The Viking's Witch (20 page)

“Of course not. Allow me to buy the use of your talents and those of your men when the time comes. Upon our return home, if all goes well, you’ll be sailing a ship of your own.”

Nordskog chuckled and bowed low. “And how may I serve you, most noble
jarl
?”

“Rothgar, I’m so glad you have returned.” Odaria ran to Rothgar’s side as he entered the gathering hall. She was about to throw her arms around him when she spotted the brooch. She covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. Rothgar was wearing her brooch. Where in the blazes had he gotten it?

“I’ve come for something to eat.”

His words broke her from her trance and she dared to look into his ice-blue eyes. They appeared cold and unforgiving. She bowed her head. There was no mistaking that look. Rothgar was angry with her, and she knew why. He had told her never to leave the gathering hall alone, yet this morning he’d found a precious bit of jewelry outside in the dirt.

“Is there any food left, or did Nordskog devour it all?”

“I can make you some chicken if you’d like or a—”

“There’s no time for that,” he grumbled as he walked past her and sat at the table. “Bring me whatever remains from the morning meal.”

“Aye. I’ll fetch it.” She went into the cookroom and glanced down at her red dress. Until Rothgar had walked in wearing her brooch, she hadn’t noticed it was missing. She wrung her hands. How could she have been so careless? That brooch was the only beautiful thing she owned, and she’d lost it … in the scuffle last night.

“Odaria, hurry with my food. I’m hungry and have work to do.”

“Aye, I’ll be right there.” Her mind reeled as she loaded up a plate with bread, cheese, eggs, and fish cakes. Did Rothgar know what had happened last night? Perhaps not, and if she had her way, he’d never know. If he asked about the brooch, she’d lie and say that it must have come off when she went out to relieve herself this morning. Surely he couldn’t be angry with her for that.

She carried the plate into the main room and set it down in front of Rothgar. “Sorry it took so long. I was looking for a piece of sausage.” Her gaze traveled across the front of his tunic to the brooch. She stared at it, transfixed. Although she wanted to ask about it, she didn’t dare.

Rothgar bit into a boiled egg and caught her staring at the brooch. She thought she saw the faint flicker of a smile cross his lips, but then he frowned.

She sat at the table and watched Rothgar as he ate. He was displeased with her, and any fool could see that he was waiting for her to ask about the brooch. Should she apologize for losing it?

Perhaps it would be best to say nothing. If Rothgar didn’t mention the brooch, neither would she. They could pretend that nothing had happened. After all, there was no sense in bringing up the subject if he was content to let it rest.

Rothgar cleared his throat. “About last night—”

“Last night? Oh, aye, last night. Did you sleep well after you went upstairs? I know you were upset about a lot of things, but fret not.” She rose and stepped behind him. “I understand you drank too much.” She began massaging his broad shoulders. “I’ll never breathe a word of what you told me about—”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” Rothgar pulled away from her. “I recognize that sweet tone in your voice, witch. It’s the same one you used on Darach. I will not be made a fool the same way he was.”

“What’s wrong?”

Rothgar looked at her. “Do not play your games with
me
. I hear the false innocence in your voice. You know damn well what is displeasing me.” He folded his arms across his wide chest. “Have you something to tell me?”

She glanced at the brooch, then cast her gaze to the floor. What should she say? “I’m glad you found the brooch,” she said in her sweetest voice. “I know it is a valuable treasure.”

“The brooch? You think this is about a hunk of silver?” Rothgar pointed at it. “This is nothing but a trinket. I can have thousands of these if I wish.”

Her mouth dropped open. A trinket? Is that what he thought of her most treasured belonging? Is that why he’d given it to her so readily—because it had no value? Her temper flared “Well, if that trinket means so little to you, why are you upset that I lost it?”

“You did not lose it. Someone took it from you.”

She gasped. By the gods, he knew. He knew what had happened to her last night. “That’s not true. It fell off this morning when I—”

“Lying wench!” Rothgar stood so fast that his chair tipped backward and toppled to the floor. “Do not lie to me.” He pounded his fist on the table. “Do you know what might have happened to you? I ordered you not to go anywhere alone, especially at night, and what do you do? You disobey me and leave the gathering hall the moment my back is turned.”

“Your back wasna turned. You were upstairs passed out drunk, weeping for your precious dead wife and child.” She covered her mouth and glanced at Rothgar. The truth had tumbled out before she could stop it. She hadn’t intended to hurl such hurtful and cruel words at him.

Rothgar exhaled slowly and locked his gaze onto hers. “So, that’s what this is all about? Gretta? You are so jealous of her that you go wandering at night and get into trouble? Were you expecting that I’d rescue you?”

“Rescue me? If I had waited for you to come to my aid, I’d be—” The fury in Rothgar’s eyes silenced her.

“I’m no good to you, is that it? You think you’re better off without me?”

“Nay, ’tis not that.” She sighed. “I’m tired of being cooped up in here listening to promises that we shall sail soon. When are we leaving? And what will happen when we arrive at your home? Will you still be in mourning for your darling, perfect wife the entire time I live with you?”

The muscles in Rothgar’s neck and jaw flexed, and he narrowed his eyes to slits. “At least Gretta knew her place. She was a good, docile wife and never argued. She never caused trouble or dared disobey me when I gave her an order.”

Her mouth dropped open. “How dare you. Am I expected to obey you like a dog? When I go home with you, shall I have no say in my own life?”

