Reena felt it impolite to refuse his offer, and by the strong tone of his voice, he told her he would have it no other way. With little choice and not wanting to waste precious time in arguing, she joined him for the morning meal.
He placed the puppy on the ground, and the little animal wandered over to her. She picked him up before she sat down and cuddled him to her. He in turn licked her face, then his attention was caught by something on the ground. He squirmed out of her arms and went off to play with his discovery.
“What do you call him?”
Magnus sat opposite her, his arms braced on the table. “I had thought to give him a warrior’s name, but he possesses more friendly traits than warring instincts. So I named him after a friend with a similar nature—Horace.”
Reena smiled and looked at the plump puppy that frolicked in delight after whatever caught his eye. “I think Horace suits him.”
“Perhaps, but I chose him from the litter, thinking him to be of a warrior’s mind.”
“Looks can deceive. He is plump and looks as though he will grow large and be strong.”
“My exact thought when I first saw him.”
Reena spoke in defense of the pup. “He is young and you can guide and train him.”
“He runs behind me any time a voice is raised or someone unfamiliar approaches, and he pays no attention to my commands.”
Reena could not help but laugh and watched as the plump pup scurried under the table when two servants entered the hall with trays of food. “He knows neither of them?”
“Sadly, he knows them both, so I should amend my words and say he runs and hides by me any time anyone approaches.”
Reena continued to laugh softly while the young servant girls stacked the table with meats, eggs, cheeses, breads and hot cider. She could not help but think how this abundance of food would be appreciated in her village, and she felt a twinge of guilt for being able to eat so well this day.
“Your smile fades quickly,” Magnus said and began to pile her plate with an assortment of food.
“I think of my village.” Sadness filled her words and sorrow filled her blue eyes.
He piled his own plate high after filling their tankards with mulled cider. “The only thing you can do for them now is eat and stay strong.”
Guilt swept over her. She thought of her mother and father and how Brigid was looking after them. She was probably finding it difficult to pretend that Reena was away on a mapping quest. Brigid would be able to hold out only so long before confessing the truth for her absence, and by then she hoped to be home—the Legend along with her.
“Eat,” he urged.
She bristled at his order. She had a good appetite and ate heartily when food was plentiful, but food had been far from plentiful and she had relinquished most of her share to the children. She knew she had lost much weight, and it was obvious he thought the same.
He grew quiet, and she knew he gave thought before he spoke. “You do not need to rush with the mapping, you may—”
She interrupted him quickly. “We made an agreement and I will keep my end. I expect the same of you.” With that she placed a piece of meat and cheese on a piece of the dark bread, topped it with another piece of bread, took a generous swallow of cider and stood. “I waste precious time.”
She snatched her sack from the bench and slipped on her wool jacket. “When night falls, my mapping will be complete. I will see you then, and our agreement will be settled.” She walked to the great hall doors, stopped and turned to him. “Thank you for your generous hospitality.”
She opened the door and Horace raced out from under the table, chasing after her, squeezing out the door just before it closed behind her.
Magnus sat there grinning. She was a bundle of strength and determination for a skinny lass. She was right—looks do deceive. No one would credit her with strength, yet she possessed a remarkable amount. And while her skinny features did not attract, there was something intriguing about her. She did have beautiful hair, shiny black and long to the middle of her back and straight—not a wave or curl to any silky strand. Then there were her eyes—blue, the bright blue of a summer’s day. And there was the fact that she did not seem at all interested in him. The women he met either sought to catch his eye or cowered at the sight of him, yet Reena did neither. She spoke her mind with courage and conducted herself with respect.
He had never encountered a woman like her and that itself presented a challenge to him.