Gavin made his way to Bremen’s side. The other guards also stood ready to defend him, inching closer to his back.
“I’m the one who saw the men come from this direction at daybreak.” Gavin turned away from watching Selby to answer Ingrid directly. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time.”
The extra voices broke through the standoff, and Bremen shook his head. “I was unaware of this. I had no reason to think my men would do such a thing.” He stared again at Selby while he spoke. He then lowered his chin and studied the ground in front of him before turning to face Ingrid and Jorg.
“I did not order this to happen, nor did I have knowledge of it, but my men’s actions are my responsibility. I offer my apology, if you’ll accept it.” Bremen looked only at Jorg as he spoke, his posture tense. The expression on his face was that of a man unaccustomed to the act of asking for forgiveness.
“I believe you didn’t know what your men were doing,” Jorg said. It wasn’t an acceptance, and there was an edge to his words. Ingrid understood why. He wasn’t defeated, and he wouldn’t give Bremen the satisfaction of thinking of him as weak—in need of amends. “We will leave, so as not to call attention to your lack of leadership. That will be apology enough.”
Ingrid stiffened. She agreed with Jorg’s right to be angry, even enjoyed his Norse lack of deference, but he might have pushed too far. Bremen’s face turned hard, and he blazed with indignation.
“The agreement we made last night still stands. Nothing has changed since our discussion before this debacle took place.” Bremen scratched at his chin, a questioning pause lingering in the air as he stared at Jorg. “I took you for a man of his word.” He took his turn to push too far.
Jorg went rigid as stone. Ingrid held her breath, certain she’d heard Selby do the same. Nothing mattered more to the men in their village back home than their word. It was a concept ingrained into their laws—and Jorg.
Selby moved closer, positioning herself nearer to Ingrid, but also between Jorg and Bremen. Ingrid accepted the silent declaration of her loyalty but hoped the situation would not come to blows. Still, her hands found the handles of her daggers, just in case.
He’s not from our lands. He doesn’t understand what he said.
Jorg’s eyes shuttered, and he turned his head toward Ingrid slowly. “He did. He is a prince who came to discuss treaties with a king. He understands the customs of many cultures—including ours.”
This standoff needed to end—preferably without violence. Jorg needed time to gain his strength back and so did Ingrid. Gavin and the other Irishmen waited silently, but they, too, had their hands on the hilts of their weapons. No one bothered to correct Jorg’s statement of Bremen’s identity.
“What agreement did you two make? Why would we stay with you—after all this?” Ingrid asked Bremen, making an arc with her arm that gestured to the entire area, including the tree where Jorg had been bound.
It was Jorg who answered, but Ingrid didn’t take her eyes off Bremen. “I agreed that we would travel through the Fells with Bremen and his men since we are all headed that way anyway. I thought the larger number of men might offer more protection.”
“We can defend ourselves just fine,” Selby said. She sounded offended, and Ingrid let out a small huff of air in agreement. Selby turned to Bremen. “We can move faster on our own. Why would you invite our kind of troubles? They don’t concern you.”
That broke his stalemate with Jorg. He blinked several times, the hard glint of his stare softening as he focused on Selby.
“That may be, and I didn’t know all the details before. But with others searching for Ingrid, you would be safer to stay with me. With us . . . our larger company.” The prince stuttered, and deep lines creased his brow as he answered.
It was true. They could move faster alone. Two weeks had passed, bringing the deadline nearer to the moment when Jarrick would demand Ingrid go with him to Alfheim. He had plans to use her powers to start a war among the gods of Asgard in order to restore the old gods of Vanaheim. If she refused to help, he’d destroy her village, and with it, all those she loved. She needed to find Eir and prevent that from happening.
Greer and his men have left the camp. I think we should stay and use their numbers like you wanted to. Especially until we find Plintze. You can say I still need time to recover from both healings today.
Ingrid tried to give Jorg a way to save face and heard the rumble from his chest as he contemplated the message only he’d heard.
