Bjorn shook his head. “No trouble at all and that in and of itself is odd. With all of the newcomers, I would expect there to be some trouble.”
Galinn rubbed his chin. “You’ve heard no whisperings or rumors?”
Again, Bjorn shook his head. “Nothing. It’s as if everyone comes here and is happy with what they find.”
“I’d love to think that’s because Thora is so well loved, but you and I both know how the aspirations of men can be.” Galinn offered an apologetic smile to Thora.
“You’re right.” Thora inserted herself into the conversation. “While he hasn’t said or done anything, I’m still suspicious of Ulf. He seems to have fallen in line awfully fast and with no real resistance. I’d love to think his intentions are honorable, but I think trusting him is a mistake.”
“Yes, he does seem to be trying a bit too hard to make it look as if he supports you. Beri and I have been keeping a close eye on him without arousing suspicion, but we’re spread thin.”
“Is there a chance he is as he seems?” Galinn looked from Thora to Bjorn.
Thora shrugged. “Anything is possible. I would love it if we were wrong about him.”
“With him being one of Odinkar’s men, I understand the need for caution when it comes to him. I’ll do what I can to help keep an eye on him. What about his brother?”
“Thorston doesn’t appear to be a problem. He was excited about his wife being allowed to train, and he’s been eager to help with the defenses. He’s also helped several others build their homes.” Bjorn spread his hands. “By all accounts, he’s supportive of Thora and her plans for the town.”
Galinn’s gaze swung back to Thora. “Do you trust him?”
“I have no reason not to. However, he has always followed his brother. If Ulf were to become a problem, it’s possible Thorston might too.”
“So it comes back to Ulf.”
“That’s why we keep an eye on him.” Bjorn nodded.
CHAPTER 20
Galinn walked along the path until he came to the longhouse he sought. He was about to knock when he heard the voice of the person he was looking for around the corner.
“Thorston, you don’t seem to understand. This is exactly what needs to happen for us to take over.”
Galinn cocked his head at Ulf’s words. Clearly, he didn’t mean what Galinn thought he meant.
“I guess I don’t understand. How can you justify using Galinn’s attack on the village as a way to get power from Thora when you argued his case so everyone would accept him coming back?”
Galinn sagged against the longhouse, as the crushing weight of realization bore down on him. He came here to thank Ulf for speaking in his favor only to find he had ulterior motives. He didn’t know whether to laugh or punch Ulf in his face. But which face? The bastard obviously had two. Galinn rolled his eyes as anger flowed hot in his veins.
“That’s how I’ll use it against her. I’ll say she misled me. That she pulled me aside before her speech and pressured me into standing up for Galinn using lies.”
“You’re going to lie?” Galinn smiled at Thorston’s tone of disbelief.
“I will do whatever I have to do in order to get rid of that…that…child who’s playing at being jarl. I admit Odinkar had to go, but we shouldn’t be led by a young woman.”
“We should be led by you?” Thorston’s tone was flat.
Ulf scoffed. “I’m the natural choice. I was close with Odinkar, I’m older and wiser, and I’m a seasoned warrior. I can lead us and defend us.”
Thorston made a clicking sound. “Brother, you know I respect you and would follow you to the ends of the earth if necessary, but I think you’re wrong on this. Thora has shown promise in being a good leader. Look around you! Everyone is working together to make this place a safe home. Don’t forget, many of the fortifications we have were Galinn’s ideas. The two of them make a good team.”
The sudden thwack followed by Thorston’s sickening groan told Galinn Ulf didn’t agree with his assessment.
“You’d do well to stay in line, brother. I will be jarl.”
Galinn’s hands balled into fists, but he forced himself to walk away. He’d heard enough and if Ulf came around the corner while he was standing there, Galinn would’ve ripped his face off.
