I got up and handed Asger the little figurine. His eyes turned sad as he looked at me. He'd probably imagined that I'd immediately confess my undying love for him. Well, bad luck.
"I need some air."
I left the hut without looking back.
I WAS GLAD THAT THEY gave me some time to think. Not that my mind was in any state to come up with a plan of what to do next. My thoughts were full of Hjalmar and Asger, the mystery of Lucas's missing arm and, strangely enough, the Archivist. Not sure what he was doing in my mind. Probably just a side effect of thinking of so many men at once.
I wondered where Hjalmar was now. Back at TTA? Or trapped somewhere in time? For all I knew, he could be in a medieval dungeon or in a spaceship. Trips to the future were forbidden, but everyone knew that the technology to travel back in time also worked to travel forwards. I was sure there was a secret part of the Academy who dealt with the future, but of course, that was just speculation.
Asger was confusing. He seemed like a nice, friendly guy, but he was a little over the top with his dream obsession. I'd have to make it very clear to him that I was not the woman from his dream, and that there was no chance of anything happening between us.
And then there was Lucas, who'd decided to live in the past without anyone in the present knowing that he was still alive. Why would anyone choose to do that? Didn't he have family waiting for him? Mourning his death? There had to be a really good reason, or maybe he was just an incredibly selfish person. Because of him, Hjalmar had been ostracised as a murderer for something he didn't do. Hjalmar had a tough exterior, but I knew that being shunned by everyone had to hurt. It hurt me just thinking about it.
At the same time, I depended on Lucas as a translator and guide. If I was going to have to stay here for a while, I needed him. A full-on confrontation would have to wait.
I really hoped Hjalmar would come back for me soon. This situation was getting ever more complicated. Maybe I should ask if I could stay with Hjalmar's mother? Being around Asger seemed like asking for trouble. I was sure he wasn't just going to give up just because I'd told him that I wasn't interested. He was a Viking, after all. They were known for conquering both land and people.
The door behind me opened, but I didn’t turn around. I wanted to make it very clear that my Lainie-needs-alone-time period wasn’t over yet. Asger’s large body loomed over me, his presence overwhelming.
“Móðir,” he said. This time, I actually understood. Mother. He pointed towards a path snaking away from his house. It seemed he wanted to take me to his mother. Hopefully not to tell her that he was going to marry me. I sighed.
“Lucas?” I asked, and he shook his head. Alright then. I was going to follow a Viking who I couldn’t converse with to his mother who I wouldn’t be able to talk to either. This was getting ridiculous. I wished we’d waited with this time travel excursion until I’d had the time to learn more Old Norse and knowledge about Viking society.
Yesterday, I’d read an article about the role of women in Norse times. It had surprised me how progressive the Vikings seemed in that regard, at least compared to other societies of the same period. Women were allowed to have trades, divorce their husbands – my favourite reason for that was the husband not pleasing the wife in bed – and some of them even fought in battles. Not many, but a few. I wondered if Asger’s mother was one of those warrior women.
Asger was already walking away quickly, and I hurried to follow him. The path was a simple line in the dirt, formed by years of people walking along it. Forests loomed all around us in the distance, hiding whatever landscape this village was built in. I wondered if there were fjords for their ships nearby. I really wanted to see a proper Viking ship, ready for the journey across the Atlantic. The Norsemen had travelled all the way down to North Africa, so their boats had to be impressive. Although I wasn’t sure what time we’d arrived in. I was going to have to be careful with how much I revealed about my Viking history knowledge – I didn’t want to tell them things that hadn’t actually happened.
Then I remembered that I wasn’t able to communicate with anyone without Lucas, and breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t going to be able to make a massive mistake like that. Changing the course of history wasn’t on my agenda.
Without a backward glance or a single word, Asger led me to the edge of a village. There were about twenty huts, all the same kind of build as his own. In the distance, one larger house loomed above them, much taller and longer than the others. That had to be some kind of community building, or maybe the home of the clan chief?
