Page 70 of Enamored
Father Johann rose to his full height, close to seven feet tall. “Your Highness. Welcome. You are our honored guest.” The scent of roasting game and the waft of herbs told me we had interrupted their supper hour.
Elinor stood beside me, wearing a white cloak made of polar bear fur. We’d purchased it from a remote trading post in the Golden Plateau near the Snowden Range, along with fur-lined boots and mittens. Except for her rosy face, she was tucked into the layers of fur and remained as comfortable as I could possibly make her in the cold temperatures, which continued to drop every day, especially the farther north we rode.
Her eyes shone brightly. “Thank you, Father Johann. I have heard much about you from Maxim.”
Turning to me, Father Johann smiled, his features as warm and welcoming as I’d hoped. “Maxim. I admit, I did not expect to see you again in this lifetime.”
“Nor I, you. But I’m heartily glad and pray you’ll give us refuge in the days to come.”
“You shall always find refuge here.”
I bowed to my mentor—the man responsible for shaping most of the good in my character. I was grateful for his influence, one more person who had given me the strength and encouragement I’d needed to become different than Rasmus.
Father Johann regarded Halvard, standing with our horses a short distance away near a low stone barn. Halvard had indeed proven himself loyal the past days of traveling. He’d done everything in his power to hide our tracks and keep us hidden so no one would know of our remote location.
Though I’d inwardly grumbled that he refused to give Elinor and me a moment of privacy, and though he refused to allow me to touch the tiniest hair upon her head, I realized the importance of his presence. He’d kept me from taking advantage of our situation. His strict rules had forced me to utilize every ounce of self-control I could muster. His push to maintain boundaries had kept us chaste while at the same time opening the door for more sharing, talking, and challenging than we’d ever experienced before.
When we broke camp earlier in the day, I’d been almost sad knowing our travels were nearing completion. My feelings for Elinor had multiplied with each passing day until the strength of my love had reached beyond anything I’d believed possible.
Even now, as I stood before Father Johann, my insides quaked with the need to make Elinor mine once and for all.
Father Johann studied my face, likely seeing there just how great was my love for the princess. “St. Olaf’s is your home for as long as you shall have need. Same to you, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Father,” Elinor said, but with a shiver. The freezing night air was growing bitter, even with our heavy fur cloaks.
Father Johann stepped back, waving the princess inside. “We are honored to have you here.”
She hastened into the warmth, but I kicked off the snow from my soles and waited for Halvard before entering the main hall. Fires blazed from two hearths on either side of the rectangular room, accounting for the twin curls of smoke we’d witnessed from a distance as we’d ridden within range of the abbey.
“You are just in time for supper.” Father Johann began to close the door.
I stopped it halfway. “Our guard, Halvard. We would like him to join us.”
Father Johann paused, his brow rising. The two dozen other monks had already grown silent and were watching us curiously from where they were seated at trestle tables laden with simple fare.
Normally, servants and soldiers of Halvard’s rank congregated together in a separate area for meals. But Halvard had become more than just our guard. I couldn’t quantify his role quite yet, but after his loyalty to Elinor and me, he deserved to be present for the evening.
“We would like to be married as soon as possible.” I met Father Johann’s gaze directly, unashamed of my desire for Elinor.
Father Johann already knew of my childhood friendship with Elinor, how much I’d adored her. And now he nodded as if the news of our impending nuptials was what he’d expected all along.
But something else more serious in his expression told me he knew of the importance of our union. Had the monks this far north already heard the rumors?
Although the proclamation of my treachery had come from the king, I’d had no doubt lies about me plotting to overthrow the throne had come from Rasmus. He’d twisted all my good deeds to save the king, casting doubt over everything I’d done. Alas, my running away made me look guilty, and Rasmus was capitalizing on that. Worst of all, we’d learned he was accusing me of kidnapping Elinor.
With such an allegation hanging over our heads, I needed to marry her now in order to prove we were together by choice and not coercion. If twenty-four monks and Halvard acted as witnesses to our willing union, Rasmus would have no basis for his story.
In addition to learning about Rasmus’s threats, Halvard had also gleaned news about King Canute. Thankfully, King Ulrik and the Norvegian fleet had been able to escape back to Vordinberg without more casualties. Canute hadn’t been able to stop the retreat. I had a feeling Lis’s draco had played a prominent role in keeping the king and his men safe. And now I prayed she’d been able to do so without drawing attention to her abilities to communicate with the draco, especially from Rasmus. If he discovered what she was capable of, I feared what he might do to her and how he might use her.
From what we could tell, Canute hadn’t yet made additional efforts to invade Norvegia. With Elinor’s disappearance, he’d likely had no choice but to halt his aspirations for Norvegia’s throne. At least for now. I had no doubt he would regroup and launch another campaign at some point.
Maybe by the time he did, Norvegia’s future queen and king would be secured. If Elinor and I were destined for such a duty, we would humbly take it. But we prayed Providence would provide another way and somehow foil Rasmus’s plan to use the Sword of the Magi to put a man of his choosing on the throne.
“We would be delighted to host a wedding,” Father Johann said, “and we can do so forthwith.”
“Then you will perform the ceremony?”
He nodded, and a sheen of tears glistened in his eyes. “I would consider it one of the greatest honors in my life.”
