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III. Nightfall in Mageaf

The hours felt long and hot. The sun beamed down on them, creating a heat that almost made them forget that winter was near. It was only the sudden and freezing breeze that shook Elva’s bones.

Her hands turned numb as she held on to the pummel, and her back began to ache from holding it so rigid. She could feel his heat behind her, but she refused to give in. Her shoulders shook as a soft cry left her lips. She felt desperately alone and broken.

“Stop crying,” He growled through gritted teeth.

Elva felt him tighten his arms around her, the horse slowing below her. Eksel shifted, his body tensing as his gaze stirred between the horizon and the tree line that ran beside them.

She inhaled slowly, “I-”

“Shh,” He growled, gripping her waist with his deft hands, his fingers digging into her skin.

She hissed, holding back her complaint. His hold was painful but his panic was enough to keep her lips sealed.

Sten approached them on his horse, matching their stride.

“Do you sense it?” He leaned toward Eksel, but kept his eyes sharp.

“Mmm,” Eksel hummed.

Hoofbeats sounded in the distance and the trees shifted before a lone horseman made his way toward them. Elva tightened her jaw, inhaling sharply. She didn’t know who this strange man was, but she loosened in relief when Eksel stopped his horse’s advance in and slackened his hold on the reins.

The rest of the men followed suit and they circled Eksel and Sten’s horse, keeping their sights on their surroundings.

The man on the horse was bone skinny, with dirty blond hair. Black paint covered his brow, making him look frighteningly inhuman.

Elva disliked the look of him, but couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. She refused to show him that vulnerability.

“Kos,” Eksel mumbled, loosening his grip on Elva’s waist.

Kos eyed her, ignoring Eksel’s acknowledgment. Elva shifted uncomfortably and unconsciously leaned back into Eksel’s chest, of course, she thought he was Agnar, for no one had told her differently.

Kos continued to stare at her with his beady eyes, her skin burning from the intensity.

“Kos,” The rigid syllable left Eksel’s lips in an icy, firm tone.

The sound managed to force Kos’s gaze from Elva. He exhaled slowly as he looked at Eksel before bowing his head in submission, lowering his gaze.

“What did you see?” Sten’s horse shifted as he spoke.

“Bloodhill forest is crawling with Halfdan’s men.”

Elva felt Eksel tense, “They are waiting for us?”

Kos nodded.

“We should go around. It will add days to our journey, but we can’t risk it,” Sten looked at Elva as he spoke and she knew that she was the reason they were weaker.

They had to protect her.

“We ride to Mageaf,” Eksel shouted so all the men could hear.

Soon they were on their way, pushing their horses to a quicker pace. Elva was tense most of the way, shifting to try and relieve the pain in her ass.

She wanted to ask who was Halfdan and why they needed to avoid the forest. She wondered why they were waiting for them and if she had to be more afraid than she already was. But Eksel pushed his horse and the terrain didn’t allow for conversation.

A couple of hours passed before she finally grasped his arm, hissing in pain, “Please can we take a break, I need to get off.”

“We’re almost there,” He growled.

“I can’t,” She panted, hissing when he picked up the pace.

Her tailbone sparked in pain and her legs were almost numb from sitting in the same position for so long. The sun had already begun to set and the coldness in the air was biting, not helping her situation in the slightest.

His arm wrapped around her waist like iron and he lifted her up, maneuvering her body until she sat across his lap. The position wasn’t anymore comfortable, but the change in her posture offered some relief.

“We’re almost there.” He repeated the words in an even more annoyed growl and Elva bit her lips, internalizing her complaints. She didn’t want to anger her betrothed anymore than she already had.

Just as she was about to complain again, she made out the distant shadows of the village, Mageaf. She sighed in relief, happy to hear the sounds of people and to smell the scent of fires and food cooking.

They stopped at a stable and Eksel dismounted, turning to Sten, who had also dismounted and joined them as Eksel tied his horse to the post.

“You and the men will stay in the stable. Ylva should be there. I’ll get a room and keep watch over her,” He nodded toward Elva.

Sten nodded, “Ylva?”

Eksel smirked, “Are you planning on humping her?”

Sten smiled widely, “Only if you aren’t.”

Eksel shifted his gaze to Elva, who watched their interaction with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

He shook his head, “No. Not tonight.”

