Celtic Rune: Viking historical romance (Heart of the Battle Series Book 2)

by Lexy Timms

  He leaned in, his hand holding tight to her stomach before clicking his heels. The horse took off toward the forest. Erik reached around and took the reins from her, shaking his head. “I hope we have no problems while in town. I can’t imagine a Highlander riding in with a beautiful, brazen woman, Saxon axe on one side and Viking sword on the other.”

  She leaned against him and closed her eyes as the wind drove her hair flying behind them both, her little world disappearing in a cloud of dust.

  The short ride to the town wasn't nearly long enough, the powerful mare beneath them antsy to run more.

  Erik spoke into her ear. “I’ll have to take my horse for a run tonight if she’s going to be ready for tomorrow. Her legs feel dull. She’s not used to not running.” They slowed as they entered the town, various people milling about doing their evening duties.

  Erik slid off the horse and offered his hand to her, catching her as she slid toward the earth as well. He kissed her nose before moving to tie up the animal near a watering trough. He walked beside her and tugged at his kilt again. "This thing is horribly uncomfortable. I think my bits are far too large for something like this. What if I need to sit or the wind blows? Dresses are for women."

  She laughed and pointed to the bakery shop. "You’ll be fine, I promise. I'm going to stop in and see my mother's best friend. Do you want to come?"

  He shook his head. "The less we are seen together, the better I believe. I'll go down to the blacksmith and see how much I can get for the axe. I'll meet you in the bakery."

  "Be careful and keep to yourself," she whispered, moving from him and stopping at the door as he whistled to get her attention.

  "Don't tell me what to do, woman. That's my job."

  She rolled her eyes before slipping into the shop, her demeanor very different this trip from the last. Sara looked up from behind the counter, a large woman standing just before the counter as they chatted.

  "Linzi! How’s your Da'?"

  The other woman turned as Sara introduced them.

  "Parsha, this is Linzi. Her mother was my best mate before she passed. Lord rest her soul. Linzi, this is a good customer of mine, Parsha."

  "Nice to meet you, girl." The other woman shook Linzi's hand and turned back to Sara, who promised to be right with Linzi. She nodded and moved about the shop, breathing in deeply as she enjoyed the soft light of the fire and sweet smells of treats galore.

  "As I was telling you,” Parsha continued, her voice growing louder as she gossiped. “They say the entire royal family is in disarray. First the boy dies in the fields in battle, and then the eldest is killed in his bed by an assassin. I'm sure the mother's heart is just broken."

  "They deserve what they get, Parsha. Have they not killed a million of our sons?"

  "Ahhhh, Sara. It’s the turning of the war on our homeland. Dead is dead. You don’t have to fight the unliving."

  "Perhaps they’ll pull back the demon's they've sent over here—"

  "What happened?" Linzi stepped up, looking over the counter at Sara.

  "It’s the Saxon. The Vikings are being punished for what they’ve done to our country.” Parsha lowered her voice to sound more mysterious. “The Prince of Denmark... what's the boy’s name…" She snapped her fingers. “Erik! Prince Erik. He was killed on the battlefield a few days back by Scots. Guess they took his body because his mother wants it and it's not to be found. I say good for 'em!"

  Linzi stared at the large woman, too shocked to say anything.

  "They say Prince Erik was the commander of the Viking Army. Now they say his older brother, Nathaniel, lay dead. Murdered while he slept! Those bloody Vikings will kill each other with no second thought.”

  Linzi touched her fingers to her lips. Her Erik? Surely not. He had said he was a mere man, a soldier. If he were a king's son... She suddenly realized both women were staring at her. She took a large loaf sitting on the counter. "I'll have money shortly," she mumbled, now wanting to get out of the small, stuffy shop.

  "No, dear.” Sara watched her carefully. “I’ve had a great week. Keep it to yourself to buy milk and cheese. You need food, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.” She tossed Linzi another loaf of bread. “One for the road too. Now run to the butcher across the way. He has some great items on sale too today. Use your money there."

