Chapter Nine
Freya
Although I was nervous the night before that Soren might break his word and lie with me after all, he did not.
Instead, he didn’t come to bed straight away but drank another ale, and while I tried to remain awake and on guard despite pretending to sleep, I dozed off anyway, only to stir awake hours later.
At first, I remained perfectly still, getting my bearings, only to discover Soren sleeping soundly beside me.
The furs covered him from the waist down, leaving the rest of his nude form exposed, and it was as impressive as I had suspected it would be.
I could still hardly believe the scrawny boy from my youth had become so well-formed, yet he had.
From his broad shoulders and muscular arms to the hard ridges of his torso, he was well worth admiring.
I took in the various tattoos inked into his skin, recognizing many runic symbols within them, glad he still practiced the old ways.
Where I thought I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep, given he was so close without clothing, I felt surprisingly at ease and must have drifted off again, because when I stirred awake, he was gone, and the sun had crested the horizon.
It was hard to recall the last time I didn’t wake before the sun, yet here I was in Soren’s bed doing so.
If that were not enough, I felt a nugget of disappointment that he wasn’t still here when I thought I would feel relief.
Rather, that feeling came once I dressed and locked eyes with him at the shore.
And it only intensified when he smiled and closed the distance.
Now, having enjoyed our morning meal together, he claimed he had something else he wanted to gift me with before visiting with his people, and led me back to the shore.
“This way.” He took my hand and brought me down one of the piers, stopping in front of an impressive, well-made boat with a bear and wolf carved side by side into the bow. “I had this built for you, my new wife. ’Tis your own boat, so that you might sail when you wish, whether with me or not.”
Stunned, it took me a moment to find my voice. “Truly?” I looked from him back to the boat. “’Tis mine?”
“’Tis.” He climbed down into it, urging me to follow, and looked at me with an expectant smile. “What do you think?”
“I think you have very talented boat builders.” I returned his smile and joined him. “With an equally talented aunt overseeing everything.”
“She built a great deal of this one herself, or should I say everything she could handle at her age,” he divulged. “’Twas important to us both that you liked it.”
“And I do,” I exclaimed, more than touched.
Running my hands along the side, I was impressed by its smooth edges and attention to detail.
“I cannot express how thankful I am, Soren.” After taking in the expert craftsmanship of the hull for another moment, I looked at him, truly humbled by such a gesture.
The sheer lengths he had gone to see me content in my new home. “This makes me happier than you know.”
“’Tis very good to hear,” he returned, his eyes a vivid bluish gray backdropped by the water.
Our eyes lingered on each other for a moment before I continued taking in the boat, especially drawn to the carving at the front because it matched the hilt of my new blade.
Not just that, but I liked more by the moment, the depiction of the bear and wolf shoulder to shoulder, standing strong together, just as I sensed Soren and I would.
“Let’s take her out,” Soren suggested. I couldn’t help but to agree.
Before long, we were setting sail. Cool winds filled our sails and warm sunshine caressed our faces.
The simmering sensual feelings Soren inspired were even more evident between us whenever he stepped close to show me one thing or another, or when our eyes met.
I knew it was a moment I would cherish forever because here, on the waves with the scent of salt in my nostrils and the seawind in my hair, our friendship flourished once more.
I found myself laughing more than I had in a very long time. I felt at home.
Pleased by how the boat moved on the waves, I made my way to the front and admired the details in the carving, only for the pendant to warm against my chest. Compelled, my gaze drifted down and locked on a small crack.
Struggling to breathe, I ran my finger along it, startled when such intense heartache, worry, and fear surged through me that tears sprang to my eyes.
“’Twill not get any larger, nor will it affect the boat’s performance,” Soren appeared at my side to assure me, looking at me with a mix of confusion and worry. “I promise you that.”
“Yet it will get larger in another way,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion despite how much I wished it otherwise, given it was my gift of prophecy at work.
“Because it represents us and a great divide ahead. A rift. Distance growing betwixt us…” When I trailed off and looked at him because it felt like there was more to this, his troubled expression confirmed my worry.
