"I'm fine," she whispered. The air between them felt alive with an unseen energy. She could tell her breathing was louder than it should be because her chest was so tight, she could barely get any air into her lungs. After a few minutes of silence she relaxed. His presence near her felt comfortable. "Thank you," she whispered, needing him to know he had helped her. Without a word he threaded his fingers through hers. A smile betrayed her resolve, and she drifted off to sleep again in complete peace.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made Ingrid's eyes pop open with a start. Turning her head toward the sound, she saw the smiling eyes of Selby staring at her. The fog still hovered around them but had lightened with the early rays of morning. Wordless, but with a devilish little grin, Selby moved her eyes down to the hand lying on Ingrid's stomach.
Was he always laying this close?
She looked back at Selby and rolled her eyes trying to make it seem like it was no big deal. Selby's eyebrows almost reached her hairline. She wasn't going to get out of this quietly. Selby would have all kinds of comments if she knew her friend. The best she could hope for was to deal with it as quickly as possible and move on.
Maybe just a minute longer.
As she finished that thought, Jorg's fingers tightened their grip on hers ever so slightly. Again she was struck with the feeling that her thoughts were somehow perceived without words. That sent a shiver of unease through her whole body. Ignoring Selby, she turned her head as little as possible until she could see Jorg out of the corner of her eye. He lay on his side, facing her, with his free arm folded under his head and the hint of a smile on his face. She suspected he was awake and enjoying her embarrassment. Frustrated by that, and the little snickers bubbling up from Selby, she tried to roll away from the muscled arrogance holding onto her. She released her hand but his tightened even more when she rolled and he followed closer as if to snuggle tighter together. That brought a loud snort and cackle of laughter from her so-called friend before she could get her hand up to cover her mouth.
This ends now. She jumped up and exclaimed that it was time to get and up and get moving for the day. The words came out much louder and higher pitched than she'd intended, causing her to feel the heat rise in her cheeks and want to find a place to hide.
That was more than Selby could handle and she burst into a roaring laughter, doubling over on herself and choking from lack of air. Jorg rolled over onto his back, put both hands behind his head and smiled at Ingrid, making her face flare up hotter. Stomping off to find privacy, she almost tripped on Hagen as he started to sit up. His hair sticking up, he wiped the drool from the side of his mouth, confused as to the abrupt awakening. Selby laughed harder but rushed after Ingrid, still snorting in humor.
Ingrid pretended to look for firewood, wanting to be away from everyone for as long as possible.
"Ingrid!" Selby halted her in mid-stride with an intensity to her voice that no longer held any humor. "Don't go that way," she said much softer.
In the fog she'd had no sense of direction and instantly understood. Her whole body shook as she walked toward Selby. "Is he still tied up?"
"Yes. Let's go back. There's no way we'll be able to get a fire going in all of this mess," waving her hand around at the fog. She knows me too well. "We'll have some biscuits and salt pork before we deal with that." Putting her arm around Ingrid and leading her back to camp, Selby was the perfect best friend again, knowing exactly what to do without making Ingrid feel stupid or weak.
The boys had packed up the blankets and pulled out the cold food that was to be their breakfast when they got back. Without looking at Jorg, Ingrid picked up a couple pieces of dry bread and sat down on the straw to eat. Eating wasn't such a good idea; her stomach wobbled and protested against the food. She nibbled a few bites and stored the rest for later. Breakfast took minutes and then they sat quiet. Ashes and the smell of smoke floated in the air as a reminder of the day before. The morning's antics aside, no one wanted to talk about what they should do with the man-wolf tied around the corner.
"We're going to have to figure out who and what he is," Hagen finally said.
"Yes, and then?" Jorg asked. Ingrid kept her eyes focused on her lap. A quick glance out the side of her eye saw Selby doing the same.
Hagen let out a long breath and stood up. "Let's see what he says first, then decide about what to do with him." Jorg nodded and rose to go along. "Ingrid, you stay here. I don't want him digging into your head again. Selby . . ."
