Page 41 of Merciful Salvation

“Aye.”

She nodded.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth. Light and dark, space between the waters, sky, ground, fish of the sea, animals of the earth. Then he molded mankind in his image, placing Adam and Eve in a garden paradise.”

“And Odin?” Already familiar with the story, she wanted to hear her lover speak.

“Odin, Vili, and Ve formed the first man and woman from two rotting tree trunks they found on a barren beach. Odin’s brothers filled the trunks with golden sand and thenAllfatherbreathed the spirit of life into them. From these first humans, the sons and daughters of the earth were born. Odin hoped those men would join his great army one day.”

Why did Aaron sayAllfatherso reverently? No Christian she’d ever met was so intimate with the gods. Although she hadn’t questioned him by the lake, the colorful tattoos that covered his torso were pagan. All of them.Secrets. Deep ones.Her father’s greatest objection to him was his religion. “There are great parallels between our faiths.”

“Do you know what you’re saying, girl?” the navigator interjected. “Don’t venerate the White Christ,” he warned looking about. “Norsemen would sooner slit their own throats.”

“Come.” Aaron took her hand. “We appreciate your time, my friend. The lass is tired and doesn’t know what she’s saying. Her curiosity rivals any child’s. And her father has kept her under guard for so long, the outside world overwhelms her sensibilities sometimes.”

The helmsman flashed a sharp look at Aaron, but then his features softened when he gazed at her again. “I’ve taken no offense, but other men might. Guard your tongue, girl.”

Kara nodded, then she and Aaron walked to the opposite end of the vessel. He sat on a pile of blankets and pulled her onto his lap.

“Is he angry?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “Remember, most men know little about the outside world. History is recorded through the eyes of the people who live it, then altered by the men who retell it.”

She’d never considered that before. No wonder fear and misunderstanding existed. The longer she thought about his explanation, the more sense it made. “Aye.”

“You read and write,” he said. “Who taught you?”

“My brothers.”

“You are very fortunate, lass. I’m shocked your father approved.”

“After my mother passed, he had little use for a daughter.”

“When did she die?”

“I was only five,” she murmured. She’d never discussed her mother with anyone. Her father rarely reminisced and her brothers were hopelessly tight-lipped. “I miss her. She loved me more than anything.” Her eyes burned with tears.

He squeezed her hand. “Who would think otherwise?”

Kara lowered her head. “She killed herself.” Her voice wavered. People considered it unlucky to discuss the dead, much less someone who took their own life.

“This brings no shame upon you,” he said evenly. “Did your father conduct an investigation, ever discover why?”

She nodded. “She suffered from bouts of violence. Father says the light in her eyes faded the day after my birth. He never blamed me, but I feel responsible.”

Aaron gave her a gentle shake. “Women are plagued by any number of infirmities after giving birth.Spaewivesclaim loss of blood is at fault, others cannot explain it. Whatever the circumstances, she died years after you were born. There’s no connection. Be at peace, Kara.”

Again, she marvelled at his wisdom, his ability to explain something that had haunted her forever. “There’s more,” Kara started. She rocked slightly, avoiding eye contact. “My third brother died shortly after my mother.”

“And you shoulder this tragedy, too?”

“He kept me from drowning.”

Aaron hugged her close. “You’re blameless.”

His observation did little to relieve her misery. “Blood guilt never goes away.”

“If I can help you forget your pain, Kara Dalgaard, I will.”