“Nothing we cannot handle,” Saga said. “Elora, I have enjoyed meeting you and I hope we can converse more at another time. Ada, it has been quite enlightening meeting you. I do hope your journey to Edinburgh is free from danger.”
The colour drained from the woman’s face. Did she only now realize the gravity of her words and the impact they could have by threatening her—a Viking? Safe to say when surrounded by Scots, but once on the road, anyone could overtake a carriage and inflict harm.
She watched as they retreated from the hall. Turning to her husband, she said, “I wish to explore the village. Will you accompany me?”
“Aye, wife, I shall. I look forward to repaying the tour you provided me on Islay.”
Saga smiled at him and squeezed his hand. She wished more of the people here were like him. All in time, he’d said. Patience was not something to which she was accustomed, but she would do her best to learn it. And mayhap she would encounter the strange woman from last eve as well. Something about her was a little off and Saga was determined to find out what that was.
* * *
Choosing a horse for Saga was no small task. She’d said she could ride, but living on an island, there was no real need and so despite her lifted chin, he was certain she was not skilled enough to handle a larger destrier. He chose a white mare he’d recently acquired that had not yet been named. Graceful and even-tempered, it would suit his wife perfectly. As he drew the horse nearer to her, he thought again to their lovemaking the previous night and again in the morning. He’d never imagined in all his days that he would have found a woman like her, and especially not when he’d set off for Islay mere days ago.
But here she was and he could not remember what his life had been like without her.
“She’s for you,” he said as he handed her the reins.
Her eyes grew wide as she stared back and forth between him and the animal. She reached forward and stroked the horse’s snout and rested her forehead on its neck. The horse’s eyes closed a little and opened again. That was a good sign.
“She does not yet have a name. What would you like to call her?”
Saga stroked the mare’s neck and cooed in her own tongue. “You are a beautiful goddess. The only name I can give you is Sif. Thank you, Giric. She is beautiful.”
“Would you like to mount her now?”
He loved the slight grin playing at the corners of her lips. He was not the only one remembering their passions from earlier. Giric moved toward her and pulled her into his arms. She slipped her hands around his neck and drew him down into a deep kiss.
“Thank you for this gift,” she said. “I love her already. She has a special spirit.”
“I am glad to hear it. Let's make her ready for you.”
Giric motioned for the stable hand to place blankets on the horse and offered his clasped hands for Saga to use for leverage to mount the horse.
Once up, she trotted outside the stable and urged the horse into a full on gallop. A moment’s panic swept over him until he heard her laugh. He quickly mounted his destrier and followed at a gallop.
They raced across the countryside together and he was captivated by the sight of her bright eyes, huge smile, and flaxen hair flowing in the wind. The image of her like this would be emblazoned on his mind forever.
After about an hour’s ride, they stopped by a stream for the horses to catch their breath and have a drink. Giric dismounted and moved to her side to assist her. On the ground she flung herself into his arms and hugged him tight, laughing freely.
“I have never felt so free,” she said as she pulled back from the embrace.
“I do not imagine you can ride like that on Islay.”
“I can, but to what end? We have horseflesh aplenty, but they’re workhorses and not used for transportation. And we do not have this much country to cover should we wish to ride.”
“We can ride every day ’tis fine, if you like. But I will need to teach you how to properly care for your horse. We have stable hands, but you are ultimately responsible to make sure she is brushed and covered after every ride so she does not fall ill.”
“I will care for her,” she said as she drew the horse to the stream to drink then stroked her neck.
“And I will care for you,” he said. “Come let me show you something.”
He led her through a small opening at the edge of the clearing and down a narrow path with dense evergreens. The running sap weighed heavily on the air. It was intoxicating. He noticed how she stopped a couple of times to sniff the branches.
At the end of the path was a crag and beyond, the village. He stopped her before they reached it and covered her eyes with his hands.
“Do not open your eyes until I tell you. Do you agree?”
“Ja.”
