CHAPTER FIVE
Asoft knock sounded at the door, and Katarina saw Arik standing there. In one hand, he carried a handful of yarrow. She blinked, not knowing what it was he wanted. “Hello, Arik.”
He offered the flowers to her, and in spite of the strange offering, she smiled.
“I thought you might enjoy these.” He held them out to her, and his hand brushed against hers when she accepted the yarrow.
With a slight laugh, she admitted, “I do not know what you want me to do. Am I meant to dry the herbs or make a tea?”
He entered her house and shrugged. “Put them in water and enjoy them. They were the only flowers I could find.”
She hesitated a moment, for Arik had never done anything like this in all the years she’d known him. He was the sort of man to slaughter his enemies, not bring a woman gifts. She couldn’t help but blurt out, “Why would you do this?”
He glanced over at the hearth. “Because I am hoping you will invite me to stay for a meal. I would rather not go to Valdr’s house at the moment.”
She relaxed at that, realizing that the flowers were a bribe, nothing more. The white yarrow blossomswerepretty, in a wild way. She was simply unaccustomed to a man bringing her a gift. “Has he been difficult?”
“He wants me to claim my place asjarl.” The tension in his tone suggested that he didn’t want this at all.
Katarina motioned for him to sit down. “Hrafn will be returning soon. We were going to join the others at the feasting tonight. There will be games and ale to celebrate your return.”
But Arik didn’t seem at all glad to hear this. He muttered a curse in a language she didn’t understand. “I should have guessed as much.” She set the yarrow down on a low table, and he regarded her with a narrowed look. “Truthfully, I would prefer to remain here.”
“You cannot avoid him forever. And if there were not a feast tonight, I would invite you to join Hrafn and me. As it is, we have no choice.”
Arik crossed the small space and picked up the bundle. She wasn’t quite certain what he was doing, but he found a wooden cup and filled it with water from a bucket. Then he set the yarrow inside it and placed it upon the table. “I suppose you are right.”
Katarina sat down, studying the flowers with amusement. For a moment, she felt like a foolish young girl, and she saw his answering smile. “No one has ever brought me flowers before.”
“Not even Leif?” He seemed surprised by her admission.
“No. He has never given me anything.” She didn’t know what else to say but simply shrugged. “He is a warrior and does not concern himself with such things.” Yet she sensed Arik’s disapproval.
“Where I come—” He stopped himself a moment and said, “That is, when I visited East Anglia, their customs are very different. If a man wishes to marry a woman, he must bring her gifts and spend time with her each day.”
At that, Katarina began to laugh. “And so it is the same, here. You know this to be true. It is only that Leif spends his time fighting and training.”
“And you do not think he should spend his time with you?” At that, his voice grew low, making her conscious of the differences between the two men. When she was younger, she had worshipped Arik Thorgrim, praying that he would grant her a look or a smile. He had shattered those dreams when he’d sailed away with Svala.
Now, his presence was undermining the careful life she had rebuilt. No, Arik hadn’t come here with any desire to gain her affection or to steal her away from Leif. He had brought the crushed weeds because he’d hoped to join them for a meal. Yet her foolish heart seemed to have forgotten that Arik had never wanted anything, save friendship from her.
She started to stand up, but he caught her wrist. The heat of his hand upon her skin made her flush. She froze, unable to grasp the thoughts that flitted through her mind.
“Katarina, do not doubt your worth as a woman. You could have any man from this tribe, if you wanted him.”
Except you,she thought. But she managed to cast off her nerves and gather her senses. “It is kind of you to say so.”
“Do not settle for a man who does not treat you well.”
She understood what he meant, but her desire for protection and vengeance meant that she needed a man like Leif at her side. She merely nodded.
Soon enough, she heard footsteps approaching. Hrafn entered their home, and eyed the pair of them. Katarina thought quickly and said, “Arik wanted to join us when we attend the feasting tonight.”
He released her wrist and stood, greeting her brother. Hrafn returned it, and then nodded toward the flowers. “Why is there a bundle of yarrow inside my cup?”
Arik winked at her and answered, “Katarina was steeping a tea for you.”
She recognized his teasing and smiled. “Are you ready to attend the feast?”
