Chapter Eighteen
Soren
“Don’t leave,” I cried out when a little girl with fiery red hair, holding a shield, challenged me to follow her somewhere important.
Where, though? I felt like I should know, yet it was just out of reach.
When she looked over her shoulder as if someone had called her, then raced in that direction, I cried out again, begging her not to leave me.
She slowed and glanced back, the look in her gaze daring me to pursue her.
“’Tis all right, my love,” came Freya’s gentle voice. “I will never leave lest you are by my side.”
Though I thought for a moment I dreamt once more, when I stirred awake and opened my eyes, it was to her beautiful face. To her loving amber eyes gazing down at me.
“Are you truly here this time?” I whispered.
“Ja.” She smiled and cupped my cheek. “As are you now.”
Tilting my cheek into her warm hand, I knew this was real. My deathbed nightmares were behind me, and the little girl with red hair had brought me back to her.
And it warmed my heart because I finally understood who she was.
I met Freya’s smile. “We have a daughter on the way, ja?”
“We do.” She didn’t seem surprised that I knew, despite not having told me. “She was with me when I called you back to me, and you spoke of her within your fevered state.”
While that pleased me greatly, my pleasure was short-lived when I became aware of our surroundings and realized where I was. Worse yet, where Freya and my daughter were.
“’Tis unsafe here,” I exclaimed, sitting up despite her and Astrid telling me I should tread carefully. “I didn’t want you here.” Frowning at Astrid, I shook my head. “You told me I imagined your words in my fevered state. You assured me she wasn’t coming, yet you knew she was.”
“No, I never said those words to you,” she swore.
“’Twas undoubtedly magic at work. The connection you share with Freya and your daughter.
” Astrid shook her head. “I would not have wanted you thinking they were in peril whilst battling such illness.” She tilted her head in consideration.
“Yet something tells me, despite your worry over them, some part of you held on because you knew they were coming.”
“And thank the gods, too.” Freya squeezed my hand. “Because it allowed us time to bring you back, husband, just as you brought me back years ago.”
“And for that I’m forever grateful,” I said softly, squeezing her hand in return, glad to see her safe yet fearful at the same time. “We should leave straight away.”
“Soon enough,” Astrid assured, seeming to eye me with amazement that I could so comfortably sit up now.
“You’re safe here until you’re well enough to travel.
The chieftain has given me his word. He’s kept it thus far, too.
No harm has come to either of you despite Freya having been here for several days now. ”
While some parts were hazy, I remembered Lachlann and Declan, and it was hard to believe. Mayhap not of Lachlann, given I had saved his life, but definitely of Declan, and I said as much.
“Even so,” Astrid said, “men came by recently asking if they had seen you, and they lied, so ’tis safe to say you need not fear Lachlann and Declan. I strongly suspect, however, they would prefer you leave as soon as you’re able.”
I could tell by the troubled look in Freya’s eyes that those men searching for me had shaken her.
“I would imagine they do,” I replied, no fool.
They harbored the enemy and had willingly kept it from their countrymen.
And I, being someone who might know King Hákon’s plans, no less.
Taking in the room and late-day sun streaming through the windows, I frowned between the sisters.
“Where are Lachlann and Declan now?” I focused on Freya.
“And where are those who brought you all the way to these shores?”
“Ivar, Sten, and our men await offshore,” Freya said. “They know you live and are coming home with us. Whilst I remained by your side, tending to you, Astrid has met with Ivar every other night to keep him updated.”
I nodded, glad to hear Ivar had traveled here with her. “When does he come ashore again? And does he typically have a set hour?”
“Tonight and ja, he does, lest he spies trouble ashore,” Astrid replied, urging me to sit forward so she could unwrap the bandage around my waist. “How do you feel, Soren? Because your speedy recovery is remarkable.”
“Thirsty and hungry,” I admitted, taking stock of my condition. “Otherwise, I feel surprisingly well.”
I thanked Freya when she handed me a cup of cold water that I could at last hold on my own.
“’Tis good you have regained your strength so quickly,” Astrid marveled, saying the last thing I expected. “Given it’s been just under a week since Freya and her pendant, and mayhap your daughter brought you back from the land of the dead.”
“Impossible,” I exclaimed, shocked by the state of my wound when it was revealed. “I appear to have been healing for many weeks, if not months.”
