Chapter Fourteen
-DECLAN-
I could not remember the last time I had such a good day from start to finish. From making love to Astrid into the wee hours of the morning to this very moment, as we sat alone before the fire outside the cottages we had been given for the night.
She had been truly impressive today, rallying for Scotland’s cause, her words having already touched many before we even arrived. King Alexander was most pleased with her, as he should be, and our journey ahead looked hopeful.
Now, we were finally taking time to talk and get to know each other, and I was surprised by how much we had in common despite the sea that had separated us.
Although it was not easy to speak of my mother again, there was comfort in sharing with her.
Finally letting a woman in like that. Had one told me it would be a Norsewoman mere months ago, I never would have believed them, but here we were.
“And what of your father, Bj?rn?” I wondered, more curious now, if not a little frustrated, he had sent her so far from home alone, and I spoke to that. “Whilst, aye, you can certainly hold your own in battle, I cannae imagine him sending you this far for a mere marriage alignment.”
When her gaze grew troubled and lingered on the fire, I knew she was not ready to speak of this.
“’Tis all right, lass,” I said softly. “We dinnae need to talk about this if—”
“No, we do,” she said firmly, yet gently, as if trying to convince herself.
“You should understand me as I should you.” Taking a few sips from her skin of whisky, she seemed to debate where to start.
“Both my parents loved me and my sisters fiercely when we were young, proudly raising us to be the shield-maidens we are today. At least Father loved us until he lost Mother, and then the white bear mauled him.”
Pausing a moment, she shook her head and sighed.
“After that, he became a different man entirely, demanding we lay down the blades and shields he and Mother had given us years before. He would not have us fighting anymore. Our sole purpose from then on would lie in making good marriage alliances and breeding strong sons.” She looked my way, her gaze hard to read and her tongue honest indeed.
“To his way of thinking, a union with a well-established Scottish chieftain would give the Helvigs a good foothold here.”
“Ah,” I murmured, understanding. “Yet another way to invade our shores.”
“Ja,” she said softly, her gaze returning to the flames. “Where my sisters fought better, I had the quicker mind. I was able to learn various dialects and had a better understanding of politics and diplomacy, not to mention a knack with healing.”
“All things that would make you a good fit for coming here.” I shook my head.
“Yet still. ‘Tis a verra risky thing for a father to do to his own flesh and blood.” Though tempted to take her hand and comfort her when her gaze grew more troubled, I refrained, however difficult.
“I cannae imagine you were pleased with his decision.”
“I was not.” She blinked back tears and continued gazing into the fire. “Not only had I lost my weapons and my father’s love, but I would also soon lose my sisters and homeland.” Swallowing hard, she narrowed her eyes as if in defiance of her father. “And I loathed him for it.”
“I could well ken that,” I murmured, feeling much the same about her father at the moment.
“So I saw to things before I left,” she confessed, her voice whisper-soft now, more honest still when she looked at me again.
“I would not have my first time be with a Scot but someone from my homeland, so I…” She trailed off, deep emotion churning in her gaze.
“And now I wish I had not…that I had waited so that…”
There was no need for her to go on. I understood what she couldn’t say aloud, and it warmed my heart. She wished her first time had been with me. While some men might be put off by what she had done, I was not one of them. In truth, had our positions been reversed, I might have done the same.
“’Tis understandable all the way around, lass.
” Hoping she realized her confession didn't bother me, I gazed at her tenderly.
“And whilst I dinnae like your father sending you here in the least, I cannae help but be grateful to him at the same time. You arenae only an asset to your new country but one to the Mackay Clan.” I worded things carefully.
“I am certain my father couldnae imagine his life without you now.”
“Thank you, Declan.” Her gaze softened, as if she understood I was referring to myself.
“You, your father, and countrymen have most impressed me when I cannot say I was thrilled at the idea of spending the rest of my days here.” A warm, almost whimsical smile curled her lips, chasing away the shadows.
“I have been pleasantly surprised every step of the way by not just your people but this beautiful land.” She shook her head. “’Twas not what I expected.”
“And that was clear in how you spoke today,” I said. “’Twas obvious to all you have come to love it here or you wouldnae have been able to speak with such passion.”
