“You know her? How?” Rangvald demanded. He looked around as though he only now realized where he stood. “Is she here? Is this where she ran to?”
Rangvald tried to push Ivar out of his way, but Ivar grabbed hold.
“You need to sober up, my friend, and you need to bathe.”
“What I neeed is my woooman.” Rangvald stuttered. “And another drink.”
Lena snatched the wineskin from Rangvald’s hand and shook her head.
“She won’t want to see you to begin with, and she definitely won’t be willing to talk to you in this state. Ivar, get him sober while I delay Lorna.”
Lena spun on her heels and dashed toward the bathhouse. She had no idea how to keep Lorna occupied until Ivar got Rangvald sober enough to not humiliate himself or ruin his chance with Lorna.
By the time the evening meal started, Lena was on edge. She tried to quiet the jealousy that had taken root since Rangvald arrived, but she could not stop envying Lorna since it was obvious Rangvald would go to extremes to have her. While Rangvald and Signy had traveled with their father for the last negotiations, Rangvald’s older brother Harold and his younger brother Sven had stayed home to oversee their homestead. As a second son, Rangvald would be free to marry who he wanted, and it was clear he wanted Lorna. Ivar did not have such a luxury. Things had been tenuous between the two tribes, and now the hold up in negotiations was causing more tension as reports of border raids came every day. Soren’s herders stole from Thor’s only to have Thor’s shepherd steal back their flocks and take some extra. They went back and forth.
Lena guided Lorna into the gathering hall and tried to keep her new best friend occupied as she searched for Ivar and Rangvald. Lorna gasped, and Lena was certain Lorna had spotted Rangvald. Lorna covered her mouth, but her eyes widened with shock as Rangvald leaped over the table and crashed through the crowd to reach Lorna. In turn, she spun and dashed out of the longhouse. Lena turned to follow them, but Ivar caught her around the waist.
“Leave them. They need to sort this out for themselves.”
“I know. I’m just worried she’ll kill him first.” Lena was not joking. Try as she might, she had not gotten the finer details of what transpired between Lorna and Rangvald, and she had not learned why Lorna had run other than because Lorna thought Rangvald had broken a promise. She feared Lorna might gut him like a fattened pig. Lorna was as fine a warrior as any shieldmaiden if not better. She pushed Lena to her limits every time they sparred, but the woman never seemed to break a sweat nor have a hair out of place. If she had not frightened all the other men, she would have had a line of admirers.
Ivar and Lena watched in alternating horror and amusement as Rangvald spent the next week pining for Lorna and trying to convince her to return home. The man lost weight and seemed a shell of himself except for the moments when he saw Lorna. She tried to avoid him, but he arranged for her to train with any weapon of her choice rather than just her sword. He ensured thralls sent trays of food to her chamber when she refused to join them for evening meals, and he managed to have clothes delivered to Lorna’s chamber when she refused Lena’s offer of more gowns rather than leather pants and tunics. Lena moved into Ivar’s chamber when each night Rangvald took up guard outside the chamber she had shared with Lorna.
It took only a week for Lorna to see how her rejection affected Rangvald. He was a man in love and in pain. Their reconciliation brought sighs to everyone as the drama played out between a couple who were fated for one another. They left with Lorna riding in front of Rangvald as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
The only disappointment for Ivar and Lena was that they finalized the betrothal, and Inga would arrive for a trial marriage within a fortnight. The weight of the world was crushing Lena as Inga’s arrival drew nearer. She waffled between wanting to cling to Ivar during every possible moment and putting distance between them so they would be virtual strangers by the time Inga arrived. Ivar left her with little choice since he refused to be more than an arm's reach from her.
Seven
“He will have my head, Lena. No. Absolutely not. No.” Eindride shook his head as he continued to saddle his horse.
“Then I will go on my own.” Lena stepped beside Eindride and waited for her friend to look at her. “I don’t want to go to Kaupang any more than you want to take me, but I have to go. Ivar will not go through with the marriage if I am still here.”
“And we will all breathe easier for that.”
“Until things with Thor’s tribe fall so far apart that nothing short of a war will fix it. We need this alliance, even if no one wants it. Thor’s numbers and strength are greater than ours. We would not stand a chance if he waged a full attack.” Lena stroked the flank of Eindride’s horse as she pleaded with him. “I don’t dare travel that far alone. Even I’m not the impulsive. But I can’t stay here. This isn’t about what either Ivar or I want. It’s about what’s right for our people.”
“You’d give up that easily?” Eindride looked down at the woman his best friend loved with a passion he hoped he one day possessed for the woman he chose.
“It’s not about giving up,” Lena bellowed before taking a calming voice. “I’m sick of people saying that. Damn it, I don’t want to give Ivar up. I don’t want to watch him with another woman, see his child grow in another woman’s belly, but I also won’t make him sacrifice his life for me. If he weren’t his father’s only heir, Soren would have killed him already for disobeying him. I fear for Ivar’s life. Sometimes Soren’s gaze is so dark and menacing that I’m terrified he will harm Ivar regardless of not having another heir.”
“What you say is true. I’ve seen those looks, too. But you understand just as well as I do that Ivar won’t stay here to greet Inga. He will chase after you. Then what? He won’t stop until he has you on his horse and then in his bed. What will that get any of us? Soren is likely to kill you for interfering with the wedding. And me along with you. That’s not the welcome home I want.”
“So, you expect me to stay? To watch another woman with the only man I’ve ever loved? The only man who has ever touched me.”
“Lena, if there was another way, I would help you. You must realize I would. It’s been the three of us since we were children, but I’ve sworn fealty to Soren, and I won’t let either you or Ivar throw away your lives.”
“You’d just have us live in misery.” Lena shook her head and stepped around Eindride. She turned the corner while looking back at Eindride in disgust, so she was unprepared for the wall of muscle she walked into. She squeaked as strong hands gripped her shoulders. Her head whipped around, and her blue eyes met hazel eyes filled with fury.
Ivar could not believe what he had heard. Lena still wanted to run away to Kaupang, and she was still trying to enlist Eindride’s help. He bent low enough to scoop Lena over his shoulder. His large hand landed a swat to her backside, and she yelped more from surprise than pain. Ivar marched across the homestead, uncaring of the scene they made. He swung the door to Lena’s home open and was thankful that no one was inside. He dropped Lena to her feet and only barely caught her hand in time to keep her from falling. Ivar locked and barred the door before turning towards her. Lena put both hands up and shook her head as she tried to inch away.
“Don’t shake your head at me, woman. You intended to coerce our friend into helping you run away. You claim it’s because it’s the right thing to do, but I think you’re too coward to fight for us. I think you mean more to me than I do to you. I’m the only one trying to keep us together. If you don’t want me, then say as much, Lena. Otherwise, I will fight to my dying breath to keep us together.”
“How dare you call me a coward? Do you have any idea how the thought of seeing you with another woman tears me apart? But do you see me falling apart? No, because I have no choice in this. Fate is not in my hands. It’s not even in your hands. Have you thought about what it will be like when you see me with a husband? When I carry another man’s child? Is that something you look forward to?”
Ivar lunged and pulled Lena against him, his fingers biting into her upper arms. He shook her before claiming her mouth in a punishing and possessive kiss.
“The only fucking husband you will ever have is me. And no woman will carry my child but you, since I will not be sticking my cock in anyone but you. I will kill any man who thinks he can have you. Can have what is mine.”
