Chapter 25 Freija #3
I lightly raised my hand, letting him know I was all right, and meandered toward the edge of the ship. He kept his distance, but remained within a few paces.
Sailors scurried past me, busying themselves with their duties, and others hummed an intimidating tune as they worked on the sail riggings.
Stepping to the ship’s railing, I tilted my face to the sun and breathed in the salty air. Wind whipped through my hair and my cloak billowed at my back as the boat bobbed and swayed over the waves. Mads was right: being up here was far better. I closed my eyes and smiled.
Ragnhild had given me a gift. An opportunity to get out of the mountain and away from the threats that loomed over me.
One I would forever be grateful for, especially when the day came for me to be sworn in as Queen and unable to leave the area around the mountain.
To do so would cause cave-ins and landslides.
It was a fate every Fjell Fae monarch had faced, with our magic tied to the mountain, to the secret Temple of the Fae that we were sworn to protect.
She’d also given me the opportunity to deliver valuable information and resources to my people that would hopefully keep us fed for centuries to come regardless of an increasing human population.
Well, Halvar had done that too with his request to the Council, but together the three of us had gotten us here.
“And who might you be?” a low male voice asked, startling me from my thoughts.
I turned to face the—
My breath caught in my throat, and a scurrying noise sounded from somewhere.
Coming to stand beside me was a tall man with hair as dark as the night, eyes as blue as the ocean before us, and the countenance of an unyielding storm.
His demeanor reminded me of the torrential downpours that battered my garden in the blustery and cold Norwegian winters.
My gaze dipped to his booted feet. He would most certainly trample across the heather on the mountain side… if he ever strayed from the ocean.
My eyes roved north, over leather and metal, and found a wicked smirk that said he didn’t mind my assessment. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”
There was good reason for that.
He extended a weathered hand encrusted in rings and gemstones, his knuckles adorned with ink. “Captain Henrik. Welcome aboard my ship.”
Taking his hand in mine, I shook it once and hoped he didn’t look too closely at my face. If Henrik knew who I was, he’d probably turn the ship around and deliver me to the highest bidder.
“Ana.” I pulled my hand out of his tight grip and turned my face away slightly, pretending to be scared and shy. “My name is Ana.”
He tilted his head to one side and peered at me like I might be a treasure worth keeping. “What brings you to us, Ana?”
“Botany,” I said, keeping my tone as delicate as possible.
“The study of plants?”
I nodded.
“I’m sorry to inform you that there is little life on this ship except the yeast in our ale.”
Perhaps that was a joke. Freija would politely laugh at that, but Ana… Ana needed to be as terrified as I felt. I opened my mouth to reply when something moved from behind me.
“She’s with me,” a familiar voice said and Mads appeared at my side.
Thank the ancestors.
Henrik’s mouth curved up at one corner. “Well, if it isn’t Ragnhild’s errand boy. I heard you’d requested my debt be repaid.”
“Leave her alone, Henrik.”
Those lips curved higher and a shiver ran down my spine as Henrik turned his stare back to me. “Tell me, Ana, do you know who he reports to?”
A test. One that would expose me if I didn’t answer correctly or swiftly. Instead of straightening my spine as I would normally do when faced with someone of Henrik’s status, I curved my shoulders inward. “Crown Princess Ragnhild.”
He nodded. “Do you know her?”
“She is a f-friend.”
“Really? You have friends in high places.” His eyebrows rose to meet his hairline and he leaned back on his heels, hands settling on that sword-belt at his waist, as he surveyed me once more.
Heavy footsteps sounded behind me and a knowing warmth settled across my back.
Henrik peered over my shoulder and I followed his gaze to find Halvar.
“Very interesting friends.” Henrik tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at Halvar. “Have we met? You seem awfully familiar.”
“No,” Halvar replied.
I couldn’t breathe. Ancestors save us.
“Are you sure?”
When Halvar didn’t reply, Henrik shook his head and returned his focus to me and my unmoving chest.
“So, Ragnhild wants you to look at plants for her?”
I sucked in a wheezy breath and nodded meekly. “She asked me to study with a scholar in the south. I am merely doing as she requested.”
Henrik huffed.
“Leave her be.” Mads stepped between us, boots planted firmly on the deck. “Don’t you have more important things to be doing than harassing passengers?”
“Greeting guests on my ship is exactly what I should be doing.”
“Doubtful,” Mads grumbled.
“Why don’t you head below deck, Mads. Oh, and take your big friend too. Leave me to my conversation with the charming woman. ”
I turned my gaze back to the blue waves. This was turning into a precarious situation, and I could feel the tension radiating off Halvar at my back. I needed to leave before my bodyguard lashed out, Henrik looked too closely at me, or worse, invited me to his—
“Why don’t you come have a drink with me, Ana?”
Oh, ancestors. “No, thank you.”
“No? I had so hoped to discuss your studies.”
The way he said it sounded like he wanted to study something else, but also like he might be catching on to the fact that I was not who I said I was.
I needed to get away from him. Now.
A squawk sounded from overhead and we all turned toward the noise.
A large falcon appeared and landed on the railing next to Henrik.
He stepped toward the bird of prey and retrieved a leather roll off its leg.
A message. They used birds as messengers here too.
We did so ever so often, but largely relied on messengers on horseback.
Henrik unrolled the parchment, gave it a nod, then returned his focus back to us. “I do have some nice books that might be of interest to you.”
I highly doubt that.
“Ana has been requested by the cooks,” Mads interjected, his tall frame still defending me from the captain.
Henrik’s gaze darkened like a storm rolling down the fjord. “Has she, now?”
That was my cue. I made my voice as small as possible as I said, “Thank you again for granting us passage, Captain Henrik.”
“My pleasure.”
“Let’s go.” Mads moved, shoved Halvar’s chest, and corralled us toward a set of stairs near the back of the ship.
We followed him, giving Henrik a wide berth, but were stopped by someone clearing their throat. Peering over my shoulder, I found Henrik studying me like I was a sparkling, golden crown.
“Did you need something from the kitchens?” I asked.
He shook his head with a ghost of a smirk. “You know where to find me, Ana.” Then he winked and sauntered off.
A shudder ran down my spine. I definitely would not be finding him. It would only lead to my own demise.