The two of them exchanged a glance. Then, without a word, they drew their knives and moved forward, straight toward the most obvious hiding place, the solitary outhouse where Nessa huddled, trembling, by the wall. Shadow bounded ahead, showing the way. In despair, Nessa rose to her feet and moved into the open, speaking in the tongue of the Norsemen.

“I am alone and unarmed. All I want is to travel north unhindered. Please, let me pass.”

The two men halted in surprise; whatever they had expected to find, it was not a young woman out in the night alone. They looked at each other again.

“Please,” Nessa repeated, keeping her tone soft and sweet though anger burned inside her for the wrongs these folk had done to her people, and fear still clutched at her vitals. “Please, just let me pass. I mean no harm.”

The first man’s eyes narrowed; he was looking at the rolled-up skin under her arm. “What’s that you bear, girl?”

Nessa held her head high. She would tell no lies. “You can see what it is: a badge of honor, the recognition of your Warfather, Thor. I am a friend of the warrior Eyvind; I journey to Somerled’s hall with a message of truth. I must be allowed to proceed unhindered. I must reach that place tonight.”

They gazed at her. “Hmm,” said one. “Just let you go, is it? I don’t think so.”

“What’s your name?” snapped the other. “Where do you come from? Answer quickly, now.” And he reached out to seize her arm in an iron-hard hand. In its wrapping, the harp trembled; Nessa struggled to keep hold of it.

“My name is Nessa. Let me go. I won’t try to escape. I’m not so foolish as to believe I can outrun you. Only a weak man, or a very stupid one, uses force against a woman. These dogs will protect me. Look at them.”

And indeed, the moment the fellow had laid his hand on Nessa, Shadow’s affectionate demeanor had changed. Now her ears were laid back, her head lowered, and a deep growling sounded in her throat. Guard had stationed himself close to the second man, forelegs planted wide, eyes intent as if he were ready to leap into attack the moment the fellow made a move.

The first man cleared his throat. “You can’t pass,” he said bluntly, but he had relaxed his vise-like grip. “You must come with us.”

The door of the cottage opened; a warm light streamed out as the two men made their way back with Nessa walking between them, still holding fast to her precious burdens. The dogs followed, watchful.

“What’s going on? Why was the dog barking?”