“Sven agrees with me that for now he must go away to some place where Bernhard cannot use him for his own ill gain.”
Though Gunnar didn’t say so, I suspected this had to do with the jotunn and the forest. Since Bernhard wanted to kill the jotunn, it was possible he’d coerce Sven into revealing information to gain the advantage over the jotunn. Knowing Bernhard, coerce was probably a kind term for what he was capable of doing.
Gunnar was wise to find a safe place for Sven, a place of solace and peace.
“I must instruct several of my trusted squires to leave before daybreak with Sven and ride as fast as they can to Vordinberg.” The seriousness of Gunnar’s tone told me this was a mission that could not fail.
And suddenly I knew. This had to do with the chalice. It was in Hardanger Forest.
At some point, Gunnar had figured that out. And that was why Bernhard was sending men to their deaths in the forest. He’d also learned of the chalice’s location and was seeking it.
Why hadn’t I realized the truth earlier?
Now, Sven was the only one who could divulge critical details regarding the whereabouts of the sacred relic.
My heart sank with the growing understanding that Gunnar would go back inside the forest again at some point. No matter the risk to himself, he was determined to fulfill his mission. I wanted to admire him for his loyalty and commitment to the king. But after having experienced the danger firsthand, I didn’t want Gunnar returning to the forest ever again.
At the same time, perhaps with Sven’s instructions, Gunnar and the other knights could attack the jotunn and put an end to the menace. After all, if someone didn’t stop the madness, how many others would the earl send to their deaths? What about Enok and eager young men like him? I couldn’t let them die simply because I wanted to keep Gunnar to myself.
“Do you also need to go to the king?” I asked softly. “To inform him of everything you have learned?”
With the torches lit around the battlement and inside the bailey to dispel the darkness of the night, they couldn’t take away the darkness in Gunnar’s eyes. He held my gaze as though trying to decide how much I knew.
I nodded. “Yes, I’ve figured it out.”
He dropped his voice. “I will send a missive to the king with my squires, but I intend to tarry until Torvald’s return.”
I didn’t know why the chalice was important, but clearly it was special if so many were willing to sacrifice their lives to obtain it.
He slanted a look at Bernhard still speaking with his guards. “Just as soon as I’m able, I will meet with Bernhard and purchase your freedom. Then we will be married.”
“Married?” Nanna’s whispered word carried to servants nearby, who paused to watch us.
Gunnar spread his feet as though daring Nanna to stop him. “I would be grateful if you would help Mikaela prepare. Once my wound is tended and I finish with all the arrangements, we will meet at the chapel.”
For the first time since Gunnar had mentioned the possibility of us getting married, I allowed myself to believe this was going to happen.
“Should I speak with Frans first?” I didn’t know his state of consciousness. But I still needed to apologize to him.
Gunnar gently cupped my cheek. “When Frans and I were trapped, he gave me his blessing to marry you.”
“He did?”
“He told me he’s known all along you cared about me. And he said you’d never be happy unless you were with me.”
A swell of emotion rose into my throat, pushing against it and making it ache. If Frans had given me his blessing, then I only needed Nanna’s. “Nanna?”
She clutched her cloak closer about her frail body to ward off the chill of the night. “You will be safest as Gunnar’s wife.”
I’d expected more reluctance from her. Would she give me her blessing that easily?
“My only concern is what might happen to the rest of the family.” Her forehead crinkled with worry lines, echoing the fear inside me. I couldn’t run away and leave my family to pay the price for our angering Bernhard.
Gunnar reached for her hands. “I intend to pay Bernhard not only for Mikaela’s freedom but for each member in your family.”
Nanna shook her head sadly. “Oh, Gunnar-boy. You know that won’t stop Bernhard from exacting vengeance any way he can upon us.”
Gunnar offered her a slight grin. “I am not so proud that I won’t use my connection with the king to my advantage. I’ll assure Bernhard that I can petition the king regarding his place in the Noble Council. If he treats my wife’s family with respect and kindness, I’ll speak well of him to the king. If not, I’ll make sure the king knows of his evil deeds.”
Would such a tactic work with Bernhard? The lines in Nanna’s face remained, but I wanted to believe we could begin to make changes for my family and find a way to do more for all the people of Romsdal.
Regardless, I wouldn’t feel safe until the priest concluded the marriage ceremony.
“Let’s make haste.” Nanna linked her arm through mine and directed me forward. “The sooner the better.” She was obviously feeling the same sense of urgency I was.
I hadn’t gone far when Gunnar snagged my hand, tugged me free from Nanna, and twirled me back. Before I knew what he was doing, he bent in and captured my lips with his. The instant his mouth moved against mine, it unleashed everything I felt for him. I knew I needed him to be in my life more than I needed anything else.
I pressed back, kissing him with all the desperation that had grown over the past hours of trauma, nearly losing our lives and not knowing if we’d have any future, much less a future together. But before the kiss had the chance to truly begin, he broke it.
He released me and took a step away, his lids halfway down, his long lashes barely concealing his desire. “Just wanted you to have a taste of what’s to come.”
Flames sizzled across my skin, turning my face and my body hot so that I didn’t miss my cloak one bit. Oh heavens above. I was almost embarrassed by how much I was looking forward to the wedding and his promise of more kissing.
Rather than give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he affected me, I pressed a kiss to his jaw while skimming my fingers along his neck down to his collar bone.
He sucked in a soft breath, one that told me I affected him as much as he did me.
I moved away, putting an arm’s length between us. “That was so you don’t make me wait too long.”
His lips turned up into a disarmingly handsome grin. “I won’t.”
“Good.”
“Good.” He grinned at me a moment longer, his eyes filling with happiness—a happiness I’d put there. I wanted to spend the rest of my life making his blue eyes light up like that.
“Posh. Let’s be on our way now.” Nanna’s tone contained irritation, but as she pulled me away from Gunnar, I could see her fighting back a smile.
Chapter
27
Gunnar
I didn’t like the way Bernhard’s guards were watching us. It meant only one thing: Bernhard didn’t intend to let Sven get away.
As the heavy darkness of the night began to give way to predawn, I stood in the shadows of the stables with my squires while they finished saddling their horses along with an extra for Sven. Would they even make it through the gatehouse? Or would Bernhard prevent them from leaving?