Chapter 24
It was just past dawn, the sky a soft pink with folds of pale gray.
The air was cool and still; the creatures in the forest were silent.
Zarabeth lay against Magnus, her head on his shoulder.
She listened to his even breathing, her palm flat on his chest, against his heart.
In a day and a half they would be back at Malek. Back to her home.
She burrowed closer and his arm tightened about her back, an unconscious gesture to keep her safe and close.
He had come after her. He had wasted no time, given no thought to the possibility that she could have fled from him or even leapt to her death off a cliff into the viksfjord.
She came up to her elbow then and looked at his face.
There was a slight smile on his lips, she was certain of it, and without thought she leaned down and kissed him lightly on the mouth. She kissed him again, then once more.
He opened his eyes slowly, even though she knew hea??d come instantly awake at her touch, for that was how he was.
a??Ita??s early, Zarabeth. I have need of rest. You have worn me to the bone chasing you to the edge of the earth. However, I dona??t wish to discourage you. You may kiss me again.a??
She did, saying between the light, nipping kisses, a??You came after me.a??
He went still and she stopped kissing him and looked down into his face as he said somberly, a??Did you believe for one instant that I would not?a??
a??No, not for an instant. I dona??t think Ingunn doubted it either. She was always trying to get Orm to hurry, but he didna??t. He is quite mad.a??
a??Aye, perhaps now, but when we were boys . . .a?? His voice trailed off and he said abruptly, a??Your stomach is making so much noise I cannot go back to sleep.a??
a??I have been hungry since Orm captured me.a??
He frowned then. a??Why have you not said anything?a??
a??I did not think of it until just a moment ago.
No, Magnus, dona??t move yet. I wona??t starve until the sun hits its zenith, I promise you.a?? She sighed.
a??Ah, a??tis good to be clean again even though the viksfjord water nearly froze my eyebrows from my face.a?? She kissed him again, remembering the bathing both of them had done in the viksfjord the evening before.
a??When I have returned you to Malek and Ingunn to my fathera??s farmstead, I will take my men and sail to the Danelaw.a??
She said nothing for several moments. She was still propped up on her elbow, over him, and she leaned down again and kissed him once more. He came up to kiss her back this time, but she pressed him down. a??I am trying to think,a?? she said. a??You mustna??t distract me.a??
a??That is nice for a man to hear. You are certain that now I could distract you?a??
She looked worried and he felt a leap of anger at her.
She had come running to him the evening before, hurling herself upon him, trusting him completely.
But now she was behind that wall of hers, that cursed barrier that he had sworn to breach.
But he held his tongue. She had bathed with him, seeming to enjoy it, but had fallen asleep before he could show her how much he had missed her.
And now she had kissed him, willingly, so many times he couldna??t believe it, and she was lying easily against him.
He saw her look over to where Ingunn lay wrapped in a blanket, sleeping soundly, her white-blond hair spread about her head.
a??Ingunn saved me, she truly did.a??
a??I dona??t wish to speak of my sister. How is your throat?a??
a??Do I still sound like a frog?a??
a??You sound like a wet cloth slapping at an open wound.a??
a??That is a disgusting image, Magnus. Was your first wife silly?a??
a??Silly? Dalla?a?? He looked at her, his eyebrow cocked upward.
a??Your parents arranged for you to wed with her? Was she silly?a??
He shook his head. a??Orm told you these things?a??
a??Aye.a??
a??The truth was that Orm wanted her himself, but her parents believed me to be the better man for her.a??
a??Was she silly?a??
He laughed then and pulled her down against him, squeezing her. a??Aye, she was silly and she laughed as openly and freely as a child and she loved to dance in the moonlight, even when the ground was covered knee-deep with snow.a??
She was silent, trying to picture such a creature. She said on a sigh, a??I do not remember the last time I laughed openly.a??
He couldna??t either.
a??I have never danced in the snow.a??
a??Mayhap you could also be silly every now and thena??occasionally giggle and poke your fingers in my ribs.a??
a??Aye, mayhap.a??
a??Either kiss me again or let me sleep, Zarabeth.a??
a??If I kiss you, will you force me?a??
Anger roiled inside him. a??You have already kissed me more times than I can count. But they werena??t really a womana??s deep kisses. Kiss me again, as a woman ought, and you will see.a??
