father, Roald stepped out of the ship and into the water. He untied the rope holding it in place on the pier, then gave the boat a shove so it began floating away from him. Raising his hand, he signaled the archer standing nearby.
The archer nocked a flaming arrow and shot. Within seconds, the longship exploded in flames. Roald didn’t move, not until the boat was little more than a golden silhouette in the dark distance.
He returned to the pier. Bonfires had been lit along the shoreline. Men and women were dancing and drinking, but Roald didn’t feel like celebrating. At the start of the footpath, he turned back, not missing Eva standing away from the crowd. She had covered her hair with a shawl, probably hoping to fit in with the other women.
Deep inside, it meant something special to him that she’d risk attending his father’s funeral. Strangers weren’t typically welcomed at this sort of celebration. And though strict orders had been given to all of his people not to harass or harm her, Roald didn’t want to tempt the devil tonight. Emotions were running high. It would be better to take her back to the house, where she could eat in peace, then retire, before he was officially crowned as the jarl.
He joined her by the pier. “Why did you leave the safety of your room?”
“Jarl Roald.” She curtsied, her hypnotizing eyes meeting his gaze. “I awoke early and needed some fresh air. Forgive me if I’ve overstepped my boundaries by coming here.”
“No,” he said. “As long as you are my guest, you are welcome anywhere on my steading. Though I caution you to be keenly aware of wandering alone at night. Though most of my men are honorable, some lose their minds in drink.”
“I understand,” she said. “I have two brothers who occasionally make drunken fools of themselves.”
He nodded. “Perhaps we should return to the hall together. This night is ripe for trouble.”
She folded her hands. “What you said about your father…”
“Yes?”
“So beautiful, milord. So brutal.”
“We live a very different life than you, sweet Eva. Your men herd reindeer and mine conquer the world.”
“Aye,” she acknowledged. “And nothing will ever change it.”
“No. But we don’t prey upon the innocent in our homeland. So never fear my people.” He cradled her hand in his then, wishing they were back in Silvia’s bedchamber together. “How is my sister-in-law?”
“Resting.”
“I am pleased to hear it.”
“You didn’t forget about the final ritual, did you?”
Of all nights to expect his family to gather. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“Do you put your gods off, Jarl Roald?”
“No.”
“Then offer my gods the same submission. After you are crowned, not a moment later.”
Chapter Twelve
“Y ou understand I have no quarrel with you,” Roald said as he sat beside Eva at the high table.
With the great hall nearly empty, she felt comfortable eating with the jarl in a seat of honor. “Yes, I do. However, milord, I cannot overlook the negative reaction your brother and captain had, nor the hateful looks I get whenever someone sees me. All the more reason for me to complete my work and depart for home tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” He’d started to take a drink of ale, but he slammed the cup down. “No.” He shook his head. “I won’t allow it. Tis too soon.”
Eva swallowed a bite of warm bread. “Dependent on Silvia’s condition, of course.”
“Of course,” he said, sounding despondent as he gazed at the hearth. “Even if she’s alive and well, I ask you to stay.”
“A request I must regrettably deny.”
“Why? Is my hospitality not good enough?”
Eva pulled her shawl tighter about her shoulders. “Your kindness has exceeded all of my expectations.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “I could have sent you to the slave quarters and denied you access to my hall.”
“But you didn’t.” She took a drink of water. “Nor do I believe you’d treat anyone you
The archer nocked a flaming arrow and shot. Within seconds, the longship exploded in flames. Roald didn’t move, not until the boat was little more than a golden silhouette in the dark distance.
He returned to the pier. Bonfires had been lit along the shoreline. Men and women were dancing and drinking, but Roald didn’t feel like celebrating. At the start of the footpath, he turned back, not missing Eva standing away from the crowd. She had covered her hair with a shawl, probably hoping to fit in with the other women.
Deep inside, it meant something special to him that she’d risk attending his father’s funeral. Strangers weren’t typically welcomed at this sort of celebration. And though strict orders had been given to all of his people not to harass or harm her, Roald didn’t want to tempt the devil tonight. Emotions were running high. It would be better to take her back to the house, where she could eat in peace, then retire, before he was officially crowned as the jarl.
He joined her by the pier. “Why did you leave the safety of your room?”
“Jarl Roald.” She curtsied, her hypnotizing eyes meeting his gaze. “I awoke early and needed some fresh air. Forgive me if I’ve overstepped my boundaries by coming here.”
“No,” he said. “As long as you are my guest, you are welcome anywhere on my steading. Though I caution you to be keenly aware of wandering alone at night. Though most of my men are honorable, some lose their minds in drink.”
“I understand,” she said. “I have two brothers who occasionally make drunken fools of themselves.”
He nodded. “Perhaps we should return to the hall together. This night is ripe for trouble.”
She folded her hands. “What you said about your father…”
“Yes?”
“So beautiful, milord. So brutal.”
“We live a very different life than you, sweet Eva. Your men herd reindeer and mine conquer the world.”
“Aye,” she acknowledged. “And nothing will ever change it.”
“No. But we don’t prey upon the innocent in our homeland. So never fear my people.” He cradled her hand in his then, wishing they were back in Silvia’s bedchamber together. “How is my sister-in-law?”
“Resting.”
“I am pleased to hear it.”
“You didn’t forget about the final ritual, did you?”
Of all nights to expect his family to gather. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“Do you put your gods off, Jarl Roald?”
“No.”
“Then offer my gods the same submission. After you are crowned, not a moment later.”
Chapter Twelve
“Y ou understand I have no quarrel with you,” Roald said as he sat beside Eva at the high table.
With the great hall nearly empty, she felt comfortable eating with the jarl in a seat of honor. “Yes, I do. However, milord, I cannot overlook the negative reaction your brother and captain had, nor the hateful looks I get whenever someone sees me. All the more reason for me to complete my work and depart for home tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” He’d started to take a drink of ale, but he slammed the cup down. “No.” He shook his head. “I won’t allow it. Tis too soon.”
Eva swallowed a bite of warm bread. “Dependent on Silvia’s condition, of course.”
“Of course,” he said, sounding despondent as he gazed at the hearth. “Even if she’s alive and well, I ask you to stay.”
“A request I must regrettably deny.”
“Why? Is my hospitality not good enough?”
Eva pulled her shawl tighter about her shoulders. “Your kindness has exceeded all of my expectations.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “I could have sent you to the slave quarters and denied you access to my hall.”
“But you didn’t.” She took a drink of water. “Nor do I believe you’d treat anyone you
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