Mark of the Hunter: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Lords of Alekka Book 2) by A.E. Rayne

Author:A.E. Rayne [Rayne, A.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A.E. Rayne
Published: 2020-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

25

Bjarni cradled his daughter as though he was holding an armful of eggs.

Agnette laughed. ‘You won’t break her!’ She’d come out onto the field where Reinar and Bjarni were talking to Ake’s men, most of whom had been sleeping in tents since their arrival. They’d been relieved to hear that soon they would be boarding ships bound for Slussfall. For though the sea journey promised to be bitterly cold and wet, it was better than being frozen to the ground like a block of ice.

Bjarni lifted an eyebrow. ‘Not sure that’s true.’ Still, he tried to hold Liara more firmly, keeping her close to his chest. The wind was gusting on the exposed field, though she seemed warm enough in her snug fur wrap. ‘She’s so tiny. Like a baby rabbit.’

‘For now, but wait a few days, and it will be like carrying a sack of barley, I promise. She eats like her father!’ Agnette laughed, her attention wandering to where Reinar stood with Elin.

‘What?’ Bjarni followed Agnette’s gaze. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Wrong?’ Agnette tried to sound as though nothing was wrong, though she wondered if something was. It felt like something was. ‘Nothing.’

Bjarni snorted, eyes quickly back on his daughter, who appeared asleep. ‘You’ve been acting very odd around Elin.’

‘What?’ It was Agnette’s turn to snort. ‘I don’t think that’s true. I’ve hardly spoken to her.’

‘Agnette...’

Agnette sighed. ‘She’s not right, Bjarni. You can see that, can’t you? She’s different somehow. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s there. Something new. Something that wasn’t there before.’

‘Maybe it’s more about you than Elin? You’ve just gone through a lot, what with the fort being under attack. That’s not easy for anyone, let alone a woman giving birth.’ Bending forward, Bjarni kissed the red tip of her nose. ‘Not to mention the lack of sleep! You’ve enough to think about without worrying about Elin. She just needs time to feel at home again. Leave Reinar to worry about her.’

Agnette nodded, wanting her husband to think that that was exactly what she was going to do, her eyes drifting back across the scarred field to where Elin had slipped her arms around Reinar’s waist, holding him close.

Reinar rested his chin on top of his wife’s head. Memories stirred of meeting her, and loving her, and marrying her, and he smiled. ‘You’re sure you want to come with us? Four days on a ship? A battle? Who knows what will happen after that. I can’t guarantee anything except discomfort and terror. Likely wounds and sickness and being half-frozen every minute of the day.’

Elin stepped back, hands on his chest. ‘You know me, surely, you do? I won’t be troubled by whatever the gods throw at us. I want to help. To be with you. I don’t want to be left behind.’ She saw Agnette taking her baby back from Bjarni. ‘Gerda seems to be enjoying herself as the Lady of Ottby, so let her do it a while longer. And Agnette can help her.’ She turned her sweetest smile up to Reinar, grabbing his hand.

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