Chapter 7
Freydis
"Me?" he asked. "Why not?" Then the smile fell from his lips, and his face hardened. "You."
"What?"
"I suppose I came here because of you," he said, and when my expression changed, he laughed. "I came here because of Fellur. To see how the village has changed... while it still remains."
"Still remains?"
"With news of werewolves killing people every single day, you don't expect the village to last that long. What happens if the werewolves attack when you least expect it, and Fellur is unable to defend itself?"
I pressed my lips together. "But there are no werewolves in the North, right?"
"The North is free from those creatures," he said. "It's far different from Fellur. There are houses made of stone blocks. I don't know why your Father hasn't brought you there by now."
It wasn't that Father was against the idea of sending me to the North. But Mother would never agree. She doesn't like the North—or anything to do with Ragnar.
"Tell me something, Freyja," he said in a low voice. I felt the hairs on my skin slowly rise. Then he pulled himself away from the shelf and leaned closer. "Why are you still unmarried?"
I stared at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
He tilted his head, his gaze piercing mine. It felt like he was inside my head, going through my thoughts.
"Because you're twenty-one, and you're supposed to be married with children by this age," he said. "Why hasn't your father married you off to a Jarl or someone high in Fellur? Why keep you waiting?"
"And why do you think I should be married now?" I asked.
"It's many women's dream to marry early and have children. Maybe not in Fellur," he said.
"I'm different, Ragnar," I said. "I'm not like other women. I want to be a shieldmaiden, to stand on the battlefield, and be Queen to protect my people. A husband will come later."
"What about the men in Fellur? Do they not notice your beauty?" he asked.
A rush of heat spread across my cheeks, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.
"They do," I said, remembering how many warriors had fought to win my hand in marriage—yet I rejected their proposals.
"And why haven't they come to your father, asking for your hand?"
"Maybe it's because I'm not easy to win," I said with a smile. "My mother made sure to set my bride price high."
"I can tell," Ragnar smirked, slowly nodding.
"What?"
"That you're expensive," he said.
It felt like butterflies fluttered in my stomach. The heat in my cheeks intensified, and I could tell Ragnar noticed, too.
He exhaled sharply. "So, what do you want to know about me?"
"Are you married?"
"Married?" He laughed.
I nodded.
"If I were married, I would've brought my wife to Fellur with me," he said.
"So why are you unmarried?" I asked.
"I don't want to get married now," he said.
I smiled. "You're no longer a boy, Uncle Ragnar. You need a wife to bear you children."
At my words, his expression turned cold.
"What if I told you I'm not interested in marriage?"
"Not interested in marriage?" I asked. "Do you not crave the touch of a woman?"
His eyes darkened.
"Or do you not fancy women at all?" I asked, studying him carefully. "Do your eyes stray to sword-hardened men? Do you prefer to share furs with warriors rather than wenches?"
He laughed, the sound deep and throaty. "Are you asking me if I lie with men, Freyja?"
I nodded.
"And if I do?" he asked.
"Then it's a shame for the women in Fellur."
"I don't crave men, Freyja."
There was a silence between us for a while, then he spoke again. "I asked you for a night out, and you refused."
"I didn't give you a response."
"For days?" he said. "I took it as a no."
"I cannot be seen at night with an unmarried man," I said. "It would bring a bad impression on me—especially when I'm to be Queen."
But deep down, I wanted to go with him. I wanted to explore the village. I wanted to sit on the mountains in the early morning.
Suddenly, I felt embarrassed. Why was I feeling this way toward Ragnar? Why did I feel the urge to want to be near him?
He stared at me with softened eyes, and I took a step back. No. I can't do this.
"It's getting late," I said. "I must return to my room now."
I took another step back.
"Freyja," he said my name, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
Before I could open my mouth to respond, I heard the sound of a hound howling up at the sky.
Ragnar snapped his head toward the window.
"Hounds," I said.
We rushed to the window, and when we looked out, we saw nothing. I tried to convince myself it was just the wind howling.
What if they tried to attack us tonight?
Goosebumps prickled my skin. My heart began to drum at the thought of Hounds visiting us tonight and killing our people.
"The wind is blowing strong tonight," Ragnar said. "It must have been the wind snarling."
"I'd better return to my room now," I said.
He gave me a soft smile, and I saw something dark flicker through his eyes.
"Good night, Freyja."