Elva’s chest expanded in unwelcome pain. Her future husband was talking about sleeping with another woman. She wasn’t attached to him and he very obviously cared very little for her, still it made her uncomfortable.

Sten left them and Eksel looked at her before wrapping his hands around her waist. She tensed and gripped his wrists, not expecting the sudden contact.

“Such a fucking little thing,” He whispered as he lifted her from the saddle and placed her on the floor.

She winced, taking the words as if they were a slap to the face. He spoke to her with such disdain, she wondered if they would ever find happiness in their marriage. Elva didn’t want him to view her as little. Or weak. She was supposed to be his wife. His equal. His partner.

“Come,” He placed his hand on her lower back, pushing her in front of him as he lead them to the inn beside the stable.

Elva quietly let him lead her, her eyes widening as they stepped inside. Men sat around tables with drinks in their hands and topless women on their laps.

“Stay close,” Eksel whispered in her ear, placing both his hands on her waist and pulling her against his chest.

They made their way to the front, and Eksel spoke to the woman behind the bar. She pressed herself to his side, avoiding eye contact with every man in her vicinity.

Eksel handed the woman some coin before leading her through the door in the back.

“Last one on the right!” The woman yelled over the crowd.

Eksel only nodded at her before pushing Elva into last open space. She took in the area, inhaling the scent of the fire as it roared from the furthest corner. The only thing that separated the space from the others was a thick curtain that stopped just above the dirty floors.

Privacy was a luxury they didn’t care for, it seemed.

A lone mattress sat on the floor in the middle of the space, a thin, gray blanket thrown on top. Her stomach soured violently at the thought of having to share it with her intended. She had never shared her bed with another person, let alone another man.

“I-” She looked at the frumpy mattress, tightening her arms around her waist.

Eksel looked down at her, shifting his gaze between her and the bed before scowling, “I won’t sleep with you, little thing. I’ll take the floor.

She frowned, “All night?”

He nodded stiffly.

The nerves that soured her stomach seemed to dim, but the flutter of butterflies was still alive. He wouldn’t sleep with her tonight, but he would one day.

The thought alone was intense. Her curiosity had her brain turning to mush. Without the guidance of her mother, she had more question than she had knowledge. She didn’t know what to expect, much less how to prepare.

Eksel moved around her, taking off his boots and weapons. He kept his sword near him and a knife tucked into the waistband of his pants. He sat on the floor beside the curtain and began to massage the muscles of his shoulder before letting his head hang between his shoulders.

Elva watched him, noticing for the first time the fatigue that made his eyes dark and face heavy. Her chest swirled with emotions she couldn’t quite place. She was afraid and lonely, scared even. Being trapped with a man she didn’t know was a terrifying thing. Still, there was a part of her that craved his attention, his approval, too. She fought against that feeling. Regardless of the fact that he was meant to be her husband, she disliked that he had taken her from her father so quickly. Without a goodbye.

“You should get some sleep, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. And even longer days after that.” He raised his head, lifting his eyebrow when he caught her gaze. Elva jerked her eyes away, focusing on the roar of the fire before moving to take her shoes off.

She left everything else on as she climbed beneath the thin blanket.

“How far are we from Gleneg?” She was surprised her voice hadn’t cracked as she spoke.

Eksel sighed heavily, making her regret her question. Silence followed and she felt embarrassed that she had laid down on her side so she could watch him. She had hoped they could talk for a while. They needed to get to know each other, she didn’t want to marry a stranger.

As if he changed his mind, he huffed and finally spoke, “About seven days, depending on the terrain and the weather.”

Elva watched him as he took his hand and massaged the skin between his thumb and palm. He winced, hissing silently as he pressed his fingers into the skin.

“Are you hurt?”

Eksel jerked his head toward her, his lip lifting in scowl. Elva tensed, not knowing where his anger was coming from. “No.”

He quickly shoved his gloves back on before laying down on his back. Elva inhaled slowly, finding the courage deep within her to ask the question she really wanted to ask.

“Who’s Halfdan?”

His chest expanded with a large breath. Elva’s heart hammered against her chest as she waited anxiously.

“Hopefully someone you will never meet.”

She frowned, “Why? Who is he?”

He grunted, shifting to his shoulder and giving her his back, “Go to sleep, Elva.”

Her limbs trembled out of their own accord, but she yielded. Though her body was tense and her jaw was clenched, her fatigue eventually took over.

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