AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I am a coward, Hrolf. My father always called me one and I’ve proved it,’ Sayrid said, concentrating on the nearest tapestry. ‘I should have confessed about my scars before. I used them as a reason why no man would ever want me. It made me fight harder, but truly I was scared.’
‘Hush, you are one of the bravest people I have ever met.’ He laced his fingers through hers. ‘Trust me with your story. Explain to me why you did what you did. I want to know everything about you.’
Suddenly the words poured out of Sayrid. She explained about the beatings and the mockery. And after her back healed, she became determined to show them that she wasn’t broken and she remained steadfast in her resolve to protect her younger siblings.
When she reached the shuddering end of her story, explaining how grateful her father had been when she had returned with gold from her first voyage, Hrolf said nothing. He reached for her and dragged her back against his chest.
She lay there, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She managed to stifle the words confessing her love for him. It was far too new and scary.
He brought her face to his. ‘I will be the best husband I can be, Sayrid, but don’t ask me to love you. I’ve vowed never to love a woman. My father died because he loved too much. I won’t make his mistake.’
She gulped hard and swallowed her words, fiercely glad that she had not confessed her growing feelings for him. ‘I understand.’
‘I hope you do.’ He dragged her mouth back to his. ‘I hope you do.’
Chapter Twelve
The sound of a horn broke Sayrid’s sleep a few mornings later. Hrolf was already up and pulling his tunic on.
‘We have visitors…from the land,’ she said, stretching. Her body ached in many places, but a strange feeling of peace infused her. There was something about waking up with Hrolf by her side. She was slowly coming to grips with the domestic arrangements. She’d even discovered that she enjoyed baking once she got the hang of it. There was something therapeutic about pounding bread and making cakes. ‘They’re friendly and known.’
Hrolf paused in his dressing. ‘Are you sure?’
‘The length of the horn blast. We’ve a little time yet.’ Sayrid looped a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘You’d hardly think I wouldn’t have devised an early-warning system? Auda needed to know if she had to hide when I wasn’t here to defend her. It works. Even my father was impressed. Of course he took the credit when Kettil asked.’
He gave a brief laugh. ‘If Kettil had allowed you to lead a felag, who knows what markets you would have conquered?’
‘I will take that as a compliment.’ Her heart panged. If Kettil had put her in charge of a felag as she had begged, she’d never have met Hrolf and would never have known what it was like to feel like a woman in a man’s arms. It went against everything she’d been taught—putting her needs and desires ahead of the needs of her family.
She hugged her knees to her chest. Less than a week married and she was already thinking like a woman with her heart instead with her head. Before when she woke, her mind whirled with all the things she had to get done to make everyone safe.
‘It is important to be prepared. Common sense.’
She waited for him to wish her good morning or make some lover-like remark.
‘Any idea who it could be? Does your warning system extend that far?’ he asked, changing the subject as he buckled his sword about his waist.
‘You are teasing now.’
‘With you, I’ve discovered anything is possible.’
A great hollow opened within Sayrid. He might have lain in her arms all night. Their joining might have meant something to her, but it meant very little to him. He was doing what came naturally to a man, but his heart was not engaged.
‘I’m no sorceress and don’t possess the gift of second sight.’
‘How long do we have? Can you tell me that much? Given the remoteness of the location on the peninsula, I can’t believe the horn only sounds just before people arrive. You need time to assemble your men.’
‘After the first horn sounds? A little while.’ She hugged her knees to her chest and wished that Auda or Regin was here. Despite being in the hall where she grew up, she had no one to confide in. ‘Whoever it is will be friendly. There has been no second or third blast.’
‘I will make my men ready.’
‘But they will be friendly.’
He lifted a brow. ‘You have your system and I have mine.’
‘If they’re friendly towards me, they will be friendly to you.’
‘One would hope so…’
