Page 92 of Come the Morning

“Ah, but the longboat attacks have been infrequent for a long time,” Waryk reminded him. “What would the Vikings hope to gain?”

“They couldn’t have hoped to scale the walls,” Ewan said.

“And in the village …” Phagin said. He stroked his long beard, then looked at Waryk with dark eyes. “Nothing. No great riches.Just hardworking farmers and craftsmen and their women. Women … Vikings have often stolen women, but …”

“Not enough reason for an attack.”

“Perhaps they just hoped to weaken our defenses, tear us up before …” Ewan began.

“Before what?”

Ewan looked at him curiously, then shrugged. “Before you arrived. I’m not certain what I mean.” He hesitated, then added, “There are men who enjoy destruction, rape, and death for the sake of no more than cruelty.”

Waryk sat back. He didn’t believe that Daro would come against him. But someone had used Daro’s camp. First, to take Mellyora. And now …

He had an enemy. Not strong enough to reach him yet. But with enough power and money to buy men—many men. And to frighten them. Frighten them into dying before telling him the truth about what was going on.

He rose. “Double the guard. MacKinny, Angus has been my right hand for many years. You’ll share that with him, just as you served Adin. For now. Tomorrow, you’ll show me every nook and cranny of this castle. And when we’re done, we begin.”

“Begin?” Ewan asked.

“Training. I’ve brought ten men, but I’m to have twenty ready when the king asks me to ride again, which will happen. And under such circumstances, we’ll need more men here to be even more aptly trained—these attacks, I believe, will come again. And we will lose no more lives, no more livestock. We will not allow attack.”

“Aye, sir!” Ewan said, rising.

Phagin rose as well. “I’ll see to our injured again, now that night is falling, m’laird. And we’ll bury our dead come the dawn.”

“I’ll see to the men,” Angus said.

“Aye,” Waryk agreed. The men started from the hall. “MacKinny!” he called sharply.

Ewan came back. He looked sheepish, and even nervous now.

“Aye?” he queried.

“I never condemn a man for the past, Ewan. I know that Mellyora once had hopes for a union—”

“I told her it would never be,” Ewan interrupted softly.

“You seem a fine man, and a good warrior,” Waryk said evenly. “Serve me, as you served Adin, and you’ll do well.”

“Thank you.”

“I give you fair warning, though. Touch her, and you’ll probably die.”

Ewan hesitated, his head down, then he looked at Waryk. “Sir, I’d not cause her trouble now. I love her very much, you see, and, therefore, would not hurt her in any way.”

Watching Ewan, Waryk felt strangely sorry. He needed work, training, but he might have been a man who could have held this fortress for the king.

“I’m sorry,” Waryk told him.

Ewan shrugged. “Be good to her, sir. If she rants and raves, let her talk, and her temper eases. She’s strong, and courageous, and—”

“Ewan?”

The man flushed. “Your pardon. I’ve known her since she was a child.”

“I’m aware of that, and I don’t want to be reminded.”