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I didn’t need to have Knud by my side as he stood gazing at the blazing red morning sky, as well, to know what he was thinking. It boded ill and spoke of stormy weather ahead.

“’Twas the same sort of sky Soren saw the morning before being shipwrecked on the shores of Largs,” Freya warned, giving me a grim look. “He claimed no ship could survive that weather. They only did so by the grace of the gods and the nearby land to wash up upon. Even then, he claims ’twas divine intervention.”

Not one to give in to fear, especially in battle or on the high seas, I stood taller and eyed the skies, too, ready to conquer whatever may come for the sake of king and country. “Then may the gods be with us.”

With that in mind, having no choice but to move forward, I signaled to Knud, as I so often had over the years when sailing separate ships, letting him know what to expect. In return, he nodded in understanding. We had established our own language from afar, so there was no need to risk pulling the ships alongside each other on the increasingly choppy water. The vessels behind us would take our lead, so communicating with them directly was unnecessary, too.

“The waters will not grow difficult until later today,” I warned our crewmembers, once all were rallied to what lay ahead. “But when they do ’twill be treacherous, so all must be at their best.” I gave our navigator with his compass and calculations a nod of thanks. “I have been told we have made swift time across the seas, so there’s every chance we’re not all that far from the Scottish Isles.”

While that should seem impossible, all were aware of the mystique surrounding my sister and me, and of this ship’s particular capabilities. While those of the new religion who were more superstitious might think it the devil’s work, as they called it, those on these ships saw it only as their deities showing them favor.

“Freya will take the bow and lead the way,” I said, knowing my sister and this vessel were kindred, so she would serve best there. “I will be at the stern, manning the rudder with help from the strongest of you, for ’twill take a lot of strength to follow my sister’s lead.” I looked from man to man, most of whom were Helvigs. “She will tell you when to raise and lower the sails and when to row, not I. Do you understand? You will follow her every request. She knows these waters and is to be trusted without question.”

Understanding that I relinquished my rule over them to her until we arrived safely at the Isle of Mann, all agreed, and we continued, most ordered to row.

“Many thanks for that, sister,” Freya said, joining me at the stern while I continued getting a feel for the rudder. I had manned it often since we set sail, but not on the sort of waters that lay ahead. Best to keep getting my footing for it, just as Knud did from his ship.

“There’s no need to thank me,” I replied, because there wasn’t. “This is your ship, and you know it best.” Keeping my voice down, I glanced her way. “My talisman has remained cool since leaving Norway, but now it warms. Yours?”

“Ja, mine too,” she confirmed, her gaze wary when our eyes met, but her stance strong, telling me she was ready for this. “And yet still, nothing from Astrid via the torchlight at night.” Her voice grew soft as she scanned the horizon again, having hoped as much as I did that we might have heard from our sister by now, given how dangerous our situation. “Do you think she knows…” She shook her head. “All has been so quiet from her since she warned us we would go to war against each other. ’Tis almost as if…”

“I think ’tis not to worry over right now,” I counseled her, understanding her angst. I felt it too. If by chance Freya and I were closing in on our last days on Midgard, we wanted to say goodbye. To have that last connection with our sibling. “Now is the time to focus on what lies ahead at the moment and nothing more.” Shrugging, I tried to keep things as logical as possible, if it meant easing Freya’s concern so she could focus on what had to matter most right now. “Besides, why would Astrid have warned us we would battle her if we were fated not to make it there to begin with?”

“You make a good point.” Relief flashed in Freya’s eyes even as her brow furrowed at the darkening horizon and heavier sea swells. In the past, we might have enjoyed what was coming, but not now, and I didn’t doubt that not seeing Soren and Katrine again had everything to do with her unease.

“Of course, I make a good point,” I assured, reminding her of our past and making light of things if it helped ease her tension. “I am a Helvig earl, and your big sister who knows all, ja? From the moment I knew to go after that wolf at the Russian border and pulled the dagger he dropped from the snow, and it turned to our talismans.”

“’Twas me who saw and sought out the wolf,” she reminded, understanding that was my best attempt at being amusing. She managed a small smile for me. “But ja, ’twas very much you who was brave enough to reach into the snow and seize the dagger.” She reflected on that day so long ago at the Russian-Norwegian border, before nodding and finding the confidence I needed to see in her eyes. “And ’twas you who knew which talisman belonged to which sister, so I trust you…this…and what lies ahead, just as I did then.”

“Good.” I stood up straighter and squared my shoulders in defiance, showing her the strength she needed to see in return. “Then go be the Helvig and Dahl you are and captain us well, sister.”

Doing just that, she led us into waters that only became increasingly treacherous as the day wore on and evening loomed. With it came higher swells and ever-blackening clouds full of white-hot lightning flashes. At first, Freya ordered the sails to remain partially down, but as the wind remained solidly at our back, she had them raised entirely and ordered all oars in the water. We would need as much speed as possible to climb these waves, lest they topple us.

In turn, the other ships followed suit and did their best to keep in formation as the cold winds grew gustier and icy sea spray made everything slick. Every so often, I glanced at Knud, only for our eyes to connect despite the distance. I would gesture one way or another, then keep manning the rudder as Freya dictated, knowing he understood to follow our lead.

Or so I could only hope as it became increasingly difficult to see him in driving rain and roughening seas. While not one to disobey my orders, few knew how to captain as well as he did, so if he had no choice, I had faith in him to keep his crew safe if he thought better.

I wanted him to survive no matter what.

Truly and with everything in me.

If the worst-case scenario happened to my crew, I had infallible faith that he would look after our people and rule them well in my absence. He would be a remarkable earl because I didn’t doubt he would take my place. That every last Helvig would want it.

And that eased me greatly, giving me added focus as I looked to my sister with her white Helvig polar bear cloak billowing in the wind at the bow, an admirable sight leading the charge, making me proud. So proud that I found more strength still, trusting her without question to navigate these waters, and so she did.

Better put, we did, because it very much became a joint effort.

One moment, we were sailing into a storm, the next into pure hell.

Chapter Ten

Knud

It had been over a week since we set sail, and I missed Tove every bit as much as I had when I was away, despite seeing her across the water daily. I loathed the distance between us more than ever now, mayhap because I knew it might grow that much further if she married the King of the Isle. I wanted what could be our last days together, next to each other, talking, so I could hear her voice. Catch her sweet scent.

Now, as we sailed into a formidable storm, indeed, I feared I may never experience any of those moments again. The skies had grown jet-black and angry, and the waves had grown higher by the moment.

Struggling to maintain the rudder and stay on course, I tried to keep Tove’s ship in sight, but it became increasingly difficult in the driving rain and flashing lightning. I roared over the booming thunder that all row as hard as they could. The faster, the better. Meanwhile, I aimed the ship into the waves as best I could. If one caught us from the side, there was a good chance we would roll.