Desire's Fury (Viking's Fury Book 2) (12 page)

He hugged her tight, playing with her soft hair while she talked.

“I am happy for you, Eva. Now there should be no questions about where you belong.”

She withdrew from his arms and gazed up at him. “The world is vast. What if I am needed elsewhere?”

“I want you, Eva. My people need you.”

“Give me time to think.”

“Why?” He rubbed his chin, then smiled. “Perhaps you will accept a challenge.” Roald liked games and always won.

“What sort of challenge? I am familiar with the games you play, Roald. Isn’t that how your brother ended up in Northumbria?”

“Aye.”

“Do not trick me.”

“I’d never do that to you, sweet Eva. Did you open my gift?”

“Yes.” She reached for her boot and retrieved the ruby encrusted knife he’d given her. “Thank you.”

“Did you test the blade?”

“It is sharp.”

“Sharp enough to severely wound a man.”

“What is your challenge?” she asked, looking too beautiful to resist much longer.

“Do you remember what I told you after you missed me on purpose with your knife?”

She grinned. “Aye. You warned if the chance arose, you’d ask me to prove it.”

“That’s my challenge, Eva. Take twenty-five steps and turn around. Aim true, girl, for I intend to win this bet.”

“And what do you get if you win?”

“You will marry me.”

She tilted her head, studying him for a long time. “And if I hit the target?”

“I will set you free,
forever
.”

“No.” She crossed her arms. “I could never hurt you.”

“I didn’t say aim for my heart.”

“No.” she repeated.

“Where’s the courageous girl I know?”

She ran her thumb over the edge of the blade. “You are a dangerous man.”

“I’m a man in love, Eva. Desperately in love with you. So I am willing to take a chance.”

She turned around and counted the twenty-five paces out loud, then froze.

“Eva,” Roald called. “You have to face me.”

“I can’t do it.”

“Turn around.”

She did, then pushed her hair back and raised her hand, taking careful aim. The steel shimmered in the bright moonlight as it came at him. And when it found its mark, he cried out and crumpled to the ground. “Eva…”

F
ear enveloped Eva.
“Dear gods, what have I done?” She rushed across the field and dropped down next to Roald who was on his side. “You are hurt and I am to blame.”

She’d never forgive herself. The man had a way of making her do things no sane person would even consider. “Speak to me, Roald. Where did I hit you?” When he didn’t answer, she gently inspected his body. She couldn’t find the blade or a visible wound. There was no blood, yet he remained motionless and unconscious.

Did his heart give out? Did he faint when he saw the knife coming at him? Had the gods passed judgement on them both? “Please…” Tears filled her eyes as she leaned close and listened for a breath. Relief washed over her when she felt him exhale. “I must get you back to your camp.”

As she started to get up, Roald came to life and grabbed ahold of her, pulled her down, and flipped her over. “Did I hear correctly? You called me your love?”

“Incorrigible beast!” She beat his chest with angry fists, though deep inside she rejoiced. “Why did you scare me so? For that alone I should walk away and never talk to you again.”

He grinned. “Talking is a waste of time, sweet Eva. But this…” He captured her mouth and nibbled on her lower lip. “Or should I call you wife?” He sat back on his heels and brandished the knife. “I will teach you how to throw properly. After I make love to you.”

“Roald…” He’d done exactly what she’d asked him not to do. Tricked her … no, scared her to death. But she knew in that moment, if she wanted to be happy, to have children and a home of her own, if she wanted to draw another breath, Roald must be at her side. His warped sense of humor and all. “You are a devil.”

He silenced her with another kiss, tugging her into his arms. She positioned herself on his lap, locking her ankles behind his back and interlacing her fingers behind his neck. Their tongues tangled, her desire once again ignited. Any doubt disappeared. Roald loved her. And her mother knew it, even advised her to return to him and accept her happy fate.

Eva clung to him. Though they hadn’t known each other long, the eternal fire that few people ever found together could not be denied. Love conquered all, time and distance, birthrights and people.

“Are your kisses a symbol of your acceptance?” he asked.

She rested her forehead against his and closed her eyes. “I am angry at you, Jarl Roald. How could you play such a trick on me? My heart is still racing. I honestly thought I’d killed you.”

