Chapter Thirty-One

It took Edmund agonising moments to recover from his shock. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Please enter. I give you my word, you will be safe.”

Hesitantly, his movements slow, the man called Sweyn climbed the steps. Stumbling on the top step, he fell forward but was caught by Lionel. He mumbled an apology.

Edmund led the way to the solar where he and Lionel had left Eleanor and Sarah. Both women were already on their feet, their expressions guarded. Walking to the middle of the room, Edmund made the introductions. “You have met my son, Arthur. This is my good friend, Lionel of Darcourt, his wife, Eleanor, and their daughter, Lilyrose. And this is Lady Eleanor’s sister, Lady Sarah.”

Sweyn bowed, his movements jerky. “Gracious ladies, I am Sweyn, first man to Chief Hagen. Forgive me for coming before you unwashed.”

“You have had a long, hard journey,” said Eleanor, a line furrowing her brow.

He stood in silence, the dirt making his face the same brown as his unkempt beard. “You must be full of questions. I know Hagen has been sending messages. I am sure they have made you anxious.”

“Yes, they have indeed made us anxious,” said Edmund, his arms crossed over his chest.

“We are anxious also, my lord. My coming here.” He wiped his face with a trembling hand, his body slouching slightly. “He doesn’t know that I have.”

The women exclaimed as Arthur darted forward to grab Sweyn by the arm and steady him.

“Forgive me,” he whispered, struggling to straighten.

“Master Sweyn, you are weary beyond words,” said Eleanor. “There is nothing to forgive.” She turned to Edmund. “By your leave, Edmund, I’ll arrange water for Master Sweyn to wash. Food and fresh clothes also.”

“I would be grateful, my dear,” Edmund said with a smile.

“Come, sister,” said Eleanor.

“My lord–”

“Wash and eat first, Master Sweyn. You will feel better, and then we will talk.”

Swallowing hard, he thanked Edmund.

It was the middle of the afternoon when they gathered again in the solar – Edmund and Arthur, Lionel, Eleanor and Lilyrose, and Ronal.

Washed and in clean clothes, Sweyn was almost unrecognisable. He’d trimmed his beard, which was short enough now to just cover his chin, and tidied his brown hair, which hung down his back in a thick neat braid. The shadows under his eyes heightened his pale skin. He bowed to Eleanor. “I thank you, Lady Eleanor, for your kind attention.”

Sat between her parents, Lilyrose smiled at her mother.

“Come, sit.” Edmund indicated the empty chair. “There is much you have to tell us, I’m sure. But first, we are all sorry to hear that you lost your companion.”

He nodded, rubbing at his forehead. “I could do little for him once the infection took hold.” Taking a deep breath, he straightened and turned his gaze to Edmund. “Hagen’s messages were sent against the advice of his men.”

Lilyrose’s gaze flicked from her father to Edmund, but their expressions remained hard to read.

“My chief is under a curse.”

A loud gasp fell from Lilyrose, echoed by Eleanor. Lionel reached over and covered Lilyrose’s hand with his, steadying her with his warm, secure grip.

Sweyn glanced at her and continued. “A woman came to our hall. She has bound my chief, my friend to her will. She wields the power of the dark, forbidden one. Our goddess has been shut out.”

“What is this woman’s name?” Lionel’s voice was low, soft.

“Marlis.”

Lionel nodded as did Edmund who snorted as well for good measure.

Lilyrose stared at Arthur and Ronal as they looked at each other, then turned to her.

“You know her?”

“We have heard of her,” was all Edmund would say.

After a pause, Sweyn continued. “The messages were sent at her urging.” He looked at Arthur. “She is most eager to have you in our city. She has convinced Hagen that you will, somehow, add to his power.” He shrugged, showing his palms. “The true Hagen, he would not want that. He would never endanger his people.” Lowering his gaze, he shook his head. “But Hagen no longer hears us. We’d given up hope, believing we’d lost him.”

Looking around at them, his eyes brightened. “But we believe there is a way to save Hagen.” He moved forward slightly to perch on the edge of his seat. “Agata has shown us–”

“Who is Agata?” asked Lionel with a slight head shake.

“She is his ward. Forgive me, let me explain. The sickness of fifteen years ago–”

“Yes,” said Edmund, “we remember. We were lucky to be spared the full cost that you endured.”

