“I am sorry.” He kissed her there, then peered up at her. “If you are with child, then I will welcome it. We will be a real family.”
She reached for him, touching the edges of his hair, and kissed him. Just then, a twig snapped nearby. Tormod looked around and settled her skirts back down, but did not rush to move. She started to pull away but he stopped her.
“Stay,” he said. “Everyone knows we are married. This is hardly a clandestine tryst in the woods.” He moved to lie beside her, smoothing her skirts fully into place as he did so. She shuddered when his hand grazed her nipple through her dress. She looked up to see the two ravens watching them from the branches above and smiled at them. She heard the cry of a baby on the wind, felt a ghostly presence at her breast, then a contented gurgle, and she knew that all would be well with their child.
She smiled at her husband. “The child will be fine,” she said, indicating the ravens.
“You have seen this?” He asked, sounding awed.
“I have felt it,” she assured him. He smiled at her.
“I was rough with you,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
She looked away, unable to tell him that while he had been rough, she had liked it. Had liked the feeling he wanted her so much he couldn’t even wait until they were in bed. That he hadto have her there and then and also that he seemed to finally be seeing her as the future mother of his children. The only thing Ula had told her she would be of use as.
Tormod put his fingers on her chin and turned her to face him. “It will not happen again.” He rolled away from her and started to stand up, but she reached for him and tugged at his hand.
“I hope it will,” she said.
They exchanged a long, silent look, then he smiled and settled back down beside her. She leaned over and placed her lips gently on his. It was a sweet kiss, but she could tell he was keeping it that way, holding himself back. In part, she wished he wouldn’t, that he would let go of his emotions again. Another twig snapped, and she looked up to see the ravens fly off together.
“You are the only one who has ever wanted me,” she said, turning her attention back to him.
He glanced at her. “I will always want you.”
“I was worried that you didn’t. That it was the reason you didn’t want to have a child with me.”
He tensed. “I will welcome all the children we have together.” He smiled again and her heart lightened just a little.
“You do not need to send Einar away because of me.”
There was a long pause, and she thought for a moment he hadn’t heard her.
“I’m not,” he said finally.
“But, I thought… you said.”
“I’m not. Arne will look after Einar well. He does not… resent him the way I do.” Tormod laughed bitterly. “Perhaps he should. He has more reason to. Come, we will speak more of this later.”
She knew he wouldn’t tell her any more of the story. Not now, anyway. She let him help her to her feet, and they walked side by side, hand in hand, along the forest path back to the village. When they reached it, Einar and Elisedd were still sparring, although Arne had stopped teaching the boys and was sitting with Ulf andBjörn next to the fire. All had horns of mead in their hands and were laughing together. Aoife smiled at the sight.
As they approached, however, Ulf drained his horn and stood. Tormod stiffened.
“Arne says Einar is to live with him now, that he will train both him and the Briton as warriors,” Ulf said.
“That’s right,” Tormod replied.
“Is this an admission the boy is not yours?” Ulf took a step closer to Tormod. There was a pause, and it was as if for a moment the world stopped, for it seemed to Aoife no birds sang, the waves stilled and around them everything held its breath, waiting for Tormod’s response.
“No, it is not,” Tormod said. “But Arne has offered him a future as a warrior, rather than as jarl and I have decided that Einar will accept this. It is the best solution for all concerned.”
Ulf snorted. Tormod grabbed him by the kirtle and yanked him towards him. For a few seconds, Ulf struggled, then Arne stepped in and pulled them apart.
“Enough!” Arne turned to the two boys, who had stopped sparring. Einar’s face was deathly pale and Aoife worried he was going to faint. “None of this is the boy’s fault. I will not see him suffer any more for his parents’ sins. I will train both Einar and Elisedd as warriors, and that will be the end of it. What happened in the past is over. Finished. It is time for us all to move on.”
Ulf started to open his mouth, but an angry glance from Arne stopped him. He looked his brother in the eye.
“What happened was no one’s fault, but those who betrayed us,” Arne said. “I do not want you to argue over this again. Tormod is our jarl, and you will either accept this or leave.”
