Page 56 of Alliance Bride
When she joined the family a little while later, she wore a pale cream dress and green apron. She’d left her hair long and loose, tempting him more than ever to run his fingers through it. Ranvi had been braiding it for her in the mornings. She took her seat, and Ranvi joined her, fingers weaving the strands. Katla climbed onto the bench beside them, pointing and chattering as Ranvi worked in beads and tiny ornaments. Eadlyn listened patiently, smiling as the little girl spoke.
Aevar didn’t realize how long he’d been watching until someone bumped his arm. He whipped his head around to find Kian beside him, grinning like an idiot.
“Enjoying the view?”
Aevar shoved him away. “Quiet.”
Kian chuckled, undeterred. “Don’t let me stop you.”
Aevar ignored him as he turned back to watch Ranvi finish the braid.
After breakfast, Aevar and Eadlyn left the longhouse for their morning walk. This was fast becoming Aevar’s favorite part of the day. They spoke more now, sharing about their childhoods and lives before the alliance. But the more she revealed of her past, especially her father, the deeper Aevar’s anger burrowed. The man had stolen so much from her. Dying in a drunken stupor, while not an honorable or glorious death, had been far too merciful a punishment. He’d deserved to suffer more. Especially since it sounded like Eadlyn had been more prisoner than princess before his death.
He hoped she did not feel that way now. She’d given up her home, her brother, and her friends to come here. Had there been more?
“Did you have any suitors? Anyone you left behind because of the alliance?”
Eadlyn smiled, though a sad sort of one. “None who saw me as anything more than a political advantage. My father made personal connections difficult.”
A complicated mix of relief and sadness warred in Aevar’s chest that she’d never had that connection before, but something in her expression shifted, wistful and faraway.
“There was this one ealdorman’s son. I met him when I was thirteen and was smitten. I used to imagine him rescuing me from the palace.” Her expression changed to something more of amusement and old embarrassment. “He married not long after. I was heartbroken. However, when I saw him again a few years later, I realized what he possessed in outward appeal he sorely lacked in character.”
Aevar sent her a playful grin. “So no lingering torch for the dashing ealdorman’s son?”
She blinked as if caught off guard by his teasing, but another slow smile pulled at her lips. “Not even a flicker.”
Down at the fjord, they fell into silence. Eadlyn often prayed here, quiet and contemplative, her face turned toward the breeze. Aevar let the stillness stretch between them, watching her take in the view, peace softening her features. He’d have to bring her out on the boats someday. But first, he should teach her to swim.
After a time, she asked, “How far are we from Staegar’s village?”
He moved beside her, following her gaze toward the far distance where the fjord disappeared around a bend. A dip in the cliffs marked the beginning of a valley where Staegar dwelt. “He has outbuildings for trade and shipbuilding at the shore too far tosee from here. Ormvik, his main settlement, is a couple of miles inland.”
She rubbed her arms, unease creeping across her face. Aevar stepped closer, tempted to reach out in reassurance, but he held back.
“You don’t have to worry about Sig. He would be a fool to come back. It does not matter who he is, the consequences would be severe, and the whole village knows to be on the lookout.”
And if he did return, Aevar would kill him.
Eadlyn’s shoulders relaxed a little.
Wanting to lift the weight entirely, he gestured back toward the village. “Come. I want to show you something.”
They walked to the far side of the village, where the stable sat. Aevar had debated the idea of bringing her here because of the memories, but if he wanted to build something real with her, he couldn’t keep avoiding the past.
Inside, he led her to the stall where Vega had birthed her foal, a dark brown filly, just over a week ago. “This is Vega and Eydis.”
Eadlyn’s face lit up as the foal bounced to the front of the stall, ears twitching as she sniffed at her hand. With a sudden burst of energy, Eydis leaped back and tried to buck, drawing a musical laugh from Eadlyn. The little animal had spunk. It was as if she’d inherited Thora’s spirit.
Vega stepped forward, nudging her offspring aside with maternal grace. Eadlyn stroked the mare’s neck. “They’re beautiful. Are they yours?”
Aevar ran his hand down the length of the horse’s face. “Vega belonged to Thora.”
Eadlyn went still. The silence between them shifted, uncertainyet respectful. But Aevar let himself smile, finding that talking about Thora was not as hard as he’d expected.
“She loved horses.”
“There is much to love.” Eadlyn scanned the other stalls. “Is Hiroc around? I haven’t seen him since I got here. Back at Kenwich, riding was one of my few escapes.”
