“So, sharing your body with me is not enough? Not a day later you are willing to—”
Klaus’ fist landed against his jaw before he got a chance to finish his sentence. Trond stumbled backward, but caught his footing and barreled his shoulder into Klaus’ chest. Agnethe screamed and jumped down from her chair trying to get the two men to stop, but they paid no attention to her. Knocking over a table as they struck each other with blows to the face and body.
Men jumped up from chairs and instead of helping her stop the fight, they pulled furniture out of the way and cheered as Klaus and Trond punched and grappled with each other. Breaking apart to circle only long enough to spit or swat blood from their faces. Trond was getting tired and his movements slowing. When he dropped his guard for a split second Klaus rushed forward and landed several unanswered blows to Trond’s midsection. Doubling over, Trond could not raise his arms as Klaus connected once more with a shot to the jaw that had Trond falling to the ground. At first he lay unmoving, but a few seconds later he groaned and started to push himself up, only making it to his knees before he fell forward, breathing heavy and not looking up.
Agnethe stood at the edge of the circle of men, paralyzed as she watched the two battle. Some part of her mind felt the satisfaction of seeing her cousin in defeat, but her concern for Klaus held more priority in her thoughts.
“Klaus,” her voice felt small, and she knew it didn’t rise over the taunts and jeers of the men trying to urge Trond to get up. “Klaus,” she yelled louder. He turned toward her, his face still full of anger until he met her eyes. She tried to smile at him, but it was tight and more of a grimace. Facing Trond once more, Klaus looked to make sure he was not getting up and Agnethe saw his shoulders lower and relax. Turning his back on Trond, he walked up to her, still breathing hard and stared into her eyes. What she saw was concern, she wasn’t sure for what, but she lay her hand on his arm and gave him a true smile. “Thank you.”
7
Changes
Klaus and Agnethe left the inn and took their time strolling back toward home, talking and getting to know each other more. Still jumpy from watching the fight and worried that Trond would follow them, she kept glancing over her shoulder at every noise.
“It’s safe, he won’t be seeking any more trouble tonight,” Klaus said, noticing her movements. She nodded and tried to convince herself that he was right.
Following the same path they’d taken the first time, they once again came upon Agnethe’s true home, and she sighed as they walked by the darkened structure.
“What was that for?”
“What was what for?” She smiled up at him.
Chuckling, he bumped his hip into her, then caught her as she stumbled sideways. “What did you sigh for?”
“I didn’t realize that I did,” pausing for a second before she continued, “we passed my real home.”
Klaus stopped and turned around. “Which is it?”
“The one there on the left with the flower boxes in front.”
“It’s nice, I’m sorry you had to move from it,” he said in a soft voice.
“Thank you, but I suppose I’ll never return now.”
They stood in silence for a moment before Agnethe turned to continue on, but Klaus stayed standing. When she noticed his absence she turned to him and waited.
What is he doing? “Is everything alright?”
Facing her, he walked with slow and deliberate steps to where she stood. “I don’t like that you are going back to the home where that fool will be near you. Is there a way you can move back here?”
“Even before my father wasn’t coming home, I tried to stay.” Agnethe closed her eyes and fought to control the sting in her eyes, “It’s not possible.”
“What if I stayed with you?”
“I’m not . . .” What am I supposed to say to that? “Well . . .”
“I mean,” he interrupted, “that I would stay in the front. Just to make sure that no one bothers you.” A grin twitched at his lips.
“That is not an option.”
He took her hands in his and rubbed his thumbs along the back of her knuckles. “Then I’ll stay where you are, so you are not at their mercy.” The last part said in a whisper.
Agnethe’s chest felt like an anvil sat on it, and the tears she’d been holding back fell without any ability to stop them. “Why are you doing this? You just met me.” Her voice cracked and she couldn’t look at him.
Using two fingers he lifted her chin, so she had to look into his eyes. “It doesn’t take a long time to know when you have met the person who makes your heart feel whole.”
Agnethe could not form words. Breathing became hard and tingles shot through her body. “So much has happened, and I feel that way too. But, it’s too much.”
“I have no desire to put more pressure on you. Even if you don’t share my feelings, you don’t deserve to deal with that clod.” Letting go of her chin, he pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. “What he said . . . about the night before . . .”
A shiver rippled down Agnethe’s spine. Klaus’ voice held no accusation, and judging by the expression on his face, it was a tone of concern and hurt. Agnethe didn’t want to tell him what happened, especially after what her aunt had said to her, but for some reason she trusted him. “He tried to hurt me, but I got away,” her voice barely a whisper.
“I won’t let it happen again.” His hand tightened over Agnethe’s and his lips straightened to a thin white line.
Suddenly Agnethe felt as if the street spun, her muscles tensed and her head pounded. An odd sensation of contentment mixed with excitement flooded her senses. Overwhelmed, she leaned into Klaus who wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. The warmth of his body engulfed her, and she inhaled his musky scent that had a hint of spice. If the world stopped right then, she wouldn’t care. But that was not reality, and she needed to face her problems, not hide in the arms of the strong man she’d known for less than a day, yet wondered how she would survive without.
