The Heart's Warrior (40 page)

Tovi gave her a confused look, but Kerstin turned her gaze toward the path leading over the hills. Days earlier, she walked this trail with Jonas when he taught her to swim. So much had happened since then. Everything numbed inside her except finding her husband and

caressing his heart with her love.

Her thoughts added fuel to her step and she climbed the steep path, not pausing to look back at the steading nor listen to the happy trill of birds high overhead. She had no difficulty finding the secluded spot. When she broke from the shelter of trees and saw Jonas, a pang of elation speared her. Just seeing him brought her joy, lighting her soul from within.

Sitting on a gray bolder, he dangled his legs over the edge, his eyes downcast as he stared into the shining pool of water. Dressed in a baggy woolen shirt, the ties were 273

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open and hung loose at his throat, revealing the scarred and muscled flesh of his wide chest. His burnished hair was unruly and slightly wet. Splotches of moisture dampened his shirt. He must have taken a swim.

His hunting knife lay beside him on the rock. One elbow rested upon his knee and he cupped his chin in his palm as he threw shredded pieces of green leaves into the water with his other hand. He looked like a dejected boy, lost and lonely.

As she stepped into the glade, a twig snapped

beneath her foot. In one fluid movement, Jonas clasped his knife and came to a springing crouch before her, his blue eyes fierce. When he realized it was her, his face flushed with color. “What are you doing here?”

“This is my home. Don’t I belong here?”

He relaxed and sheathed his knife, avoiding her gaze.

“I didn’t expect you to return.” His tone sounded distant and cold.

“I suppose not, when you told the king you want to put me aside.” Kerstin longed to melt into his arms.

Seeing him so handsome, so wonderful and alive, she felt overwhelmed with relief. It took all her self-control not to throw herself at his feet and tell him how much she loved him. Stiffening her resolve, she pulled the dagger free of her waistband and clutched it in her grasp. She crouched before him and still he would not meet her eyes.

“You can’t avoid me any longer, Jonas.”

That got his attention. He glared at her, his brows lowered in a quizzical frown. “What are you doing here?

What do you want?”

Her gaze met his in an unwavering stare. “I want

what is my due as your wife.”

“You want half my holdings?”

“According to Danelaw, that is what I’m entitled to if we divorce.”

A flash of pain filled his eyes, then vanished. “If I didn’t have my mother and people to consider, I’d give everything to you. But I gave Father my pledge to care for them and I mean to keep my vow.”

“But what about your vow to me? Half isn’t enough. I want it all, Jonas. Everything and more.”

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Disbelief marred his expression. “Have you lost your senses, woman? The king would never order such a

thing.”

“I’ve spoken to King Hakon. He told me you wished to divorce me. But I tell you now, Jonas, I will
not
be put aside without a fight.” She rocked her weight in a fighting stance, resisting the urge to cringe at the pain it caused her bad ankle.

His azure eyes widened with amusement. “You would fight me? I didn’t know possessions meant so much to you.” Jonas thought she wanted his holdings, not their marriage. Not him. “You know so little about me. Aye, I’ll fight to keep what is mine. What if I carry your babe?

What would Sigurd say to you divorcing the mother of your child?”

His mouth rounded and his brows lowered. For a

man who claimed he wanted heirs, she could tell he hadn’t considered the possibility of a child. Emotion covered his face, as if he thought of the promise of what might be if they remained together. A family. Happiness and love. Belonging.

“A babe?” He scrutinized her flat stomach.

“It is a possibility.”

One of his eyebrows shot up. “I thought you wanted to leave and return to Moere.”

Kerstin shook her head, her braid weaving back and forth. “I’m not leaving Hawkescliffe. You can’t make me go.” He clasped her wrist and she didn’t fight him as he pulled her tight against his chest. She felt his strength, knowing he could kill her so easily.

A laugh broke from her lips. She smelled him, a

mixture of mountain breeze and mint. He had won her heart, her warrior.

Throwing her free arm around his neck, she kissed him hard. Jonas clasped her to him and returned her kiss with a passion that matched hers. His low groan of satisfaction mingled with her breathless sighs. She tasted him with her tongue and he growled deeply and laid her upon the grass beside the water’s edge. He poised over her, surrounding her, holding her to him. For the first 275

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time in months, she felt safe.

