Page 26 of Her Viking Saviour
"I would not say I have much skill, but how hard could it be? Stab them with the pointy end until you see blood?" she asked with a cheeky grin.
"That is about right, but I promise to do all I can so that you never need to pull the dagger, Elskling."
"I know, Torben, but I appreciate the dagger anyway. I never want to feel helpless again. What now? I am ready."
They rode side by side on their horses while Torben filled her in on his conversations with Ragnav, Leif, and Sven
"So, you think this Gunhilda helped her leave, the woman you were bedding?" He heard the annoyance in her voice, veiled but present, and he bit back his grin.
"Perhaps. We shall ask her and find out what she knows, and then we will continue on our way. This is her place, with all the goats."
It was a silly statement to make, no one would mistake the noise they made for anything but goats. The look of derision she threw him told him as much.
"I am familiar with the sound of bleating goats, Torben, but my many thanks for confirming it." Her tone was haughty as she reined in behind him when the path narrowed.
Gunhilda appeared in the doorway as they drew closer, leaning on the frame with an eyebrow raised.
"I was wondering when you would arrive."
The gall of this woman. He had half hoped she was not involved and had not betrayed him in this way.
"Gunhilda, your welcome leaves me less then pleased. From what you say, you have had a hand in Freydis running away," he challenged, while he dismounted his horse and walked over to assist Wynflaed.
"Do not be so sore, Torben. Freydis is a woman in her own right and asked for my secrecy," she retorted, but moved aside to allow them to enter. Torben observed Wynflaed as she eyedGunhilda with a guarded stare. Gunhilda gestured them to sit down, and she poured them all mead.
"I do not wish to argue with you, Gunhilda. Klavik is my settlement, and I am Chieftain. This isn't a girlish secret Freydis has whispered to you. She has run away, and her life may be in danger. This is my sister!" Torben heard his voice become harsher with each word he spoke and Gunhilda flinched under his stare.
"You are right, Torben. I am sorry. Truly. I lost my good sense in the wake of my feelings about a certain situation." She glanced quickly at Wynflaed. Torben saw her remorse, but it did not cool his ire.
"We will talk more of this when I return. I cannot have my people working against me. Now, where did Freydis say she was going?"
"She did not say where exactly, just that she wanted to take control of her own destiny, her own fate. She asked me for a horse and directions to Stavanger."
"Stavanger?” he said in disbelief. That was a major trade port, ships came and went from all over.
"Yes, she was not here long, but she was resolute. She has been so unhappy, Torben."
He heard the pleading in her tone and ignored it, then turned to Wynflaed when she spoke.
"It is very curious that Freydis, who prefers to be alone and dislikes her scar being stared at, has ventured out so. Something more has led her to take this path, something or someone…" she trailed off. All of a sudden, she grabbed his hand with urgency. The moment they made eye contact the answer was clear.
"Guthred!" they exclaimed in horror.
A burning rage engulfed his senses and he lost control in a way he had not done since the battlefields. He threw the cup against the wall and roared his fury.
Beyond the haze of his rage, he saw Gunhilda and Wynflaed jump off their stools and heard the frantic hoofbeats of horses and goats alike. He stormed from the hut, sank down into a crouch, and grabbed his head as he fought for calm. He could not lose his reason now. He needed calm and focus to track down Freydis.
He felt two small hands squeeze his shoulders in comfort as Wynflaed’s scent engulfed him. The lavender she drenched herself in and her womanly scent of sweetened honey and berries began to calm him.
"Are you back with me, Torben?" Wynflaed asked softly as she looked in his face.
"I am, Elskling, you ground me. I will never stop saying thanks to all the gods, especially Odin, in guiding me to you."
"What is our next move?"
"We mount our horses, we follow the trail I assume she is on, and we look for tracks and clues along the way. And hope we find her before any serious harm is done. Let us be on our way."
He gave Gunhilda one final glance.