I really wanted to explore the village, but Asger grunted and pointed at the house closest to us.
“Móðir,” he repeated. While his house had been made from bare wood, this one’s walls were painted in a reddish hue. Flowers were planted all around it, giving it more of a homely and welcoming feel.
He called out some words before simply walking into the house without knocking on the door. Apprehensively, I followed him. This wasn’t just Asger’s mother, it was Hjalmar’s too. I’m sure my Viking would have introduced us had he got the chance. It was all wrong. It was supposed to be Hjalmar here with me, not Asger. Time was playing a cruel trick on me.
Just like Asger’s house, the hut consisted of one large room. Benches covered in animal furs lined the walls closest to us, while a large wooden bed sat at the other end of the hut.
I never got a chance to look around more because a woman launched herself at me, hugging me. This was becoming a tradition. She was smaller than me by at least half a head, but also quite a bit wider. She pressed me against her soft bosom, reminding me of the hugs my grandma had given me before she passed away. She even smelled a bit like my gran. Flowery, warm, friendly.
“It’s so good to see you,” she said in perfect English, albeit with a slight Nordic accent.
Surprised, I stepped back, leaving her embrace. I couldn’t help but stare at her. She was talking English. How the hell...
“I was wondering when Hjalmie would finally bring home a girl. It’s taken him long enough. Where is my good-for-nothing son?”
Her wide smile and twinkling eyes immediately made me like her.
“How? Why? Ehm...” I stuttered, words failing me.
She laughed. “He’s not told you about me? Oh, that silly boy. I guess the two of you had more important things to talk about... and to do.”
She winked at me suggestively, and I felt a blush spread across my cheeks.
Asger started talking in Old Norse, and slowly, the woman’s smile began to fade.
“He’s disappeared?” she asked, now serious.
I nodded. “There was nothing either of us could do. He was there one second, then gone the next. His bracelet must have malfunctioned.”
“Bracelets don’t malfunction,” she said sharply, before softening her tone. “Someone must have tampered with it. It’s possible to program them to automatically activate after a certain time. Usually, that’s intended as an emergency tool should the time agent not have a chance to activate the bracelet themselves if they’re trapped in a hostile situation. This is highly unusual.”
“Excuse me, but how do you know all that?” I asked as politely as I could.
She laughed, but her expression remained worried. “Why, I’m a time agent. I was, anyway, before I fell in love and settled here. Have you never wondered how Hjalmar was allowed to live in the future? Or why he speaks English?”
“I never had the chance,” I muttered with a sigh. Everyone seemed to assume that I’d known Hjalmar for much longer than I had. They probably thought I was in my second year or even further along and had time to get to know him. In fact, it had only been a week, although it felt longer.
“Let’s sit down and have some tea,” the woman said. “I think there’s much to discuss.”
“Yes,” Asger said and I gaped at him. What the fuck?
Chapter 3
“You speak English!” I roared at Asger. “Why didn�
��t you say that earlier? Why go through all the charades?”
His mother started to laugh, making her hands shake while she poured us some tea.
“Be gentle on him,” she chuckled. “His English is very limited. He refused to learn it as a child, but he understands a lot more than he lets on.” She turned to him. “Asger, have you been naughty?”
I couldn’t help myself, I snorted. He looked downtrodden, as if he was a boy who was being chastised by his mother.
“Apologise to our guest,” she demanded.
“Sorry,” he muttered, not meeting my eyes. “I sorry.”
“I am sorry,” his mother corrected. “I wish you hadn’t been so stubborn when you were a boy. Knowing a second language can be so helpful.”
Asger grumbled something into his beard. I was no longer trying to hide my grin. This was gold. Seeing him put down by his mother... I was loving it.
“I’m Lainie,” I said after taking a sip of tea, realising that we’d never been introduced to each other.
The woman smiled at me and held out a hand. “Heather.”
