Page 5 of Astrid at Sea

I shook my head. “There’s nothing to explain, Viktor. That was from before you proposed to me. Besides, nothing happened. I’d rather not know about it.”

“I’m glad you see it that way,” he sighed in relief and leaned in to press his lips to my temple. “And I’m sorry for Asmund. He takes some getting used to but doesn’t mean any harm. We just need to put up with him long enough for the feast and then the spears, and we’ll be on our way.”

“What about the Chiefess?” I asked, nibbling on a carrot and keeping it away from Kis. I didn’t want a repeat of last time when Viktor accidentally gave Kis a carrot. Instead, I put some peas and fish on the ground for her. She purred and rubbed her head against my leg before getting stuck in her very own feast.

“I’ve never met her.”

“Neither have I,” Caspian pitched in, his head bowed as he stroked Kis’ tail while she ate a piece of rabbit he had given her. Ihad already told him he could feed her anything but carrots. If he did, he would be tasked with cleaning up her sick later. “Rumour has it that they don’t get along, and Asmund has his eyes set on one of the dancers,” he indulged me, his voice barely above a whisper so only the three of us could hear.

“That’s terrible,” I frowned. “It’s just a rumour, right?”

Viktor pursed his lips. “I saw him with a dancer when I was here last time. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. At one point, she sat next to him and stroked him through his trousers while I was right there.”

I couldn’t help but pull a face at the visual, and Caspian and Viktor laughed at my disgusted expression.

I frowned harder. “I feel bad for the woman.”

“It’s impossible not to,” Caspian agreed.

Viktor loaded his plate with more potatoes and rabbit and did the same to mine without me needing to ask. “Looks can be deceiving, can’t they?”

For the rest of the feast, I hoped that the rumours Caspian and Viktor had told me were false and that the Chiefess would present herself. The evening went on, and our plates were eventually cleared, but there still was no sighting of her. Instead, the dancers arrived and were very scantily dressed in their tight dresses with slits up the side of their legs, showing far more skin than I cared to see.

“Thank you for honouring us with this feast, Asmund,” Viktor spoke firmly, his tone serious. “But we must speak business now. Please get the payment ready while we unload the spears. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us, and I don’t want us to fall behind so early into it.”

“Ah, about that,” Asmund chuckled, and for the first time this evening, he looked a little nervous. “I’m afraid that we’ve run into a little bit of a problem.”

CHAPTER THREE

Viktor squeezed his eyes shut and let out a frustrated groan. “Don’t tell me you’re going to set us behind schedule already.”

“Then I guess I shouldn’t say anything,” Asmund laughed, and his people joined in. Neither I nor the crew found it all that funny. “Besides, Viktor, you didn’t think we’d allow you to leave at this time of night, did you? What kind of hosts would that make us?” He gestured to the darkness that had befallen us during the feast. “We insist you all stay the night. You can leave after breakfast tomorrow.”

“There is no appropriate time when you’re at sea,” Viktor pursed his lips. “What exactly is the problem, Asmund? Be honest with me.”

“We haven’t got enough gold to pay you at the moment,” Asmund admitted, the easy smile on his face not the least bit nervous. It was like he didn’t have a care in the world!

“Then I’m afraid we’ll just have to take our shipment back and be on our way,” Viktor stated. Judging by the sour expression on Asmund’s face, I could tell he wasn’t a fan of the suggestion. “Maybe on the way back, if you have enough gold, we can stop by and go ahead with the trade.”

“Let me try again,” Asmund cleared his throat, his smile slowly fading and the light in his eyes dimming ever so slightly. “We don’t have the gold today but will have it tomorrow. That’s why I suggested you all stay for breakfast tomorrow.”

“What makes tomorrow different from today?”

“My men will return from Mann tomorrow,” Asmund said. “We do regular trade with them. They have a shortage of animal milk. When my men return, we’ll have more than enough gold to pay you.”

Viktor gave him a curt nod, and I could tell he wasn’t happy. “Are you sure they will return tomorrow? I don’t have to remind you that our time is precious, Asmund, and we have a very busy schedule ahead of us.”

“Yes. Yes!” Asmund nodded his head frantically. “You have my word, Captain Viktor,” he promised, but I couldn’t help but think that the word of the Chief of Isle didn’t mean all that much. Not after everything I had heard about him and witnessed during the feast.

“Well, I guess we can wait until tomorrow for your men to return,” Viktor reluctantly agreed. “But we can’t afford to waste any more time, Asmund. If you cannot pay us tomorrow, we will be forced to take our shipment and leave. I hope you understand.”

Asmund was back to his usual goofy, cheery self. “Don’t worry, Captain Viktor. You’ll be back at sea before you know it,” he grinned before calling for more ale.

The next morningcame and went, but Asmund’s men were yet to return from Mann, and we were yet to be paid. When Viktor enquired about it, Asmund promised they would be back beforenightfall, and we would be paid and free to leave after the feast tonight.

Yes,anotherfeast.

Viktor, Garth, Dagfinn, and Odin accompanied Asmund and a few of his men as they headed down the shore. They were building a new ship for their sea crew and wanted some advice on the design.

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