CHAPTER SEVEN #2
A panicky giggle escaped, despite her efforts to contain it. Her chest tightened, each breath rasping in her throat.
"Yes, but that is not what I mean, not exactly."
"Then what, exactly?"
Another desperate attempt at a deep breath failed to slow her racing heart. She swallowed, her mouth dry as sand. "If I… lay with a man, my powers will be lost."
There. She'd said it. The curious look her gave her made it clear he didn't fully understand.
"Once I… honor a man with my innocence, the gods will take away my gift."
He leaned back in his chair and scratched his chin. "How do you know this?"
"Gunilla told me that my powers come with a price. To go against the gods' wishes before they determine my fate will surely bound me for Niflhel."
He gave a strange sound of disapproval. Clearly, he possessed strong doubts about Gunilla, and likely his father and brother felt the same.
The urge to protect her mistress remained strong, perhaps out of habit alone, because somehow, the usual loyalty seemed to lose some of its strength.
Was it because Katrin was away from the older woman for the first time ever?
Something else to think about. Not now. Now she had to convince Hradi not to seduce her.
For she knew if he tried, her resistance would crumble.
The test the gods had given her suddenly seemed impossible to surpass.
***
The panic in Katrin's wide blue eyes convinced Hradi the girl believed the old witch's words. He wondered how many lies over the years Gunilla had told the young woman. Again, the need to protect her overpowered his worry that she could be complicit in Gunilla's plans, whatever they might be.
Had he been tricked again? Doubts hovered, never taking over, but never going away either.
Another thought to make his unanswered questions more chaotic – what if she spoke the truth?
He wanted, no needed, some proof of her gift.
Risking having it vanish before seeing such evidence was not something to consider.
But he didn't want to wait to savor the young witch's charms. He ached for her, his cock half-hard and ready for more. Hel, he'd been in this condition since he'd held her before him on the horse. He would not be denied. A solution arose.
"We can't have that, now can we?"
She shook her head. Her shoulders slumped in relief.
"I have something else to propose."
Her eyes sparked anew with worry and annoyance, and just a small hint of curiosity. He grinned and leaned forward once again.
"I want you to prove your gift, in the village tomorrow."
"Very well, I will do as you ask."
Until she answered, he didn't realize he'd held his breath. Her acceptance seemed a reassurance his instincts about her were correct. "There is more."
Her mouth twisted, but not into a smile. She lifted her chin, a hint of defiance in the gesture. "I expected that. Your requests are never simple, are they?"
He chuckled. "There are other ways to… enjoy each other without stripping you of your virtue."
The red darkening her cheeks grew ever deeper. He savored the innocence that could not truly be faked. Her responses to his kisses were also honest; of that, he had no doubt. He wanted to experience more of them, while he taught her about passion.
She stared, eyes wide, though she almost appeared to be in a trance, her gaze far away and not focused on him. Was she having a vision now? His gut knotted in concern and he waved a hand before her face. She startled away from him, her stare clearing.
"Did you just have a vision?" he asked, once more catching her chin in his grip and forcing her to meet his stare.
"N-not really."
Her stammer revealed her lie and he narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me the truth."
She jerked out of his hold. "I was merely remembering some of my… dreams."
Hradi laughed. "Then you have an idea of what I will expect this night."
He noticed her gulp, the only revelation of her fear, and while the knowledge she was rightly afraid of him excited him further, he refrained from teasing her about it. He glanced at the meat and waved a hand in the direction of the fire.
"I think our meal is ready."
With anyone else, he would have remained seated and waited to be served, but he needed to divert his attention for a few moments and set about removing the roast from the spit.
He glanced at her face. Relief crept into her eyes and she picked up one of the wooden trenchers.
In moments, she had scooped some of the softened turnips onto the platter and held it out while Hradi carved a piece of the roast. Katrin set the full trencher on the table and reached for another.
She seated herself and accepted the flatbread Hradi had taken from the bin beside the fire pit.
He pulled two flagons off the shelf and filled them with ale before setting them on the table.
He resumed his seat across from her and caught her gaze.
"What?" He yanked off a piece of the meat and bit into it. The warm, smoky pork sated a hunger he hadn’t realized had grown so strong.
"I don’t understand you." She scooped some of the turnip with the flatbread and ate, her actions smooth and graceful. She refused to look at him again, her focus now on the food before her.
"What do you mean?"
She hesitated, taking another bite, followed by a swallow of ale.
Several more seconds passed before she answered, still avoiding his stare.
Damn her! He wanted to her eyes upon him.
As if the gods had answered his unspoken desire, she turned and faced him, a steely curiosity reflected in the blue depths of her eyes.
"Why are you so interested in me? Why did you trick me into coming here?"
He grinned and bit off a piece of bread. "You are very pretty. Any man would do as I did to get you alone."
She scowled, her eyes narrowing. Wary suspicion revealed itself in the way her shoulders stiffened. "You must have more important matters to tend than seducing me."
"Perhaps."
"Why do you tease me so? You have not been honest with me."
He settled his hands on either side of the trencher while he contemplated her, admiring her courage and outspokenness. "I could say the same about you."
Confusion clouded her gaze. "I have not been dishonest with you."
"No? Then what of your mistress?"
"What about her?"
"You know her, and her intentions, better than I. Is there anything you wish to share?"
She shook her head, though he suspected her denial was not as strong as she would have him believe. If Katrin harbored doubts about the older witch as well, he could use that to make her share what she knew of her mistress' plans.
"I understand why you may still distrust us, but I assure you, we mean you and your clan no harm. We merely want to bring you the blessings the gods intend us to."
Hradi studied her for several moments then gave a single nod, satisfied she was being truthful.
He returned his attention to the meal, knowing he still had more questions about Gunilla, but he didn’t want to dwell on the older seeress now.
All he wanted to focus on now was Katrin, and the night that stretched ahead of them.