“So more men may lay in wait,” Wolf said, admiring his wife’s sharp mind. “Which is why you will remain here in the safety of the longhouse while I see to this.”
“You don’t really think I’m going to do that, do you?” Her confident smile said it all.
He stood, shaking his head.
She gasped, caught unaware by his arm that sneaked around her waist to yank her against him.
“One day you will learn to obey me, wife.”
“How boring that would be,” she said and surprised herself when she stretched her head up to kiss his lips with a strength she hadn’t intended.
Wolf rested his cheek next to hers after the kiss ended and whispered in her ear, “Be careful, wife, you might find something you like in this marriage.”
She assumed he meant their kisses, but she asked anyway. “And what might that be, husband?”
“Me,” he whispered, then left her side and went to the door. “Hurry, if you’re coming with me.” She hurried over to him and he stilled her with a hand to her shoulder. “You would tell me if you suffered more injuries than I see?”
“Aye,” she said softly. “I have suffered far worse and still fought.”
His hand went to her face, his finger faintly running over her bruised cheek. “You need not do that any longer. That is for me to see to.”
He took her hand and led her through the longhouse. He grabbed a fur cloak from a pile on a chest near the door to drape over her shoulders before collecting his own cloak and slipping it on.
“What makes you think I would like you?” She couldn’t help but ask, his remark having lingered in her mind.
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“I can think of many reasons.”
“That once may have been valid, but are they now? Do they truly serve either of us any purpose?” he asked.
“I can think of some that still do.”
“Then we will discuss them and see them finished,” he ordered.
“There is one that will never be finished,” she said, stepping away from him to open the door. “Your love for Eria.” She was out the door before he could say a word, not sure if she wanted to hear his response, yet disappointed when he hurried outside to walk alongside her in silence.
He took the lead, taking her hand and directing her to a shed not far from the longhouse. Several guards circled it and they parted as Wolf approached, then closed the circle once he stepped past them.
Lars waited inside with the prisoner. The thin man was secured to a wood pole secured in the ground in the center of the shed. Blood was caked around his nose and mouth and bruising was already deepening under both eyes.
“You’re a strong woman to witness the torture your husband will inflict on this man,” Lars said.
“Do what you will to me. I won’t say a word, since you will kill me anyway,” the man said and spat on the ground near Wolf.
“You’re right I intend to kill you, but the choice is yours whether you suffer or not,” Wolf said. “And believe me when I tell you I can make you suffer greatly. Tell me who sent you and I’ll spare you the suffering.”
Tears filled the man’s eyes. “I’m ready to die.”
“No need for him to die. I know who sent him,” Raven said with a confidence that had Lars and Wolf turning raised brows on her. She walked closer to the prisoner. “There would be only one reason for you to suffer torture at Wolf’s hands. You’re more frightened of betraying the man who sent you than the man who holds you prisoner. That means Brynjar sent you.”
The man couldn’t stop his eyes from turning wide.
Raven smiled. “You just confirmed it.”
“Then kill me fast. Please, I beg you. They will know I failed again and come for me if they learn I live. Please. Please. Kill me and be done with it.”
Raven went to her husband. “You can’t kill him now. He can tell us much.”
“That he can,” Wolf agreed and turned a scowl on the man. “Why does Brynjar want my wife dead?”
“I don’t know. I and a few others were given the task to kill her and were told if we failed or betrayed him we’d suffer at his hands. Not his warriors’ hands but his hands.” The man shuddered. “He takes great pleasure in inflicting endless pain. I’ve heard the screams of men begging to die. I will answer all your questions, but please kill me fast when you are done with me.”
“How did you come to join Brynjar’s group?” Raven asked.
“He raided my tribe in the far north and took some of the men prisoners. I and some others were lucky enough to hide our families just in time. I haven’t seen my wife and son in seven years. I dare not try to escape and return to them for fear what Brynjar will do. I am better off dead.”