Chapter 1 #2
They were fairer-haired than the king, so it was hard to tell, especially with their beards.
Each of the young Nord men wore their hair shorn close on the sides, leaving the top long and tied back.
Such a savage appearance would have been scandalous back at the capital in Kenwich.
The man to Runar’s right had tattoos curling from each temple of a bear or wolf, inked in dark, winding lines.
The other bore a jagged scar that ran down the side of his forehead and around one eye, lending him a fierce and wild air.
Eadlyn suppressed a shudder, praying he wouldn’t be chosen as her husband.
Not that the thought of marrying any of them appealed to her.
One man among them stood out. He remained behind the jarl alongside the youngest Nord.
His hair was cropped short, and his eyes were brown rather than the icy blue of the others.
Most telling was the small brass tree pendant peeking out of his jerkin.
A symbol of the kingdom of Talta to the northeast.
Had Edward noticed? They hadn’t expected a Talt presence during negotiations.
She turned back to the Nords, and her focus snagged on the youngest. His hair was as dark as the Talt’s, but his eyes were unmistakably Nord—a piercing blue that held her locked in place.
Her breath hitched, her tongue dry against the roof of her mouth.
But she held his gaze long enough to prove her resolve before turning away.
“May I offer you refreshments after your journey? We’ve brought our finest imported wine.”
Eadlyn happily refocused on Edward, but the jarl dismissed his offer.
“That can wait. You said in your invitation you wished to discuss peace.”
The words were blunt and without ceremony.
Edward blinked but recovered. “That is true. We wish to form an alliance with Nordra.”
Silence followed. A long, stretching hush broken only by the rhythmic beat of a hammer somewhere in the Nord camp, and tension settled like a weight between them. Edward shifted and glanced at Eadlyn. She could tell he was trying not to fidget.
At last, Runar stirred. “What would be the benefit of such an alliance?”
“Trade, for one,” Edward said, his voice sure. Good, he remembered Oswin’s counsel. “You have vast forests full of timber. Essix has fertile farmland and plentiful crops. Through trade, we can each supply what the other lacks.”
Runar’s expression didn’t change. If anything, his disinterest deepened. “Nordra has survived for generations without trade from Essix. We take what we need in raids.”
“Yes, but with open trade, there’s no risk to your men. I’m sure your people would welcome the grain we can offer to see you through your harsh winters. In turn, my people would value lumber and other resources. This alliance could end the raids both sides perpetrate along the border.”
Again, Edward looked at Eadlyn. She flashed the briefest smile to let him know he was doing well.
Runar peered at him as if he were weighing Edward’s worth. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, tapping the hammer-shaped pommel. Was he thinking of using it? Lord, only You can make this work. Please let their hearts be open. I don’t know what else we can do.
“Why come to us?” Runar’s voice sliced through the stillness a moment later. “Why not Camria? Are they not your mother’s people?”
The question showed more knowledge than she’d expected from him.
Edward nodded slowly. “They are, but that accord is broken.”
Thanks to their father.
Runar raised a brow. “So you’ve burned one alliance beyond repair and now come to us in desperation. Why not go to the Talts?”
“Because we believe your people hold more sway than they do.”
Eadlyn suppressed a wince. So he hadn’t noticed the Talt. How many times had she told him to be more observant?
She eyed the man behind the jarl. His face creased with silent laughter as he exchanged a glance with the youngest Nord. Hopefully, in amusement and not ridicule. At least Runar appeared mildly entertained.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Edward asked.
Runar shrugged. “To a degree.”
He studied Edward again, calculating. If only Eadlyn could know how big a fool the jarl took him to be and whether he possessed even the slightest inclination to align with them.
Edward sat straight and still in his seat, for which Eadlyn praised God.
He was no doubt young and inexperienced, but at least he was putting forth his best effort, if he’d just stop glancing at her for reassurance.
“What is it you truly seek in this alliance? I know it is not trade.”
And there it was. The question Eadlyn had dreaded from the start. She had prayed for a miracle, but deep down, she’d known trade alone would never suffice. Now came the moment they placed the fate of Essix in the hands of these fearsome warriors.
A flicker of discomfort passed over Edward’s face, but he masked it.
“As I’m sure you’re well aware, the transition of power is a vulnerable time for any kingdom.
We fear the kingdom of Waelon may declare war.
In forming an alliance, we seek your assurance that, should we come under attack, Nordra will stand with us. ”
Runar gave a harsh snort. “So you want my warriors to die cleaning up your father’s mess?”
“We ask only that you help us defend our borders. Essian soldiers would take the front lines. Neither of us benefits from Waelon gaining more power. And with your backing, it is our hope they won’t even make such advances.”