We shook hands, which was a little weird since we’d already hugged.
“So, you’re from my time?” I asked after a moment’s hesitation.
She nodded. “What year did you come from?”
“Twenty-one thirteen.”
“You’re two decades after me then, although I’ve been here for much longer than that. I met my husband when I was in my late twenties and when Hjalmar came along... Time travel when pregnant is not advisable, and young children can’t travel either, so we decided to settle down. I got so involved in this society that I never went back to my job. This has become my home.”
“Do you ever miss the present? Your past, I mean? No, is it your future?”
She chuckled at my confusion. “To be honest, not in the slightest. Things here are so much more honest. People say what they mean. Their religion and sense of honour keep them in line. If someone here promises you something, they will do it, no matter what. A Viking would rather die than break an oath.”
“Vikings strong,” Asger said with a proud grin. “Fight women.”
Heather laughed. “I think you mean fight for women. Or fighting women.” She turned to me. “I’ve always thought Asger would fall for a warrior woman, but so far, he’s sticking to his silly idea of finding the woman from his dreams.”
I cringed as Asger started jabbering in Old Norse, gesticulating towards me. Heather’s eyes widened as she listened to him.
“Has he told you?” she asked when her son had finished.
I nodded, not able to hide a grimace. “He has indeed. And I’ve told him that I’m not interested.”
Asger started talking again, but his mother cut him off. She quickly said something to him, then translated for me. “I told him that it’s your decision. I’ve always taught him to respect women, and he’s not going to stop now. If he gets too much for you, let me know, and I’ll knock some sense into him.”
From the glare she gave her son, I could imagine that her talking-to would be rather effective. Having raised two Viking boys, Heather had to be formidable and used to making them do what she wanted. I liked her more and more.
“Frille,” Asger said, a defiant look appearing on his face. “Tell she.”
Heather sighed. “Seriously?”
“Tell,” Asger repeated, more forcefully this time.
“I’m not sure I want to hear this,” I muttered, remembering how Lucas had refused to explain about whatever frille was.
“Tell.”
“I don’t think he’s going to let it go,” Heather said, exasperation lacing her tone. “I’ll tell you but just because he won’t shut up otherwise. The frille system allows Viking men to take several wives. Mistresses, if you wish. Most clan chiefs do it for political reasons, to ally with as many other clans and important families as possible. There’s nothing immoral or dishonourable about being a frille, and some women aspire to be one. You share the work of dealing with a man with other women, and if you get fed up of him, you can always divorce him.” She laughed. “Sometimes I wished I had a sister-wife who could help me when my husband was behaving like an idiot. An extra pair of hands would have been handy in the household as well.”
“You mentioned divorce,” I said slowly. “What happens after though? Would other men not look down at a woman who’s been a mistress?”
Heather shook her head. “Not at all. Some women become a frille, give their husband a child, all for political reasons, then divorce him and marry the man they actually love. The system has its benefits, although I personally was glad that my husband didn’t take any frille. Nor sex slaves, but that’s an entirely different matter.”
I shuddered at the thought of slaves. I knew it was normal in Viking society, but everything within me rebelled against that. It didn’t agree with my morals.
I mulled it over. “Why does he want me to know about frille, though?” I asked Heather. “He’s not married, is he? Or does he want to marry me and then take on other wives?”
Outrage bubbled up in me. Even though I wasn’t interested in him, I also felt a little betrayed and jealous when thinking about sharing him. Not that I wanted him. It shouldn’t matter. I should just finish this conversation and find out how I was going to find Hjalmar.
“I think he’s trying to tell you that he’d be alright to share. That he could be your frille, even if you’re with Hjalmar.”
Asger nodded. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He wanted to share me? With his brother? That was fucking disturbing.
It was, right? Then why was there heat pooling in my stomach and why was my heart beating faster?
“Is that normal?” I asked slowly. “One woman having several husbands?”