“For the time being, we will stay. I will honor the agreement, but only until I am certain that Ingrid is at full strength.”
Bremen nodded his acceptance, and Ingrid caught a glimpse of the relieved expression on Selby’s face.
Jorg took her hand and turned toward the camp without another word.
14
Jorg squeezed Ingrid’s hand and pulled her closer to his side. “Two healings? Did someone get a sliver?” He gave her a sidelong glance as he referenced her promise before they’d joined Bremen on the road.
Ingrid bumped him with her shoulder and huffed. “It was bigger than that.” The idea that she’d waited to help and may not have until Selby had called her out pecked at her. I should have helped sooner than I did.
“What happened?” Jorg’s voice was softer, no longer the teasing tone that hinted at irritation.
“A man fell and punctured his leg. I forced myself to stay back, like I’d promised—” she glanced up at him quickly “—and then Selby shouted to Bremen that I could help him. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my word to you.” Ingrid’s feet shuffled through the damp leaves in the shadows of the forest floor, a waft of earthy musk rising into the air.
“I’m glad you helped him. You shouldn’t hide who you are—and I shouldn’t have asked you to.”
“Greer knows about me. They all do. Someone will tell the druht about me for the reward, it’s only a matter of time.”
“We’ll face that if it comes about. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Jorg let the tips of his fingers trail lightly along Ingrid’s jaw. Neither of them wanted to say anything more.
They walked on in silence again. Behind them, the low voices of Bremen’s men could be heard as tensions subsided. Everyone was eager to move on. Selby was back there, too, though Ingrid hadn’t heard her voice. She assumed that if she were to turn around, she would find her friend standing near Bremen.
“Is that where you left your gauntlets?” Jorg asked. “Your hands are like ice.”
The question brought Ingrid’s attention to their entwined fingers. “Yes.”
They’d reached the outskirts of the camp, and as they continued forward, those they passed halted their conversations. An unease brewing in their wake.
Jorg tilted his head as if he heard something, then a small grin flashed across his face as they walked through the men.
What was that? How can you smile at a time like this?
The dimple in his cheek dug in deep, and he winked at her but said nothing. Ingrid rolled her eyes at his ability to accept his circumstances as if it didn’t bother him. Meanwhile, she struggled to maintain clear thoughts with all the pressure and frustration rolling through her.
Bremen called out to Ingrid and Jorg, so they waited for him to catch up with Selby at his side. He faced Jorg with a cool expression. “I would like to move forward in peace. It would help the others—” Bremen made a slight motion toward the watching men around them “—if we make a show of calling a truce.” His voice was low enough for only the four of them to hear.
An understanding passed between them louder than words when Jorg nodded his acceptance.
Bremen stepped back, opening the space between them, which gave everyone standing around a clear view. He straightened his shoulders and asked, louder than necessary, “Will you give me your word that you will travel with us in peace?”
With his arms relaxed at his side, Jorg let his voice carry for all to hear, “I have no obj
ections with remaining together for as long as we are heading in the same direction.”
“Rumors may not hold any truth to them, or maybe they do. I’d like your word that you will not use any other abilities you may have against me or any of my men.”
Jorg held his stare. “I give you my word.” The tone tinged with the remainder of his frustration from earlier.
The muscles in Bremen’s jaw tensed, and he hesitated but stuck his hand out to seal the bargain instead. “Let’s be on our way in friendship.”
Jorg raised his face to the sky and ran his fingers over his jaw, as if contemplating the truce. Somewhere, probably during his capture, he’d lost the tie in his hair, and it flowed in free waves to the top of his shoulders. Ingrid forced herself to keep focused. “It sounds as if it’s a truce then.”
Several men had moved in closer and watched as Jorg accepted the handshake. An uneasy peace floated through the air and settled ruffled nerves for the time being.
