The Viking's Witch (24 page)

“Did you bring any chicken?” she asked, rummaging inside.

He took a boiled egg from her hand as she unpacked the basket. Food was the last thing he wanted right now, but he knew he had to eat to regain his strength. “I brought what I could find. There was not much left.”

As he peeled the egg, he mulled over what he had to tell Odaria. Would she care that most of the villagers were dead? Probably not, considering how they had treated her. But she would not like to hear what Karnik’s men had done to him.

Odaria stared into his eyes as if she were reading his thoughts. “Tell me what happened. How does a man as big and as strong as you get beaten so badly?”

“I was outnumbered.”

“I would hope so. ’Twould be a shame if one man could do such damage to you.” She paused. “And what caused this fight?”

He bit into the egg and chewed slowly. “I nearly killed Karnik last night.”

Odaria dropped a piece of cheese. “Why? Did he send Nordskog to—?”

“
Neinn
. Nordskog came to warn me about what was happening to the villagers.”

Odaria scowled. “The villagers? What do they have to do with this?”

“Remember the noises we heard? The men yelling, the shouting …” Odaria nodded, and he continued. “Karnik’s men cut down the nets and freed the villagers—”

“Nay.” She clutched his arm. “They’ll come after me and—”

“They will do no such thing. The men were used as sport for swordplay. The women were used for a different sport …” He stared down at the grass. “Most of them are dead.”

“
Most
of them?” Odaria glanced around the field. “
Most
?
How many remain? Are they out there somewhere, lying in wait for me?”

He patted her hand. “Of course not. They are starved and helpless. They cannot harm you.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Everything hurt. His ribs ached, every muscle in his body was battered and bruised, and all he wanted to do was lie down in the cool grass and sleep for weeks.

“Is that why you attacked Karnik?”

“
Ja
. I would have strangled him if Svein hadn’t laid a sword across my neck.”

Odaria leapt to her feet, her eyes blazing. “He did
what
? Have they all gone mad, threatening you in such a way? I’ll see to it—”

“Now before you go whipping up the wind and calling forth storms, be quiet and listen to me.” He clutched Odaria’s hand and pulled her down next to him. “Karnik and his men planned it. I can no longer trust them or rely on them for anything. They have betrayed me.”

He saw a flicker of confusion in her green eyes. “Why? When we went upstairs, everyone was having a good time. What happened? Why did they disobey you and make sport of the villagers?”

“Because they have grown tired of searching for Orvind. They are resentful and wish to leave. I cannot control them.” He squeezed her hand. “That is why I took you away this morning. I didn’t want you to see what they had done.”

“What about Brennan? Is he dead as well?”

He yawned. The longer he sat still, the more difficult he found it to remain awake. “
Neinn
. I made sure that he was unharmed. I have him hidden away.”

“You kept that monster safe? You should have stripped him naked, poured oil over him, and lit him ablaze,” she shouted. “Why would you spare his miserable life?”

“He knows where Orvind is. And what Nordskog is doing to him right now will make him talk.”

Odaria nodded and was silent for a moment. “I see. I don’t care what happens to Brennan or the villagers. I’m only concerned with you.” She kissed his bruised knuckles. “I’m glad you were not injured worse. Do you need me to tend to your wounds? I can—”

“I’d rather you find me a safe place to sleep for an hour,” he said, yawning again. “I’m exhausted, and I’m about to drop off where I lie.”

She smiled. “Aye, I know a good place.” She pointed at a hill behind her. “Can you walk there?”

“
Ja
. Lead the way, and I will follow,” he replied, stifling another yawn. At this point, he didn’t care where he went, as long as he could get a few moments of precious sleep.

Odaria stood and raced over the hill. He repacked the wicker basket, then trailed after her. When he reached the crest of the hill, he frowned. Odaria had vanished. Where could she have gone? He looked in all directions and saw nothing but grass and low hills. There was nowhere for her to hide, but she was nowhere to be seen.

“I’m here,” she called out.

He looked toward the sound of her voice and was surprised to see her peeking out from a slit in the hillside. Had she burrowed beneath the ground? “How did you get there? What is that?”

“A
cairn
. Step to the left and look close. There’s a narrow opening in the rocks.”

