Halvar stood back and looked at the second longhouse that he and the men were building. It would eventually house Canute and his wife and children, but for now, the villagers would share the two longhouses until they had built enough homes for everyone. It would be better than living in Ahren’s barn. He and Eira would move into the smaller storage house that he’d built near the first longhouse. He wanted her all to himself after they got married.
But there was much to do. Some of the men had planted crops as soon as they arrived in the hope that they would be able to harvest before the winter arrived. Others were working on the buildings, trying to provide shelter for people and animals before the cold weather arrived.
Halvar was acutely aware of the strain they were placing on their hosts’ hospitality. The sooner they were self-sufficient, the better. He looked around. Torsten was about to head back to the village for another load of lumber and he needed to send a message to Alfonso. Torsten could find Alfonso and deliver the message when he picked up the lumber.
Torsten ambled along behind the oxen. Nothing could make those beasts hurry, he thought wryly. An oxen driver had to work at their pace. But if they forced him to dawdle, there couldn’t be a better day for it. The sun was warm on his back, butterflies flitted in front of his face, and the smell of warm, damp earth rose to meet his nostrils. For the first time since he’d come to live here, he felt at peace. The awful memories of the village he’d left behind in ruins didn’t seem as vivid on such a beautiful day.
As he neared the village, he wondered where he would find Alfonso. He had a lot of respect for the village leader who had accepted them, welcomed them, and met their needs. He would be forever grateful to these people who had enabled them to rebuild and start again. He decided to ask the first person he saw where he might find Alfonso.
In the middle of the road ahead, he spotted Kaarina and Eira walking towards him, deep in conversation. Maybe they would know where to find Alfonso. He’d known Kaarina since they were both children; she was like a younger sister.
But before he had the chance to call Kaarina’s name, another girl darted out onto the road ahead of them and began walking quickly towards him. He recognized her as Alfonso’s daughter.
“Frida!” Kaarina called.
She stopped walking and waited for Kaarina and Eira to catch up. From a distance, she reminded him of Revna and his heart constricted with grief as he thought of the future he would never have with her. He watched as the girls stopped to chat; they must have had happy news to share because a moment later, Kaarina and Frida were twirling around, arm in arm, laughing and joyful.
Torsten couldn’t take his eyes off Frida. She was so beautiful, innocently unaware that he was watching her, so vibrant and glowing with the joy of living. His breath caught in his throat and he felt like a shy little boy, tongue-tied and bashful. Would such a beautiful creature even notice him?
“Beware, girls!” Eira interrupted their happy dance. “You will be overrun by oxen!”
Torsten jerked his attention to the present. While he’d been dreaming, the oxen had kept plodding along, right up to the joyful pair. He could feel his face flush as their merriment ended abruptly and they scrambled out of the way. What kind of oxen driver would they think he was?
“Torsten!” Kaarina scolded with a grin. “Who else would try to flatten us like a fritiling beneath the hooves of the oxen?”
Torsten felt the heat rising up his neck. “No one but you would be foolish enough to pay no attention!” he retorted.
“Are you calling Frida foolish?” Kaarina asked.
Torsten felt his cheeks go flaming red and he found himself lost for words. “That is an argument that you can have alone,” he finally managed. “Have you seen Alfonso?”
CHAPTER 13
K aarina awoke with a start as she remembered what day it was. Butterflies began to dance through her stomach and the excitement she’d been shoving aside all week finally bubbled over.
“It is my wedding day!” she sang aloud as she climbed out of bed. She wondered what Landwulf was doing right now. Was he as excited and nervous as she was?
She recalled the previous day when he had taken her to see the house he’d built. It was finally ready to move into and she couldn’t wait. She’d thought her heart would explode with love for him as he showed her all the thoughtful little details he’d added just to please her. She still couldn’t believe how fortunate she’d been to find a man who loved her and was willing to build her a beautiful little house. She was already feeling like a queen.
“Landwulf!” Minna teased. “That is the third time you have checked your hair!”
Landwulf shot his mother a sheepish grin.
“I understand,” she said, softening. “It is the biggest day of your life and you are nervous.”
“What if Kaarina changes her mind at the last minute?” he asked.
“She will not!” Minna stated firmly. “You are just feeling fearful. Do not worry about it! Enjoy your big day.”
“I know you would have preferred me to marry a girl from Alahsan, Mother,” Landwulf said seriously. “But I need your assurance that you accept my decision and that you will treat Kaarina the same as you would if I had taken a wife from our people.”
“Your father and I realized that we need
