‘Sissa?’ He murmured her name after a few moments, smiling as she pressed her face into his neck drowsily.
‘Mmm?’
‘I have a favour to ask.’ He hesitated. After the trust she’d just shown in allowing him to touch her, he felt faintly guilty about what he was about to say. But he still had to say it. ‘It’s important to me.’
‘Is it something I won’t like?’
‘Perhaps. Probably. But it won’t be for long.’
She sighed languorously. ‘If I agree, will you do what you just did again?’
‘If you want.’ He chuckled. ‘All night if you like.’
She tilted her head back. ‘Why doesn’t that break your oath? Isn’t it mating?’
‘Not exactly.’ He rolled on top of her again. ‘Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but you’ve no idea how much I’m torturing myself right now.’
‘All right.’ She smiled lazily and looped her arms around his neck. ‘If you do it again, then I’ll do your favour. What is it?’
‘Stay here. Until I get back from Eireann, stay in the village. Ow!’ He fell backwards as she wrenched her hands away from his neck and shoved him hard in the chest. ‘Wait, hear me out.’
‘No! How could you ask after everything you said before?’
‘I know.’ He made a grab for her waist, pulling her back down into his lap as she tried to get up. ‘That’s why I’m only asking. It’s a request, not a demand.’
‘I’m not comfortable here, you know that! I don’t want to wear fine clothes and eat in a hall and...talk!’ She shoved her fist into his shoulder this time. ‘I want to go home.’
‘It won’t be for long.’
‘You don’t know how long you’ll be gone!’
‘I’ll come back here before I go anywhere with Brandt, I promise. Then we’ll talk again. Please Sissa, I can’t go to Eireann knowing you’re out in the wilderness all by yourself.’
‘I’ve been by myself for three years!’
; ‘I know that, too.’ He held tight as she wriggled against him. ‘But I’ll be gone for a week, maybe two, at the most, if the weather stays fair.’
‘And if the snow comes?’
‘Then all the more reason for you to stay here.’
‘I’m ready for winter.’
‘It’s still dangerous on your own.’
‘What about Tove and Halvar? They can’t stay in the village.’
‘No, but Halvar’s just looking for an excuse to go and take his mate with him.’ He brushed his lips against the back of her neck. ‘Maybe it’s time to let them go, Sissa. I won’t ask any more favours. Just stay here until I get back, for my peace of mind. Please.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘Thorfinn and Kolga?’ Sandulf was the first to speak after a long and ominous silence.
Danr nodded grimly, looking around at each of his brothers in turn. They were standing in a circle in Alarr’s private chamber, the first time they’d all been in the same room together in two years.
‘You’re certain about this?’ Brandt folded his arms, a deep frown puckering his brow.