The Raider (3 page)

“Will you leave?” Godwin's voice was soft, and Thorstein only just heard it.

“Do you want me to go?”

Godwin's eyes were moist when he met Thorstein's gaze, and he held out his hand to the Viking. “I want you to stay.”

“Then I'll stay.” Thorstein took Godwin's outstretched hand, squeezing it tightly.

A FEW days later, Thorstein waited alone as the group returned to their boat and packed up their encampment. No soldiers confronted them this time, though it looked like they had seen battle wherever they'd raided as a few bore wounds and blood stains.

Thorstein watched the boat disappear over the horizon. The last time that had happened, he'd been stranded and alone. Now he was loved and at home.

“
Far vel. Verið heilir
,” he whispered to the wind, bidding his countrymen a final
adieu
.

Then he turned and walked back to the house where Godwin waited for him.

Old Norse

Heill..........
Greetings

Ek heiti Thorstein..........
I am called Thorstein

Brauð..........
Bread

Far vel..........
Farewell

Verið heilir..........
Be healthy/whole

Old English

Hlāf..........
Bread (Loaf)

ASTA IDONEA
is an alternate pen name of author Nicki J Markus.

Nicki was born in England in 1982, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her husband. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.

Nicki launched her writing career in 2011 when she released several short stories with Wicked Nights Publishing. She then had two novellas published with Silver Publishing, prior to the company's closure.

At present, she has several new projects on the go. As well as branching out into the exciting world of M/M under the pen name Asta Idonea, Nicki is working on the first book in a fantasy-mythology trilogy and hopes to find a publisher for it in 2015.

Nicki currently works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys completing MOOCs and pursuing other interests, including: reading; music; theatre; cinema; photography; sketching; and cross stitch. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling and travel.

ASTA IDONEA
can be found at:

Website:
http://www.nickijmarkus.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NickiJMarkus

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NickiJMarkus