“I think if our positions were reversed and the Scots had invaded Norwegian shores for generations, I would have done the same as you if diplomacy failed,” she replied without hesitation, deadly serious. “I would want my Norwegian Isles back.” Her delicate eyebrows edged together, and the corners of her mouth tugged down. “As to what King Hákon did, I think ‘twas foolish, impulsive, prideful, and wrong, and put many lives in harm’s way. Whilst he might have taken our country far, and I will always love my homeland, I cannot in good conscience claim to respect him anymore, let alone view him as my king.”
All stopped eating, and silence fell at how firm, if not impassioned, her answer had been, leaving no room for doubt.She told the truth, however difficult I suspected it had been for her. I’d seen the tears in her eyes last night as she tended the wounded. Saw the frustration I didn’t understand until now.
“Well said all the way around, lass,” Alexander finally said. He resumed eating along with the rest of us, cunning at work as he continued looking at her. “Might you say those heartfelt words amongst the Norse that wish to call Scotland home? Might you rally them to my cause?”
Though difficult questions to answer, I would ask them as well if I were in his position. It would be important to test how far she was willing to go for her new king and what she hoped to call her new homeland. Whatwasher homeland, because she was my wife, whether they knew it yet or not.
This time, Astrid didn’t answer so swiftly but considered his question for a moment before replying, piquing our interest with her hesitation.
“I will,” she finally said, still looking Alexander in the eyes, sounding confident in how she wanted to handle things. “Yet designed with words that do not incite those Scots they live among to start harnessing unjust anger toward them. Words that speak less of battling, invading, and taking back land, and more of embracing a new future under a king who will unite them. One who will fiercely protect their homeland from not just the Norse but anyone who thinks to take what does not belong to them.”
“’Tis sound thinking, my king,” I said, backing her up because it was. “It rallies them to your cause whilst not making them feel unwanted nor disliked by their fellow Scots and neighbors, keeping peace within our borders.”
“Or,” Gustav countered, “it could give our fellow Scots the impression all the Norse among them are to be trusted when ‘tis verra unlikely that is the case.”
“Mayhap for a few days,” Astrid countered. “I suspect ‘twill be during those days that those who don’t truly support King Alexander will make themselves known and be dealt with. I intend to challenge those who take issue with my words to confront me so that we might understand each other better.” She rested her hand on the dagger sheathed at her waist. “And if words do not work, then things will be handled in the way of my shield-maiden ancestors.”
“Yet we havenae seen you use that blade,” Gustav pointed out. “So how are we to know if you truly possess the skill to back up your words?”
“Fight me,” she returned, not batting a lash, making me tense. I knew how skilled Gustav was. “Battle me one-on-one so that the king might assess my capabilities for himself.”
A slight, barely-there, condescending smirk curled Gustuv’s mouth before he caught himself and gave her a warm, friendly smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I dinnae think that is necessary, lass.”
“I disagree,” Alexander said, finally breaking his silence. He looked from Gustav to Astrid. “’Twould do me good to see what infamous Norse shield-maidens are truly capable of. What I may or may not have at my back going forward.”
“Then have her fight me,” I said, keeping emotion from my face, lest they see my worry for her. My stark fear of her going up against the likes of Gustav, given his heartfelt hatred of the Norse. He might want to bed her and use her, but in the heat of the moment with a blade in hand, God knows what he could do.
Instead of worry, I showed only a healthy competitiveness with Gustav that the king had seen a time or two over the years, winking at my former friend before returning my attention to Alexander. “I am, if you recall, your prized warrior, so have her fight me, if you truly want to gauge her skills.”
“A prized warrior who swore to his father he would protect her,” Gustav reminded wryly. “So what kind of true test would that be?”
“One can test another’s skills in the capacity of a teacher,” I countered. “And I have trained my fair share of warriors.”
“You have,” the king granted, having come to a swift decision that worked against my wishes for Astrid entirely. “Therefore, once we have traveled out of this encampment to somewhere more private, I would see Astrid fight you both—” he looked from me and Gustav to Astrid— “at the same time so that I might witness firsthand how true these fables of fierce shield-maidens.”
“Of course,” Astrid said before I could counter Alexander. Even a seasoned warrior would be hard-pressed to take on Gustav and me and succeed. “’Tis a test of skills so ‘twill be skills you see.”
Despite my worry over her, I couldn’t help but be impressed with her courage and self-confidence. I could only hope it implied she was as good with a blade as legends claimed.
“Verra good then.” His anticipation unmistakable, Alexander nodded with approval. “’Twill make our journey todaymostinteresting indeed.”
After that, we spoke of other things while eating, yet all the while I thought of this battling the king wished to see out in the woodland, where it would only be Astrid and a host of the king’s men. While I loved Alexander and typically trusted him without question, I worried about how close Gustav and he had become, given Gustav’s true intentions when it came to the Norse. To Astrid herself.
“You shouldnae do it,” I said to her under my breath a while later as she did one last check on the wounded before we departed. “I dinnae trust Gustav’s intentions.”
“You need not fear,” she assured me, speaking just as softly lest someone overhear us. Her eyebrow swept up when she looked at me. Challenged me. “Unless, of course, you doubt my abilities despite hearing my stories last night. Despite my word that I will be able to hold my own against any warrior, no matter their expertise.” Her gaze turned fiery. “I might have laid down my shield and blade for my father, but the warrior still lives on in me if need be.”
It was the first time she had spoken about her father on such a personal level, and though I wondered at the hurt I heard in her voice, now was not the time to probe further. Yet I would, and soon, intending to learn everything about her I could from here on out and well into the future.
“All right, then,” I murmured when every fiber of my being wanted to rail against her going up against Gustav. “If it doesnae go well, I will protect you,” I vowed. “As I promised Da, no harm will come to you if ‘tis the last thing I do.”
Where I thought she would be grateful, if not loving in her response, she instead narrowed her eyes and issued a small smile. Not one of gratefulness, but one that bespoke the cockiness of a warrior who knew their self-worth. “Whilst thankful for your vow, I will assure you, one last time, ‘twillnotbe needed.” The corner of her mouth curled up higher. “If anything—” her gaze raked over me— “prized warriorof King Alexander, it could very well be the other way around.”
Before I could respond, she didn’t stalk out of the tent but sauntered with confidence, ordering me to follow if I were so desperate to protect her. When I looked at Oksana, who sat calmly by my side, I swore I saw the same amusement in the husky’s black-rimmed pale blue regard when she looked at me.
“She is confident, is she not?” I remarked.
Offering me a little howling sound of agreement that was by no means a bark, she stood and stalked casually after hermistress, flicking her bushy tail as if telling me I had no idea what I was in for. Somehow, I suspected that was true as I followed them and we were en route north a short time later.
