The Viking's Chosen by Quinn Loftis (17)

I heard several pairs of feet moving quickly through the corridor. I turned my body in the direction of the sound, simultaneously keeping my body in front of Allete’s door.

“It’s our men,” Brant said as he too turned to face the direction of the approaching steps.

I almost asked how he could tell, but then I too heard the unique rhythm of the march, something I had trained my warriors to do long ago, a pronounced stomp every few steps. It let us distinguish friend from foe even at a distance. I must have missed the sound at first because of my worry over Allete.

Less than half a minute later, Amund, Rush, and Delvin rounded the corner and came to a halt in front of us.

“Sir,” they all three said at the same time and bowed their heads slightly.

“What brings you from your posts?” I asked.

“We have information,” Amund spoke up.

“What news?” Sometimes getting information out of them was like trying to get a mule to lead a heifer.

“Magnus,” Amund answered. “His plans have changed. He has become obsessed with taking over this kingdom. We aren’t sure when he is planning to take action, but it will be soon.”

I cursed under my breath. It was just like Magnus to take an already-dumb arse plan and make it worse. “Do you have any idea what he is planning?”

Rush stepped forward. “It will involve killing, that much was made clear by the men he’d snuck into the kingdom.”

That was not surprising. With their Jarl, any raid would involve killing, even if it was not necessary. “Do you know if there is any discord among his ranks? Does anyone else see the folly of his plan?”

They all three shook their heads. I cursed under my breath.

“Continue to keep your ears and eyes open. Bring us any information immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What report from your assigned posts?” I asked.

“We’ve had the displeasure of being around Cathal’s soldiers,” Delvin practically spat. “They’re as dumb as bricks and as mean as wild boars.”

“That isn’t surprising,” Brant chuckled. “Their king is no better.”

“I cannot believe that the ruler of this kingdom would ship his daughter off to be married to such a man,” Amund said.

“She is not going to marry him,” I growled. “He’s too dangerous, and she belongs with me.” I hadn’t really planned on saying that second part out loud, but it was true. And my men should probably know that she would be accompanying us home.

Before they could respond, another body appeared from around the corner. Thomas, Allete’s cousin, looked as though someone had jabbed him with a hot poker. I could feel the violence emanating from him, and I did not like the look in his eyes.

“I need to see my cousin,” he declared and took a step toward me and the door behind me.

“You won’t be going in like that,” I pointed at his face. “You get yourself under control first.”

“Have you forgotten your place, guard?”

I tried not to hold his words against him. I knew he was simply worried about Allete, but I wouldn’t allow him to think he could intimidate me just because of his station. “Not at all. I am Allete’s chief guard, and it is my duty to ensure that she is safe from anyone—including overly emotional family members.”

Thomas’s jaw flexed, and his hands clenched into fists. After several minutes, he finally relaxed, if only a little. “Fair enough. Please allow me to see my cousin.”

I turned and knocked on the door behind me. When I heard Allete’s voice say to enter, I opened the door and stuck my head in. “Your cousin is here to speak with you.”

Her lips tightened, but she gave a stiff head nod. “Send him in.”

I pushed the door open wider and stepped aside so he could pass. Before he could walk into the room, I grabbed his arm and pulled him close. “If you do anything to further upset her, I won’t react kindly. She’s been through enough. Remember that before you open your mouth.” I released him and waited until he was inside before closing the door.

Brant looked at me with a small smile and shook his head. “You are smitten.”

My men shot me a look and their eyes widened. “Not a word,” I snapped at them. “Return to your posts.”

They each nodded and turned, heading back in the direction they’d come.

Brant began to speak again, but I held up my hand to stop him. “No more, please. I’m just worried about her safety.” He left it alone, and we stood guard in silence. My own mind wandered to the life I might have with Allete in the future—a life filled with promise. I realized that until her, I had not been looking forward to my future. But now, now I very much wanted a chance to have a life with her.

I watched as Thomas paced the room. He hadn’t spoken since he’d arrived. He simply looked at me, shook his head, and began pacing. This went on for several long minutes before I finally addressed him.

“Are you going to say something?”

He stopped and looked up at me. “What do you want me to say? Do you want me to ask you why on earth you haven’t told me about the things Cathal has said to you? Do you want me to ask why you didn’t come to me when he assaulted you?” His voice rose with every question, and by the last one, he was yelling. “Do you want me to ask why you kept quiet and continued to put yourself in danger?”

My mouth hung open in shock. Thomas rarely yelled. He was the patient one in the family, but today he looked anything but.

“I can try to explain, but I do not think you will understand.”

“I am not an idiot, cousin. I am capable of rational thought, if what you’ve done is rational.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I mean I don’t know if you can understand because perhaps I wasn’t being rational. I was trying to protect my family. I understand why Father needs this alliance.”

