by Lea Bronsen
He owed him for his consideration. Aside from the old medicine man, Alv was the only kind person in the village. He’d suspended the revenge for his brother’s death, taken care of Elke and the baby, and tended to Roeland personally when he became sick. Who would have thought that possible of a Viking?
Roeland dipped his hands into the warm water and brought some over his head, again and again, relishing each time the hot liquid glided down his hair and face. That feeling alone rejuvenated him. He rubbed the soap into his hair and rinsed, then scrubbed his face and neck vigorously.
The beard felt foreign. He’d always liked to be clean shaven. He glanced at Alv and scratched the stubble. “I need to shave. I must look like a savage.” He winked, half-teasing, knowing well what Alv thought of that term.
Ignoring the allusion, the elf-like man shook his head. “I can’t give you a knife.”
They believed Roeland would fight his way out and escape in his condition? He laughed inwardly, but kept his thoughts to himself.
After a few moments’ hesitation, Alv pulled a knife from his belt and gave it to his slave. “Shave him,” he ordered, gaze hard.
Hedin stared at the blade in his hand.
Roeland frowned. “No, not him.” He didn’t trust Hedin. The young man was far too confrontational and disrespectful, and besides, he kept glowering at Roeland. Why? Maybe he thought Roeland would take his position of favorite slave.
Huh, I’ll never be anyone’s slave.
Alv raised a brow. “You don’t mean you want me to shave you?”
“Yes, please.” Roeland refrained from explaining.
“Hmm.” Pursing his lips, Alv took the knife from his slave’s hand and nodded to the door. “Go.”
Hedin deepened his scowl and sent a last glare to Roeland, before turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him.
Once silence settled, Roeland asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
Alv shrugged. “I’ve spoiled him, I’ve been too nice. He thinks we’re equal.” He knelt by the basin, leaned forward to grab Roeland’s jaw, and put the knife to his throat.
In contrast with Alv’s warm fingers, the sharp blade felt ice cold. A recent memory came to his mind, from yesterday, when Torsten threatened him with his sword… Was asking for a shave such a good idea? Roeland had killed Alv’s brother, after all. Would Alv seize the chance to avenge him? Had he played nice all that time, just waiting for the right occasion?
No—brows tight, Alv focused on his task, rubbing the piece of soap on Roeland’s skin and grazing the stubble with his knife.
Relieved, Roeland picked up the thread. “But why is Hedin so angry? What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
Not quite the truth, but Roeland didn’t insist.
After a moment, Alv rinsed the knife in the tub, dried it against his pants, and slid it back into his belt. “Done. Let me check your pulse while I’m at it.” He put two fingers to Roeland’s throat and waited several beats. “Hmm, could it be slower? That’s good news. I’ll tell Gorm. By the way, I’m sorry I cut your cheek.” He stood, his blue-green eyes glowing strangely.
Roeland splashed water to his face to remove the soap and stubble. “It’s okay.” He couldn’t see his wound, didn’t want to feel the depth of its ridge with his fingers, and didn’t intend to ask for a mirror either. His appearance didn’t matter anymore. There’d been a time when he’d courted women and savored their long looks of desire, but that period of his life was over. “I don’t care about attracting women, so my ugliness really has no importance.”
“You don’t care?” Alv widened his eyes.
“No. The only people mattering to me now are my sister and my daughter.”
“But you can…um…be with women if you want to. Slaves have rights.” Again, a dark glow appeared in Alv’s gaze.
“No. Firstly, I’m not a slave. I’m a prisoner of war.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“Not to me.”
“You don’t get to choose.”
“I’m still not a slave, and never will be.”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
They held each other’s looks, but argued without animosity. A sign of respect.
“I’ll never bow. Secondly,” Roeland continued, moving on to a sentimental subject, “I’ve lost the love of my life. She’s gone.” A burn traversed his chest, so intense he had to stop breathing, and his throat tightened. His grief was extremely fresh and raw.
