Page 75 of Snowed In With The Viking
‘Can I go with Grandmother to the coast this year?’ Baldr whined.
‘No,’ Embla replied firmly.
‘It’s not fair! Grandmother always gets to go on adventures, and we never do!’
Embla laughed. Her mother had become good friends with Miljá and had embraced her new life of bravery to the full. She even travelled with thesiidasome years, willing to embrace all that life had to offer.
‘Maybe one year. Now, let us hurry home to old Sten and Fen. They will be missing us!’
Thankfully, the boys rose to their feet at the mention of the two dogs. Sten was so old now, he barely moved from the longhouse, but he’d seemed to have a bit more brightness in his eyes since Runar had brought home a puppy from Iskko’s latest litter. Embla had been worried the puppy would be too boisterous for Sten, but if anything, Fen’s presence had given him a new burst of life.
The walk back through the caves was easier with Freydis strapped to Runar’s back, and the boys ran ahead, stopping every now and then to wait for them.
As they emerged from the caves and headed towards their home, Runar paused for a moment, and Embla stood beside him.
‘Did we forget something?’ she asked, wondering why he had stopped walking.
Runar shook his head, smiling down at the two boys racing down the hill, and then turned to Embla. ‘I love you.’
Embla blushed, and leaned her head against his shoulder.
‘I love you too,’ she replied, smiling to herself, before standing on her toes to kiss his bearded cheek. ‘Now, let’s go home.’
