CHAPTER TWO
Katrin noticed Dream Man approaching and kept her focus on the trencher before her.
But after several moments of feeling his gaze bore into her, she lifted her head and met his stare.
Once more, images of intense passion, heat she'd never before seen between two people, flooded her thoughts, shutting out all else.
And again, she was the woman in the vision.
A moment later, the vision faded and she was once again surrounded by loud laughter and discussion, the music of harps and lurs weaving through the raucous sounds of a feast. Yet the vision lingered, especially after seeing her own face, contorted in desire.
The sight alarmed her. Before today, she had never seen herself in an omen.
What did it mean that she had done so twice?
The aromas of roasted boar, deer, rabbit and cow filled the room, making her mouth water and her stomach grumble.
The brief stupor caused by the sudden onset of the vision ebbed.
Still, she held Dream Man's stare. Hradi, wasn't that what the jarl had said his son's name was?
She had to bite her lip to keep silent, finding herself oddly eager to pronounce his name, feel it roll off her tongue.
Feeling as if his gaze sliced right into her thoughts, she looked away.
She clenched her fingers to curb their trembling before reaching for a rabbit leg on the nearest platter.
What did the peculiar dreamscapes mean? For some unknown reason, she did not want to share the visions with Gunilla, fearing the older woman might be angry to think that Katrin had carnal desires that might destroy her gift.
The other girls serving the Volva could not be trusted with this either.
Who might help her decipher the mystery?
Why did she find the visions as exciting as they were worrisome?
Though she kept her focus on the trencher before her, she sensed Hradi studying her. Why had he sat directly across from her, instead of sitting beside his father and brother?
She lowered her hands to her lap, curling them into fists. Heat blazed across her face, a roaring in her ears nearly deafening. His nearness proved just as potent as the vision. She had no doubt he continued to stare, she felt his gaze as if he touched her physically. How was this possible?
"Katrin!"
Gunilla's sharp whisper at her ear drew her from the onslaught of sensation. She lifted her head, meeting her mistress' concerned expression.
"Are you falling ill again?"
Katrin sensed more than a measure of annoyance in Gunilla's voice. She shook her head. "I am not ill, just overtired from the journey."
"You should rest, then."
The deep voice rumbled through her like a bolt of Odin's lightning. She didn't answer, but Gunilla spoke up.
"And she will. I will see to it."
"I offer my bed."
The sounds of the feast faded. Katrin's head snapped up, her wide eyes meeting Hradi's.
What about this man seemed to consume every aspect of her awareness?
The only thing poking into the strange separate plane on which they seemed to be was Gunilla's hand tightening near painfully.
Gritting her teeth to subdue her reaction, Katrin's mind whirled with the underlying meaning in Hradi's offer.
Though she was innocent in the ways of men and women, she instinctively knew that he meant to share his bed with her, not offer it for her alone.
She suspected he intended to indulge in carnal activities.
With her. Judging from the way her mentor dug into her inner arm, Katrin knew Gunilla held the same suspicion.
Oddly, the urge to accept his offer didn't seem disagreeable. She needed someone to help her understand what was being asked of her, and why, and without the worry of deceit. Her gaze darted briefly to Gunilla.
A sudden clarity sparked to life that the woman she'd always believed to be aiding her suddenly seemed a false ally, one who might in fact be more destructive than helpful.
She didn't want Gunilla's guidance. What would happen if she made the choice to accept Hradi's proposal? Suddenly, she wanted to know.
Still holding Dream Man's stare, she stood. She took a moment to contemplate Gunilla. Something about the worry in the older witch's expression again touched on the uneasiness that had been building these last few months. She faced Hradi once more.
"Thank you. I gratefully accept your offer."
"No! You cannot! Girl, you have no right to make this choice! Not while you serve me!"
Gunilla's fingernails felt like steel blades cutting into her skin. She faced her mistress. Leaning close, she whispered in the older woman's ear.
"He holds great power, even as the second son of the jarl. I will explain when I gather my belongings."
With her free hand, she loosened the woman's grip.