“You can remarry.”
“No. I can’t be with another woman than Hilda. I don’t want to. That part of my life is over. Like many other things.” Roeland’s eyes stung, and his vision blurred.
Alv grimaced, revealing emotional fragility and depth of compassion. He was Roeland’s only hope, the only person who seemed to care about him. However much Roeland hated depending on him to stay alive, he was thankful Alv happened to be a man of conscience and heart.
He wanted to give him something back. “I apologize for killing your brother,” he said, voice soft. “It was a terrible thing to do and completely disproportional. Like you said, rape doesn’t justify murder. He should’ve been punished otherwise.”
Alv bowed his head.
“I just lost my mind right then,” Roeland added, feeling Alv’s pain in every fiber of his body. “I’m very sorry.”
* * *
After a moment, Alv looked up again and almost gasped from the erotic vision in front of him. While shaving Roeland, he’d only seen his wet, hairy chest and stomach, but the handsome man moved to a kneeling position and washed his lower body. His stunning maleness made Alv hot and bothered. They had discussed, argued, shared personal details, and apologized to each other, but now, the seriousness of their conversation faded. The sight of Roeland’s cock bathing in white foam between his legs had Alv’s own cock jolt and press painfully against his pants.
Oh, Roeland attracted him on several levels—mental, emotional, and physical—and Alv longed to discover and develop more of everything with him. Hedin was an exciting lover, but nothing like what Roeland had the potential to be.
Speaking of Hedin, it’d been a surprise to see him again this morning, right after Elke left. He’d arrived in a terrible mood and refused to excuse his disappearance act. It was outrageous of a slave to come and go like that, but Alv had too much on his mind to think of punishing him.
For one, he worried about Roeland’s future. He’d inherited part of Father’s wealth, but not his title. After returning to Eðni, he’d claimed to be the only one who could decide of what to do with his brother’s murderer, but it wasn’t true. He had no standing, no support from his fellow citizens. They could choose to kill Roeland if they wanted to—all it took was a word from Mother. It made her idea to have Alv marry Elke and adopt the community’s natural heir that much more important to push through.
“There’s something we need to talk about,” he said, hoping Roeland wouldn’t oppose to the plan.
“What?”
“Normally, I would ask you, but since you’re not in a position to make decisions, I’m just going to tell you.”
“About what?” Roeland frowned.
“I’m marrying your sister.”
Roeland stood so fast in the basin, water splashed to all sides. He stepped out and leaned into Alv’s face. “Don’t you dare to touch her!”
“But I’m not…”
“Hasn’t she suffered enough?” Roeland bellowed, his dark eyes slit with anger.
By Thor, he was insanely sexy, standing naked and wet, so near Alv could feel his damp bodily heat, water drippling from his hair and rolling alongside his chiseled cheeks. Alv couldn’t help hardening more, and needed to focus on the words that came out of Roeland’s luscious mouth to be able to answer. “She has already accepted.”
“Pfft, she’s just making sure you won’t kill me. She’s buying my life with her body!”
“No, she doesn’t have to.
I have no intention of killing you. You should’ve noticed by now…” He gave a lopsided smile trying to calm him.
Roeland sneered. “She’s suffered enough.”
“You don’t need to worry, I’m not going to touch her.”
“No? Why wouldn’t you sleep with her? Aren’t you a man? Every man has needs. It’s a husband’s right and duty to sleep with his wife. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of a young woman whom you’ve stolen from her family?”
Such arrogance! Alv hardened his gaze. “Watch your mouth. You’re nothing, a nobody. You should have your head cut off for taking my brother’s life. Still, I let you live. Still, I take care of you, and I take care of your sister and daughter. If I didn’t, who knows what would happen to you all. You should know better than to criticize me.”
Roeland blinked.
“I give you my word. I’m not going to touch her.”
After a silence, Roeland stepped back, turned to pick up the bedsheet, and wrapped it around his waist. “I want to believe you. Help me understand. If you take Elke for wife, why won’t you sleep with her?”
