Page 69 of Shared By the Vikings

He squinted up. “You are treating me like your servant.”

She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I’m treating you like my man.”

He sat. “I can’t argue with that. I am your man... one of them.”

* * *

Within the hour, Ingridwas heading back over the jagged southerly headland toward the beach she’d been to with Erik the day before. She was carrying the fur and a strip of netting Gunnvar had found amongst the driftwood and pebbles.

Gunnvar carried the half-full cask of mead. On Tali’s right shoulder sat the longboards for repair work, and Erik had the heavy box that contained some tools and tankards.

The rocks were wet and slippery underfoot.

“Don’t rush,” Tali said at her side. “We have plenty of time.”

She nodded and took his offered hand to navigate a wide gap between rocks.

“You really think there’ll be treasure in this monastery you saw?” He didn’t seem to notice having to steady her, despite the heavy timber he was carrying too.

“Erik seems to think so, and I do remember my father talking about such places before. He’d sent men west and they’d returned with golden candle holders and crosses, plus jeweled brooches and rings.”

“If we find a ring,” he said, “I will use it to wed you.”

She laughed, a sudden, surprised bubble of sound. “You will?”

“Ja.” His expression was deadly serious.

“What about Erik and Gunnvar? They will have something to say about that.” She gestured at the two big Vikings making their way around the headland.

“They can marry you too.” He shrugged. “You are a princess, are you not? You may take many husbands.”

“My being a princess suits you now?”

“Your survival was our priority, Ingrid, not your lineage. It seems now you have learned to do as you are bid by us we can move on.”

“Well, see me back to the homeland safely and I’ll consider your proposal, and Erik’s and Gunnvar’s if they put one forward.”

“They will.” Tali took her hand again. “They love you the way I do. They want you in this life and the next.”

Ingrid tried to dampen down the excitement that went through her at mention of the word love. Her past experience of loving a man with each and every heartbeat hadn’t ended well.

Don’t give up hope on Raud.

But perhaps this time love would end well. Maybe she’d be blessed after her suffering and have three husbands to protect and please her.

That was what she now hoped the gods had planned for her.

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