Her Viking Saviour (Lore & Love Trilogy #1)

Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Torben cursed his luck as he scanned his surroundings, hand shielding his eyes.

Where was Freydis?

He had slowly started to realise that Freydis was no longer in the settlement. As he spoke to his people one by one and heard reports from Ragnav and Leif, it became clearer. Freydis had run away. Someone would have seen if she had been taken. But to run away without anyone noticing? That Freydis could do. She knew the settlement inside and out. Torben began to pace while he tried to piece it together. It was unlikely she had gone on foot, but none of the horses were missing. Ragnav had checked.

"Torben, I have news. Not good, I am afraid," Leif said regretfully as he ran over. "I went through Freydis’s room and things are missing; her clothing, comb, and jewellery."

"She was more upset than we realised. How did I miss this?"

The settlement was his responsibility, but his family–his blood–was his life.

"You cannot blame yourself, Freydis oft fell into dark moods. They came and went as did the sun and moon every day," Sven offered as he came in behind Leif.

His cousins offered words of comfort and logic, but even he could see they were worried.

"Actually, Torben, you know who we have not asked? Gunhilda," Ragnav said slowly, "She keeps a few horses and if you make your way past her home you leave the settlement behind."

Ragnav was right! But what would Gunhilda's role in this be? She and Freydis were not particularly close.

"I must find Wynflaed and gather supplies. I think you are right, Ragnav. She and I will go to Gunhilda’s and from there we will follow her tracks."

Ragnav nodded and went to speak, but Leif cut him off.

"Should one of us not come with you?"

Torben shook his head. "I will not be parted from Wynflaed. And I want you and Ragnav to wait two sundowns before pursuing–Freydis may come back, but if she does not, you can catch up to us. Sven will take care of the settlement.”

All three men nodded without any further questions.

"Torben! Torben, I believe Freydis has run away," Wynflaed said, running up to him. As soon as she was close enough, he pulled her into his embrace.

"I know, we are of the same mind. I want you and I to follow her. Let’s pack supplies. Ragnav will ready horses for us. Can you ride?"

"I can make do. I will be coming with you regardless." She tugged at his tunic with fierce determination.

The gesture made his heart swell with pride at his feisty Valkyrie. They shared one thought, one mind. They were each other’s equals. He bent down and pressed a hard kiss to her forehead.

"Come, let us prepare."

Torben had tasked Olga with gathering food supplies while he and Wynflaed packed belongings. It was especially cold at night, and they needed to ensure they kept warm. He grinned while she laid out her supplies on the floor, speaking out loud.

"Comb, soap, underdress, eating knife, woollen hose…" Her muttering trailed off as she reached for her hooded cloak.

Olga returned with their food and a small waist belt that she handed to Wynflaed.

"Tie for you, knife, drink," Olga gestured, as Wynflaed took the leather strap and tied it around her waist.

Very clever of Olga. He nodded his approval and went to his own belongings. He chose a slight, sheathed dagger she could hang from her belt, along with a drinking flask and eating knife.

"Resourceful thinking, Olga. Keep this dagger at your waist for your protection, Wynflaed."

Wynflaed took the dagger without hesitation and balanced the weight in her hand.

"I would not say I have much skill, but how hard could it be? Stab them with the pointy end until you see blood?" she asked with a cheeky grin.

"That is about right, but I promise to do all I can so that you never need to pull the dagger, Elskling."

"I know, Torben, but I appreciate the dagger anyway. I never want to feel helpless again. What now? I am ready."

They rode side by side on their horses while Torben filled her in on his conversations with Ragnav, Leif, and Sven

"So, you think this Gunhilda helped her leave, the woman you were bedding?" He heard the annoyance in her voice, veiled but present, and he bit back his grin.

"Perhaps. We shall ask her and find out what she knows, and then we will continue on our way. This is her place, with all the goats."

It was a silly statement to make, no one would mistake the noise they made for anything but goats. The look of derision she threw him told him as much.

"I am familiar with the sound of bleating goats, Torben, but my many thanks for confirming it." Her tone was haughty as she reined in behind him when the path narrowed.

Gunhilda appeared in the doorway as they drew closer, leaning on the frame with an eyebrow raised.

"I was wondering when you would arrive."

The gall of this woman . He had half hoped she was not involved and had not betrayed him in this way.

"Gunhilda, your welcome leaves me less then pleased. From what you say, you have had a hand in Freydis running away," he challenged, while he dismounted his horse and walked over to assist Wynflaed.

"Do not be so sore, Torben. Freydis is a woman in her own right and asked for my secrecy," she retorted, but moved aside to allow them to enter. Torben observed Wynflaed as she eyed Gunhilda with a guarded stare. Gunhilda gestured them to sit down, and she poured them all mead.

"I do not wish to argue with you, Gunhilda. Klavik is my settlement, and I am Chieftain. This isn't a girlish secret Freydis has whispered to you. She has run away, and her life may be in danger. This is my sister!" Torben heard his voice become harsher with each word he spoke and Gunhilda flinched under his stare.

"You are right, Torben. I am sorry. Truly. I lost my good sense in the wake of my feelings about a certain situation." She glanced quickly at Wynflaed. Torben saw her remorse, but it did not cool his ire.

"We will talk more of this when I return. I cannot have my people working against me. Now, where did Freydis say she was going?"

"She did not say where exactly, just that she wanted to take control of her own destiny, her own fate. She asked me for a horse and directions to Stavanger."

"Stavanger?” he said in disbelief. That was a major trade port, ships came and went from all over.

"Yes, she was not here long, but she was resolute. She has been so unhappy, Torben."

He heard the pleading in her tone and ignored it, then turned to Wynflaed when she spoke.

"It is very curious that Freydis, who prefers to be alone and dislikes her scar being stared at, has ventured out so. Something more has led her to take this path, something or someone…" she trailed off. All of a sudden, she grabbed his hand with urgency. The moment they made eye contact the answer was clear.

"Guthred!" they exclaimed in horror.

A burning rage engulfed his senses and he lost control in a way he had not done since the battlefields. He threw the cup against the wall and roared his fury.

Beyond the haze of his rage, he saw Gunhilda and Wynflaed jump off their stools and heard the frantic hoofbeats of horses and goats alike. He stormed from the hut, sank down into a crouch, and grabbed his head as he fought for calm. He could not lose his reason now. He needed calm and focus to track down Freydis.

He felt two small hands squeeze his shoulders in comfort as Wynflaed’s scent engulfed him. The lavender she drenched herself in and her womanly scent of sweetened honey and berries began to calm him.

"Are you back with me, Torben?" Wynflaed asked softly as she looked in his face.

"I am, Elskling, you ground me. I will never stop saying thanks to all the gods, especially Odin, in guiding me to you."

"What is our next move?"

"We mount our horses, we follow the trail I assume she is on, and we look for tracks and clues along the way. And hope we find her before any serious harm is done. Let us be on our way."

He gave Gunhilda one final glance.

"Gunhilda, Sven is taking charge, and I am sure he will come to visit you and have a similar conversation about your actions. I hope when I return we are back where we should be, because I will not allow this in my settlement again."

She nodded profusely as the truth of the action she had taken now settled in.

Torben ushered Wynflaed outside and assisted her onto her horse before he mounted Bein.

"We are leaving Klavik lands now, Wynflaed. Stay close to me, do not wander far, and obey any order I give you. This is not to control you, but to protect you in lands that are still foreign to you."

She must have heard the desperate plea in his voice as she gave no argument.