The men nodded, knowing whatever it was, it was meant to be spoken about in private.
“Don’t get into any trouble,” Raven said with a smile.
“Who us?” Brod said, his grin wide, and they all laughed.
Raven fell in step beside Gorm as they made their way back to the keep. She kept a keen eye on her surroundings, taking in everything she could. From what she could see, the two different cultures seemed to be blending well. People didn’t appear to purposely avoid one another and smiles and talk were often exchanged among them.
“I hope you will find the longhouse to your liking,” Gorm said.
“Does it hold enough heat in the winter?” Raven asked, the cold air feeling as if it had settled permanently into her bones.
“It has served us well in the frigid North,” Gorm said.
“But will it serve well here in my homeland?” Raven questioned, but Gorm didn’t answer.
She was glad yesterday’s snow hadn’t lingered into today, though she didn’t think they’d seen the last of it. She entered the longhouse and stopped after taking only a few steps, Gorm continuing to the table where Wolf sat with only two of the six men he had entered with earlier. The room was large, the ceiling high with several wood posts appearing as if they not only supported the roof but held the structure together. On the posts were skillfully carved symbols that ran up the height of the posts. A large fire pit occupied the middle of the room and cast off strong heat. Narrow tables and benches were placed on either side of it. The smoke from the fire drifted up and out of a hole in the roof. The floor was rough wood, but that was better than it being a dirt floor. Furs hung from pegs in the wall, and weapons, spears, axes, and more hung in various spots along the wall as well, while others rested against it. It was obvious the Northmen were not lacking in weapons.
Gorm and the two warriors withdrew from the room quietly.
Raven didn’t hurry to the table where her husband sat. She took off her cloak, dropping it on one of the benches and stepped close to the fire pit. She almost sighed with pleasure as the heat from it wrapped around and sunk into her. She closed her eyes and let the heat bathe her with its warmth. After a few moments, she hugged herself, hoping to trap the heat deep within her.
“You’re cold?”
She turned, surprised to see her husband so close to her. She hadn’t heard him approach, but then she’d been too lost in the luxurious heat to pay much heed to anything else. Yet, she had heard concern in his voice and that had surprised her.
“Not anymore,” she said, though worried once she moved away from the fire pit, the cold would return. “I suppose this room serves as a Great Hall.”
Wolf nodded. “It’s our common room. Our quarters are at the other end with two rooms in between.”
“What purpose do those other rooms serve?” she asked, noticing there was no bite of anger in his tone or a sharp scowl to his features. But then he was in familiar surroundings and had no need for worry.
“Whatever I wish them to serve?”
“Do they stand unoccupied?” she asked, wondering if others would share the space with them.
“No, we are the only ones who occupy the longhouse, for now.”
She didn’t know what he meant by that and she didn’t intend to ask—yet.
Wolf extended his hand toward a nearby table. “Sit and have a hot brew and I will tell you not only your duties as my wife, but what I expect of you.”
“And I will tell you what I expect of my husband,” she said and walked to the table, a shiver running through her from the loss of heat or what she was about to hear, she couldn’t be sure.
Raven sat with her back to the fire pit and she watched as Wolf took the seat opposite her. There was no denying he was a man of extremely fine features. A woman could get lost in his eyes alone they held such an appealing intensity and strength. She admired strength above all else. One did not survive without it.
He spoke with authority and confidence and a spark of annoyance rose up to poke at her. He expected her to bow to his command and that wasn’t going to happen.
“A Northwoman’s duties once she weds are not that different from those here in Scotland. She tends the house, sees to the food and drink, sees to the care of the garments, and tends the children. The home is the wife’s domain and she takes great pride in it.”
“And what does the husband’s duties consist of?” Raven asked.
“The husband sees to foreign trade, the planting of the fields, hunts and fishes to provide food, and sees that his family is kept safe.”