In Thrall (7 page)

He pulled furs over them, getting into bed beside her, and she lay on his arm, pillowing her head on his shoulder. The bed was the most comfortable she had ever slept in, and she felt warm and protected.

That was when she thought about Hilde's advice.
Make him fall in love with you.
As though such a thing could be manufactured – as if she could deceive him into it.

Would he free her, if he came to love her?

What if she came to love him?

Thinking about it, she decided that for this moment, none of it mattered a bit.

Leif was already snoring softly. It took some time for Zahira to quiet the thoughts racing through her head - but finally her eyes closed, and she slept, and dreamed.

….

In the days that followed, Zahira watched over children, began to learn to spin and weave, and picked up the rudiments of the language of the Northmen.

In the evenings, she warmed Leif's bed when it was asked of her, which was more often than not. He took delight in teaching her to please him, and as well, teaching her the pleasures her own body had to offer. There was pain, as well, mingled with the pleasure. And that, she learned to accept.

On some nights, Leif ranged far, hunting or attending gatherings, and spent the night away. She found herself missing him then.

He brought her beautiful dresses of rich fabric. They were in a variety of styles, none quite the same as the women wore back at home, but she liked them all the same. He gifted her rings for her fingers, of gold and jewels. She dressed for him with kohl on her eyes and her hair in whatever elaborate styles she could manage on her own.

He liked for her to come to dinner so he could show her off in front of everyone. She didn't mind. The men got used to her being at his side, and the thralls stopped thinking of her as a novelty. Though she never did hard manual labor, she tried to help in other ways.

In what hours she had spare, she worked on embroidery, making elaborate patterns of the sort women wore in the harems. She practiced on her new harp and taught Harald the basics of the instrument. The boy taught her to play the lute, though he laughed at how slow she was to learn.

She was allowed to walk outside, and not restricted in her movements. One day, she even asked permission to go to the market. Leif sent Harald and two older, tough warriors with her as a guard, and she was allowed to do business with the merchants.

She had never been allowed such freedom while she'd lived in the harem.

The new moon came and went, and Leif and his men prepared to set sail. This was a merchant run – the majority of their trips were for trading, not raiding – and not reckoned to be dangerous.

She still worried for him.

On the day they were to leave, the warriors stood on the hill, saying their goodbyes. Women from the village embraced their husbands and men hugged their young children. Zahira stood side by side with Freja. The woman was, as always, dressed in her armor, carrying her sword.

“
Brother,” Freja said, “One of these days, I will come with you. I am not cut out to be a housewife.”

Leif chuckled, and yanked on one of her blonde plaits. “Yes, sister,” he replied. “One of these days.”

He turned to Zahira, took her in his arms and embraced her hard, lifting her feet off the ground. She laughed, and he kissed her on the lips. He talked close to her ear, so that no one else could hear.

“
One of these days,” he repeated, “I will make you my wife. Freja will be both jubilant, and horrified, I believe.”

Zahira gaped at him, disbelieving. “my Lord?”

“She will no longer have to be in charge of the house.” He explained.”

The girl frowned. “But...” was all she managed to stammer out.

He laughed out loud, setting her on her feet. He kissed her once more, indulgently. “You think I don't realize,” he said, and reached out to place his hand on her lower belly.

She blushed, stunned into silence. No, she hadn't thought he'd known. She hadn't been sure of it until days ago, and it had been Hilde that first recognized the signs of her pregnancy.

“Be well, my jewel,” Leif said. “I will be gone only a month. And then, we shall see.”

“
Yes, my Master,” she answered, her heart swelling with relief, anxiety, happiness, and everything in between. “We shall see.”

###