CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Three days of traveling had brought them closer to the main roads leading into Tingwalla.
There had been a handful of other travelers they'd passed.
For a day or more, Thora had feared the reaction to her wolves.
While some people had been uneasy, the contact with the few they'd encountered had been brief.
Still, Thora couldn't help a sense of foreboding.
Something ominous hung in the air, leaving behind an uneasy chill.
Ari must have sensed it as well, for his grip around her waist grew tighter.
She noted the way his fingers tightened on the reins, causing Gyllir's step to grow more agitated.
"Something is wrong." She kept her voice to a whisper, not exactly sure why. A moment later, Ari's nod of agreement brushed against her hair.
"I want to continue on a little more. How do your pets fare?"
Thora looked down at the wolves next to them. In the past weeks, Gyllir had grown accustomed to their presence and didn't even mind them walking beside him now. Kata, though she tired easily, still looked to have the strength to travel a little further.
"They are fine for now, but Kata will need to rest soon."
"There is a main road ahead that I wish to reach before we stop."
She didn't voice her opinion that the road could prove more dangerous than their trek through the forest. But there was really little choice.
The trees had thinned considerably in the last couple of days, and soon they would be on the lowlands toward Tingwalla.
Thora still hoped for an opportunity to flee, but Ari's close watch, as well as the bonds he insisted on keeping around her wrists most of the time, hindered her chances.
They rode on in silence for close to another hour and finally broke out of the forest. Before them, the soft hills and sloping valleys revealed several small groups of people far ahead.
No chance of encountering them at the current pace.
Thora peered back over Ari's shoulder to see other bands of travelers also emerging from various trails leading out of the thick forest and steep mountains.
Her heart pounded. She'd been alone with Ari for so long, the idea of strangers alarmed her.
Were any of her family in those groups? What would happen if they found her?
She would certainly be free from Ari, but then she would be caught in her father's plans.
The two choices battled in her thoughts and combined with the slim chance of fleeing, left her dizzy, her stomach rolling.
"What's wrong?"
Ari's low voice cut into the riot of her thoughts, oddly soothing. She frowned.
"I worry that some from my clan may be traveling this same road."
"Should anyone grow near, we'll find a place to rest where we won't be noticed. I suspect most are not traveling much faster than we are."
She nodded and leaned back against him, trusting he would keep her safe.
The warmth of his body surrounding and supporting her further calmed her.
She had grown too comfortable with him. The weeks of being alone with him had created a bond she feared would leave her heartbroken in the end.
Deep in her soul, the one thing she wished for she knew would never be possible.
No matter. When all this was over and she was free of everyone's intentions for her life but her own, she would start over.
Eventually, she would marry, have children.
Why was it Ari's face she saw in her visions of the future?
That was simply not possible, not when he didn't truly care for her.
Admittedly, she now used him as well, taking the physical delights he gave her with no shame or guilt, fully enjoying all that passed between them.
But she wanted him to care for her, even if only a little. His passion was just not enough.
You would be satisfied with his passion alone. She ignored the mocking voice, or at least tried to. For in all honesty, she must admit, his desire for her was strong enough that she could almost overlook not touching his heart.
Why couldn't he love her, as she loved him?
She sucked in a deep breath. Surely she hadn't just admitted that she.
.. No! She couldn't! Admitting that left her vulnerable to his whims. How could she love a man who didn't love her in return?
Would likely never do so, no matter how many pleas and sacrifices she might make to the gods?
The cruelty of Odin and his cohorts sliced deep into her.
Had her own past actions of unkindness led her to this point, where the deepest of her desires would be dismissed as a result?
To have Ari's love, though she'd buried the longing deep, was more than she'd ever imagined. Now, it was all she wanted.
The sound of rapid hoofbeats coming up fast behind them jolted her from the heart-rending thoughts, and for a moment she thanked the gods for giving her a moment's respite from the agonizing truth.
But when his embrace tightened and he guided Gyllir toward a small grove of trees, all nonsensical romantic notions fled as the reality of imminent danger slammed into her.