Ingrid and Selby both looked at Hagen when he didn't continue speaking. "What?" Selby asked.
"Stay with her. Got it?" He cocked one eyebrow waiting for her response.
"Yeah." She sneered at him. "Did you think I would leave her sitting here by herself?" She looked away and huffed.
Ingrid smiled at her friend, then looked up at the boys. "Be careful."
"We will, but I mean it, stay here," he said with his brows raised and a pleading look to his eyes rather than stern. Ingrid forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and nodded.
Jorg looked at Ingrid, the muscles in his jaw tightened, then he gave a quick nod and strode after Hagen.
Confused, Ingrid looked at Selby for help. She raised her eyebrows and shook her head.
Ingrid couldn't help glancing every couple minutes in the boys' direction, fidgeting with her fingers and her skirt. Selby caught her eye, and they stared without speaking. Together they jumped up and scurried toward the corner of the building. Ingrid dropped to her knees and Selby crouched over her as they peered around the corner. Too far away to hear, they could see the three men. The captured man sat against a tree with his legs extended. His arms were tied behind him around the trunk. Hagen crouched at his side, eye-level with him, and must have been the one talking because Jorg stood on the man's other side, his legs slightly apart and arms folded over his chest. Ingrid watched the way his nut-brown hair fell loose onto his shoulders with the top pulled away from his face and tied at the crown. His perfectly shaped eyebrows and straight nose clearly visible. He is so strong and handsome. She sighed.
"I don't think you're looking at what I am," Selby whispered. Ingrid felt heat rise into her cheeks and when she looked back, Jorg was faced their direction. He narrowed his eyes at them and jerked his chin slightly, urging them to go back. Ingrid swore she saw a slight tug on his lips before he resumed his guardian stance. A nudge to the back of her shoulder said Selby noticed it, too. Scooting backward on her hands and knees a couple of feet, she sat up on her knees. Selby followed her and remained hunched over.
"What do you want to do?" Selby asked in what passed as her quiet voice.
"I think we should go back to our things and wait."
"I was afraid you'd say that."
They sat back down among the gathered supplies and waited. Selby wrapped and unwrapped a piece of straw around her fingers. Ingrid tucked her legs between her arms and bounced her toes nonstop. Birds chirped, and a mouse scurried through the straw a few feet away from them as if it were any other average day.
"Ugh, I hate waiting with nothing to do," Selby whined and paced.
Both of them stopped moving and watched toward the corner when they heard footsteps approaching, sighing in relief when only Hagen and Jorg rounded the corner.
"What did he say?" Ingrid's mouth was dry and her nerves jumped all over her body.
"A lot of nonsense," Hagen mumbled. Anger radiated off of him like an angry bull. "Why isn't all of this stuff packed so we can leave?" he snarled.
She ignored him and looked to Jorg. His lips were pressed into a tight, white line and offered no help.
"What did you do with him?" Selby asked.
"Left him."
"Tied to the tree?"
"I smell smoke," Ingrid cried and started to run toward the prisoner. Jorg grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"It's the burning cloak, nothing more," he said, holding her stare until she nodded acceptance. "Pack up. He'll be fine."
<
br /> Selby and Ingrid looked at each other, then helped with a mutual understanding it wasn't the best time to push the boys for information. Within minutes everyone had packs secured on their backs and were on their way. Cold settled over Ingrid and she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. Without looking back, they worked their way out of the village and back onto the open moor. The long, mournful cry of a lone, sorrowful wolf pierced the air. Ingrid's breath hitched as she waited to hear it again. Silence answered, thick and heavy.
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Walking single file they picked their way along watching for hidden bogs. Caught up in thoughts of wolves and fires, Ingrid stumbled and lost her balance. Before she got halfway to the ground Jorg's strong arms wrapped her in an embrace. Pulling her to her feet and holding her back against his chest, he didn't release her.
Without looking up she said, "Stop catching me." Her voice came out feeble and unconvincing.
Leaning down, he rested his face near her ear and his breath brushed against her cheek as he whispered, "I will always catch you."
