“We should go,” he said quietly, not looking at her. “Too many eyes. An’ nae all o’ them belong here.”
Her breath shuddered out of her, relief and fear tangling painfully together.
“Yes,” she said at once, the word escaping before she could soften it. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Halvard rose smoothly, his presence commanding enough that conversations nearby faltered. Sten noticed immediately, his gaze sweeping the room, his hand drifting closer to his weapon.
Halvard offered his hand to Elsie. She took it, gripping tighter than propriety allowed, drawing strength from the heat of his palm.
As they made for the door, Elsie felt the weight of those watching eyes follow them. The tavern’s warmth seemed to retreat behind her, replaced by the cool, waiting evening. The stairs to their room creaked under their steps. When Halvard closed the door behind them, the sound echoed far too loudly in the small space.
Only then did Elsie sag slightly, her composure cracking.
She turned away from him, crossing to the window, staring out at the darkened town where shadows pooled thickly between buildings. Midnight was drawing closer, each passing second a tightening thread.
Her sister was in danger.
And Elsie stood trapped between the man who had vowed to protect her and the threat that could destroy the only family she had left. When they reached their room it felt suddenly too small; the night, too close.
Her thoughts spun in frantic circles, each one ending in the same place: Selene, alone, unprotected; at the mercy of men who spoke her name as though it were a coin already in their pocket.
She pressed her forehead to the stone, willing herself to think clearly. Behind her, Halvard moved. She felt him before she heard him—the subtle shift of weight, the quiet certainty of his presence. He did not speak at first; he waited. That, more than anything, undid her.
Elsie turned. He stood near the door, his arms crossed, his face shadowed by the single candle burning low on the table. His gaze was fixed on her with a patience that was uncharacteristic for him, as if he understood just how difficult this was for her.
Should she risk it all and tell Halvard everything? Should she risk her own life by meeting the man all alone, just as he had asked?
If there is anyone who knows what I should do about this, it’s Halvard. He’ll know what to tell me. Besides, if I don’t tell him about this, how will he ever forgive me?
“I need to tell you something,” Elsie said in the end, deciding it was the best course of action. Still, her voice shook despite her effort to steady it.
Halvard straightened immediately, approaching her. “What is it?”
She crossed the room slowly, each step an act of will. When she stopped before him, she lifted her chin and met his eyes—bright, searching, already braced for trouble.
“A man approached before, when you were watching,” she said. “Not a villager.”
The air between them changed. Halvard’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her, his fingers twitching by his hip as if he itched to reach for his dagger, the gesture unconscious and familiar. “I ken, I saw.”
“He knew my sister’s name,” she continued, the words scraping her throat raw. “He spoke it as if he knew where she was. As if he could reach her.”
Halvard’s jaw clenched, his expression turning dangerous in a way she had only seen a few times before. He looked over his shoulder at the door, and Elsie feared he would march right backto the tavern to search for the man, to demand answers—to get them out of him in whatever way was necessary.
“He told me to meet him,” she said. “At midnight, behind the tavern. Alone.”
Silence fell heavy and absolute between them. For a long moment, Halvard did not speak. When he did, his voice was low and controlled, every word edged with iron.
“Ye were never goin’ there alone.”
“I know,” she said quickly. Halvard would have followed her, she figured. Now that she had calmed down just enough to think reasonably, she realized there had never been a chance for her to leave their room unnoticed. Halvard would have kept an eye on her, and whatever excuse she managed to come up with, it would have been too feeble to keep his attention away from her. “But I needed you to understand why I hesitated, why I didn’t tell you at once. He made it very clear. If I disobey, Selene pays for it.”
Halvard’s eyes softened then, just slightly, the fury giving way to something deeper, something that made her breath catch.
“Ye told me anyway,” he said.
“Yes,” she said. “Because I trust you. And because I can’t do this without you.”
It was the truth, plain and simple; Elsie couldn’t do this on her own. She needed Halvard by her side. She needed his solid presence, his reassurance, and more than likely, she needed his sword. He would protect her, she knew, no matter what.
