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“Do not worry yourself,” Thomas urged. “This night will make no difference to anyone in your village. If one should die of hunger, our arrival would not have saved him for he was too close to death to save. What matters is that tomorrow your village will have an abundance of food once more and the winter will see no one go hungry. Magnus will make certain of it.”
Reena stretched out on her pallet. “Thank you, Thomas, your words help.”
“Good, now sleep, for tomorrow we rise early and there will be much work to do when we arrive at your village.”
“Aye, much,” she agreed and smiled to herself. She would help distribute the food and assist the healers with the ill, but first she would hug her parents to her—and Brigid as well. Tears threatened her eyes, but she fought them with a deep strength, as she had so many times in the last few months. It would do her no good to show weakness. After all was settled and everyone taken care of, she would go to a place of solitude and release the abundance of tears that needed shedding—alone, where no one could see or hear her. Only then would she allow herself to cry.
Reena rose with the sun, happy that it was a beautiful day for her homecoming. The camp rose as well and packed in mere minutes, no food being cooked or distributed. Magnus had given orders that they would share the morning fare with the village.
He approached her with strong and hasty strides where she stood beside her horse, and she fought the urge to retreat. He intimidated when dressed for battle, especially when he wore his helmet. He resembled the dark lord of the underworld who rose from the earth to instill fear.
He stopped beside her, so close that his arm brushed hers. His slight touch sent a shiver through her, the likes of which she had never felt before. And it perplexed her, for she had tasted fear on more than one occasion and his touch felt nothing like fear.
“You are chilled?”
She focused on his eyes, for in them, beyond the helmet, was Magnus. “Nay, I am fine and eager to return home and see my family and friends.”
“I need not remind you that your loyalty is now with me?”
She nodded. “I understand.”
“Then no matter my edict you will follow?”
She hesitated a moment. What was he asking of her? She gave his words thought and then spoke up. “As long as it brings no harm to my village.”
He smiled and she had to fight down the shiver that raced over her, for his expression looked ominous framed by the dark helmet.
“You have courage and you are honest with your word—I would ask nothing of you that would bring you dishonor.”
“Then I will follow your command without hesitation.”
His hands went to her waist, but before he hoisted her up on her horse he bent his head and whispered, “Trust me.”
She had no choice but to trust him. Her fate and the fate of the village were in his hands.
He swung her up onto her horse and walked off to mount his own horse and lead his troop. All followed him without hesitation, as did she.
Reena rode beside the Legend, and she grew anxious on their approach to the village. Everyone knew of her absence, Brigid having told them she was on a mapping expedition that could possibly provide the village with another source of food. They would be relieved to see her, but cautious of the troop she rode with.
From what she could see at first glance nothing much had changed. The village looked as she had left it—defeated and on the verge of utter starvation.
The villagers eyed the entering troop with suspicion and caution, whispering among themselves. A few hurriedly crossed themselves in protection, uncertain of their fate and fearful of the iron masked man who led them.
She called out to a few and waved to others, alerting them to her presence. While they responded in kind, they continued to keep a suspicious glance on the man in the iron helmet.
“Reena,” Magnus said, catching her attention. “A place where I can address your people.”
She nodded and called out to the people to meet them in the center of the village, for she had important news to share with them. All followed, eager to hear from Reena and whoever it was she had brought to them, though they kept a safe distance from the stranger on the large black stallion.
“Introduce me, Reena, so that the villagers’ needs can be seen to.”
Reena nodded, proud that concern glared in his dark eyes, Magnus’s eyes, but it was the Legend she introduced.
“I left here but five days ago to seek help for our village. I have returned with that help. I bid you all welcome to our home . . . the Legend.”
Gasps and cries rang loudly in the air, and the children, having heard tales of the infamous warrior, scurried behind their parents in fright. Reena caught sight of Brigid. Her friend was helping her father, who leaned heavily on a crutch, and her mother, who looked more pale and thin than when she had left. Her father’s eyes widened in shock, though they softened quickly enough, and tears followed a smile as he looked on his daughter with pride.
Magnus made no move to dismount; he sat in complete silence, waiting as the crowd quieted to a hush and silence once again reigned.
