Page 16 of Alliance Bride
Erik shook his head. “None who survived infancy.”
“I’m sorry,” Eadlyn responded, hoping to convey her genuine regret.
He gave a shrug. “It’s life.” His eyes darted to Aevar, something passing between them before he focused back on her. “What about you? Is it only you and your brother?”
“Yes. Our mother died before she had more children.” She considered saying no more, but if she wanted to become part of this family, she must find the courage to speak more freely among them. Timidity wouldn’t get her very far. “It’s just as well. My father didn’t deserve more.”
Her frankness seemed to amuse Braan because he snorted, and it raised a smirk to Erik’s face as he said, “Given his reputation, I’d agree.”
Eadlyn chanced a peek at Aevar and found a smirk tugging at his mouth as well. At least she was engaging with them.
Once both fires blazed in the gathering gloom, the group sat close and passed around pouches filled with dried meat, berries, and various nuts. Not a feast, but after the long day, Eadlyn welcomed it eagerly.
Between bites, she looked across the fire at Jarl Runar. “During negotiations yesterday, you mentioned an upcoming gathering. What is it exactly?”
“Once a year, in spring, the clan leaders gather to share how they’ve fared through the winter. We prepare together for the season ahead and celebrate the return of warmth and plenty.”
“So all of them will be there?”
“Yes. The jarls, their families, and some warriors.”
That explained his urgency to return. Such a gathering in Kenwich took weeks to prepare. “That sounds like quite an event.”
“It is a good time. Feasting. Competitions. For many, it’s the only time we see each other all year.”
She could see how families looked forward to the Gathering, and it surely carried great political importance, especially now. “Will the other jarls support the alliance?”
Eadlyn watched for any uncertainty, but Runar seemed confident when he said, “Most will. That is all that matters.”
Hopefully, he was right. She had placed her entire future and the future of Essix on that hope. She knew what a delicate job it was keeping the lords happy in Essix. Pleasing everyone was no simple task.
“How many jarls are there?”
“Ten clans and ten jarls across Nordra, including myself. Long ago, we fought each other for land and power. Then the Kalgorans invaded from the north. One jarl was chosen to unite the clans and drive them out. Since then, we have fought to remain united.”
“Unity is never easy,” Eadlyn murmured. “I hope this alliance helps us both grow stronger.”
“Indeed.”
After eating her fill, she accepted a waterskin from Aevar. The water was frigid but refreshing. She passed it back as a deep, haunting howl pierced the darkness. Another followed, then another, until the forest echoed with their chorus. Goosebumps rose on her arms. She peered into the black beyond the firelight. The howls faded, leaving only the crackle of flames and a silence that hung thick.
“Are those wolves?”
Aevar nodded without alarm.
“Don’t worry,” Kian said from his place on the other side of Aevar. He leaned forward to see her. “As long as we keep the fires burning, they’ll not come near.”
Good to know. She edged closer to the flames and drew her cloak tighter. She’d only been with these men for half a day, but already she saw how little she knew of life and survival outside the palace and city where she’d grown up.
“Do you not have wolves near Kenwich?”
She looked back at Kian. “Not that I’ve heard. We don’t have many true forests in Essix, except in the far south near the border of Camria. Our wildlife is not as plentiful as in Nordra. Leastwise with large predators.”
This led to a brief conversation about the creatures she might encounter in Nordra. When Braan mentioned the great brown bears roaming the forest, she very much hoped she would never run into one. At least not without several armed men with her.
After a time, she grew uncomfortable with the need for privacy. She’d gone all afternoon without the opportunity to relieve herself. She’d noticed the men stepping away from camp, presumably to tend to similar business, but the thought of making her needs known was a bit embarrassing. It was unavoidable by this point, however, and they still had two days of travel ahead of them.
Trying to swallow down the discomfort that brought a little heat to her face, she leaned toward her new husband and spoke so only he would hear her. “I need to…step away for a moment.”
