The Berserker Brides Saga by Lee Savino

Author:Lee Savino [Savino, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

Two days later, I’d spent almost every waking minute in the kitchen. The lodge itself remained silent and empty; I peeked in there, but didn’t want to disturb whomever lived there. Though I never saw anyone, I felt grateful they shared their hearth with me. The kitchen was fast becoming my home.

A giant vat of porridge simmered slowly, ready for a Berserker to carry it to the lodge of unmated spaewives. I served it sweetened with plums and honey. Sage joined me for hours on end, helping me peel and chop and grind herbs. Willow and Hazel also visited, bearing baskets of mushrooms and hard apples they found in the woods. And, often, Berserker warriors came by, leaving gifts of meat for me.

Around sunset, a great whoop went up on the mountain, loud enough to reach my ears. I left the fire and stepped into the cool evening air.

“What is it?” I asked Hazel, who’d been hoeing a patch of earth beyond the door for a kitchen garden.

“A band of warriors have returned,” she said, wiping sweat from her face. A second later she broke into a smile.

“Laurel!” Willow shouted from the woods, racing up to me. “Did you hear? Haakon has been found!”

I staggered, and Sage came from table to put her arm around me.

“My mates tells me the warriors found him deep in a cave—he dragged himself there to escape the fire. He was badly injured, but Sabine is working on healing him now. Soon he will be well enough to move.”

“That is great news.” I embraced my friends, feeling cold in my heart.

“Do you feel them, at all?” Sage asked. “Through the bond?”

Three pairs of shining eyes pinned me. I could only shake my head. “Not yet.”

“You will,” Hazel said, but before she could offer more encouragement, a giant Berserker stepped from the trees, and she ran to kiss her mate.

Murmuring assurances, I went back to the hearth.

There was to be a celebration. My friends stayed with me as long as they could, but one by one they left as their mates came for them. They promised to return to help carry the food down to the great bonfire. All available Berserkers were hunting for deer, pig, and pheasant to roast over the open flame, but the spaewives were eager to taste my baking.

The sun glimmered low in the sky when I stood in the door and stretched. I’d worked all day, and was almost done. In the great hearth, the boar cooked with an apple in its mouth. I’d lined the counters with cooling loaves of bread, and tray after tray of honey cakes.

Someone had left a parcel on my doorstep. Hoping it was not more meat, I stooped and brought it inside, marveling at its light weight. I cut the twine, and caught my breath. Beautiful folds of fabric spilled from the package. The cloth was red as ripe currants.

I thought the color would suit your pale skin and dark hair.

Goosebumps running up and down my arms, I ducked into the empty lodge.

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