Her Heart's Desire by Allison Merritt Page A

He strapped the sheath to the horse's side. “Thank you for taking good care of my weapon. It's the finest Saxon steel in Briton. I'm relieved that you know quality and have the sense to treat it with respect.”
    “Out here, a sword is as important as an arm or leg. When the king entrusted it to me, I knew it must be special.” Erland inclined his head. “I'll join my father now. Idunna, I hope to see you again soon.”
    She waved, her throat too constricted for speech. Had theirs been a normal wedding, she would have purchased a new sword to give him during the ceremony. The sword he'd forged would be in her safe keeping until their son was of age to bear it. Perhaps when he returned...
    Ealasaid stood on her tiptoes to press a kiss against Eoghann's beard-roughened cheek. “Erik will watch over Hella as closely as his own shadow. I would ask you to watch him as well, but do nothing to endanger yourself again. Do not make Idunna weep for you.”
    “I hope no tears will be shed over this event. See to her for me and give little Fulla my love each day.” He passed his fingers over the baby's head. “She's beautiful. One day, I may hold a daughter as beautiful as she.”
    “I look forward to the day. You will make a fine father.” Ealasaid held the baby closer to her breast. “Be safe, brother.”
    “And you, my queen.” Eoghann dropped to one knee. “We'll make every village under Hella's rule safe once more.”
    Ealasaid gave him a watery smile. “Get up, you fool, no enemy was ever conquered whilst the hero kneeled.”
    He rose. “To vikingr glory, then.” His smile appeared brittle and he locked his gaze with Idunna's.
    I love you sat on the edge of her tongue, but her teeth gritted together to stop the flow of tears. Freya, please let me have good news to share with my husband on his return.
    He stole a kiss before he mounted the horse. With the nudge of his heels, he joined the other men circled around Hella.
    “To reclaim Ofan!” Hella lifted Almáttigr, then swung the blade west.
    The procession left on hoof beats and the shouts of warriors eager to claim peace.
    Hot tears cut across the cold stinging Idunna's cheeks. Ealasaid wrapped one arm around her shoulders. Her face mirrored Idunna's grief.
    Two dozen other women remained in the courtyard with them until the men became little more than black specks cresting a distant hill.
    * * * *
    Sure the sound of his weary gait would give him away, Eoghann trudged to the curtain covering the entry to his room. Christo, days without Idunna in his arms nearly had him running to her.
    Sore, tired, and hungry enough risk eating one of Hella's precious hounds, he dropped his blankets outside the room. None of that mattered. He'd die happily right now if he could get a glimpse of his wife. He'd only remained outside long enough to tend the horse Hella had loaned him. Others were as eager as he to see the women they'd left behind, but duty to the animals that had carried them safely home came first.
    The curtain made a soft whisper as it rolled back.
    Near the fire, Idunna stood with a cloth in one hand, naked as a babe. She propped one leg up on a stool that also bore a steaming bowl of water.
    Cold had burned to the marrow of his bones, but one glance at her and he warmed through. His breath caught when she bent to wash her ankle, then stroked the cloth up to her thigh. A cascade of shining brown hair hid her face, clinging to her shoulders and back in damp curls.
    Curved and soft in the right places, she moved with grace even in the simplest of tasks. She turned slightly and revealed the rounded side of her right breast. Full and heavy, it all but begged him to touch it.
    Just as the night he'd wed her, he stood frozen at the door, unable to conceive how a greater power blessed him in such a manner. Beautiful, sweet, and pure, she deserved better than a man wearing blood-stained clothing and dragging a tired sword behind him.
    “Eoghann?” The cloth fell to