I will join you,” I murmur.
She nods and thankfully doesn’t argue. Instead, she quietly turns around and I keep my gaze on her until she slips into our bedroom. Only then do I turn to face Runa. “What is the matter?” I demand.
She looks down at her lap, then lifts her gaze to meet mine. “I have failed you, my Konungr,” she breathes. “I will pack my things and take myself somewhere off of Wolfjour Ail lands.”
I almost throw my head back in laughter, almost. I do not. Reaching for her hands, I take them in mine and look directly into her eyes.
“You will go nowhere, Runa. It is imperative that you stay here and protect Sylvi and Oili, protect the people.”
She shakes her head. “How can you even say that? I have failed,” she practically cries out.
Squeezing her hands, I snort. “You have failed as much as I have, Runa. If it were not for Kjeld, Sten, and my wife defying my orders, we would all be gone. Her magic is something truly fantastical, the way it was described, she is of the prophecy, I am sure of it now.”
“But I could not hold him off.”
“That man was full of evil, Runa. He was dark magic, no one völva no matter how strong could fight him off. The only way Liv’s power was able to overtake him so quickly was because you had already depleted him greatly. You are needed, you are important to us.”
Runa nods her head, but I can tell in her eyes that she is not convinced by my words. That is okay, we will convince her. “You will stay here, for me, and for your konungr,” I murmur.
“For you and my konungr?” she asks, completely confused by my wording.
“As a personal favor to me, and because I’ve demanded it,” I say, my lips turning up into a small smile.
Runa stands to her feet, I let my hands fall from hers as I watch her. “I will, but I will endeavor to be a better völva, I will dedicate my life to being the best in all of the world, Aaric.”
Nodding my head once, I grin at her. “I have no doubt that you will succeed.”
She turns and I watch her walk away, slipping into her room. As I stand to my feet, I hear a noise. Looking up, it’s Sylvi who stares back at me. Instead of walking to meet my naked wife, I lift my hand and motion for my sister to come over to me.
“I can’t do it,” she whispers. “I cannot take over in your stead.”
I am taken aback by her words. She is indeed ready for this. She is more prepared than any man could be. There is a moment of silence as my gaze searches hers.
“You say this because?” I ask.
She drops her head, looking down at her feet. “I could not have done what Liv did. She took control, she killed, and I cannot, Aaric.”
Smiling, I shake my head once. “You can if you need to, Sylvi. If Oili were in danger, if anyone you held dear to you was in danger, you could and you would defend them even if it meant death.”
She presses her lips together, shaking her head once as her watery eyes meet my own. “I could not, Aaric.”
Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around the side of her neck. “Kjeld and Sten are here for you. They will do whatever needs to be done in my absence. If it is up to me, you will never have to do what Liv did. If it was up to me, she would never have had to do what she did. Do not fret, Sylvi. You are stronger than you could ever know.”
“Why do you have such faith in me, Aaric?” she urges.
My lips twitch. “It is easy, Sylvi. I love you.”
“Aaric,” she says, her lips curving up into a huge smile.
Turning from her, I don’t wait for her to say anything else. Instead, I make my way toward my wife. I have an afternoon and evening to spend with her. To show her my appreciation for what she did for me, for our babe, for our country.
Tomorrow we will make our way toward Bunafi. Tonight, I cherish my brúõr as I should always cherish her. She is strong, she was made for me, fated to be mine and for good reason. I love her.
LIV
The water has started to turn cold by the time Aaric makes