Eira slept soundly after the exhausting events of the previous few days. She finally felt safe knowing that Halvar and his men were asleep right next door. No one would dare harm her while they were there. Morning came all too quickly and she yawned and stretched luxuriously under the woollen blankets as the village began to stir.
A servant knocked on the door. “Miss Eira, I’m here to tell you that there’s a fire going in the bath house. You can have a warm bath when you’re ready. The food will be ready when you’ve had your bath.”
“Thank you kindly,” she replied. She was looking forward to having a warm bath and changing into her other set of clothes. Perhaps she could go to the stream to wash the ones she was wearing later in the day.
After she took her turn in the bath house, Halvar came to see her while she was eating breakfast.
“I’ve sent for Taft,” he told her.
Joy sprang up in her heart. “Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed. Surely her troubles would be over once her mother’s brother took her into his care.
Halvar smiled. “It is a privilege to be of assistance,” he said. “As clan leader, it is one of my duties. But I would gladly do it for you anyway.”
Eira blushed and dropped her gaze. “You are so kind,” she murmured. “I am fortunate to be in this village with you as clan leader.”
Halvar felt his own cheeks go hot and he didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, he was saved from the embarrassment of trying to hide his feelings.
"Taft is here, Chief," called one of his men.
"Let him in," Halvar replied, relieved at the intrusion.
The man who walked in looked like someone Eira had seen before. There was a familiarity about him that she found unsettling because at first, she couldn’t figure out why he seemed familiar. Then it dawned on her; this was the man she had met at the edge of the village. This was the one who had told her to go back to where she’d come from! She felt instantly wary. Things might not go well for her, after all.
"Taft!" Halvar greeted him cordially. "Please, take a seat."
Taft sat down carefully opposite Eira. He was trying to avoid eye contact and it made her feel even more alarmed.
"This is your niece, Eira. The daughter of Astrid, your sister." Halvar seemed to be oblivious to the tension in the room. "She has travelled a long way to find you."
Taft shifted in his seat. "Astrid never mentioned this to me. Neither the girl nor her journey to find me."
Halvar looked directly at him. "Well, she left her village in haste. It was not possible to send you a message. I would like to believe that you have no objections to taking her into your household as your sister wished?”
Yes. Abuse your power, you fool. Force me to do things I don’t want to because you’re the leader and you can! Taft fumed inwardly. Ever since the day that Halvar had been chosen as clan leader instead of him, Taft had harbored deep resentment and anger at the injustice of the decision.
"As you please, Chief. I have no reason to object." His answer was cool and detached. He had learned to channel his anger elsewhere over the years.
Eira didn't know what to make of the situation. Taft was acting as if they had never met when he was the first person she’d met from the village. She tried to read his emotions to gauge how he felt towards her but they were blank, hidden behind something dark. Was it grief? Was it anger or resentment? She couldn’t work it out and felt a shiver of foreboding.
"If you would excuse me, I must prepare for Eira to live in my home,” Taft said as he rose.
Halvar nodded. “Of course. Do what you must.”
Halvar turned to Eira. “Be assured that you're protected here,” he said. "No one can hurt you while I am around."
Eira sensed the warmth of his words. They were sincere and she felt more at ease than she had ever since she’d met Taft. Maybe things wouldn't turn out too badly after all.
Halvar rose to his feet. "You must excuse me, I have to go oversee the sharing of the hunt," he said.
"Thank you so much," she replied. "I hope that someday I can repay your kindness."
He smiled at her. “I hope so too,” he said, wanting to say more but unable to find the words.
As he stepped outside, he felt angry with himself. He had tried to make conversation with Eira but couldn’t get the words out.
"You fool!" he told himself. "Is this how to get to know a pretty woman?"
Later in the day, Eira moved in with Taft. He said nothing to welcome her, instead leading her to a dingy corner at the end of his longhouse. He gestured at a pile of folded bedding and she understood that she was meant to sleep there. Then he turned and left the building. She knew then that he wasn’t pleased to have her come to live with him. For a brief moment, she could sense his resentment as he walked past her. She sat on the pile of bedding, finally alone, and
