ship will be taken for the Imperial galley and in the meantime ours will have slipped away unnoticed.’
A cold sweat broke out on Katerina’s brow. Saint Titus, help me, Commander Ashfirth intends to use the second ship as a decoy! But it will be no decoy, not with the real Princess on board!
Think, Katerina, think. If the Norman scouts in Dyrrachion are truly the Emperor’s enemies, and they hear that the Princess is on that second ship, what might they do?
Would they try to capture her and demand a ransom? Would they dare?
She kept her voice light, admiring. ‘How clever. In making a decoy of your galley, no one will notice ours.’
‘That is my hope.’
Heart like lead, Katerina stared between the stallion’s ears. The track had levelled off to a little above sea level, they were approaching the bridge across the marshes.
What would the Commander think if he knew that his strategy, far from ensuring the safety of the Princess, was actually putting her in the path of danger?
The Princess! Somehow I must warn her.
‘Sir, when will our vessel cast off?’
‘As soon as Captain Brand and your entourage arrive at the port. Within the hour.’
Within the hour.
Lord, no sooner had she begun to repay her debt to the Princess than she was in such a tangle she could scarcely unravel it. Somehow, before the hour was up, Katerina must get a message to her.
Princess Theodora must be warned of these new dangers.
The chance didn’t come until after Commander Ashfirth had escorted Katerina and Lady Anna onto the trader.
Katerina had not been in a ship since the slavers had dragged her, with chains clanking at her wrists and feet, on to theirs. The contrast between the courteous way the Commander handed her aboard this time, and the way the slavers had treated her four years ago couldn’t have been more marked. Nevertheless, that hated memory was hard to dispel. Her mouth was dry, her heartbeat erratic. And yet she must pretend all was well, she must present a calm face to the world.
And above all, I must get a message to my mistress.
As she gazed about the deck, she felt his eyes on her. He watched her constantly, or one of his men did. Was he suspicious? Please, Lord, let him accept me as the Princess.
An awning was rigged up near the stern and a giant of a guardsman directed her to it. Another barbarian from outside the Empire, the man’s Viking ancestry was obvious. Long blond hair was tied back in a sheepskin ribbon, his beard was ruddy. The arms revealed by his sleeveless leather tunic were scarred and roped with enough muscle to wrestle a lion and win. This Hercules of a man might have discarded his mailcoat, his axe might be secreted away, but Katerina had no doubt that the sword thrust into his belt was razor sharp. His eyes were at odds with his scarred, brawler’s body; they were a gentle grey.
‘Lady Theodora, since the weather is set fair, you may use this as your quarters,’ the blond Hercules said. His Greek was not as fluent as the Commander’s, but it was adequate. And clearly he had been briefed as to how to address her. He bowed her in under the awning. ‘Unless you would prefer to go below decks?’
Katerina shook her head. ‘Below? My thanks, but I much prefer to be up here. This will suit me very well. ‘
‘Co…Ashfirth asked me to tell you that in here you may be assured of your privacy.’
‘Thank you.’ She looked warily at him. In recent years Katerina had kept men at a distance, but this Viking’s eyes told her she need have no fear of him. ‘What is your name?’
‘Toki, my lady. Toki Fairhead.’ He leaned towards her and lowered his voice conspiratorially. ‘I am a sergeant.’
‘Thank you, Toki.’
When the sergeant continued to hover in the doorway, it dawned on her that he was watching for her reaction. She made a show of looking about her. It was shady under the awning, and protected from the breeze. There were flaps on either side of the opening that could be released and tied shut, like a door. When they were closed it would be like living in a tent, a spacious pavilion of a tent.
Some effort had been expended to make her quarters comfortable. A pallet was made up with creamy linens, and the travelling chest that the Princess had given her was already in place, pushed to one side. A goatskin rug had been spread on the boards, and a brass ewer and jug rested in a corner.
‘Thank you, Toki, this is most satisfactory.’ As she spoke, the Commander’s manservant shouldered his way in with another pallet, doubtless for Lady Anna.
‘It won’t be what you are used to,’ the sergeant said gruffly, ‘but it will only be for a short time.’
Katerina smiled. Princess Theodora had been the most considerate of mistresses. Since being freed by the Princess and offered the choice of becoming her maidservant, Katerina had never had to sleep on the floor, she had always had a pallet. But space for herself and just one other? Privacy such as this? Never.
‘Toki, these quarters are perfect. Where is Lady Anna?’
‘With the horses.’
She managed not to grimace. ‘When she has finished there, would you please send her to me?’
Sergeant Toki bowed himself out, and it was not long before Lady Anna ducked through the opening.
‘You wanted to speak to me?’ Lady Anna’s voice was tight, Katerina hoped she did not resent being summoned. It was possible.
Not only does Lady Anna regret being sent home, but she is a noblewoman. Every time she looks at me, she sees a Cretan villager who was once a slave. Is she affronted by being asked to treat me as if I were the Princess? I shall have to tread carefully, if I am not to alienate her.
‘Lady Anna—’
‘Ashfirth Saxon’s man, Hrodric, explained matters to me. You had best call me Anna, as the Princess did,’ Lady Anna said, taking a seat on one of the pallets. ‘And I suppose I had better get used to calling you “my lady".’
Katerina gave a swift headshake. ‘I don’t think that will be necessary. Ashfirth Saxon may know that you and the Princess are on the best of terms. I have often heard you call her Theodora, perhaps you should call me that for the time being—it will seem more natural.’
Lady Anna lifted her shoulders. ‘As you wish. When we are being informal, Theodora it shall be.’ Her eyes were shrewd. ‘Was that all you wanted to say? I have to tell you that I am doing this for Theodora, for the real Theodora. If you think to use this as an excuse to order me about, you can think again.’
‘That is far from my mind,’ Katerina said, firmly. Saints, my task will be impossible if Lady Anna decides to take against me. However, back at the convent there hadn’t been time to think of everything; she must make the best of it. ‘Like you, I wish to help the Princess.’
‘The Princess was generous, I hear she gave you a casket of jewels. Is it true she has also promised you land?’
‘Yes, it’s true, but even without these gifts I want to repay the Princess for her kindness to me. That is why I called for you a moment ago—I would not have done so were it not important.’
Lady Anna nodded. ‘Hurry up then, I want to get back to Zephyr. What did you have to say?’
‘Can you write?’
Lady Anna blinked. ‘Write?’
‘We have to get a message to the Princess, and I think it best if Ashfirth Saxon is kept in the dark.’
Lady Anna’s haughtiness fell away, her eyes widened. She touched Katerina’s