The Viking's Bride by Darlene Mindrup

Author:Darlene Mindrup
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

A little over two weeks later, Finn’s weary family arrived at Egilsfjord.

Mist hastened outside to greet them, along with her father, Valdyr, Edda and Iliana. Mist was surprised that there was only one man in the group, and he was leading the entourage.

“Where are all the men, Olaf?” Edda asked him anxiously, looking past his shoulders. “Was there trouble?”

He swung the pack he was carrying over his shoulder and tiredly dropped it to the ground. “We passed a beached whale a few miles from here. The men stayed behind to slay and process it.” He glanced at Valdyr. “If you would like to send some of your men, as well, I will show them the way.”

Valdyr’s men rose from their various places scattered around the farmyard where they had been enjoying the diminishing sunlight. Some were preparing their weapons for the coming winter’s storage while others had been amusing themselves by challenging each other in games of strength. Excitement shone in their eyes. Anything out of the ordinary was a breath of fresh air.

Amund glanced at Valdyr. When Valdyr nodded his head in agreement, Amund began to rattle off orders to the men standing around.

Some quickly retreated into the house to get weapons that had already been stored, others searched out implements to help them in processing the meat.

“Take some horses and carts, as well,” Egil told them, and several men hastened to obey. There would be too much meat for the men to carry, even with so many hands.

Valdyr turned to Egil. “I will go with them.”

Sharing a look with Mist, he caught the ax that Amund threw to him without taking his eyes from hers. She thought she knew how a mouse must feel when confronted by a cat, every muscle frozen, unable to look away as it waited for the cat to pounce. The sudden gleam in Valdyr’s eyes told her that he knew just what effect he was having on her, and her face set stonily as she stared back at him. The man was absolutely too sure of himself.

“Ready?” Amund asked.

Valdyr nodded, finally releasing her from his magnetic stare and, turning, he followed after Amund as he trotted after the others.

Mist let out a protracted breath, watching them until they disappeared over one of the hills that surrounded the farm, the memory of that look leaving her oddly shaken. For the first time in her life she understood how Brita had felt when she watched her husband leave home on some expedition. Only Valdyr was not her husband, at least not yet. So why did she feel so bereft at his going? And why did thoughts of what his homecoming might bring make her heart beat faster? It was not like he and she would share the same kind of greeting as Brita did with her husband—a loving embrace, a passionate kiss—although she found the thought not as unpleasant as she would have several months ago.

Edda had already led her family into

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