Read Online Delivering Kadlin by Gabrielle Holly - Free Book Online Page B

friend, and Gudrior shrugged, “You know it’s true! Not an animal in that barnyard can boast such a piece.”
    “Aye,” said Marget. “The first time I saw him step from the sauna, I thought an eel had latched itself to him! Thank the gods that we all sleep at the front of the house so we won’t be able to hear her yelp!”
    The women laughed and Kadlin basked in the warmth of their easy friendship.
    “Arms up,” Agata said and slipped a soft, purple linen shift over Kadlin’s head. An apron dyed deep blue followed. Agata fastened the shoulder straps to the front with two heavy brooches.
    Gudrior dangled beautiful chains between the pins. On one necklace hung a gleaming silver Thor’s hammer. “There,” she said, “Now you are a proper Viking woman.”
    Marget placed the crown of flowers on Kadlin’s head then carefully arranged her hair over her shoulders before kissing her on the cheek. “Lovely.”
    The other women offered their kisses and compliments then led Kadlin to the mirror. The sight of herself dressed for her wedding in foreign clothes and surrounded by strangers overwhelmed her. Only a month ago, she could not have dreamed of this moment.
    The sound of panpipes broke her from her reverie.
    “It’s time,” whispered Agata.
    * * * *
    A ring of torches surrounded the dooryard, and Bjorn stood at the center, facing the setting sun. He wore trousers and a loose tunic the color of cream. A purple cloak, the same shade as Kadlin’s shift was spread over his broad shoulders and fastened at the throat with a heavy chain suspended between two large brooches. His thick forearms were covered with tooled leather bracers and tall fur boots were laced up to his knees. His sword hung from his hip. Long, thin braids were arranged in his wavy red hair and adorned with coins and beads.
    Finnr stood in the shadows with his panpipe and played the last note of his song as Kadlin reached her groom. The others gathered around them, and she was unsure of what to do next. Bjorn looked beyond her shoulder and smiled, and the three other couples stepped backward. Kadlin turned and followed their gaze then stared open-mouthed as Grima entered the circle.
    The old witch reached out to Kadlin, fished a thin braid from above her ear and slid an amber glass bead onto the end. “I wouldn’t have been able to see the nuptials if you hadn’t left this behind,” she said with a wink.
    Kadlin gathered Grima into a hug. “I’m so happy to see you,” she whispered.
    Grima patted Kadlin between the shoulder blades then extricated herself from the embrace.
    “You’ll need these,” Grima said, passing a large braided gold band to Kadlin and its smaller mate to Bjorn.
    “Your sword, Viking,” she said.
    Bjorn withdrew his sword from its scabbard and held it in his left hand with its tip pointed to the ground between him and Kadlin. He balanced the ring on the end of hilt and focused his gaze on his bride.
    “Bjorn, do you swear to love and honor this woman, to share with her all that is now yours and to protect her always?” Grima asked.
    “I swear it,” Bjorn said and tipped the sword handle to Kadlin. She lifted the ring with her right hand and slid it on the heart finger of her left.
    Bjorn held the sword upright again. He nodded at Kadlin. She took the hilt in her left hand and balanced his wedding band on the end.
    “Kadlin, do you swear to love and honor this man, share with him all that is now yours and turn yourself over to his protection always?” Grima said.
    “I swear it,” she said and carefully tipped the sword to him.
    Bjorn slid the band on his left heart finger then wrapped his hand over hers. Grima grasped them at the wrists and slowly pushed downward until the tip of the sword disappeared into the soil. She drew a strip of cloth from her pouch and wrapped it loosely around the couple’s hands, capturing the sword handle inside. Each of the witnesses stepped up in turn and repeated the rite until