“I need to go back,” she said but made no move to pull away.
“I’m coming with you.”
Agnethe nodded. Taking one more deep breath, she looked up at Klaus and smiled. How is this possible to care so much already?
They continued to stare at each other until Agnethe looked away with a nervous giggle. Klaus twisted to her side, keeping an arm around her shoulders and they headed toward her family.
Tension charged the atmosphere when they entered the house. It was also filled with people. To Agnethe’s dismay, Trond had made it home before her and it looked as though his version of events had already been relayed.
Agnethe strode forward toward her aunt, inhaled and released a breath slow and steady, pushing past her cousin and the throng of friends he’d brought with him. Klaus stayed at her back and silenced the men who started to taunt her with a growled warning.
“I’m surprised to see you,” Bierka said. “From the sounds of it you have chosen to ignore your family ties and align yourself with a stranger.” Bierka didn’t bother to look toward Klaus, keeping her eyes fixed on Agnethe’s.
“I have not done anything to go against you.”
“Oh?” Bierka raised a mocking eyebrow. “First you make up a story to damage Trond’s reputation, then you flaunt yourself at the inn. I will not allow you to mock my family in this way.”
“I did not make up any stories. I refused the perverse advances of my cousin.”
With unexpected speed, Bierka slapped Agnethe wrenching her head to the side and making her stumble backward. Klaus wrapped his arm around her waist and twisted her away from her aunt, his nostrils flaring as he stared the older woman in the eye.
“That. Is. Enough,” he said through clenched teeth.
Bierka narrowed her eyes at him and spat on the ground. Glaring at Agnethe, who was holding her hand against her burning cheek, she shook her head. “You will leave tonight and never set foot in my home again. You
are no longer part of this family. Get out.”
Klaus pulled Agnethe with him as he backed away from Bierka, “Come, you don’t need them, anyway.”
“Wait,” putting her hand on the arm around her waist while staring at her aunt, “I want my things.”
“You have no things here.”
“Mother’s trunk sits right there and I have two crates in the other room. You have no need for them.”
“Leave them for now and I will come back for them after you are settled,” Klaus said to Agnethe while directing his stare to her aunt. Bierka said nothing, but nodded, apparently understanding it would not be worth fighting him.
Reaching the doors without further incident, Agnethe noticed Solaug before she turned to go outside. There was a small frown on her cousin’s face, almost as if she didn't want Agnethe to leave. Maybe there is one who will remember me fondly, anyway.
Once outside, Agnethe felt numb, then remembered Caesar with a jolt. Calling out his name and clucking her tongue, Klaus watched her with a confused look on his face. Turning to him when he didn’t join in her search, she noticed his expression and stopped. “I’m searching for my cat.”
Klaus let out a hearty laugh. “That’s good to hear, I thought maybe you had gone mad for a second.”
Smirking at him, she rolled her eyes and continued to call for Caesar. After a couple more minutes the missing feline strolled around the corner and stretched lazily as if amused by the interest in his whereabouts. Agnethe picked him up and Klaus scratched him behind his ears, earning a hearty rumble of approval.
8
Heart’s Desire
When they entered Agnethe’s home, they busied themselves with getting a fire started to warm the chilly, empty rooms. After the hearth was glowing, they pulled a bench closer and sat together watching the flames.
“What do I do now?” Agnethe said, not taking her eyes off the fire.
“Thank the gods that you have a safe place to live,” he pulled his arm tighter around her shoulders, “and someone to sit by the fire with you.” Agnethe gave an appreciative smile, but it didn’t match the churning of her insides. “I’ll go gather your things in the morning, that will make you feel better.”
“I can’t stay here.”
“Why not? This is your home, and I won’t let them take it from you.”
“It’s not that. Well, it’s not only that. They can take it from me if they want, and you’ll be gone soon. But what I mean is that I can’t stay here, in Saxebi, I need to go somewhere else.” Agnethe sat up taller, staring into the flames.
I need to find my own way now. A place I can belong.
“Agnethe,” Klaus’ voice was soft, and she almost didn’t hear him as deep in thought as she was.
“Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Klaus twisted in his seat and turned Agnethe’s face toward him, keeping his hand on her jaw. “Why did you say I would be gone soon?”
Agnethe stared at him, her brows lowering as she looked at him. “The reason you stopped here was to give the message about the ships on your way home. When your men leave, so will you. You have a life somewhere else.” Perplexed, she shook her head slightly, not understanding the hurt look in his eyes.
“Do you really think that I can leave now as if nothing has changed for me? That I would pick up and continue on my way, leaving you here to fend for yourself and think nothing more of it?”
“You have been kind,” she reached up her hand and placed it over his that continued to rest on her face, “but you can’t change your life for me. Why would you do that?”
Klaus swallowed, as he stared at her with an intensity that made her squirm. There was a heat in his eyes mixed with a tinge of something she couldn’t figure out, but it was making her heart hammer against her chest, and her breathing felt rushed.
Why am I so emotional? Because, I don’t want him to leave, ever.
