Page 24 of The Shipwreck
He growled in frustration, frightening the little girl again.She backed toward the door once more.
His eyes widened.“Nay, nay, nay, nay, nay.”He had to keep her inside.The last thing he needed was to havebothwomen out of his sight.“Kimmie, nay, Kimmie,” he said urgently as her small hand touched the latch.“Come away from the door.Please.I’ll…” He searched his memory.What would have convinced his own daughter to stay?“I’ll tell you another story.”
She hesitated.
“Aye, come sit by the fire, and I’ll tell you a story about…about Muspell, the land of the Fire Giants.”
She pursed her lips.
“And Niflheim, where the Frost Giants live,” he added.
She lifted her brows.
“And Audhumia, the giant cow.”
“Giant cow?”
“Aye.The giant cow who licked the gods to life.”
She let go of the latch and walked to the hearth, and he heaved a sigh of relief.He might not be able to rescue Avril, but at least he could keep her daughter safe.
Kimbery sat cross-legged with her sword across her lap, and he began a story he’d told often to his children—the story of the world’s creation.Meanwhile, he strained to hear what was happening outside, to no avail.The little girl, fascinated by the tale, edged closer and closer to him.Eventually, despite her mother’s stern orders, she ended up half-draped across his lap.
Chapter 7
Avril thought she must be mad, covering for the Northman.Her neighbor said he’d found pieces of a Viking ship.He’d come to warn her to be watchful, assuring her in manly tones that he was on the hunt for the vermin who belonged to it, hefting up his spade as proof.
She should have turned the Viking over to him then and there.It certainly would have made her life easier.Brandr would have been out of her house, away from her daughter, off of her shoulders.
But she couldn’t bear the thought of him being beaten to death with a spade, which was doubtless what her neighbor intended.
So she told the man an outright lie, saying she’d seen no sign of Northmen, but she’d be sure to alert him if she did.Thanking him for his concern, she smiled stiffly until he was out of sight.
“Brilliant,” she muttered to herself.“Now I’m harboring an outlaw.”
She pushed open the cottage door, cursing herself for a fool, and froze when she saw the scene before her.
She couldn’t draw breath.Mother of God, shewasa fool!While she’d been lying to protect him, the crafty Viking had enticed her daughter onto his lap.Kimbery was sprawled across his thighs like a lovesick pup.Was this the thanks she got for saving Brandr’s worthless hide?
“Mama!”Kimbery cried, jumping up and running to her, hugging her about the thighs.“Da’s telling me…I mean, Brandr’s telling me a story about a giant cow and Frost Giants and the dwarves who hold up the sky!”
“Is that so?”Avril bit out with a shaky smile for her daughter.She clasped Kimbery close in relief, grateful he’d let her go, unharmed, but uncertain why.After all, with Kimbery in his grasp, he could have had her at his mercy and easily bargained for his freedom.
Brandr didn’t seem to notice her confusion.He gave her a fierce frown, scanning her from head to toe.“Are you all right?”
She blinked, even more baffled.“Aye.Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Who was outside?”The furrow in his brow deepened, and his fists clenched, as if he meant to use them.
“My neighbor.He came to tell me…” Suddenly the truth struck her.“Were you…?”She narrowed incredulous eyes at him.“You were.You were afraid for me.”
He scowled in irritation, but he couldn’t deny it, and something about that pleased her.
“You know,” she said in amazement, “if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to protect me.”
He scoffed.But after a moment he looked at her quizzically, lowering his shoulders and relaxing his hands.“Wait.Your neighbor?”The corner of his lip lifted in a knowing grin.“And you didn’t tell him about your Viking prize?”
She stiffened.