He walked to the rocks and saw that she was right. What appeared to be the grassy mound of a hill was actually a small stone structure built into the hillside. It was covered with grass and dirt and blended perfectly into the landscape.

“Narrow opening is right,” he grumbled as he set the basket down. He dropped to his knees and crawled into the darkness, pushing the wicker basket ahead of him. “If I get stuck—”

“Mind your head. This room is the smallest, to keep out trespassers.”

He squeezed his bare shoulders through the slit in the rock, mindful of his already aching head. Even on his knees, he had to duck low. “Dammit, who lives here? Trolls?”

Odaria appeared in front of him, carrying a lit candle. “Follow me.” She headed for the rock wall and vanished.

As he crawled farther along, the passageway opened into a larger room. Odaria could stand, but he was forced to remain on his knees. He gazed around the chamber. It was obvious that someone lived here. Candles, jars, jugs, and bottles lined the shelves built into the stone walls. A pile of wool blankets was stacked in the far corner.

“Who lives here?” he asked again. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped in this tiny room when the owner came home—be it goblin, elf, or wood sprite.

“Sometimes I do.”

He took his time and looked around the
cairn
again. Candles were lit around the main room, illuminating the ventilation slits carved into the walls. He spotted his blue tunic sticking out from a pile of clothes in the corner. This must have been where Odaria had gotten her red dress and boots. She had stored some of her belongings here.

He inched his way to the shelves on the far side of the chamber. A row of bottles stood next to a small iron pot. Bunches of herbs and berries were tied to small wooden pegs and hung upside down to dry. “This is your witch shop, is it not? Much like a blacksmith has his shop.”

“Aye. This is where I do all my magic. I came here after we found Chester.” Odaria paused, then continued. “Nobody in the village knows of this secret place.”

“I see.” He gestured at the bottles. “And these are your potions?”

“Aye. That one’s for courage, the next for strength, and the last is a love potion,” she said as she pointed to the different vials.

“Is that so?” He picked up the small bottle of love potion and started to uncork it. “Then if I drink this—”

“Nay!” Odaria darted forward and snatched the bottle from his hand. “’Tis not meant to be drunk down.” She rolled her eyes and replaced the bottle on the shelf. “Do not fool with things ya don’t understand.”

He smiled. He’d only been teasing her, but it seemed that Odaria took her elixirs seriously. He doubted that any of the so-called potions worked. Many times he had purchased magical healing drinks, only to find that he’d wasted his hack silver on spiced mead or flower-scented water.

“Then how does it work if it is not to be drunk?”

Odaria looked down, and a slight blush crept into her cheeks. “’Tis put upon the body to make a person”—she licked her lips and glanced at him—“most eager and ready.”

“Oh.” He chuckled. “Does it work?”

“Of course. All my spells do.” She scowled at him. “If you have finished playing, may we eat?”

“
Ja
, food and a nap sound good.”

Odaria spread a wool blanket on the floor, and they sat down. She opened the basket and began unpacking the food. “Do you like it in here?”

“It’s fine.” He shrugged. “Do you sleep here? Is it warm at night? I have never been inside a
cairn
before.”

“Aye. ’Tis warm enough. Ages ago, people used these as homes. There are hundreds of
cairns
all over the isle, and the ruins of an abandoned village are not far from here.”

He broke off a chunk of bread and handed it to her. “I know. Sig and I went there looking for Orvind.”

He frowned. Come to think of it, where was Sig? He hadn’t seen him at all last night, and he wasn’t part of the group that had attacked him. And where was Orvind? Unless the gods themselves intervened to help him with his cause, by tomorrow they would be sailing home without his favorite cousin. How would his uncle punish him for his failure?

“Rothgar,” Odaria said, resting her hand on his forearm and flashing him a little smile, “might I ask you a question?”

“
Ja
, but I will not answer if I do not wish to.” He was tired and hurt and felt like being grumpy. And why shouldn’t he be? Everything had gone to hell the moment he’d landed on this foul isle.

“Did you enjoy yourself last night?” Odaria asked, sweeping her raven-black hair over her shoulder. “Upstairs, I mean,” she added coyly.

