Page 14 of A Song of Ravens and Wolves
‘Shhh… it’s alright,’ I soothed, but no sooner than the words crossed my lips she was up on her hind quarters rearing full height before she cast me to the floor and bolted into the distance.
‘Damned horse!’ I shouted after her.
I found myself sitting in what could only be described as a bog, thick with a slurry that would have shamed a hog. Drest was no doubt halfway back to the mews. Angus, not knowing what else to do, licked my face.
‘Lady Olith.’ The sound of his voice filled me with enough fury to light the nights sky aflame and even more when he gave me his hand.
‘You?’ The Jarl stared now at me with a half-cocked smile, that I wanted to wipe from his face. ‘Clearly, they do not have horses in Norway,’ I hissed, refusing the offer of his hand, and slipping around onto all fours to try and extricate myself from the sludge that threatened to take my gown with it.
‘We have lots of horses, but ours don’t seem to frighten as easily. Maybe it is just your inexperience or the poor breeding of the animal.’
Always with the insults. He never changed. It always set the fire between us.
‘My inexperience? My apologies, Jarl Sigurd, I forget that I am but a lowly woman standing before a great horseman.’ I clambered to my feet, trying to dust myself off although all I seemed to do was to spread the streaks of mud further across my skirts. ‘I should know my place.’
‘It would not take much to teach you.’
I could not believe what I was hearing. ‘You will teach me? Jarl Sigurd, I have ridden horses my whole life. Perhaps, I could teach you that prowling around in the tree line like some kind of wolf is enough to make the calmest beast shy.’
‘I am pleased to see that you are not afraid.’
I was more afraid than he would ever know, but any fear I had, had been swallowed by my temper.
‘What are you doing riding this far from your father’s fortress, and with a hawk on your arm?’
‘What I was doing, Jarl Sigurd is none of your concern.’
‘I trust that your father knows that you were this far out?’
‘I do not have time for this,’ I huffed, trying to straighten my skirts. ‘I have my sister’s wedding to attend. I bid you farewell.’
He walked over to a horse he had tethered. ‘You will ride with me.’
It was not a question.
‘I will no,’ I said hotly. ‘My mare will come back, and I will make my own way to the ceremony.’
‘As you wish, Lady Olith.’ He nodded, pushed his heels into his beast and rode off. I watched on as his silhouette disappeared back towards the fortress. I balled my fists and started walking in the same direction. My blood felt as though it was about to boil.
To be his wife was always infuriating, but I would give everything back to spend just one more day with him.
?
The church stood in a patch of sunlight that broke through the gathering clouds, as though God himself shone down on it. Two black crows hopped along the nave roof, in a ruffle of clicks and inky quills.
A small crowd had gathered, through a sea of heads and fidgeting men the Thane could not tear his gaze from Bethóc. She stood at the doors of the church, her back to me in a gown of red and gold silk. Her hair cascaded to her waist in waves.
The Thane looked every inch the King he would grow to be. Broad of chest and tall and strong. He looked a great warrior, which he turned out to be. I would never forget his tunic and leather silver studded sword belt. He wore it the day we buried Bethóc beneath the ash tree, only that day, he had hung the ornate crucifix she had given him on their wedding night.
I hurried through the crowd, casting my travelling cloak to the floor while I tried to make myself look presentable. No easy task when I was slick with sweat and caked in mud. My cheeks glowed with the redness of one who is too stubborn for their own good and has walked entirely much further than they intended, just to prove that did not need the help of a man.
My father stood proudly with another of his concubines draped about his arm. Even Bethóc’s wedding would not bring my mother from her chamber. The Jarl stood to his left, looking pleased with himself. He smiled and nodded in my direction and then glanced over his shoulder to the two horses tethered at the side of the church. One of them being my disobedient mare. I tried to smile as sweetly as I could manage, bowing my head in thanks but I could not hide my anger. If I had bitten my tongue, I would have poisoned myself. He tossed his head back and laughed.
I searched the crowd trying to catch sight of Donada. She was clearly still furious and did not want to be found. We had often argued, but this time it was different. She was making it clear that any hope of forgiveness, would be gone the second I boarded the Jarl’s ships.
I snaked my way closer, hoping that my father had not noticed I had been missing from the wedding party. I slipped into my place, shielded behind his concubine.
‘And where have you been?’ my father growled. ‘The Jarl has been waiting.’
