7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Brunhild watched as her mate lifted the children from the wagon one by one, pecking each boy on the forehead before he set them on their feet.
She came to stand beside him, arms crossed, watching him watch their departure until they disappeared beyond the entrance that led to the bowels of the kitchen.
“There are no girl children? Were they kidnapped with their mothers?”
He clenched his jaw and shook his head. “Nay.”
“Then they remain hidden? Shouldn’t we seek them out and bring them here for their safety?”
“They are not hidden. You cannot hide that which does not exist.”
She widened her eyes in dismay. “They’ve already been killed?”
He shook his head. “I should have explained ere we wed. The each uisge rarely have female offspring. ‘Tis why we must seek out mates amongst our kindred or mortal women and woo them to our side.”
“So if you hadn’t made a bargain with my father, you would have sought a different bride?”
He shrugged. “‘Tis likely. My brehon council warned against our union because of your bloodthirsty reputation, and the seer reminded me of the prophecy she’d rendered at my birth.”
“A prophecy about me?”
“Prophecies are woefully short on details. It mentions the loss of the crown and a queen of fire who will rescue the kingdom. I should have heeded their warnings, because I’ve had a taste of your bloodthirsty ways,” he said as he fingered the pale, jagged line she’ carved in his cheek with her dagger.
“I had no reason to trust your promise.”
Her mate sighed. “Aye, I believe you did not. I know all too well that the Berserker chief’s court is nothing more than a nest of vipers. I’d hoped you would have realized by now that the each uisge are nothing like that.”
He stepped forward and she took a step back.
“You have no reason to be skittish, wife.”
She lifted her chin and crossed her arms, her ax dangling loosely across her body. “I’m not skittish.”
He crossed his arms too, but didn’t move closer. “Then what is your excuse for retreating?” He asked with a raised brow and a smirk she wanted to swat from his face.
“No excuse other than how malodorous you are. I was stepping away to get upwind of your stench.”
“If you find my scent so revolting, would you care to join me at the falls for a bath?”
Brun wrinkled her nose as if the very idea was more repugnant than his alleged stench. She’d been stealthy, and there was no possibility he knew she’d been spying on him during his ablutions.
“I cannot think of a less repulsive activity.”
“If you continue to complain of my offensive stench, perhaps I should command you rid me of it.”
“Commanding me to do anything would be to your detriment.”
“I was merely teasing you, wife," he said with a sly grin.
“I have no reason to trust your assurance that you'll wait for me to signal I'm ready before you take me to your bed.”
He tapped the groove of the scar on his cheek and his expression darkened. “I know you’ve been given little reason to trust those whose care you were given into, and I’ll bear this scar as a reminder to tread gently with you."
Brun visibly bristled. “You needn’t coddle me or treat me like one of the children we’ve rescued.”
He shook his head and threw her a wry, twisted grin. “I cannot envision you as a child. Whenever I try, I see you as a wee version of the woman you are now, with a dagger clenched in your teeth and your hands raised like claws to scratch out my eyes.”
“I haven’t always been this fierce. It was only after I grew enough to understand my father’s treatment of my mother, and was forced to bear the same callous disregard at his hands, that I learned to mistrust every word spoken by men.”
“The ways of my people are not the ways of yours, and I will allow no one to disrespect you or your position here. You are my chosen queen, and despite the way our story began, I will never resent your presence by my side.”
She tilted her head to the side, trying to puzzle out his intentions. “That’s very generous of you.”
“Your battle skill and acumen will be respected here, and the service you render this kingdom will be appreciated and praised.”