“He would not allow this if he knew what Cathal was like,” Thomas challenged.

“You are correct. He does not wish me to marry Cathal, and he is trying to figure out a way to stop it without provoking all-out war. A war that we would have no chance of winning,” I pointed out.

“So, your parents do know?”

I shot a look at Dayna. “Yes, they had the same source you did.”

Thomas looked at my sister and a small smile appeared. “At least one of you was using her brain.”

“I understand that you are worried for me, but please keep your insults to yourself. I have no need of another man treating me like I am a dullard.”

Thomas’s eyes widened. “I don’t think you are a dullard, and I did not mean to imply that. You are correct. I am worried about you. You are my dearest cousin, and I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you.”

I stepped toward him and wrapped my arms around him. “I know that. But I need you to trust me. I have agreed with Father that I will not be alone with Cathal again. I will always have my own guards with me, not just his. But we must be careful. Cathal can never know that my parents are aware of his behavior. I fear what he would do to those I love. He has already threatened to hurt my family.”

“Why can’t we just kill him and make it look like an accident?” Thomas asked.

Dayna laughed. “I knew I loved you for a reason.”

“I’m your cousin,” Thomas said dryly. “Isn’t that reason enough?”

Dayna shook her head. “Just because you’re family does not make you worthy of my love.”

“Good to know,” Thomas laughed.

“You two cannot go around speaking about killing a king. That is treason, and the penalty is death. I don’t even know if Father could keep you from being executed, so mind your tongues,” I practically barked.

“You have turned into quite the little mama bear,” Thomas chuckled.

I shrugged. “I’m just telling you what you already know. You are blinded by your hate, and that can cause you to act rashly.”

“I suppose you are right, but sometimes acting rashly is needed.”

I groaned. There was no point in arguing with him. When he’d made up his mind about something, there was rarely any way to change it. “So, did you only come here to scold me, or have you actually missed me? I have only seen you a handful of times in the past two weeks. Where have you been hiding?”

Thomas grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been around.”

“No, you haven’t,” I argued. “You have been noticeable scarce. Have you found a girl or something?”

Dayna’s eyes widened. “Have you finally found someone who will put up with you?”

I laughed. It was true. It would take a woman with great patience to handle the likes of Thomas. Though I was sure he would make a wonderful husband. He had a kind soul and playful nature. He was sure to be a most delightful father, too because of his childlike nature. His children would never lack for adventures.

“Why on earth would I tell you two wenches if I’d found the woman of my dreams? You would just run off to warn her away from me. No.” He shook his head. “I think it better to keep that secret to myself.”

“You have to tell us,” Dayna said as she stomped her foot. “We’re your favorite cousins.”

“You’re my only cousins,” Thomas pointed out.

“That’s beside the point.”

“No, I think it is the entire point. How can I have favorites when there is no one to compete for my affection?”

Dayna picked up the nearest thing she could grab, a shoe I’d discarded on the floor, and threw it at him. “Do not play games with me, Thomas Mathew. You will tell us if you have found a potential bride. We have to approve of her. That is the way of it.”

He laughed, and his eyes sparkled in that joyful way that I loved. “No, Dayna, that is your way of it. Not everything revolves around you and your ways.”

“Allete, tell him he is wrong,” she pleaded.

It was my turn to laugh. Thomas had a point. Dayna was by no means a selfish person, but she could tend to be a tad self-centered at times. “Dayna, you can’t force someone to tell you something that he does not wish to share.”

“Why not?”

“Because it is his right to keep things to himself.”

She sat down on the end of my bed with a plop and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She looked like a scolded child. It only made me want to laugh more, but I bit my tongue to keep from doing so.

“But…” I turned back to Thomas. “She isn’t entirely wrong. A second and third opinion might be in order. After all, you can’t hide her away from us forever.”

“Well, look at the time. I must be on my way.” Thomas ignored my statement as he walked over to Dayna and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the forehead.

“Thomas,” she practically whined.

He was undeterred as he came back to me and wrapped his arms around me. “You stay safe. Promise?”

I nodded. “I promise.”

He stepped back and gave me a playful tap on the nose and then headed to the door. He pulled it open and just before he closed it behind him, he said over his shoulder, “Just to drive you both bat crazy, yes, there is a woman in my life. But I will reveal nothing further.” He closed the door quickly behind him.

I saw the look on Dayna’s face and chuckled. “You really hate not knowing, don’t you?”

“It’s not fair that he won’t tell us. If we had found suitors, he would demand to know who they were, and then he would want to meet them.”

She was right, he would. But then, we were female and whether we liked it or not, there was a double standard when it came to male and females and courting. “We should be happy for him and wait until he is ready to tell us more,” I offered.