“With that aim?” He chuckled. “You couldn’t hit the side of a longhouse.”

She gazed at him, his face alight with joy. “Yes, Roald. I will marry you.”

“You’ve made me a happy man, Eva.” He hugged her close again, kissing the top of her head repeatedly. “Shall we tell Troel the good news?”

“The captain is here?”

“Aye. Forty yards in that direction.” He pointed. “Didn’t you see our fire?”

“No. I came here to commune with the gods.”

“I knew this spot held some significance for you, not just a place to gather herbs.”

“Why did you follow me?”

“Need you even ask, Eva?”

“But what if I didn’t come down from the mountains?”

He tipped her chin upward. “I would have visited your mother.”

She shook her head. “Nothing impedes you.”

“Not when I want something.”

She crawled out of his lap and stood. “Troel wanted me to return with him.”

“He’s a loyal friend,” Roald said, climbing to his feet. “With his help and Konal’s, you will win the hearts of my people.”

“Your brother would aid me?”

“We had a quick word before I left. Tentative peace has been reached. In exchange for my acceptance of Silvia, and because you healed her, he will welcome you into our family.”

“How quickly you make plans.” His self-assuredness awed her. “And what if I’d refused your proposal?”

They walked hand-in-hand to his camp.

“Then I would have locked you in my bedchamber until I changed your mind.”

Days in bed with Roald? Maybe she should have said no. “Can I change my mind?”

He growled and spun her around. “The grass is softest beyond those trees, Eva. Nothing would please me more than stripping you naked and kissing and licking you all over.”

As he lowered her to her feet, their lips met. “I think about it too much.” She caressed his manhood through his breeches, loving how hard he was. “Can Troel sleep a bit longer?”

“Aye.” Roald swept her up and carried her beyond the trees. “After I make you scream my name, you can sing me a song about how much you love me.”

T
he sun had
just started to set as Roald, Eva, and Troel reached the border of his northernmost lands. Fortunately, Eva’s camping site was within a day’s ride of his home. He’d not waste another moment wrestling with his conscience over how to break the news to his people that he intended to marry an outsider as his brother, Konal, had done. Yes, he’d made mistakes when Konal first arrived home, letting the past cloud his mind and fill him with anger.

Never again. Though he missed his sire, the man had pitted his sons against each other all their lives. The only excuse Roald could think of was because his father feared what would happen if his children united and tried to overthrow him. A sad reality of some of the most influential families in the north. But neither Roald or Konal possessed such dark ambition. His sire’s paranoia had cost him a close relationship with his eldest son.

He gazed back at Eva, her mare keeping pace with Troel’s mount a few feet behind. She represented his chance at a new beginning. Peace with the Sami. He rubbed his chin, imagining the financial benefits of such an alliance. Master craftsmen and the owners of an endless supply of meat, Roald would offer her people fair value for their goods and protection against their enemies.

Some jarls purposely targeted the Sami—cheating them out of money and even enslaving them.

No longer, not while he held the seat of power for his family.

As Roald focused on the path ahead again, entering his pasture land, he growled in rage as he surveyed the slaughter of his largest herd of cattle. Dozens of bodies littered the ground. He circled the bodies, then jumped from the saddle and rushed to the closest beast. Cut from neck-to-navel, the ground was covered in fresh blood.

Troel joined him. “By Odin,” the captain said, looking about. “How did this happen?”

Roald raised his head and sniffed the air. “The scent of death is choking me. And I fear it stretches beyond the fields.” He rose to his feet. “Ride ahead, Troel. Find out where Lamont and Keif have gone.”

Patrols were tasked with checking on his herds multiple times a day.

Then Eva cried out.

Standing across the clearing and staring at the ground, Roald thought she had found another beast. But as he closed the distance between them, he realized it was the body of his guard, Lamont. He too was cut neck-to-navel. Roald roared. Twas one thing to slaughter animals, but another to murder a man.

“There are no tracks, no signs of a bear or wolf.” Eva looked up at him, her eyes watery. “This is the evil work of men, Roald. I do not understand.”

