Chapter 7
Ulf watched Ylva open her eyes and saw the moment she understood it had not been a dream. She was really free.
Something in her face softened, her body went limp and she smiled. At him. That smile shot straight to his heart, where he suspected it would stay lodged forever.
“It’s true then,” she said slowly.
“It’s true.”
A deep inhale, then a sigh. Ylva closed her eyes again. Ulf waited, feeling peace descend into his own body as well. Oddly, it felt as if he had just accomplished his life’s goal, as if freeing this woman who shared his name from her tormentor had been his destiny.
He stilled.
Perhaps that was what his destiny was.
In helping Haakon when the man took over from his grandfather.
Perhaps he didn’t need to learn a new trade because his future had already been decided for him.
Wolf the Icelander’s blood was flowing in his veins.
Neither his father nor his uncles had felt the urge to succeed their father as village leader but perhaps this was what he had been born to do.
Help those in need, carry on the family tradition and follow in the footsteps of the man he had been named after, the man he admired so.
It would be a noble undertaking and was certainly worth considering, because the village was growing all the time. Haakon would have to look after twice as many people as his grandfather had when he’d arrived in the country. He would need someone to assist him. Ulf could be that man.
Helping Ylva and Judith had made him feel better and prouder than he had in a long time, since that day he had saved his mother at the age of twelve, so he knew he would love knowing he had helped alleviate suffering wherever he could.
The absurdity of it made him laugh. He had gone everywhere in search of his purpose and it had taken a woman trying to kill him to find it in the very place he was born.
“I will go get some food to break our fast while you get dressed.”
This was as good an excuse as any to leave the hut. And he did need to leave the hut. He could not have stayed there, watching Ylva walk about in nothing but her shift.
“Thank you. I’m famished. But I don’t see my dress anywhere?”
“No.” The dress in question was a coarse woolen gown that was almost threadbare and too short, as if she’d started wearing it as a child not yet fully grown.
It had done its time; the only thing it was good for was to be cut into rags.
“Now that Mildred is gone, we thought you would rather not put anything on that reminded you of your old life. My aunt, Aife, brought one of her dresses for you. Here.”
He pointed to the blue linen gown on the chair to his right. Torsten’s wife was the only woman he knew whose clothes might be a good fit for Ylva. Anyone else’s would swamp her.
“Thank you. I know I should refuse but I hated that old, scratchy, horrible dress and everything it represented. I hope you burned it,” she said with feeling. “But you will have to take me to your aunt, so I can thank her.”
“I will, don’t worry, but not today, as she and Torsten have gone to the next village. Now let me go get some bread.”
Gudrun, the baker’s wife, smirked when she saw what he had chosen. “A big loaf, today, hey? But, of course, you have a guest, have you not? The little Saxon. She needs feeding for certain, but don’t you think that wheat bread is a luxury wasted on a slave?”
“She’s not a slave!” Ulf snapped.
The woman was nosy and shameless and she was always the first to spread rumors so it didn’t surprise him to see that she was aware of where Ylva was sleeping.
It was no secret. Fortunately, she had no idea Ylva had tried to kill him, otherwise he would never hear the end of it.
But no one except his family, old Helga, Haakon and Gytha had been told about the attack on his person.
Bread in hand, he went to the smokehouse next to get two plump trout fillets. The smell hitting him when he walked through the wooden door made his mouth water and he realized he was famished as well.
In the hut, he found Ylva standing by the firepit, dressed Aife’s blue dress.
Ulf stilled. He had known she was a beautiful woman, but this was something out of a dream. In the light, elegant dress, the color of which made her hair shimmer and eyes glow, she was stunning. At least, he was stunned.
Fascinated, he watched her smooth the fabric over her hips. Both her nervousness and her delight were evident. How long was it since she’d had anything new and clean to wear?
“What do you think?” she asked, barely meeting his gaze.