“What is it, Soren? What do you know about this crack?”
“I know a similar one formed on your parents’ ship the last time you were here,” he revealed, sighing. “Shortly before you crossed over to the land of the dead, taking you away from me, however briefly.”
Swallowing back another sharp surge of emotions at the implication, I rested my hand on his arm, trying to lend him comfort. Both of us comfort, if I were to be honest.
“And ’tis that you must focus on,” I said softly. “That ’twas not a permanent separation betwixt us, for am I not alive and returned? Am I not your wife now?”
“You are,” he said just as softly, resting his hand over mine and gazing into my eyes. “And if ever you try to go to the land of the dead again before your time, I will do everything in my power to pull you back once more.”
Captured by his steady blue-gray gaze, I saw the truth of it in his eyes. He would chase me into the afterlife and mayhap even into the great halls of Valhalla if I traveled there too soon, despite it being a warrior’s honor.
“Let us hope, then, it doesn’t come to that,” I managed, pulling away when his gaze dropped to my lips, and I sensed he longed to kiss me.
While I could admit I liked it a great deal the first time, I strongly suspected it would lead to more, and I still needed time.
More of a chance to push past this terrible anxiety and trepidation my attacker had left me with, despite knowing Soren would not hurt me.
He had proven it last night when he left me untouched.
“Again, thank you for this impressive boat,” I said dutifully. “I’ve never been so honored.” Tilting my head in question, I issued him a hopeful smile. “Might we visit with your people now?”
“I would like that,” he said readily enough. “I’m sure they would like that a great deal, too.”
Grateful that he didn’t seem put off by my pulling away and avoiding intimacy, we continued enjoying a pleasant day together.
Sometimes he was with me, and other times, away to attend to one thing or another, but he always returned with a warm smile.
Moreover, despite enjoying having more time with people today than last night, I found myself looking forward to him returning to my side.
That sensation only grew over the next few weeks as I settled into my new home and role as the earl’s wife, getting to know my new tribe on a more personal level while they went about their daily tasks. Although Brynhild and I grew closer, Ivar remained distant and clipped with me.
“You just need to give him time,” Brynhild counseled one blustery afternoon after Ivar scowled at me for no apparent reason and stomped along like the beast I had started calling him in my mind.
“His disposition has been foul of late, and he has long been protective of Soren. Since they were young lads.”
“Yet what harm have I done Soren that would make Ivar dislike me so?” I frowned as we strolled in woodland near the stronghold, checking the growth of trees for shipbuilding. “And why is his disposition fouler than it once was?”
“While he claims you were at fault for bringing illness to our tribe years ago, I suspect he knows better,” she said. “Not only did many on your boats fall ill, but sickness was sweeping the countryside anyway, so ’twould have touched us eventually.”
Although sad things went as they had, I was practical enough to know she was right.
“I think Ivar’s disposition toward you has more to do with Soren,” Brynhild went on.
“You must understand, ’twas not easy for him seeing you leave after your illness, given the bond he’d thought you two forged.
Then to have your hand in marriage rejected years later.
” She shook her head. “He didn’t take it well, and ’twas Ivar who saw him through both instances. ”
“And does Ivar know I had no choice in both cases?”
“No doubt he does, but that makes little difference until he feels you won’t find a way to break Soren’s heart again.
” She sighed and pulled her gray fur cloak tighter around her against the wind.
“And as I said, his foul mood in general doesn’t help things any.
He’s grown more worried about our country lately and the changes that are undoubtedly coming. ”
A strange sense of forbidding rolled through me. Could these changes be related to the crack in my boat? Might they somehow separate me and Soren once more?
When I looked at her in question, she went on.
“There is talk of strife in Scotland,” she revealed. “’Tis said they revolt against the last of our presence there, and battling lies ahead.”
That alarmed me on several fronts, given that my sister, Astrid, was in Scotland, and Soren and his tribe were renowned for their battle prowess.
No fool, I did not need to ask what that might mean. “So, our king could very well call on Soren and his warriors.”