As he walked away, he debated what to do. Did he tell Thora or deal with it himself? He tried to suppress the taunting voice in his head that reminded him this was an example of why he wanted to stay away from Thora, but the voice was right. His presence was already causing a problem for her position as jarl, and that was the last thing he wanted for her.
But was it his fault? Really his fault? Galinn’s other inner voice—the one that tended to be more rational—pointed out that Ulf had designs on being jarl. One way or another, he’d find a way to undermine Thora’s rule and take her position. He’s using Galinn for the easy opportunity his past attack on the village presents. Ulf would find little difficulty in stirring up anti-Thora sentiment using that, but even then, he knew he’d have to lie. No, Ulf’s rabble-rousing wasn’t Galinn’s fault, but he was glad he was there to help defend Thora.
He made his way to the stronghold where Thora was hearing complaints from the villagers and settling their disputes. He’d wait until she had a free moment, and then he’d tell her what he overheard. The best way to protect her against Ulf was to tell her so she could be prepared. Together, they would find a way to avoid the mess Ulf sought to create.
Inside the stronghold’s recently completed hall, built onto the small house Odinkar started, Galinn found Thora alone. He blinked at the unexpected find. “Where is everyone?” He glanced around the large room. No one sat at any of the rectangular wooden tables in the hall. The place was so quiet that the only sound heard was the sound of the torches burning in their sconces along the stone walls.
She shrugged, but her blue eyes sparkled. “No one has any complaints. It seems everyone is getting along well, and they’re too busy working to finish the defenses and to bring in the crops from the fields to argue, steal, or otherwise bother each other.”
Would Ulf’s attempt to spread his lies actually work? Maybe he didn’t need to tell Thora because people wouldn’t follow his lead. He shook his head.
“Thora, I need to talk to you about something important.”
She chuckled. “So, you are my first complaint of the day then?” She sat in her chair on the raised dais and patted his seat beside her. In that moment, sitting in the jarl’s seat—her seat—she appeared every inch the capable leader. She exuded strength and intelligence, and was a commanding figure because she carried herself with confidence.
Galinn lowered himself into his seat and took a deep breath. He didn’t want to see the pained expressions he knew his news would cause to show on her beautiful face. She deserved to be happy and smiling, as she was now, comforted by the knowledge her people were happy. “Ulf wants to be jarl.”
Her face fell. “What?”
He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. “Ulf. He wants to be jarl. I overheard him talking to his brother about it when I went to thank him for helping you convince the village to accept me. He plans to say you spoke to him before the gathering and lied to him to get him to do your bidding.”
Her eyebrows drew together and she smiled, but it was more in confusion than happiness. “What does he hope to accomplish with that? Even if I had lied to him to get him to help me, the people were still told the truth, and they made their own decision to allow you to come back.”
Galinn shrugged. Put like that, he now wondered the same thing. “Maybe he thinks it was his voice that swayed them and that if he takes away his support of me, others would too. Or, what’s more likely, since he wants to be jarl, he’s hoping making you out to be a liar would be enough to gain support for removing you.”
She leaned back and stared across the room. “That does make sense. I suppose he could go so far as to say I did it because I wanted you back.
That I care more about you than the village. That might work in his favor.”
“The people love you, so I’m not sure how well it would work.” Galinn wanted to believe that more than anything, because the idea of the villagers turning against her was hard to think about.
She nodded. “I can’t take that chance, but how do I handle this? Was anyone else there when he was talking to Thorston?”
Galinn shook his head. “I don’t think so. I didn’t see them, so I can’t be sure.”
“How did Thorston react? Oh, who am I kidding? Thorston thinks the sun rises and sets for Ulf. Of course he went along with it.” She drummed her fingers on the armrest.
“But he didn’t. He argued against the things Ulf said. The discussion ended when Ulf punched Thorston while telling him to behave.” Galinn was happy to be able to report some good news.