Ari wheeled the horse around. Thora pressed her fingers against her mouth to prevent a scream.
Muli! And he wasn't alone. Three others rode with him and they quickly neared. Thora held her hands up.
"Free me, and give me my axe!"
Ari nodded, slicing the ropes holding her wrists together.
A moment later, he slipped her axe from his belt and placed it in her hands, also providing a long dagger.
He dismounted, helping her to the ground.
Beside them, both Kata and Kati stood in wariness, the fur along their backs standing up, fangs bared and growling.
Seeing the she-wolf in such a state convinced her the animal was finally whole again.
Ari faced the approaching riders, sword drawn and ready.
Muli and his companions reined in their mounts and the wiry, evil-eyed man leapt to the ground.
"I'll get you now, you bitch!"
Thora's spine stiffened and she lifted her chin. "Don't be stupid, Muli. If you harm me, my father will kill you."
"Not if I do it first," Ari vowed.
A leering smile curled Muli's mouth, drawing a shiver. "If you think you can take all of us, the Valkyries are waiting."
Thora dared a glance toward the other men.
They dismounted, axes and swords drawn. Outnumbered.
Muli stalked closer, gaze darting between Ari and Thor and the pair of wolves.
He waved his sword and Ari shoved Thora behind him.
Still she held her dagger and axe at the ready, should Muli succeed in harming Ari.
"Get back," Ari commanded. She heeded his order without hesitation, retreating several paces, Kata and Kati beside her.
She choked on a cry when Muli lunged, but Ari easily blocked the blow.
Another lunge, another block, the swords scraping against each other in a loud screech of metal.
Thora noted the other men slowly approaching.
Her heart slammed against her chest, but she would not make this easy for them.
Calmed by the presence of the wolves flanking her, she took another few steps back, her focus darting between the approaching men and Ari in his battle.
Muli jabbed and Ari ducked to avoid the strike.
Muli swung his fist around and once again, Ari dodged the blow, landing his own punch hard into Muli's gut, drawing a loud grunt of pain.
The other man staggered back a few paces then lifted his sword once again, cursing when he leaped.
Ari raised his sword to block his opponent with a shriek of metal against metal, spinning about to free himself of the close fight.
For a moment, Ari and Muli paused in their battle, chests heaving as they stared at each other.
In the ensuing silence, the thunder of hooves arose again, growing louder.
Thora bit back a fearful cry to see three more riders approaching.
With the additional raiders, she and Ari stood little chance of surviving this battle.
"Ho, Ari Hugisson!" The leader waved his hand and reined in his horse, leaping down at the same time with a warrior's grace. A moment later, the others did as well. Thora glanced at Ari, stunned to find him smiling. He knew these men? They neared, withdrawing their weapons.
Moments later, they stood behind Ari, and beside Thora.
Muli's men halted in their advance. She imagined this to be some sort of surreal dream, one in which she never imagined saviors to come to their aid.
She met Ari's stare, his playful wink rousing all sorts of questions, even as it reassured her.
"In a bit of trouble again, are you, Ari?" the leader of the group asked.
"Not really, though it's good to see you, Karsi. This piece of horse's dung is simply an inconvenience."
At the insulting dismissal, Muli let out a howl of outrage and once more charged. The man named Karsi dragged Thora from the confrontation before she could be trampled by the battling men.
At that moment, Muli's companions jumped into the fray, engaging Karsi and the other two men.
Thora ducked behind Gyllir, Kata and Kati beside her, both ready to defend their mistress.
She twisted the axe handle in her hand, wondering how she could help, even knowing she was useless in a battle.
Still, there must be something. Wincing at the sharp pained scream, she paced between her wolves, grateful to be far enough from the fight to avoid being sprayed by blood.
Shouts and insults accompanied the sounds of blades clashing, ringing painfully in her ears.
The thud of an axe landing in someone's body left Thora's gut knotted, yet she somehow managed to look and see that Karsi had dispatched his opponent to the next life and turned his attention to aiding one his fellow riders.