Page 100 of Shared By the Vikings

Now she was really curious. “What did he say?”

“He said...” Raud paused. “He said the broiling sea would swallow my heart.”

Broiling sea, that’s familiar.

“What else?” She knew there must be more. Would anything else match up with what the seer had told her?

“And he said my broken heart would heal with cracks, cracks that would at first be hard to accept but would eventually make me stronger.”

She mulled the words over for a few moments. “And do you understand it now?”

“I’m not sure.” He frowned and pointed to the ocean. “I understand the broiling sea, that night of the storm it boiled like a pot over a fire, but a cold boil.”

“It did.” She shuddered at the memory, then dipped into her pouch and withdrew her bloodstone. She rubbed it between her thumb and fingers, wondering if she could draw the energy of insight from it.

“And losing you, over the side, thinking you were dead did break my heart, there is no question of that.” He kissed her cheek, his stubble rough on her face. “So if you were my heart, and the broiling sea took you, swallowed you, thenja, that makes sense.”

“But what about the cracks? Are you not pleased to have me back?”

“You know I am, it has filled me with joy. You have always been my one and only love, Princess Ingrid. I wish our souls to be entwined as we feast in Valhalla for all of time.”

“And they will be.” Through the gap in his open tunic she rested her hand over his sun-warmed chest. “I promise.”

“The cracks,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not sure but...”

“What?”

“I think the cracks are your other men?”

She raised her eyebrows. “They’re cracks in your heart?” She felt terrible at the thought of his beautiful strong heart being cracked because of her decision to take several husbands. But what could she do? She loved all of her warriors. “I’m sorry, Raud, for that, I really am and—”

“Shh, there is no need for sorry.”

“There isn’t?”

“No, because don’t you see, these men that take you to their bed, and want to be with you always, will make me stronger despite my initial shock.”

“Go on.”

“For in time we will become brothers, brothers by our marriage to you. My heart did break but now it has been put back together.”

“With more pieces.”

“Warrior pieces.” He gestured at Erik, Tali, and Gunnvar. “I always wanted to have strong brothers at my side, ones I could rely on, men who had a common interest and goal.”

“And you have that now.”

He nodded. “Ja, and it’s the seer’s wise words of prophesy, of destiny, that has made me understand that.”

“And accept it.”

“I have accepted it.” He paused. “More than accepted it, I welcome becoming stronger by the union you have decided upon with fine Vikings.”

“They are good men.”

“Brave warriors, fine seamen, and caring lovers.” He smiled. “They will be brothers in arms for me, we will stand side by side as we go through life and war, and they will help me keep you safe, obedient, and satisfied.”

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