“’Tis a miracle indeed.” Astrid washed it. “As of yesterday, I no longer need to apply a poultice.”
Freya offered me a soft smile and fingered her pendant. “The gods have truly favored us with this.”
“And truly favored us with each other,” I said, meeting her smile.
It was hard to believe we had brought each other back from the brink of death, yet here we were, and I could not be more pleased. I would be happier, still, however, when she was safely away from these shores.
“Do you feel ready to stand?” Astrid asked, rewrapping my bandage. “Mayhap enjoy your first meal in some time?”
I had never been so eager to do anything. “Ja.”
“Good,” Astrid said. “I will give you two some time alone and retrieve water for bathing. Food and drink are already on the table.”
“Thank you for all you have done for me, Astrid.” I clasped her hand before she could walk away, and met her eyes, never more serious. “Truly. ’Twas very kind of you, my new sister, and ’twill not be forgotten.”
“Of course, my new brother,” she replied warmly.
After she left, I finally stood, and nothing had ever felt better. Shaking my head, I marveled at it. “I truly never thought this would happen again.”
“Nor did Astrid,” Freya confessed. “But I knew you would.” She lifted her chin in defiance. “I would have it no other way.”
“No, I don’t imagine you would any more than I would see you lost to me far too soon.” I reeled her into my arms and cupped her cheek, cherishing the feel of her against me once more. “We have too many memories yet to make together, wife.”
Closing my lips over hers, I kissed her soundly. Deeply. With everything in me, tasting what had been gone from me for too long. Gripping her backside, I pulled her tight against my arousal, wanting more.
“’Tis too soon for that, husband,” she murmured, smiling against my lips.
“’Tis not too soon at all.” I untied the strings on her trousers. “’Tis past time, and I would feel you again, Freya. Touch you. Hold you.”
“Yet you forget where you are,” she said softly. “And who might come through our door at any moment.”
She was not wrong. It would be unfortunate to find a sword in my back while deep inside her.
The Mackays might claim I was free to go, but they could easily change their mind.
To that end, I sighed and agreed that it would be best to wait, then sat down to enjoy a round, flat, cake-like bread called bannock and a thick, flavorful vegetable stew.
Eventually, Astrid returned with a bucket of warm water and a washcloth, as filling a basin for bathing would draw too much attention.
“We will leave tonight given Ivar will be coming ashore as scheduled,” I made clear, washing up after Astrid left again, admiring Freya standing in front of the fire, staring into the flames. “Then we sail back to the Hebrides to see how the king fares.”
“You mean to see if the king needs you again,” she corrected.
“’Tis my duty, Freya,” I said, feeling a twinge of discomfort in my midsection when I pulled on a clean tunic. A reminder that I was still healing. “’Twould be poor of me not to.”
“No doubt ’twould.” She sighed. “I see nothing alarming in the flames right now, but I feel death on our doorstep again.” Shaking her head and furrowing her brow, she seemed troubled. “Yet I cannot see from which direction it comes.”
Although unsettled by her words, there was little I could do about them but try to get us safely away from these shores as soon as possible.
Fortunately, Freya had brought me a few changes of clothing so I could dress appropriately, and after swinging my black fur cloak around my shoulders, I at long last felt like myself again.
“What I wouldn’t do for a blade at my side,” I muttered, not surprised that there were none to be found. That would have been foolhardy of the Mackays.
“Soon enough.” Freya poured me an ale. “There are plenty on my boat.”
I eyed her curiously. “And how did your boat fare on its first long journey?”
“Truly well.” She smiled. “’Tis a fine vessel, aided and not hindered, it seemed, by its crack.”
She told me how the crack had warmed at her touch, and the winds carried them even faster. How what had seemed to divide us had only brought us back together again.
When Astrid rejoined us, she didn’t seem surprised to hear we would be leaving that night. The sun had already set, so it would not be long now.
“I agree with Freya that ’tis unwise for you to stay here, Astrid.” I frowned and shook my head. “If for no other reason than ’tis Declan Mackay you will be staying with, and he’s not to be trusted.”
“Yet here you sit safely in his castle,” she pointed out. “Unharmed and free to go when he might have decided otherwise.”
“I believe he did,” I reminded. “’Twas his father who gave me safe harbor.”
“And ’tis his father I will marry to remain safe here,” she revealed, shocking us, “whilst trying to keep the peace betwixt the local Scots and the few Norse left that have long called this land home.”