Thora’s eyes narrowed, making the blue of her eyes barely visible behind the darkness of the black kohl she wore. “He sided with me? Against his brother?” She made a low whistling sound and laughed as she stood and paced the room. “I never thought I’d hear of Thorston going against his brother in such a way.”
“I think that stands as a good example of the loyalty of the people. And of how difficult it’s going to be for Ulf to convince others. If he couldn’t convince his own brother, I doubt he’ll convince anyone else.” Galinn smiled, wishing he didn’t have such a strong feeling of impending doom hanging over his head.
“So, what do I do? I know what I want to do, but I suspect my first instinct here isn’t correct.”
Galinn stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed them at his ankles. “That depends. What’s your first instinct?”
Thora stopped her pacing, her hand resting on the axe on her belt. “Separate his head from his shoulders. Is that not right?”
Galinn chuckled as he shook his head. “No. However, I had a similar first instinct.”
“I should talk to him, shouldn’t I?”
“I couldn’t say, Thora. I don’t know if it would do any good, for one. I also worry it may push him into doing something stupid. He punched his brother for disagreeing with him. What would he do to you if you give away the fact that you know his plan?”
She returned to her seat. “The worst he could do is challenge me and kill me.”
“And he already has every motivation to do that.”
“Right. So why wait for him to act?” She leaned forward.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant that you shouldn’t give him a chance.”
“Oh.” She sat back and drummed her fingers on the armrest. The steady tap-tap-tap-tap distracted Galinn from his thoughts. “I have an idea. What if I say something the next time everyone is gathered? That way I could bring up the subject of you and the attack, ask if anyone has any issues, and it wouldn’t be confrontational to where it would open the door to him challenging me.”
“That may work,” Galinn scratched his chin and noted he needed to shave. “Or he could challenge you in front of everyone.”
“Do you think he would, if it’s before he has a chance to gather supporters?”
He shrugged. “How do we know he hasn’t already? For all we know, Thorston was one of the last he spoke with, and not the first.” He hated to come across as shooting down her idea, but he had to look at all sides of the situation.
Her shoulder sagged and she sighed heavily. “That could be. I hadn’t considered that. I just assumed he’d talk to his brother first.” She squared her shoulders. “If I’m to be challenged, then let me be challenged. I’d rather get it over with than worry about him spreading his malicious lies to chip away at me slowly.”
Galinn smiled, impressed by her desire to get things done and how she didn’t shy away from a difficult situation. She could have chosen to handle Ulf a number of different ways, including to do nothing until he acted.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her brows crinkled as her lips curved into a smile.
“I was thinking about how impressed I am by you. You don’t put difficult things off.”
Her eyes narrowed, but her smile never faltered. “Why would I? It’s best to get them resolved as quickly as possible and move on.”
He nodded, his smile pulling harder at the corners of his lips. He ran his thumb and forefinger along the corners to ease the ache, and as he did, an idea popped in his mind. He laughed at the craziness of it.
“What are you laughing at?”
He stood and stretched his arms over his head to ease the stiffness in his back. He’d been back in Dún Corcaighe for four days and he was still trying to work out the kinks from making the journey bound in the back of the wagon. He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing…It’s crazy.”
She stood and moved in front of him, placing a hand on his chest. “Tell me.” He could get lost in the crystal blue deepness of her eyes as she looked at him. Maybe his idea wasn’t so crazy.
His heart thundered in his chest, and he was sure she could feel its heavy beats. His breath quickened, and he had the mental image of jumping off a tall waterfall. “Marry me.”
Her eyes grew larger than the full moon and her mouth fell open. The fingers of her hand on his chest curled until she had a bunch of his tunic held tight in her grasp. And then her expression changed in the blink of an eye. Her face closed, her fingers loosened the grip until her hand fell to her side, and she turned away. “No, Galinn. I can’t do that.”
