‘Danr...’ Rurik sounded serious now. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’
‘I am.’ He laughed outright. ‘For the first time in a long time, I really am. I’m in love.’
‘Then I’m happy for you.’ Rurik smiled, too. ‘She sounds interesting. Unique.’
‘She is.’
‘But you and she haven’t...?’ Alarr let the question hang in the air.
‘Not yet.’
‘You’ll be leaving in the morning then?’
‘On the very first tide, yes.’
* * *
‘Aren’t you tired?’ Danr found his eldest brother standing outside the hall, alone in the darkness. It had been a long night of feasting, but most of the revellers had finally gone to bed or collapsed in drunken stupors, Alarr, Rurik and Sandulf among them.
‘I’ve been thinking.’ Brandt’s voice was heavy.
‘About Kolga and Thorfinn?’
‘Yes. He has a stronghold in Katanes. I’ll go there next.’
‘You know I’ll still come with you if you need me to. It might be—’
‘No.’ Brandt interrupted him firmly. ‘And no more arguments.’ He gave him an appraising look. ‘Why aren’t you sleeping? You’ve had a long journey.’
‘Because right now I’d rather talk to you.’
There was a sound of feminine laughter from the doorway behind them, obviously designed to be enticing, and Brandt jerked his head in that direction. ‘Still not tempted? Your woman would never know.’
‘But I would.’
Brandt gave a smile of approval. ‘She must be special, your healer.’
‘She is. She survived on her own in the wilderness for years. I’ve never met anyone like her before.’
‘You really love her, then?’
‘With all my heart.’
Brandt nodded thoughtfully. ‘Ingrid said you’d fall in love one day.’
Danr stiffened. It was the first time he’d heard Brandt say his dead wife’s name aloud since the day of the massacre. ‘She did?’
‘Yes, and that when you finally fell for a woman you’d fall hard. It seems she was right. She always did have a soft spot for you.’ Brandt gave him a glower that turned into a smile. ‘She said there was more to you than most people saw.’
‘I hope she was right.’
‘She was. You were the one who refused to acknowledge it, not us.’
‘You know, I cared about Ingrid, too. She was beautiful inside and out. I would have died before I let anything happen to her. If I’d been there...’
‘I know.’ Brandt tilted his head, looking up at the stars. ‘She would have known it, too. But she wouldn’t have wanted you to be killed that day either. She would have wanted you to live and be happy. She would have been glad that you’ve found someone. Just like I am—for all my brothers. You’ve all found partners who suit you.’
‘Maybe one day...’