A single tear slid from the side of her eye. As she kept her head tilted toward Klaus, he used his thumb to wipe it away then pushed his hand around to the back of her neck and brought his mouth to hers. Startled, she squeaked, but his lips were tender and warm — inviting. So, she tentatively kissed him back and before she knew what she’d done, her shaking hands were wrapped around his body, pulling herself closer to him.
After a few moments, Klaus pulled away and rested his head against hers, letting his fingers relax slightly from where he’d buried them in her hair. Agnethe’s chest heaved from her ragged breathing, which matched Klaus’ and a smile spread across her face as she breathed in his spicy scent that reminded her of hot cider and fall.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Well, then, I’m not as sorry as I should be,” he said with a smile to his voice.
Agnethe glanced up at him, then dropped her eyes again fighting a grin.
“I know you’re not ready, and that’s ok. I’ll wait until you are, because it doesn’t matter whether we’ve known each other two days or two years, I won’t live without you for another day.” Klaus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. Sagging against him, every muscle relaxed and soaked in his warmth.
Snuggled together, they watched the dancing flames, content, until nausea rolled Agnethe’s stomach in on itself and she slammed her eyes closed against a wave of dizziness. Anxiety tore through her causing her heart to pound. Disoriented by the feelings, she tried to keep herself from shaking.
Klaus laughed and pulled her tighter against him. “You need to rest.”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s it.”
They stood and Agnethe started to walk to her room as Klaus banked the fire. Without the glow from the flames the room was dark, and she stopped to give her eyes a few seconds to adjust. Still wobbly but no longer feeling sick, she turned to Klaus.
“Are you coming to bed too?”
Stepping closer to her, he raised an eyebrow and gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll be fine out here.”
Heat flushed her cheeks, and she shook her head at him, knowing he was teasing didn’t stop it from fluttering her insides. “Maks’ room is empty and his bed is available.”
“Thank you, but I’d rather stay here, closer to the door.” His eyebrows knitted together before he continued, “Is there a back door?”
“Yes, through my parents’ room.”
“Show me. That needs barred as well.”
Stepping into her parents’ bedroom, Agnethe shivered, her heart was instantly heavy. “I took Mother’s trunk with me, and now there’s nothing in here strong enough to put in front of the door, but it does have a latch.”
“The latch is not trustworthy enough.” Klaus peered around the dim room and discovered she was right, nothing else would be heavy enough to keep the door from being pushed open. “We’ll have to slide the bed.”
“It’s huge! I don’t think it’ll budge.”
“Help me then,” he smiled at her and nudged her toward the solid piece of furniture. “We don’t need to move it too far, just enough to cover part of the door. Come to this side and hold under here. Push back with your legs.”
“I’ll do my best.” She shook her head and squatted down to put her back against the heavy frame while holding on with her hands behind her.
“On three. One, two, three.”
Agnethe leaned back and pushed, trying to move the bed from the middle of the room toward the outside door. It shook and then started to slide. Straining with more effort she put her whole weight against it and they got the bed moved into position. Standing up she looked at Klaus, his face rosy from the effort, but he beamed at her as if she’d moved the thing herself.
I don’t think I moved it an inch.
“Are you sure you’ll be ok out there?”
"Of course. There are a lot of furs in that room, I’ll make myself a bed. Do you know what it’s like to be on a ship with a bunch of men for months at a time? Stretching o
ut on the cold ground would be luxury compared to that.” He laughed and headed out to the other room, but turned back and pulled her in for a light, quick kiss once more before striding out. Agnethe floated to her room on shaky legs as she touched her fingers to her lips.
9
A Surprising Ally
Pulled from sleep with a start, Agnethe drew her covers tight to her chin while she listened for a small sound she couldn’t place. Compelled to know what it was, she tiptoed to her doorway and turned her ear toward the hall. The door in her parents’ room rattled. Stuck between wanting to run to Klaus, or dive back under her covers, she heard a small voice calling her name.
Solaug? No. Rushing to the door she heard it again. “Solaug? Is that you?” she whispered.
“Yes, Agnethe, it’s me. Please let me in.”
“The door is blocked, go around to the front.”
“I don’t want to be seen, can you come out to me?”
A twinge of fear skittered over Agnethe’s skin, but she pushed it aside. Solaug wouldn’t hurt me. “I’ll be right there, stay on the side of the house in the shadows, and I’ll come out.”
“Hurry.”
Agnethe turned to run to her cousin and slapped right into the bare chest of Klaus as he raced into the bedroom. Slipping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close before she could fall to the ground. Eyes wide and afraid to breathe, she stared at his muscled shoulders with his tattoos in full view and forgot about Solaug.
“Are you alright? Is someone out there?”
Swallowing hard, she had to clear her suddenly dry throat to speak. “Um, yes.” Flustered, she couldn’t remember her cousin’s name for a second. “Solaug. Solaug is outside. She wants to talk with me.” Shaking her head she regained her focus but didn’t push away from Klaus, even when she realized his other hand held an axe.
“Why would she come in the middle of the night? It could be a ruse.”
The Viking Maiden Box Set Page 76
