Ivar: A Time Travel Romance (Mists of Albion Book 3) by Joanna Bell

Author:Joanna Bell [Bell, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

Ivar

When I woke, Sophie was not at my side. And although I told myself she was simply fetching bread for our breakfast, or relieving herself in the woods, both of which she often did before I even cracked an eye open to the dawn, something about her absence that morning struck a chord of worry in my heart.

I ignored it. There was much to be done that day, and none of it had anything to do with the tender feelings in my heart. Thetford now knew we were upon them – and they didn't seem to have been told yet of their King's surrender. We were at great risk of attack, undefended in the woods. The fight would have to be brought to the East Angles, and quickly.

After instructing one of the serving thralls to bring me word of Sophie's return, I left to speak with Ragnar, and not long later to ride with him to the other camp. The men knew what had happened during the night, they were ready – more than ready – for a battle. But it would have to be planned, we couldn't just ride up to the town walls and present ourselves like so many rabbits for the archer's arrows.

I took breakfast with Jarl Ragnar, who was of the same mind as me.

"Yes," he agreed, after I shared my thoughts. "It has to be soon. Tomorrow perhaps, before dawn breaks? The Angles don't fight but during the daytime, they won't be expecting us."

"The Angles we know fight during the day," I replied, uneasy at the forced rush. "Who knows what these inland Angles do? No matter, we ride before dawn. Uldric and the scouts have been busy, they have already a rough idea of the layout of the town, the vulnerable points in the walls. Come, there's no time to spare and I want the men to have some time to sleep."

Before we left, I sent one of my men to find the thrall who had been tasked with notifying me of Sophie's whereabouts. When he returned, just as Ragnar and I were preparing our horses, I could see from the look on his face that there was no news. The sun rode high in the sky by then – where was she?

"Did you find the thrall?" I asked, before the man could speak a single word.

"I did, Jarl. No one has seen Sophie anywhere."

The creeping dread in my belly, that had been there since I woke that morning to nothing but bare earth beside me, deepened. Ragnar looked at me.

"I can ride ahead, Jarl. Find your woman and then meet us there – we know what plans to make."

"No!" I barked angrily. "Voss! This woman – she brings me such trouble!"

Ragnar chuckled quietly. "Aye, they do bring us trouble, Ivar. Go, find her. It's no matter, I know your wishes, you trust me to bring them to the others? Sigvald and Vidar are already on their way, they'll be there to speak for you if –"

"Yes," I muttered.

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