“Fine,” Dayna huffed. “I’ll wait, but I won’t be happy about it.”

“I said you should be happy for him, not happy about waiting.”

“I’ll consider your counsel.”

I smiled at her. “I look forward to the day you find your match. He will have to have a backbone of steel to stand up to you.”

“I’ve already met him.” She pointed at the door. “He’s on the other side of that door, and everything about him calls out to me.”

“A guard, Dayna?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. “You cannot marry a guard. No matter how kind he is or how good a warrior, he is beneath your station.”

“That doesn’t make him less than me. Just because I was born a princess does not make me worthier or in any way better than him,” she argued.

“I agree with you, but it is the way of our society. You must marry within your own class. It’s the way it has always been.” I didn’t agree with it either, but I understood that anyone of noble birth who married a commoner would be shunned and treated with disdain. I did not want that for my sister.

“And how will that ever change if we aren’t willing to take the first step?”

I returned to the chair I’d been sitting in before Thomas had arrived and looked at my younger sister. “In so many ways, you are wise beyond your years. I wish I had an answer for you. You are right, we should set the example for change. But any time there is change, there is trouble. I don’t want you to have to be the one who bears that burden.”

“You cannot protect me from everything, Allete.”

“You certainly try to protect me from everything,” I pointed out.

“That’s different. You are important. You’re the firstborn. You need to continue Father’s lineage.”

“It’s a male who carries the lineage, and please don’t ever insinuate that I am of more importance than you or Lizzy. We are all of equal importance, and unique in our own ways,” I said, hoping she would hear the sincerity in my words. I had never thought myself to be somehow worth more than my sisters. Yes, I was firstborn, but that did not place a greater value on my life.

“Neither of us possesses the power that you have,” Dayna pointed out. “No matter how unique we are, we cannot heal others. That does make you more valuable.”

I didn’t know how to argue that point, though I still did not agree. I did not know why I had been giving the ability and my sisters given none. Magic had no rhyme or reason, as far as I could tell. Some people had it, and some people simply did not.

“What are your plans for the day?” she asked.

I breathed out a tired sigh and sat back, folding my hands in my lap. “I just want to enjoy quiet and rest. Obviously, I want to stay as far away from Cathal as possible.”

“No one blames you there,” she said.

“I had Lidia inform Torben and Brant that they were to stay at their post and not let anyone in before speaking with me first. I know that he will be here soon, considering I did not attend breakfast.”

“Do you want me to leave?” Dayna asked.

I could see that she hoped I would decline. She hated being alone. I had never been uncomfortable with solitude, but for Dayna it was almost a form of punishment. “You can stay,” I said finally, not wanting to be the one to make her feel as though she was being punished.

“Would you mind if I gathered your laundry, my lady?” Lidia spoke up. Sometimes it was easy to forget the quiet servant was there. From what I had learned from Lidia over the years, when servants went through training before being allowed to work in the palace, they were taught two important things. Servants were not to be heard. Servants were not to be seen. Basically, she said it meant that they were to do their job to the best of their ability without disturbing the people of the house.

It didn’t bother me to notice Lidia, and I never wanted her to feel like she couldn’t make noise in my presence, but her training had been drilled into her mind. She did her job very, very well.

“That would be fine. Thank you, Lidia,” I said and caught the small smile she let slip.

When I turned back to Dayna, she was holding a deck of cards in her hands. “What mischief are you up to?”

“After Cathal makes his appearance and stomps off in a huff, let’s get Brant and Torben to play cards with us. Maybe throw in a few wagers.”

“Where did you learn to play for wagers?” Before she could answer I held up my hand. “Never mind, I don’t want to know.”

There was a booming voice from outside the door. I felt a sudden headache coming on, and if it had a name it would have been Cathal.

“I demand that you open this door this instant, or I will hang you myself,” Cathal snarled.

I supposed I should have at least tried to look scared by his threat, but I was too angry. It was like dealing with a disobedient child.

“The princess is not feeling well and has given strict orders that she isn’t to be bothered by anyone. Therefore, I am not required to acquiesce to your demand. That means I do not have to do what you tell me.”

“I know what acquiesce means, you cad.”

I shrugged. “Just wanted to make sure there would be no misunderstandings. I will let the princess know that you came by to inquire about her.” I nearly gagged on my own words. He hadn’t come by to check on her, that was sure. He’d come by to make demands, bully her, and take what did not belong to him.

“I am to be her husband. Her orders do not apply to me. I can see my bride whenever I damn well please. Now, for the last time, open this door!” His face was turning an interesting shade of purple, and his teeth were gritted so tightly together that I was sure they would break at any moment.

I began to answer, but the door behind me opened and closed quickly. Lidia, the handmaiden to Allete, stood next to me, her shoulders pulled back and her chin up proudly.

