Page 46 of Viktor at Sea

“Why does Barden want to see me this early in the square?”

Roscoe shrugged. “I don’t know, but a ton of people have already gathered there. At least half the island.”

“It’s far too early in the morning for this,” I groaned and rubbed a tired hand over my eyes. “Come on. The quicker we get this over with, the quicker I can get back to bed.” And to my wet dream.

My mood immediately lifted when we arrived at the square, and my eyes landed on Astrid. She was stood on the other side of the crowd between her parents. Beside them were Dustin and Freja whose stomach looked so much bigger than it did when I saw her earlier this week.

Roscoe had said that half of Jorvik had gathered in the island square, but it was more like the entire island by the time we arrived. Everyone looked tired and groggy, but not the people standing on a makeshift stage, commanding everyone’s attention.

And at the centre of it all was Barden, Josephine and their three sons. Manny included.

“I’m aware this is very early for most of you, but we wanted to make this announcement before everyone started with their day,” Barden began speaking, his voice booming loudly for all to hear. “We’ve got some news for you all.”

“It’s fantastic, exciting news!” Josephine grinned, clearly elated by whatever they had to announce.

“As you can see, your Chiefess is very excited over this news. And I’m sure you all will be as well once we tell you it,” Barden grinned widely and glanced around the large crowd, his eyes lingering on a few select members. “We have an engagement to celebrate today! We will also have a wedding to celebrate, but that’ll be at the end of next week!”

An engagement today?

A wedding set in less than two weeks?

My eyes immediately snapped to Astrid, and I was surprised to find that she was already staring at me. I locked eyes with her, and the small twitch of her lips at the corners gave me hope.

Dangerous hope.

There was a lot at stake here. If my hope proved to be misplaced, my feelings would be more than hurt, and I would be left to put the pieces of my broken heart back together. It would be impossible to fix it to how it was before Astrid, and it would never be the same, but I would need to patch myself up enough to at least walk away with my head held high.

At least I could never blame myself for not trying. I could never call myself a coward.

I held my breath as I stared back at her while also listening intently to Barden’s announcement.

“We know these two very well,” his grin widened. “And their proposal has been the talk of Jorvik these past few days.”

My heart soared at his words, but I forced myself to remain calm and in control. Last I knew, two proposals were pending. The first from me to Astrid, and a second from Crosby to Astrid.Speaking of Crosby, he was standing somewhere to my right, lost in the middle of the crowd, but I caught his eyes. Just like me, he looked to be holding his breath and silently praying.

One of us would come out of this the happiest man on the island, and the other, the most heartbroken one. I prayed that I would be the former and saved from the sufferings of the latter.

“Daewon, would you like to come up here and do the honours?”

“Thank you, Chief Barden.” Daewon nodded his head respectfully and stepped toward the stage, moving to stand between Barden and Josephine where they had made space for him. “I am glad to announce the engagement of my daughter, Astrid Victoria Skau–” Seconds felt like long hours as I waited for Daewon to finish his sentence, desperate to hear my name alongside Astrid’s. “–to none other than...the Captain of The Serpent, Viktor Thostenson! They are to be married by the end of next week, and all of Jorvik is invited!”

The islanders cheered in congratulations, but I couldn’t hear anything. My ears were filled with the fast thumps of my heart as it beat uncontrollably, unable to believe what I had just heard.

I had been rather grumpy when Roscoe had awoken me earlier, but now I was so grateful for it. If I hadn’t joined Roscoe when I had, then the whole island would have found out about our engagement before I did.

Engagement!

My engagement! To Astrid!

We were to be married!

Astrid and me!

Me and Astrid!

Unable to control the joy that pumped through every limb of my body, I pushed through the crowd to the makeshift stage at the front. Everyone laughed and cheered me on, which onlypushed me to run faster until I lifted Astrid into the air and spun her around.

Her laughter and shrieks of joy were music to my ears, and I couldn’t bring myself to let go of her even when I stopped spinning.

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