“You do not wish to see your family?” Tormod asked.
Her head jerked up. That was not what she had expected him to ask. “It has been a long time, and I’m sure you have realised my stepmother does not wish to see me.” She looked out across the water to where her childhood home lay just over the craggy mountains.
“I am sure your father will. After all, what father would not wish to see his daughter after her marriage and ensure she is well cared for?”
She continued gazing across the water, her mind racing. Was this a test? What would he say if she told him now? It might be for the best in the long run. She opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t get the words out.
“You would not tell him that we had treated you ill?” Tormod said as the silence stretched.
“No!” she replied, stunned that he even thought to ask.
“Those bruises were from before you came here.”
She drew in a breath. So, that was what concerned him. That she would lie? Or was it that he was concerned about her family judging him?
“I would never lie about who did that,” she assured him. There was a long pause, and then he nodded. “And I expect your stepmother already knows who is responsible.”
“I am sure she does,” Aoife whispered.
“I have arranged for you to work with Magda, Håkon’s wife.”
“Oh?” She smiled. That would allow her to remain close to Elisedd.
“That pleases you?”
“Yes. I will be able to see Elisedd and…”
His smile faded. “The boy? You care a lot for him.”
“Yes, I do. His mother was one of my only friends. Besides, the two of us are alone here and I am worried about her. And about the attacks on Car Cadell Elisedd spoke of.”
Tormod moved away and frowned. “Alone? You are alone within an entire village of people? You are alone with me, your husband?”
“You know what I mean. He is my kinsman.”
“I am your kinsman, now.”
“Yes.” She stopped. He was in no mood to listen and she must be careful when speaking of the boy. If Tormod turned against him, then he would have little hope for a life here, and if they were to send him home… She shuddered at the thought of what might happen if Rhydderch found out he had run away to the Norsemen. Then she realised what he had said and drew in a breath, searching his face for any kind of emotion, and finding none.
“You are my husband. This is my home,” she agreed. How she wanted those words to be true. She looked at the ground, not allowing the tears prickling at her eyes to fall. She would not let him see how affected she was. And, in reality, she did not knowwhether the tears had come because he had declared her his kin, or because she was frustrated by his jealousy.
“Let us go back. It is time to eat.”
They said goodbye to Håkon and Elisedd, then the two of them walked side by side in silence as they started along the path back to the village.
“You spoke of me working with Magda?” She hoped he would not now change his mind. Could he not see that the boy had only come here to be with her and save her from trouble? Why was he so against him?
“Yes. Håkon wishes to learn your language so that he may trade with your people. If you teach his wife, she will, in turn, teach him and then others. She will also teach you to speak Norse.”
“But what about Ragna? I thought she would do that. She expects me to take over the day to day running of the village from her.”
“And you will. After you have done this. I have decided, and Ragna will agree.” He said it so abruptly that it made her realise for the first time he truly was the one in charge of the village. His word was law.
“Very well,” she agreed. They had reached the crest of the hill and she turned to take one last look across the Loch Garw before they headed down towards where the village lay on the shore of Loch Long.
Chapter Sixteen
Afew weeks later,Tormod oversaw the final work on the bathhouse. Long days of battle training meant that a place to relax and soak fatigued muscles in warm water and good company would be most welcome. The summer days were at their longest and, although it was not as warm as he was used to in summer at home, he was looking forward to the feast that night in celebration of Midsummer, and in the distance he could hear some of the young men finishing nailing together theMidsommerstång. The cross-like structure with two circles hanging below it was central to their celebrations of summer and, once constructed, it would be wound with greenery and erected outside the hall. The younger girls had been gathering greenery from the forest under the close supervision of some of his best warriors. The celebrations would help to ensure a good harvest later in the year.