“No, I suppose not,” she agreed. “And I can only hope as time goes on, I am allowed to continue serving my new homeland well.”
Seemingly done spending time at the shore, Oksana joined us, yet didn't lie before the fire. Instead, she sat with her gaze fixed on the night, her ears perked forward, and issued a low growl.
With good reason, as it turned out.
“There you two are,” came the last voice I wanted to hear, before Gustav appeared from the direction of a nearby cottage carrying a torch to light the way.
I feared he might have overheard us talking, but soon realized it was unlikely when he thrust the lit end into the fire to use later, plunked down where Stewart had been sitting, and smiled a little too broadly, clearly in his cups.
Even though Oksana no longer growled, her gaze remained fixed on Gustav, making clear she trusted his motives no more than I.
Keeping tension from my face, I managed to muster up a smile in return. “Aye, we thought to have one last wee dram with Stewart before I saw Astrid safely to her cottage.”
“And yet there is no sign of Stewart,” Gustav noted, a slight slur to his voice. He gestured at us. “Just the two of you, cozy as can be.”
“As cozy as a son looking out for his father’s future bride,” Astrid reminded tightly. “Discussing how well the day went.” She arched an eyebrow, no doubt daring Gustav to say how he really felt. “As it did go well, did it not?”
“It did,” he conceded, eyeing her with a bit too much appreciation for my taste. Not because she was my wife, but because it was too bold by half when just yesterday, she had bested him in battle and wounded his pride.
“You have managed to speak to quite a few people since arriving on these shores, Astrid,” Gustav went on, his tone rather dry now. “Mayhap too many for a lass only here to make a favorable marital alliance.”
“And to do just as she did today.” I struggled to keep my growing aggravation at bay. “Advocating on behalf of our good king and the Norse who have long called our shores home. Peaceful people contributing to our society, aye?”
“Aye, by all appearances.” Gustav considered Astrid for a long moment before his gaze settled on me. “Yet appearances can be deceiving, can they not, my friend?”
While I was never more tempted to continue engaging him because I sensed he was here to rile us up and might reveal his true intentions, I knew better. Nothing was more dangerous than a man like him, especially in his drunken state.
“I think mayhap ‘tis time for you to get some rest, Astrid,” I recommended, keeping a steady eye on Gustav while speaking to her. “As I imagine you would like to be up when the village rises so that you might spend time among the people again.”
“Och, ‘tis too early for sleep.” Gustav’s unsteady gaze lingered on me for a moment before drifting lazily to her. “Dinnae run off just yet, lass. The eve is young and—”
“I agree with Declan,” she smoothly cut in. Standing, she offered Gustav a small, tepid smile. “’Tis best I rest, rise early, and continue serving my king as he sees fit.”
“’Tis too bad, as I do so enjoy your company.” Gustav swigged his whisky and raked his sloppy, lustful gaze over her. “And hope to enjoy far more in the future.”
“’Twill be up to my father, aye?” Standing as well, it took everything in me not to yank him to his feet and punch him square in the face. Better still, run a blade across his neck. “The chieftain she is to marry?”
“Mayhap,” Gustav granted smugly as if he knew that would never happen. The corner of his mouth twitched. “If the king approves it after this journey.”
“Which he will,” Astrid assured, lighting a torch and bidding Gustav a good eve before she and Oksana headed for her cottage without a backward glance.
“Must you go too, friend?” Gustav called out when I said goodnight and strode after her. “When mayhap ‘tis nae in your father’s best interest?”
Rather than allow him to goad me, because he was trying to do that at the very least, I assured him it very much was in my father’s best interest to guard over Astrid, and ignored his continued utterances.
“How did I ever think highly of him?” Astrid muttered under her breath as I tended the fire on her small hearth shortly thereafter. She shook her head. “How did I not see the beast lying within?”
“Because some beasts hide better than others.” I looked at Oksana when she sat beside me. “Aye, Oksana? But you see him clearly enough, as do I, and now she does too, so all will be well.”
Oksana tilted her head as if considering my words before releasing a low sound that almost sounded like she agreed. Crouching, I rubbed her chest as Stewart and Astrid did, knowing she liked it and couldn’t help but smile when she seemed pleased.