Magnus patted the bench beside him and waited for his sister to take a seat. “I am well, my little one. And how are you? How is our guest?”
Vigdis laughed. “It would appear it is my lot in life to tend to stubborn women.”
“Is that so?” he asked. Though he didn’t want to start the conversation with ‘tell me every detail about her’, now that the subject was broached, he’d ask away.
“What woman do you know who would hide away in a galley in order to find adventure because she was bored with her daily responsibilities?”
Magnus chuckled. “I can think of at least one.”
“You’d be correct. This young woman admires our sister and considers her inspiration.” Vigdis’ eyes were wide as she shook her head. “How could she not understand the danger to which she had exposed herself? I will never understand.”
Magnus kissed his sister’s head. “It pleases me to hear that, Vigdis. You are wise beyond your years.”
“Ja, and it comes from years of worrying about Saga. While Gunnar was busy being chieftain and you were off on adventures, who do you think had to drag her to Freydis every other day from getting into a scuffle with this one or that one?”
“You are mother to us all and I love you for it. And has our dear brother been pressuring you to align with a certain family through marriage?”
She sighed. “He has and I have told him I will decide when I am ready.”
Magnus placed his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “If you need a guard at any time, you call on me. I’ll handle Gunnar for both of us.”
A slight cough from behind them drew their attention to the back of the hall. Standing near Gunnar’s chair was Elspeth. A tiny shaft of light lit a portion of her hair and Magnus swore it sparkled. Having only seen her in her black cloak, he hadn’t seen the bright green plaid she wore over her green dress. The contrast with her hair was transfixing.
“Will you join us?” Magnus heard himself offer.
“Aye,” she said quietly as she crossed the hall and sat directly across from Vigdis.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked.
“Aye, I did,” Elspeth said glancing briefly at Magnus, but keeping her gaze directed at Vigdis.
There was a somber sadness resting in her gaze that made Magnus yearn to see how a smile might transform her expression.
“Are you hungry?” Vigdis asked as she stood. “Magnus and I were just about to share a trencher and a horn.”
As if on cue, Magnus’ stomach rumbled. Elspeth met his gaze and a tiny smile tugged at her lips. He was afraid to breathe. The sight before him was so delicate and perfect he never wanted it to change or alter from this exact moment.
Vigdis took her hand, urging her to stand. “Come let me show you the kitchen.” Over her shoulder to Magnus she said, “We will return soon.”
For several minutes after they left, he sat there staring at an empty spot, wondering what in Loki’s name had just happened.
* * *
Elspeth watched as Vigdis directed the cook and servants to produce a small feast. This was the kind of work she was supposed to learn back at her home, but she had no interest. Oh, she was grateful for the tour, but she would rather see the rest of the village and learn more about Vigdis’ brother than how they preserved their meat and fish.
“…we bury the fish in one chamber and pipe in the smoke from another so the fish does not cook from the heat of the embers…”
“I am sure I will enjoy it,” Elspeth said, enjoying Vigdis’ enthusiasm even if she didn’t share a passion for the topic.
They returned to the hall not long after and she noticed Magnus had not moved from where they’d left him. She placed her platter of bread on the table and sat where she had before, more directly across from Vigdis than him. She didn’t quite think he made her nervous, not particularly. Rather, tension filled her body whenever he was near. Like she had to tell him something but for the life of her she couldn’t formulate any words to accompany the feeling. Even when the sight was upon her she only felt small tingles here and there along her arms. This reaction to him was all over her body and was unshakeable.
“Skol!” Vigdis said handing Elspeth a horn of ale. She enjoyed this sentiment and replied in kind recognizing it was similar to her own sláinte.
“Would you like to see our village?” Magnus asked her between bites of rabbit.
She met his gaze and smiled. How did he know she’d been waiting for just such an invitation? She nodded, not trusting her voice to betray the shakiness welling up inside her. The food was delicious, but the longer she sat there, the worse her symptoms became so the offer to change the scenery was welcomed.
“You’ll need this,” Vigdis said as she wrapped a large fur around Elspeth’s shoulders. For such a large garment, it was surprisingly light, and the warmth enveloped her immediately.