He grinned. Now he knew why Odaria was being so attentive to him. Their unfinished business from last night was on her mind. “Greatly. And you?”

“More than anything I’ve ever done. I never knew what a man’s”—she looked down—“
thing
would feel like.”

“Did you find it objectionable?” He knew damn well that Odaria had been ready to make love last night, yet once again, he had disappointed her. Someday soon he’d find a way to make it all up to her.

Odaria rested her head against his bare shoulder. “I liked it, but I wish I’d gotten the chance to find out how it felt inside me,” she said in a sweet, singsong voice.

He chuckled. Odaria was anything but bashful when it came to speaking her mind. It was refreshing to hear that she liked lovemaking so far, for there was much he wanted to teach her.

“We are alone here,” she said, running her fingers along his shoulder.

“I know that.”

She trailed her hands down the front of his chest and across his flat stomach. Her touch sent a flash of heat through his groin. “Nobody knows where we are. We won’t be interrupted,” she whispered in his ear, then kissed the side of his neck.

Did she want to make love? Here? Now he knew why Odaria had brought him to the
cairn
.

He took her hands off his chest and kissed them. “That is a pleasant idea, Odaria, but I am not in a romantic mood.”

A flicker of confusion flashed in her eyes. “Romantic mood? Since when does a man need to feel romantic?” She nuzzled the side of his neck with her warm lips again. “Mayhap if we kiss with our tongues …”

“I’m tired and hurt, and I have no interest in such things today.” Even if he weren’t beaten and exhausted, his mind was still plagued with the horrors from last night. Images of dead villagers didn’t lend themselves to feelings of intimacy.

Odaria pulled away. “But Rothgar … You started to last night, and then you left me. I was abandoned, eager, and … wanting. Do you have any idea what that did to me? You stoked my fires, then left when I was ready for you. I lay there for hours, aching, hoping you would return to me.” She pouted. “It werena fair.”

He laughed in spite of the pain coursing through his ribs. “Now you know how men feel when women tease them with promises of loving, then deny it at the last moment.”

Odaria turned her head and folded her arms across her chest. He knew she was annoyed with him, and he tried to make amends.

“Trust me, I was as frustrated as you, even more so. I had to walk through the village with my rod stiff and burning for you, all the while fighting Karnik’s men.” He touched her shoulder. “I’m honored you brought me here, and I’m glad you are ready to make love, but pray understand I’m in no mood for it now. Perhaps tonight,” he said, hoping that would appease her.

“Aye, I understand. Then might I rub your shoulders and neck? You are tense and strained, and it would make you feel better.”

He smiled. “
Ja
, that is a good idea.” Perhaps a soothing rub would ease his aches and improve his mood. He closed his eyes as Odaria repositioned herself behind him on the blanket.

She rested her hands on the muscles between his neck and shoulders. “My, you are stiff,” she whispered as she started massaging him.

He winced and jerked away. “Easy. I’m sore and bruised. Be tender with me, Odaria.”

“Sorry. I didna mean to hurt you. I have something that will ease your pain. Wait here a moment.” He felt her move away. “I’ll be right back.”

He relaxed and let his head drop. He wasn’t about to go anywhere. Right now, he could fall asleep where he sat. Mayhap he would take a nap, then eat something when he awoke.

A few seconds later, Odaria returned and knelt behind him again. He moaned as she gently kneaded his aching shoulders, back, and neck. Her soft hands traveled across his skin, rubbing away all his tension and pain. He let out a light groan as she squeezed away a knot between his shoulder blades. Her fingertips grazed the sides of his neck, and he breathed in deep. What was that smell? The air was filled with a spicy scent.

“What is that odor?”

“The herbs I have drying. When I light candles in here, they give off a fragrance. Do you like it?”

He inhaled and felt his body relax. His breathing had become deep and slow, and his heart thudded a little faster in his chest. “Hmm, it is nice. Very soothing.”

Odaria continued rubbing his back and shoulders. His skin warmed and prickled at her touch. After a minute, she slid her hands down his ribs, then reached around to the front of his chest.

She caressed his chest muscles and trailed her fingertips across his nipples. The peculiar scent seemed to grow stronger the longer Odaria massaged him. Was it his imagination?