Chapter 7
Harald, Bjorn, and Hvitserk began clapping, pulling the attention of Ylva and Halfdan towards them. "Impressive," Bjorn stated as he appraised Ylva with raised brows.
Harald approached beside Bjorn, stretching out a hand towards his brother, "you have been bested brother," he laughed.
Halfdan got up from the ground with Haralds help before shooting Ylva a smile before returning his attention to Bjorn, "glad I found her," he asked.
The men all laughed as Ylva shot them all an icy glare before walking away without a word. She was used to men appraising her abilities, it was often the case when she was the slave assassin up for hire. She was, however, no longer a slave and hated being spoken of in such a matter.
She made her way to a nearby stream and splashed some cool water onto her face. She took a few deep breaths to calm her mind. She fled her position when she decided to follow Halfdan, and she did not want to return to that life. She was not truly freed, her master did not release her, but the distance between them felt like enough.
Once she felt satisfied that she had her emotions in check she gathered herself and walked back towards the camp. She was greeted at the edge of the camp by the old gypsy woman, "Greetings child, care to join me?" The old woman gestured towards a small fire in which a small meal had been spread.
"Thank you, grandmother," Ylva accepted the invitation with a nod. The meal was simple, a plain bread with some dried strips of meat, but it filled the women sufficiently and the full belly aided in calming Ylva's nerves.
"Ylva," a deep voice called out. Ylva turned to see Bjorn walking towards her. "Please join us, I have some questions about the Mediterranean that I was hoping you could answer," he said it friendly with a smile on his face. He nodded to the old gypsy woman in greeting before turning his attention back to Ylva.
"Of course," Ylva said to Bjorn. "Thank you for the meal," she thanked the old woman before standing and allowing Bjorn to lead her towards the center of the camp.
Bjorn and his younger brother, Hvitserk, questioned Ylva on the peoples of the Mediterranean and of the places. Bjorn showed her his maps and asked of Rome. In turn, she asked them about their home. She asked about Hedeby and Kattegat. The brothers learned of lands they wished to raid and Ylva learned of the North and of their family back home. Their talking went on for hours and soon dusk fell upon them. Floki, the curious boat builder, joined them as slaves brought supper. He told tales of his gods to Ylva, painting the most elaborate pictures for her with his words.
As conversations began to settle and more ale was poured, Ylva felt an arm fall over her shoulders, "come." Halfdan said it as an order as he whispered into her ear.
Ylva no longer took orders, and she was enjoying her time with the other men, "no." She did not even look at him when she answered, but kept her focus on the flames that danced n the fire before her.
Halfdan's grip on her shoulder tightened, it would have caused pain for anyone else. "I want you again, come with me," he ordered her once again.
At this she looked at him, her eyes as cold as steel and her voice devoid of all feeling, "no, now leave me be."
Halfdan hissed in anger before storming away towards the slave tent. Ylva could see him from the corner of her eye dragging some young slave towards his tent. She sighed as she turned her attention towards another of Floki's stories.
Many of the men were leaving the warmth of the fire to return to their tents and Ylva followed suit, walking towards Halfdan's tent. Just as she was about to pull the tent flap back, she heard Halfdan yell, "get off." She heard frustration in his voice and she paused, but upon his voice turning dark and cold, "run," she stepped in. She threw her dagger, knocking his from the air before sinking deep into the bed of furs beside his head.
Halfdan had thrown a dagger at the poor slave girl, intending to kill her. Upon seeing Ylva walk in, the slave girl ran from the tent back to her keeper.
Ylva picked up Halfdan's dagger, whilst he watched her movements with his rage-filled eyes. She walked towards him, casually flipping his dagger in one hand. "I believe you dropped this," she said calmly as she handed him his knife.
She reached across him to retrieve her own blade as she asked, "do you attempt to kill all women you sleep with?"
Halfdan grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap, his chest was bare, but he still wore his trouser. He growled as he pulled her lips to his and brought her into a hungry kiss. Attacking her lips with his own and trying to dominate her with his kiss.
Ylva pulled her dagger free from the furs and pressed the blade against his throat, "no." She said as he pulled back from her lips. "I am not yours to have as you wish. I am not a slave you can force yourself upon," she said coldly as his glare softened at her words.
Halfdan let out a sigh and relaxed back into his furs, laying down with Ylva still sitting on his lap. Ylva began to stand to leave the tent, "stop," Halfdan said as he grabbed at her waist once more. "I did not sleep with her," he said softly. "It is hard to sleep with a woman when you so desperately crave another," he locked his eye with hers then, searching for some warmth in her cold eyes.
"What do you want from me, Halfdan," she asked as she met his gaze, not allowing any warmth to reach her eyes.
He tugged at he gently, beckoning her to lay beside him, "just lay with me. I want to hold you." He said it with such tenderness that Ylva allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. He began to softly stroke her hair that she wore loose. He breathed her scent in deeply as he held her to his chest.
Suddenly, he released her. Ylva sat up to look down at him curious with the sudden change. Halfdan smirked up at her as her threw a clump of fabric at her. Ylva straightened the fabric out to see it was one of his shirts. She stood up and undressed as his eyes worded over her body, taking in the scars that covered so much of her flesh. She pushed her discarded clothing to the side before pulling on Halfdan's shirt.
Ylva settled back into the bed as Halfdan pulled a fur over the two of them before wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. They both fell asleep like that. With Ylva's back pressed against Halfdan's chest, while his arms around her held her close. He nuzzled his nose into her hair as her head was tucked just under his, falling asleep with her sweet scent filling his nose.
