"Stop."
The whole troop came to a halt at Rollo's command, the men and women who had gone to Kattegat with him looking down at Strandysla from the top of the hill. They were anxious to get home, but they waited while Rollo studied the village, then slid off his horse and motioned to Lagertha. She got down from her horse and handed the reins to Bjorn, looking questioningly at Rollo.
He took a deep breath. "I want you and Bjorn to go back to the farm."
"And what of you?"
"I will take the warriors into Strandysla and see Earl Sigvard."
Lagertha's eyes flashed dangerously. "You are not going into Strandysla by yourself." Rollo regarded her calmly and for the first time in their life together, she felt an urge to hit him. He saw the fear under the fury in her face and wrapped his arms around her.
"I want you to be safe," he whispered, stroking her hair. "I don't want you anywhere near Sigvard until we know how angry he is with us."
She held him tightly. "We should be together, whatever happens."
Rollo sighed and took a step back. "I cannot order you. I can only ask." He gazed at her with love and a mute appeal.
The anger drained out of Lagertha. From the day they had left Kattegat all those years ago, Rollo had been kind and considerate. Every decision had been discussed between them, everything done by mutual consent, and although they had argued from time to time, this was the first real disagreement that had ever arisen between them. She reached for Rollo's hand. "I do not want to go back to the farm and wait for you." His shoulders slumped and she squeezed his hand. "We should all go together." Bjorn rode up to his mother's side and held the reins of her horse while she got back into the saddle. Defeated, Rollo swung up onto his own horse and the whole troop started down the hill to Strandysla, where they piled their weapons in the street outside the great hall and filed silently inside behind Rollo.
"So you have returned." Sigvard eyed Rollo unpleasantly, then cast his eyes over the men and women crowded at the big man's back. Lagertha and Bjorn were side by side just behind him, and Sigvard's gaze lingered over the shieldmaiden until Rollo took a step forward.
"We did not wish to go to our homes before greeting you, lord," he said levelly, blocking Sigvard's view of Lagertha. The earl's eyes narrowed, but he rose to his feet and gestured expansively.
"I am glad to see you all. Let there be feasting tonight to celebrate, and let everyone who fought tell his tale." Sigvard spoke to a couple of servants, who began bringing in casks and food, and a more relaxed atmosphere prevailed in the hall as the feast got underway. The earl lounged in his chair, speaking to whoever approached him but remaining somewhat aloof for an hour or so until he left the big room. His departure removed the last constraint on the people and they grew boisterous, going out and bringing in their friends and family until it seemed as if the entire population of Strandysla had come to welcome the warriors home.
Lagertha watched as Rollo threaded his way through the crowd, constantly stopped by people who wanted to talk to him or just shake his hand or thump him on the back. She caught his eye and beckoned and he came at once, a huge smile on his face. She smiled back and he caught her in his arms, kissing her soundly as the people laughed and clapped and cheered. "It seems I was wrong about Earl Sigvard," he said.
"I am surprised myself." She shook her head. "Never would I have thought he would offer a feast in celebration. The best I thought we could hope for was to return to the farm without a penalty."
Gunnar had approached as Lagertha finished speaking and he regarded his two friends glumly. "I hope you are right. I have never known Sigvard to forgive an insult, and he was madly angry when he learned you had left your farm to fight for Ragnar."
Rollo frowned. "Ragnar is my brother. I could not leave him in his trouble."
Gunnar shrugged. "What is the saying? 'Bare is the back that has no brother.' Sigvard knows this, yet he has always hated you, Rollo, and now he has less reason than ever to trust you. You should guard yourself."
Lagertha looked around uneasily. "Where is Bjorn?"
"Over there." Gunnar pointed and Lagertha relaxed. Her son was surrounded by friends, joking with the men and eyeing the pretty servant girls, and Gunnar said reassuringly, "He will come to no harm in that company."
The shieldmaiden nodded and smiled, then took Rollo's hand. "I want to go home now."
He looked surprised. "I thought you would want to celebrate."
Lagertha reached up and wound her arms around his neck. "I do."
Gunnar laughed. "Go. I will see that Bjorn is safe."