Redeeming Her Viking Warrior

‘Well, I might smell, but he’s loud.’ Danr chuckled. ‘I never knew that wolves snored.’

‘Aren’t you afraid of him?’ She looked between the pair of them curiously. ‘Most people are terrified by his size.’

‘So was I to begin with, but I decided that if he was going to eat me then he would probably have done it by now.’

‘Maybe he’s not hungry yet.’

‘Ah, well, time will tell, I suppose.’

She lifted an eyebrow, irritated by his cheeriness. ‘You know, he’s only using you to make a point.’

‘Really?’ He looked interested. ‘What point?’

‘That he’s only here under protest. Tove is his mate. If he had his way, they’d go off into the forest together.’

Hearing her name, the female wolf emerged from the roundhouse, looked around suspiciously for a few moments, then trotted across the clearing to nuzzle Halvar’s nose.

‘I see what you mean.’ Danr grinned. ‘Why won’t she go with him?’

‘Because I raised her from a cub and she’s loyal to me. She knows I’d be all alone if she left.’ Sissa bit her lip on the last words. They were more revealing than she’d intended.

‘So he’s jealous of you?’

‘Perhaps.’ She tossed her head. ‘But mostly he’s sulking. That’s the only reason he stayed with you last night. It’s probably why he didn’t eat you either.’

Danr reached out and placed a hand tentatively on Halvar’s neck, tickling him behind his ears. ‘Well, never mind that, we can still be friends, can’t we, boy?’

Sissa clenched her jaw, annoyed that the wolf wasn’t ripping his arm off. Halvar didn’t often let her touch him, let alone anyone else, but now his eyes were half-closed as if he were actually enjoying the attention.

‘Why is your hair wet?’ Danr asked suddenly, as if he’d only just noticed her appearance.

‘Because I’ve been bathing. There’s a gorge through those trees where several streams run together.’

‘Isn’t the water cold?’

‘It’s come down from the mountain. Of course it’s cold.’ She threw him a withering look along with a blanket. ‘Use this to dry yourself afterwards and hang it up when you’re finished.’ She pointed towards a length of cord tied between two trees. ‘You’ll need to wash your clothes, too.’

‘I would.’ He glanced up at the sky dubiously. ‘Only I doubt they’ll dry in this weather and I don’t have anything else to wear. I dropped my pack somewhere in the forest.’ He made a face. ‘I’m afraid it’s either a bad smell or the sight of me chopping wood naked, which I’m disinclined to do with an injured arm. Mistakes could be made.’

‘Oh, by the stars...’

Sissa rolled her eyes and went back inside the roundhouse, rummaging in one of her coffers until she found an old pair of trousers and tunic. They hadn’t been worn in so long that the wool smelt faintly musty, but it was still a better alternative than smelling him. As for seeing him naked... She shook her head before her imagination ran riot.

‘Here.’ She carried the clothes back outside and dropped them in front of him. ‘You can wear these. They belonged to someone I once knew,’ she added when he looked at her enquiringly.

‘I see.’ He looked as if he were stopping himself from asking more. ‘In that case, I appreciate your letting me borrow them.’

‘Hmm. Try not to get your shoulder wet.’

‘Whatever you say. Wash, change, hang clothes, chop wood.’ He gave her a hopeful look. ‘Does this mean I can stay for a while?’

‘It means you can stay for today. And when you’re finished with all that, you can collect some more branches, but not from around here. Go deeper into the forest.’ She picked up a basket and reached for her spear. ‘I’ll be back later with food. You can cook again.’

‘With pleasure.’ He threw his fur blanket aside and stood up. ‘What about the wolves?’

‘They go wherever they want.’ She arched an eyebrow. ‘But that won’t bother you, will it? Since you’re such good friends now...’

‘So we are.’ He tipped his head, acknowledging the hit.