Page 84 of The Viking’s Captive

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

She wanted to give him children, but not hers…

It was a bright sunny day at Stoneheim … the kind of uncommonly fair day known as Odin’s Summer. A day when the sun shone brightly, deceiving one into thinking there might be more clement weather ahead, when in reality there could be snow and a freeze afore morning. In truth, one of the shipwrights who suffered a soreness of the joints told Tyra that a storm was on the horizon, because his knees were aching in premonition.

Tyra was taking advantage of the lull in weather by examining one of her longships, Wild Serpent, which was raised up on sawhorses. She had sent workmen soon after dawn to begin preparing it for a journey. Breanne was helping her, reluctantly, by setting her carpenters to sanding down the rough edges on the rails. Vana was checking the sails for any tears; she was not so reluctant. Oh, Vana would be sad to see Tyra go, but she would be more glad to finally wed Rafn.

“Are you going somewhere, Tyra?”

She glanced up to see Adam standing before her. He was wearing one of those Arab robes, which might have appeared silly on one of her Viking soldiers, but on him looked as if he’d been born to the Eastern culture.

“I thought you were seeing patients.”

“Are you going somewhere, Tyra?” he repeated.

“You know I am. Go away, Adam. I have work to do if I am to leave by Friggsday.”

“Friggsday? You are leaving on Friday? That’s only three days from now.”

“That is right. Now go away.”

“Are you not even going to wait to see how your father fares?”

She shook her head and continued to run her hand over the hull, looking for cracks or leak holes. “Viking women may gain a divorce from their husbands by merely stating their desire afore witnesses. The same is true of a daughter or son separating from parents. Once I perform the ritual, I will be off.”

“To Byzantium?”

She nodded, then raised her chin haughtily. “Lesser woman though I may be in your opinion, I at least choose my own life path. And I embrace it wholeheartedly. You, on the other hand, keep running from your fate. I pity you, Saxon.”

Now it was Adam who raised his chin haughtily.

“There is one more thing that must be settled. Alrek wants to come with me, to travel to far lands. I would not deprive him of that adventure, except for one thing.”

He arched his brows at her.

“Only the gods can fathom why, but Alrek wants you to take Tunni and Kristin and Besji with you … to give them a home.”

“Nay!” he nearly shouted, turned abruptly, and practically ran away.

Some men are sharp, even with a hole in the head…

“I want all of you here to bear witness for me.”

Tyra stood at the side of her father’s bed as she made the pronouncement to Adam, Father Efrid, Rafn, Rashid, Tykir, Alinor, Bolthor, and her four sisters … all of whom she’d called to meet her here for the formal ritual. Today was the day she would renounce her bloodlines. Today was the day she would become a homeless wanderer. Today was the day she would finally take control of her life.

The royal bedchamber was large, with a central hearth and a massive bedstead against one wall. The room was hot, due to the blazing fire, and smoky, though there was the usual smoke hole in the roof. It reeked oddly of venison and horseradish.

“Do not act in haste,” Adam cautioned her.

She cast him a fierce glower and gritted out, “Mind your own business, Saxon cur.” Then she began, “In the way of the Ancients whose laws we obey, I, Tyra Thorvaldsson, do hereby—”

“To leave your homeland forever … oh, Tyra, are you sure about this?” Alinor interrupted anxiously.

“Tyra knows what she is about. ‘Tis the only way,” Rafn said, taking the hand of Vana, whose hair was looking particularly white today in the gloomy bedchamber. He and Vana moved up next to Tyra, as if to show whose side they were on. But, really, there were no sides here. She was doing, finally, what must be done to ensure her sisters’ futures.

Everyone’s eyes were growing misty … whether from emotion or the increased smokiness in the room, it was hard to tell. Alrek must have brought up green wood for the fire today.

“With all due respect, m’lady warrior, the country rooster does not crow in town.” It was Rashid offering his opinion now.