He broke their kiss, long enough for them both to catch their breath. “I can’t believe you wish to stay.”

She gave a nervous laugh. “I love you, but I know you blame me for Olga’s death. Is there any way you can ever forgive me?”

Confusion creased his forehead. “Why would you

think that?”

She stilled. “Sigurd told me.”

He snorted. “No doubt Father told you what
he
thought, not what was in my heart. I never loved Olga. I barely knew her, though I tried to save her life. Father arranged the marriage and we met at our wedding, the same day she died.”

“Then, you don’t...you don’t blame me?”

“Of course not. You were only a child at the time.”

A husky laugh trembled from her throat. Relief

rushed over her in waves, a cleansing tide to wash away the guilt. “Then, why did you ask King Hakon for a divorce?”

Pain filled his eyes. “Because I thought you didn’t want me. I couldn’t stand to have you by my side, being with you every day, if you didn’t love me.”

Lightness warmed her heart, but she frowned. “I

must set some things aright. Please, let me tell you everything.” She took a deep breath. “When I called Elezer’s name, it was out of pity and shame, not passion.

But you wouldn’t let me explain. I haven’t loved him since he tried to murder you while you slept. Truly, Jonas, I hate him. He murdered Tostig and almost killed my father. He confessed to killing Orm and Bjorn. He planned to marry me and kill off my family so he could take Moere. I don’t doubt he would have eventually killed me.”

“I know. Clovis told me. I’m sorry for ever doubting you, Kerstin. Can you forgive me for blaming you for Bjorn’s death? When I think of all the accusations I threw at you, it’s a wonder you—”

She tightened her arms around him. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

Jonas heaved a sigh of relief. “When Orm died,

blaming you seemed too easy. Elezer looked too smug and suddenly the pieces all fit together. I suspected him of 276

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being the traitor, but I needed proof. I sent Anskar on a false errand to the king, intending to draw Elezer out. It worked. My men saw Elezer go into the forest, but I didn’t plan on Anskar being killed. He was fleet of foot and I gave him a head start, but Elezer caught him.”

“Why didn’t you tell me your plan, or that you

suspected Elezer? I could have helped you.”

“Would you have believed me?”

She hesitated. “Perhaps. Elezer showed what kind of man he was when he tried to murder you in your bed.”

Jonas pressed a slow kiss to her lips. “Elezer wasn’t yet revealed as a traitor and I feared you might still harbor feelings for the man and warn him. Also, I didn’t want to endanger your life if he turned on you.”

She released a deep sigh. “Oh, if only I had known. I was beside myself with worry, thinking you blamed me for everything.”

“Nay, I love you, Kerstin. I’ve loved you all my life, even before I met you. We are soul mates, as if we always knew each other, before this life ever began.”

She stilled, letting his words sink deep into her heart. She laughed, her fingers twining through his hair.

“And I love you, Jonas. You’ll never be free of me.”

He tightened his arms around her and kissed her.

“Jonas,” she breathed his name lovingly.

He sighed with obvious pleasure. “Do you know how I’ve longed to hear you say my name like that?”

She drank in the sight of his smiling face, her finger tracing his brow, his chiseled cheekbone, his full mouth.

“You love me?”

“Aye, sweeting. I love you more than I can say. When you told me you loved Elezer, I became blind with hate and jealousy. You said you didn’t murder Bjorn, but the evidence seemed so damning against you. And the more I resisted loving you, the more I fell under your magic spell.”

“I’m no witch, Jonas.”

“I know that now. You’re a healer and I’m most

happy to be under your ‘spell’.”

To hear him say these wonderful words brought tears to her eyes. She hugged him, elated to finally win his trust and love.

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He drew back and took her hand in his, kissing it before gently nipping her knuckles with his teeth. She laughed without reservation. He kissed her throat, the edge of her jaw, her cheek and finally, her lips. Their kisses became hungry and she murmured her desire. She reached to pull his shirt over his shoulders, his warm skin tingling up her fingertips. As she opened her eyes and stared at the blue sky overhead, she felt drugged with happiness.