  "Thank you.” She felt as if she might faint. “Ha-Have you seen Martha? I’d like her to come stay with Da' a day or two so I can visit Kenton."

  "I thought you said he was well again."

  "He is, nearly. I'm leery to leave him on his own."

  "I’ll close shop tomorrow. I'd be happy to visit with your father. He's an old friend of mine, too." She smiled, nodding her head. “Get going, lass. Don’t worry about your father tomorrow. I’ll be there.”

  Linzi sighed with relief. "Thank you, Sara. Again and again.” She was grateful Sara didn’t press on why she would visit her brother or if she would be traveling with someone or alone.

  Sara waved her hand. “It’s nothing your mother wouldn’t have done for me.”

  Linzi slipped out the front door, yelping and almost dropping the loaves as Erik bumped into her.

  His large hands took her by the shoulder. "You okay?"

  "Ready to get out of here. I hate the village.”

  “Then I shall whisk you away to your castle on the hill,” he joked.

  She stared at him, wondering if she should ask him who he really was.

  Did it even matter anymore?

  Chapter 11

  Eric

  She stood by the horse as Erik went to the butcher for a few pieces of dried meat. He hadn’t needed to trade his axe. Ironically, the blacksmith had been struggling to shape a piece of metal and Erik had helped the man. A few copper coins as payment and he had enough to purchase the food Linzi needed. He glanced at the girl. Her mood had shifted for some reason. He had wanted to push it, but the faraway look in her eyes told him the private matter sat heavy on her. He would ask her later that night as he held her close to him in the bed.

  He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, the desire to take her with him when he left to go home clouding his view. He needed to release her, to leave tonight, and yet he knew he had found the woman he would forever be in search of. He knew he needed to focus on plans for finding Halfdan and his men. He allowed himself a moment longer to think of the fiery red-haired woman who had clouded his priorities.

  Strong and bossy, sensual and untouched.

  He sighed softly, walking into the meat shop as the tall butcher looked up from behind the small makeshift counter. His white apron looked like he had been fighting battles with Erik all afternoon, his smile did not reach his eyes.

  "I need to see what you have in the way of dried beef."

  "You’re not from around here." The man wiped his hands on the stained cloth around his thin figure.

  Erik feigned a rough English accent, thankful Linzi wasn’t there to hear it. He sounded foreign, but not exactly Saxon. "Just passing through. Do you only sell your goods to those who live in this area?"

  "I'd sell my wife and kids if you had enough money." The guy chuckled, the interaction shifting quickly. "You’re not here to pick a fight, are you?” The man picked up a large bladed knife. “Most our younger men have gone to fight the Vikings. That leaves us old bastards to take care of keeping peace. We do that by filtering out trouble before it begins. Saves the back and a day in the bed if you know what I mean."

  A forced smile tugged at the corners of Erik's mouth. "Speaking of the bed, I’ve a beautiful young girl waiting for me, so let's get on with me buying her something to eat, eh?"

  "Well why didn't you say so?" The butcher pointed to three different meat sticks hanging from the ceiling. "They’re all from the same cow, just various degrees of spice added. I would think mild or perhaps medium would do you well."

  "Mild sounds good. I have three copper coins to spend, so whatever that will get me."

  The man sm
iled broader now and stuck the knife into the cutting wood. "That’ll get you all three logs of beef. How about one copper coin and I'll throw in one mild log and a quarter round of my finest cheese?"

  "Sounds like it should please the lady.” Erik tried to keep his voice low and feigned the English accent one of his men had taught him years ago. “Tell me, old man, what news of the Vikings? Are there any updates from the field? How are the boys here preparing?"

  "The Vikings are vicious, terrible bastards who care not that all of this land is ours." He paused, shrugging. "Our boys are talented, but our commander died a few days back when trying to help the sea-boys just south of us. I hear they’re managing but no sense of direction. There isn't time though. The Vikings never stay down for too long."

