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Would he be like her father and be quick with his fists once she was less than perfect? Her back still bore the scars from the beatings she had taken for Regin. The only thing she excelled at was fighting. Her spilling the wine tonight was just another example that proved her stepmother’s long-ago words.
Every other woman she’d ever seen could pour wine with grace and skill. When her father brought her stepmother home, she’d watched as this beautiful creature had poured the wine with a dainty gesture and held it out to her. She’d hung back, but her father had pushed her forward and in taking the wine she’d poured it all down her stepmother’s silk gown.
‘Drink. It will give you courage.’ He held out a fresh horn of wine.
‘Do I need courage tonight?’
‘It has helped some.’
The fiery liquid burnt her throat and she spluttered. He tapped her back. Even that simple touch made her intensely aware of him and what was supposed to be happening here tonight. Her stomach knotted tighter than the ropes on the mainsail in a gale.
‘Went down the wrong way,’ she said, ducking her head and moving away from him. ‘My father would have his head in his hands with shame. A child of his should be able to drink wine without coughing.’
He watched her with unfathomable eyes. ‘I know about your father’s reputation as a warrior, but not as a man. Was he a good father?’
Sayrid instinctively wrapped her arms about her waist. Of course he knew her father’s reputation. He had obviously been talking to Kettil about her, whereas she knew very little about him beyond the rumours. ‘How much do you know? A man’s public reputation is not necessarily how he acts in private.’
‘I know enough. He was a highly regarded warrior and amassed a great deal of land. Had a witch not cursed him, he and Kettil planned to go east.’ Hrolf’s mouth took on a bitter twist. ‘He fought in the same felag as my father and uncle for several years.’
‘He served Kettil well and he never dishonoured a member of any felag in which he served.’ The sweat started to pool on the back of her neck like it always did when she spoke about her father.
He took a long considering draught of his wine. ‘But you rather less well.’
‘Why would you say that?’
‘You were forced to become a shield maiden and had control of your family’s land until your brother becomes a good enough warrior.’
‘He will do,’ Sayrid said much too quickly.
‘Your father made you fight for your honour, instead of defending it with his final breath as I would do for Inga,’ he continued on relentlessly. ‘Your brother compounded the error.’
Sayrid clenched the horn so tightly that her knuckles shone white. He knew nothing of what she’d been through or the reasons for her behaviour. Blaming Regin was wrong. She was the eldest. ‘Becoming a warrior was something I fought for. Swordplay and tactics were my meat and drink. And I ate well.’
Hrolf raised a maddening brow. ‘My body bears bruises because of your skill, but you will have time now to develop other skills and talents, perhaps some more suited to being the wife of a sea king.’
‘I must warn you that I have little talent for the needle and thread. And I’ve no intention of meekly allowing myself to be protected. Or my family dishonoured.’
Hrolf made a cutting motion. ‘I will never permit my wife to be dishonoured.’
‘Sometimes things happen which you are powerless to prevent.’ Sayrid tilted her chin upwards. ‘I claim the right to defend myself.’
A muscle twitched in his jaw and he appeared to grow several inches. ‘You deliberately insult me.’
She stood her ground, matching his glare. Sayrid ground her teeth. The anger felt good. Anything to stop thinking about what was supposed to happen in this room tonight. ‘I speak the truth. You sail off and who will protect me then?’
‘I will make arrangements.’
‘And if the arrangements prove inadequate?’ Sayrid straightened her shoulders and stared directly at her husband. ‘The only way you can ensure my safety is to take me with you on any voyage.’
His jaw dropped before he recovered to let out a loud roar of laughter. ‘You are good, Sayrid. I can see why you prospered.’
‘Then you will take me with you if you go to the East?’
‘Should I go there, I will,’ he agreed. ‘But you must turn your mind to other more womanly occupations before that day. Will you accept that bargain?’
She drained the horn in a single gulp. She forced a belch to show him that she was truly uncouth. It came out as a small hiccup instead of the hoped-for rude noise. She pressed her lips together. How could she be incapable of a simple thing like that?
