She shrugged as if indifferent, though she had been looking forward to making her home in a keep once again. “As long as it provides shelter and will keep me warm when cold, I care little about it. Where will my men make their home?”
“I may have forgotten about your men remaining with you, but I can assure you Gorm hasn’t,” Wolf said.
“Gorm?” she asked, though knew full well who he was and intended to learn even more about him.
“The man who oversees things when I am not here and continues to do so even when I am here. And a man who has been a longtime friend. He is the one who made sure our home was built to my specifications.”
When they stopped in front of the longhouse, Wolf summoned, with a wave, a man standing just outside the door.
Raven’s eyes caught on the older woman standing next to him, small in size, her white hair drawn back in a tight braid and pinned near the top of her head. Her age was marked by her many wrinkles, but her eyes were alert and intent on her surroundings. She wondered if the woman was Detta, who Oria had mentioned.
Raven dismounted without any help, not that her husband offered any, and her men remained standing behind her once they dismounted.
The man who hurried forward was shorter than most of the men around him and thick in size. He had blond hair that just touched his shoulders and a full, round face with numerous wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, yet he didn’t appear old. But then that could have been from his smile that seemed perpetual.
“Welcome home, my lord,” the man said.
Raven had forgotten that Wolf didn’t only inherit the land and all its holdings, but the title as well.
“It is good to finally be home, Gorm.” Wolf pointed to Raven without looking at her. “This is my wife, Raven.”
“Welcome, Lady Raven,” Gorm said and appeared to be sincere in his greeting.
“A pleasure to meet you, Gorm,” she said with a smile and ignored the title. If she was going to learn anything from this man, she’d have to befriend him first.
Wolf turned to her then and perhaps reading her mind, though it was more likely knowing his enemy, said, “It would be wise for you to remember that my men are extremely loyal to me.”
“Why should I think otherwise?”
“A thief always looks for opportunities. The only opportunity for you here is to serve me as a good wife. That’s a warning you should heed and I’m sure it’s the first warning among many to come until you learn your place,” he said and turned away.
“I don’t serve anyone,” Raven said and none too quietly.
Wolf made sure his response was heard by more than his wife as he walked over to Gorm. “You’ll learn.” He stopped in front of the man. “Her men will need permanent lodging.”
“It’s been arranged, my lord,” Gorm said, his smile never faltering.
“Good. Have them shown to their lodgings,” Wolf ordered.
Raven had no intention of suffering any of his dictates. “First, show us where our horses will be sheltered so we may tend them.”
“Your horses will be seen to,” Wolf said, dismissing her request with a brief wave of his hand and turning as he spoke. “You’ll come with me.”
“NO!”
Her sharp response had him swerving around and the glare he sent her would have frightened most men.
The man definitely could intimidate with a look alone, but when it came to her men, she defended them regardless of the consequences. “My men and I will see to our horses first, then I will see where you intend to lodge my men.”
Wolf approached her. “None of that need concern you.”
“It is every bit my concern and until I see to it, I’m not going anywhere with you.”
His steps were quick, but she was quicker, her knife out before he reached her.
“I’d think twice about forcing me,” she threatened.
He saw that her men hadn’t made one move to help her, but he could see on their faces they wanted to. Were they that confident in her abilities or were they somehow aware of when to help her and when not to? He had much to learn about this woman.
It wasn’t lost on Wolf that some of his men had now seen his wife pull a knife on him twice or that Gorm had lost his smile, a rarity for him. He couldn’t let it happen again.
“Pull your knife on me again and it will be the last time you do,” he warned loud enough for those around them to hear.
“Don’t threaten me and it won’t be necessary,” she argued and turned quickly to Gorm. “Let’s get this done so my husband isn’t embarrassed when he tries to take my knife from me and fails.”