Page 20 of The Dark Prince
We saw very few people. Those we did were fishermen out on lakes with little holes cut in the ice, who stood and waved cheerfully when we passed. These men were so bundled up in colorful coats and mittens and fur that they stood out starkly against the white all around them. No doubt they would send word ahead to Mosfell of our arrival, which was all for the better; they would have good food and dry clothing ready for us.
Isadora sighed as she leeched my body heat from me, but I didn’t mind. I wasn’t used to anyone finding the least bit of comfort in me, even if it was something as simple as body heat.
I tapped my heels against my horse, urging her to move faster.
My wife was cold.
Nine
ISADORA
I’d been dozing and shivering slightly less when Tyr finally pulled our horse up alongside Maddeus. “We must stop for the night. Mosfell is close.”
I didn’t see Maddeus’s expression with my face pressed up against Tyr, but I heard the surprise in his voice. “It is close, but I thought—”
“My wife is cold,” Tyr gritted out, in a tone that made it clear the discussion was over. I felt him kick his heels into his horse, and we were off again.
“The village is only another hour away. We will get you clothing from some of the other women. I’m sorry I didn’t foresee this.”
I didn’t like the idea of taking anyone’s clothing off their back, but I didn’t want to irritate him by protesting.
True to his word, an hour later, I felt the horse slow. Against my will, I turned from Tyr’s body heat to see a small little village nestled in a valley, just below the high ridge we perched on. There was one large, long house in the middle of the village, surrounded by several smaller versions shaped into little cottages made from wood, with thatched roofs that came to a high point in the middle, with shingles laid in patterns on either side. A second, larger long house was on the outskirts of the village. From the noises coming from it, I surmised they used it for livestock.
It was much different than the stone manors and castles I was used to.
People milled around between houses, but few. Not that I could blame them in this cold. They dressed as colorful as the fishermen we’d seen.
Tyr kicked his horse lightly, and we dove down the ridge. I gripped the horn of the saddle at his speed; the wind burning my cheeks even more raw than they already were. My hands were as cracked as chapped as the leather I clung to.
Tyr kicked his horse lightly, and we dove down the ridge. I gripped the horn of the saddle at his speed, the wind burning my cheeks even more raw than they already were. My hands were as cracked as chapped as the leather I clung to.
As we descended the ridge, those in the village noticed us and waved. They called out, and then villagers flooded out of their houses, men, women, and children alike.
They called out to Tyr happily and waved us all in toward the longhouse in the center. A large man taller (and rounder) than Tyr greeted us as our horse came to a stop, patting its flanks fondly. His blonde hair twisted in intricate braids down his back and shoulders, and clear blue eyes assessed us from head to toe. His clothing was a rainbow of colors, with a red and purple knit hat, white fur on his chest and arms, green mittens, and bright yellow leggings. A youth who could only be his son eagerly reached for the reins, and Tyr let him have them. The large man asked Tyr a question in a strange language as Tyr dismounted the horse, then picked me up and set me down next to him. His hand lingered around my waist.
“We ask for your hospitality this night,” Tyr responded in my common tongue, ignoring the language the villager spoke. The man shot a sly look at me, grinning.
“Of course,” he sputtered out, his accent guttural but his words clear.
Tyr dismounted, then picked me up and set me down in the snow next to him. The man tutted at my attire and shot Tyr an accusing look.
“She will need clothes,” Tyr muttered.
The man huffed, then spit out a string of his strange language that I had no hope of deciphering. I blushed anyway since the tone was clear enough and sent several women scattering, shooting me excited looks. Who was this man who so fearlessly chastised the Dark Prince like a naughty child?
Tyr’s shoulders hunched at the man’s chastisement, and I fought to keep an inappropriate grin to myself.
They welcomed Maddeus like a lost son, and soon the older women were not only fussing over him, but the other men as well. The young women flew at Tyr’s men like they’d never seen one before though Arne kept a cool distance, accepting only a coat and a new pair of gloves. I shot him an odd glance as he followed the others into the longhouse, surrendering their horses to be cared for in the livestock house. He winked at me. “I have a woman back home.”
Maddeus grinned and elbowed him out of the way. “More for me then!”
A horde of people were pushing us toward the longhouse, bright-colored mittens all around me. Women clucked at me in their language, fussing over the state of my cheeks and dry, chapped lips. A few of them threw a few choice words over at Tyr, who kept a possessive hand on me as we moved inside.
Heat. Glorious heat.
That was the first thing I noticed. That, and all the wood! Pillars running down the length held the inside of the longhouse up, carved with intricate designs of wildlife, with vines and flowers. Tables and benches ran the length of the house, covered with furs and littered with drinking horns and a few tankards. The heat poured from a large central fire with a stone ring and a large wooden spit. Candles were lit at each table, giving the entire place a cozy glow. I glanced around, noting the painted shields hanging along the walls. Tyr’s purple and gold colors were prominent, along with the figure of a wolf, but there were other scenes of deer, mountains, and birds carved into the walls and painted on the shields and mantles.
That was all I could see before an older woman a foot taller than me started chattering away to Tyr, expertly separating us as two younger girls dragged me off toward the fire. They gently pushed me down on a bench next to the heat. Hands moved deftly and gently as the girls tore off my wet cloak and glared at the ruined dress that lay underneath.
