Chapter 10
Ylva threw her dagger at the man, sinking itself deeply into the tree beside his head. "It did not take long for father to find me," Ylva said coolly as she watched the man's movements.
"Did you honestly expect it to," the man asked, his tone made it obvious he was smirking beneath the cloth of his mask. He wore all black, with a cloth mask covering the lower half of his face and two thin blades slung across his back.
Watching him prowl closer towards her, Ylva made her face blank and her eyes cold preparing herself for what may come. "What is it you want?"
The man laughed shortly, "you are still a slave, Ylva, and you have new orders." He stopped his prowling to stand directly before her, "father will allow you to continue with your heathens, but you will still collect lives, just on a much larger scale."
Ylva understood instantly what he meant, "I am to influence them, push them to raid certain places and inform you of their intended raids in order for father to collect his price."
"You always are the clever one, Ylva. Perhaps that is why you are the favorite daughter." The man reached out to stroke Ylva's cheek, "father has been lenient with you, anyone else would have been killed for disobedience and leaving their post." The man pulled away suddenly, "do not test that leniency, it won't last long."
They both heard someone approaching, so the man gave Ylva a final nod before leaving. Ylva could hear hooves galloping away shortly after the man's departure.
"Who was that," Halfdan asked as he strode into the small clearing in which Ylva stood. Halfdan came to a halt beside Ylva, reaching for her waist when she did not respond, "Ylva?"
She turned suddenly towards him, "just one of the gypsy men." Ylva leaned in towards Halfdan with a smirk on her lips, "he was trying to steal me away."
At that, Halfdan snaked his arm about her waist and pulled her in close to him, "any man that wishes to take you must go through me first." Halfdan placed a quick kiss upon her lips before pulling back with a smile, "as much as I would love to stay in this isolated space with such a striking woman, we must head back to the camp. We set sail once more."
Ylva faked a dramatic sigh of disappointment before allowing Halfdan to guide her back towards that camp.
By the time Ylva and Halfdan made it back to the camp, it was nearly all packed back oto the ships.
The couple were greeted by Hvitserk smiling face. "Hello there you two," he greeted them with a wave. "Ylva," he began, "Bjorn would like for you to join him on our ship for the rest of the journey back to Kattegat."
Halfdan's arm slid up around Ylva's waist as he gently pulled her towards him, "I would rather she stay with me."
Ylva's jaw clenched in frustration before she smiled politely to Hvitserk, "I will let you know."
Hvitserk glanced between the two before nodded. Ylva watched him stride towards the ships. She could feel Halfdan's eyes boring into her, but she waited before meeting his gaze.
"You will travel with me," Halfdan stated.
Ylva continued to meet his gaze, allowing several moments to pass before, "you have not asked if I want to accompany you." Halfdan's grip on her waist tightened, "I make choices for myself, Halfdan, you do not make them for me." With that Ylva turned on her heel as she walked towards the last remaining bits of the camp.
Ylva had decided to sail with Bjorn and Hvitserk back to Kattegat, partly to spite Halfdan's possessive behavior but also out of curiosity. She wanted to know what the brother's wanted from her company.
She stood by the ships, watching a few of the men load her trunk onto the ship as she felt someone approach her from behind. She knew it was Halfdan even before his arm familiarly found its way around her waist.
"Ylva," he softly spoke into her ear. "I am sorry, please forgive me." He rested his chin on her shoulder as he waited for her response.
She let out a soft sigh before nodding, "you are forgiven."
Halfdan spun her around towards him as he captured her lips in a kiss. He kissed her passionately as his arms tightened around her, pulling her in closer against him. When satisfied with their kiss, Halfdan pulled his lips away from hers and Ylva rested her head against his chest, enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted their moment. "It is time to go," Bjorn's deep voice announced as her stood watching them with his arms crossed over his chest.
Ylva began to move away from Halfdan, but his arms remained firm around her waist as he glared at Bjorn. Bjorn lifted an eyebrow in response, before turning halfway. Upon Ylva's attempt to move once more, Halfdan roughly pulled her into another deep kiss. "I will see you in Kattegat," Halfdan whispered before releasing her.
Ylva gave him a small smile. "In Kattegat," she agreed before moving to join Bjorn as they boarded their ship and set sail for Kattegat.
