Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

grasping the long hair in his fists as he pushed back into Harald's mouth with the same almost violent force.
    ****
    "Harald!" At the sound of the bellowed name, Alex and Harald broke apart, both still breathing heavily. Alex couldn't help but wonder if the slightly shocked expression on Harald's face was mirrored on his own.
    The sound of approaching feet followed, and then the door crashed open. Siguard and four of his warriors, fully armed, swiftly filled the room. Alex found himself being herded away from Harald, to the far side of the room. Two of Siguard's men stood in front of him, their short swords raised whilst a third forcefully held him by his right arm. The wound in his shoulder throbbed painfully, a fresh flow of blood spilling down over his chest.
    In a panic he began to struggle to free himself. Swinging his unhindered arm towards the face of the man who held him, he felt a surge of satisfaction as his fist connected heavily with the man's nose. Twisting away as his arm was freed, he tried to dodge under the sword blades. As he turned to run his arms were caught behind him and yanked forcefully upwards. The jarring pain in his elbow made him stop fighting but it didn't stop him swearing loudly at his captors as he lashed out at their shins with his feet.
    "Take him out and kill him," Siguard commanded.
    "Father, no." Still naked and unarmed, Harald moved to block the doorway. "Don't do this."
    "He tried to kill you yet you would argue for his life?" Siguard looked at his son in disbelief.
    "No! I didn't, I..." Alex's words were cut off with a strangled yelp as his arm was pulled tighter.
    "Quiet," Siguard turned towards Alex, absolute fury in his tone. "You have forfeited any right to a defence by your actions. My son tried to save you, and you repay him by trying to murder him in his sleep. I should have listened to Gunnar from the start. Get him out of here."
    "He didn't try to kill me father," Harald started to explain. "He..."
    "Enough, no more excuses. Take him out." Siguard cut off his son abruptly. The warrior kept a firm grip on Alex's arm as he began to push him roughly towards the door.
    "Stop!" Harald's voice wasn't raised, his tone calm and carefully measured. Almost formally he continued, "let go of him. This man is my property. He is in my care and is my responsibility. I claim the right to do with him as I will."
    Still holding Alex, Siguard's men looked between their Jarl and his son, waiting for further instruction, as the two men glared at each other.
    "You have that right," Siguard conceded unwillingly.
    "Thank you Father," Harald inclined his head slightly. "Let go of him," he commanded.
    Alex found himself stumbling forwards as his arms were released. Steadying himself he rubbed at the red hand marks on his arm where they'd been held, watching Harald, waiting to see what he would do.
    "How do you intend to deal with this son? You can't just let him go."
    "I think you are overlooking something here Jarl Siguard." Magnus suggested calmly from where he'd been standing unnoticed, just behind Harald in the doorway.
    "What?" Siguard snapped at his skald.
    "How did you know that Harald's life was in danger? That it was Alex who was trying to kill him?" Magnus queried politely.
    "I was told by one of the men, he told me the Pict had taken Harald's life and fled." Siguard voice trailed off and he looked towards Alex as he realised what he was saying.
    "Indeed, fled as far as his master's rooms. His very dead master that is." Magnus did not attempt to keep the sarcasm out of his voice, going as far as to roll his eyes as he spoke.
    "I appear to have been misinformed," Siguard said stiffly.
    "So, that being the case," Magnus continued in the same tone. "How would you explain why Ketil, Gunnar's right hand man, is lying dead on Harald's bedroom floor?"
    No one spoke, but all eyes turned to the body still lying where it had fallen in the middle of the room.
    Eventually Siguard hissed. "Find him, find my son and bring him to me in the main house; in chains if necessary."
    Siguard's men needed no further instruction, leaving swiftly, their Jarl following in their footsteps. Harald and Alex were left looking at each other, neither knowing what to say or do next. It was Magnus, sounding now as though he was amused by the whole situation, whose voice broke the silence between them.
    "Harald, your father will need you in the meeting room. See to cleaning that wound on Alex's shoulder first and then