Redeeming Her Viking Warrior

The rain started some time around what Sissa guessed was mid-afternoon, a light drizzle at first that turned swiftly into a torrential downpour, soaking through her fur cloak and into her skin. She shivered violently. What was it that Danr had said about the rain never stopping on Skíð? It had actually rained less than usual while he’d been there, as if his presence had brought sunshine back into her life for a while, which, fanciful though it sounded, was true. His arrival had brightened her days. Now he was gone, it was only fitting that the dark clouds were back and apparently determined to make up for lost time.

A raindrop hit her in one eye and she winced, turning her head so that one side of her face was protected at least. Beside her, Tove whimpered, as if she felt helpless, too, but at least she was all right. Sissa smiled and made a small murmur of reassurance. That was one consolation. No matter what happened to her, at least Tove would survive. Halvar would take care of her.

She glanced at the male wolf, surprised to see him prick up his ears and then raise himself on his front paws suddenly.

‘What is it?’ She tried not to feel hopeful. It was probably just an otter or deer passing by, she told herself, though if it was then apparently it could speak. If she wasn’t imagining things, she could hear shouting in the distance.

‘Sissa?’

Her heart leapt at the sound of Danr’s voice. She would have recognised it anywhere.

‘In here!’ she shouted back as loudly as she could through parched lips though it wasn’t loud enough. Fortunately, Halvar howled for her, guiding Danr towards them while she held her breath, waiting, willing him to be real and not a figment of her imagination. It seemed like an eternity passed until she heard footsteps and he appeared around the edge of the half-collapsed longhouse.

‘Sissa.’ He vaulted over the fallen planks to reach her. ‘What happened? Are you hurt?’

‘Questions later.’ Another man, a giant with dark hair and familiar-looking blue eyes, accompanied him. ‘Let’s get her out first.’

‘No. Wait.’ Her heart lifted as she looked up into Danr’s face. ‘I love you. I should have said it before you left, but I do.’

‘You love me?’ His gaze looked arrested.

‘Even more than I did when you left.’

‘Lift!’ The other man gestured to the uppermost beam. ‘Aft

er three.’

‘I love you even more, too.’ Danr sounded apologetic. ‘But this might hurt.’

‘I don’t care. Just get me out.’

‘One, two...’

They made quick work of the beam, tossing it away and then wrenching the other planks aside as if they were simply playing some bigger version of knuckle sticks.

‘Can you feel your legs?’ Danr reached down, skimming his hands gently over her limbs.

‘Yes.’ She heaved herself up on her elbows. ‘I was only pinned down. I don’t think anything was broken or crushed.’

‘We need to get you out of here.’

‘One of the other buildings looks reasonably sturdy.’ The other man frowned. ‘It’s not the best idea considering what happened here, but we need shelter. I’ll go and have a closer look.’ He started away and then stopped. ‘About the wolves...?’

‘They won’t hurt you.’ Danr slid his arms behind her knees and shoulders. ‘They know you’re with us.’

‘If you say so.’

‘Hold on to me,’ Danr murmured, gathering her against him and carrying her across the ruins of the old village. The rain was coming down in sheets now, soaking them both to the bone—just when she’d thought it was impossible to get any wetter! Still, at this moment she found it hard to care. Just seeing him again felt too good to be true.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked in wonderment.

‘What am I doing here?’ He gave her an exasperated look. ‘What are you doing here? You promised to stay with Hilda.’

‘I know, but you were gone for so long.’

‘Two weeks.’

‘It felt longer.’ She bit her lip guiltily. ‘But I was going to go back. It wasn’t another trick, I promise.’