What do I think? I think that, as beautiful as the dress looks on you, I would like nothing more than to rip it off and see you in your naked glory.
What the hell? Ulf started. Where had that thought come from? He cleared his throat and lowered his gaze to the floor.
“It’s fine.” It was slightly too big on her, as could have been expected, but it would do, better than the brown monstrosity, at least.
“I will have to take it in,” she said, fingering the top of the bodice, which was, admittedly, lower than it should have been. Yet another reason why he had better keep his gaze on her feet. If he saw her finger glide over her creamy skin, he would be lost. He would want to touch her, too.
“Yes. Here, bread and fish,” he said, placing the loaf and the trout on the table. “I also have roasted lamb meat, cheese, and berries in the house. Goat milk or ale to drink.”
“Heavens! Are you expecting your family to join us?”
“No. This is just for us. I eat a lot in the morning,” he said by way of explanation.
That was true, but in reality he meant to ensure that she was adequately fed now that she didn’t have to worry about Mildred anymore.
Just like Judith, years of near starvation had taken their toll on her body as well as her mind.
He would make sure that she grew stronger, healthier, and happier, here with him.
Then he realized. He would only have days, weeks at the most, with her.
Once Judith had recovered, the two friends would likely leave.
Why would they stay here, in a village of Norsemen?
Well, there would be time to worry about it later.
For now, he wanted Ylva to remember this first real day of freedom as the best of her life.
“After you’ve gone and seen Judith, is there anything you’d like to do?” he asked, settling down at the table.
“I…” She hesitated but he could tell she had an idea in mind. He nodded to encourage her to speak. “I would like to go see the sea. I think it is not too far.”
“It’s not. We can be there before the sun reaches its zenith and make the most of the afternoon.
Then we’ll watch the sun go down over the beach.
It will not disappear into the sea, unfortunately, as we are facing east, but we’ll still get the effect of its golden light over the water.
It will still be beautiful.” He cut two slices of bread, his decision made.
This was the perfect idea, and it was the perfect day to make it happen, sunny and warm.
“I’ll go saddle the horses and prepare some food while you go to see your friend. Come find me when you’re ready.”
Ylva accepted the slice of bread he handed her. “Thank you. But don’t you have anything to do today?”
Ulf knew not to take this as a rebuff. She wasn’t trying to say that she didn’t want his company. She simply didn’t want him to feel he had to go with her. He did not. He wanted to go with her.
“I do have something to do. Go with you to the beach.”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she blushed. To hide her turmoil, she started to eat. As soon she bit into the bread, her eyes went wide. “This is…unlike anything I’ve ever had.”
“It’s made of wheat, that will be why. And I agree, it’s delicious.” Gudrun, for all her insufferable behavior, did know what she was doing and wheat bread was a rare treat. “Try it with a piece of fish. They go very well together.”
She did—and the smile she threw him sent him hard as stone under the table.
Damnation, what was that? This raging desire he was feeling today?
He had lain on the furs next to her the other night without once thinking of taking advantage of the fact, and today he was…
Today he was acting like a besotted fool, an untried youth, a horny bastard, or some such ridiculous individual.
Was it because of the dress? Because now that Mildred was gone, he felt they could start on a new basis?
He didn’t know, but he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“You’re right. I have never eaten anything half as good,” Ylva said once she had swallowed her mouthful of fish.
“Reserve your judgment until you try the cheese. I guarantee you will love it too.”
If the expression on her face when she took her first bite was any indication, she did. His hard cock twitched, as could have been predicted. Ulf chewed his meat without really tasting it.
This promised to be a most trying—and wonderful—day.
“This is my father’s stallion, Fáfnir. He will be your mount for the day,” Ulf announced, bringing the animal to a halt in front of her. “I would have borrowed Doe again, but Eahlswith needed her to go to the market in town.”
Ylva looked at the enormous horse then at Ulf, and her insides started to squirm. He had gone to so much trouble for her that she felt cruel telling him what was on her mind. But there was no choice, she had to make a confession.