“Thanks to the assistance from your emperor, many more lived who would have died. Yet, those we lost. Hagen lost his wife and daughter.”

Edmund closed his eyes. “A hard loss.”

Sweyn nodded. “One of Hagen’s old friends also died, the whole family, except for their young daughter. She came to live with Hagen as his ward. I believe they helped each other survive their losses. She is more like a daughter to him, and she loves him as a father.

“Imagine her desolation when Hagen turned from her, treated her like a stranger because of Marlis.” His expression hardened. “But she is brave, braver than grown men. Her belief in our goddess is strong. She tried to free Hagen, but Marlis stopped her. And now that poor, brave child has been put to sleep–”

“What?” Lilyrose almost started from her seat.

“Marlis said Agata will sleep until they return with Arthur. I don’t know why, none of us do, but that woman has covered Hagen’s hall with ugly black briars.”

He fell silent, elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the ground.

Lilyrose felt her mother’s clammy hands take hold of hers. Feeling the slight tremble, she met Eleanor’s moist eyes and tried to smile. “Don’t worry, Mama,” she whispered. Turning her gaze to Arthur, she stopped when she saw Sweyn looking at her, his brows drawn together.

“You said Agata had shown you,” started Edmund.

Dragging his gaze from Lilyrose to Edmund, Sweyn nodded. “She accused Marlis of controlling Hagen with a band he wears on his wrist. Marlis had woven it for him, saying it was a gift. She didn’t deny Agata’s words, and when Agata tried to remove it I have never seen that cursed woman so frightened. It was only later, when we’d given it much thought, we’re sure that was when Hagen began to change, after she’d given him that band.”

A shiver prickled Lilyrose’s scalp. She didn’t understand magic and knowing, yet again, it was in their world shook her belief in the natural order of things. Her old fear of the curse whispered in her ear, and she clenched her jaw against it. Trying to keep herself steady, not wanting to add to her mother’s anxiety, she flinched and glanced at her father; he had tightened his grip on her hand.

“Words fail me, Master Sweyn,” said Edmund, rubbing his chin. “They truly fail me. I wish nothing more than to help, but I confess I don’t know what help you believe we can give.”

“Hagen is my oldest friend, my brother, and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him. But I’ve come to warn you. Hagen is already making his way.”

Gasps echoed around the room.

“He is not coming with his army. That would attract too much attention, and I know he does not want to involve your Emperor Kelvan. When I left, the plan was for him and Marlis to travel with his chosen men.”

“How many?” asked Edmund.

“No more than fifty. They are his best fighters.”

“Fifty men?” Edmund frowned. “What does he hope to accomplish with fifty men?”

“When I left, the plan was either for Arthur to go willingly or for Hagen to take him by force.”

“With fifty men?” Lionel shook his head.

Sweyn lowered his gaze. “Instead of risking the lives of many men, it is a custom amongst our chiefs to challenge one another to single combat. If you don’t agree to go with Hagen, Arthur, he will challenge you, defeat you and take you.”

Her throat constricting, Lilyrose grasped her parents’ hands tighter as she stared at Arthur.

“Clearly you have another plan?” asked Edmund.

“Accept the challenge. Defeat him and cut that infernal band from him. None of us can even attempt it. Marlis will not allow us near Hagen.”

“I will do it,” said Arthur with a firm nod then smiled at the concerned expressions around him. “There is no need to worry. From what Master Sweyn says, Lord Hagen doesn’t intend to kill me, only kidnap me.”

Lilyrose’s brows furrowed. She wanted to shout at him not to joke about it. Instead, she pressed her lips together in a bid to stay silent and not argue.

Edmund got to his feet. “Ronal, tell Owen to fetch Bruce.” He referred to the guard who was stationed outside the solar.

“I’ll get him myself, my lord,” said Ronal, half-running out of the room.

“Master Sweyn, you have my gratitude. I know it wasn’t an easy decision for you, to come here not knowing how we would react. And you have suffered harm and loss.”

Sweyn, visibly tense, had stood at the same moment as Edmund. His expression guarded, he remained silent.

“With what you have told us, I can prepare my castle and my people. And I assure you, I will do all in my power to free Hagen and stop Marlis once and for all.”