Return of the Viking Warrior by Michelle Styles

Author:Michelle Styles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The shouting alerted Kara that something dreadful was wrong. She had just finished inspecting the kitchens and was about to go to the bath house. Anything to avoid checking up on Ash and Rurik. She owed him that much for saving her boy. What could go wrong with a simple tour? But now she could hear his voice shouting across the yard.

She picked up her skirts and ran to the graveyard where she was certain the noise had come from. Rurik stood alone outside the family crypt, weeping.

Kara wrapped her arms about her son. ‘Is something wrong? Where is Ash? Where is your father?’

‘My father...’ Rurik gave a convulsive shudder and broke into fresh sobs. ‘I only wanted to show him where his gravestone was and he started shouting at me. Make him go away. I don’t want him here. Far-far said that he was always disappointed in him and that I had to be a better warrior because of it.’

‘When did he say that?’

Rurik scrubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘Once when we were out here.’

‘Did you say something to your father?’

‘He didn’t want to see the gravestone Far-far had carved for him! Then he shouted at me because I told him he had to.’

‘Go and see Thora. I was just in the kitchen and she might have a treat for you.’ Kara motioned towards the kitchen. She had to hope that Ash hadn’t heard Rurik’s words. She knew how much Ash wanted his father to be proud of him.

Rurik’s eyes grew big and the crying instantly stopped. ‘I like treats.’

He raced off. Kara heaved a sigh as no one else appeared. What she had to say to Ash would be said in private. But she renewed her determination that she would keep Rurik safe.

She went into the graveyard and saw Ash, sitting on the ground with his head in his hands.

‘Ash? Why did you shout at Rurik?’

Ash lifted his head. ‘The boy wanted me to go into the graveyard. He said my father would be ashamed of me. I told him that I couldn’t care less what my father thought.’

‘Rurik hates being shouted at.’

‘I wasn’t shouting at him precisely, but I don’t want to see my gravestone. Not today. And I don’t care what my father would have wanted! Or how he feels about me! Why break the habit of a lifetime?’

Kara put her hand on her hip. This had all the signs of a disaster. Rurik and his grandfather used to love going to visit Ash’s gravestone. Rurik had probably been very excited to show his father and then Ash had ruined it. ‘This could have been avoided.’

‘How?’

‘You yelled at Rurik because you were far too stubborn to let me look at your leg earlier. What sort of man shouts at a six-year-old because of what a dead man might think?’

‘He needs to accept that men shout or otherwise he will be no good on the battlefield.’

‘Will you allow me to see the leg? Now?’ Kara knelt beside him.

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