She leaned down and pressed her mouth lightly to his.
Her lips were dry and firm. He lay very quietly, not returning her kiss, letting her take what she wanted, letting her invade him, then withdraw, only to return again when she found no aggression in him.
His sex swelled and throbbed but he didna??t move.
When would she realize that she belonged with him?
When would she stop fighting herself and him?
She raised her head and stared down at him.
Her look was brooding. Finally she said slowly, a??I had forgotten the taste of you.a?? He thought he would spill his seed at her words, just simple words, yet they shook him to his very core.
She kissed him again, then shimmied down to press against his side and lay her cheek back on his shoulder.
a??The next time you kiss me, Zarabeth, I will kiss you back and I will caress you and come inside you.a??
He felt her tremble at his words. a??Mayhap in the future you will feel silly and laugh when we are making love. It doesna??t have to be such a devoutly serious business.a??
She didna??t know, and such a notion seemed strange to her. It seemed a very serious business.
The men were stirring. Magnus gave her another squeeze, then eased away from her.
He rose and stretched, naked and lean and powerful in the soft morning light.
He looked down at her and was pleased to see the candid interest in her eyes.
She was staring at him quite openly. a??I will fetch you one of my tunics to wear.a??
He smiled when she strapped Orma??s wide leather belt around her hips, but he said nothing.
He guessed wearing the sword made her feel she was in control.
The sword banged against her leg whenever she took a step.
Her legs were long and bare, as were her feet.
He watched her try to untangle her hair with her fingers.
He could have told her that she looked wild and beautiful, as savage as a warrior goddess.
Then she rubbed her bottom and the image was swiftly gone.
He laughed. He made certain she ate her fill before they left camp.
The day was hot, the sky clear. They rode near to the shore, the trees to their left, for there was no tracking to be done now and it was a quicker way back to Malek by this route.
Magnus carried Zarabeth in front of him.
She leaned her head back against his shoulder and dozed.
She felt safe; she felt at peace. It was a strange feeling and she was loath to let it go.
She fell deeply asleep with the scent of him in her nostrils, the gentle sway of the stallion beneath her, his arms holding her steady.
Ragnara??s stallion came even with Thorgell. Magnus turned to see his sister regarding him solemnly. She said, a??I want to know what you will tell our father.a??
a??Mother already came to Malek, frantic to know if anyone had seen you. Now all know that you escaped our fathera??s farmstead to meet him, Ingunn. What would you have me say? All know that you sacrificed your honor to him.a??
a??I saved your wifea??s life.a??
a??You did, but not because you care one whit about her, so do not pretend that you do. You hated to see Orm take another woman. You feared that he would want her and not you. Isna??t that right?a??
Ingunn was silent, but Ragnar said, a??You speak harshly, Magnus.a??
a??Ragnar, you speak blindly. Look well at her, speak long with her, and listen to the feeling behind her words before you decide to take her.a??
Ingunna??s eyes widened. a??What do you mean? Take me? What is this, Magnus?a??
Magnus stared between Thorgella??s ears. a??Ragnar wants you for a wife.a??
Ingunn seemed to swell up even as she sat there. a??I dona??t want him! He is a lout and a boor and I have seen him fondle any female who chances to walk by him. He is no more faithful than a flea.a??
Magnus turned the full force of his anger on her and she drew back from the harshness of his expression, the coldness of his voice.
a??You are a fine one to accuse another of faithlessness.
You who gave yourself to Orm. You want to reproach Ragnar?
He is a man, not a maid whose virginity represents the value she places on herself.a??
a??Did your precious Zarabeth come to you a virgin? She was wedded to an old man and hea??a??
a??Hold your tongue, Ingunn, or I will grant Ragnar full permission to beat you now. We are speaking of you and why you call Ragnar a boor and a lout. Why?a??
Ingunn rallied, for she had known Magnus all her life. His anger was swift to come and equally swift to dissipate. He was her brother, after all. a??He treats me badly. He has always been rude toward me, always smirking at me.a??
a??You sound like a sullen spoiled child. You deserve to be treated badly.a??
a??He wona??t listen to me. He doesna??t care how much I have suffered.a??