Alv didn’t want to tell him he preferred men. Instead, he offered another truth. “When I see her and imagine the baby inside her, I feel the weight of my brother’s guilt. I want to make his wrong right again by offering her a safe and stable life, and by making sure no man is ever going to make her relive what he did to her.”
Roeland sat on the bedside. “You sound like you’re a good man. But I still don’t get it. You, like everyone else, have needs to sate. Will you take a second wife?”
“One is enough.”
“You’re not answering my question.”
Alv held his inquisitive look. How much could he tell him? Did he have to tell him anything at all?
“What makes you special?” Roeland insisted, honesty in his gaze. He really didn’t understand. “You look like you’re lonely. Why are you so different from the other men?”
Alv sucked in a breath. Roeland was digging deeply where it hurt. “I’m not attracted to women,” he admitted, and fought against a blush spreading on his cheeks. He strictly didn’t have anything to blush about. It wasn’t a bad revelation.
Roeland widened his eyes, gaped, then clasped his mouth shut. He scrutinized Alv for a moment with what looked like pity in his gaze. Or sympathy.
Too heavy, too painful. Alv looked down, his eyes burning, throat clutched tight as if he’d swallowed a ball.
Roeland whispered, “Then why marry a woman? To make people believe you’re normal?”
Yes.
After a hesitation, Alv cleared his throat. “There’s that. But more importantly, your sister carries my niece or nephew in her womb. On one hand, I'm obligated to take care of it, and on the other, since the baby is the earl’s heir, being its father will give me a high social position in the village.”
He looked up in time to see Roeland close his eyes and bow his head. “It’s my niece or nephew, too.”
Alv contemplated the tanned, black-haired man. So beautiful, so manly, so easy to fall for. Alv’s desire and fondness grew with each passing second. To think they were tied by blood! He stated, “I'll be good to Elke.”
Roeland nodded. “Now I know you will. I consent to your marriage.”
CHAPTER TEN
A week later
In the evening, Alv and Mother sat by the fireplace sipping mjød and discussing wedding details. The date for the ceremony approached fast. She’d sent invitations to nobility from all the surrounding earldoms, and told Alv it would give him the occasion to campaign for his election.
He didn’t care much for the election. He didn’t really want to be an earl. He wanted to be a simple person and learn things about medicine, nothing else. He didn’t really want to marry Elke either. Not because he didn’t like her—she was lovely—but she was a woman…
His thoughts drifted to Roeland, who’d been transferred back to the prisoner barn. Though they didn’t see each other much, Alv’s desire had continued growing, and he missed having him in his home.
Roeland, on the other hand, seemed happy because he was allowed to have his baby daughter visit in the daytime, and he did his utmost to take care of her within the limitations of his confinement. He named her Ima, and his love for her was obvious and tender. She probably reminded him of his late wife.
A hint of jealousy teased Alv’s heart, but he tried to keep it in check. Roeland would never be interested in him. He mourned Hilda, and anyway, he wasn’t into men. In an attempt to forget about him, Alv buried his dick deeply inside Hedin’s willing ass every night.
“You know, marrying Elke is a very smart move,” Mother said, interrupting his thoughts. Flames from the fire reflected on her wrinkled face and danced, as if having a life of their own.
“Yes.” Alv downed his third cup of mjød and savored the rush of heat through his chest and the dizzying feeling the alcohol gave him.
“You do a good job of hiding your secret, son, but I know where your heart is.”
He raised a brow. What did she mean?
“Marrying the sister of your object of attraction means you can stay close to him.”
Huh? The air was sucked out of Alv’s lungs. He froze and tried not to stare at her.
Such a sharp, cunning woman. He had to be careful. She was his mother, yes, but didn’t necessarily have his best interests in mind. Until now, she’d schemed to help him keep his social status, but she could also destroy him in a heartbeat.
How had she noticed his attraction for Roeland? He’d been very careful, merely tended to him in his house while he recuperated from the poisoning. How could that have created a suspicion?
