The Viking's Highland Lass (19 page)

“Thank you for your advice.” Gunnolf headed out of the longhouse, though he noted Inga speaking to one of the men, who watched Gunnolf go. He didn't like the dark expression on either Inga's or the man's face.

Did she think to have Gunnolf murdered so that he couldn't wed Brina and try to end the war between the Norsemen and the Highland clan when Robard's people had killed her husband? Did she still want revenge?

He wouldn't put it past her. She might have had it in mind that Robard could be the enemy, saying one thing, but meaning another, but Inga could very well be the same way.

He realized then as he mounted Beast and left the village, that he trusted only the MacNeill clan and Brina, despite having just met her. She only worried about his well-being and about her father's. She didn't seem to have any hidden plan.

He still wanted to give Inga's people a chance to live in peace. He didn't know if he would be able to manage ousting Seamus, or if Brina's father would actually reward him or attempt to kill him once he returned Robard to power. The more he thought about it, the more he believed it was the only way to possibly reconcile things between Inga, her people, and Robard and his, then return Brina to her home, if that's what she wished.

Gunnolf thought about how he usually was doing some task for James or his brothers, saving someone or another, but he had never actually made plans to take care of a situation that James or his kin, in most cases, had not asked him to do.

The bigger question was whether Gunnolf could settle down with Brina. Would she be happy with him, the Norseman that he was? Would he be happy with her?

All he had to do was think of the way she had reacted to the wolf pup, risking her freedom and even endangering herself for the life of the pup should Seamus have gotten hold of her. She had worried about him during their journey, and then when he was off to see his kinsmen, something no other woman had done. He smiled fondly, thinking back to the way Ian had taken to her, the boy shy around strangers. Yet there the lad had been holding her hand as they'd entered the great hall, and she was speaking to him while he was smiling up at her. Gunnolf could envision her walking with their own son like that, when he'd never given it much thought before. He thought about Lady Eilis and the way her gown tented over her expanding belly and considered what it would be like to know Brina was carrying his bairn.

He knew what he had to do. Convince Brina he was the right man for her as he knew she was the right lass for him. He never believed, as many times as James said he would, that he'd find a lass he truly wanted to marry.

He was heading toward the MacNeill lands at a trot, but it would take him a day and a half to reach them and half a day to arrive at the castle. He intended to leave in the morning, not when the sun was beginning to set. He heard two horses following him, and he was trying to decide what to do. Continue on his way until it was too dark to travel. Or stop now, and fight the men he assumed Inga had sent to track him down. He didn't want to fight her people. He didn't want to fight anyone. Though he had no intention of being beaten, either, if he could help it.

Gunnolf stopped his horse, and faced the two men, both burly fighters—the blond and darker haired man from before. He should have already unsheathed Aðalbrandr, but wanting to show he didn't intend to start a fight, he waited. They began walking their horses, drawing closer, and then stopping, waiting to see what he would do.

“Inga wishes you to have words with me?” Gunnolf asked, certain she wanted them to do more than that.

“I have a chance to be with Inga as her husband if I kill you,” the blond said, his hair braided on one side, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “I could see she has a fondness for you that she did not share with your brother. What if you return and want to take her for your wife?”

“I have no wish to fight you. I hope to bring peace between Robard and Inga.
Ja
at one time I had feelings for Inga when I was much younger. Many years have passed since then. We are different people now, both of us. If you wish to wed Inga, you have my blessing.”

“I do not ask for it.”

“Then what? We fight? You kill me or I kill you and then Inga can continue to fight Robard, or I should say Seamus and his men? To what end? You have settled here to farm. Then farm and leave the fighting for another time. For something truly worth fighting for.”

“Tell that to Robard.”

“Robard needs my help. If I can aid him, I will ask for peace between his people and yours in return.”

“And his daughter?”

“I will marry her if she so wishes it.”

“Inga wants you dead. Here and now. She does not want peace. And she does not want you to marry the Highland lass. But I am willing to give one of our fellow countrymen the chance to infiltrate the keep and bring peace to the region, or bring them down. If you return here with the notion of taking Inga for your wife, I will kill you.”

