Page 4 of Astrid at Sea

“And the cat?” Asmund asked, settling his eyes on the feline in my arms, stretched out like my arms were her own personal throne.

“Her name is Kis,” I said and laughed when Kis meowed as if introducing herself.

“She’s a pretty little thing. Just like her owner.”

Viktor cleared his throat, his fingers digging into my side. “Now that we’ve got all the introductions out of the way, let’s get down to business. We have a long trip ahead of us, so–”

“Nonsense,” Asmund snorted. “You know I don’t like to talk business until after dinner.” He turned his attention to the rest of the crew. “I hope you’re all hungry because we’ve cooked a big feast anticipating your arrival.”

“Told you,” Caspian snickered as he walked past us, following after Asmund and the people of Isle as they led the way.

“They’re obsessed with having feasts here,” Latham murmured as he fell into step beside Viktor and me.

“The cooks must be extremely overworked,” Gustav said.

“It must cost them a fortune,” I noted.

“That must be why they always have to scramble around for gold when we come to collect our payment,” Viktor chuckled, his voice low so none of the local islanders would overhear and take offence. “I always tell Barden never to let them delay their payments because regardless of how much time we give them, they’re never prepared. If we don’t collect on time, they fall behind.”

“I don’t know why you’re complaining,” Latham snorted. “You’ve only done one of these. Imagine us–” he gestured to the rest of the crew. “–who have to come here regularly.”

“It must suck to be you,” Viktor chuckled and playfully punched his shoulder.

Viktor and the rest of the crew had mentioned to me that the people of Isle threw grand feasts for dinner whenever they came over for business. I thought they were being a little dramatic, but I was wrong.

Long tables lined the centre of the square, every inch of them covered with various dishes. The spread before me had me wondering how more people of Isle weren’t overweight.

“Believe me now?” Caspian grinned, brushing past me to sit at one of the tables. I moved to sit next to him, with Viktor on my other side and Asmund next to him. The rest of the crew filled the table, and the other one opposite us.

“People of Isle,” Asmund spoke loudly, tapping a spoon against his glass, demanding silence. “We have some very special guests with us tonight. Captain Viktor Thostenson from Jorvik and his crew!” The people cheered loudly to welcome us. “The most special of them all is Astrid Thostenson, Captain Viktor’s wife!” The cheers were far louder than before, and my face flushed at the attention. “In honour of our most special guests, let the feast begin!”

“Ignore them, my siren,” Viktor murmured in my ear and plated a rabbit leg for both of us. “They’re just happy to see a new face.”

“They look a little more interested than that,” I murmured back, my lips tugging down into a frown as I spotted more than a few people openly staring at me. “They’re looking at me like they’ve never seen a woman before.”

“I don’t blame them. What with how some of the women look here,” Caspian snorted.

“That’s so rude!” I gasped, struggling to hold back my laughter. “Don’t let anyone catch you saying that, or you’ll get us all in trouble.”

“I’ll try not to, but we both know I’m right,” he grinned and helped himself to a second rabbit leg.

I couldn’t deny it. Most of the people here seemed lovely, but I couldn’t help but feel that the people of Jorvik were far more pleasant to look at. Especially the women, but that was a wicked thing to think. I was just as bad at Caspian, who couldn’t control his tongue.

“You know, Astrid,” Asmund chuckled as he reached for his ale, his head turned to glance at me from around Viktor. “The last time your husband was here, I tried to set him up with one of my dancers, but he wouldn’t even look at her. I now understand why.” He threw his head back to laugh, though Viktor and I didn’t find it very funny.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Most of the crew reacted like me, uncomfortable and nervous-looking, while the rest pretended as if they hadn’t heard anything in the first place.

I heard Viktor’s breath hitch from beside me, and I could tell he was nervous, too, but there was no need. I was very aware that I wasn’t the first woman that Viktor had taken to bed, but I didn’t want to hear about all the women before me. I was happyknowing I was his wife and would be the last woman he would be with.

“I’m glad to hear my husband has been faithful to me before we were even married,” I smiled at Asmund, hoping he would drop the subject.

While I didn’t mind as we weren’t married then and Viktor didn’t owe me anything–I appreciated the loyalty when he only felt a mere inclination toward me–it was somewhat strange that Asmund was telling me this. There wasn’t a need for it, and I was happier not knowing.

“Viktor is lucky to have landed a wife like you, Astrid. You’re a pretty little thing.” He winked at me before turning to Garth, sitting on his other side. I wondered if he would call Garth a pretty little thing as well.

Viktor dropped his hand on mine on the table, entwining our fingers and gently squeezing it.

“I can explain,” he whispered, looking nervous.

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