Sandulf concentrated on making sure Ingrid’s last words were correct. ‘She could only say one or two words between gasps. Love. Whole. Over heart. Always. She died with your name on her lips, though, so I believe she meant them for you.’
Brandt looked up at Sandulf. His eyes swam with unshed tears. ‘She had time to speak? I didn’t know. I never considered.’
Sandulf stepped away from him. The wrong he’d done his brother that day in keeping Ingrid’s words from him was far worse than he’d ever considered. ‘One of my deepest regrets about that day is that I could not tell you those words before I departed. I allowed you to think she had died without saying anything and she tried so hard to speak, Brandt. The knowledge has haunted my sleep. Forgive me. Neither of you deserved that.’
He waited as Brandt continued to sit there, his fingers gripped tight about Ingrid’s pendant and prepared himself for the explosion.
‘I went down to the harbour, but your ship had gone.’ Brandt’s low voice was unrecognisable from the heavy emotion. ‘I wanted to make amends for losing my temper. I wanted to tell you that I was angrier at my failure to be there with her, ensuring her safety, than I was angry at you. I wanted you to stay, but you had left without a backward glance according to Kolga. Will you forgive me, Brother? Because I forgave you a long time ago.’
‘I forgive you.’ Sandulf tried for a smile. ‘Our aunt always had a way with words.’
A naked vulnerability showed on Brandt’s face. Sandulf knew he’d never seen his brother like this before. ‘Would you have stayed, if I had arrived in time to speak those words? I lost my wife that day. I had no wish to lose my youngest brother, too.’
Sandulf pressed his thumbs against his temples. Would he have stayed? How to answer that? How could he begin to explain what was going through his heart? He glanced at Ceanna’s determined face and knew what he had to say.
‘It was always my choice to go, Brandt, not your command. Perhaps the boy I was then would have stayed.’ He lifted his chin and stared directly at his brothers. ‘Yes, I like to think he would have. I always wanted your admiration back then.’
‘And now?’
‘The man I am is pleased that you did not reach the ship in time. I like who I have become because of the trials I have endured. I learned about survival and persistence. I learned about resilience. I learned about true friendship. But most of all I learned that you never leave your brothers behind, no matter how far you travel, for they are always with in you in your heart. I was not alone. The lessons that all my brothers, but particularly my eldest brother, bestowed on me guided me and ensured I completed this quest.’
‘Then you will stay to assist in what is to come? I have no wish to lose my brother again. We have much to discuss, not the least of which is where Danr has hidden himself.’
Ceanna gave a slight gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. All the way here, she’d been dreading this—the confirmation of what she knew in her heart. Sandulf needed to be with his brothers and plot out what to do when Danr returned with the information he’d gleaned from Hilda. But she couldn’t stay. Being in this hall reminded her of her duties back in Dun Ollaigh. Someone had to be there, ensuring practical things were done. Her father still wasn’t back to full health and he needed her help.
Her insides felt very hollow. She was delighted that Sandulf had been able to return to his family. He had always been clear on what he longed for. He had never asked for her love or her heart even though he had both.
‘Sandulf,’ she said to the rushes. ‘I should...well... I am no longer needed here. You are back with your family.’
Sandulf caught her hand and dragged her against his body. She pushed him away slightly and he let go as his brothers looked on in interest. ‘We need to speak.’
‘Yes, later. You have much to discuss with your brothers. What we have to say to each other can wait.’ She silently winced. It sounded mealy-mouthed when she wanted to scream at him, but she couldn’t make him choose. He would carry her heart with him wherever he went and she’d hope for his safe return.
Sandulf lowered his brow. ‘Now, my dearest wife. My darling Skadi. My Ceanna. And we speak alone.’
Her heart soared and she knew that she could not deny him anything when he looked at her like that and had such warmth in his voice.
‘Take all the time you need, Brother. We will be here.’ Masculine laughter trailed out after them.
Alarr gave a nod to Lady Breanne, who ushered them into a small chamber. ‘You should be able to speak without interruptions here.’
‘Whatever is the matter?’ Ceanna asked when they were alone. Sandulf was watching her with an intense gaze which unnerved her.
He reached out and twined a lock of her hair about his little finger. ‘Do you know how beautiful you are?’
‘Has all this gone to your head?’ She shook her own head, but inside she glowed. Sandulf thought her beautiful, which was saying something when she saw Alarr’s wife.
‘No, I am seeing straight for the first time. When I said Ingrid’s words to Brandt, I finally understood what she meant. I saw her face again as she said it and how she struggled to let him know her love in the last moments of her life.’
‘Even after all this time, I am sure they mattered to him.’ Her voice caught in her throat. Hearing his words made her want to weep. It was going to be harder than ever to leave him, but she
