Page 110 of Storm of Fury
She flashed him a smile that was full of teeth. “I told you I might set your boots on fire. I didn’t say how I was going to do it.”
Hmmm.
He looked into the oncoming storm. “I have a suggestion. You’re not going to like it.”
“This sounds like one of Haakon’s plans. He always says that.”
Tormund sighed and hauled his bedroll over his shoulder as he set off to the right. “There’s a small village about five miles down this road. They’ll shelter us for the night. There’ll be food and wine and somewhere warm to sleep.”
“You seem very certain of that,” she called after him.
He glanced back to find her standing in the middle of the road, staring after him somewhat forlornly.
“I am certain,” he replied. “It’s the village I grew up in. It’s my home, and my aunt and the rest of my cousins live there.”
Bryn backed away, her hands held in the air. “I don’t think it would be wise to visit your family.”
“We’re both cold and tired and on foot. Without adrekiprince to fly us, we’re losing ground fast. And that rain will wash away any tracks, which means this storm will put us days behind if we don’t come up with an alternative solution. My aunt has horses. She’ll take us in for the night, feed us, and pack us enough supplies to last for three weeks. Tomorrow we’ll ride out of there with a full belly and a renewed sense of purpose. Ishtar is heading north. She has been for days now. I think she finally knows where she’s going, and I think we’ll find her trail again if we have horses.”
“Your plan makes a good deal of sense.”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
Bryn took a hesitant step toward him. “Why doIfeel like I’m walking into a trap? What haven’t you told me?”
“I forgot to mention that you’re going to have half a dozen very curious women wanting to know everything about you. I’ve never brought a woman home before. My cousins are going to assume certain things.”
“I would rather face an entire cohort of Valkyrie in battle.”
He took her bag from her and slung it over his shoulder. “Truth be told, so would I. You’re not the only one who is going to be submerged with questions. But my aunt’s lamb stew is almost enough to make the sacrifice worth it. Almost.”
And a part of him wanted to introduce her to his family.
Twenty-One
They madethe village with barely an hour to spare before true dark.
Bryn’s belly was twisted in knots as she hesitantly followed Tormund. This was definitely not in the plan. She was supposed to be keeping him at arm’s length and yet at every step, she found herself sucked headlong into the maelstrom that seemed to surround him, hauling her ever closer to the man himself.
He was already a magnetic force.
Handsome. Amusing. Loyal. And steadfast.
Bryn closed her eyes, praying for strength.You’re not for him. Even if heseems like every one of your dreams breathed into life.
Because she would be nothing more than a weight around his neck.
And she had to keep reminding herself of that.
Cows lowed in the valley, and a dog came sniffing around their heels. In the distance iron rang on iron, and a curious woman glanced at them over the sheet she was pulling from a clothesline.
It was a scene of such perfect domesticity that Bryn immediately felt her hackles lift.
What was she doing here?
This was madness.
Every inch of her locked tight with tension. It was one thing for Tormund to say his family would want to meet her, another for them to actually realize what sort of woman she was. She’d seen the cool look in Haakon’s eyes whenever he glanced at her of late. That look told her she was not worthy of the man by her side, even though she already knew that.
