you not guess what I am thinking?”
“Oh, I can guess, all right, but you would have to be out of your mind to suggest such a thing. Reyna is a Dane.”
Turning on his heel, Wulf strode off to join his mother, who was tending the wounded alongside Reyna.
Thora smiled up at Wulf, her eyes carefully inspecting him for injuries.
“I am fine, Mother, truly. I’ve suffered but a few scratches this day. What you see on me is the enemies’ blood.”
Thora gestured toward Reyna and lowered her voice. “I saw what she did. I have yet to thank her for saving my son’s life, but I will. Reyna is a jarl’s daughter, Wulf. She deserves better than what life has dealt her.”
Wulf groaned. “Not you, too, Mother. Reyna is a Dane; have you forgotten that her people killed my wife and the child she carried?”
Thora stroked Wulf’s cheek. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But I seriously doubt either Reyna or her family took part in that particular raid on our farmstead. I urge you to do what is right concerning Reyna’s future, Wulf.”
Thora walked away, leaving Wulf to his own thoughts. Turning his eyes on Reyna, he gave her a long, slow look. As if sensing his gaze upon her, she glanced up at him. Their eyes met and held. Wulf was the first to break the spellbinding tension that flowed between them. He deliberately turned his head away and left Hagar’s hall to return to his own.
Wulf spent a long time cleaning up and changing his blood-soaked clothing. He used that time to consider Reyna’s future. What his family expected him to do was absurd, and Reyna would be the first to agree with him. He was the last man in the world Reyna would agree to wed.
When Wulf’s stomach began to rumble, he walked to his brother’s hall to share the evening meal. He hadn’t eaten since early morning and hoped the thralls had had time to put together a substantial victory feast.
The family was already gathered at the table when Wulf arrived. The earlier chaos in the hall had been restored to order. The wounded were resting on benches and the thralls were engaged in normal activities. The delicious odors coming from the various cooking pots made Wulf’s mouth water.
“You are just in time, Wulf,” Hagar greeted. “Sit down and join us.”
Wulf took his seat, suddenly aware that Reyna was not present in the hall. “Where is Reyna?”
“She is resting in Helga’s sleeping alcove,” Thora explained. “The girls and Eric will return tomorrow.” She sent Wulf a meaningful look. “I do not know what we would have done without Reyna today. Thanks to her skill, we didn’t lose any of our wounded.”
“Do not discount your own skill, Mother Thora,” Olga huffed. “I do not know why everyone is making so much over a thrall whose duty is to serve her master in what ever capacity is required of her.”
Thora sent Olga a quelling look. “What makes you dislike the girl, Olga?”
“Am I the only one to see through her? Reyna will bring trouble to our farmstead, mark my word.”
“If that is the way you feel, Olga, then send me home.”
No one had seen Reyna leave the sleeping alcove. Nor were they aware she had overheard their conversation.
“I would have Wulf sell you, were it within my power,” Olga snapped. “You are disobedient and far too bold. You should call me mistress like the other thralls. You are no better than the lowest slave in my house-hold.”
“Enough, Olga,” Hagar commanded. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Reyna.”
Olga’s humph was loud and heartfelt.
Wulf paid scant heed to the conversation as hisheated gaze raked over Reyna. Apparently his mother had given her a new set of clothing. Instead of harsh, dun-colored wool, Reyna wore a soft linen undertunic and an overtunic of bright green velvet, belted with links of silver. Her shining pale hair had been combed out and fell loose to her waist.
“Your new clothing suits you, Reyna,” Thora said. “Sit down and join us. You must be
“Oh, I can guess, all right, but you would have to be out of your mind to suggest such a thing. Reyna is a Dane.”
Turning on his heel, Wulf strode off to join his mother, who was tending the wounded alongside Reyna.
Thora smiled up at Wulf, her eyes carefully inspecting him for injuries.
“I am fine, Mother, truly. I’ve suffered but a few scratches this day. What you see on me is the enemies’ blood.”
Thora gestured toward Reyna and lowered her voice. “I saw what she did. I have yet to thank her for saving my son’s life, but I will. Reyna is a jarl’s daughter, Wulf. She deserves better than what life has dealt her.”
Wulf groaned. “Not you, too, Mother. Reyna is a Dane; have you forgotten that her people killed my wife and the child she carried?”
Thora stroked Wulf’s cheek. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But I seriously doubt either Reyna or her family took part in that particular raid on our farmstead. I urge you to do what is right concerning Reyna’s future, Wulf.”
Thora walked away, leaving Wulf to his own thoughts. Turning his eyes on Reyna, he gave her a long, slow look. As if sensing his gaze upon her, she glanced up at him. Their eyes met and held. Wulf was the first to break the spellbinding tension that flowed between them. He deliberately turned his head away and left Hagar’s hall to return to his own.
Wulf spent a long time cleaning up and changing his blood-soaked clothing. He used that time to consider Reyna’s future. What his family expected him to do was absurd, and Reyna would be the first to agree with him. He was the last man in the world Reyna would agree to wed.
When Wulf’s stomach began to rumble, he walked to his brother’s hall to share the evening meal. He hadn’t eaten since early morning and hoped the thralls had had time to put together a substantial victory feast.
The family was already gathered at the table when Wulf arrived. The earlier chaos in the hall had been restored to order. The wounded were resting on benches and the thralls were engaged in normal activities. The delicious odors coming from the various cooking pots made Wulf’s mouth water.
“You are just in time, Wulf,” Hagar greeted. “Sit down and join us.”
Wulf took his seat, suddenly aware that Reyna was not present in the hall. “Where is Reyna?”
“She is resting in Helga’s sleeping alcove,” Thora explained. “The girls and Eric will return tomorrow.” She sent Wulf a meaningful look. “I do not know what we would have done without Reyna today. Thanks to her skill, we didn’t lose any of our wounded.”
“Do not discount your own skill, Mother Thora,” Olga huffed. “I do not know why everyone is making so much over a thrall whose duty is to serve her master in what ever capacity is required of her.”
Thora sent Olga a quelling look. “What makes you dislike the girl, Olga?”
“Am I the only one to see through her? Reyna will bring trouble to our farmstead, mark my word.”
“If that is the way you feel, Olga, then send me home.”
No one had seen Reyna leave the sleeping alcove. Nor were they aware she had overheard their conversation.
“I would have Wulf sell you, were it within my power,” Olga snapped. “You are disobedient and far too bold. You should call me mistress like the other thralls. You are no better than the lowest slave in my house-hold.”
“Enough, Olga,” Hagar commanded. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Reyna.”
Olga’s humph was loud and heartfelt.
Wulf paid scant heed to the conversation as hisheated gaze raked over Reyna. Apparently his mother had given her a new set of clothing. Instead of harsh, dun-colored wool, Reyna wore a soft linen undertunic and an overtunic of bright green velvet, belted with links of silver. Her shining pale hair had been combed out and fell loose to her waist.
“Your new clothing suits you, Reyna,” Thora said. “Sit down and join us. You must be
Similar Books