“I don’t think I can handle a mount like that. I don’t know how to ride.”
“I know you said you were not very confident but—” He stopped when she bit her bottom lip. That was what she had said, but the reality was much worse. She was petrified at the idea of sitting on a beast like Fáfnir. “You really don’t know how to ride?”
“No. I had never yet been on a horse the day we rode into town,” she said quickly, like someone admitting to something shameful.
“But your grandfather assured me the mare would be gentle and I did not stop to think. I had to get to Judith as quickly as possible, and it was the best way. But today, there is no such hurry and I can’t deal with— I mean, Fáfnir is just so big, nothing like Doe.
Oh, I’m so sorry. You went to all this trouble for me but I didn’t realize we would have to ride to reach the beach, I—”
“Hush, there is no need to fret.” Ulf took her hand in his, cutting through her panic. “Of course, I should have thought. When would you have learned to ride, being Mildred’s captive? And you were very brave to get on Doe that day if you’d really never ridden.”
She shook her head. She hadn’t been brave. There just had been no other choice. But today there was. And she was afraid. What if she fell and injured herself, now that she was finally free? It would be unbearable.
“I don’t think I can steel myself to sit on this enormous stallion.” She took a step back, resigning herself to the fact that she had to abandon her plans for the day. “It matters not. I suppose I can go see the sea another time.”
Her heart fell when Ulf started to take the saddle off the mighty beast without a word.
The excursion she had been so looking forward to would never happen.
The irony of the situation hit her cruelly.
She was free, but she was still having to live with the consequences of her captivity.
She hadn’t been anywhere while growing up, she hadn’t learned anything a slave didn’t do.
As a result, she was useless, and would have to learn everything normal people did.
So happy a moment ago, she now felt like crying.
“All right,” Ulf said, once his father’s stallion had been released into the field.
“Let me introduce you to Ratatoskr. He’s a gelding.
You’ve met him before, of course, and as you can see, he’s not as impressive as Fáfnir.
And we know each other inside and out. My grandfather gave him to me the day I turned thirteen. ”
Ylva could not help a smile at the way he was talking of the horse, as he would of a dear friend. “Hello Ra…Ratatoskr. Quite a hard name to pronounce, is it not?”
“Do you think?” Ulf cocked his head, as if considering. “It is the name of the squirrel living in the tree Yggdrasill. He carries messages between the eagles at the top and the dragon Níeh?ggr at the bottom. He is friends with Veerfolnir and Duratrór.”
Despite her despondency, Ylva burst out laughing, which she guessed was what Ulf had been aiming for. He had seen her sudden mood change and had decided to help her forget that she would not go to the beach that day. It was sweet of him.
“I see your point. Compared to that, Ratatoskr is at least worth a try.”
“Yes.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “And I’ll let you in on a little secret. You’re doing it very well. The accent is very appealing anyway.”
Ylva’s heart started to beat unbearably fast. What was Ulf doing? Helping her get over her disappointment or seducing her? His scent… His heat… His very proximity. Her head was spinning. Had he meant to make her feel desired, or was it all in her mind? Was she the only one feeling the attraction?
“So. Do you trust me?” he purred in her ear.
“T-trust you?”
What for? What did he intend to do? Kiss her? Was that why he had come so close? Well, the answer to that question was clear. Yes, she did trust him, enough to let him do it, and what was more, she was convinced she would like it.
“If you trust me, you can ride with me on Ratatoskr. Or if you prefer, I can go borrow the smithy’s cart.”
He drew back, a smile playing on his gorgeous lips. The lips she’d been certain she would taste only a moment ago. Apparently it had all been in her mind, and she was the only one feeling any attraction, because he had not been about to kiss her at all.
“The smithy’s cart?” she repeated. What was he talking about?
“Yes. It is your choice. But, one way or the other, we are going to the beach.”