Read The Betrothed Sister for Free Online

small surrogate family.
    Grandmother simply did not feel strong enough to ride again. She climbed into the cart with Lady Margaret, and fourteen-year-old Gudrun. Padar shook the carthorse’s reins. Thea touched her mare’s flanks with her heels. Edmund clicked his tongue and moved his gelding into place by his sister’s side. Today she was protected by her brother, but was her future safe? She was to become a dispossessed princess sent to Denmark begging for a husband. They had best find her a youthful, handsome prince for nothing less would do. Her prince must win her heart if he was to win her. She was already fifteen years old, and grandmother was right – it was time she had a home of her own and a husband who adored her as her father had her mother. Yes there had been that other wife the earls had made her father take to his bed, but it was her mother whom he had loved. She, too, would have a prince who loved her and one who would love none other, ever. She would be his only wife and his only love.
    She gave her mare a determined flick of her switch and trotted through the abbey gates thinking these thoughts as she glanced back over her shoulder and waved until her aunt was just a grey speck standing by the abbey wall.

5
    Schleswig, Denmark, October 1068
    Denmark’s low shores slid into visibility. They had passed four queasy days and nights on the dark rolling waves and she had felt sick for most of the journey. Even Gytha had been so ill she could only lie under her furs and moan and complain that this was not how she remembered the seas from her youth. As they sailed into the port, Thea suddenly felt the journey’s agonies vanish. She clasped her hands together so tightly she felt her knuckles click. Beyond the grey lapping sea, she could make out the town’s harbour wall, church spires, and gradually houses with brightly painted door posts came into her view. This sea town was called Schleswig. ‘Look, Gudrun,’ she said to the girl who quietly stood by her side. ‘Our new home. We are away from those who killed our fathers at last.’
    Gudrun said solemnly, ‘But I shall never forgive them. They stole our lands and they murdered our fathers and brothers.’
    â€˜Yes, but now we must find a new home, Gudrun. It doesn’t mean that we forgive or forget what happened to our families. Look at the life out there waiting for us.’
    The port’s curved harbour was packed full of colourful ships with strange beasts surmounting their prows. As their oarsmen rowed through the collection of handsome vessels, guiding the Wave-Prancer and the Sea-Dragon into their designated mooring places by one of the many quays, Thea’s attention shifted from the port buildings to bands of labourers who were loading and unloading cargos.
    Danish words ricocheted back and forwards between great-prowed ships and the merchants on the quays. Gytha whose hearing was acute said, ‘I feel at home here.’
    At last the Wave-Prancer had docked. Bursting with excitement, Thea waited patiently for a ladder to be laid against the ship’s hull so they could reach the wharf. To amuse herself as she waited, she studied the prows on the nearest vessels. These bore the carved heads of various-sized dragons painted with green and gold and blue and silver. She had never seen so many griffins, mermaids, sinister orcs, grinning ogres and yellow bears’ heads jostling about in one place before.
    The men secured ropes, lowered sails and dragged coverings over their weapons and cargo. Edmund and Godwin set a guard of their trusted house coerls on the treasure coffers. Then, and only then, were Countess Gytha, Lady Margaret, Thea and Gudrun allowed to climb down the ladder that Edmund and Gunor dropped into place against the Wave-Prancer ’s hull.
    Once she stepped down onto the quay, Thea noticed the white ermine fur that trimmed rich merchants’ mantles. Their brightly dyed