“Never have I truly thought you a spy, but I cannot trust you completely, either. There are too many unanswered questions, and leastways I have learned the hard way to trust no man—or woman—completely. Too much risk weighs in the balance to allow you free rein.”
Ruby’s shoulders slumped in weary resignation, and Thork put a forefinger under her chin, lifting her face so she would have to look at him.
“My opinion matters naught,” he continued. “Besides, I will be gone to Jomsborg once the Althing completes its business next month.”
“And how long will you be gone?”
Thork shrugged uncertainly. “Two years.”
“Two years!” Ruby’s heart felt like a lead weight in her chest, and her next words could barely pass the huge lump in her throat. “Why so long?”
“Two years have I devoted to my grandfather’s affairs, but I took a Jomsviking oath long ago. Honor demands my immediate return.”
“What honor is there in killing?”
Thork’s shoulders stiffened. “A man does what he must to protect his people.”
“Have you killed many people?”
“Yea, that I have. More than I can count.”
“And you choose this life-style?” Ruby shook her head, unable to understand Thork’s harsh attitude.
“Sometimes men have no choices.” A tense muscle twitched in the hard plane of Thork’s cheek.
They could hear the children getting closer, and Thork quickly bent down to her. “Will you favor me with a kiss to comfort me on the long ride back to the castle?”
“Not so long,” Ruby countered with a smile, putting aside her concerns over Thork’s ruthless nature. She could no more stop herself from leaning into his kiss than halt the wild beating of her heart.
With a hand looped round her neck, Thork pulled her closer. His lips were a hairsbreadth from hers when he hesitated, looking into her eyes in an all-too-familiar way, then kissed her deeply, turning slightly from side to side to mold their lips just right.
With a sigh of resignation, Ruby relished Thork’s kiss. It felt so right to be in his arms. Somehow, some way, she knew this was where she was meant to be. She put her arms around Thork’s neck and moved closer.
Thork jolted away slightly and studied Ruby’s face, trying to understand this innate chemistry between them. He touched her lips lightly with the tip of his tongue, and Ruby moaned, parting her lips for more. The children’s voices grew louder, and Thork forced himself to pull away, holding her firmly by the shoulders until both of their shuddering breaths slowed down. Then he gave her another slight peck on the lips and whispered, “Sleep well, heartling,” before mounting his horse and riding away.
Ruby tossed and turned throughout the night. Daybreak finally crept through her bedchamber before sleep finally came. She hoped Thork suffered, as well.
Chapter Eight
Three weeks had passed since Ruby’s arrival in Jorvik. Ruby had felt at peace since she started attending first-light services at St. Mary’s minster with Gyda each morning. She was surprised to learn that the Viking city hosted eleven Christian churches.
No longer did she continually question when she would return to the future. Ruby believed this time-travel experience had been ordained by some force greater than man. She wasn’t resigned to the fact that she might not ever go back, but she decided to take one day at a time.
When she and Gyda returned home from church one day, Ruby ate a piece of bannock and a slice of hard cheese before Byrnhil showed up at her doorstep in a Viking-version jogging suit. Between Ruby’s Brass Balls T-shirt, jeans and Nikes and Byrnhil’s specially made purple silk pants and tunic-style shirt, the two women were a sight to behold as they jogged the two miles that had become their morning routine.
Byrnhil had convinced Olaf to allow Ruby to jog with her. Ulf, of course, followed after them, his face burning with humiliation. Several of Byrnhil’s ladies had jogged with them the first two days but refused to come anymore.
“My women are weak,” Byrnhil jeered. “Too much soft living. But mayhap ’twas the butcher’s remark on the size of their rumps. Methinks, though, that the blacksmith’s remark about their jiggling breasts was the last straw.”