The deal struck, Bremen turned to Selby. “Would you—all of you—walk at the front?” Bremen asked, correcting himself quickly and shifting his feet.
Selby shot a quick glance to Ingrid, before she focused on Bremen, and a soft expression settled over her face. “I’m happy to stay near you.”
Jorg made a very Plintze-sounding huff and shook his head. Ingrid nudged him. Leave her be.
With no further words, they stepped out. The long line of warriors, wagons, and servants began the trek through the fells. Not long after, Gavin joined them at the front.
The grim memory of what Ingrid had done to him still troubled her. “I’m sorry for what happened earlier, Gavin. How is your injury?”
“I’ll be all right,” Gavin said. “It doesn’t hurt too much.” He flashed a quick glance at Ingrid. “If the need ever arises again to come up behind you, I’ll be sure to have your full attention first.”
Ingrid grinned politely. Maybe it wasn’t the best time to help him anyway. Ingrid didn’t need to have anything else go wrong for a little while. She had no idea what might happen if she tried to heal an injury her own power had caused. It would be better to wait until she wasn’t under the watchful eyes of so many others.
A hand touched Ingrid’s side, and she turned, ready to defend herself, startling Gavin into raising his weapon. But then they each relaxed somewhat as a small servant girl stared at them with sparkling gray eyes. She gently held out a pair of knitted, fingerless gloves toward Ingrid without a word. Ingrid’s shoulders lowered a fraction more, yet the churning unease of being startled stayed and caused her hand to shake as she took the offering.
Without time for Ingrid to thank the girl or find out why she’d given the gift, she ran away to walk next to Moirin. The older woman nodded, and Ingrid squeezed the soft garments to her chest before she slipped them over her hands.
Not long after, Jorg and Gavin were in a deep conversation about the perfect shape of a dagger handle when Selby came to walk next to Ingrid. “We need to find Plintze. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss his grouchy face.”
“I’m worried that we’re getting too far away. One of those men—” Ingrid sucked in a deep breath to stop the rise of anger while thinking of what had happened “—said that he escaped before they could question him. What if he went in a different direction?” Ingrid halted suddenly. “Maybe we should turn around and go look for him.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. How she could be so callous to head off without thinking that through?
Both Gavin and Jorg turned to stare at Ingrid. “Are you talking about Plintze?” Jorg asked.
“Yes. How could we have left before we found him?”
“He’s fine, I’m sure,” Jorg gave Ingrid a look that seemed to say more, but she didn’t understand. “Let’s just keep going, and if he doesn’t find us in a couple days, we can make plans to search for him.”
“What if he doesn’t find us? Or doesn’t want to?” Selby asked.
“He will,” Jorg reassured.
“I’ll pass the word along to the column to make sure everyone’s aware that he is welcome, if that helps,” Gavin offered.
“It might, but he won’t know that.” Ingrid fiddled with her necklace and looked into the forest at the side of the road. The bead was cool between her fingers.
Jorg took her hand and forced her to look up at him. “Trust me. He’s well.”
Ingrid narrowed her eyes at the message he was trying to get her to understand. You know where he is? A playful quirk of his brow was her answer.
“Fine. But we search if he isn’t here in two days,” Ingrid said firmly.
“Agreed,” Selby said.
Bremen walked up to the group. “Is there any trouble?”
“The ladies were expressing concern over their missing friend,” Gavin said. “I offered to send a message down the line that he is welcome if he meets up with us again.”
“That’s a good idea. I am sorry he is missing,” Bremen said. “We can send out scouts to search.”
“A kind offer, but not necessary. Plintze is resourceful, and he’ll decide when he wants to return,” Jorg said.
“If you think that’s best, I’ll leave it to your judgement. Perhaps you can tell me more about where you’re from as we continue.” He swept his arm toward the road, and the group began walking again. The manner of his gesture was both friendly and commanding at the same time.