Crushed wouldn’t begin to describe Galinn at that moment. Sure, the idea was crazy even as he said it, but the idea came from his heart. As soon as he said the words, his heart soared with the hope she’d say yes. When she said no, the wings his heart grew turned to dust, causing his heart to plummet back to earth, crash, and burn. “Why not? We have feelings for each other, and that’s not even expected of a married couple until after they’ve known each other. We would be ahead of schedule. We get along and work well together. I’ve heard it said that we make a good team. I’d be the luckiest man alive to have you as my wife.”
Thora slid into her seat, looking as if she’d lost her confidence, and her way. “I do care for you, Galinn, but I need more time. I’m not sure you’re asking for the right reasons, because only four days ago, you didn’t want to come back. Bjorn had to knock you out and drag you back here. Now I’m to believe you honestly want to marry me? I think Rónán’s death is still clouding your judgment, making you impulsively swing from one extreme to another. It’s reckless. I can’t marry you under those circumstances.”
Galinn ran a hand through his hair, but didn’t say anything. She was right to be skeptical of his motivations. Maybe he was acting on an impulse. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d spent much time thinking about marrying her. He’d spent the past four months trying to put her out of his mind because he’d convinced himself he couldn’t be a part of her life. But wasn’t it his love for her driving him to do that? To keep her safe from the threat he thought he posed to her? He’d seen the error in his thinking and had enjoyed the past four days. Working with her by day to see that the village ran smoothly, and lying with her at night, with both of them trying to slake their desire for each other, but only making the fire burn hotter. He thought he was well on his way to undoing the hurt he’d caused her and reassuring her that he was there to stay. He may not have thought too far into the future until that moment, but the idea of spending the rest of his life with her felt right.
“Galinn?”
The concerned look in her eyes undid him and he laughed to cover his hurt. “You’re probably right, but I did say it was crazy, didn’t I?”
Concern now etched itself in every feature of her face, but she nodded. “You did, but it’s not that crazy, Galinn. And it’s not that I don’t want to marry you. I want to make sure the time is right—that we’re both in the right place when we get married.”
He nodded, only feeling slightly better by her explanation.
CHAPTER 21
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“He asked you to marry him?” Skathi’s hand gripped Thora’s forearm painfully in the older woman’s excitement.
“Well, he sort of told me to marry him. Yeah. Could you?” She looked at Skathi’s hand.
“Oh!” Skathi pulled her hand away and then rubbed the reddening spot. “Sorry. What did you say? What am I asking? Of course you said yes!”
Thora put her hand over Skathi’s, which was still rubbing the spot on her forearm. “Skathi… I didn’t tell him that. I said no.”
Skathi’s face crumbled into pure disappointment and confusion. “No? Why? You love him, yes?”
Thora nodded.
“And he loves you.”
Again, Thora nodded.
“What’s the problem? Bjorn and I didn’t have that when we married. Our love came later, after we’d been married and got to know each other. You and Galinn already love each other.”
Thora dropped her hands and turned away from her friend.
“It’s…I don’t know.” She sighed and dropped to the bench at the dining table. “He’s not himself, Skathi. Ever since Rónán was killed, he’s been different. Lost. I want to help him through the hard time he’s having, but I don’t think him hiding in a relationship with me is the answer.” Thora shook her head. “He’s already hurt me, Skathi. I can’t allow myself to give in and marry him without knowing for sure he’s not going to hurt me again.”
Skathi sat across the table from her and propped her chin up with her hand. The disappointment and confusion were gone from her expression, and were replaced with a smile. “I’m not going to say I agree with you, but that’s only because I think the two of you would make a fine pair. However, I do admire your ability to set aside what you want in order to be patient for the right time to achieve it.”
Thora’s lips pulled into a small smile. “I want him back to his normal self, and I feel so selfish saying that. I know what he lost when Rónán died, and I know how hard it is on him. He needs my patience and support, which he has. If it’s meant to be, marriage will come later. When I feel more confident that he won’t hurt me again.”
Rule of the Shieldmaiden Page 12