She shook her head. “If all you want is a slave to do your cookin’ and cleanin’, then find someone else from the village to work for you. And as for that silver trinket you’ve got pinned to your tunic, you can take it and stuff it up your arse,” she said as she brushed past him.

He grabbed her arm as she headed to the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Anywhere away from you.” She yanked her arm from his grip.

Rothgar blocked her path. “Like hell. I won’t have you wandering in the village after last night. Do you know what fate would have befallen you if Nordskog had not—?”

“Aye. I’m not as stupid as you think.” She looked into Rothgar’s eyes and saw a flicker of fear. All of a sudden, she realized that he wasn’t angry with her. He was afraid for her safety. She considered the situation from his side. A terrible thing had almost happened to her, and he hadn’t been there to protect her. Her anger drained away, and she softened her voice.

“Rothgar, I’m—”

“Go.” He gestured at the door. “I don’t blame you for wanting to leave me, not after what I confessed last night.” His shoulders slumped. “I do not deserve to have you under my care. I’m not good at protecting women.”

His sad tone nearly broke her heart, and she rested her hand on his upper arm. “I don’t feel ill toward you for being honest about”—she cleared her throat and pushed her jealousy aside—“your past. ’Tis better I learn it from you now than to find out about it later from someone else.”

He let out a little laugh. “Now you know how I felt. When Nordskog told me he had to pull a man off you and kill him … once again, I felt like a weak, helpless fool. What kind of man am I that I couldn’t protect you or keep you from harm? I was upstairs too drunk to notice you weren’t in bed next to me. And you kept it a secret.”

“What was I to do? Rush upstairs and wake you? Make you upset about something that was over and done?”

“
Ja
, that’s exactly what I would have wanted. Do not keep secrets from me, and never lie to me again. I will not have it. If you are to come home with me, you must listen to me and do as I tell you. I won’t have you running wild and causing trouble everywhere—”

“Causing trouble?
If
I come home with you?” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I see. Now I know how little you think of me.”

“I did not mean—”

“
If
I go home with you, shall I be your slave and be forced to obey your every command? Will I be allowed to go anywhere or do anything on my own? Or will you lock me in your house for fear I will cause trouble everywhere I go? If those are the conditions of coming home with you, then I’ll stay the hell right here. I’d rather rot on this isle than have you smother me to death.”

“Smother you?” He sighed. “You are an impossible, stubborn-headed, foolish woman. Why can’t you ever let me help you?”
“Because I’ve never needed help from anyone.”

“That’s not what Nordskog said. If he—”

“What do you know? You were upstairs, drunk to the world and weeping over your precious ghost of a wife.”

Rothgar’s eyes blazed, and he strode past her. “I won’t stand here and listen to this from the likes of you. I’m leaving.”

She followed him as he marched to the door and yanked it open. “Fine, leave. See if I care. Go sail away on one of your horrible, ugly ships, but
give me back my brooch
,” she shouted, stomping her foot.

Rothgar paused in the doorway and smirked. “Yours? It’s not yours anymore. A jealous, foul-mouthed child like you doesn’t deserve it.”

Rothgar looked away from the ornately carved wooden altar as the church door burst open behind him. He watched Nordskog shove Brennan through and slam the door shut. Brennan fell to his knees before the cross and began muttering prayers.

“Save your breath for me. Your God will not save you now. I am your only salvation,” Rothgar said, stepping between Brennan and the altar. He took his time and studied Brennan for a moment.

After four days of being held prisoner in the nets, he stank like rancid sweat and stale urine. His face was mottled with red blotches, and his bottom lip was cut and bleeding. Obviously he had tried to fight Nordskog. That was a foolish move.

He motioned for Nordskog to haul Brennan to his feet. “I see you have met Nordskog. Delightful man, is he not?” He chuckled as Nordskog grabbed a handful of Brennan’s greasy red hair and yanked him up. Brennan yelped and staggered to his feet. “And he is being generous with you.”

Brennan spit at him. “Rot in hell, pagan devil.”

Rothgar glared down at Brennan. The sight of him made his blood boil, and he fought the urge to hit him. “I have run out of patience with you and your villagers. I tried to be reasonable, but you refused to help yourself.”

“May the devil take the lot of you and that witch-whore.”

He slapped Brennan across the face, nearly knocking him off his feet. “Do not try me. I will not have it.”

Nordskog grinned. “Show him who is the more powerful man, Rothgar.”

He locked gazes with Nordskog. “
Ja
, I will. Take him down below. I will be there in a moment. If he tries to flee—”

“I know what to do.” Nordskog laughed and dragged a kicking and struggling Brennan to the back of the church.

Rothgar waited until Nordskog had left his sight, then opened the front door. He leaned against the doorjamb and glanced at the sun. It was already late afternoon, and he had no time to waste. Karnik’s men would return from Vestrey at dusk. Tonight they would hold a feast to celebrate their adventures. After that, there was no telling what they would do. He wouldn’t be surprised if they had convinced Karnik that it was time to sail home.

If he didn’t make Brennan crack and reveal Orvind’s location today or by tomorrow morn, he would have no choice but to give up the search and sail home with Odaria.

Odaria. How dare she say those cruel things to him about Gretta? He knew women could be jealous of each other, but Odaria’s coldhearted words had wounded him to the core.

If Odaria thought she didn’t need him, then fine, he’d leave her on her own for a while and see how she liked it. A few hours by herself might change her attitude and make her more complacent. Why couldn’t she understand that he wasn’t smothering her? He was merely trying to take care of her as a man was supposed to.