Heather shook her head. “Not officially. Adultery is a crime, although a woman isn’t expected to be a virgin when she marries and she can be with men before committing to marriage. So I guess in theory, you could have multiple lovers if you don’t marry one of them.”
Asger grunted something, and his mother nodded. “But we’re talking as if you were bound by Viking laws. You’re not. You’re an outsider, which pretty much means that you can make your own rules. That’s what I did whenever I wanted to do something that’s not proper in their eyes. I’d simply say that we did things like that back where I came from. They’re pretty accepting of that. So if you told them it’s normal to have several husbands in your country, then that would work.”
I sat down my teacup and got up. “Well, I’m not going to do that. I’m not interested. All I want is find Hjalmar and be with him.”
Asger grunted in annoyance and got up as well. He blocked my way to the door, towering over me. He was so broad that I couldn’t even see the door.
“Let me go,” I demanded.
“No.” He looked down at me, his eyes boring into mine. They were a shade lighter than his brother’s, but just as stunning. “You mine.”
“Listen, you caveman, I’m not yours nor am I anybody else’s. I decide what I want to do, and right now, I want to go outside and get some air.”
Heather snorted, but Asger didn’t move.
“Mine,” he growled and put his hands on my shoulders. A strange warmth shot through me at his touch and I froze. That warmth... it felt familiar, somehow. Like it was meeting an ache I hadn’t realised as there. My body relaxed without my doing and suddenly, I was in his arms. He pressed me against his chest, adding more of the warmth. It was flowing through my entire body, making my gooseflesh rise and a pleasant shiver run down my back. Instinctively, I leaned against him, returning the hug, increasing our connection. He didn’t try to kiss me or turn it into anything more than an embrace. He simply held me. He probably knew that I would have pushed him away had he tried something else. But this I could handle. I needed that warmth, that heat that was slowly pooling in my chest. I’d never felt anything like it. It was both beautiful and scary at once.
&n
bsp; I heard Heather move away, giving us space, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was his touch. The way our bodies fit together like pieces of a puzzle. My softness met his hardness. I didn't want to feel what I did, but I couldn't resist the pull. I wanted him. My mind was going crazy, shouting at me that I wasn't the kind to jump guys, that I'd only just met him, that we'd never even properly talked - but it meant nothing. My body as pressed against his and the effect of the close embrace was beginning to show. His erection pressed against my belly and my nipples were hard against his chest. What the hell was I doing?
No. I was with Hjalmar. Or at least I was going to be, once I found him again. I was confusing the two men. They were brothers, so similar. That had to be it. With one enormous effort, I stepped back, pushing him away.
The heartbreak in his eyes almost made me hug him again. I looked down at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.
"I'll be outside," I muttered and ran around him and out of the door before he could stop me.
ONCE AGAIN, I WAS OUTSIDE a Viking hut, unable to sort out my thoughts. I sat down on a narrow bench and closed my eyes, listening to the distant sounds of the village. There were very few people around, but it still afternoon, so I assumed most people were working. Raiding distant lands wasn’t the only thing they did. By the time the sunset, there were probably going to be more people around.
Inside, Heather was talking to Asger in Old Norse, but even if I had spoken the language, their voices were too quiet to make out. I hope she was trying to discourage him from his weird frille notion. Right now, all I was interested in was finding Hjalmar. Once he’d returned, I’d focus on going home, although I might question Lucas first about why he was pretending to be dead. Maybe there was a chance of restoring Hjalmar’s reputation. I didn’t want him to stay the outcast he was, although somehow, I was pretty sure it was by his own choosing. He wasn’t a crowd pleaser, not in the slightest. Well, I was the same. In the week I’d spent at the Academy, the only people I’d really talked to were Maryam and Kaycee. Maryam had become something of a friend, and Kaycee... someone I really didn’t like but who I was just about able to be around. I didn’t think she’d make it at TTA for long, not the way she kept annoying teachers by being entitled and not doing her homework.
Seducing Her Vikings Page 2