Understanding crept into Gunilla's steely eyes.
Katrin held back another smile. Perhaps she could fool them both and gain her freedom, sooner than planned.
How had that devious thought arisen? When Gunilla's hold eased further, Katrin once more met Dream Man's gaze.
Hradi. She must remember his name. He was no longer just a dream. Now he was real.
His lips quirked and for a moment, a sharp image from her first vision seared into her thoughts.
His lips. On hers. And everywhere else. She sucked in a deep breath, taking control of the scattered reflections.
Gunilla might use Katrin's gifts to her own advantage, but over the years, Katrin had learned not to reveal all she had seen.
Whatever instincts had driven her to keep certain portions of her vision concealed spurred the urge to learn what those portions meant. Her future depended on it.
"There are conditions."
The deep pronouncement cut into her thoughts.
When his meaning sank in, she accepted that she'd expected as much.
Did her gift give her the ability to read his thoughts as if they were her own?
Or was he simply bargaining? She held back her smile.
Knowing what was to come gave her an advantage.
And in using that advantage, not only could she protect the others in her peculiar family, she would finally be able to carve her own future, beholden to none.
The wish she'd not fully recognized in her childhood bloomed now, reminding her how dearly she wanted to be truly free and answerable only to herself.
Now the chance to actually do so, even before her time of servitude was over, lay firmly in her hands.
No one else's. She glanced toward Gunilla.
The older woman's face remained lined with anger and worry.
Returning her attention to Hradi, she smiled.
"As I have my own."
Hradi leaned back, his smile widening. "And what might those be?"
Those gathered around them fell silent, apparently straining to hear over the sounds of the ongoing celebration. Katrin held Hradi's dark stare, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling of so many curious eyes upon her.
"While I will accept the use of your bed, I will decide when, and if, I will share it."
He let loose a sharp laugh and stood. Freyja's blood, he was tall. Resting his hands on the table, he leaned over.
"You would expect me to find somewhere else to sleep?"
She lifted her chin. "Yes."
"You are bold." He grinned. "I like that. But I will not be turned away."
"How can I give proper thanks if I don't know if your bed is restful?"
Shouts of laughter echoed around her, but she ignored them. Hradi chuckled as well. Her heart seemed to pause while she waited for his answer.
"Very well. I will give you one night. In the morning, I have no doubt you will be willing to properly thank me."
More laughter, accompanied by several lewd suggestions for her to thank Hradi left heat flaring in her cheeks. Once more, Gunilla's hand clamped on her arm.
"You cannot! You know what will happen!"
Judging from the narrowing of his eyes, Hradi had also heard Gunilla's whisper. However, he said nothing in acknowledgment, merely returned his expectant stare to Katrin.
"Do you agree? One night?"
She hesitated, her decision already made, but wanting him to think she still considered the choice. After several moments, she nodded. His demeanor softened, as if he had worried she might decide against him.
"I must speak with Gunilla first and gather my belongings."
"Of course. When you are ready, I will show you the way." He resumed his seat, his gaze never leaving hers.
Katrin turned to her mentor. "Come, let us have some privacy."
She made her way toward the doors, holding her head high as she strode through the gathered clan. She'd barely gotten two steps outside when the older woman grabbed her arm, spinning her about.
"Are you mad? You know what will happen if you lay with him!"
"I am not going to lay with him," Katrin lied. "By being close to him, I can learn more about the jarl and his family and the rest of the clan."
Gunilla shook her head, not satisfied with the answer. "It is too dangerous. If you lose your gift, all we've worked for will be destroyed."
You mean all your recent lies and thefts. Katrin didn't say the words aloud. "In the last three villages, we were forced to leave sooner than usual. Don't you think that might mean something?"
Gunilla shrugged, tossing her long silver hair behind her shoulders. "It simply worked out that way."
Katrin shook her head. She'd noticed the troublesome change to their usual success. Only now did she have a better understanding of what it meant. "We drew much notice at The Thing last summer. I suspect word is being spread. We must use great caution this time."
The witch stepped close to Katrin. "Look into my eyes. What do you see?"