Gunnolf inclined his head a little, turned his horse, and continued on his way, listening for the sounds of horses' hoof beats. There were none but his own and finally the other men turned around and headed back to their village, crisis averted, at least for a brief moment in time.

But Gunnolf now knew the direction he was headed, and that meant he was bound for a fight.

W
hen Gunnolf
finally arrived at Wynne's shieling, he saw smoke curling above the chimney and thought maybe Brina and Lynette were there with Wynne. He hoped that they had not done something to upset the MacNeill clan and the women had all been asked to the castle. Though he couldn't imagine anything so absurd. They'd be alone here and unprotected.

Gunnolf dismounted and hurried to the door, raising his hand to knock.

Wynne opened it before he could. “They are no' here. They are still at the castle. I couldna stay any longer. Too many people were asking me what their futures hold. How can I know that?”

“And mine? What vision have you for me this time?” He hoped Wynne would say that Brina would accept his proposal of marriage.

“I have had no visions concerning you. But Brina had one of you kissing the woman from your village. I dinna believe she will be speaking to you when you see her next. What are your plans now? Are you returning to her lands to help her da?”

Gunnolf couldn't believe Brina had seen what had happened between him and Inga in one of her visions. Would she now truly be angry with him over the whole matter? Hopefully, she would realize he had not wanted to fight the woman, nor pin her to the ground. What if she had not seen the fight? He stifled a groan. He could imagine her seeing only him shoving Inga down, lying on top of her, and Inga kissing him next. It would be much harder to explain his actions then.

He took the honeyed mead Wynne offered him, and feeling parched, he drank all of it. “I will return to her da's lands and aid him. James said he would spare some men to assist me in taking Seamus down. I will help to ensure Brina's father is restored to power.”

“What about Brina?”

“I will wed Brina if she will have me. Depending on the reception I receive from her kin and how Brina feels about it, we will either stay at her brother's castle or we will return here. What about Lynette? What does she wish to do?”

“For now, she will stay here. She is happy here and is enjoying the attentions of Lady Akira, Laird James, and his wife.”

“I am pleased to hear it.” Gunnolf had known Lady Akira would accept her, as well as James and the rest of the clan. He was glad for the lass.

“We didna expect you to return so soon. Did you make peace with your fellow countrymen?”

“Of a sort.” If convincing Inga's henchmen not to battle with him to the death was making peace. “I must continue on my way to Craigly. Thank you for the mead.”

“Aye. I am sure most will be pleased to see you return.”

“Most.” Gunnolf remounted his horse.

“All but Brina. Did you kiss the woman back? Brina couldna tell. She said you were on top of the woman and that blocked her view.”

Hating that Brina had witnessed all of that when he had assumed she'd never know, Gunnolf frowned. “Who else knows of this?”

“Lady Akira and James's wife, several other ladies, and well, you know how the word will spread.”

Knowing just how fast the gossip would carry, Gunnolf groaned. “Take care, Wynne. We will see you again soon.” He thought the ladies' visions could be helpful. Now he saw how much trouble they could be.

When Gunnolf finally arrived at Craigly Castle, James met him at the stable. “You are back sooner than I had expected.”

Rather than pretend he didn't know what he suspected most of the clan would have heard by now, Gunnolf said, “I understand Brina had a vision.”

James smiled. “Aye. Pray tell, did you kiss the lass back?”

“My brother's widow? Nay. And I want naught to do with the lass. She and I are at cross purposes.”

“What of Brina?”

“That remains to be seen.”

James slapped him on the back with good cheer. “Come, ‘tis time to eat.”

Though Gunnolf was famished, the prospect of not eating with Brina, if she was angry with him, disappointed him. He hoped he could speak with her in any event.

When they arrived at the great hall filled with clansmen and women, he saw Brina, the wolf pup sitting at her feet, and Lynette standing beside her, talking near the high table. He knew with having so many people around, he should wait to speak with Brina alone about the matter with Inga. But he couldn't. He headed straight for her through the crush of clansmen. Lynette saw him first, folded her arms, and smiled at him in a way that said she knew he had some explaining to do and it amused her. Beowulf saw him next and ran to greet him.

