and she had already demonstrated that this infidel was more important to her than her own flesh and blood.

And that once again brought him back to the same, inevitable conclusion.

He closed his eyes. “How long until we reach them?”

The captain of the vessel stepped forward. “We should overtake them within two days, sir.”

Two days. Spend them well, my sister, spend them well.