“My lady says to bid you good morning, but she cannot see you. She has been ill this morning.” She indicated the linens in her arms as if to insinuate that Allete had been vomiting on them. “She doesn’t want to expose anyone else, and her chambers need a thorough cleaning.”

When I looked back at Cathal, I almost laughed. His face showed a level of disgust that I had frequently observed on new soldiers in battle who’ve seen the belly of a man cut open and watched the intestines spill out. The man wasn’t even concerned that his wife-to-be was ill.

“Very well,” he said as he straightened his tunic and took a large step away from Lidia and the soiled linens. “Please tell her I wish her a speedy recovery.” He turned on his heel and strode quickly away.

“Did he just say something that wasn’t an insult?” Brant asked.

Lidia chuckled. “I do not think he cares about the recovery for her sake. I imagine it has more to do with the upcoming wedding. He doesn’t want to have to take a sickly bride to the altar.”

I nodded. “Yes, that seems the more likely motive.”

Lidia stepped in the opposite direction Cathal had gone and looked at Brant and me. “My lady also said that once Cathal was gone, she wanted you both to enter her chamber.”

My eyes widened. “Why?”

She leaned forward and whispered. “She isn’t really sick. These linens aren’t soiled. She’s tired and does not want to deal with anyone today. But Dayna is spending the day with her because, well, she’s Dayna. And the young princess suggested a game of cards. You two were invited to play.”

She turned and moved off down the corridor while we stood staring. Allete wanted us to play … cards? I should probably regretfully decline and explain that I needed to be at my post to keep watch, but I didn’t have the self-control to do such a thing. I wanted to be near her. I wanted to keep her from attempting to put space between us because she thought we couldn’t be together.

“Up for a game of cards?” I asked Brant.

“With the lovely Dayna? Always.”

I knocked on the door and waited until she bade us enter. Allete and Dayna were already seated at a small table, and Brant and I joined them. I was itching to touch her. But it might look strange if I just reached out for no reason and took her hand, and even stranger still if I attempted to braid her hair the way I had the night before.

“What kind of cards do you two play?” Dayna asked them.

“I’ve only played a few times,” Brant said. “But I do not remember the name of the games.”

“What about you?” she asked me.

“Same.”

Allete frowned. “I thought all guards played cards. Aren’t you all notorious gamblers?”

I wished I could tell her yes, but the truth was I had no idea what guards did during their time off.

“Brant and I aren’t always the most social of men,” I hedged.

Allete gave me a look that said she was not convinced that my words were entirely true. She was too perceptive for her own good.

“We can teach you a new game, but I’m afraid there might be some wagering involved,” Dayna said as she shuffled the cards. “I’d hate for you to lose anything too valuable.”

“A little betting never hurt anyone,” Brant smiled.

Allete chuckled and shook her head. “If you believe that, then you are more naïve than I would have guessed.”

He pressed a palm to his heart and scrunched up his face. “You wound me, Your Highness. I have the weakest of constitutions.”

The sisters snorted together.

“I will believe that when I see Cook relinquish her carving knives,” Dayna said.

“Deal the cards, Dayna, and explain the game,” Allete ordered. It was obvious that she was trying to keep her sister on task. Dayna seemed to be distracted by Brant, and the young girl couldn’t quite keep her eyes on what she was doing. Brant was simply grinning at her, knowing full well the effect he was having on her. He would be insufferable to be around for at least a week.

I was surprised that the day continued without any disturbances. In between games and talking, Brant and I would step out into the hall and walk up and down the corridors to make sure no one was hiding, and to talk about the girls, of course. Then we’d returned to Allete’s chamber for more cards and pleasant conversation.

Everything felt natural and relaxed. At one point, I felt less like a guard and more like a companion, an equal to the two women. I wondered if Allete felt it. By the time the moon had replaced the sun in the sky, and the darkness at last lay like a blanket over the kingdom, I knew we needed to call it a night.

“While I have had had a wonderful time,” I began as I stood from the small table. “I think it is time we returned to our posts. You both need rest.”

“You need rest as well, Torben,” she said gently. “You’ve been up all night and all day.”

“I need to guard you,” I said, knowing that it would be very difficult to entrust her safety to someone else.

“Please choose two men you trust and have them take your place at least for a few hours so that you may sleep,” she said, the tone of command in her voice.

I nodded. “As you wish.”

I glanced at Brant who was busy whispering to Dayna and grabbed his tunic. “Let’s go, lover boy. We must not overstay our welcome.”

Before we could close the door behind us I heard Allete’s quiet voice and turned to look at her.

“Thank you, Torben, for being here.”

I bowed my head and made sure my eyes held hers. “There is no other place I would rather be than by your side.”