Brina turned her attention in his direction and scowled. The pup jumped all over him in excitement as if he had missed him terribly. At least the pup was glad to see him. Gunnolf lifted Beowulf into his arms. “I believe you have grown in the short time I was gone. Have you been eating all the hunting dogs' food?”

Beowulf's wet tongue tried to lick his face, his tail wagging wildly. Gunnolf chuckled and joined Brina, then set the pup down on the rushes on the floor. Beowulf bounced between the two of them for attention. Gunnolf nodded a quick greeting to Lynette.

“We need to talk.” Gunnolf took Brina's arm and led her to a bench, wanting to at least speak to her in a semi-private way, Beowulf tagging along behind them.

“About the kiss?” Brina asked, raising a brow.

“If you mean Inga…” He had to clarify that she wasn't talking about his kissing Brina.

“Aye, the very one.” Brina looked crossly at him as if it perturbed her that he wouldn't already know just who she meant.

“Seems it is the topic of conversation. I am glad to know it means naught to you as much as it meant the same to me.” Because it didn't. He wasn't making light of the issue, but only trying to say that he hoped she didn't put any stock in what had happened.

Brina yanked her arm free from his grasp. “You are saying that kissing her meant naught to you?”

“I did not kiss her. And for your information, lass, I was attempting to keep her from fighting me further, which, if you had seen any more of the vision, was the reason for my being on top of her.”

“Was it her plan then? To fight you until she could kiss you?”

“I do not think she wanted to kiss me more than she wanted to kill me for not telling her I yet lived. But Inga wed my brother. I still have no interest in her as a prospective wife. I cannot emphasize my feelings on the matter more.” He didn't know what else to say to prove to Brina that Inga meant naught to him except to tell her so. At least for now. He meant to show Brina just how much she meant to him when they didn't have quite so many witnesses.

Brina sat next to Gunnolf at the table as Lynette joined James and his family at the high table. She knew she should be so annoyed with him over Inga. But just seeing him lying atop the woman and not jumping off her or something to show he truly wasn't interested in the shield maiden irked Brina. “Was she angry that my da had killed her husband?”

“I think not as much as she was angry that your father wants me to marry you. Another man wishes to wed the shield maiden. He said she never loved my brother.”

“But she loved you? Why else would she have kissed you?” Brina assumed she sounded like a shrew and didn't like feeling that way. But she couldn't help it. The image of the woman kissing him was still clear in Brina's mind.

“She may have thought she did. But we are not the same people as in our youth.” Gunnolf waited patiently to answer all Brina's questions, which she thought was a good sign. Not once had he glanced in the direction of the venison sitting before him, nor had he lifted his tankard to drink of his ale. He was proving to her that what she had to say was more important than satisfying his own needs when she was certain he was thirsty and starving after all the traveling he had done.

“But you loved her once?” Brina asked, to be clear on the matter.

“I loved that she was wild and crazy and wanted to kiss me when other maidens were not in the least bit interested.”

Brina couldn't believe any lass wouldn't be interested in a kiss from Gunnolf's lips. Even now she wished he'd kiss her, to prove to her he had no feelings for the Viking woman. Though she finally moved on to more important subjects. “How did the rest of your people treat you?”

“Naturally, they were supportive of Inga. She sent two of her men to kill me and I am certain they were willing to do so.”

Brina's jaw dropped. She wanted to kill the woman herself! “Why would she do such a thing if she loved you?”

“I had no interest in marrying her. And she knew I intended to wed you. If you would have me.” Gunnolf took Brina's hand in his and stroked her gently.

Brina's body heated with embarrassment to think he would tell the Viking woman he was marrying a Highland lass—not any Highland lass, but her! The daughter of the man who had killed Inga's husband. No wonder the woman wanted to eliminate Gunnolf. Brina knew then that he had to care for her more than he did Inga. She blinked back tears. No man had ever wanted her like that, who would be willing to risk his life like he had.

