Chapter 6
Ivar
After Ailis braided my hair that morning, I heard a knock on the door. When I turned, it was my personal guard, Ake. Though I could fight to protect myself, my Papa still wanted me to have a guard.
"What, Ake?" I asked.
"You have been summoned, My Lady," he said, and Ailis stopped braiding my hair. It only meant one thing when Ake would summon me at this time of morning—something terrible had happened.
"At Lord Knud's house."
I quickly stood up from the stool, and without wasting any time, I left the room and the house with Ake. When the other guards saw me with Ake, none questioned where I was going. They just watched as we walked away.
Glancing over at the tree where a man and woman chatted under the shade, my heart squeezed at the sight of them. This could have been me and Ragnar. I shook my head at his name. I shouldn't think of him.
