To Find a Viking Treasure (Norse Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

realms and beyond, his lethal talents offered to the highest bidder.
    “I must burn this longhouse to appease Gorm.” Sven’s voice boomed. “Then I’ll tell him I’ve killed your sister, Halsten, and their daughters. It was Gorm’s express wish.”
    Lady Mardred cried out from the shadows, but her husband stepped coolly forward. “And in gratitude we leave with our lives. Is that what you’re offering?”
    “You must disappear.” Sven waved a hand at chests lining a far wall. “Leaving most of your wealth behind. Otherwise the Dane will question why I’m empty-handed when I see him again.”
    Lord Halsten’s one fist curled tightly. “What better way to show your false loyalty than to give away my wealth.”
    Lady Mardred slumped on a bench. Sestra glared at Sven, her pulse quickening. His decree was the price paid when kingdoms crumbled, a fact she’d seen too often.
    The bearish Viking looked to Brandr. “Cut Hakan free.”
    A home would be destroyed tonight, and the people who lived here sent away. Forever. To Sven and the Aland men, it didn’t matter. Even Lord Hakan accepted this fate, his voice joining the battle plans. His zeal to destroy a long time enemy lit a fire in his ice-blue eyes.
    Helena grabbed Sestra’s hand, her grip shaky. Wetness splashed their fingers. Tears. The men, set on intrigue and enemies, missed the silent weeping.
    Tremors shook her body as she comforted Helena, but these were not from fright. Thralls, along with the young and old, would live underfoot while warriors trampled the earth. The best of men couldn’t save all the innocent from the horror.
    Her lips twisted. The life of a Frankish slave woman mattered not at all.
    If only she had a weapon and knew how to use it…
    “You spoke of two problems,” Brandr said, his knife sawing Lord Hakan’s bindings. “If a forest chase to divide Gorm’s men solves one, what’s the other?”
    “Find Gorm’s treasure. The hoard is somewhere in Uppsala, marked by a white stone with runes painted red…”
    Her head snapped up.
    A white rune stone marked with red.
    “…if Gorm doesn’t have the treasure, the Black Wolf and his men won’t fight for him,” Sven finished.
    “Do you know where he hides it?” Brandr asked.
    “One of the islands.”
    Hakan rubbed his wrists. “Which one?”
    She shut her eyes, fresh pain gripping her chest. The darkness couldn’t stop disturbing visions from passing through her head. Farmsteads burning. Young and old put to the sword. Malevolent warriors raiding farms, snatching women and…the screams. Shaking, she couldn’t block out the awful sound.
    Berserkers were coming.
    A white rune stone marked with red.
    “The berserkers will demand to see payment before they fight,” Sven explained. “If someone could find the hoard, steal it—”
    “No one knows where he buried this treasure?” Hakan broke in. “Not even Astrid?”
    The highborn woman known to them all shared Gorm’s bed.
    “Astrid told me about the stone. She fears Gorm, wants to be free of him, but she doesn’t know which island.”
    A white rune stone marked with red.
    No, the highborn woman wouldn’t know where the stone rested. Sestra opened her eyes to the orange-gold blaze. Quivering chills scored her skin. This must be what happens when courage demanded action. She wanted to help, but she had no power, no weapons. She was a thrall, the lowest of the low. This was too much to ask of a woman in her position.
    To speak up…to act…
    Free or slave, there was no hiding. She pulled away from Helena.
    “Sestra?” Helena’s watery blue eyes blinked.
    “Don’t worry.”
    Lord Hakan faced her as did the Aland warriors. Sven scowled and stretched his arm to the door as if to banish her. Breathing deeply, she met his glower with one of her own.
    Vikings understood one thing: boldness.
    She stood tall under the weight of male stares. Brandr reached for her, but she braced a hand on his chest. Was he going to tell