Chapter Eighteen #2
“Surely not,” Freya exclaimed, frowning. “He’s at least twice your age!”
“Women marry men twice their age all the time,” Astrid said. “This will be an advantageous marriage, and he’s always shown me kindness. Word will be sent to Father, and I imagine he will be most pleased.”
“Without doubt so long as you hand over your shield and blade, and vow never to battle,” Freya muttered dryly, looking at Astrid dubiously. “And what of Declan?” She narrowed her eyes, as if trying to picture it. “He’s to become your son by marriage despite the two of you being so close in age?”
“That, too, happens all the time,” she reminded, her voice different now, as if she battled her emotions. “Declan is fine with it. He has no choice.”
Although Freya offered no comment, I suspected, by the way she shook her head and continued eyeing her sister with disbelief, that she didn’t believe it.
Shortly thereafter, when the Mackays joined us and I saw the troubled looks Declan shot Astrid while we discussed her upcoming marriage and the letter we would be giving her father on Lachlann’s behalf, I realized Freya might be right.
“We are amongst King Alexander’s favored clans, so your sister will be safe under my care,” Lachlann assured Freya, nodding once at me, acknowledging me as Astrid’s brother by marriage. “You have my word as a Mackay.”
Now that we were standing on equal ground, Declan and I continued eyeing each other warily when he wasn’t watching Astrid, making clear who the more concerning party was regarding my new sister, and I spoke to it.
“And what of you, Declan?” I narrowed my eyes in question. “Will Astrid be safe under your care when your father is away, as that would leave you in charge, would it not?”
Declan narrowed his eyes in return. “She will be far safer than you soon will be, Norseman, if you dinnae shut your—”
“Enough,” Lachlann snapped, his face paler today and his temper shorter by the looks of it. “Part of the reason you’re even here is because of Declan’s goodwill toward Astrid, Soren, so you need not worry.” He glanced at his son. “You would protect her with your life, would you not, son?”
“Aye,” Declan confirmed, his troubled gaze lingering on Astrid for a moment before he nodded at his father and scowled at me. “Of course I would.”
Although I disliked leaving Astrid behind, the decision was not ultimately mine, so I had no choice but to relent, and soon after, we made our way out of the castle under the cloak of darkness.
Lachlann pleaded exhaustion and remained behind, ordering Declan, of all people, to ensure we went directly to the shore and left.
Astrid came along too, wanting these last few moments with her sister.
Naturally, Declan kept his blade at the ready as we made our way closer to the shore, muttering something about sizeable wolves and equally sizeable Norsemen.
“So you have met Ivar and Sten?” I assumed.
“Aye.” Declan scowled as if the question need not be asked. “Do you think I would let Astrid wander down here alone? There is plenty more danger to be found in these parts than the invading Norse, who have no right being on our shores.”
“Yet here I stand,” Astrid cut back, her gentle tone only ever seeming to grow heated with Declan. “An invading Norsewoman defended by an ill-tempered Scot.”
She was about to say more, but paused when Declan shook his head sharply, having caught the sound of voices growing closer. “Down,” he hissed under his breath. Keeping his blade in hand, he gestured that we crouch behind a cluster of bushes.
“Give me a blade, Scotsman,” I whispered, loathing being without one.
Declan frowned and shook his head. “Never.”
Bastard. Though tempted to try to get one off him anyway, there was no time as the voices drew closer. My heart pounded into my throat while we waited. Was this it? Would I be discovered and taken? What would happen to Freya? Our unborn child? I could hardly imagine.
“Right there,” Astrid whispered, pointing at two people walking hand in hand along the shore. “’Tis just a couple out for an evening stroll.”
“One that verra likely knows the king has placed a reward on the Norseman’s head,” Declan warned, “so they wouldnae hesitate to report this.”
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right, so we waited until they were out of sight before edging closer to the water.
“There it is,” Freya said, pointing at her boat heading ashore.
“I see them,” I confirmed, relieved that they had not come mere minutes sooner.
Though eager to be among my men again and away from this blasted land for what I hoped would be the final time, I understood Freya might not feel the same, given Astrid’s intentions.
“I will miss you, sister,” Freya said softly, as they embraced one last time. “Thank you for everything you have done for us.” She pulled back, her eyes as teary as her sister’s. “I hope you find happiness here and that we meet again sometime soon beyond the flames of our calling.”
“And I wish you the same.” Astrid rested her hand on Freya’s womb, and a soft smile curled her mouth. “I long for the day I meet my beautiful niece, for she will be as strong as her mother.”
After I embraced Astrid goodbye and thanked her again, I shot Declan a warning look. “Take care of her, Scotsman, or I will return to these shores and—”
“Remember that he already vowed he would look after her in his father’s absence,” Freya reminded, slipping her hand into mine. “Now let’s go, husband. I long to be on the open sea with you again.”
Even though Declan offered no reply other than a scowl, he did give me the benefit of a single nod that he would take care of Astrid, and I believed him.
“’Tis good to see you, old friend.” Ivar smiled and clasped me on the shoulder after we moved right along, keeping a keen eye on our surroundings, and boarded shortly afterward.
“Very good.” He shook his head. “’Tis a wonder you’re here, given whose castle you ended up in.
Nobody will believe me back home when I tell them Soren Dahl and Declan Mackay were under the same roof and didn’t cut each other down. ”
“’Twas not as if we didn’t want to,” I assured him while we set to helping the others get the boat past the breakers. Just in the nick of time, too, when we spied lights further down the shore.
“Astrid still stands there,” Freya said, watching the coast. “Alongside her Scot.”
“Yet he’s not hers,” I reminded. “Any more than she is his.”
“No,” Freya murmured, still gazing at the two of them in the distance. “Not yet, anyway.”
“So you think the Norns will lead them to each other?”
“I couldn’t say other than there’s something betwixt them that will make her wedding his father difficult,” she replied.
“’Twas clear enough in the way they looked at one another when they thought the other wasn’t looking.
” A twinkle of amusement lit her gaze when she looked at me.
“Not just that, but he no longer called you a heathen by the time you left but a Norseman, and I don’t think that had anything to do with liking you any better. ”
“’Tis doubtful,” I conceded.
Rejoining our men, I let them know of my plans to seek out the king, and all agreed it was a sound decision.
They had no more interest in battling on Scottish shores than I did, but we were proud Norwegians all, and it was unwise to be out of the king’s favor, so we set sail for the Hebrides only to learn much-welcome news.