  Erik took the meat and thanked the man for the information, walking out into the night to find Linzi picking at the loaf with hidden emotion still on her face.

  He held up his prize. "Meat and cheese.” He suddenly didn’t want to stay in town any longer. It felt like there were too many eyes and ears.

  She helped him secure everything to the mare before holding his shoulders to be hoisted up. He got on the horse with ease and rode behind her out of town. Neither said anything the entire way home.

  Her father met them at the door, pleasantly surprised with the gifts they came bearing. A quick dinner eaten mostly in silence, except when Linzi and her father discussed the harvest and their schedule. Toward the end of dinner she finally pressed the issue of traveling to her old man.

  "You want to what?”

  "Father, Erik is going to stop this war. He needs to find Kenton to get an update."

  "How are we to trust that you won't turn on us?" He looked over at Erik as he lifted his head, taking the last bite of the flavorful beef.

  "You don't. I can simply tell you that I plowed your entire field and I'm going to fight against my own men simply because I've fallen in love with Linzi. To betray her would be the end of me. As a man, I'm sure you understand that."

  Linzi looked at him, her eyes wide, her lips parted in a manner that caused his body to tighten in anticipation. He needed her father to know.

  "And what do you expect me to do about that? Thank you and give you my only child?"

  "I don't want your gratitude. I know what my people have done is deplorable and until you want a step in our shoes I wouldn't expect you to understand. I hadn't walked a mile in yours until the last two days and my heart has been forever changed because of your daughter’s kindness, her serenity. I will fight against the Vikings and I will win." He looked down at the plate before him, pushing the last bit of cheese around. "I was their commander, my father their king, but no more."

  Linzi stood from the table, a soft sound of surprise leaving her. Erik looked up quickly, his heart stopping in his chest. "I'm sorry. I should have told you, but I was stricken with the fact that you would hate me more and I had planned to just go. That was the plan, remember, but now I cannot imagine a world without you."

  She turned and raced out the door, Erik standing to follow as her father reached out and pulled him back down.

  "Leave her be, son. She's going to talk with her mother. You did the right thing by releasing the information. She needs to know all there is to know about you before making the choice to leave this life and take up yours." Her father lifted his glass toward Erik. "If she's in love with you too, then you have my blessings, but you'd better not give her a life of death and horror as I'm sure you've seen far too many day of in your own." He took a swig of his ale. “By the way, you look like an idiot in a kilt.” The corners of his mouth turned upward as he pursed his lips, apparently trying to hide his teasing.

  Erik lifted his glass and hit her father's, his heart aching to go after the girl. Surely she would forgive him the transgression. He hadn't known her at all and protecting himself seemed the smartest thing to do. He had spilled the fact that he loved her just before, so perhaps that was bothering her as well. Maybe she didn't feel the same about him?

  They sat in silence for a while longer, Erik standing when he couldn't take it anymore. "I have to go find her lest my heart burst from my chest."

  "Then go!” The older man sighed, apparently giving up on fighting with young love. “But if she's like her mum, be ready for a fight. That fiery woman never let me live a day without a battle between us. God how I miss it now."

  Erik touched the other man's shoulder, leaving him to remember the wife he’d lost, before slipping out of the house, his eyes moving frantically around the field before him. He feared she might have gone into the forest. What if his men were already heading this way? They thought him dead, but what if they were hunting for him?

  He stood on the top of the hill where Linzi’s mother's grave lay. He could no longer put off hiding in this house. He had never been a coward and he was not about to start now. His wounds had miraculously healed fast, his strength returning. He was not one hundred percent but few could match him as he stood now. He scanned the horizon for Linzi. In the few days he’d been here, that lass had changed everything inside of him. Or maybe she had simply straightened him out. He needed to find her.

  He jogged to the creek, slowing when he caught sight of something moving in the water. "Linzi? Is that you?"

