A Heart Enslaved by A.M. Westerling

Author:A.M. Westerling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: revenge, historical romance, restitution, viking, viking romance, viking warrior, scandinavia, viking slave
Publisher: Books We Love Ltd.

Chapter Sixteen

Thorvald’s question stayed with Gisela. “Are you sure freedom from me is what you really want?” It teased her, tormented her. What emotion had he seen in her to ask? Doubt? Capitulation? Acceptance?

How wrong he was. She wanted to be free of him. And would be, she vowed, once they arrived in his homeland and she fulfilled her part of the bargain. In the meantime, she would avoid him as best she could on the cramped confines of the knorr.

“You can’t turn your back on him forever,” Bertrada chided gently one morning a couple of days later. The two sat midship while the men pushed the Happy Wife out into deeper sea after a brief stop to take on fresh water.

“I can, Bertrada, and I will. To him I’m a slave with no thoughts or will of my own. ”

“If anything, avoiding him is the easiest path to follow and, indeed, proves you have no will. You say you want to be free, then you must make him feel you deserve it.”

Gisela sighed and nodded. “I suppose you’re right. He’s agreed to let me go if I help him, which I can only do once we reach their homeland. I avoid him because he unsettles me.”

“Or is it your heart that unsettles you?” Bertrada’s knowing eyes scoured her face.

“Of course not! My heart has naught to say on the matter. I could never love a Viking.”

“As you say.” Bertrada turned to smile at Arni as he clambered over the side onto the deck.

One by one the other men climbed onboard and soon the splash of oars pulling them into deeper water echoed across the waves.

Gisela watched the water seep through the hull and readied herself to bail. If only she could empty her mind of thoughts of Thorvald as easily as she dumped out the bucket.

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