“We told you last night that we’re from a village north of here, on the River Ouse,” Jorg said with a sharpness to his tone. Ingrid suspected it was a remnant of the other part of the night and the questions he’d had to endure.
“Yes, I guess I’m interested in finding out more of how Ingrid was able to take care of such grievous injuries as I’ve seen her do twice today. That doesn’t seem to be something learned in a small farming settlement.”
“It isn’t,” Ingrid said.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Jorg growled. “The less information others have, the better it might be.”
“I shouldn’t have forced you into the open this morning,” Selby said, facing the ground in front of her.
Rolling her neck and straightening her shoulders, Ingrid ignored both of them. “I’m glad I was able to help Martin and Jorg. There is a power within me to heal injuries and more, yet I don’t understand it. I only have a few more weeks left to find a woman who can help me develop my abilities.
“There is a dark elf who has given me a deadline to join him instead of completing the task expected of me. He will send his followers to destroy my village if I fail to meet him as planned. As to the men searching for me, I don’t know who they are or what they want. Several days ago, they killed a woman who could help me find Eir, and that’s when we learned of them.”
The truth spilled out of Ingrid like a flash flood. Some tension left her shoulders, but pressure still squeezed her chest and made her edgy.
Bremen stared at her, but his expression changed from hardened suspicion to curiosity. “That was a lot of information. There is a dark elf, and he has a task for you?”
“There is a veil of protection around the human realm, provided by the gods. It is weakening. When the spell was cast, the fate of a human was woven into it. One who would add the strength of Midgard and bind the spell for all time.” Ingrid stared into the air, looking at nothing. Her chest constricted, and her pulse screamed in her ears. “I am that human.”
From her side, Ingrid heard Selby release a nervous whoosh of air. The tension rippling off Jorg hit her in waves.
Bremen scratched at his beard and looked sidelong at Ingrid. “I’ve heard tales of an unrest in the otherworld that will settle at the hand of a maiden.”
Ingrid nodded at the way his Irish beliefs were similar. “I thought I was to be a shieldmaiden, fighting on the battlefield, earning honor and glory, but now I know different. A constant drum beat within me as I grew, telling me that I was meant for something great. The Norns chose me. I�
�m searching for Eir, a goddess of Asgard, to complete my training. If I don’t learn to control my abilities in the next few weeks, not only will we lose our village, but evil will unleash on all men.”
As the afternoon stretched on, Ingrid explained to Bremen all that had happened: the first time she’d healed a boy on the docks, how she had persuaded Selby to stowaway on her father’s longship, the adventures they’d had in Jorvik, and then the shipwreck.
When she explained meeting the trolls, Bremen’s eyes widened, and he held up his hand for her to stop. “Wait, trolls captured you? How is that possible?”
“That’s one reason I have to find the woman I’m looking for. As the veil weakens, it’s easier for wicked creatures to slip through again. The dragons have returned as well.”
“This is a lot to take in,” Bremen said and rubbed his jaw.
“Why is it that when we first met, you were careful to tell us that the prince was not among your men?” Selby asked. Her voice startled Bremen so much that he stared at her without answering. “The answer is your safety is important. You have a role to fulfill for your father, for your kingdom.”
Selby looked down at her hands. “Ingrid has a role to fulfill as well. Not everyone wants to see her succeed, as I’m sure you can understand, but what she says is all true. Believe me when I say that you never forget the smell of troll.” She shuddered.
Ingrid turned over her arm and pushed the knit glove down to reveal the shiny pink scar in full view. “I promise you, dragons have returned.” The recollection of the attack that almost ended Ingrid’s life flashed through her mind and stabbed at her heart with the need to find Plintze.
“No one has seen a dragon in many generations, and there are no stories of survival when they attack,” Bremen offered.
“It wasn’t an ordinary dragon. The dark elf used magic to control the dragon’s mind and speak into mine. When I refused to join his cause, he attacked. Plintze found me and saved me.”
The Viking Maiden Box Set Page 34
