“That’s not true,” Raven said. “Your wife and son wait and pray for your return.”
“You can’t believe his tale,” Wolf said. “Brynjar warriors have been taught to lie, to do anything necessary to accomplish a mission for him.”
“I tell the truth,” the man pleaded, “though there are some with me I wouldn’t trust and one from a neighboring tribe.”
“Whether you lie or not, I don’t care. You attempted to kill my wife twice and for that you will die,” Wolf said, condemning the man.
“I have a better idea,” Raven said.
“Of course you do,” Wolf said, shaking his head. “Tell me and be done with it.”
Raven smiled and proceeded to detail it.
Chapter 11
Wolf sat atop his stallion, riding alongside his wife, and shaking his head the next morning. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this or that I let you join me.”
“You realized the wisdom of my words and as for letting me join you,” —Raven laughed— “that wasn’t an option.”
“You do know he could be leading us into a trap,” Wolf warned.
“Sten, his name is Sten,” Raven corrected. “And I don’t believe Sten will do that.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“I offered him something no one else has given him.”
That fired Wolf’s blood. “And what exactly did you offer him?”
“Hope,” Raven said.
Wolf caught the sudden sadness in her eyes that faded quickly. He had learned how adept she was at hiding her hurt or any pain she suffered and it troubled him. She had her family and her men who kept watch over her and yet he got the feeling that she felt herself alone.
“How did you give him hope?” he asked.
“I told him that you would see him reunited with his wife and son if he helped us capture the other men with him. He did ask that Toke, a friend from a neighboring tribe who had been taken captive with him and was on this mission, be reunited with his family as well. I assured him it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“And you continue to think what he tells you is the truth?”
“What I know is that people will do anything to protect and reunite with a family they love,” Raven said, a glare in her bold blue eyes that defied him to disagree with her. She never expected the response he gave her.
“Would you do the same if taken from me?”
“I would move heaven and earth to return to you.” Her response stunned her, not knowing where it came from. She quickly added, “I am honor bound to you and my honor will always return me to you.”
His breath caught at her words and though she followed with talk of honor he paid little heed to it. She had spoken quickly, not a trace of hesitation to her words. Had it come from someplace deep inside her that she couldn’t fight against. It made him wonder if his wife was beginning to care for him.
“Nothing would keep me from finding you, wife,” he said with a fierceness that brought a smile to her face.
“Of course you would—you’re honor bound to me.”
“You’re right. You belong to me now and always and I’ll let no one take you from me,” he said, again with such fierceness that it broadened her smile.
“Oh, joy! A husband who will rescue me,” she said with a teasing laugh.
Wolf’s words stilled her laughter. “Only if you let him.”
Brod approached them, ending their conversation. “Iver says the camp is just as Sten described. The man you asked about, Toke, sits off by himself and has a badly bruised eye. The other four drink and talk about what a failure Sten is and it was time they did away with the fool before he damaged their mission.”
“Toke probably suffered the bruised eye for defending his friend,” Raven said.
“That is a strong assumption,” Wolf agreed. “The fools have no one standing watch?”
Brod shook his head. “From what Iver heard, they believe themselves superior to other warriors and believe they will not be discovered.”
“They foolishly believe that because they are Brynjar’s warriors they are invincible. They are about to find out otherwise. Let Iver know the attack is imminent,” Wolf ordered and Brod took off. He turned to his wife. “You will remain here with your men.”
“Iver already lies in wait and Brod will join him shortly. I go where my men go.”
“That is your way no more. I am your husband and you will obey me on this,” Wolf said, a fiery warning to his command.
Raven remained silent.
“I mean it, Raven,” he said, glaring at her.
Still, she remained silent.
Wolf looked to Clive, George, and Fyn who approached and settled their horses directly behind Raven. “Make sure she stays here.”
He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t expect one. And he wasn’t fool enough to think his wife would obey him. The only thing he could do was to see it done before she joined him.