Mother regarded him, a smirk at her lips. “Elke’s brother,” she said, fixing him. “You think I haven’t seen the way you look at him?”
By Odin, she was slick and vicious as a snake. His own mother! Yes, she could destroy him, and it pained him to no end.
He breathed slowly and forced his eyes not to betray him. If he didn’t give her what she wanted, she wouldn’t be able to use it against him. “You’re wrong. Once I become an earl, I’m going to free him and let him return to Bjorgvin. I wouldn’t if I had any feelings for him.”
Mother leaned forward, eyes lightning. “You’re going to what?”
“Pardon him.”
“Are you insane? He killed your brother!” She stood like a whirlwind, the movement sending her cup rolling on the floor. “It’s already scandalous enough that you’ve chosen not to kill him,” she spat, looming over him with her hands on her hips. “Now you want to pardon him? It’s absolutely out of the question.”
So much hatred. Alv swallowed.
Time to confront her with the nagging feeling he’d carried since Roeland almost died. He didn’t believe all the slaves had been targeted. They were a valuable workforce, so killing them didn’t make sense. No, their collective poisoning had to have been a cover-up to conceal the murder of the real target: Roeland. “What do you know about the poisoning of the prisoners last week?”
She straightened and crossed her arms over her opulent chest. “You think I did it?”
“He was among them.”
After eyeing him over the length of her nose, she shook her head. “It wasn’t me.”
“You didn’t ask someone to do it for you?”
“No.” She seemed sincere. She may be a skilled schemer, but it didn’t necessarily make her a liar. Or a murderer.
“Then how did you know about it?”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When you came to talk to me early the next morning, you accused me of playing nurse with him.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “Hedin told me the prisoners were sick.”
Hedin? How did he know? Maybe Gorm had talked to him, since they knew each other well. Hedin often followed Alv’s medicine lessons.
“Now.” Mother sighed and turned to the enclosed bed area, where Elke and baby Ima slept. “
We’ll discuss more tomorrow. I’m exhausted.”
She did look tired. Becoming a widow and losing her oldest son had given her an extra ten years. If she’d been kinder to Alv and not plotted so much, he would’ve said something nice, but the way she behaved forced him to be vigilant and keep a distance.
As she slipped out of sight, he stood, swayed from the alcohol that made his head spin, and went out into the dark evening.
The moon shone so big and white over the quiet village, its light reflected on rooftops and grass patches, as though it had snowed. The ocean was calm and oily, with small, lazy waves lapping on the shore.
A couple sat on a rock at the end of the beach, arm-in-arm.
He paused and stared at their backs. This should be him and Roeland, but it would never happen. He was destined to stay lonely for the rest of his life. Taking a wife wouldn’t change anything.
The man turned to kiss the woman, and in a split moment, moonlight shone on his face. Torsten!
Did he have a girlfriend? That would be good news. The forty-something year-old warrior had lost his wife and children in a drowning accident a long time ago and never remarried. The whole community wished for him to find a new woman.
Who was she? Alv tiptoed toward them until he reached the sand, and strained to see.
The long, curly hair hanging on her back was black, a stark contrast to her shiny silk dress.
Elke? No other woman in Eðni had hair like that. She must have snuck out of Mother’s house while they talked.
The couple kissed, smiling and making sounds of pleasure before Torsten put a hand somewhere that tickled and Elke’s happy laughter sounded across the beach.
Dismayed, Alv retreated into the shadows of the village. He should have seen this coming. In the past week, Elke’s face had lit up every time she saw Torsten, and the warrior had returned big smiles. She was young, beautiful, and pregnant. He had experience and social standing. Both needed something from the other.
But—Alv’s future wife in the arms of another man ruined Mother’s plan. Alv wouldn’t become the father of Joar’s heir after all. He wouldn’t have the authority to decide of Roeland’s fate. Conflicts would arise. Lives would be in danger.