“Is this a proposal?” she blurted, finally realizing he had given her one in an offhanded way, when he should have asked her before he told Inga the news!

“I am not well-versed in asking a lass to marry me. I have not had any experience at it. Should I get down on bended knee?”

She smiled, loving him, thinking to say yes because he had told Inga first of his proposal. “If I tell you that you should and you did, Beowulf would jump all over you and ruin the whole effect.”

Gunnolf chuckled.

“Aye, aye, I will. With all my heart, I wish this union between us,” she said, her stomach fluttering with excitement and trepidation.

“You have made me the happiest man alive.” Then he kissed her on the mouth, slowly, surely, and reluctantly pulled away. “We still need to discuss more before we make the announcement,
ja
?”

She wanted to kiss him more, not talk more, but she knew this was important. She sighed and nodded. “What happened concerning the men Inga sent to kill you?”

“I convinced them I would not fight and that I had no interest in marrying Inga, but that I would try to bring peace between our people.”

“You would do this for my da?” she asked, still shocked at the shield maiden's actions, but knowing Gunnolf was the one she needed most in her life, no matter what the outcome—staying here, going there. She still wanted to help her da though.

Gunnolf shook his head and leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I would do this for you.”

“After seeing how Inga reacted, do you think you could still end hostilities between our people?” She was afraid the woman would retaliate further, not wish peace.

“'Twould remain to be seen. I would do my best to secure a peace treaty with them. What if your elders do not want me to be in charge? No matter what though, Seamus is still a problem.”

“Which you can handle without any difficulty. Three of his loyal men are dead, aye? So you could easily manage the rest.” After seeing the way he handled others with diplomacy, dispatched Seamus's man, and had dealt with so many others over the years in battle, she was certain he could deal with Seamus satisfactorily.

“What if others have rallied to his cause? Or if not, what if they do so in response to a Norseman attempting to run your castle until your father has healed enough to take over?”

“We would be married. My da would back you. And you are a braw warrior. Believe me, my da would never have asked you to marry me if he didna believe you could rule until he was well, and rule once he no longer can. I think this could be a good thing between your people and mine.” She truly believed it would work.

“You said your father only chose me because he was angry with Seamus.”

Which she still thought was true, knowing the way her da was. “Aye, but even so, he wouldna have picked just anyone to wed me. He would have chosen someone he thought could successfully beat Seamus and lead the clan. Do you no' agree this could be a way of healing the wounds suffered by both parties?”

“
Ja
, lass, I do, if all goes according to plan.” Leaning close to her ear and whispering against the soft lobe, Gunnolf agreed, thrilled beyond measure that she wanted to marry him. “I could not stop thinking about you.”

“And I you,” she whispered back.

“Then we shall wed, not because your da wishes it but because—“

“We were meant to be together. From the first time I saw you in the glen when you called me a goddess.”

He laughed. “You are still a goddess to me.”

“And you are the braw Viking who wouldna die that I so wished to care for and worried about for years.”

“You did not tell me that. This day was meant to be. I love you, Brina. I will make you proud to be my wife.”

“I couldna love your any more than I do.”

“Good, because the love I have for you is mutual. Eat and drink because once I make the announcement, I fear Lady Akira will want us wed right away.”

Brina laughed and started to eat of her venison.

Gunnolf downed some of his ale and looked at the hall filled with friends who were his family. He'd never thought he'd leave this place and live among people who fought his own kin. Even if he led her clan, would that change his people's mind about fighting Brina's people?

Being chief of his own clan, allying with the MacNeills, which would be a way to pay back all their kindness to him in an immense way, making amends with his own people, all of that had appeal. Brina was bonny, sweet and innocent, intelligent, but willful. She didn't ply her womanly charms on him like other lasses did. Yet, she did make him yearn for something more. She'd stirred his loins like no other woman had done, when she hadn't even been trying. He couldn't deny he wanted to bed her. But he wanted a wife who wanted him just as much, not as a bargaining tool in some play for power. She deserved better, and he was glad she loved him too.