A shadow fell over them. Clouds. She hated it to rain on such a fine day.

She gasped.

Poised above them with a knife, Elezer swung up his arm to plunge the blade into Jonas’s back.

Kerstin screamed, thrusting Jonas aside. He turned in time to see the glint of steel as Elezer struck a glancing blow. The deadly blade sank deep into the earth. Elezer pulled the blade free; it sliced Kerstin’s shoulder. She screamed in pain.

“Nay!” Jonas yelled and knocked Elezer off balance.

Jonas jumped to his feet, scooped up Kerstin’s fallen dagger and whirled to face Elezer. The traitor yelped and turned to run.

Jonas jerked him back, brandishing the knife. “Come on, you coward. For once in your life, draw your sword and fight like a man.”

Elezer’s lip curled in a sneer as he lifted his sword from its sheath. His gaze darted to the small dagger in Jonas’s hand and he gave a wicked laugh. “That puny blade is no match against this sword.”

“We shall see.”

With a roar of rage, Elezer charged. In one lithe movement, Jonas dodged and knocked Elezer’s thrust aside with a blow from his fist. Elezer yelped and dropped the sword before he launched himself at Jonas, his hands outstretched. Jonas stabbed him through the heart.

The traitor gave one short screech before he slumped to his knees. Lifting an arm toward Kerstin, his eyes widened with amazement. “Kerstin, he’s killed me.”

Elezer’s head dropped, his chin resting on his breast. He grasped the dagger’s hilt and pulled the blade from his chest. Blood gushed from the wound, soaking his

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shirtfront. As he toppled to the ground, he gurgled and his breath left him in a long hiss.

He lay still.

“Ohh!” Kerstin buried her face beneath her arm,

unable to look upon the man she had once loved with adoration.

When she glanced up, Jonas stood over Elezer,

breathing hard. He picked up the dagger and poised it at Elezer’s throat while he checked for signs of life.

Kerstin lay upon the ground, trembling and bleeding.

The wound on her shoulder stung like hellfire. “Jonas, is he—?”

“Yes, he’s dead. He won’t bother us again.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I thought he loved me. It’s such a waste. He could have been a great man, but greed and jealousy seduced him.”

She sat up with some difficulty, feeling dizzy and nauseous. Jonas knelt to lend her aid. Examining her injury, he ripped a strip of cloth from his shirt to staunch the flow of blood. “I don’t think the wound is deep but we need to get you home.”

****

hill. With his own body, he protected her from the sharp branches and dense foliage. When he broke from the forest, he called for help. A boy herding sheep saw them and ran toward the steading to give the alarm, his dog racing ahead of him.

Kerstin felt woozy. Her shoulder burned like glowing embers and she resisted the urge to cry.

Men came running across the field of grass, armed with pitch forks, spears, knives and swords.

“What happened?” Halfdan peered critically at

Kerstin.

“What have you done to my sister?” Thorir

demanded, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

Before another fight broke out, Jonas explained

about Elezer. “Never fear. The traitor is dead. I killed him.”

“You’re sure he’s dead this time?” Halfdan asked.

Jonas’s eyes gleamed, but he didn’t break stride as he hurried toward the longhouse. “I’m sure.”

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When he brushed past Tovi in the hall, she looked dismayed. “Jonas, what have you done?”

She followed him into the bedroom and again, he was forced to explain about Elezer. Tovi gasped with outrage.

“The king should hear of this.”

“Come with me, men. We’ll go retrieve the traitor’s body and send a message to the king.” Thorir gestured to several of his warriors who now crowded the hall.

“We’ll accompany you,” Halfdan boomed. A handful of his men followed as they hurried out the door.

The din of voices immediately died down and Kerstin breathed a sigh of relief. She felt a deep, unsettling melancholy. Elezer had betrayed them all and was now dead. She could hardly believe her childhood friend deceived them so cruelly.

Jonas laid Kerstin on their bed as a bevy of women bustled into the room. Letta stirred up the fire while Gudrid went to fetch Kerstin’s healing bag of herbs.