Standing tall he released her, and she took a step forward, but he didn't move. When she forced herself to look back, his gaze was all-consuming. It took all of her concentration to keep her breathing steady and her face neutral. Finally, he stared up at the sky and closed his eyes. When he looked back at her, he smiled and walked ahead, brushing past her to catch up to Hagen.
Unable to move, she stood there willing her thudding heart to slow down before taking shaky steps forward.
Selby sidled up to her and walked by her side without a word. She closed her eyes for a second and bit her lips together for strength because she knew a quiet Selby was never a good sign. Anything brewing inside of her never stayed there for long.
"Do you think a man will ever look at me that way?" Selby asked quietly.
Not what I expected. "What are you talking about?"
"The way Jorg looks at you. And don't tell me you don't know. I've seen you looking at him, too."
"Oh." She wasn't sure how to answer that. "I don't know what's happening with him and me. But I know you are smart, beautiful and . . . fun." She couldn't keep the snicker out of her voice. The man who won Selby's heart would have his hands full. Ingrid expected Selby to laugh also, but she kept her eyes focused on the ground and sighed. I've been such a bad friend. "I was only joking. Everything will work out, you'll see."
Ingrid wrapped an arm around Selby's waist and leaned into her.
"That's really all I want." Selby kicked a rock out of the way. "I'm not like you."
"I know. You are brave and strong. There's barely anyone who can defeat you in training. You are honored already for your strength."
"I mean, I don't want any of that like you do. It isn't what's important to me, it's just what's expected. And, I'm good at it."
They walked in silence while Ingrid thought about her words. What could she say: I'm sorry I haven't paid any attention to you or your dreams because I've only cared about my own? That's what she should say, but she felt too guilty to let the words come out. "What do you want?"
"To be a wife and a mother. Live on a bit of land and farm. Quietly."
"Why haven't you ever told me that before?"
"Didn't seem right, I guess. I've got your back and you've got mine, remember? Glory and honor and all that." She smiled over at Ingrid as she mocked the conversations they had had so many times.
"I understand what it's like to want a life different from what's expected. You know that."
"I do. Because of that, I will always be at your side and support you. It doesn't matter anyway."
"Don't say that. Besides, you're the one with all the curves, remember. Men will be falling at your feet in no time."
Selby snorted a laugh at the comment and peered sideways at Ingrid. "Well, that's true enough, about the curves anyway." Exaggerating the swing of her hips as she walked made them both giggle. In complete confusion, the boys looked back toward them, increasing the laughter. Linking her arm through Selby's, they walked on together through the squishy peat and grassy meadows of the moor, following the confused boys.
* * *
Using the bow and arrows he found in the village, Jorg hunted for their dinner while the rest of them set up camp for the night. In no time they were roasting two rabbits thanks to his uncanny vision, even at dusk.
"How is it you're the same age as Hagen, yet your face stays so silky smooth while his looks like something you'd use to scrub a pot?" Selby asked Jorg.
Directing a glare at her, he lowered his dinner and clamped his lips into a tight white line. As he worked to keep his composure, Ingrid watched his muscles tense and his nostrils flare.
"You're being rude, Selby," Ingrid said, trying to defuse the situation.
"I wondered, that's all."
"I. Don't. Know," Jorg answered through clenched teeth. "It's just the way it is for me, I guess."
"There's nothing wrong with it. Besides," Selby flashed a grin at Ingrid before looking back at Jorg, "it shows your dimple easier and I know someone who really likes that."
Heat crept across Ingrid's face and she tried to shrink into the darkness. The corner of Jorg's mouth twitched, but he softened his eyes toward Selby.
"You're not a very good friend." He popped the meat into his mouth and shook his head at her.
"What? I'm the best!" Selby put her hand to her chest in feigned indignance.
Ingrid groaned. "Not always," she muttered. She shook her head at Selby while finding the folds of her skirt increasingly interesting.
Hagen stood and changed the mood of the conversation. "Ingrid, come with me, I need to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Come with me for a minute."
