Elspeth settled onto the horse as well as she could. The blankets and the man behind her would certainly keep her warm, she didn’t doubt that for a second. And there was some validity to his reasoning. She seemed to have lost control over her functions when these episodes were upon her. What had caused their intensity she couldn’t even fathom.
“It is many hours to my home. I look forward to showing you our castle. It is not like the one where your sister lives now, but it is almost as nice.”
“And I look forward to seeing it. Our tour of my village was cut short, but I hope to show you all of it someday. But for now, we will ride to MacDomnail Castle. Freydis is there and I wish to see my sister again.”
While she was intrigued by this Freydis, and she wanted to meet the shield maiden, Elspeth longed for her home and her chamber. Magnus appeared determined that the healer would know exactly what to do to help her. Mayhap she was just tired from her travels. Did everything have to come down to some message from their gods? She supposed she was about to find out.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Magnus recalled the first time he’d ridden double on a horse with a female. He was but fourteen summers and she was around the same age. He supposed he may have only invited her to see how how body felt against his, and they only really had a couple horses fit for riding considering they lived on an island. She’d only been too eager and the ride ended in his first kiss.
Now he was a man fully grown and with every step the horse took, her body pressed tighter against his. Magnus shifted to better position his resulting desire. He wanted to pull the hair away from her neck and nuzzle there and smiled when she tilted her head to the side as if she could read his thoughts.
What was it about her that seemed so in tune with him? These episodes concerned him. He’d only known her a short time, but already he felt protective of her. Attraction aside, and she was captivating from her flaming hair to her pouty lips to her petite frame and full breasts, he wanted more from her than just a tumble.
He’d been attracted to plenty women before. His time in Iceland had been wild and the women there quite free with him. But this was different. With this woman, something tugged and pulled from somewhere beyond his physical self. But how could that be? He was a Norseman—a Viking. She was a Scottish lady who prayed to the Christian God. His sister and her new husband had found a way past the differences in their cultures, but did that mean the same could happen for himself and the enchanting woman whose bottom was pressed hard against him?
“Are you cold?” he asked her, trying to break the pattern of thoughts that could lead him to finding a secluded spot to explore every inch of her.
“Nay, I am quite warm, thank you.”
Her words contradicted her when a shiver ran through her easily apparent through the layers of their clothes.
“You’re shivering.” Magnus wrapped his arms tighter around her and tucked her head under his chin.
“I don’t know what’s come over me,” she said. “I feel lightheaded and feverish, though I know I am not ill. My whole body is tingling and I cannot seem to stop it from happening.”
They’d only been riding for a short time, but somehow he sensed she needed a break.
“We will catch up,” he said to Osgar as he pulled on the horse’s reins and slid off the horse. He reached up to helped Elspeth down, keeping his hands on her hips until she gained her footing.
“Thank you,” she said and moved away from him.
She smoothed her skirt and walked toward the other horses on foot so he did the same while holding onto the reins. They walked together like that in silence for a time. Magnus wished he could read her mind to glean her thoughts. Was she bothered by him, or attracted? He’d always been a direct sort of person and was a little surprised that he did not wish to be that way with her. He shook his head. What a ridiculous way to think. Thor’s breath, this woman had muddled his brain.
“Do you want to ride again? You do not have to share a horse with me if you do not wish. I am sure my sister will ride with either myself or your brother.”
She looked up at him with a furrowed brow and a frown. She looked ahead to where Vidgis and Osgar were trotting slowly back to him.
“I will ride with your sister,” she said and called out to her. “Do you mind?”
“I do not mind at all. I am not a great rider so would welcome the help,” Vigdis said.
Elspeth mounted behind her and held the reins. The two women were similar in size so it didn’t appear difficult for her to control the horse. She’d said she could ride and Magnus was impressed that she didn’t exaggerate. Elspeth kicked in her heels and galloped on ahead of them.
When he mounted and approached Osgar he said, “There’s much more to your sister than meets the eye.”
“You have no idea. I swear she is a laird in a woman’s body sometimes. She can manage our home, ride horses, and settle the accounts as well as I can.”
“How bad are these episodes of hers?” he asked as they settled into a fast trot enough to keep the women in view but to also converse outside of their earshot.
“She’s had them her whole life, but they are worse since she left with Kenneth. I don’t know what’s making them worse but I am as worried as you.”
Magnus looked at the man. Were they all mind readers?
“I can see in your expression, you are troubled. Do you really believe your seer can help her?”
“I do. Freydis is a woman of many talents not only with medicines, but she casts runes. She has the confidence not only of my brother and me, but of the whole village.”
