Eira: Banished (Viking Guardians Book 1) by Clarkson Kaitlynn

Author:Clarkson, Kaitlynn [Clarkson, Kaitlynn]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Cockatoo Publishing
Published: 2020-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Taft sang to himself as he approached the house. He could smell the food that Kaarina had gone to prepare and by now, he should be rid of an unwelcome problem. It had been a good day indeed.

“Hello, Daughter,” he greeted Kaarina as he entered the house.

“Hello, Father,” she replied in a subdued voice.

Taft wondered if she knew that Eira was missing.

“Where are the men?” he asked. “I thought they would be back from the farms by now. Did they go hunting?”

“No, Father. They went to find Eira.”

“What happened to the evil little witch? Did she get lost in the woods?”

Kaarina looked at him and her anger began to rise.

“No, Father,” she said evenly. “I believe you already know what happened to her.”

“Why would I know anything about where she is? She was going to seek plants today like she usually does.”

“She was taken by slave raiders.”

“Slave raiders? The stupid little cow probably went beyond the boundaries. It serves her right.”

Kaarina turned to face him, fury in her eyes. “And you arranged it,” she accused. “Why do you hate her so? What has she ever done to you?”

“She is just like her mother,” Taft said fiercely. “In looks and personality. That woman betrayed me and I will never forgive her. And I do not care if I never see her offspring again.”

“Father, you have so much hate in your heart that I don’t believe you can even love me,” Kaarina said, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I was lonely before Eira came here and she is my friend. Even if only for my sake, can you not withhold your hateful words about her?”

Taft grunted. “Enough of your nonsense, woman. Hurry up and serve the food. I am starving.”

Even as he changed the subject, Taft was worried that his plan might fail. He hadn’t expected the men to mount a rescue mission to find Eira, certainly not so soon after she was taken. He’d even told the slave trader that she would be an easy catch and that no one would come looking for her. No one wanted her, after all. She was just a problem for the whole village. Everyone except Kaarina, it seemed. Although he felt mildly guilty that his daughter had lost her friend, it was eclipsed by the relief of knowing that he didn’t have to live with the evil witch in his house any longer.

When Halvar and his men reached the place where the slave raiders had snatched Eira, they dismounted and followed the footprints up the muddy path. Soon, the footprints left the path and went to a small clearing where they could see fresh horse dung and hoof prints. From there, the hoof prints curved around to rejoin the path.

It confirmed Halvar’s suspicions. “They are careless slave raiders,” he said. “They were not expecting anyone to come after them. It seems that perhaps Taft did set up his niece to be kidnapped and he arranged it for a time that no one would be around.

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