"Why can't you talk with me right here?"
"I was trying to save you more embarrassment, but fine." Sitting back down, he pinned her with his stare. "You were stupid when we were fighting off the wolves at the village and that is exactly the reason you should stop trying to be a shieldmaiden," he said.
"I was not stupid. You take that back."
"You stood frozen and didn't even try to fight."
Tension spiked in Selby's muscles next to her as they sat on the same rock and Ingrid caught the motion of Jorg leaning forward. Jumping up to defend herself, she did her best to seem taller. "I was not just standing there. There was a wound in the man's shoulder, did you see that? I did it, but something happened after that, between me and the wolf-man. I, I don't know what it was." So much for my defense.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll think I'm crazy." Everything about this situation is crazy. "We connected somehow, me and the wolf. I saw things in my head. I saw him standing there as a man." Out of habit she rolled her lip between her teeth.
No one said anything. A quick peek at Selby found a wide-open mouth with a half-chewed bite of rabbit in full view.
"That's not possible," Hagen said, his eyes wide and shaking his head.
"It is." Startled, all eyes turned toward Jorg. "There are those with the gift of sight who can connect with many things from nature. I've heard it talked about before," Jorg said, looking at Ingrid with soft eyes. Kind, accepting eyes.
Hagen glared at Jorg. "Don't encourage this. Ingrid's not a Volva," Angered by Jorg's comments, he stepped closer to Ingrid. "You froze and you could have been killed."
What happened to her was too intense to allow him to dismiss it as impossible. Maybe she wasn't a seer, a Volva. The stories she'd heard of women with that gift scared her, but she would not let him decide for her.
"Hnossa and the woman in the woods both said I have special gifts and that I should embrace them."
"Who is Hnossa?" Jorg asked, his brows nearly touching as he stood.
"What are you talking about?" Hagen glowered back and forth between them, clenching his fists.
"I wasn't sure I wanted to talk about it. When I was in the river, before the trolls caught me, I had a vis
ion and met a woman who called herself Hnossa. She told me I was in Asgard and she'd brought me there so I would develop my gifts. We didn't talk long, and I thought it was a dream, but I don't think so now. Not after the wolf."
"My mom's aunt lived in a village where a woman claimed to be a seer. She would go out in the woods alone for days and when she came back, she said she had talked with the goddess Freya and learned what the village should do next," Jorg said.
"So you think Ingrid should go off into the woods by herself so she can talk to wolves before they eat her?" Hagen growled. He looked as if he could shoot arrows out of his eyes.
"No, of course, not. But I am saying that maybe she has a gift she didn't know about before, and we should help her with it instead of ignoring it."
"Wait, a seer?" Selby joined the conversation. "Do you think you can do magic like Freya?" Selby's voice rose in pitch with excitement but her eyes were wide with fear.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore. I can't see the future and I can't do magic, so let's just drop it. I'm sorry I didn't fight like you wanted, Hagen." She plopped down on the rock and hoped they would all let it go, but she knew that wasn't going to happen.
"Maybe that's why your bead was glowing," Selby offered.
"My bead? What are you talking about?"
"Your amber one, it was glowing while you stood there. Did either of you goats see it?" She raised her brows and looked at Hagen and Jorg.
"I saw it," Jorg said.
Ingrid didn't know what to think about any of that. The experience with the wolf was not one she wanted to live through again. Tears stung the back of her eyes. Staring at the fire, she forced her mind to clear.
"Behind the wall, when you got sick, your hands were warm, too. As you calmed down, they started getting cold again," Selby said, in a calmer, gentle voice.
"My hands were warm, too?" she sighed. Absently, Ingrid rubbed her hands together. At a loss to understand why her life spun out of control, she retreated inside herself, blocking out the others' voices and focusing on the rhythm of her pulse and the orange and yellow of the fire that flickered against her closed eyelids. Alarmed by a touch on her arm, she gasped and opened her eyes.
Ingrid, The Viking Maiden (Viking Maiden Series Book 1) Page 13