Beloved Viking by Ree Thornton

Author:Ree Thornton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Jorvan

Jorvan paused on his patrol through the outskirts of the slumbering village to scan the shadows. He couldn't sleep on the best of nights, and yet again, he'd woken thrashing and sweating with his legs wrapped up in the twisted blanket, to the drunken snores of his men reverberating around the barn. He had risen to walk through the darkness he loathed, intent on banishing his fear with each step of the boundary he traversed.

His mind wandered back to that moment in the sea when he'd discovered that Rúna's touch did not repulse him or remind him of the seer rubbing the oils into his skin. Rúna fingers gliding over his flesh had made him ache for her hands all over his body, and given him hope that maybe he was not broken after all.

And that kiss …

Remembering the taste of her lips left him hard as rock and unsatisfied, so he walked, he walked, and he walked.

The soft scuff of a stone skidding across dirt broke the silence.

Something was wrong. He froze in the shadow of a large oak tree, icy tendrils brushing across the base of his spine and creeping slowly upward.

He squinted, peering into the inky blackness and wishing that a full moon replaced the crescent that hung overhead.

The faint tap of footsteps sounded out near the edge of the field where the golden barley was ready for harvest.

His hand fell to his sword. Someone was coming.

A crouched figure skirted along the edge of the field, crept behind the guard standing watch by the fire, and moved stealthily toward the settlement.

Were they under attack? Nei, not by an army of one. Mayhap this was one of Loki's tricks.

He followed quietly, cursing himself for not mentioning the weakness near the fields to the Jarl. Someone could have entered unnoticed. Whatever this intruder's intent, no doubt there was mischief or treachery afoot.

He studied the figure weaving through the outlying cottages taking care to remain hidden in the shadows cast by the trees and buildings. Whoever it was, they moved as though they were familiar with the village and accustomed to sneaking around. How many times had they done this before?

The intruder paused outside the Jarl's longhouse and looked left then right.

Jorvan caught a glimpse of hard eyes and a strong jaw before he ducked into the shadows cast by an apple tree.

The person approached the solid timer longhouse and glanced around furtively.

By the gods, they meant to enter the Jarl's home! He could not let the man, for he was now sure it was a man, get inside to where Rúna slept. He launched himself onto the intruder's back, shoving him forward and slamming his head in the large oak doors with a loud thud.

The man crumpled and fell to the ground unconscious. He would not be hurting Rúna or anybody else this eve.

Jorvan bent to check that the man still breathed, and then hurled the limp body up over his shoulder.

Muffled shouts and scuffling sounded from behind the longhouse doors.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.