“In other words, you want us as your guard dogs.”
Though Edward made an effort to be diplomatic, Eadlyn sensed the desperation creeping in. “We want a mutual agreement. If you help us defend against Waelon, we will likewise help you should Kalgora break your truce. We know how fragile that peace is.”
Runar leaned back, studying them. Was he moved, or did he regret even meeting with them?
“How do we know you’ll hold to this agreement? Essix is not known for keeping her word.”
“I am not my father. As long as I am king, we will honor our terms. You have my word.”
The jarl’s eyes narrowed. “Boy,”—Eadlyn caught the way Galen stiffened at the jarl’s blatant disrespect toward Edward, but he stayed his hand—“I don’t know you. Your word means nothing to me. Trust is earned, not merely given.”
The words stung, and rightly so. After all their father had done, no one in their right mind would offer Essix trust freely.
That left only one option. Her heart gave a panicked lurch, but she held firm to her resolve.
She looked at Edward with a single decisive nod.
This was the cost, and she would pay it if it meant saving their people.
Edward’s face fell. He hesitated for a moment longer and turned back to the jarl.
“Then let us form a marriage alliance. I’m told you have three sons, and only one is married.
I have a sister. Let one of them marry her.
In doing so, our kingdoms will be bound not just by words, but by blood.
I would never harm my sister, and once she is part of your household, I hope you will likewise guard her and, through her, Essix. ”
Eadlyn held her breath. The offer was made.
The jarl appeared genuinely surprised judging by the lift of his brow.
But what caught Eadlyn’s attention most was the wordless exchange between the two men seated beside him.
Maybe they were his sons. These rough, wild, heathen men.
Her vision wavered at the edges. Then she caught the other Nord watching her again, his expression lacking any clue to his thoughts.
Did he pity her? Or was he amused, laughing at her being bartered to them as if she, too, were only a trade commodity like the grain her brother promised?
No. She was not a commodity. This was her choice. She did this willingly for her people. Strength flowed into her chest, chasing away the cold in the pit of her stomach. She raised her chin and met the Nord’s gaze, unflinching, until the jarl spoke.
“I wish to discuss this with my men before making a decision.”
Edward nodded. “As you wish.”
The Nords rose and left the pavilion. Once their backs were turned and distance stretched between them, Eadlyn sagged into her chair, the weight of fear and tension pulling at her limbs.
Edward, however, shoved up from his seat to face her and Oswin. Everything that churned inside of her raged on his face.
“I don’t like this. Perhaps we should reconsider.”
“Your Majesty,” Oswin said in a cautioning voice. “You’ve seen for yourself. They will not even entertain an alliance without a marriage offer. I don’t like it either, but we have no choice.”
“There must be another way.”
Eadlyn drew a slow, deep breath into her lungs, shoring up her resolve and drawing on the strength only God provided. “Oswin is right. This is the only way, and it’s working. If Jarl Runar were uninterested, he would have refused outright. He’s considering it. That means we have to stand firm.”
Panic flared in Edward’s eyes. “They’re heathen savages. What if they hurt you?”
That question had haunted her for weeks, though she dared not speak aloud. She couldn’t answer it, not truly. Only God knew what lay ahead.
“I survived our father. I’ll survive this.”
“You weren’t Father’s wife. The most he did was hit you.”
Eadlyn swallowed hard, her throat as dry as a grain field at harvest. Would she be used and abused? Her mother’s silent suffering came to mind. These men inspired little hope, but war with Waelon offered her even less.
“We don’t have a choice. If we rescind the offer, they will refuse us.
And if Waelon conquers Essix, then I won’t be a wife, I’ll be a captive.
” Her voice faltered, then steadied. “Even if I married a man of Essix, there would still be risk. What matters is what this marriage can buy us. A chance at peace. A chance for unity. You must take that chance and make it count.”
Edward’s shoulders slumped beneath the weight of that truth. “You’re braver than I am. You should’ve been born a man. You’d make a better king.”
While that may have seemed true, Eadlyn knew better. “God made us exactly as we’re meant to be. He knows what He’s doing.”
“I wish I had your faith.”
“You can.” She reached out to grip his arms. “You’ve heard the truth. You know what Brother Winstan and I have taught you. God isn’t far off. He’s waiting for you to come to Him. You’ll need Him in the days ahead. Don’t keep waiting.”
Edward only responded with a brief nod, and that was all she could hope for.
She leaned back, staring out toward the Nords in the distance. The moment of decision was coming, and there was no turning back. Her only choice was to wait and trust.