“No one has ever attacked my home.” Not in the ten generations his ancestors had lived upon this land. He would hunt the offenders down and slowly torture and kill them for all to see. Hatred swelled in his chest, worried for the safety of his family. “Troel!”

The captain rode over.

“Go with all earnestness. Tell Konal to prepare my guards. I will bring Lamont’s body to his parents and then join you.”

“Aye, milord.” The captain immediately departed.

“I cannot leave his body for the ravens to pick clean. He’s served me faithfully.” Roald unclasped the gold and silver brooch holding his cloak in place and handed it to Eva. Then he carefully wrapped Lamont’s body in his cloak. “Bring your horse, Eva.”

“Aye.”

She held the horse in place while he tied Lamont’s body to the saddle.

“Who would do such a thing, Roald? Why?”

“There are men throughout the Trondelag who covet what my family has built. But none would waste the flesh of such valuable creatures. They’d harvest the meat, or add them to their own herds, or sell the beasts for a profit. The meat is wasted now, tainted by the air. I will send some men to burn the bodies.”

“I am sorry.” She rubbed his back. “For the loss of your servant and animals.”

“This is not the way I wanted to welcome you home.”

“No,” she said softly. “But as your future wife, I will stand by you no matter the cause.”

He glanced down at her, grateful for her presence. “Thank you, sweet Eva. Let us return to the steading in haste, I cannot guarantee the attackers won’t come back. And I want you safe.”

He helped her onto his horse, then mounted behind her. “Your mare is well-trained. She will follow us.”

Roald’s lands housed dozens of families in three villages. He headed for the one located just east of his longhouse. Half an hour later, he stopped in front of a sod-roofed cottage with a small garden in the front.

“Stay here,” he advised Eva as he slid down. “I prefer to speak to the boy’s parents alone.”

Roald secured Eva’s mare first, tying her to a nearby post, then with great sorrow in his heart, knocked on the door. It opened and an older woman smiled broadly at him.

“Jarl Roald.” She curtsied. “Tis an honor to receive you.” She stepped aside. “Please, come inside.”

He sat down at the table, unwilling to put off the devastating news. “Word has not reached you yet,” he started. “My largest herd of cattle was slaughtered today in the north pasture.”

“Shall I grab my sword, sir?” Lamont’s father stood.

“No. But I thank you for your willingness to fight, Carr. I bring other news—the kind no master wishes to deliver.” He looked to Lamont’s mother then. “Your son was on patrol today…”

She screamed before he finished his thought—collapsing to the ground.

Struck by her anguish, Roald approached and knelt beside her. “He died fighting—defending my lands. Lord Odin will welcome him at his feast table. There he will be reunited with my father. Fear not, woman, I will avenge your son.” He gently lifted her by the shoulders. “Nothing but blood will satisfy me.”

Carr came up behind his inconsolable wife. “Leave Uma to me, sir. Go with Odin and Thor, find these murderers. All I ask is the right to look my son’s killer in the face after you’ve found him.”

Roald sucked in a breath, his hands itching to hold his sword. “I will do better than that. I will give you the honor of delivering the death blow.”

“Aye.” Carr bowed.

“You must carry his body inside now and prepare him for burial,” Roald said. “You will find him on the horse tied to the post near your garden. Keep the beast as my pledge for justice.”

Roald exited the cottage and found Eva still atop his horse with tears in her eyes.

“I heard his mother cry out,” she sniffed.

“In time she will recover,” he said, claiming his spot in the saddle once again. “Until then, I will remember her only child.”

A
dozen men
met Roald in the courtyard as he arrived, including Konal and Troel.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Konal said. “There’s more trouble in the west village.”

“What is it?” He set Eva on her feet and waited for the answer.

“Reports of some of the sheep missing and a field set on fire,” his brother said.

“Curse the bastards doing this.” Roald shook a fist at the heavens. “Where are the rest of the men?”

“I’ve sent two groups out,” Troel answered. “Twenty to the north pasture to search for the offenders. Forty to the village. I expected us to depart as soon as you arrived.”

“Good.” Roald wrapped an arm about Eva’s waist. “I leave Eva in your care, Konal.”