Page 39 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
“You taking your vows?”
“I’m not sure yet. Are you both taking your vows?”
“We aren’t sure either. Come, we’ll show you to our chamber.” They set their spears in a wooden crate near the target, then led her down the path.
“How long have you been here?” Sheona asked.
“Two moons.”
“And they let you stay without taking your vows?” she asked, wondering if she could do such a thing.
“We were abducted when a group of evil men came and killed our mothers. Used the women first, then killed them. Took us, but kind souls rescued us and brought us here. We were too old for Ionaland, so here we stay. If you’ve never been, Ionaland is a short walk, and it’s much more fun than living here.”
“Ionaland? I’ve not heard of it.”
“It’s where they take the bairns with no parents. Lots of wee ones running about and playing. I like it there.”
Hildi made a face. “Not my favorite place, but I go along when she goes. We help work the garden here and at Ionaland. It’s not so bad at the nunnery. What brings you to Iona? We saw you with a man. Your sire?”
“Aye, he wishes for me to find a man and marry soon. Said if not, I had to become a nun. He said he’ll return for me in a sennight. I must decide by then.”
They made their way across the grounds without any more discussion, the harsh realities the three of them had in their young lives more than they should have had to deal with. Sheona vowed to come out stronger, whether she married or not.
They approached one of the buildings and Brynja opened the door for her before stepping in behind her. “Here we are. I sleep in that bed.” She pointed to the one at the end of the row. “And Hildi is in the next one. I wouldn’t take the one on this end because it’s the coldest one. When the nights are cool, it is truly freezing near the door. Take the next one.”
“You don’t snore, do you?” Hildi asked with a giggle. “I wouldn’t care. I’d probably have a laugh or two.”
“I don’t snore.” Sheona chose the bed next to Hildi and set her bag on the chest at the end, arranging the furs on the bed for later. There was little furniture in the chamber: four beds, a table with four stools around it, and a chest at the end of each bed. There was a small hearth on one side, but there was no wood to be seen. “No fires for warmth?”
“Not yet. We’re used to Norse cold, anyway. We go once a year. When it gets colder, we’ll be given some wood, so they told us. We have plenty of furs.”
Sheona sat down on the bed, pleased that it was pleasantly soft. Not quite sure what to say next, she didn’t have to wait long.
Brynja sat down on a stool not far away. “So, were you abused like many who come here just to run away from men?”
Sheona reacted quickly, shaking her head, but then she stared at her hands, thinking about her past and how to explain it to a stranger. What exactly had happened to her? How should she explain it to someone? That somehow she feared one act more than any other besides death?
Brynja waited but then nodded. “I think I understand. You weren’t abused, but almost. Enough to make you hate men. I hate men. Hildi hates men. Our fathers were only around enough to make us, then they disappeared. Climbed back into their galley ships, leaving us to our mothers’ care. And how do women protect themselves from other men?” She arched a brow. “They don’t. That is the harsh reality of life. The only way it happens.”
Sheona sat up. “Nay. That’s not the only way. My brother just married, and he adores his wife. And the other clans near us have taught me that there are better ways to live. Why, the newest clan has women trained as archers. They travel with their finest warriors. In fact, they just defeated one of the cruelest men around, one who stole bairns from their mothers. He was horrible. But they found him and tied him, giving all the people he harmed the right to just due. They did whatever they wished to him. He was dead by the end, but he’d killed his own wife and her parents. A truly evil man.”
Hildi said, “Magni told us all about that. Said he was first and kicked him twice for stealing him away.”
“You know Magni? He is so sweet. Where is he?”
“He’s living at Ionaland with his parents. Poor lad is afraid to leave Iona, so Beatris told us.” Hildi fiddled with the clothes in the chest at the end of her bed.
“Did you witness the just due?” Brynja asked. “Every evil person should be forced to experience the same.”
“I didn’t, but I heard about it. My brother’s new wife threw an axe and hit one man in his heart just before the battle broke out. And another lass hit one between his eyes. She ran away from home because her father was going to make her marry an evil baron.” Then she leaned forward. “Said the baron touched her once and told her she’d have to do whatever he said, so she ran away.”
“Did he catch her?” Hildi asked.
“Nay, she got away and met one of the chieftains. Married him. She’s verra happy.” Sheona then said the one thing she clung to. “It is possible to be happily married. I know many who are, but one thing I’ve noticed.”
“What?” Hildi and Brynja asked.
“They’re strong women.” That’s what she had to do. Become strong like Eva and Meg and Dyna and Gwyneth and Eli. “My brother’s wife was teaching me how to throw an axe. I brought a couple along with me to practice with, should I get the chance.”
