"We have much to discuss." He caught her hand, her fingers locking with his. "But later."
She nodded. "Your friends are waiting."
"Yes. Come."
She tugged on his hand when he turned to head back to the camp. "The kindling!"
How easily she made him forget where he was and what he was doing. He bent to help her gather the dropped bundle of twigs and sticks and they soon made their way back to the camp, the wolves trotting on either side of them. He smiled, knowing the animals had long ago accepted him and now they protected him as well.
He noted that Karsi and Leif had tended the horses. Ari's gaze settled on Alarr, sitting a short distance away. The rage he'd felt earlier to hear Alarr threaten Thora rose again, but he pushed it back. He didn't need truly Alarr's testimony, there were others he would join with in Tingwalla, and combined with Karsi and Leif's declarations and the runes were more than sufficient to clear his name.
Yet, he didn't want to cast Alarr out, not just yet. The man might be useful in other ways, especially if it turned out he did indeed play them all falsely. He said nothing, but a warning glare drew a curt nod of acknowledgement from the other man.
"Fetch the touchwood from my pack." He released Thora to tend the fire and took a seat beside Karsi.
The other man leaned over. "What happened?"
Ari shrugged. "Alarr recognized Thora."
Karsi and Leif exchanged looks. "From where?"
"He'd had dealings with her clan a few years back." Ari shifted, his gaze drawn to Thora as she set about using the striking stone to light the touchwood and the kindling. "She ran away from her home. Her father planned to wed her to someone not of her choosing.
Karsi chuckled. "And you are going to do so now?"
Again, Ari shrugged. "Perhaps. Once this is all over..."
"It's obvious you are smitten," Leif said with a chuckle.
Ari arched an eyebrow at his friend. "Why do you say that?"
"It's the way you look at her." Karsi nudged him.
Ari grinned. "Yes, I care for her, and I do plan to take her as wife."
Leif gave a knowing nod. "We thought as much. What will her father say? Surely he'll be in Tingwalla. What if he refuses the match?"
"When he learns about Hersir, he will be grateful to have me as son-in-law."
"What do you mean?" Karsi asked.
"The man her father planned to wed her to is Hersir."
A moment of silence erupted into astonished whoops.
"So you will have more vengeance against him! You've stolen his bride!" Leif laughed. "What could be better?"
"She is not just vengeance," Ari insisted.
"We know." Karsi shot him a sly grin before picking up the skin to take a long drink. "I cannot wait to see his face when he learns what you've done."
Certain he had the support of his friends, Ari accepted the skin from Karsi, savoring a heavy swallow of ale before taking another. His gaze settled once again on Thora. The fire now blazed and she sat with her wolves on either side of her as she removed the meager utensils for warming the meal. A few moments later, Leif handed her several cloth-wrapped bundles. She accepted them with a smile and a hearty thanks before setting about heating the meats enclosed in the cloths. Ari decided he rather liked this comfortable feeling, watching Thora as she busied herself, and knowing later she would be in his arms, pressed tight against him.
She loved him! He'd not thought it possible, not after the way he'd lied. But hearing Alarr threaten her had made him realize just how much he needed her beside him. Always. How he'd refrained from striking Alarr down at that moment, he might never know, but he thanked the gods for the strength to do so.
The need to tell Thora how he felt had come upon him with a sudden force he'd had no chance to resist. To assure her she was more than just a means to his vengeance, she had become a part of him that he never wanted to let go. He imagined her large with his son, and couldn't wait to make her his in the eyes of everyone and the gods.
She turned, her gaze settling on his. A flush crept into her cheeks and the warmth and love in her eyes warmed Ari's heart as it had never been before. He anticipated the coming night with great eagerness.
