Page 8 of Wolf Pack

Bodolf changed out of his wet clothes and created a sleeping area covered with woolen cloth for warmth and to keep the water out in the ship's center. Then he helped his siblings to dress without tipping over the ship.

Once they were wearing dry clothes, they curled up under the sleeping area together while Bodolf took a rowing seat and began to help them row.

“We must take turns staying awake, rowing, and sleeping. You and I can navigate our way to Scota,” Inge said to Bodolf, “but Elene canna navigate home. So one of the two of us always has to be awake.” Then Inge changed into dry clothes. “From now on, Bodolf, you are Conall. Dinna forget. And I am no longer Inge but Isobel.

“Do you want to lie down now?” Conall studied the stars, though clouds were covering many of them.

“Nay. I’m too wound up to sleep. Can you rest for a while, Conall?” She almost called him Bodolf. It would be an easy mistake to make, but they had to get used to their new names. “And keep your brother and sister warm? Elene and I will row. When you wake, she can sleep, and you and I will continue. Then once she has rested, it will be my turn to sleep.”

“I dinna think I can sleep yet.”

After witnessing his da’s death and the worry that the clansmen would soon come after them, Isobel figured he was too worked up like she was. She glanced at Elene.

“I’ll sleep, and you wake me when you need me. They keep me up all night, doing their bidding,” Elene said.

“Ja, sleep, Elene.” Isobel hadn’t considered Elene’s trauma of living the life of a slave among them, which made her feel bad.

Elene moved carefully under the makeshift tent and snuggled with the little ones. That helped to keep them warm.

“What did Bidol say about you buying his ship?” Isobel asked Conall, the wind sweeping some of her hair loose from her braids, the sea air chilly at night.

“He was dead.”

“What?” Isobel couldn’t believe it.

“It appeared Bidol had fallen asleep and never woke up. He was cold when I felt his hand. He wasna breathing. I’ve seen enough bodies to know he had been dead for a couple of days or longer. He had no injuries on his body.”

“I havena seen him for a few days. Did…” She hated asking and didn’t know if they could even use the money should they reach Scota, but she had to know. “Did you leave the money for the ship?”

“Nay. Bidol was dead. And whoever found him would take the money and say someone stole his ship—us, most likely.”

“Though we wouldna be able to use the coin in Scotia.” She glanced at Drummond and Libby wrapped in furs. “That’s why you brought his extra furs.”

“Ja. He had no need of them. I thought we might. He also had more smoked fish that I brought with me.”

“You were right.” She was glad her cousin had thought of that.

“About da, was he truly dead?”

“Ja.” He did not die in a warrior’s way on the battlefield, just like Bidol hadn’t. Neither man would go to Valhalla.

Gazing at the dark, stormy skies, Isobel knew they were about to face rough weather. She turned her attention back to the shore but saw no signs of people scrambling to find them or ships being launched.

They heard Vigge calling out for her, but she didn’t see him on the beach or near the cave.

Her worry only grew as their longship hit wave after wave, water crashing over the bow, threatening to sink them.

3

Despite knowing how to navigate the ocean, having learned from when she was eight while going with her mother and da on voyages to Scotia, Isobel worried the storms had taken them off course, and they may never make it to land.

Seawater drenched Isobel and her companions. The next morning, the sun dried them off, leaving them caked in salt. They sailed on the open water for several hours, the sun beating down on them. Their cheeks and the tips of their noses wore a red glow from the constant sun.

Conall pointed to the horizon. “Storm’s coming.”

She knew it was inevitable, but she had hoped they wouldn’t encounter any of them on their journey. Lightning struck from miles away, illuminating the sky, and a peal of thunder in the distance reverberated through the air.

The sun was soon covered by angry gray clouds, deepening and darkening until the sun wasn’t visible any longer. Winds whipped up the waves, and Isobel and Conall quickly lowered the sail.