  "No, it's the monster of the deep who eats men's bits and steals their souls. Of course it's me."

  He chuckled, the woman never ceasing to amaze him. He moved down to the edge of the water, the bank littered with her small dress. “You’re not angry?” He pulled his shirt over his head and then untied the kilt, happy to be free of the itchy thing. The cover of darkness saved him from embarrassing her.

  He waded into the water, the warmth lapping up on him as she turned to swim toward him. He didn't hesitate as he reached her, pulling her flush against him and holding her tightly, his hand stretched across the thin stretch of her lower back, large breasts pressed tightly to his chest.

  He stared at the beautiful rose etching over her shoulder and covering part of her breast as it disappeared into the water. He wondered how far the ink detail went. He blinked and forced his eyes upon hers. "Apologies. I should have told you.”

  “You should have.” Her back tightened, not from his touch but from the pressure of his words.

  “I’d just been stabbed in the chest with two arrows! I didn’t know who to trust. I did not know you would take possession of my body and steal my heart in one day.”

  Linzi cut him off with her lips pressing urgently into his.

  He pulled her tighter against him, one hand moving down to cup the soft flesh of her bottom under the water as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He groaned, not wanting to pull from this erotic embrace but needing to speak before desire overcame him. He rested his forehead against her. “Before sunrise I must go. I want to stay here with you, but I can’t. I have to fight.” He growled and squeezed her bottom in his hand. “How did you do this to me? Are you a witch?” She’d healed his body and changed his soul; it had to be sorcery.

  She smiled, but her face remained serious. "It doesn't take weeks or months to know something is right. It takes moments. One look. One touch." She kissed him again.

  He wrapped his fingers tightly into her hair and pulled back gently, the action raising her breasts slightly above the water. He leaned down to press soft kisses across the top of them, his tongue licking the rose detail. He would never get enough of her.

  She leaned in and kissed along his jawline, his ear and down to his neck, her teeth taking hold at the soft skin along the base of his throat. His hips bucked forward, her soft warmth pressing against his need.

  She nearly undid what little resistance he had left. He unlaced her legs tangled behind him and set her feet on the sandy bottom of the creek. She frowned at his actions. “What’re you doing? I heard the water would make it most enjoyable.”

  "You heard wrong.” He took a step back, the water barely covering his hips. When her eyes travelled d
own his body with a look of burning desire, he nearly gave in. “Watch it, woman,” he warned hoarsely. “I’ve little left in me to not take you right here. I want to do this right, but if you throw yourself at me one more time, I’ll have you on the grass bank, legs in the air and myself sated. Don’t make me regret my actions.”

  She giggled at his warning.

  He, the unkillable Celtic Viking and she was teasing him!

  "What did my Da’ say when I left?"

  Thank the gods she brought up her father! It sobered him – for the moment. "He threatened my life, warned me about your fiery temper and told me I looked like an idiot in a kilt."

  Linzi burst out laughing and quickly tried to cover her mouth. “I find you quite handsome in it.”

  Erik turned and walked out of the creek, giving Linzi full view of his naked body from behind. He grinned when she gasped. He shook the water off his body and wrapped the kilt back around him, thankful the heavy wool material helped keep his erection partially hidden. He turned to face her. “I’ll wear it only for you.” He smiled at her wide eyes and enjoyed how her chest heaved against the water as she panted. “I’ll see you back in the house.”

  He picked up his shirt and tossed it on his shoulder as he walked back to the house. Warmth spread across his chest, as emotions overwhelmed his system. He wanted her tonight, and always. Would she agree to be his wife?

  He would ask her after the battle in Barthmouth. No way was he leaving the young girl a widow if things didn't go as planned. He grinned. Nor would he leave her a virgin.

  Chapter Twelve

  Linzi

  Linzi slipped into the house. She was thankful her father had disappeared inside his room. She didn’t want him talking her out of what she planned to do tonight.