Chapter 28: Chapter 28

FJORN

With the sun blazing on my back, I made my way through the fields behind the house on Oden. The crops were doing well, and I was optimistic we’d have a decent store of supplies come the winter. Our expectations were high. As long as things continued smoothly, we would expand our fields and see a considerable increase in our crop size next year.

I walked back to the house, where Kendra sat at a loom on the porch. With Astrid’s guidance, she had learned the fundamentals and was now honing her skills, crafting a beautiful blanket for our bed. The rich blues and vibrant greens she had chosen would bring color to the neutral décor.

She smiled when she saw me, and she lifted her face to receive my kiss as I ran up the steps after tying Oden loosely to a stake out front. I picked up the knife she was using to cut the thread from the table and commented, “Looks like you’re almost finished.”

She nodded. “I am.” She watched as I carved a notch on the porch railing. There were over a hundred now. Close to four months had passed since I had dragged Kendra back. Her reluctance to forgive me was still fresh in my mind. Each notch served to remind me how lucky I was to have her for another day in my life.

Kendra came over and put her arms around me, squeezing me tightly. “Thank you,” she said, kissing my cheek.

“For what?”

“For keeping your word.” She loosened her grip and let her hands fall before running them nervously down the side of her dress. She licked her lips. “I have to tell you something,” she said. “It’s not bad, but I don’t know how you’ll react.”

I frowned. I had noticed the thoughtful look on her face for the last few days, but besides that, everything had been going well. “You can tell me anything,” I assured her. Then, to lighten the mood, I asked, “Do you want me to call Sten and Ulf over just in case?”

She grinned and smacked me lightly. “It’s not like that,” she said with a chuckle. “And you shouldn’t make jokes about it.”

“I will do whatever it takes to see you smile,” I said, leaning down and planting a kiss on her lips. “So tell me what’s bothering you.”

Kendra opened her mouth to speak when all hell broke loose. In the distance, the piercing screams and cries of anger echoed through the air as fire arrows streaked across the sky, igniting roofs in their wake. Viking battle cries echoed around us. It was a clash of metal and men.

I pulled Kendra behind me while scanning the scene. The fight was making its way up the road to my house quickly. I studied what faces I could. These men and women were from a clan just days away from ours. What were they doing here?

I could feel Kendra shaking as she buried her face in my back, and I was just about to put her atop Oden to get her as far away as possible when I saw Ulf’s face in the crowd.

“Ulf!” I yelled as he swung his axe, cutting down a man. He glanced our way, nodded, then backed up to where we now stood. I pulled Kendra into my arms, giving her one last look before pushing her into Ulf’s arms.

I couldn’t even give her one last look. Two men rushed me just as I secured my axe from the sack on Oden’s back. I dodged, killing the first and then the second.

Sten, who appeared beside me, pushed his back to mine. “There must be fifty men,” he said, still trying to fight them off.

“We have no bad blood with them, so why are they here?” I said, cutting down a few more men. Just then, a white flash caught my eye. Horsemen? No, only one horse, and it was charging us. I braced for impact, but it stopped before us.

“I told you I would kill you, Fjorn,” Ingrid said, pointing a sword at me. “He’s mine!” she yelled to those around her. Her eyes quickly shot to Kendra and Ulf, who were slowly being overrun, even as men and women from my clan hastened to help.

“I will drop you before you can touch her!” I yelled.

“I’d like to see you try.” Ingrid hopped down from her horse, taking a step toward Kendra. Everything else faded away as my focus narrowed, and I rushed between them. I would die a thousand times before I let anyone hurt her again, even me.

Sten moved from my side and stood with Ulf, guarding Kendra as the dance of war between Ingrid and me began. She lunged forward, and I backed away. She swung her sword, and I swung my axe. The grunts and screams of battle echoed with the ringing of metal. Hit after hit left me weaker as we inched closer and closer to where my frue crouched.

“You’ve lost your fire, Fjorn,” Ingrid hissed. “You’ve gotten soft.”

I tried to keep up with her, but I was slowing. Ingrid shoulder-butted me and swung her sword, her blade piercing Kendra’s stomach. My world came crashing to a halt at the sound of her piercing cry of pain. Ulf held his hand over her bleeding wound as Sten threw himself in front of her. My blood turned cold, and all I could see was red. Gripping Ingrid’s hair, I ripped her sword from her hand, plunging it into her back.

Ingrid clung to me. “It should have been you,” she uttered as I watched the life leave her eyes. Dropping her lifeless body, I rushed to Kendra. Tears fell from her face, and warm crimson liquid coated my hands as I pulled her to me.

“It’s going to be okay,” I cried, trying to comfort her. Fear and guilt swirled within me. She looked up at me, breathing hard.

“Our baby,” was all she said before passing out.

I scooped her up and ran with little resistance. Ingrid’s death left the enemy deflated, and our warriors took advantage of the opportunity, fighting with unmatched strength. “Healer!” I screamed as I ran. Her house was close to mine, and I prayed to Eir, the goddess of healing, to bless the healer’s hands with her divine powers.

I kicked in the front door, placing Kendra down on the table. The healer rushed to Kendra, ripping open her dress and pressing a cloth on her wound.

I stumbled back. “The baby, please,” I cried, watching helplessly.