Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

both of you get along. I'll see to getting someone to sort out the mess in here."
    "Yes Magnus." Harald replied automatically,
    "And for goodness sake, put some clothes on first!" Magnus finished with a chuckle as he walked away.
    ****
    Most of the tables from last night's feast had been pushed back to the walls, leaving the centre of the big room empty. At the far end a single table remained, set crosswise to the length of the room. In front of the table Siguard's heavy carved wooden chair had been placed. Siguard himself paced back and forth across the dusty floor in front of it. The only other occupant of the room was Magnus, seated on a bench to one side of the room, seemingly engrossed in the runes carved in piece of wood he was holding. At the entrance to the room, two armed warriors stood guarding the doorway.
    "Father."
    Siguard stopped his relentless striding and looked up at the sound of his name and signalled to the guards.
    Harald quickly crossed the room to his father. He had dressed formally with his mail shirt over a linen tunic and trousers, and around his shoulders a heavy blue woven cloak was held in place by a decoratively carved golden pin. Three heavy gold rings circled each arm and his sword was belted at his waist. Hanging from a fine chain on his neck was a delicately carved replica of Thor's Hammer.
    Following a couple of paces behind him, Alex reflected that at this moment Harald looked like every fierce, masculine Viking warrior he'd ever seen in a movie or on TV.
    Alex himself was dressed in his simple plain tunic and kilt, the hated leather collar still circling his neck. Harald had insisted on cleaning the wound to Alex's shoulder. After which he'd applied a salve of goose grease and herbs; which not only stung like a bitch but smelt revolting.
    "Where is he?" Harald asked coming to a halt before his father.
    "He wasn't in his rooms; my men are searching for him." Siguard looked from his son to Alex, who found himself moving further behind Harald at the furious glare he was subjected to.
    "They won't find him," Magnus interrupted without looking up.
    "My son wouldn't run; he isn't a coward." Siguard snapped at the older man.
    "No, but he is a traitor." Magnus finally looked up as he spoke. Locking his eyes with Siguard's he continued, "And one who tried to murder his own brother and frame an innocent."
    Siguard seemed to wilt at the skald's words, the fury melting out of him. Sighing he slumped down into the wooden chair, resting his elbows on his knees he leant forwards and he buried his head in his hands.
    Slowly Siguard and Harald's own men began to filter into the room, their expressions grim. With occasional head shaking to each other Alex surmised that their hunt for Gunnar had not been successful. Eventually Siguard looked up and turned to the head of his old household warriors who had rather reluctantly made his way across the room.
    "No sign of him?"
    "Sorry Jarl Siguard, but no, no sign of Gunnar, or any of his men. Their horses are also missing from the byre."
    Siguard's expression reflected his fury at the news. His fist crashed into the arm of the chair with force, the sound echoing around the room.
    No one moved. No one spoke. Standing just behind Harald, Alex found himself holding his breath.
    "What do you intend to do, my Jarl?" Magnus' question broke the silence but not the sense of tension that had been building in the room.
    "What can I do?" Siguard snarled at his skald. "Do you expect me to hunt down my own son and drag him back here to stand charge for attempted murder?"
    "Yes," the skald said baldly. Siguard looked at him with a mixture of anger and amazement.
    "Out, everyone out." Siguard roared. As his men hurried towards the doorway Alex turned to follow, only too glad to be escaping.
    "No, we need to stay." Without looking round Harald reached out and held onto his arm, as if sensing that Alex would like nothing more than to run.
    Siguard rose from his chair and began pacing once more, coming to a halt in front of Magnus, who still remained completely unperturbed by the day's events.
    "Where do you think he has gone?"
    "My best guess is back to Skara, to Lord Olaf." Magnus replied. "Whether he knows if his plot was successful or not, I believe he intends to present his case for your title and lands to pass to him. If Harald had died his son would now be your heir, a five year old boy is no match for Gunnar, no matter how well protected he is by his