He turned and walked across the room, bending to pick up a bucket. "Come."
Katrin silently followed him back outside. Her thoughts raced with the recollection of his kiss and the anticipation of what might come next. How could something that felt so good be so bad? What reason would the gods have to remove her gift, simply for laying with Hradi? Hadn't they given her foreknowledge of him? Wasn’t she meant to pass on her ability? Nothing made sense anymore. Now more than ever, she needed to seek answers directly from the gods. Not at this moment, but soon. There was not enough time beforeManíbegan his rise into the sky.
Hints of another idea arose. If it worked, it might be her only chance, at least until she learned if her sudden suspicion of Gunilla's claims was valid. And if so, why had her mistress lied?
At the same time, Katrin hoped to finally experience at least some of the pleasure she'd only heard about in partial whispers,especially now that she had felt some of it for herself. She bit her lip to contain an eager smile.
***
Hradi strode across the yard toward the well, his thoughts on the coming night. He couldn’t wait to get Katrin in his bed, naked and ready for him. He raised his eyes to the sky, giving a silent thanks to Freyja for sending this young witch to him. If she and her mistress intended harm to Grindafell, he would know the truth soon, and have the added reward of enjoying the delights of Katrin’s body.
Though Hradi had his suspicions about Gunilla, he still felt certain Katrin was innocent of such treachery. There were times when he found her watching the older woman with questioning eyes. She had doubts as well. How he knew, he couldn’t be sure, but the instinct continued to strengthen.
He stopped at the well and pulled on the rope, bringing up a large bucket. "Use this for the pots. I will bring the wood."
He left her to fill the bucket and went to the stack of firewood stored beside the barn. Gathering sticks along with a few small logs, he returned to the house to find Katrin, as instructed, filling a pot with the water. The sight of her in his home like this stirred strange emotions, ones he hadn’t ever known before. Though it had only been a short while since their arrival, he realized he liked having her here. Silently, he made a vow to do whatever he must to keep her, tending his house and waiting for him. Even if that meant taking her as his captive, should his gut be proven wrong. He refused to consider how wrong he’d been once before.
He placed the logs and sticks into the pit and gathered the leather pouch containing touchwood. Scattering a few of the soft wood chips over the logs, he picked up the flint and quickly sparked a fire. Within minutes, the flames grew. Katrin lifted the heavy pot and hung it from the iron bar across the fire.
When she straightened, she met his stare, a triumphant smile on her face. "I don’t usually do the cooking for our family."
"Why not?"
"The younger girls are responsible for that. That is how they pay Gunilla for their lessons."
"I see. And how do you pay for your lessons?"
Her smile faltered before she forced it back into place. "I am more like Gunilla’s daughter. She has raised me since I was a small child and has expected nothing from me but…"
"But what?" That she hid this from him somehow annoyed him, again rousing the worry that his instincts had been wrong. The very idea left a bitter taste in the back of his mouth.
Several moments passed before she answered. "I usually share visions of the coming days with her each night before we go to sleep."
"What sort of visions?"
She shrugged, her gaze darting away from his before returning again. "Mostly if we will find a town to help, or a city where we may find ways to offer aid to those in need. Sometimes, I can tell if danger is ahead and we can plan to avoid it."
Hradi nodded but remained silent while contemplating her words. He wanted to believe she was sincere, and the way she now held his stare assured him she spoke the truth. Or was she a very adept liar and he chose to see what he wanted? When had he ever doubted himself so much? Never, at least not since… He shook away the path his thoughts began to wander.
"I will bring back something from the smokehouse. We will continue this. I have many questions for you."
"I am sure you do."
He grinned at the sass in her voice. With another nod, he turned and headed for the smokehouse.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Katrin stared after him then turned her attention to her satchel. Reaching for the ties holding the pack closed, she pulled them open and took out her wand. Caressing the slender wood, she found her wariness fading, replaced by a courage she’d rarely experienced. Setting the sack on the floor beside the wall, she carried the wand while searching for the wooden plates she would need to serve their dinner. It seemed Hradi had only been gone mere moments when he returned, a smoked roast in his hands.
"This will need to be heated." While he spoke, he didn't look at her while he spoke, and spit the meat to place over the fire. Katrin found herself watching his hands intently when he worked the meat onto the stake. She imagined those hands on her and her mouth suddenly went dry. Why did this man spark such vivid images? She'd neverfelther visions before, not like this. Not making her gut clench, her palms sweat, her knees weaken, like they did when she looked at Dream Man.
Hradi stood, dusting his hands off, and faced her, a knowing smile curling his lips.
"We need more water," he said. "I will fetch it."
Once more, he left her alone for a few moments, just long enough to gather her scattered wits before he returned and upended her senses again. When he stepped back into the house, he poured some of the water into a basin, where he rinsed off his hands then splashed water on his face.
He turned and motioned to the basin, offering her the opportunity to clean herself off as well. She hesitated before stepping beside him. Carefully setting her wand down, she rinsed her hands and face, the cool water both refreshing and soothing. She used the cloth he handed her to dry herself then turned to her wand. Before she could pick it up, Hradi grabbed it.
