Read Online Odin's Shadow (Sons Of Odin Book 1) (9th Century Viking Romance) by Erin S. Riley - Free Book Online
Authors: Erin S. Riley
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Adult, Historical Romance, Brothers, Ireland, secrets, Norway, Viking, 9th Century, Viking Ship, Hasty Marriage, Irish Bride, Viking Warlord Husband
Ads: Link
exhausted. She could feel his heartbeat hammering in his chest.
He finally grasped her shoulders so she was forced to look at him. He was achingly beautiful, face and lips flushed, eyes slightly hooded. She lowered her gaze. Looking at Alrik was like looking into the sun.
“I told you next time would be better,” he said.
Chapter 6
Selia had never been on a moving ship before. Being a non-swimmer, she had a natural aversion to the open sea, and she gripped the side of the dragonship with both hands as the prow cut through the water with surprising speed. The wind whipped her hair around her face and she longed to braid it, but couldn't bring herself to let go of the side long enough to do so.
Alrik had the men erect a small tent for Selia for her to be able to relieve herself in privacy, as they wouldn't stop until nightfall. She could climb in there now, to rest and try to get the knots out of her hair, but Ulfrik had warned her that since she wasn't accustomed to being on a ship she might sicken if she stayed in the tent too long. So she kept her eyes fixed on the horizon as he had suggested.
The vessel contained no hull for transporting goods as her father's ship had. Instead, each man possessed a large sea chest which served both as a seat for rowing as well as a place to store his weapons and personal cache of treasures. Before they left, Alrik had rummaged through his own chest and pulled out a cloak for Selia. It was made of felted wool in a beautiful deep blue, lined with white fox fur and trimmed with bands of silk brocade. He fastened it around her shoulders and seemed pleased with how it looked on her. Selia had pushed down another flash of jealousy as she thanked him. Who had the cloak been meant for? Some other woman he was courting at home, or his daughter?
Alrik gave her firm instructions to stay as far away from the men as possible. Selia wasn’t sure if he simply wanted her out from under their feet, or sought to guard her from them. If it was the latter, he needn't bother; the men seemed in awe of her and looked away quickly if she met their gaze. Not one of them spoke to Alrik about his new wife. Odd, after the good-natured ribbing of the night before.
He stood at the helm of the dragonship, arms crossed, deep in conversation with Ulfrik and the bald man, Olaf. Selia studied the brothers as the wind blew their hair back. Ulfrik's beard was short, cropped close to his face, and his jaw was slightly wider than Alrik's. She had noticed a small scar through one of Ulfrik’s eyebrows, cutting it in two. His nose was narrower, his frame a bit leaner than his brother’s. Other than that they looked remarkably alike.
The difference was in their presentation. Alrik stood with bold self-assurance, his size intensifying his immense physical presence rather than causing it. He walked with a swagger and spoke with the conviction of one who expected to be obeyed. And the ship of Finngalls deferred to him without question.
Even Ulfrik, his brother and equal, seemed not to dare defy him. He had obviously been against Alrik's marriage, had recognized Selia’s fear and unwillingness, but in the end had not tried to prevent it. Indeed, he had restrained her from running and had all but handed her over to his brother despite his own misgivings. And then Selia, only a few hours later, had blithely confided a secret to the man that could have dangerous consequences.
She should have known better than to drink strong ale on an empty stomach. With her eyes on her new husband, she pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders. Alrik was either a very important man or simply thought he was, but regardless might not be pleased to learn he had married a peasant. He was so volatile, so unpredictable. Keeping him happy would be wise.
But she needed to be able to converse with him. Whenever he spoke to her, she took in the words she knew, placed them in context with his tone and facial expression, then made a guess as to
He finally grasped her shoulders so she was forced to look at him. He was achingly beautiful, face and lips flushed, eyes slightly hooded. She lowered her gaze. Looking at Alrik was like looking into the sun.
“I told you next time would be better,” he said.
Chapter 6
Selia had never been on a moving ship before. Being a non-swimmer, she had a natural aversion to the open sea, and she gripped the side of the dragonship with both hands as the prow cut through the water with surprising speed. The wind whipped her hair around her face and she longed to braid it, but couldn't bring herself to let go of the side long enough to do so.
Alrik had the men erect a small tent for Selia for her to be able to relieve herself in privacy, as they wouldn't stop until nightfall. She could climb in there now, to rest and try to get the knots out of her hair, but Ulfrik had warned her that since she wasn't accustomed to being on a ship she might sicken if she stayed in the tent too long. So she kept her eyes fixed on the horizon as he had suggested.
The vessel contained no hull for transporting goods as her father's ship had. Instead, each man possessed a large sea chest which served both as a seat for rowing as well as a place to store his weapons and personal cache of treasures. Before they left, Alrik had rummaged through his own chest and pulled out a cloak for Selia. It was made of felted wool in a beautiful deep blue, lined with white fox fur and trimmed with bands of silk brocade. He fastened it around her shoulders and seemed pleased with how it looked on her. Selia had pushed down another flash of jealousy as she thanked him. Who had the cloak been meant for? Some other woman he was courting at home, or his daughter?
Alrik gave her firm instructions to stay as far away from the men as possible. Selia wasn’t sure if he simply wanted her out from under their feet, or sought to guard her from them. If it was the latter, he needn't bother; the men seemed in awe of her and looked away quickly if she met their gaze. Not one of them spoke to Alrik about his new wife. Odd, after the good-natured ribbing of the night before.
He stood at the helm of the dragonship, arms crossed, deep in conversation with Ulfrik and the bald man, Olaf. Selia studied the brothers as the wind blew their hair back. Ulfrik's beard was short, cropped close to his face, and his jaw was slightly wider than Alrik's. She had noticed a small scar through one of Ulfrik’s eyebrows, cutting it in two. His nose was narrower, his frame a bit leaner than his brother’s. Other than that they looked remarkably alike.
The difference was in their presentation. Alrik stood with bold self-assurance, his size intensifying his immense physical presence rather than causing it. He walked with a swagger and spoke with the conviction of one who expected to be obeyed. And the ship of Finngalls deferred to him without question.
Even Ulfrik, his brother and equal, seemed not to dare defy him. He had obviously been against Alrik's marriage, had recognized Selia’s fear and unwillingness, but in the end had not tried to prevent it. Indeed, he had restrained her from running and had all but handed her over to his brother despite his own misgivings. And then Selia, only a few hours later, had blithely confided a secret to the man that could have dangerous consequences.
She should have known better than to drink strong ale on an empty stomach. With her eyes on her new husband, she pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders. Alrik was either a very important man or simply thought he was, but regardless might not be pleased to learn he had married a peasant. He was so volatile, so unpredictable. Keeping him happy would be wise.
But she needed to be able to converse with him. Whenever he spoke to her, she took in the words she knew, placed them in context with his tone and facial expression, then made a guess as to
Similar Books
