Rising Fire (28 page)

Spring, AD 1286
Kirkwall, Orkney

S
oren Thorsson walked through the marketplace, greeting the merchants and nodding to the vendors selling their wares. Kirkwall was a blending place, filled with people from all parts of the north and beyond. The Norse, Scots, French, and English all used Kirkwall, as it was now called, and Orkney for replenishing supplies, and they stocked their ships there for travel while trading goods.

But something this day was different.

As he walked the streets that morning, Soren noticed a change in the air around him. In the colors of the fabrics offered in the weavers' tents. In the faces of the villagers. The brightness and hues had been leached from the world in which he lived.

The realization stopped him between paces.

He glanced around to see if something had thickened above him and had blocked the sun. The clear, cloudless blue skies answered him. What was happening?

And then she walked out from one of the alleys.

Ran Sveinsdottir.

The woman he'd loved.

The woman he'd betrayed.

Soren stepped back into the shadows and watched her. Tall and svelte, she moved with the same easy grace on land that she had on her father's ships. Her blond curls tamed into several small plaits framing her face and one larger unruly braid. 'Twas a hopeless attempt to control the uncontrollable, and the longer woven tresses lay down her back and swung in time with every step she took. His body recognized hers; his mouth remembered the taste of hers, and his hands itched to glide over those curves and touch every inch of her.

He shuddered and released the breath he did not know he'd been holding, continuing to watch her make her way through the crowded street. Without deciding the matter, he started to follow her, drinking in the sight of her, of her every smile and glance and movement. She bestowed her smile on many as she greeted the merchants and tradesmen along the street.

Ran was the one woman he'd loved and the one he could never have. It had been two years since he last saw her and yet—

His vision flickered then, and he realized that she was surrounded by color and light. They were missing in everyone else around them and were vibrant and almost alive in her. Turquoise—the color of the seas—surrounded her body, glowing and glimmering. He blinked several times, trying to clear his vision, for what he saw was simply not possible.

When that made no difference, Soren dragged the sleeve of his tunic across his eyes, but the sight did not
change. Her blond hair was still bright and golden, her skin still glowed, and her eyes shimmered. He hissed in pain, unsure of what was happening, as his forearm began to burn.

Lifting his hand, he tugged his sleeve back and watched as the skin underneath grew red and an outline of a bolt of lightning became visible. It changed as he watched, growing brighter and clearer in shape. And it burned as it did. Covering it with his other hand, he glanced around to see if anyone else noticed his odd behavior.

Those seeking goods or food did not spare him a second glance. Those selling their wares did not either. Everyone else walked around him, ignorant or uncaring about this significant change in their world. As he looked around the area, Soren realized that Ran had the same bewildered expression on her face that his must have been wearing. She clutched at her arm, touching the same place on her forearm that yet burned on his.

He'd taken three steps out of the shadows and onto the street toward her when he finally pulled himself back and stopped. As much as he wanted to understand what was going on, he knew she would not welcome his approach. Or his questions.

Two years. Two years and much more than time separated them.

Since he knew her father would remain in Orkney while his ships and boats were preparing for the sailing months ahead, Soren knew she was not going anywhere. If this strangeness somehow involved her, he knew where he could find her.

He would always know where to find her. Now though, he turned and walked away.

*   *   *

Though he stood in the shadows between the merchants selling their wool and other fabrics, she would recognize him anywhere. Taller than her brother and her father, Soren towered over most men she knew. The years of working the fields and ships had built muscle and strength in his body, and she could not help but notice that he looked even larger now. Her traitorous body responded to the memories of their times together. The feel of his skin on hers. His strong hands moving over her and bringing her to pleasure. Relentlessly. As he did everything.

Could it be the mere sight of him that was causing this eerie feeling within her? The strange buzzing that filled her ears and dimmed her vision? Moments ago, all the colors of the world had disappeared and everyone looked like a pale, drab version of themselves.

Except Soren.

He had changed and not just by looking stronger and healthier. His skin gave off a silver-gray glow that outlined his body to her. As she watched this happening to him, her arm began to burn. Clapping her hand over it, she lifted her gaze and met his in that moment.

In that second, everything and everyone around them disappeared, leaving only the two of them. Time slowed, and she gazed at the man to whom she'd given her heart, body, and soul. Their life together had been laid ahead of them, shining like a jewel and holding the promise of happiness. That hope had crumbled in an instant, when he had betrayed her faith in him.

Now though, all that passed by in the blink of an eye, and she found herself staring at Soren as her arm burned fiercely. And, realizing that his action mirrored her own,
she waited for his acknowledgment. Instead, he did again as he'd done before—he turned and walked away.

The bright, shimmering color of molten silver continued to swirl around him as he made his way along the street and away from her. Her heart, the one she'd sworn would never be hurt again, pounded in her chest, reminding her of the weakness of her will when it came to Soren Thorsson.

Her arm felt as though it was on fire, so she tugged her sleeve up to look at it. Her skin seemed to burn, reddened with heat and changing as she watched. A shape formed and smoothed away, only to form again. Two wavy lines etched into her then, undulating and moving as waves or currents did through water. For a moment, she believed them real. Then the burning began anew and the markings grew deeper and longer across her forearm.

What was going on? First the strange change to her vision and hearing. Then the alterations to the world's coloring—and Soren's. And last, this marking on her skin and, from his reaction, on his, too.

With more questions than answers, she wished there was someone she could ask. Someone who could counsel her and help her discover the truth of these events.

And she wished with all her heart that it was someone other than the man who had betrayed his every vow and his own words.

For two years had not been enough for her heart to heal. Ran had thought that distance and time would lessen the pain, but it had only taken one glimpse of Soren to show her how wrong she could be. How wrong she always seemed to be when it came to that man and her choices.

As Soren turned and walked off toward the edge of town, Ran knew one thing—she had lied to herself about her feelings for Soren. And the only way she would save her soul and her sanity was to keep away from him.

So that was what she would do.

Stay away from Soren Thorsson.

In her previous lives,
USA Today
bestselling author
Terri Brisbin
has lived in ancient Egypt and medieval Scotland. In this one, she's stuck in the wilds of southern New Jersey with a hubby (a wonderful one!) and kids (three adorable and finally grown sons!). When not living the life of a glamorous romance author or suffering through deadline binges-o'-writing mania, she spends some of her time as a dental hygienist.

Terri's had more than thirty-four historical and paranormal romance novels, novellas, and short stories published in more than twenty-five languages in more than twenty countries! And there are a bunch more swirling around inside her brain just waiting to be written. You can find out more than you need to know about Terri or subscribe to her newsletter on her Web site, her Facebook profile, or her Facebook page.

Looking for more?
Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
Discover your next great read!